Logistics

Cross-border postal exchanges fall 21% through pandemic

As the pandemic sparks an economic crisis, the world's postal services will also, to varying degrees, struggle financially.

By Matt Leonard • May 29, 2020

UPS announces peak surcharges on certain domestic shipments starting Sunday

The fees can add up quickly for e-commerce shippers confronted with exceptionally high order volumes during the pandemic.

By Shefali Kapadia • May 28, 2020

Drones and delivery trucks could work together, but regulatory hurdles remain

Using drones and trucks for a hybrid delivery system can leverage the best elements of both modes within a shipper's network, according to a recent MIT research paper. 

By Morgan Forde • May 28, 2020

Expeditors acquires digital platform from Fleet Logistics to enhance LTL

Acquisition has been a less-common way for traditional brokerage and forwarding players to boost their digital capabilities.

By Emma Cosgrove • May 27, 2020

Target resumes grocery pickup pilot

The retailer had paused the rollout of fresh, frozen and refrigerated grocery items to its Drive Up program back in March when the pandemic hit.

By Jeff Wells • May 21, 2020

Research conflicts on drone delivery costs, efficiency as parcel carriers scale operations

While Gartner estimates drone fleets could reduce operations costs by 70%, some research indicates drone operations, at scale, could be up to 10 times less energy efficient than vans.

By Morgan Forde • May 21, 2020

Target tests post-store sort center for last-mile delivery

The downstream locations are intended to remove parcel sorting from stores as Target shipped 80% of e-commerce orders from stores in Q1. 

By Emma Cosgrove • May 20, 2020

Experts: 3 ways coronavirus has shifted supply chains' focus

Practitioners from across the industry came together at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to discuss how the pandemic is affecting their operations. 

By Matt Leonard • May 20, 2020

Americold, Ahold Delhaize partner to build 2 automated cold chain warehouses

Automation features in the warehouses will include integrated transportation management systems (TMS), end-to-end forecasting and inventory replenishment technology.

By Krishna Thakker • May 19, 2020

Column

COVID-19 may put industrial distribution back in the game

Manufacturers may look to their industrial distribution network as an opportunity to satisfy more customers and rebuild their market share.

By Rich Weissman • May 19, 2020

FedEx, Microsoft partner on 'near-real-time' parcel tracking

The multi-year collaboration will power FedEx logistics solutions with Microsoft's Azure cloud service and ERP platform, Dynamics 365.

By S.L. Fuller • May 18, 2020

DHL pilots e-cargo bikes in Miami to reduce congestion, pollution

Miami partnered with DHL and Reef Technologies to pilot the bikes for last-mile deliveries, a move that's expected to reduce carbon emissions by 101,000 kg annually.

By Cailin Crowe • May 18, 2020

JD.com delivery costs reach 'all-time low' with pandemic volume growth

For several U.S. firms, including Amazon, a flood of volume driven by stay-at-home orders and social distancing hasn't led to the economies of scale JD executives described.

By Emma Cosgrove • May 18, 2020

DHL: Online orders pushed parcel volume to peak season levels in April

Domestic parcel volume has increased by 36% and cross-border numbers increased by 28% compared to daily averages seen in February.

By Morgan Forde • May 14, 2020

Warehouse capacity contracts as imports arrive amid low demand, closed storefronts

XPO and Flexe said customers are looking for places to store inventory that has nowhere else to go.

By Matt Leonard • May 12, 2020

Deep Dive

COVID-19 changed the stakes for e-commerce. Do fulfillment networks need to change too?

A global pandemic that drove consumers into their homes, cratered demand for discretionary goods and upped screen time has changed the risk calculus for e-commerce fulfillment.

By Emma Cosgrove • May 12, 2020

Target to acquire Deliv tech as the last-mile startup shuts down

The retailer will use Deliv's proprietary batching and routing technology to research and develop faster and cheaper delivery methods.​

By Matt Leonard • May 11, 2020

Peloton struggles with upstream delays amid pandemic demand surge

The at-home fitness juggernaut acquired one of its major manufacturers in Taiwan in October 2019 in an effort to mitigate supply issues, but the facility will not be fully online until December 2020, executives said. 

By Emma Cosgrove • May 11, 2020

Amazon Freight expands to 48 states, furthering control of its logistics network

The majority of carriers and brokers viewed Amazon's entry to freight hauling negatively, fearing it would push down dry van spot rates. 

By Jim Stinson • May 07, 2020

Pandemic tests Wayfair's operational efficiency as orders increase, losses continue

The company is in the process of hiring an additional 1,000 workers to handle pandemic-driven shipment volume growth, COO Thomas Netzer said on a Tuesday call with analysts.

By Emma Cosgrove • May 05, 2020

US military has logistics expertise to oversee ventilator sharing among states: Health Affairs paper

The federal government must have "visibility into not only how many ventilators exist, but also where they are located in real-time," the author of the paper wrote. Currently, it does not.

By Susan Kelly • May 04, 2020

Walmart adds 2-hour delivery service

The retailer will lean on its vast store network and existing delivery partners to execute speedy last-mile deliveries. 

By Shefali Kapadia • May 01, 2020

Amazon's fulfillment slows, coronavirus adds $4B in projected Q2 operational cost

The cost of shipping in Q1 was in line with the company's expectations for the continuing costs of one-day Prime, CFO Brian Olsavsky said.

By Emma Cosgrove • April 30, 2020

UPS and Michaels launch contactless parcel pickup, drop-off service

Omnichannel options have become increasingly popular alternatives for retailers as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to force store closures in many states.

By Morgan Forde • April 30, 2020

UPS partners with CVS on residential drone delivery in Florida

UPS' Flight Forward division will run drones between a CVS location and a central delivery point near a local retirement community, where a ground vehicle will take deliveries to customer residences.

By Morgan Forde • April 29, 2020