4 elements of the next phase of last-mile delivery

The technologies to move retail delivery forward already exist. The next step is fully weaving last-mile services into the retail landscape.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 20, 2021

FedEx announces Ground, Express surcharges beginning February, citing high volume

With peak season now in the rearview mirror, the announcement of the new surcharges highlights just how much FedEx plans to rely on these fees to manage its network moving forward.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 15, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Supply Chain Dive

Here’s how companies are navigating rising costs, network changes and logistics disruptions across global supply chain networks.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Loves Furniture declares bankruptcy following shipping issues, Penske Logistics dispute

Loves leadership says it has "too much inventory and too little cash" to operate its stores. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 13, 2021

UPS, Verizon, Skyward partner on 5G drone delivery in Florida

Many details on the partnership have yet to be disclosed, but the companies say 5G will be important to scaling delivery fleets.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 13, 2021

Walmart to test refrigerated boxes that store grocery deliveries outside homes

The secure, internet-connected units can hold items at various temperatures and use ultraviolet light to kill viruses, mold and mildew.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 13, 2021

FAA: New drone rules address safety, provide more operational flexibility

While the industry has seen a flurry of drone activity with UPS, Amazon Prime, Walmart and others, regulation and investment hurdles have precluded more widespread adoption for delivery operations.

By A.B. Brown • Jan. 5, 2021

Parcel 2020: The year of surcharges, volume caps and peak on top of peak

E-commerce shipments started to flood logistics networks as early as May.

By Shefali Kapadia • Dec. 18, 2020

Walmart to take middle-mile trucks driverless in Arkansas

Since the retailer began its self-driving pilot with Gatik last year, the trucks have traveled more than 70,000 operational miles in autonomous mode.

By Rosie Bradbury • Dec. 16, 2020

JB Hunt sets out on expedition for final-mile acquisitions

Carriers see opportunity in last mile as e-commerce grows. Buying smaller fleets comes with the books of business, the talent and the know-how to enter the final-mile market.

By Jim Stinson • Dec. 14, 2020

LaserShip ups automation in NYC region as national carriers refuse pickups

The role of regional carriers in the e-commerce landscape has grown in 2020 as national carriers are stretched to their limits and institute surcharges to compensate.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 4, 2020

Pitney Bowes offers same-day delivery as fast as 2 hours with gig economy last-mile partners

The launch of same-day service is an early sign of the gig economy penetrating the small parcel market.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 2, 2020

Micro-fulfillment: Where it works for supply chains — and where it doesn't

The model offers close access to consumers, but executing it can be a challenge, especially without technology to track and manage decentralized inventory.

By Jen A. Miller • Dec. 1, 2020

Best Buy tests limited SKUs on store floor to make space for fulfillment

The retailer will add 90 ship-from-store hubs during the holiday season, supplementing the 250 ship-from-store locations it piloted in September.

By Shefali Kapadia • Nov. 25, 2020

Walmart boosts last-mile delivery tech with M&A

The retailer's move to acquire the 5-year-old app startup JoyRun presents more evidence that Walmart's last-mile strategy continues to diversify.

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 23, 2020

Ahold Delhaize strengthens omnichannel presence with majority stake in FreshDirect

The partnership with a deep-pocketed company like Ahold Delhaize also could strengthen FreshDirect's ability to compete against well-funded rivals like Instacart and Uber.

By Sam Silverstein • Nov. 18, 2020

The implications of shipping direct to consumer

On top of high costs, fast and free delivery expectations, and returns, brands also put customer retention at risk by forfeiting control over the last mile.

By Caroline Jansen • Nov. 16, 2020

Walmart taps self-driving vehicle startup Cruise for autonomous deliveries

In addition to adding Cruise to its self-driving vehicle roster, Walmart has tested autonomous delivery vehicles from Nuro and autonomous middle-mile logistics with Gatik. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 12, 2020

PepsiCo pilots micro-fulfillment tech for e-commerce orders

The pilot facility outside Chicago will expedite the picking process while requiring less floor space than traditional picking, according to PepsiCo.

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 11, 2020

What we know about Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine distribution plan

The pharmaceutical company plans to ship vials directly from manufacturing plant to point of vaccination in a supply chain model it described as flexible and just in time.

By Matt Leonard • Nov. 11, 2020

Uber scales up grocery delivery operations to compete with Instacart, Shipt

Uber's foray into the competitive grocery delivery space earlier this year is emerging as a pillar of the company's ongoing effort to evolve from its ride-hailing roots into a multifaceted logistics organization.

By Sam Silverstein • Nov. 6, 2020

Wayfair's logistics network is getting a workout due to the pandemic, but will it last?

Questions from analysts about the max capacity of Wayfair's network mark a reversal from just a few months ago when concern about the timeline for full network utilization was top of mind.

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 4, 2020

Mapping and charting the growth of regional parcel carriers

Alternatives to UPS and FedEx have brought on major retailers over the last several years, with expansion accelerating during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting parcel boom.

By Shefali Kapadia • Nov. 2, 2020

The Bronx braces for an e-commerce distribution revolution

The borough offers nearly a dozen connections to Manhattan, making quick last-mile delivery possible. But New York traffic and real estate prices aren't for everyone.

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 27, 2020

Supply chain cities on the rise

Large populations, inland infrastructure, ports and advantageous tax codes can bring shippers and carriers knocking, putting cities on the fast track to logistics hub status.

Updated Nov. 17, 2020

Las Vegas plays its next ace in distribution

Industrial real estate is booming in Las Vegas with short transit times west of the Mississippi River and a business-friendly tax structure.

By Gary Wollenhaupt • Oct. 27, 2020