Modern Shipper

FedEx Freight has more business in some regions than it can manage, so it is freeing up capacity by telling hundreds of customers it won’t pick up their shipments starting Monday, June 14.

Offering speed enables retailers to build scale and density, but only if expectations are appropriately set and delivered on as promised.

Spartacus will acquire the company in a valuation of more than $1B; more than $400M will be plowed back into the business for growth.

SaaS platform company Cleo, which specializes in the integration of B2B enterprise data and saw rapid growth in 2020 due to e-commerce, received a strategic investment from H.I.G. Capital.

The push to deliver items to the consumer faster is hampering efforts to create a more sustainable supply chain.

Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi has filed paperwork with the SEC for an IPO on a major U.S. stock exchange.

After a slow start, Morgan Stanley sees the urban air mobility market quickly accelerating after the year 2040, growing from a $1.5 trillion market size to more than $9 trillion in 10 years.

The company’s investor day focuses on modest projections for domestic package-delivery margins through 2023.

E-commerce technology company Stackline announced a $130 million investment from TA Associates to fund additional technology development.

Love it or hate it, the regional parcel carrier looks to clean up as e-commerce drives up demand for parcel-delivery services.

According to reports in local media, Kroger and Drone Express officially kicked off their drone delivery pilot program in Centerville, Ohio, Wednesday.

A report said that Walmart-owned Flipkart is close to securing $3 billion in new funding as the Indian e-commerce giant explores a possible IPO.

Petco leverages its stores to fulfill 83% of online sales. That’s much higher than Target’s %, which has the best omnichannel operation in retail.

Pinterest has launched new shopping features as it looks to further engage users in e-commerce.

Rideshare drivers sometimes need a cash advance to cover short-term expenses, but traditional banks offer few options. COVERR hopes to bridge that gap.

Workhorse Group has nothing significant driving its stock price higher, only retail traders seeking to make money if the price falls.

Final-mile delivery technology company OneRail announced it has added more than 1 million drivers to its network, giving shippers access to more last-mile capacity.

Conflicting surveys continue to cloud the picture on the best approach to employment status for gig workers, leaving legislators, companies and drivers in a state of uncertainty.

A tale of 2 job reports: Seasonal numbers are closely watched by economists, but the other measurement suggests some success at hiring.

FedEx remains inundated with elevated parcel volume stemming from continued online shopping resulting in longer delivery times, service blunders and upset customers.

JOKR launches in New York City Thursday with the promise of 15-minute grocery delivery.

While the company is already present in Germany, France, the U.K., Canada and Australia, it plans to use these new funds to expand internationally, specifically further into Western Europe.

DHL research released Thursday provides insights for “e-tailers that wish to lead on environmental issues,” said Greg Hewitt, CEO at DHL Express USA.

The Federal Communications Commission is sued over a decision that could affect progress in truck platooning communications.

Pitney Bowes has added ParcelPoint Smart Lockers to its parcel locker portfolio, providing a secure, technology-enabled solution for enterprises.

Cainiao, which means newcomer or beginner in Chinese, is the 8-year-old logistics unit of Alibaba. Besides providing express delivery for packages ordered through Alibaba, it is offering end-to-end logistics services to other companies.

When COVID-19 shut down gyms across the country, equipment maker Aviron needed to pivot to the home fitness market. It needed a logistics partner that could handle the difficult last mile. It found one in GlobalTranz.

“Robotic process automation is no longer a science experiment. This technology is no longer about figuring out what works. The time to consider whether to automate your warehouses has passed.”

Circle, which offers cryptocurrency-based payments for internet transactions, raised $440 million and is eyeing a potential SPAC deal.

Amazon will store and pre-position supplies for quick release in the event of natural disasters.

The digital freight platform has a big market share in China, is growing its revenue but remains unprofitable.

CtW Investment Group is asking DoorDash shareholders to vote against the reelection of co-founder Tony Xu to the board of directors, saying more oversight is needed.

The injunction blocking AB 5 is still in place for now.

Warehouse robotics firm Exotec announced footwear retailer Ariat and the world’s largest sporting goods retailer Decathlon will deploy its Skypod warehouse robotics system.

Wood is a problem and plastic is expensive; it’s just one more pressure point to worry about in the supply chain.

It seems that centralized buying and local product discovery are polar opposites. How can Whole Foods centralize buying and get better at the local level?

A white paper by TIA and CLDA stresses the need to differentiate from Amazon to succeed in final-mile delivery.

E-commerce logistics company ShipBob is now able to fulfill two-day shipping for sellers using the Walmart Marketplace.

In an investment note this week, Mizuho Securities USA indicated it believes the Biden administration is more likely to issue guidance on gig worker classification rather than a formal rule.

Canada Post says a cyberattack and data breach at an EDI supplier impacted 44 of its major parcel shippers and nearly 1 million of its customers.

Big integrated parcel carriers are constantly adding aircraft to their fleet, but that expansion is going even faster to keep up with e-commerce. DHL Express is even starting an airline in Austria to keep up.

Uber is reportedly close to a deal with GMB, a U.K.-based labor union, to provide representation for rideshare drivers as it works to comply with a recent U.K. Supreme Court decision saying drivers were entitled to minimum wage.

A survey from SOTI has found transportation and logistics companies trying to keep up with the e-commerce demand continue to face technology integration issues, costing them several days per month per employee in productivity.

FedEx is raising the fees on U.S. residential deliveries, its Ground Economy service and on packages requiring “additional handling.”

The FAA has approved a request from Flytrex to expand its drone delivery pilot program in North Carolina to include delivery to customers’ yards.

CEO Kushal Nahata says FarEye brings cost savings to its customers but also improves the workflow and overall experience of their employees.

As more brands roll out next-day and same-day grocery delivery, the long-term profitability of these programs depends on innovation that can drive down cost and increase flexibility.

Skycart, a San Francisco-area drone startup, announced its Nimbus drone is capable of making four separate deliveries on a single flight.

Even as brands turn to more digital tools to engage with customers, many are finding success with a more traditional item — catalogs.

Amazon confirmed its annual Prime Day event will be held in Q2 (likely June), as it seeks to improve on a record Q2 2020, when revenue grew 40%. But there’s also major supply chain reasoning behind the decision.

Regulations coming out of SCQAMD are usually for stationary sources of pollution, but the rules on trucks are an expansion of its authority.


The best-in-class retailers navigated well, and managed to grow inventory considerably in the first months of the year.

The California Air Resources Board has voted to require rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft to conduct 90% of all rides in electric vehicles by 2030.

This is an excerpt from Monday’s (5/13) Point of Sale retail supply chain newsletter sponsored by ArcBest. There’s a startup that was first created to deliver essentials to college kids but is quietly capturing the imagination (and venture capital) of the tech world, and it’s time the logistics world took notice. Gopuff, founded by two friends at Drexel […]

Like the rest of the economy, gig economy companies are struggling to find drivers, and that could have a negative impact on the growth opportunity for the industry moving forward.

The electric vehicle pilot is part of Walmart’s last-mile delivery initiatives.

Upgrading fleets and equipment from 3G mobile technology to LTE requires upfront planning with a strong partner.

Oklahoma has passed a law that would remove delivery services such as Amazon Flex drivers from compliance with state trucking regulations.

“We have added the ability to have an app-based experience versus an online website to manage your back room and that kind of innovation is a big reason why our retail customers have been working with us.”

The CHIPS Act aims to subsidize companies that can set up domestic manufacturing plants to create a more resilient supply chain for the future demand of semiconductors.

More manufacturers are looking into digital sales and marketing channels as their customers increasingly move online.

People are eager for face-to-face gatherings. But health and safety issues will still call the shots.

Four FreightTech companies demonstrated their innovative technology solutions during FreightWaves LIVE @HOME on Wednesday.

Four FreightTech firms demonstrate their innovative technology solutions for transportation companies during FreightWaves LIVE @HOME.

Arrival, which has a large electric van order from UPS, has selected HERE Technologies to provide turn-by-turn navigation and a location visibility platform for vehicles.

The company’s pickup and delivery revenue jumps; about 95% of sales were fulfilled from stores

The Kansas City region, with its centralized location, is becoming a prime area for commercial warehouse space, with KC Smartport expecting 15 million square feet to become available in 2021.

J.B. Hunt’s 360 digital freight-matching platform will play a core role in helping the company and its customers thrive in a historically challenging environment, Simpson says.

Fidelity had led a $360 million private funding round into BETA Technologies to speed development of small electric aircraft for passenger and cargo usage.

Major e-commerce growth led DHL Express to change aircraft and routes in Southeast Asia for package delivery.

AT&T and Sony have teamed up for a new shipping label that activates sensors to track and monitor packages as they travel throughout the supply chain.

Founders Camp, the Dynamo-powered event for founders and startup companies, will take place in November alongside FreightWaves’ F3: Future of Freight Festival in Chattanooga.

The lower court ruling favored Uber in the summary judgment but drivers won on appeal.

Ondas Holdings is acquiring American Robotics with the expectation that it can incorporate the drone company’s data-collecting capabilities into its platform for industry verticals.

Today there are two types of manufacturers: old school and new school. Which one you are will help decide the future of your business.

To help highlight its appeal to small and midsized shippers, Sendle is offering a special $1 flat rate shipping charge next week between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PDT.

Investors sent DoorDash stock soaring on Friday after the company reported stronger-than-expected earnings in Q1 and raised its guidance for full-year 2021.

DoorDash reported a 198% increase in Q1 revenue compared to Q1 2020, and a 219% increase in orders, although it still posted a negative 34-cent EPS.

Steel costs and availability could delay projects for the rest of the year, expert says.

Amazon planes are shuttling between more than 40 airports in the U.S. That translates into faster e-commerce deliveries by eliminating trucks.

PayPal is acquiring Happy Returns, a firm dedicated to improving the returns process for e-commerce orders.

ParcelLab’s platform takes in data on the ordered product but even includes weather and traffic updates to customize the delivery experience.

The staffing will be weighted toward the fulfillment and delivery centers, Amazon says.

Startup Curri is trying to apply gig economy principles to the building and materials industries. Its founders answered Modern Shipper’s questions.

ACERTUS will connect DrivrzXchange users to a network of preapproved, vetted carriers representing 20,000 tractor-trailers.

Ghost kitchen operator C3 is bringing its dining brands to brick-and-mortar locations with the launch of Citizens, a hybrid dining option offering in-person as well as pickup and delivery services.

Hypower Lab said its hydrogen fuel cell can power drones for more than three hours, increasing flight time and utility.

The use of legacy technology and the lack of real-time visibility continue to impact the ability of last-mile delivery providers to increase business, according to a Bringg report.

Rite Aid is adding same-day delivery of more than 24,000 items through DoorDash, joining competitors Walgreens and CVS in offering the service.

Sonic+ believes its super app is the key to lowering food costs and waste by connecting consumers directly with wholesalers.

How reverse logistics creates value for large-product retailers

Workhorse Group built 38 last-mile electric delivery vans in Q1 and revised its build to 1,000 trucks from 1,800 for the full year.

Vendoo’s technology allows resellers to list items on multiple marketplaces like eBay, The Real Real and Poshmark while streamlining the listing process.

Peloton stated it expects to incur $50 million in refund expenses from its treadmill recall. What will the logistics costs be?

The facility will be located about 8 miles from the Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City Terminal.

Analysts are looking at various explanations for why the number of drivers today is lower than it was two years ago.

Growing e-commerce sales of large and bulky items is creating a logistics headache for items that must be returned. It is why retailers need to have a reverse logistics process in place.

While many restaurants are getting into the ghost kitchen craze, a New York City company, WoodSpoon, believes the best meals come from a home kitchen.

By either the standard of seasonal or not seasonal jobs, gains in employment are slow given the demand for drivers.

An improving economy and a $170 million investment in Bitcoin drove payment provider Square’s revenue up 266% and profits up 79%.