Coronavirus: Page 2

Tight truckload market pushes up spot rates in June

Knight-Swift said it expects spot rates to rise through the remainder of 2020 and result in more expensive contract rates for 2021.

By Matt Leonard • July 28, 2020

How COVID-19 is challenging and changing medtech supply chain management

Four experts share insights on the supply and demand hangups medtech companies have been working through during the pandemic, and a few early takeaways the industry can carry forward.

By Maria Rachal • July 27, 2020

Union Pacific improves service metrics despite 20% volume drop

The railroad is now building up capacity for the volume growth it expects through the balance of the year, but executives emphasized it will not return to pre-pandemic workforce or equipment levels.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 24, 2020

Deep Dive

Electronics supply chains are stuck between a pandemic and a trade war. Where do they go from here?

Shifting operations is a mammoth undertaking for the electronics industry due to China's specialized production capacities, co-location of key suppliers and economies of scale.

By Morgan Forde • July 23, 2020

United Airlines stands out with 36% revenue growth in cargo

The airline operated 3,800 cargo-only flights to transport 204 million pounds of cargo during the second quarter.

By Matt Leonard • July 23, 2020

CSX loses ground on service metrics due to volume volatility

A principal concern for the railroad was recalling workers who may have already found interim work elsewhere, delaying their return.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 23, 2020

Pork producers face $5B in losses with surplus of hogs

Pandemic-driven plant closures have slowed meat processing. The National Pork Producers Council is calling on Congress to pass financial aid for farmers.

By Lillianna Byington • July 22, 2020

Coca-Cola expands 'ruthless' SKU rationalization strategy to cut entire product lines

The beverage giant is in the process of discontinuing the Odwalla juice brand — a decision stemming from the SKU rationalization work the company has undertaken due to pandemic-related supply chain disruptions. 

By Emma Cosgrove • July 22, 2020

Pandemic-driven budget cuts increase safety risks for ocean cargo

Alllianz warns that the economic impacts of the coronavirus on shippers, carriers and workers since the downturn will encourage cost-cutting which often negatively affects safety. 

By Emma Cosgrove • July 21, 2020

Kansas City Southern's dwell time up 3% as volume returns amid cost cutting

The volume surge midway through the quarter caused the railroad to lose some progress on dwell, velocity and operations ratio compared with the same period last year.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 20, 2020

Opinion

4 ways to restore healthcare supply chains before COVID-19's second wave hits

Healthcare organizations shouldn't try to restore supply chain service to pre-pandemic levels, rather, they should focus on greater cost-effective and efficient operations, writes Jeff Berman, a principal at Grant Thorton.

By Jeff Berman • July 20, 2020

DHL: Supply chains must adapt to current conditions before post-coronavirus recovery

Transparency, investing in digital transformation, and identifying alternate supply and distribution channels are key to shoring up organizations during this "pre-new normal" phase, according to DHL's report.

By Morgan Forde • July 20, 2020

JB Hunt: Coronavirus costs on carriers will start to affect pricing for shippers

Fluctuating demand and increased costs from personal protective equipment and employee benefits have thrown intermodal carriers for a loop.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 17, 2020

Asos works to restore warehouse throughput, build operational flexibility for peak

The retailer will incur roughly $5.7 million in costs related to pandemic operational requirements needed to keep workers safe while scaling capacity for peak.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 17, 2020

Port of LA: 2020 volume will be lowest since Great Recession

It took nearly a decade to see levels recover after the Great Recession. But the port is confident it won't take that long this time around.

By Matt Leonard • July 16, 2020

73% of companies experienced supply-side disruption due to pandemic

Three in 10 respondents said their company would source less from the Far East.

By Matt Leonard • July 16, 2020

FAA says airlines can clear seats for cargo as airfreight rates, new coronavirus cases rise

Airlines for America applied for the exemption to remove seats on May 6, arguing it was in the public interest that the planes be available to move essential cargo during the coronavirus pandemic.

By Matt Leonard • UPDATED: July 15, 2020 at 3:25 p.m.

Robots, automation seen as solutions to social distancing hurdles in supply chain

The biggest benefit of automation during the pandemic has been the ability for companies to increase social distancing measures within their facilities, according to respondents to a survey from Honeywell and KRC Research. 

By Matt Leonard • July 14, 2020

Deep Dive

How a small-batch distillery improvised a hand sanitizer supply chain in 72 hours

When hand sanitizer was in short supply, nontraditional producers retooled operations and worked with suppliers to fill the gap.

By S.L. Fuller • July 14, 2020

Amazon preps for peak with restrictions on 3rd-party seller warehouse space

"Amazon is preparing for the 'worst,' which in this case it could be the best holiday season in a generation," Rick Watson, CEO of RMW Commerce Consulting, told Supply Chain Dive.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 14, 2020

An insider's look at how GM, Ventec ramped up ventilator production amid COVID-19

The weight of the Defense Production Act was key in opening doors, said the CEO of the engineering firm contracted to test each of the 30,000 devices expected under the agreement.

By Greg Slabodkin • July 13, 2020

Unilever CSCO: Agility beats forecasting when the supply chain is stressed

Every dollar spent on agility has 10 times the ROI compared to forecasting spend, according to Chief Supply Chain Officer Marc Engel.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 13, 2020

XPO relies on data to prevent workplace coronavirus spread

The company's findings indicate technology is being used as fervently as soap and water, in efforts to prevent spread and avoid hot spots.

By Jim Stinson • July 10, 2020

Will sustainability take a backseat to COVID-19 challenges?

Procurement leaders from Danone, PepsiCo, L'Oreal and more see the practices and tools gained through sustainability work as assets in the battle against pandemic supply chain disruptions.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 09, 2020

Biden releases plan to strengthen domestic supply chains

The plan positions critical medical supply chains as a matter of national security and would compensate companies for maintaining excess production capacity and inventory. 

By Emma Cosgrove • July 08, 2020