The Latest
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Walmart faces growing pains as e-commerce sales surge 40%
The management team said increased investment in fulfillment has helped drive the growth, but work needs to be done to make it more profitable.
Operations -
Maersk strikes deal with refiner to secure low-sulfur fuel source
An adequate supply of low-sulfur fuel is essential to keeping the cost of the IMO 2020 transition in check, as 60% of a ship's operating cost is fuel.
Regulation -
Cargo theft on the decline, California tops list
Full truckloads accounted for 74% of cargo thefts in 2018, and electronics were the most common item stolen, making up 20% of all thefts.
Freight -
Honda to close 34-year-old UK plant, shift operations to Japan
The automaker said the decision is due to "unprecedented changes in the global automotive industry," while a labor union blamed the U.K. government's handling of Brexit.
Regulation -
Kroger announces 2 more Ocado sites
The grocer plans to build its second and third automated warehouses in the Mid-Atlantic and central Florida.
Operations -
Walmart stands up container fleet, uses drivers for drayage
The retailer has been pleasantly surprised by the extra efficiency gained by taking more control of intermodal loads.
Freight -
US-China trade talks resume in Washington
High-level talks begin Thursday at the White House, preceded by deputy talks starting Tuesday.
Regulation -
Amazon pledges 50% net-zero carbon shipments by 2030
Steps toward this new target, deemed "Shipment Zero," along with information regarding "Amazon’s company-wide carbon footprint" will be released later in the year.
Freight -
AstraZeneca adjusts supply chain for no-deal Brexit
The pharmaceutical company will change its packaging, duplicate testing and build inventory ahead of the impending Brexit deadline.
Regulation -
Uber Freight teases international expansion
"We have a dedicated team looking into viable international markets for Uber Freight," the company said, but a spokesperson said Uber Freight is not currently releasing any target countries or regions outside the U.S.
Freight -
85% of retailers haven't digitized end-to-end supply chain: study
Respondents to the survey named cost as the biggest roadblock to adopting digital processes.
Technology -
GE leans on high-tech warehouse to capitalize on booming Denver market
The center will use RFID technology to track its trucks and virtual reality systems to train new employees.
Logistics -
XPO to close Memphis warehouse at the center of pregnancy discrimination claims
The stated reason for the closure is that Verizon, whose products are shipped from the warehouse, has decided to stop employing the facility.
Logistics -
BNSF boosts spending with eyes on intermodal
Work will focus on BNSF's Northern and Southern Transcon routes, connecting Southern California with Chicago and the Pacific Northwest to Upper Midwest respectively — key routes for intermodal traffic.
Freight -
Tight labor market hits US Foods
Both U.S. Foods and Sysco hit a similar note on increased wage costs this month: this is a new normal and they have to figure out how to manage it.
Freight -
NRF contradicts government figures, spotlighting 2.9% holiday sales gain
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that November-to-December sales fell 1.2%, the lowest since 2009.
Freight -
Albertsons ditches styrofoam for recyclable insulated packaging
The company expects the change to save "75,000 pounds of packaging from the landfill every year."
Operations -
Are trailers the next big warehousing trend?
Shippers turn to alternative storage options as they seek to manage inventory headaches.
Operations -
Markdowns cost retailers $300B last year
E-commerce is making inventory management more difficult, according to a report from Coresight Research and inventory analytics firm Celect.
Operations -
Post Toys R Us, Mattel and Hasbro on different paths
Net sales fell further at Hasbro, but both toymakers face other challenges in a market with negative growth.
Operations -
Warehouse supply rises but still can't match urban demand
Consumer e-commerce habits are driving up demand while a multitude of factors are keeping supply lower than some would like, an analyst told Supply Chain Dive.
Stat of the Week -
Trump considers tariff deadline extension, may meet with Xi
The potential March meeting between the two leaders is particularly significant because President Trump has said he and Chinese President Xi will work out the final deal themselves.
Regulation -
Tesla is rushing Model 3's to China ahead of tariff deadline
The Model 3, the company's cheapest car, is not yet available in China and deliveries on preorders are slated for this spring.
Regulation -
Trucking bottlenecks cost millions and they're getting worse
Since last year, truck speeds dropped by an average of about 9% in the top 10 bottleneck locations.
Regulation -
Union Pacific to cut 250 employees, citing PSR
Another 450 employees have been furloughed in an effort to cut costs as the company reduces locomotives and leans out.
Freight