Cass: April volume hits 'recessionary levels,' capacity cuts remain open question

The shippers left on the market are benefiting from lower spot rates, but capacity cuts will be one indicator that market pricing could swing back in favor of carriers.

By Matt Leonard • May 14, 2020

Union Pacific cites pandemic, trucking market for end of cold chain service

Executives called refrigerated transportation "a long term growth opportunity" earlier this year, but say the COVID-19 pandemic meant the business could no longer sustain itself.

By Matt Leonard • May 12, 2020

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

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 7, 2020

Rail carriers cut capacity as intermodal volume drops 17% in April, the largest fall since 2009

CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific all mentioned reducing train starts as a result of falling demand during April earnings calls. 

By Matt Leonard • May 7, 2020

Coronavirus hit XPO revenue in Q1 despite demand surge from some shippers

The company's revenue fell in its transportation and logistics segment, but it did see some customers looking for capacity to cover a surge in demand.

By Matt Leonard • May 5, 2020

As trucking demand craters in April, rates follow

The shippers still moving loads stand to benefit from lower spot rates as the market swings in their favor.

By Matt Leonard • May 5, 2020

What every heavy haul shipper needs to know

Don't take any chances with your over-dimensional, over-weight freight.

April 29, 2020

Inside Ceva Logistics' approach to managing GM's ventilator supply chain

Retooling production from semiconductors to ventilators requires Ceva and GM to work with hundreds of new suppliers. 

By Matt Leonard • April 23, 2020

Coca-Cola reports border bottlenecks, touts localized supply chain to keep products flowing

Coca-Cola is experiencing bottlenecks delaying ingredients en route to its plants as health screenings and policy changes slow traffic at border crossings around the world.

By Emma Cosgrove • April 22, 2020

Low April shipment volumes could rival early 2009, Cass says

Shipper spending on transport fell 8% in March, and Cass said it expects transport pricing to remain low through May. 

By S.L. Fuller • April 15, 2020

JB Hunt says shippers' ability to pay is big risk in Q2

Volume may have reached its peak in March, according to DAT, and as trucking demand declines, so do some shipper revenues. 

By Emma Cosgrove • April 15, 2020

Extended truck dwell times spike late loads by 24%

Delays at facilities and warehouses show shippers are incapable of meeting demand spikes for food and packaged goods, according to a FourKites' CTO.

By Jim Stinson • April 8, 2020

As stay-at-home orders spread, deliveries speed up

Less congestion means faster and more predictable deliveries, according to data from Convoy. 

By Emma Cosgrove • March 24, 2020

XPO ends spinoff strategy in light of COVID-19 outbreak

CEO Brad Jacobs' January announcement that he would consider selling off parts of the business was a sign trucking M&A was healthy, but world events have conspired against further plans.

By Jim Stinson • March 20, 2020

Trucking demand surges as retailers restock

Analysts said demand spikes and spot rate increases are "directly attributable" to the COVID-19 outbreak as retailers attempt to restock depleted stores. 

By Matt Leonard • March 17, 2020

Struggling intermodal meets further headwinds with coronavirus

Intermodal had to compete with low spot rates in the trucking sector for all of 2019 and now must deal with a slump in demand caused by a pandemic.

By Matt Leonard • March 16, 2020

Patent Pending: Walmart's plan for reducing empty miles

Supply chain innovators apply to patent what they see as important tools for the future. Sometimes they're brilliant. Sometimes they're funny.

By Matt Leonard • March 13, 2020

XPO to acquire majority of Kuehne + Nagel's UK logistics assets

The deal gives XPO access to 75 of Kuehne + Nagel’s 83 logistics facilities in the country and a blue chip customer base in the e-commerce, technology, and food and beverage industries.

By Morgan Forde • March 10, 2020

NRF: Import bounce-back will take more time

NRF's tracker is now forecasting April imports will be down 3.5% year-over-year, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, while May and June are projected to be slightly more than 9% up. 

By Emma Cosgrove • March 10, 2020

Coronavirus: A lesson in supply chain risk management

Companies are finding workarounds as COVID-19 cases and heightened e-commerce demand continue to disrupt supply chains.

By Matt Leonard • Updated June 21, 2022

XPO cuts brokerage headcount nearly 20%, credits automation

Revenue for XPO's brokerage division was down 14% year-over-year for 2019, but the company is finding cost savings by automating the process.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 11, 2020

Trucking companies blame slow manufacturing for rough 2019 volumes

Landstar expects the weak trucking environment to continue in the coming months and said "it is difficult to predict the economic environment in the back half of 2020."

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 6, 2020

Hyundai, Airbus stop production as coronavirus leaves manufacturers scrambling

Two Hyundai suppliers, Kyungshin and Yura Corporation, have announced plans to increase production outside of China to make up for supply shortages and plan to resume production Sunday at their Chinese locations.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 5, 2020

Cummins cuts inventory by $400M anticipating truck production downturn

Private fleets are "awash in excess equipment,” according to ACT Research. Cummins' CEO said Tuesday he expects heavy-duty truck production for North America to be down 40% year-over-year in 2020.

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 5, 2020

'Extreme, unprecedented' trucking market changes hit CH Robinson

C.H. Robinson forecasted in October the market would remain favorable to shippers through the first half of 2020, and so far, the data shows the 3PL's prediction to be true.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 30, 2020