Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

ALAN, FourKites partner to speed disaster relief efforts

American Logistics Aid Network will work with tech firm to connect logistics sources to humanitarian aid, speeding efforts to help with pandemic and hurricane-related supply chain disruptions.

ALAN, FourKites partner to speed disaster relief efforts

The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) and logistics technology provider FourKites are teaming up to speed transportation and delivery of critical supplies as the world continues to cope with pandemic-related supply chain disruptions and braces for the 2020 hurricane season, the organizations said today.

ALAN provides supply chain assistance to disaster relief organizations and other non-profits when disasters strike. Collaborating with FourKites and its supply chain visibility platform will put ALAN in close communication with a large network of global shippers, carriers, brokers, and third-party logistics services providers.


“When disasters hit, we often receive a huge influx of requests, many of which need a timely response in order to help save lives and reduce suffering,” ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton said in a statement announcing the partnership. “The FourKites community includes the active participation of the global supply chain’s key decision makers. By working together, we will be able to get the word out about essential logistics needs faster—and to far more businesses that can help—during particularly challenging times.”

The partnership with FourKites comes at a vital time, leaders of both groups said. ALAN has received unprecedented demand for its services to help with Covid-19 pandemic-related disruptions and is now gearing up for hurricane season, typically its busiest time of year. ALAN was formed in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. 

“ALAN plays an indispensable role in helping the supply chain spring into action during times of crisis,” FourKites CEO Mathew Elenjickal said. “Whether it’s a donation of refrigerated trucks, warehouse space, or boxes for emergency food supplies, it needs to get there quickly. FourKites is honored to team up with ALAN during this critical time to ensure that critical supplies reach their destination on time.”

For more coverage of the coronavirus crisis and how it's affecting the logistics industry, check out our Covid-19 landing page. And click here for our compilation of virus-focused websites and resource pages from around the supply chain sector.

The Latest

More Stories

port of oakland port improvement plans

Port of Oakland to modernize wharves with $50 million grant

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.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

screen shot of onerail tech

OneRail raises $42 million backing for fulfillment orchestration tech

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.

Keep ReadingShow less
screen display of GPS fleet tracking

Commercial fleets drawn to GPS fleet tracking, in-cab video

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.

Keep ReadingShow less
forklifts working in a warehouse

Averitt tracks three hurdles for international trade in 2025

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.

Keep ReadingShow less
chart of trucking conditions

FTR: Trucking sector outlook is bright for a two-year horizon

The trucking freight market is still on course to rebound from a two-year recession despite stumbling in September, according to the latest assessment by transportation industry analysis group FTR.

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.

Keep ReadingShow less