Modern Shipper

UPS Flight Forward has an option to buy up to 150 electric aircraft that can transport up to 1,400 pounds of cargo each from Beta Technologies.

Singapore-based ride-hailing company Grab is expected to go public via a SPAC with a fund from Altimeter Growth, according to a report.

Global logistics provider Pilot Freight Services has acquired DSI Logistics, a last-mile heavy goods specialty provider.

This clever twist on micro-fulfillment centers offers a futuristic model for urban retailing and fulfillment. And it comes as companies test out a bevy of automated, unmanned service models, from dark stores to drones and autonomous delivery fleets.

Electric-assisted cargo bikes are being implemented as cities face challenges with congestion, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and parking.

Entertainment fulfillment company Gnarlywood will deploy inVia Robotics AI-powered warehouse software and autonomous robots as part of a warehouse automation strategy.

Isuzu trucks will install technology from autonomous vehicle startup Gatik on its medium-duty N-Series truck models.

Having proved it could achieve 100% offsetting of CO2 emissions from Expedited Max in 2020, DHL eCommerce Solutions is officially declaring its service with the highest carbon footprint as carbon-neutral moving forward.

The growth in e-commerce coincided with an increase in cybercriminals attacking payment systems in 2020, with 50% more cyberattacks attempted in 2020 than in 2019, a new report said.

Research firm Cowen has set a price target of $28.50 per share for EV startup Arrival – more than $10 higher than Monday’s trading price. Cowen cited its unique approach to manufacturing as one reason for its optimism.

Drone tests continue to accelerate, with A2Z Drone Delivery and DroneUp combining to complete commercial deliveries of Coca-Cola products in Georgia.

BLAZE has experienced rapid growth from the introduction of BLAZEPAY, facilitating over $1 billion in annualized gross merchandise value.

John Krafcik, who led Waymo, the former Google self-driving car project, to recognized leadership in autonomous vehicles, is stepping down as CEO.

GreenDropShip has a new app for Shopify sellers, opening the door for them to add over 20,000 grocery items to their online stores.

The March report may be the last for a while in which a comparison to last year is meaningful.

Curri, a technology company that specializes in last-mile services for the construction industry, has secured a $6 million Series A funding round.

As more millennials enter the workforce and the global economy deals with COVID-related work-from-home trends, more business e-commerce transactions have moved online.

Other highlights from the monthly report: Soaring employment in warehouses is starting to moderate.

Crafts retailer Michaels is adding same-day delivery through Instacart from more than 100 stores as more consumers order materials for projects online.

Amazon Air has hired Canadian all-cargo carrier Cargojet to provide crews, maintenance and insurance for two aircraft it plans to use to move e-commerce parcels.

California has proposed a sustainability regulation for transportation network companies, including Uber and Lyft, that would require 90% of all rides to take place in electric vehicles by 2030.

UrbanFootprint is looking at case studies on drone deliveries, focusing on how its tools can help municipalities and drone providers with planning logistics.

A ransomware gang is threatening to leak 2 terabytes of files stolen from shipping firm ECU Worldwide in the aftermath of a cyberattack as the owner vows to “take any steps necessary, legal and otherwise,” to protect customer data.

The city of Aspen has been running a parking reservation pilot program with Coord that enables commercial delivery fleets to secure parking spaces for their vehicles.

STORD, which describes itself as a cloud supply chain company, has secured a $65 million funding round as it seeks to expand upon its logistics capabilities.

The New York City last-mile fleet will have 40 electric vehicles, with the Los Angeles region adding 50 more, IKEA said.

“We want to give a voice to third-party sellers,” said Bringg’s VP of Alliances.

“What is really attractive is the technology platform that enables the retailer to do a full assortment of products.”

PayPal announced it will allow consumers to make online payments with cryptocurrencies through its Checkout with Crypto offering.

More municipalities have been capping the fees DoorDash can charge restaurants, and the delivery company is fighting back with added charges for consumers that it says are necessary to keep operating.

Canadian courier Purolator has added electric trucks and cargo bikes to its Vancouver fleet as it continues to deploy more environmentally friendly delivery vehicles.

XGen has launched a platform that connects to e-commerce sites, providing shoppers with a more personalized experience with relevant recommendations and other interactions.

Chipotle reveals it has invested in self-driving vehicle startup Nuro as it looks at new ways consumers will engage with the brand.

Amazon is reversing course and dropping plans to monitor drivers for mask wearing compliance in its branded vehicles.

As consumers become accustomed to same-day delivery, retailers and their delivery partners are facing increased pressure to improve the overall experience.

Air Transport Services Group is riding the e-commerce wave. It’s expanding its fleet to meet demand from Amazon and other customers.

Also on the podcast: Why retail diesel prices don’t drop as fast as declines in wholesale.

Increased use of micro-fulfillment centers and more efficient vehicles and routing can reduce carbon emissions by 25% in urban environments, according to Accenture.

DHL Express was pleased with a trial of nine Lightning eMotors electric Ford Transit vans and is now ordering an additional 89 units to deploy in New York and California.

Cargo Cove is the latest logistics company to move toward automation in its warehouse, adding AI-powered software and eventually autonomous robots to its Jacksonville facility.

Strong e-commerce demand, tight supply and higher construction materials costs are a challenging brew for occupiers, CBRE says.

Yum! Brands already has 900 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell locations across 35 countries using the platform for ordering food on messaging applications

With a 148% increase in e-commerce returns in 2020 over 2019, the need for online brands to better manage the customer experience is increasing, making end-to-end solutions a necessity.

RPG has acquired a 200,000-square-foot San Diego industrial facility with plans to redevelop it to accommodate e-commerce warehousing and distribution.

Uber’s decision to upgrade the status of its U.K. drivers puts added pressure on the company in the U.S. to do the same, even though experts say it has no legal impact on this side of the Atlantic.

Parcel initiatives are expected to bring in $24 billion in new net revenue by 2020, the agency said in releasing its 10-year reorganization plan.

The company buys products directly from a manufacturer and distributes those goods throughout more than 250 micro-fulfillment centers. With its contracted driver network and a flat fee of $1.95, goPuff promises 30-minute delivery 24/7.

URB-E believes its electric bike that pulls an 800-pound capacity cargo container can replace a single delivery van in cities, reducing emissions and improving last-mile and on-demand delivery networks.

Trent Broberg, the former COO of Truckstop.com, has been named CEO of ACERTUS, a technology-focused automotive logistics firm.

UK electric van and bus startup Arrival adds to Charlotte, North Carolina, presence with second US microfactory targeted to fill UPS order.

As COVID-19 restrictions eased across the county, the number of Americans ordering groceries online dropped in February, led by a decrease in the over-60 age bracket.

Perch is helping smaller brands pool their resources to lower logistics costs and better compete on Amazon’s vast marketplace.

U.K. delivery company Deliveroo has set its IPO price range, giving the Amazon-backed company a nearly $12 billion valuation.

FedEx and UPS have invested billions of dollars to replicate the favorable characteristics of B2B traffic for B2C. The long battle seems to be turning in their favor.

A Miami-based insurance startup is offering gig workers the opportunity to purchase disability insurance that would protect them in case of income disruptions.

Even as the relationship between Ryder and Chanje was hitting the rocks, Ryder continued to do new deals with the supplier of electric vehicles and touted its role in the company’s green plans.

E-commerce and the increasing desire to conduct digital transactions are driving rapid change in the payments industry.

Walmart plans to convert a Dallas store for online order pickup for customers.

The NLRB action is a gathering of earlier Teamsters actions against Universal, now pulled together in one filing by the government agency.

Instacart may wait until after the majority of Americans are vaccinated to go public so investors can better gauge the company’s growth potential, according to a report.

Sun Country normally flies to sunny destinations. But with Amazon as its cargo customer, it’s heading to Fairbanks, Alaska.

Amazon has started testing Rivian electric delivery vans in San Francisco as part of its planned rollout of 10,000 electric vehicles by 2022.

In the funding announcement, Dutchie reported it acquired two cannabis retail technologies — software provider LeafLogix and retail platform Greenbits — for an undisclosed amount.

Hiring and retaining drivers is an art more than a science.

Flytrex, which is testing drone grocery delivery in North Carolina, has landed $9 million in funding to help it scale production in the U.S. as it nears FAA certification.

Refraction AI discovered many last-mile AVs used a sensor system known as LiDAR, which was causing bottlenecks in deploying these vehicles into the real world.

Delivery software provider Onfleet is joining forces with Bond, an artificial intelligence platform, to offer e-commerce sellers an integrated solution that takes the customer from checkout to delivery in a single offering.

Census Bureau data showed a decline in February sales, but levels remain elevated from a year ago as new stimulus hits

A lawsuit in New York claims that rideshare company Via has refused to pay for and enter arbitration with drivers who believe they are employees and not independent contractors.

Brands big and small want more control over the customer experience, including data and service, and technology firms and logistics providers can now offer brands an Amazon alternative. The tension between retailers and brands is nothing new, but the battle between them has never been this acute thanks to the likes of Shopify, ShipBob, XPO and others.

Chicago Rockford and Cologne Bonn airports operate under the shadow of Chicago O’Hare and Frankfurt airports. But they are rising stars in the cargo arena and have decided to pool their resources.

The new rules approved by the NLRB could be overturned by the Biden administration but only after a formal rulemaking.

Micromobility company Helbiz will secure approximately $82.5 million when it is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange through a SPAC deal expected to close in the second quarter.

Global payments technology provider Stripe has raised $600 million in a new funding round at a $95 billion valuation, making it the most expensive startup in the U.S.

The company can deliver over 90% of its orders same or next day, and has access to 99% of the population.

The legal reason cited for the withdrawal is the elevation of two principles of “economic realities,” which the Wage and Hour Division says have not been used by courts in the past.

Major retail brands are reaching consumers wherever they can these days, and that means more livestreamed special events with social media influencers.

DeJoy testifies that the Postal Service must focus on increasing its 35% share of the package market currently dominated by private carriers.

Southeast Asian rideshare company Grab is in talks to go public through a SPAC led by Altimeter Capital, according to published reports.

A team from the University of Maryland Medical Center has been honored for completing the first drone delivery of an organ for transplant in 2019.

A change in IRS tax code included in the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill will require sellers and other businesses paying out more than $600 to gig workers to file tax forms with the IRS.

Fluid Truck specializes in box trucks and cargo vans and focuses on last mile

FedEx rebrands the service FedEx Ground Economy to reflect full control of last-mile deliveries.

Gig workers are eligible for unemployment payments but verifying income levels can be difficult. The Workers Lab and Steady are teaming up to improve the process.

Federal stimulus checks will be heading by direct deposit and mail to millions of Americans, who will quickly turn to their computers to place online orders that flood parcel networks.

By some accounts, Instacart owns 50% of the online grocery market. With an IPO upcoming, I wanted to look back at how Instacart has gone from niche to necessity and question whether it can maintain this dominant position in a highly competitive, highly sought-after market post-COVID.

The PRO Act would impact only the regulatory power of the National Labor Relations Act and is mostly targeted toward making unionization easier.

The California Labor Commissioner’s Office has fined Green Messengers and Amazon.com Services a total of $6.4 million for what it said was wage theft from delivery drivers.

When David Cabello dropped out of college, he knew he wanted to make a difference, so he started a food delivery business that caters to Black-owned restaurants.

Seventeen Democratic House members introduced a bill to assure the Postal Service electrifies its delivery fleet. It could get Workhorse back in the game.

GoFor Industries will work with Aurora Aerial on a drone delivery test program, starting in Canada before expanding into other markets.

PayPal is paying an undisclosed sum to acquire Curv, a cryptocurrency and digital asset security provider.

Using data from consumer tracking firm Commerce Signals, the idea that e-commerce sales significantly hurt in-store sales during COVID-19 may not be completely accurate.

The World Wildlife Fund’s Farmers Post concept would connect farmers with consumers through the Postal Service’s delivery network.

Safeway is the latest supermarket to begin a test of robots for contactless delivery of online grocery orders.

More consumers prefer to-go or delivery food experiences, so Applebee’s is testing ghost kitchens and delivery-only brands.

Courier gains stood out as an upward trend while others were lower.

Delivery drone manufacturer Flirtey is ramping up production and now taking preorders for its system.

Instacart may forgo the traditional path to public status and sell its shares directly to the public, according to a Reuters report.

February generally shows an increase in the number of trucking jobs, but not in 2021