Mary O'Connell

Former pricing analyst, supply chain planner, and broker/dispatcher turned creator of the newsletter and podcast Check Call. Which gives insights into the world around 3PLs and Freight brokers. She will talk your ear off about anything and everything if you let her. Expertise in operations, LTL pricing and procurement, flatbed operations, dry van, tracking and tracing, reality tv shows and how to turn a stranger into your new best friend.
Sep - 2025 -
15 September
Mary O'Connell

 Why California’s biopharma boom is critical for logistics

Building Resilience and Innovation: California’s Pharmaceutical Renaissance California is quietly staging a pharmaceutical renaissance, not of arts or culture this time, but of science, supply chains, and life-changing therapies. As the backbone of biopharma innovation in the U.S., the Golden State is becoming a place of industry transformation, embodied most recently by investments from Amgen […]

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12 September
Mary O'Connell

Tech Roundup: Accelerate cash flow with Tai and Navix’s new integration

The Tech Roundup is a weekly rundown of advancements and news in the FreightTech space. This week: Tai and Navix team up to simplify freight audit and accelerate cash flow, Highway expands McLeod integration, and Roambee rebrands to Decklar. Tai and Navix team up to simplify freight audit and accelerate cash flow The often-overlooked world […]

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11 September
Mary O'Connell

Medlog’s new facility: A game changer for cold storage

In Savannah, Georgia, a new benchmark has quietly risen in America’s cold-storage landscape. Medlog, the inland logistics arm of the MSC Group, has opened what it calls its “crown jewel”, a 300,000-square-foot cold storage facility created to serve protein suppliers across the U.S. This plant is not just big; in several respects, it represents a […]

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Mary O'Connell

Why Phononic’s move could save billions in wasted goods

Phononic, a leader in solid-state cooling technologies, has taken a step toward transforming cold chain logistics by signing an exclusive licensing agreement with Peltier Technology, Inc. The deal transfers the commercial management of Phononic’s Active Cooling Solutions (ACS) platform to Peltier, a start-up led by Hanson Li that is aiming to overhaul temperature-sensitive logistics from […]

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10 September
Mary O'Connell

TruckSmarter secures $16M: A new era for transport AI

TruckSmarter funding boosts AI tech with a $16M investment, transforming trucking load boards for drivers.

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Mary O'Connell

The strategic truth behind Tobin’s cold chain acquisitions

Discover how Tobin Scientific’s cold chain logistics expansion fuels growth in life sciences logistics.

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08 September
Mary O'Connell

How Freight Factoring Accelerates Growth for Carriers

Freight factoring transforms trucking cash flow, offering carriers swift capital without debt.

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05 September
Mary O'Connell

Tech Roundup: new compliance tech and funding raises

Fleetworthy ups compliance capabilities and Supersonik says AI can do software demos and raises $5M

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Mary O'Connell

How OneRail’s OmniPoint transforms fulfillment

Explore how the OmniPoint fulfillment platform by OneRail boosts visibility and execution in logistics.

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04 September
Mary O'Connell

AI in Logistics: Augment’s Bold Move with $85M Funding

Discover how Augment’s AI logistics platform is transforming the industry with a new $85M investment.

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Mary O'Connell

The cold chain goes airborne: A new era of expedited, temperature-controlled logistics

Air cargo cold chain enhances logistics, ensuring speedy and precise temperature-controlled deliveries.

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Mary O'Connell

CoolSys secures $39.5M: A game-changer for cooling industry

CoolSys credit commitment secures a $39.5M boost, enhancing HVAC and refrigeration services nationwide.

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03 September
Mary O'Connell

HappyRobot secures $44 million to scale AI workforce for the supply chain

HappyRobot’s $44M funding boosts AI supply chain automation, enhancing efficiency and productivity in supply chain operations.

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Mary O'Connell

Exclusive: CloudTrucks expands Road to Independence program with FleetFirst Leasing

CloudTrucks’ owner-operator program, FleetFirst, offers pathways to truck ownership for owner-operators.

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Aug - 2025 -
29 August
Mary O'Connell

DP World expands with new logistics hub in Pennsylvania

DP World enhances its logistics warehouse network with a new facility in Central PA, boosting efficiency and distribution capabilities.

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Mary O'Connell

MyCarrierPortal and Carrier Assure integrate to make carrier vetting easier

Enhance carrier vetting and onboarding with MyCarrier Portal’s integration for improved safety and fraud prevention.

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Mary O'Connell

Tech Roundup: Warehouse automation goes international

Explore FreightTech innovations in Belgium, including warehouse automation, GoBolt’s Shopify partnership, and Ensilitech’s funding success.

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28 August
Mary O'Connell

Marsh launches BrokerSafe to help freight brokers confront rising legal and insurance risks

Discover how freight brokers auto liability insurance with BrokerSafe addresses new risks effectively for freight brokers.

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Mary O'Connell

Flexport Partners with BlackRock to provide $250 million in supply chain financing

Flexport Capital redefines supply chain financing with BlackRock partnership, enhancing liquidity in logistics.

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27 August
Mary O'Connell

DHL expands Asia Pacific cold chain network with dual-certified facility in Malaysia

DHL strengthens Asia Pacific cold chain logistics with new KLIA facility, boosting pharmaceutical transport capabilities.

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Mary O'Connell

Cold Chain Technologies expands Asia Pacific presence in cold chain logistics

Cold Chain Logistics expands in APAC, boosting temperature-controlled logistics across the Asia Pacific region.

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26 August
Mary O'Connell

AI startup Nauta secures $7M to streamline global logistics for importers

Nauta’s AI logistics platform revolutionizes global trade, securing $7M to streamline importer operations efficiently.

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25 August
Mary O'Connell

Nagel Companies completes merger with Kandel Transport

Nagle Companies’ acquisition of Kandel Transport boosts cold chain logistics, enhancing cross-border operations and expanding market reach.

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22 August
Mary O'Connell

Tech Roundup: Organizations plan to double down on AI Investment

AI adoption and supply chain traceability, highlighting the impact and future potential.

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21 August
Mary O'Connell

Polar King’s New PKM620 Refrigerated Trailer Debuts

Discover Polar King’s PKM620, the largest mobile cold storage trailer, offering unmatched capacity and energy efficiency.

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Mary O'Connell

Why Agile Cold Storage’s Vernon buy highlights California’s industry boom

California cold storage growth reshapes logistics, highlighting demand for modern facilities.

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20 August
Mary O'Connell

Highway secures investment for carrier fraud platform

Highway lands major investment for Carrier Identity platform to tackle fraud in the freight industry efficiently.

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Mary O'Connell

Loop and Data2Logistics merge to unlock profit in the supply chain

Loop merges with Data2Logistics to revolutionize supply chain data management, enhancing visibility and efficiency.

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Mary O'Connell

Overhaul hauls in $105 million of Series C funding

Funding heavy on AI applications and innovation for enterprise-level solutions.

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19 August
Mary O'Connell

Blue Yonder acquires Optoro to streamline returns

Returns have become one of the most difficult and expensive parts of modern retail logistics.

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Mary O'Connell

Envirotainer invests in Swiss Airtainer to drive sustainable innovation in pharmaceutical cold chain

This partnership offers a preview of the future: smarter containers that integrate renewable energy, digital visibility, and lightweight design into one solution.

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Mary O'Connell

Overhaul Strengthens Supply Chain Transparency with FreightVerify Deal

This acquisition promises to bridge the gap between merely tracking shipments and understanding the broader impacts of those shipments on inventory and customer experiences.

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15 August
Mary O'Connell

Tech Ropundup: Ocean freight gets real-time container visibility upgrades

Explore FreightTech advancements in ocean freight visibility, AI in energy management, and responsible AI governance.

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13 August
Mary O'Connell

DoKaSch Temperature Solutions opens new service station in Atlanta

DoKaSch’s Opticooler containers are known for their high-performance temperature control

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12 August
Mary O'Connell

GoodShip raises $25 million in Series B funding round

GoodShip is expanding its team and operations, establishing a new headquarters in Bellevue.

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08 August
Mary O'Connell

Tech Roundup: Cold chain welcomes on-demand expedited freight bookings

Combating fraud and making cold chain more accessible make up the tech roundup of the week.

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07 August
Mary O'Connell

Opposing strategies put brokerages on top

One AI and tech-heavy, and the other is focusing on long-term growth.

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06 August
Mary O'Connell

Fresh Del Monte and CMA CGM shift to containerized produce to improve quality

Reducing waste and improving visibility is paramount in produce cold chain shipping.

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05 August
01 August
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: The cold chain goes to space

Inside this edition: NASA explores cryogenic fuel storage, a new gel for cold chain shipping and protein-packed frozen treats.

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Jul - 2025 -
29 July
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Long live Convoy

In this edition: Breaking down the Convoy sale to DAT and the rail merger of the century.

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25 July
22 July
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Broker liability hits the headlines once again

In this edition: Breaking down the new broker liability case in the Appeals Court and LTL classification changes get paused.

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18 July
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: GHX rolls out new AI capabilities to strengthen healthcare supply chains

In this edition: GHX new AI solutions for healthcare, Lineage expands in Kentucky, and mochi mixes with ice cream sandwiches.

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15 July
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Cross-border volumes surge ahead of possible tariffs

In this edition: Cross-border volumes between the U.S. and Mexico surge and the weekly shipper report.

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Mary O'Connell

ColdTrack gets 100% pack accuracy for perishable order fulfillment

Cold and frozen eCommerce brands get the reliability needed to better serve customers.

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11 July
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: New partnerships come to the cold chain

In this edition: Compass and Illuminate partner for new TemperPack+, Nordic Cold Chain Solutions has a new GLP-1 packaging solution, and bananas swing for the freezer aisle.

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08 July
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Tariffs pushed again

In this edition: breaking down the new deadline for tariffs and expansion into Mexico.

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03 July
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Port Laredo becomes a cold chain powerhouse

In this edition: Breaking down top cold chain hubs, developments in the autoimmune drugs, and ramen comes to the frozen aisle.

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01 July
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: What a shipper wants, what a shipper needs 

In this edition: Breaking down Denim’s Shipper Pulse report and Carrier Source’s weekly shipper report.

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Jun - 2025 -
27 June
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: World Refrigeration Day brings about the future of cold chain

In this edition: World Refrigeration Day, The rising demand for cold chain in the Middle East and North Africa, and cultivated meat makes headway.

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Mary O'Connell

Cold chain market in Middle East and North Africa expected to hit $41.1 billion by 2030

BCC Research recently released the “Cold Chain Regional Analysis Market: Middle East and North Africa(MENA)” market analysis.

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25 June
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: It’s about giving more than receiving 

In this edition: The Go-Giver book review and cyberattacks hit again.

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20 June
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Europe’s Cold Storage Sector Is Heating Up

In this edition: Breaking down the OC&C strategy report, Roadtex gets an expansion, and P.F. Changs expand their presence in the freezer aisle

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17 June
Mary O'Connell

Check Call:  Shippers and 3PLs not seeing eye to eye

In this edition: Breaking down the annual NTT Data study and Mexico becomes top trading partner again.

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13 June
Mary O'Connell

 Running on Ice: The U.S. and Netherlands see biologics and self-administered therapies growth 

In this edition: Tjoapack Announces Packaging, Cold Chain Expansions in US and Netherlands, Great Point Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Eutecma, and Conagra Brands Introduces More Than 50 New Frozen Foods

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10 June
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: The 2025 supply chain roller coaster

In this edition: Key findings from the CSCMP State of Logistics report, and a new cross-border load board hits the scene.

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06 June
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Walk-in cold storage market grows its footprint

In this edition: Breaking down the new Polar King report, the pharmaceutical alliance that’s shaking up the industry and Kodiak brings sandwiches to the freezer aisle.

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03 June
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Fight against freight fraud gets help in the Senate

In this edition: Senate considers 2 bills to combat freight fraud; Zillow for warehousing.

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May - 2025 -
30 May
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Lufthansa beefs up temperature-sensitive options

In this edition: Lufthansa’s new options, Agile Cold Storage’s new facility and Dolly Parton’s freezer aisle debut.

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27 May
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: ‘Uncommon Carriers’ brings the freight – and the history

In this edition: Book chronicles author’s journey with range of carriers; the latest tech sale

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23 May
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Heart transplants get a second life

All thawed out There has been some new research around organ donors. Researchers have discovered a molecular process that occurs when donor hearts are preserved in cold storage, which contributes to failure after transplant, a study in both humans and animals shows. The team, a collaboration between Michigan Medicine and Mayo Clinic, also found a […]

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20 May
16 May
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Dry ice replacement and the future of cold chain

In this edition: Artyc PBC announces a dry ice-less device, Surfact gets a new partnership and DiGiorno brings a new crust to the pizza aisle.

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13 May
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: TIA’s annual fraud report spotlights surge in incidents

In this edition: Breaking down the TIA fraud report, and tariffs between the U.S. and China take a break.

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09 May
Mary O'Connell

DHL seeks to transform life science and health care logistics through AI

DHL views the role of AI in innovation as crucial to long-term success and development in life science and health care logistics.

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Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Americold earnings show the cold chain shake-up

In this edition: Breaking down Americold earnings, Maersk upgrades IoT devices and frozen food marketing takes a social turn.

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06 May
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ – 89 years later

In this edition: A look at an update to the original management and leadership book, and CVSA’s Roadcheck comes next week.

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02 May
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Air cargo upgrades at JFK include cold storage

In this edition: JFK gets upgrades for air cargo, DHL makes headway with health services investments, and Tillamook rolls out new ice cream flavors.

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Apr - 2025 -
29 April
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Using bonded warehouses to help shippers

In this edition: Getting into the benefits of a bonded warehouse, and cross-border doesn’t seem to slow down.

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28 April
Mary O'Connell

How do bonded warehouses work?

Tariffs can take a toll on the bottom line. Bonded warehouses help combat that.

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25 April
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: UPS makes another play in the health care space

In this edition: UPS has another health care acquisition, FreezePak grows again and frozen pizza as an economic indicator. 

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24 April
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Breaking down the state of cold chain

In this edition: Breaking down the “Chain Reaction 2024” report; a new facility for Grip; and a GLP-1-friendly ice cream makes its debut.

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22 April
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Big changes coming to e-commerce imports

In this edition: Changes coming for low-value shipments, and Hispanic brands see massive market upswing.

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Mary O'Connell

Combating freight fraud with certificates of insurance 

Key strategies for combating fraud involve certificates of insurance for supply chain partners. 

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15 April
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: New legislation targets freight fraud

In this edition: The fight against freight fraud steps up and why a water fight can affect the supply chain.

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11 April
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Health care logistics gets huge investments

In this edition: Health care sector sees massive investment from small-parcel carriers, a new cold storage acquisition and a disruption in the ice pop space. 

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08 April
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: LTL stocks brace for tariff impact

In this edition: Breaking down what to expect for earnings season and APM Terminals makes big moves at the Panama Canal.

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04 April
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Pharmaceutical supply chain sidesteps tariffs, for now

In this edition: Pharma world catches a short-term break, and frozen pizza combos get a trend forecast.

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01 April
Mary O'Connell

Fresh food gets faster with Grupo Mas and Cimcorp partnership

Consumers want fresh fruits and vegetables year-round. Grupo Mas and Cimcorp are seeking to address the challenges that demand places on the supply chain.

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Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Tariff watch Round 3, the big one 

In this edition: Planning for possibly significant supply chain disruption with tariffs on 15 countries, and manufacturers are getting creative with ways to mitigate the impacts of tariffs.

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Mar - 2025 -
27 March
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Mr. Cold Chain goes to Washington

In this edition: The Fridge Act debuts in Congress, a hockey puck aims to tackle cargo theft, and peanut butter cones at your fingertips.

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26 March
Mary O'Connell

SFOO Summit: 30 years of carrier improvement and development with Truckstop

Trust between carriers and freight brokers is paramount. Truckstop is on the front lines helping to enhance these relationships.

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25 March
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: ‘Sell With a Story’ review and LTL spinoffs

In this edition: A book review for “Sell With a Story,” and FedEx freight moves spinoff forward

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21 March
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Pharmaceutical supply chain headed for $5.3B valuation

In this edition: Pharmaceutical supply chains set for growth, building reliability for vaccines in developing areas and the return of a favorite ice cream bar

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18 March
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: DHL looks at the global freight market

In this edition: What the “DHL Trade Atlas 2025” report forecasts, and the unofficial start to produce season has arrived.

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14 March
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: The cold chain gets an acquisition, a warehouse and new sorbets

In this edition: Lineage acquires a new cold storage company; Foley, Alabama, gets a new cold storage warehouse and Häagen-Dazs brings new sorbet to the freezer aisle. 

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11 March
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Broker transparency heads to court

In this edition: A new lawsuit over broker transparency and warehousing space comes at a premium.

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07 March
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Tariffs may bode ill for already rising pharmaceutical costs

In this edition: Health care and pharmaceutical supply chains face upheaval with tariffs on Chinese goods, a new rapid thaw unit hits the market, and the frozen french fry section gets tastier.

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04 March
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Tariffs finally arrive in US supply chains

In this edition: Breaking down the impact of tariffs on U.S. supply chains and a new project44 and SONAR partnership.

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Feb - 2025 -
28 February
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Pharma shipping containers get an upgrade

In this edition: Envirotainer enhances pharma supply chains, Wabash boosts trailers and DiGiorno heads to the ranch. 

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26 February
Mary O'Connell

3PL Summit: The art of scheduling appointments for supply chain success

Appointments are the most commonly overlooked component of the supply chain but are crucial to keeping operations running smoothly.

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Mary O'Connell

3PL Summit: Retaining top talent for operational excellence

AI is moving in but transportation is inherently a people business. How do we make sure the human touch is there while having AI as a support system?

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Mary O'Connell

3PL Summitt: What does visibility actually mean?

Visibility was set to be the be-all, end-all solution in logistics. Did it deliver what it promised?

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Mary O'Connell

3PL Summit: Managing your inbox with AI technology

Freight can be made or broken by response time on rate quotes. Front has the AI assistant that helps brokers work faster to get responses out.

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