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talkin' about the next generation

The University of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., has opened the FedEx Institute of Technology, which it describes as a public-private collaboration designed to advance interdisciplinary research. To this end, the institute will house 10 research centers focusing on an array of studies, including the Center for Next Generation Transportation and the FedEx Center for Supply Chain Management.

FedEx Corp. worked closely with the university in establishing the design and scope of the institute's vision. FedEx also donated $5 million toward the new facilities, which also received funding from the state of Tennessee, the city of Memphis and Shelby County.


The new 95,000-square-foot building incorporates wireless fidelity (WiFi) capabilities and a voiceover Internet protocol (VoIP) network, a 200-seat multi-media amphitheater, computer labs, training rooms, collaboration areas, an exhibit area, and labs for the pursuit of new technology advances and scientific research.

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NMFTA prepares to change freight classification rules in 2025

The way that shippers and carriers classify loads of less than truckload (LTL) freight to determine delivery rates is set to change in 2025 for the first time in decades, introducing a new approach that is designed to support more standardized practices.

Those changes to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) are necessary because the current approach is “complex and outdated,” according to industry group the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA).

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Forrester forecasts technology trends for 2025

Business leaders in the manufacturing and transportation sectors will increasingly turn to technology in 2025 to adapt to developments in a tricky economic environment, according to a report from Forrester.

That approach is needed because companies in asset-intensive industries like manufacturing and transportation quickly feel the pain when energy prices rise, raw materials are harder to access, or borrowing money for capital projects becomes more expensive, according to researcher Paul Miller, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester.

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Something new for you

Regular online readers of DC Velocity and Supply Chain Xchange have probably noticed something new during the past few weeks. Our team has been working for months to produce shiny new websites that allow you to find the supply chain news and stories you need more easily.

It is always good for a media brand to undergo a refresh every once in a while. We certainly are not alone in retooling our websites; most of you likely go through that rather complex process every few years. But this was more than just your average refresh. We did it to take advantage of the most recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI).

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FTR trucking conditions chart

In this chart, the red and green bars represent Trucking Conditions Index for 2024. The blue line represents the Trucking Conditions Index for 2023. The index shows that while business conditions for trucking companies improved in August of 2024 versus July of 2024, they are still overall negative.

Image courtesy of FTR

Trucking sector ticked up slightly in August, but still negative

Buoyed by a return to consistent decreases in fuel prices, business conditions in the trucking sector improved slightly in August but remain negative overall, according to a measure from transportation analysis group FTR.

FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index improved in August to -1.39 from the reading of -5.59 in July. The Bloomington, Indiana-based firm forecasts that its TCI readings will remain mostly negative-to-neutral through the beginning of 2025.

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trucks parked in big lot

OOIDA cheers federal funding for truck parking spots

A coalition of truckers is applauding the latest round of $30 million in federal funding to address what they call a “national truck parking crisis,” created when drivers face an imperative to pull over and stop when they cap out their hours of service, yet can seldom find a safe spot for their vehicle.

The Biden Administration yesterday took steps to address that problem by including parking funds in its $4.2 billion in money from the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) grant program and the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program, both of which are funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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