Cisco Survey: Infrastructure Gaps Stall AI Adoption in Manufacturing
Cisco’s 2026 State of Industrial AI report, based on 350+ manufacturing leaders across 19 countries, reveals that infrastructure shortfalls are throttling AI rollout in factories. While 96% view reliable wireless connectivity as essential, 56% cite frequent outages that disrupt operations. Cybersecurity is both a top concern and a perceived AI benefit, with 81% expecting AI to strengthen threat detection. A persistent IT‑OT collaboration gap—reported by roughly half of respondents—further hampers AI scaling and expected productivity gains.
Two Things You Can Control Right Now When Fuel Is Trying to Break You
Diesel prices are edging toward $5 a gallon, squeezing margins for owner‑operators and carriers. While macro forces such as Middle‑East tensions and Fed policy are beyond a driver’s control, two levers remain: where fuel is purchased and how much is...
How Critical Are Critical Minerals in the Brazil-US Economic Relationship?
Policymakers and experts convened to examine how critical minerals shape the Brazil‑US economic partnership. Brazil’s abundant rare‑earth and battery‑grade mineral reserves are increasingly vital to the United States’ energy‑transition agenda. The discussion highlighted supply‑chain vulnerabilities, especially reliance on China, and...
Amazon Defrauded: Guilty Plea in $3M+ Fraud Involving Trailers
A Connecticut‑based freight operator, Ameer Nasir, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for submitting more than $3 million in false invoices to Amazon Logistics. Between December 2019 and February 2021, he created 23 phantom trucking companies and used a manual override in...
5 IT Equipment Procurement Services That Fix Day-1 Onboarding
A Deloitte pulse check revealed that 56% of organisations view device‑provisioning delays as the leading productivity killer for new hires. Onboarding teams therefore need a reliable day‑one laptop solution. Onrec evaluated more than twenty vendors against four non‑negotiables and five...
U.S. Maritime Administrator Carmel Warns U.S. Must Rebuild Entire Maritime ‘System,’ Not Just Shipyards
U.S. Maritime Administrator Stephen Carmel warned that rebuilding American maritime power requires more than expanding shipyard capacity; the United States must reconstruct an entire maritime ecosystem. He highlighted that the U.S. now produces only 0.1% of global commercial ships and...
Congress Wants to Put Driverless 80,000-Pound Trucks on the Road – Should Small Carriers Be Worried
The SELF DRIVE Act (H.R. 7390) would create a federal framework allowing fully autonomous 80,000‑pound trucks to operate commercially while under testing permits, expanding NHTSA authority and preempting state rules. The bill requires manufacturers to submit a safety case but...
Port of Vancouver Moves Record Wheat Volume
Port of Vancouver set a new grain export record in 2025, moving 30.3 million tonnes of bulk cargo, driven by a 20 % jump in wheat shipments to 15.9 million tonnes. While wheat volumes surged, canola seed exports slumped 23 % to 6.6 million tonnes...
Huawei and CASCO Release the World’s First FRMCS-Based TACN System
At MWC Barcelona 2026 Huawei and CASCO unveiled the world’s first FRMCS‑based moving‑block train control system, TACN. The solution combines Huawei’s high‑bandwidth FRMCS network with CASCO’s integrated rail‑control suite, delivering sub‑3‑minute headways and a 60% capacity increase on an African...
Engineers Australia Underscores Engineering Role in Updated Infrastructure Priority List
Engineers Australia has welcomed Infrastructure Australia’s updated Infrastructure Priority List, which outlines five critical sectors—high‑productivity freight networks, port capacity, high‑capacity urban transport, secure sustainable water, and a net‑zero clean‑energy economy. The list is designed to steer federal and state investment...
How Moving Mission-Critical Tech Requires a Different Approach to Freight Logistics
Freight carriers are now moving mission‑critical AI and semiconductor hardware, not just consumer electronics, turning each trailer into a multi‑million‑dollar asset. The dense, delicate nature of this cargo demands real‑time, sensor‑driven visibility that goes beyond standard GPS location data. Werner’s...
Sigmatex Signs Distribution Agreement with Link Composites at JEC World 2026
Sigmatex, a 40‑year‑old global carbon‑fibre textile maker, has signed a distribution agreement with India’s Link Composites at JEC World 2026. The deal makes Link Composites the official distributor of Sigmatex’s certified fabrics across India, covering aerospace, renewable energy, automotive, infrastructure...
UNFI Moving in the Right Direction Despite a Down Q2
United Natural Foods (UNFI) is accelerating its RELEX AI‑powered supply‑chain platform, with 12 distribution centers slated to go live next week and full rollout expected by year‑end. Operational metrics improved, showing over 6% productivity gains, an 11% reduction in shrink,...
MIT CTL and Mecalux Develop an AI-Based Simulator to Optimize Inventory Across Warehouses
MIT’s Center for Transportation & Logistics and warehouse‑technology firm Mecalux have launched GENESIS, an AI‑driven simulator that uses a genetic algorithm to evaluate thousands of inventory‑distribution scenarios across a multi‑warehouse network in minutes. The platform ingests demand forecasts, transport costs...
Royal Navy Sends Missile Destroyer HMS Dragon to Eastern Mediterranean
The Royal Navy dispatched the Type‑45 destroyer HMS Dragon from Portsmouth to the Eastern Mediterranean, reinforcing the United Kingdom’s defensive posture amid rising Iranian‑linked attacks on Western interests. The ship’s Sea Viper air‑defence system will protect UK assets and allies, while...
Authorities Probe Spike in Portuguese Exports to Russia-Tied Countries
Portugal’s finance ministry has opened an investigation after statistics revealed a sharp rise in exports to countries closely aligned with Russia. Direct sales to Russia dropped from over €26 million in 2021 to near zero, while exports to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan,...
China, India Warn Carriers on Higher Pricing Tied to Middle East Conflict
Chinese and Indian transport ministries have publicly warned major container carriers, including Maersk and MSC, against imposing excessive surcharges linked to the Middle East war. The regulators highlighted concerns over service suspensions to the region and fee hikes running into...
Hawke’s Bay Firm Takes on New Zealand Prison Manufacturing, with a Plan to Cut Out Aussies
Patton Engineering has launched Patton Custodial in Whakatū, taking over prison‑related manufacturing from Sharp Edge Engineering and targeting contracts traditionally held by Australian firms. The new unit is one of only two New Zealand companies licensed to produce custodial products and...
Opinion: Waiving the Jones Act Won’t Lower Gas Prices—Tanker Markets Prove It
The op‑ed argues that waiving the Jones Act would not reduce U.S. gasoline prices because foreign‑flagged tankers are more expensive to charter than domestic Jones Act vessels. Using Worldscale data, the author shows a Houston‑to‑New York freight rate of WS410 equals...
Boeing Says Wiring Issue Will Delay Some 737 Max Deliveries
Boeing announced that a wiring problem discovered on several 737 Max jets will delay deliveries in the first quarter of 2026. The issue, traced to small scratches caused by a machining error, can be repaired within days and does not affect...
IATA Presses the Case for Three Priorities for Airfreight
At the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Lima, global cargo head Brendan Sullivan outlined three strategic priorities for the air‑freight sector: accelerating digitalisation, strengthening global standards, and enhancing safety and security. He highlighted the industry’s fragmented data landscape and promoted...
Europe Remains Top Destination for U.S. LNG Cargoes Despite Asian Supply Squeeze Amid Middle East War
Europe continues to dominate U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, absorbing the majority of cargoes despite a tightening Asian market. The recent Middle East conflict has slashed regional energy exports, reducing the incentive for U.S. producers to divert LNG to...
MRPeasy in Financial Times List of Fastest-Growing Companies in Europe
MRPeasy has been listed for the third straight year in the Financial Times 1000: Europe’s Fastest‑Growing Companies, ranking 148th in the IT & Software category. The cloud‑based manufacturing ERP now supports over 2,200 small manufacturers in 70 countries, with the United...
Roboticom Announces New Distribution and Innovation Partnership with Forged Path Automation
Roboticom announced a distribution and innovation partnership with Forged Path Automation to broaden U.S. market reach and develop turnkey process‑automation solutions. The deal leverages Roboticom’s ARPP® software, which reduces robot training from weeks to days, and its SandRob™ finishing robot...
DATA REVEALS U.S. MANUFACTURING FACES A 2 MILLION WORKER SHORTAGE
The Labor Shortages Report from MIE Solutions warns that 26% of the U.S. manufacturing workforce will retire by 2030, creating a gap of 1.5‑2 million unfilled roles. A new Job Posting Intensity score shows the national benchmark at 0.50, with 24...
Snowflake Intelligence for Manufacturing: Actionable Data Insights
Manufacturers are turning petabytes of connected‑product data into strategic assets, but fragmented systems hinder insight. Snowflake Intelligence offers a unified, AI‑ready data foundation that democratizes information across functions, enabling natural‑language agents to surface actionable recommendations. Toyota Motor Europe adopted the...
From Forest to Flatpack, IKEA Faces Timber Traceability Test Under EUDR
The EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect at the end of 2026, requires companies like IKEA to provide geolocation data proving their timber was not sourced from land deforested after December 2020. Although IKEA already sources nearly 100 % of...
De Minimis: Case Aiming to Revive Exemption Can Proceed, Court Rules
The U.S. Court of International Trade has lifted the stay on Axle of Dearborn Inc. v. Department of Commerce, allowing the company to pursue a revival of the de minimis exemption that permits duty‑free imports under $800. Detroit Axle argues the August...
LA Terminals to Extend Gates to Mitigate Disruption During Bridge Closure
Port and marine terminal leaders in Los Angeles announced a mitigation plan as Caltrans prepares to close the 63‑year‑old Vincent Thomas Bridge for a two‑year redecking project. The bridge, which carries roughly 53,000 vehicles daily—including 3,400 heavy‑duty trucks—will be closed...
Could China’s Rare Earth Supplies Dictate How Long US Strikes on Iran Go On?
The United States imports roughly 71% of its rare earth elements from China, a dependency that underpins many of its military platforms. As Washington conducts airstrikes against Iran, Beijing’s control over these critical materials gives it strategic leverage over the...
From Menu Cuts to Electric Grills: How Indian Restaurants Are Tiding over the LPG Crisis
The West Asia conflict has choked LPG shipments to India, driving up commercial cylinder prices by up to 25% and creating acute shortages for restaurants. Operators across Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and other cities are trimming menus, shifting to electric grills,...
When $5 Million Feels Like a Drop in the Ocean...
Freight savings of $5 million often appear modest, yet they mask larger hidden costs when market conditions shift. Traditional procurement relies on annual tenders, leaving contracts misaligned with volatile ocean rates, capacity constraints, and reliability drops. Predictive freight intelligence and market‑aligned...
Circana and Sally Beauty Holdings Announce Strategic Partnership to Optimize Supply Chain Operations
Circana and Sally Beauty Holdings have signed a multiyear agreement to deploy a collaborative supply‑chain platform powered by Circana’s Liquid Data AI technology. The solution delivers daily operational insights, enabling better business planning, inventory control, and on‑shelf availability for Sally...
Shippers ‘Despair’ as Carriers Hit Trade with Flurry of New Surcharges
Ocean carriers and airlines have announced a wave of new surcharges, prompting the Global Shippers Forum to warn that operating costs for exporters could more than double. An Australian exporter cited an additional $250,000 expense, which rose to $600,000 after...
Volatility in Trade Lane Rates After Tough Week
The TAC Index reported that the global Baltic Air Freight Index barely moved, edging up 0.2% for the week to March 9 and remaining 1% below its level a year earlier. Behind this modest aggregate change, lane‑specific rates showed sharp volatility,...
MATS Is Three Weeks Away – Here Is Why Small Carriers Can’t Afford to Skip It
Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) returns to Louisville March 26‑28, 2026, drawing over 70,000 professionals and 1,000 exhibitors. The article argues that small carriers cannot afford to skip the event because the relationships forged there replace the extensive infrastructure of larger...
General Mills Taps Interim CSCO for Top Supply Chain Post
General Mills has confirmed Jonathan Ness as its permanent chief supply chain officer, effective March 16, after serving in an interim capacity since January. Ness, a 20‑year veteran of the company, will oversee manufacturing, logistics, sourcing and planning and report...
Berg Insight: Smart Label Shipments in Logistics Hit 900,000 Units in 2025
Berg Insight reports that smart labels based on cellular, Sigfox or LoRaWAN reached 900,000 shipments in logistics during 2025 and are projected to climb to 29.2 million units by 2030, a 101 % CAGR. The market value is estimated at €21.8 million in...
Reform HMT Rather than Taxing Shipping More: Analyst
Transportation policy analyst Jay Derr argues that the Trump administration’s plan to impose a universal fee on foreign‑built vessels would effectively double‑tax ships already subject to the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT). The existing HMT, collected from all vessels entering U.S....
Rethinking Customization in Warehouse Automation
Warehouse automation leaders warn that excessive customization can backfire, inflating costs, extending rollout times, and creating fragile systems. Exotec’s CEO Romain Moulin promotes a modular “Lego‑block” approach, using standardized hardware, software and robotics that can be re‑configured per facility. This...
Union Pacific Restores Nebraska Rail Bridge
Union Pacific’s engineering, track and signal crews completed a full restoration of the historic 1899 freight rail bridge over Salt Creek in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. The project replaced timber sections with concrete spans, repositioned a massive truss using a 300‑ton...
Drone Strike Sparks Fire at ADNOC’s Ruwais Industrial Complex
Abu Dhabi’s state oil company ADNOC shut its Ruwais refinery after a fire broke out following a drone strike on the complex. The facility, which can process up to 922,000 barrels of oil per day and hosts major chemical, fertilizer...
Urban Outfitters Builds Out Second Phase of Automation in Kansas Facility
Urban Outfitters is launching the second phase of automation at its Nuuly fulfillment center in the Kansas City area, part of a $60 million, five‑year investment plan. The upgrade targets expanded capacity, faster delivery, and lower logistics costs as the Nuuly...
Strata Clean Energy Signs 1-GW FTC Solar Tracker Supply Agreement
FTC Solar has inked a five‑year, 1‑GW supply agreement with U.S. developer Strata Clean Energy, extending a prior 500‑MW deal that began in September 2024. The contract will see the first new project break ground in 2027 and includes delivery...
Newcastle Systems Set to Unveil Latest Hybrid Solution at MODEX 2026
Newcastle Systems will unveil its newest hybrid‑automation mobile workstation at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, April 13‑16. The device combines on‑board scanning, printing and data access with ergonomic design to cut motion waste and fatigue. Positioned as a cost‑effective alternative to...
West Asia Conflict Disrupts Gas Supply to Maharashtra Industry; MNGL Invokes Force Majeure
Escalating conflict in West Asia has halted LNG vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd. (MNGL) to invoke a force majeure clause. The disruption is forcing industrial consumers in Maharashtra to curb gas draw‑downs and seek...
New Collaboration Between ACS and FANUC Robotics Powers Single-Source Delivery of Facility Design and Automation Implementation
ACS announced its certification as a FANUC systems integrator, enabling the company to deliver fully integrated facility design and robotics implementation from a single source. The partnership merges ACS's engineering, controls, and construction expertise with FANUC's industrial robots, covering specification,...
Fintraffic and Siemens Mobility Ran Finland’s First Automated Train Drive with ETCS and ATO
Fintraffic and Siemens Mobility completed the Nordic region’s first automated train run using ETCS Level 2 and Automatic Train Operation on a 19‑km stretch between Juurikorpi and Hamina. The GoA2 trial achieved automated stops within 30‑80 cm at 100 km/h, demonstrating system stability...
Embedder v0.3.1 Nominated for Embedded Award 2026 as the AI Firmware Platform Moves Into Production
Embedder’s AI‑powered firmware platform v0.3.1 has been nominated for the Embedded Award 2026 in the Startup category, signaling its shift from experimental to production‑validated. The tool grounds large‑language‑model agents in hardware‑specific documentation, enabling real‑time code generation, compilation, flashing and hardware‑in‑the‑loop...
How Emerson Applies Automation to Deliver Custom Pneumatic Valves Within 5 Days
Emerson’s Bonneville facility has digitized its entire valve‑making workflow, turning customer configurations into production‑ready CNC programs in about ten minutes and cutting manual engineering time by two to four hours. The system automatically creates 3D CAD models, machining instructions and...
