Logistics News & 3PL Industry Updates
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FEATUREDCOMPANY 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.
7 hours 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.
8 hours 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.
1 day ago2 min
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COMPANY UPDATE
UPS Happy Returns Deploys AI to Combat Returns Fraud
UPS' Happy Returns division is piloting Return Vision, an AI-powered tool that uses image comparison to detect decoy returns fraud. The software matches returned products against retailer images to verify authenticity. Fashion retailer Everlane is among the early adopters testing the technology.
1 day ago2 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Transpacific Rates Jump 22% on Lunar New Year Rush
Ocean freight rates from Asia to the U.S. West Coast spiked 22% week-over-week at the start of 2026, driven by Lunar New Year demand. The sharp increase reflects the traditional pre-holiday shipping surge as importers rush to move goods before factory closures across Asia. The rate jump signals continued volatility in transpacific shipping costs for 3PLs managing client freight budgets.
1 day ago1 min
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COMPANY UPDATE
CMA CGM Links U.S. East Coast to Australia in Maersk Deal
CMA CGM is launching a new ocean service in February connecting the U.S. East Coast with Australia and New Zealand through a space charter agreement with Maersk. The service addresses growing demand for direct routing between these markets. The partnership leverages Maersk's vessel capacity while expanding CMA CGM's reach in the Oceania trade lane.
2 days ago2 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Women in Trucking Opens 2026 Ambassador Nominations
The Women in Trucking Association is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Image Team. Selected members will represent the industry through media appearances, community events, and educational outreach programs. The initiative aims to increase visibility of women in transportation and logistics roles.
2 days ago1 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Federal Court Clears Path for Amazon Labor Case Involving Delivery Partners
A federal appeals court rejected Amazon's attempt to halt an NLRB labor case involving its delivery contractors, allowing proceedings to continue that could determine whether Amazon is a joint employer of DSP drivers. The ruling removes a legal obstacle while keeping pressure on Amazon's delivery partner model amid broader industry scrutiny of worker classification practices.
2 days ago4 min
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COMPANY UPDATE
FedEx Expands BMW Partnership in B2B Market Push
FedEx has secured additional business from BMW as part of a broader strategy to capture more volume from high-value B2B shippers. The carrier is targeting automotive, healthcare, and other premium verticals with new specialized programs and tools. The move signals FedEx's focus on profitable commercial segments as it reshapes its network.
2 days ago2 min
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M&A
PE Firm Greenbriar Acquires Managed Transportation Provider eShipping
Greenbriar Equity Group has acquired eShipping, a Missouri-based managed transportation and logistics technology provider founded in 2004. The deal brings eShipping's multimodal platform—spanning LTL, FTL, fulfillment, international freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and small parcel—under private equity ownership. Financial terms were not disclosed.
2 days ago2 min
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M&A
Ryder Expands Mobile Maintenance Footprint With Georgia Buy
Ryder System acquired Atlanta-based Truck Service Depot, adding 20+ technicians and two Georgia facilities to its Torque by Ryder mobile maintenance network. The deal expands Ryder's retail maintenance services to 27 states, following its 2024 acquisition of Florida's Pit Stop Fleet Service. The acquisition strengthens Ryder's push into the growing mobile maintenance market for commercial fleets.
2 days ago2 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Why Visibility Tools Aren't Enough Anymore
Despite heavy investment in logistics visibility platforms, companies still struggle with disconnected systems and slow decision-making. The industry has focused on tracking what already happened rather than predicting and preventing problems. This gap between data collection and actionable intelligence is pushing 3PLs toward AI-powered solutions that move beyond reactive dashboards.
3 days ago1 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Speed Isn't Everything: Reliability Now Key Delivery Metric
A new Locus survey reveals a shift in consumer expectations around delivery. While speed remains important, shoppers now prioritize reliability, clear communication, and accurate delivery promises over pure velocity. This signals a maturation of the delivery market and has significant implications for how 3PLs structure their operations and SLAs.
3 days ago2 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
C-Store Chains Reshape Distribution Networks in 2025
Major convenience store retailers made significant supply chain investments in 2025, with Love's and Circle K expanding supplier partnerships while Kwik Trip and RaceTrac opened new distribution centers. The moves reflect growing competition in the c-store sector and the need for more efficient distribution networks. These infrastructure investments signal opportunities for 3PL providers serving the retail fuel and convenience channel.
3 days ago1 min
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M&A
German Logistics Firm TO Group Plants Flag in Cleveland
Bremen-based Transport Overseas (TO) Group has entered the U.S. market by acquiring Cleveland's Allround Forwarding Midwest Inc. and establishing its American headquarters there. The new office, Transport Overseas Shipping (Americas), opened November 1st and will serve as TO Group's strategic North American hub. The move positions the international freight forwarder to offer its sea, air, project cargo, and ro-ro services to U.S. customers.
3 days ago2 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
The Hidden Economics of Returns: Where Your Products Really Go
Returns don't just magically reappear on shelves—they trigger a complex reverse logistics chain that determines whether items get resold, liquidated, or scrapped. The process involves inspection, grading, and routing decisions that directly impact 3PL margins and client relationships. Understanding this workflow is critical as return rates continue climbing across e-commerce categories.
4 days ago2 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Planning Teams Need to Shape Decisions, Not Just Forecast
Supply chain planning organizations are evolving beyond traditional forecasting roles into strategic decision-making partners, according to Gartner's senior director Noha Samara. The shift reflects growing pressure on 3PLs and logistics providers to move from reactive planning to proactive supply chain orchestration. This transformation requires planning teams to influence cross-functional decisions across the entire supply chain network.
4 days ago2 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
How AMRs Are Tackling the January Returns Surge
The January returns wave—now dubbed a 'second peak' by industry insiders—is driving 3PLs to deploy autonomous mobile robots for putaway and processing. Locus Robotics delivered 3,000 peak-season robots under its RaaS model to handle returns through January, as the National Retail Federation projects returns will hit $850 billion in 2025. The same AMRs used for picking are proving equally effective at managing the reverse logistics crunch.
4 days ago2 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Retailers Bet on In-Store Micro-Fulfillment to Cut Delivery Times
Major retailers are installing automated micro-fulfillment centers inside existing stores to position inventory closer to customers. The strategy aims to reduce delivery cycle times by leveraging store real estate for fulfillment operations. The shift represents retailers bringing distribution closer to the final mile.
4 days ago1 min
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Canada Post Reaches Tentative Labor Agreements After Year of Disruptions
Canada Post and CUPW reached tentative five-year labor agreements featuring 6.5% first-year wage increases and weekend parcel delivery, pending worker ratification. The deals aim to end year-long disruptions that forced shippers to alternative carriers.
Jan 2, 20264 min
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