Logistics News & 3PL Industry Updates
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FEATUREDINDUSTRY NEWS
Maersk Tests Red Sea Route Again as Shipping Lanes Normalize
Maersk has completed another voyage through the Red Sea, signaling potential normalization of a critical shipping corridor that's been disrupted since 2023. Yemen-based Houthi attacks previously forced carriers to reroute around Africa, adding significant time and cost to global supply chains. The move suggests improving security conditions in the strategically vital waterway.
1 day ago2 min
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COMPANY UPDATE
Aldi Preps DC Network for 180-Store U.S. Expansion Push
Aldi plans to open three new distribution centers by 2029 to support an aggressive U.S. expansion that will add 180 stores by the end of 2026. The facilities will be located in Colorado, Florida, and Arizona, positioning the discount grocer to serve growing markets. The infrastructure investment signals Aldi's long-term commitment to competing with Walmart and other value-focused retailers.
1 day ago2 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Warehouse Construction Hits Bottom, Eyes 2026 Recovery
U.S. warehouse construction bottomed out in 2025 with only 585 facilities entering the building stock, down from a 2022 peak of 2,784, according to Interact Analysis. The market intelligence firm anticipates a slow recovery starting in 2026 as delayed projects return to the pipeline, though high construction costs and tight financing will likely prevent a return to pre-pandemic levels until 2028. The recovery remains vulnerable to renewed U.S.-China trade tensions.
2 days ago2 min
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Walmart Scales Drone Delivery Network to 150 Additional Stores by Year-End
Walmart and Wing are expanding drone delivery services to 150 additional stores in 2026, targeting over 270 locations by 2027. The expansion includes major metro markets like Los Angeles, Miami, and Houston, positioning Walmart as a leader in autonomous last-mile delivery technology.
2 days ago4 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Grocery Chain Cuts 30 Hours of Weekly Shelf Checks with AMRs
Utah-based Harmons grocery chain deployed Simbe Robotics' Tally AMRs across 17 stores after a successful five-store pilot. The robots scan shelves multiple times daily for inventory accuracy, eliminating up to 30 hours per week of manual checking per store. The 93-year-old family-owned grocer says the technology frees associates to focus on customer service while reducing out-of-stocks.
2 days ago2 min
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COMPANY UPDATE
UPS Expands Facility Closures Across Three States
UPS is closing or reducing operations at four facilities in North Carolina, Michigan, and Alabama as part of its ongoing network consolidation strategy. The moves follow dozens of similar closures the carrier enacted throughout 2024. The restructuring reflects UPS's continued efforts to optimize its network footprint amid shifting package volumes.
3 days ago2 min
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COMPANY UPDATE
Macy's Shutters Tulsa Fulfillment Center This Spring
Macy's is closing its Tulsa County, Oklahoma fulfillment center this spring as part of ongoing operational adjustments. The closure represents another shift in the retailer's fulfillment network strategy. Details on the facility's size, workforce impact, and redistribution plans were not disclosed.
2 days ago1 min
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COMPANY UPDATE
Volvo Bets $37.7M on Northwest Distribution Network
Volvo Group is investing $37.7 million in a new regional distribution center in Washington state to streamline parts delivery across the U.S. Northwest and Western Canada. The facility represents a strategic push to improve dealer support and service times in a key growth region. The move signals continued investment in distribution infrastructure as truck manufacturers compete on parts availability and service speed.
2 days ago2 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Gartner Expert Shares Framework for Unified Planning Teams
Gartner's Cristina Carvallo outlines strategies for building collaborative supply chain planning teams that break down functional silos. The approach focuses on uniting different planning elements into a cohesive operation. For 3PLs managing multiple client relationships, these insights offer a roadmap for improving internal coordination and client service delivery.
2 days ago1 min
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Walmart Scales Drone Delivery Network to 150 Additional Stores by Year-End
Walmart and Wing are expanding drone delivery services to 150 additional stores in 2026, targeting over 270 locations by 2027. The expansion includes major metro markets like Los Angeles, Miami, and Houston, positioning Walmart as a leader in autonomous last-mile delivery technology.
2 days ago4 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
New Handbook Maps Path for Sail-Powered Freight Networks
A new business handbook is making the case for replacing truck routes with sail-powered short-sea shipping on routes where wind power offers the biggest emissions cuts. The guide aims to provide logistics operators with a practical framework for evaluating sail freight opportunities. The initiative targets coastal and near-shore routes where traditional trucking currently dominates.
2 days ago2 min
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COMPANY UPDATE
Corvus Robotics CEO: From Economics to Warehouse AI
Jackie Wu, CEO of Corvus Robotics, reflects on her unconventional path from economics to leading a warehouse robotics company. The journey highlights how diverse backgrounds can drive innovation in logistics automation. Wu emphasizes that strong values and resilience remain critical even as technology rapidly evolves.
2 days ago1 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
January Import Volumes Set to Jump 6.6% Over December
U.S. container imports are projected to reach 2.1 million TEUs in January 2026, marking a 6.6% increase from December 2025 levels. The uptick signals a post-holiday rebound in inbound freight volumes. The modest growth comes as 3PLs prepare for seasonal inventory restocking.
2 days ago1 min
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COMPANY UPDATE
Mid-Market Shipper Cuts Costs 13% by Outsourcing Logistics
Pacific Cheese partnered with ITS Logistics to solve a common mid-market problem: too complex for in-house management but not large enough to justify enterprise infrastructure. The cheese manufacturer now uses a fully managed logistics solution including dedicated teams, customized TMS, and expanded carrier networks. The partnership demonstrates how 3PLs can deliver enterprise-level capabilities to growing companies stuck between DIY operations and full-scale logistics departments.
2 days ago2 min
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AI Planning Revolution: From Human Oversight to Autonomous Agents in Supply Chain
Supply chain planning is entering a new era with AI agents capable of autonomous decision-making, though human oversight remains critical. Industry experts predict a collaborative model where thousands of AI agents analyze data while human planners provide strategic guidance and context.
3 days ago3 min
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Agentic AI Transforms Supply Chain Planning Beyond Traditional Automation
Agentic AI is revolutionizing supply chain planning by handling complete functions rather than just augmenting tasks, but success requires proper data infrastructure and human oversight. The technology promises to transform planner roles while maintaining human decision-making authority in strategic operations.
3 days ago3 min
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IKEA's Ingka Group Pioneers Seine River Transport to Cut Delivery Emissions
IKEA's Ingka Group is using boats on Paris's Seine River to transport goods before electric vehicles complete deliveries, reducing CO2 emissions by up to five times compared to road transport. This innovative approach supports the retailer's goal to increase zero-emissions deliveries from 40% to 90% by 2028 as part of broader net-zero commitments.
3 days ago3 min
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COMPANY UPDATE
FedEx Doubles Down on Returns as E-Commerce Growth Driver
FedEx is expanding its reverse logistics capabilities with a focus on simplicity and seamless customer experiences. The carrier's digital returns toolkit includes Easy Returns and Branded Returns services designed to capture growing e-commerce volume. An executive emphasized that streamlined returns processing is becoming a key differentiator in the competitive 3PL landscape.
6 days ago2 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Atlas Robot Targets 2028 Factory Rollout for Warehouse Work
Boston Dynamics and Hyundai are moving their Atlas humanoid robot from lab to factory floor, with commercial deployments planned for 2028. The partnership signals a major shift toward humanoid automation in supply chain operations. This could reshape how 3PLs approach labor-intensive warehouse tasks within three years.
6 days ago1 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Four Major Threats Could Disrupt 3PL Operations in 2026
Everstream Analytics identifies trade regulations (97% threat level), extreme weather (93%), infrastructure failures (81%), and cyberattacks (70%) as the top supply chain risks for 2026. The analysis shows export controls doubled from 2023 to 2025, while cyberattacks on logistics providers surged 61% in 2025 alone. These threats could trigger rapid cost increases of 15-25% on critical inputs for 3PLs and their clients.
Jan 8, 20262 min
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