McLane gets its black belt. Intelligrated, a company that supplies conveyor systems and integrated distribution design services, will provide a conveyor solution for a McLane Co. distribution center in Arizona. McLane is a leading grocery and food service distributor headquartered in Temple, Texas.
An efficient food chain. American Roland Foods Corp., an importer and distributor of specialty foods, has chosen RedPrairie solutions to maximize supply chain efficiency. American Roland will install RedPrairie's DLx Warehouse Management Solution (WMS), DLx Transportation and DLx Labor software packages. RedPrairie will also be providing its WMS to El Palacio, a high-end retailer based in Mexico City.
Hear here. Symbol Technologies has named Voxware, a company that specializes in voice technology, as a PartnerSelect Premier Independent Software Vendor. The designation allows the two companies to collaborate on various initiatives, including joint marketing. Voxware's VoiceXMLBrowser has also been validated as a voice-enabling technology for Symbol's MC9000 series of mobile computers.
Rohming charges. Rohm and Haas, a Philadelphia- based company that provides specialty materials for the personal care, grocery, electronics and construction industries, will implement SmartOps' Multistage Inventory Planning and Optimization (MIPO) solution. The MIPO software will be a part of Rohm and Haas's global supply chain performance improvement initiative and will help the company enhance customer service while optimizing inventory.
Racking up points. DAK Equipment and Engineering, an Elmhurst, Ill.-based company that designs, supplies and installs racking systems, has been named a Premier Dealer by Steel King Industries. DAK will now offer Steel King's SK2000 closed-tubular product line and provide a 24-hour quick-ship program for other Steel King dealers. In return, Steel King will provide training, marketing and other specialized programs to DAK.
Where it's at. PierPASS Inc., a not-for-profit company created by marine operators at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, will equip up to 10,000 drayage trucks serving the two ports with WhereNet active RFID tags. The tags will increase security by assuring that only identifiable vehicles are allowed access to certain areas. It will also enhance the security of check-in and check-out procedures on round-trip moves between the marine terminals and intermodal terminals.
Sea for yourself. Marine Terminals Corp. (MTC) will extend its use of the SaviTrak real-time supply chain information services from Savi Technology to MTC's ports. MTC operates 26 terminals at 13 U.S. West Coast ports. Savi provides RFID- enhanced information services for global container shipments. In another deal, Savi will provide SaviTrak to client shipping lines using Trans Pacific Container Service Corp. ports in Los Angeles, Oakland and Jacksonville, Fla.
On the firing line. viastore systems will provide Lockheed Martin (LM) with an automated storage system at a materials warehouse being built adjacent to LM's Missiles and Fire Control facility in Orlando, Fla. The automated storage and retrieval system will feature three viaspeed S/R machines that will have access to 5,700 trays of products. viastore will also provide a tray-handling conveyor system and controls.
Sweet deal. Nestle USA has selected Tom Zosel Associates (TZA), a consulting firm specializing in distribution, to support its logistics and associated storage operations. TZA, based in Long Grove, Ill., will examine Nestle's operations to identify hidden costs and opportunities to improve service and accuracy.
New port of call. P&O Ports North America has reached
an agreement with the Tampa Port Authority to operate terminals at the Port of Tampa for general and refrigerated
cargo. Additionally, P&O will operate the recently completed Hooker's Point Container Terminal with the long-term
goal of increasing container handling at the port.
That vision thing. Jesta I.S., which provides software solutions for the soft goods and specialty markets, announces two new deals. PUMA North America, the shoe and sportswear provider, will implement Jesta's Vision Sourcing & Demand Management, Vision SalesLink and Vision Analytics solutions. In addition, Too Brands, a young girls' apparel retailer that operates under the Limited Too and Justice store names, will be installing Jesta's software. Too Brands will use Jesta's Vision Merchandising and Vision SCM to provide inventory and supply chain visibility.
Riding the rails. RailCrewXpress, a transporter of train crews for America's railways, has selected a joint mobile computing solution from Psion Teklogix, MobileDataforce and Wireless Matrix for its fleet of transport vehicles in the United States. The new system enables RailCrewXpress to record the location and transportation activity of vehicles in the company's fleet in real time.
The Port of Oakland has been awarded $50 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to modernize wharves and terminal infrastructure at its Outer Harbor facility, the port said today.
Those upgrades would enable the Outer Harbor to accommodate Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs), which are now a regular part of the shipping fleet calling on West Coast ports. Each of these ships has a handling capacity of up to 24,000 TEUs (20-foot containers) but are currently restricted at portions of Oakland’s Outer Harbor by aging wharves which were originally designed for smaller ships.
According to the port, those changes will let it handle newer, larger vessels, which are more efficient, cost effective, and environmentally cleaner to operate than older ships. Specific investments for the project will include: wharf strengthening, structural repairs, replacing container crane rails, adding support piles, strengthening support beams, and replacing electrical bus bar system to accommodate larger ship-to-shore cranes.
The Florida logistics technology startup OneRail has raised $42 million in venture backing to lift the fulfillment software company its next level of growth, the company said today.
The “series C” round was led by Los Angeles-based Aliment Capital, with additional participation from new investors eGateway Capital and Florida Opportunity Fund, as well as current investors Arsenal Growth Equity, Piva Capital, Bullpen Capital, Las Olas Venture Capital, Chicago Ventures, Gaingels and Mana Ventures. According to OneRail, the funding comes amidst a challenging funding environment where venture capital funding in the logistics sector has seen a 90% decline over the past two years.
The latest infusion follows the firm’s $33 million Series B round in 2022, and its move earlier in 2024 to acquire the Vancouver, Canada-based company Orderbot, a provider of enterprise inventory and distributed order management (DOM) software.
Orlando-based OneRail says its omnichannel fulfillment solution pairs its OmniPoint cloud software with a logistics as a service platform and a real-time, connected network of 12 million drivers. The firm says that its OmniPointsoftware automates fulfillment orchestration and last mile logistics, intelligently selecting the right place to fulfill inventory from, the right shipping mode, and the right carrier to optimize every order.
“This new funding round enables us to deepen our decision logic upstream in the order process to help solve some of the acute challenges facing retailers and wholesalers, such as order sourcing logic defaulting to closest store to customer to fulfill inventory from, which leads to split orders, out-of-stocks, or worse, cancelled orders,” OneRail Founder and CEO Bill Catania said in a release. “OneRail has revolutionized that process with a dynamic fulfillment solution that quickly finds available inventory in full, from an array of stores or warehouses within a localized radius of the customer, to meet the delivery promise, which ultimately transforms the end-customer experience.”
Commercial fleet operators are steadily increasing their use of GPS fleet tracking, in-cab video solutions, and predictive analytics, driven by rising costs, evolving regulations, and competitive pressures, according to an industry report from Verizon Connect.
Those conclusions come from the company’s fifth annual “Fleet Technology Trends Report,” conducted in partnership with Bobit Business Media, and based on responses from 543 fleet management professionals.
The study showed that for five consecutive years, at least four out of five respondents have reported using at least one form of fleet technology, said Atlanta-based Verizon Connect, which provides fleet and mobile workforce management software platforms, embedded OEM hardware, and a connected vehicle device called Hum by Verizon.
The most commonly used of those technologies is GPS fleet tracking, with 69% of fleets across industries reporting its use, the survey showed. Of those users, 72% find it extremely or very beneficial, citing improved efficiency (62%) and a reduction in harsh driving/speeding events (49%).
Respondents also reported a focus on safety, with 57% of respondents citing improved driver safety as a key benefit of GPS fleet tracking. And 68% of users said in-cab video solutions are extremely or very beneficial. Together, those technologies help reduce distracted driving incidents, improve coaching sessions, and help reduce accident and insurance costs, Verizon Connect said.
Looking at the future, fleet management software is evolving to meet emerging challenges, including sustainability and electrification, the company said. "The findings from this year's Fleet Technology Trends Report highlight a strong commitment across industries to embracing fleet technology, with GPS tracking and in-cab video solutions consistently delivering measurable results,” Peter Mitchell, General Manager, Verizon Connect, said in a release. “As fleets face rising costs and increased regulatory pressures, these technologies are proving to be indispensable in helping organizations optimize their operations, reduce expenses, and navigate the path toward a more sustainable future.”
Businesses engaged in international trade face three major supply chain hurdles as they head into 2025: the disruptions caused by Chinese New Year (CNY), the looming threat of potential tariffs on foreign-made products that could be imposed by the incoming Trump Administration, and the unresolved contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), according to an analysis from trucking and logistics provider Averitt.
Each of those factors could lead to significant shipping delays, production slowdowns, and increased costs, Averitt said.
First, Chinese New Year 2025 begins on January 29, prompting factories across China and other regions to shut down for weeks, typically causing production to halt and freight demand to skyrocket. The ripple effects can range from increased shipping costs to extended lead times, disrupting even the most well-planned operations. To prepare for that event, shippers should place orders early, build inventory buffers, secure freight space in advance, diversify shipping modes, and communicate with logistics providers, Averitt said.
Second, new or increased tariffs on foreign-made goods could drive up the cost of imports, disrupt established supply chains, and create uncertainty in the marketplace. In turn, shippers may face freight rate volatility and capacity constraints as businesses rush to stockpile inventory ahead of tariff deadlines. To navigate these challenges, shippers should prepare advance shipments and inventory stockpiling, diversity sourcing, negotiate supplier agreements, explore domestic production, and leverage financial strategies.
Third, unresolved contract negotiations between the ILA and the USMX will come to a head by January 15, when the current contract expires. Labor action or strikes could cause severe disruptions at East and Gulf Coast ports, triggering widespread delays and bottlenecks across the supply chain. To prepare for the worst, shippers should adopt a similar strategy to the other potential January threats: collaborate early, secure freight, diversify supply chains, and monitor policy changes.
According to Averitt, companies can cushion the impact of all three challenges by deploying a seamless, end-to-end solution covering the entire path from customs clearance to final-mile delivery. That strategy can help businesses to store inventory closer to their customers, mitigate delays, and reduce costs associated with supply chain disruptions. And combined with proactive communication and real-time visibility tools, the approach allows companies to maintain control and keep their supply chains resilient in the face of global uncertainties, Averitt said.
Bloomington, Indiana-based FTR said its Trucking Conditions Index declined in September to -2.47 from -1.39 in August as weakness in the principal freight dynamics – freight rates, utilization, and volume – offset lower fuel costs and slightly less unfavorable financing costs.
Those negative numbers are nothing new—the TCI has been positive only twice – in May and June of this year – since April 2022, but the group’s current forecast still envisions consistently positive readings through at least a two-year forecast horizon.
“Aside from a near-term boost mostly related to falling diesel prices, we have not changed our Trucking Conditions Index forecast significantly in the wake of the election,” Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking, said in a release. “The outlook continues to be more favorable for carriers than what they have experienced for well over two years. Our analysis indicates gradual but steadily rising capacity utilization leading to stronger freight rates in 2025.”
But FTR said its forecast remains unchanged. “Just like everyone else, we’ll be watching closely to see exactly what trade and other economic policies are implemented and over what time frame. Some freight disruptions are likely due to tariffs and other factors, but it is not yet clear that those actions will do more than shift the timing of activity,” Vise said.
The TCI tracks the changes representing five major conditions in the U.S. truck market: freight volumes, freight rates, fleet capacity, fuel prices, and financing costs. Combined into a single index indicating the industry’s overall health, a positive score represents good, optimistic conditions while a negative score shows the inverse.