Spot rates jump, ports remain closed as Laura heads north

Experts anticipate disruptions could last for days, due to high-speed winds and flooding in agricultural and energy supply chain hubs.

By Emma Cosgrove • Updated Aug. 27, 2020

Hurricane Laura expected to disrupt Gulf Coast supply chains beginning Wednesday

The Port of Houston, which handles 70% of the container cargo making land in the Gulf of Mexico, will close Wednesday and possibly Thursday.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 25, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Peak season management

Higher peak season surcharges are one risk for shippers to manage this year.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

CH Robinson allows real-time pricing, instant booking with TMS integrations

The integration lets shippers pull real-time rates into their existing systems without introducing a new tool.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 25, 2020

Case accusing carriers, chassis pool operators of 'sweetheart deal' moves forward after judge denies stay

The complaint filed by the ATA with the Federal Maritime Commission claims ocean carriers get chassis at a cheaper rate than trucking companies, resulting in overcharges totaling "as much as $1.8 billion" over the last three years.

By Matt Leonard • Updated Feb. 1, 2021

Peak season in a pandemic: What happens to freight rates and capacity?

Metrics and economic factors can help shippers gauge capacity and rates for air, ocean, trucking and rail heading into freight's busy season.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 20, 2020

Spot rates are sky high. Will contract rates follow?

Contract rates typically catch up to spot rates in three to six months, but weakness in the economy could stall an increase.

By Jim Stinson • Aug. 20, 2020

Study: Dedicated contract carriage will grow modestly as shippers seek capacity safe haven

Contracts can shield shippers now when spot rates are high, but they helped shield carriers when volumes dropped in March and April.

By S.L. Fuller • Aug. 14, 2020

JB Hunt makes 120-mile haul for Walmart in Daimler electric truck

The carrier's first delivery using an all-electric Freightliner eCascadia marked the start of a three-month testing phase.

By S.L. Fuller • Aug. 12, 2020

Strike ends at Port of Montreal, operations resume

During the 11-day strike, container terminals closed their gates to trucks as port workers protested overtime cuts and changes to premium pay for nights and weekends.

By Jim Stinson • Updated Aug. 24, 2020

Spot market rates shoot up as capacity tightens

Truckload capacity usually declines at this point in the year, DAT said, but a citrus volume surge in California, a hurricane along the Southeast coast, and consumer demand and fulfillment caused an increase in loads.

By Jim Stinson • Aug. 7, 2020

Logistics companies plan to use AI, data to ship goods ahead of purchase orders: survey

"Preemptive logistics," in which companies predict demand and ship items before customers order them, requires information sharing and transparency throughout the supply chain, according to a survey from Ericsson.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 7, 2020

COVID-19's urban exodus will force supply chains to adapt

The shift to working from home could cause a second slower-moving, but more enduring, demand shock that is just starting to unfold, writes Aaron Terrazas, director of economic research at Convoy.

By Aaron Terrazas • Aug. 4, 2020

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

Residual effects of Hurricane Hanna to slow cross-border freight for days

Any closure of the major roads between Saltillo and Monterrey in Mexico can result in concentrated traffic and delays at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 28, 2020

Home Depot leans on efficiency analysis for sustainable transport plan

"As we try and improve the efficiency of our supply chain, it actually results in massively better sustainability measures," the VP of transportation told Supply Chain Dive.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 23, 2020

Schneider invests in TMS company to launch visibility tool

Schneider CEO Mark Rourke said the TMS would "accelerate the blending of our asset and non-asset worlds," reducing shipper wait times for loading and unloading trailers at warehouses.

By S.L. Fuller • July 22, 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

Coyote launches AI dynamic routing tool promising consistent miles and reduced deadheading

Coyote said the software has helped fleets uphold commitments made prior to COVID-19, while helping maintain regular shipping routes even with demand changes.

By Jim Stinson • July 16, 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

Uber Freight partners with Blue Yonder on API for real-time quotes, booking

The API will integrate into Blue Yonder's digital fulfillment platform, giving shippers access to "automated execution, dynamic routing guides" and Uber Freight's carrier network.

By Morgan Forde • July 9, 2020

Werner expands big and bulky final-mile service into Canada

Though last-mile logistics is a growing segment, it isn't always a winning strategy.

By S.L. Fuller • July 9, 2020

Convoy, KeepTruckin partner on freight visibility API

Carriers in Convoy's network that use KeepTruckin's ELDs can opt into sharing location data with Convoy's platform to improve shipment tracking and eliminate the need for driver check-in calls.

By Morgan Forde • July 8, 2020

23 CPG companies form contactless delivery task force

The Consumer Brands Association task force members are working with Accenture, Coyote Logistics and Vector, a transportation digitization company, to develop and scale electronic bills of lading across CPG supply chains.

By Morgan Forde • June 30, 2020

Freight market shows slight improvement in May

The scale and timing of recovery depend largely on uncertain customer demand amid high unemployment and spiking coronavirus infection rates in some reopening states.

By Matt Leonard • June 29, 2020

Shippers should embed carrier financial health into resilience plans as pandemic upends logistics

As supply chain leaders shift their focus to increasing resilience, they will need to consider multi-modal, multi-carrier logistics plans, according to CSCMP's State of Logistics Report.

By Matt Leonard • June 23, 2020