Shipper of choice: Strategic KPI or lip service?

Simply claiming to be a shipper of choice is not enough in a supply chain increasingly dependent on relationships, panelists said at the CSCMP Edge conference. "You can talk your talk, but you have to walk the walk at some point."

By Shefali Kapadia • Sept. 23, 2019

Air cargo struggles due to trade war, Hong Kong disruptions

The International Air Transport Association predicted 2019 could be the first year since 2009 that the global air freight market contracts.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 23, 2019

US rail traffic down for 7th straight month in August

Railroads have taken a hit amid trade uncertainty and a decline in agricultural exports to China. 

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 20, 2019

76% of shippers using route, load optimization in sustainability efforts

A survey found the reasons for adopting green initiatives was fairly evenly split between public perception, regulation and cost savings.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 19, 2019

Uber Freight to add flatbed, expand trailer leasing

Digital freight matching companies like Uber Freight continue to grow, changing the landscape of the brokerage space and driving innovation from startups and established brokers alike. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Sept. 17, 2019

FedEx plans to cut Express capacity, retire planes

The company expects air freight demand to continue to be weak throughout 2020, blaming ongoing global trade tensions and the loss of Amazon parcels for the drop in Express volume.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 17, 2019

Convoy Now launch provides shippers access to real-time price data

This pricing information will be available on multiple Transportation Management Solutions and shippers can connect directly to Convoy's API if they use an internal TMS.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 17, 2019

Waymo expands self-driving technology to Class 8, last mile delivery trucks

At a conference this week, Waymo's CEO announced the company has begun testing its driverless technology on Class 8 trucks and last-mile delivery vehicles. 

By Morgan Forde • Sept. 13, 2019

EEOC: Union Pacific ignored doctor's opinion of worker recovered from tumor

Employers violate the ADA if they claim an employee with medical restrictions poses a safety risk but cannot show a "direct threat," EEOC has said. 

By Lisa Burden • Sept. 13, 2019

Schneider taps AI to give shippers real-time data on load arrival times

In a pilot earlier this year, Schneider found its new technology provided a 39% improvement in estimated arrival times.

By Shefali Kapadia • Sept. 12, 2019

Survey: 80% of truck drivers blame detention for HOS compliance issues

The figure is down only slightly from 2014, indicating shipper facilities have made "have made little to no improvements to run more efficiently," the American Transportation Research Institute said. 

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 11, 2019

California Senate passes bill making it more difficult to classify workers as contractors

Assembly Bill 5 has divided the industry, with unions relaying support for the bill and carriers in opposition on the grounds it will hurt independent truck drivers. 

By Matt Leonard • Updated Sept. 11, 2019

Analysts: Uber Freight goes 'well beyond' brokerage competitors

Morgan Stanley's analysis paints a picture in which Uber Freight emerges as the clear stronghold in digital freight matching. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Sept. 9, 2019

Understanding the relationship between spot rates and truck orders can save shippers money

When spot rates go up, so do orders for Class 8 trucks as carriers bring in more money. As a result, spot rates can act as a leading indicator of contract rates.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 9, 2019

Spot markets likely to tighten after Dorian clears US shores

Trucking demand is likely to increase as the storm clears the U.S. East Coast and shippers rush to get freight back on course.

By Emma Cosgrove • Sept. 6, 2019

Maersk, Ports America invest $19M in Loadsmart Smart Drayage initiative

The Smart Drayage program, which matches containers with trucks based on ease of access, load times and haul distances, promises to reduce truck time spent at a port by 25% and container shuffles by 50%. 

By Morgan Forde • Sept. 6, 2019

Union Pacific suspends new shipper fees indefinitely

Such charges are a point of friction between railroads and shippers, especially since demurrage and accessorial fees have become more common in the age of precision-scheduled railroading (PSR), according to shippers. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Sept. 6, 2019

Maersk creates platform to manage US, Canada customs using 1 broker

The tool, known as Maersk Customs Navigator, follows the Danish carrier's acquisition of customs broker Vandegrift in February. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Sept. 5, 2019

How will dwindling coal freight affect rail shippers?

The demand for coal from utilities is expected to drop by 50% by 2030, which would lead to a $5 billion revenue loss for railroads, according to Moody's. 

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 5, 2019

Drewry: Reefer availability will be tight going into peak season

The squeeze is due to a "dramatic halt in reefer equipment expenditure" that took place in 2016, according to Drewry.

By Morgan Forde • Sept. 4, 2019

Number of trucking companies out of business in 1st half of 2019 exceeds 2018 total

Analysts blame new trucks and higher driver salaries as two factors creating increased costs for trucking companies.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 4, 2019

Ports remain closed as Hurricane Dorian crawls north along the East Coast

The Florida coast is out of the "cone of uncertainty," but this storm has proven to be unpredictable and authorities are still urging all affected areas to heed warnings and instructions. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Updated Sept. 4, 2019

Kuehne + Nagel, Air France-KLM team up on direct online bookings

The partnership, following a proof of concept, allows K+N to book directly on Air France-KLM based on real-time capacity data and dynamic pricing.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 30, 2019

FedEx to acquire freight forwarder Cargex

The company, based in Latin America, will complement FedEx Express' newly announced roundtrip Colombia-to-Miami flight, an executive said in a statement.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 30, 2019

Preparing for Brexit, UK plans $36.6M in grants for port upgrades

The U.K. Department for Transport announced this morning it will allocate 30 million British pounds ($36.6 million) to improve infrastructure at, and connecting to, major ports in anticipation of increased traffic and wait times in the event of a no-deal Brexit this fall.

By Morgan Forde • Updated Aug. 30, 2019