3PLs Slam Volatility

3PLs Slam Volatility

For today’s shippers, survival in a volatile market requires more than just a reliable delivery partner. As supply chains face evolving regulations and unpredictable consumer behavior, third-party logistics providers take on an expanded role. Here’s how they help shippers achieve supply chain stability.

No One Moves Freight Alone. IMCs and 3PLs Determine Who Wins.

No One Moves Freight Alone. IMCs and 3PLs Determine Who Wins.

Freight markets shift in cycles. This one is being driven largely by trucking, not intermodal, with capacity attrition pushing freight to rail. Whether intermodal keeps that freight is a different question, and the answer starts with a function most of the industry still gets wrong. It’s the function that intermodal marketing companies perform every day […]

How to Maintain Sustainability, Even During Disruptions

How to Maintain Sustainability, Even During Disruptions

Supply chain disruptions have a way of stripping operations down to their essentials. In these moments, sustainability programs can easily be treated as optional—more of a “nice to have” than a core business necessity. But this is an outdated and strategically perilous mindset.

Brent Hagan Puts His Stamp On Direct Mail Delivery

Brent Hagan Puts His Stamp On Direct Mail Delivery

Success when joining an established organization like Lob, a technology-enabled logistics network for direct mail, requires balancing fresh perspectives with a deep respect for the people who built the business. I recognize the expertise of the team—they are the experts in our industry, our customers, and the culture that makes Lob unique. At the same […]

Rethinking Supply Chain Strategy In an Era of Persistent Volatility

Rethinking Supply Chain Strategy In an Era of Persistent Volatility

Q. What’s different about what shippers are facing in 2026 versus prior years of disruption? A. Over the past five or six years, supply chains have been challenged like almost never before. A first round of tariffs, then COVID, then more tariffs, various conflicts, and now renewed trade policy volatility. As I’ve described it, it’s […]

Overcoming Geopolitical Uncertainty and Turning Challenges into Opportunities

Overcoming Geopolitical Uncertainty and Turning Challenges into Opportunities

Q. What are some notable shifts and opportunities facing the freight market? A. Many consumers of raw and finished commodities continue to search for alternative sources—enter Latin and South America. These channels heading both north and south are becoming more favorable than ever. The border between Mexico and the United States has seen its challenges, […]

Creating a Responsive and Scalable Rail Supply Chain

Creating a Responsive and Scalable Rail Supply Chain

Q. What are the biggest challenges facing rail shippers today? A. Rail shippers aren’t dealing with a lack of data—they’re dealing with too much of it in too many places. Across the supply chain, information is often fragmented across multiple systems, spreadsheets, and carrier touchpoints. At the same time, many organizations lack a rail strategy […]

6 Types of Logistics Strategies

6 Types of Logistics Strategies

Do you own a business, manage a supply chain, or work in logistics? Understanding the types of logistics strategies is essential for business owners, supply chain professionals, and logistics managers who want to optimize operations, reduce costs, and meet customer expectations. Knowing the different logistics strategies helps you streamline the movement, storage, and flow of […]

What’s One Underrated Leadership Skill in Logistics and Supply Chain Management?

What’s One Underrated Leadership Skill in Logistics and Supply Chain Management?

Constraint awareness. Constant market shifts demand prioritization and creative workarounds. Effective leaders target the biggest bottlenecks rather than perfecting every link. By partnering with teams to identify root causes, they resolve issues faster and keep operations moving forward. –Davey Miller Chief Operating Officer CMC Leading through ambiguity. In fast-moving operations, plans break. The strongest leaders […]

Two Electric Vehicle Updates & Other Supply Chain News

Two Electric Vehicle Updates & Other Supply Chain News

Electric Trucks Earn Their Keep Early adopters in Europe are making a strong case for electrifying freight. The Öko-Institut surveyed 57 German companies that had been running heavy electric trucks for at least one year, and 93% of respondents report being satisfied or very satisfied with their vehicles. Survey respondents are customers of Daimler Truck’s […]

Verst Logistics Names Todd Johnson Next CEO

Verst Logistics Names Todd Johnson Next CEO

Verst Logistics has named Todd Johnson as its next CEO, effective August 1. Johnson currently serves as president and chief operating officer, a title he’s held since 2019. He will retain the president role alongside his new CEO duties. Johnson brings more than 30 years of industry experience to the position. In his current role, […]

DOJ’s Trade Fraud Task Force Hits $1 Billion in Recoveries

DOJ’s Trade Fraud Task Force Hits $1 Billion in Recoveries

By Ashley Prince | July 15, 2026 The Justice Department’s Trade Fraud Task Force has crossed $1 billion in recoveries, penalties, forfeitures, and charged losses. The announcement came in July 2026, less than a year after its August 2025 inception. For manufacturers and importers, as well as their logistics partners, these cases can provide context around which […]

Supply Chain Trends: RFID, AI Robots, Reverse Logistics & More

Supply Chain Trends: RFID, AI Robots, Reverse Logistics & More

RFID Rollout: Embedding Sensing In Supply Chains To phase out manual scanning, UPS is rolling out radio frequency identification (RFID) package sensing across its U.S. small package network, expanding shipment visibility from pickup through delivery. The technology is now in U.S. package delivery vehicles and delivery facilities, as well as on every package shipped through […]

2026 Top 100 3PLs

2026 Top 100 3PLs

Inbound Logistics’ annual Top 100 3PL Providers list identifies the top logistics partners capable of keeping global trade moving. As corporate supply chains face a critical turning point, businesses increasingly rely on these elite 3PL partners to build operational resilience.

Tone Up for the GLP-1 Slimdown

Tone Up for the GLP-1 Slimdown

As an estimated 12% of U.S. adults take appetite-suppressing GLP-1 medications, the supply chain effects are far-reaching—from skinnier truckloads to increased apparel returns. Get in shape for the changes ahead.

10 Tips for Preventing Supply Chain Fraud

10 Tips for Preventing Supply Chain Fraud

In 2025, retailers incurred $706 billion in returns, with about $100 billion of that value lost to preventable fraud and abuse, according to an Appriss Retail analysis. The following strategies can reduce fraud and protect profits along the supply chain.

Demand-Driven: When Pop Outruns Infrastructure

Demand-Driven: When Pop Outruns Infrastructure

Cool isn’t a forecast. If you want to understand the difference between a high-growth pop business built on a disciplined supply chain management system that effectively matches demand to supply, and one struggling with a tale of inventory woe, look no further than one distribution center operated by Funko. A recent lawsuit against Funko reads […]

Strategic Stockpiles: Not the Ultimate Fix

Strategic Stockpiles: Not the Ultimate Fix

Strategic stockpiles are unlikely to translate into consistently reliable access to supplies for companies. They are best viewed as a buffer that may buy time during a shock and, importantly, contain price volatility—rather than as a standalone sourcing strategy.

FedEx’s $1.4B Supply Chain Sale Triples CEVA’s North American Scale

FedEx’s $1.4B Supply Chain Sale Triples CEVA’s North American Scale

By Ashley Prince | July 2, 2026 CMA CGM has agreed to purchase FedEx Supply Chain for $1.4 billion, a deal set to nearly triple the North American footprint of CEVA Logistics, the shipping group’s logistics arm.  The acquisition is expected to close later this year, pending regulatory approval. It also comes bundled with a commercial […]

Six Technologies Reshaping Logistics Execution

Six Technologies Reshaping Logistics Execution

Faced with rising customer expectations, labor shortages, and increasing pressure to operate sustainably, shippers and their logistics partners can no longer rely on yesterday’s processes. Digital logistics technologies help organizations scale rapidly as modernizing supply chains becomes a non-negotiable, especially in high variability situations like inbound workflows. Companies that embrace this new reality are already […]

Report: Supply Chains 2026

Report: Supply Chains 2026

Supply chains are entering a new phase of transformation. What was once built around efficiency and cost is now being rebuilt around resilience, visibility, and the ability to execute reliably across increasingly complex global networks. Trade volatility, regulatory pressure, and the growing role of AI are reshaping how organizations plan, source, move, and manage goods […]

Carrier Fraud Prevention:  Who’s Really Vetting Your Carriers?

Carrier Fraud Prevention: Who’s Really Vetting Your Carriers?

Q. Carrier fraud is getting a lot of attention across the industry right now. Where does the problem actually come from? A. Public load boards. Carrier fraud does not typically originate with shippers—it originates on public load boards that lack user subscription vetting controls. When a broker posts a load to a public board to […]

Order Cycle Time: Definition, How to Measure, and Why It Matters

Order Cycle Time: Definition, How to Measure, and Why It Matters

Every business that ships products to customers depends on one metric more than almost any other: order cycle time. This figure tells you how long it takes an order to travel from the moment a customer places it to the moment it lands on their doorstep, and it touches nearly every function within a supply […]

Cash to Cash Time: Definition, Calculation, and Ways to Improve

Cash to Cash Time: Definition, Calculation, and Ways to Improve

Managing working capital effectively is a top priority for modern supply chain and logistics professionals. A critical metric used to evaluate this efficiency is cash to cash time. This metric serves as a vital indicator of financial health and operational agility across the enterprise. This informational article provides a comprehensive overview of the net operating […]

Has Vendor Vetting Become Security Theater?

Has Vendor Vetting Become Security Theater?

In 1787, Russian minister Grigory Potemkin built fake settlements along the Dnieper River to impress empress Catherine II during her tour of Crimea. The hollow facades were painted to look like thriving villages. While the empress saw prosperity, behind the walls stood empty fields.

What Are Major Pitfalls to Using Artificial Intelligence in Supply Chains?

What Are Major Pitfalls to Using Artificial Intelligence in Supply Chains?

Too much noise. In global, multi-tier supply chains, critical supplier information is often unavailable or inconsistent, leading to misleading outputs or excessive “noise” from irrelevant risk flags. Focus on strengthening data foundations, embedding human-in-the-loop validation, and prioritizing practical integration and usability across internal teams and supplier networks. –Marissa Licursi Director Grant Thornton Stax Data distrust. […]

Pallets,  Elevated

Pallets, Elevated

Afterthought, no more. Supporting sustainability initiatives and automated operations, pallet solutions lift their profile.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: AI-Powered Robotics

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: AI-Powered Robotics

↓ ZeeBot. The new rack-climbing warehouse robot from Cainiao, an ecommerce logistics and technology provider, can climb up racking five stories high in as fast as 10 seconds. Designed to connect multiple operational links, ZeeBot can help warehouses move beyond point automation to AI-scheduled, end-to-end multi-robot collaboration. The solution also increases storage density, improving space […]

Why the Best Logistics Operations Never Stop Improving

Why the Best Logistics Operations Never Stop Improving

In logistics and supply chain operations, change is constant. Customer expectations, labor conditions, demand patterns, technology, and costs are always moving. Continuous improvement gives organizations a disciplined way to adapt, improve, and create lasting value. In this Q&A, Tony Viguerie, director of continuous improvement at Saddle Creek Logistics Services, explains why continuous improvement should be […]

Why Supply Chain AI Fails

Why Supply Chain AI Fails

The difference between successful and stalled AI implementations is the strength of the data foundation that makes outputs reliable and actionable. Closing this gap starts with recognizing where initiatives falter.

4 Most Critical Less-than-Truckload (LTL) KPIs for Shippers

Transportation spend is the most significant portion of overall supply chain costs, with the average company typically allocating 7% to 10% of their annual sales revenue towards transportation expenses. From manufacturing to retail, optimizing less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping is essential. It helps you control costs to avoid overpaying while still managing the complexities of commingled freight, […]

10 Tips for Managing Supply Chain Risk

10 Tips for Managing Supply Chain Risk

These strategies help CPG brands minimize disruption, protect in-stocks and maintain compliance with increasingly complex retail requirements so they can navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Beyond the Build: Updating  the Next Gen Warehouse

Beyond the Build: Updating the Next Gen Warehouse

To reset operations effectively amidst ongoing labor constraints and market uncertainty, warehouse leaders are implementing technology and enhancing processes to develop operations that are streamlined, flexible, and intelligent.

AI and TMS Integration

AI and TMS Integration

For decades, the core transportation management system (TMS) served as the reliable engine of enterprise logistics. Today, an exciting age of enhancement is upon us and just in time, too. In an era defined by volatile supply chains and unpredictable disruptions, static planning is legacy. But guess what? You need not completely replace legacy TMS […]

The Fertilizer Bottleneck Hiding Behind Food Prices

The Fertilizer Bottleneck Hiding Behind Food Prices

Food prices usually get noticed at the grocery shelf. A tomato costs more. A bag of flour feels oddly expensive. A restaurant menu quietly drops a side dish or raises the price of a bowl by a dollar. By then, the real story is already old. Some of the pressure started months earlier, before the […]

Top Logistics Companies and Supply Chain Solutions

Top Logistics Companies and Supply Chain Solutions

Inbound Logistics highlights leading providers helping businesses navigate today’s rapidly evolving transportation and supply chain environment. These sponsors deliver the solutions, technology, and expertise companies need to improve efficiency and strengthen supply chain performance.

IN BRIEF: The Latest Supply Chain, Freight Tech Updates

IN BRIEF: The Latest Supply Chain, Freight Tech Updates

Yang Ming’s YM Willpower completed its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering in Singapore. Now serving Yang Ming’s Far East – Mediterranean MD2 service, YM Willpower is the first vessel in the company’s 2026 roll-out of newly built 15,500-TEU class container vessels primarily fueled by LNG.

What’s One Costly Assumption in Logistics or Supply Chain Management?

What’s One Costly Assumption in Logistics or Supply Chain Management?

Treating turnover as a normal expense. Losing skilled people disrupts workflows, slows productivity, and increases recruiting and training costs. A better approach is investing in retention as an operational strategy—strong leadership, clear career paths, and engagement systems. Keeping great talent is far cheaper and helps protect service levels, culture, and supply chain stability. –Rebecca Wilson […]

Net Weight vs. Tare Weight vs. Gross Weight: A Comprehensive Guide

Net Weight vs. Tare Weight vs. Gross Weight: A Comprehensive Guide

The complexity of shipping and logistics often rests on understanding a few fundamental measurements. For businesses involved in manufacturing, packaging, and supply chain management, distinguishing between net weight vs tare weight is critical. These terms—along with gross weight—are the pillars of accurately calculating shipping costs, ensuring regulatory compliance, and maintaining safety across transportation networks. Failing […]

What Is a Distribution Center? Definition, Uses, and Benefits

What Is a Distribution Center? Definition, Uses, and Benefits

If you’ve engaged in eCommerce, you can attest to how hassle-free it has become to buy products online. The reason behind this efficiency in online shopping is distribution centers. They facilitate easy purchases and more convenient shipping times. With the rapid surge of eCommerce companies, distribution centers are becoming essential in streamlining the logistics process. […]

Prevent Supply Chain Disruptions With These AI Hacks 

Prevent Supply Chain Disruptions With These AI Hacks 

Port slowdowns, supplier failures, and demand surges tend to surface faster than traditional planning tools can respond. Artificial intelligence is changing the calculus by compressing the time between detection and decision. The three strategies below outline where AI delivers the most practical leverage: autonomous exception handling, scenario stress testing via digital twins, and unstructured data […]

How Adaptable Fulfillment Networks Strengthen Supply Chain Resiliency

How Adaptable Fulfillment Networks Strengthen Supply Chain Resiliency

Brian Mattingly, Executive Vice President, Operations at Saddle Creek Logistics Services, explains why resilient supply chains are now a cost-control strategy and a competitive advantage. Q. Why is supply chain resiliency so important right now? A. Supply chain resiliency is important because disruption is no longer an occasional event. It is part of the operating […]

Lead Time vs Cycle Time: Key Differences Explained

Lead Time vs Cycle Time: Key Differences Explained

In the world of project management and logistics, precision matters. Two of the most important—and most misunderstood—metrics are lead time and cycle time. Both measure how long things take, but they capture very different parts of the process. Understanding the distinction can mean the difference between meeting customer demand consistently and falling short. This article […]

75 Green Supply Chain Partners

75 Green Supply Chain Partners

The annual Green 75 awards recognize supply chain companies, 3PLs, and carriers that exhibit exceptional environmental stewardship, sustainable operations, and a commitment to going green every day.

Ecommerce Networks: An Insider’s View

Ecommerce Networks: An Insider’s View

A few years ago, I sat with a midmarket retailer who admitted something I hear more often than most people might expect: “We built our network for a world that doesn’t exist anymore.”

10 Tips for Supply Chain Leadership Lessons

10 Tips for Supply Chain Leadership Lessons

Behind every supply chain decision are real people balancing speed, cost, risk, and relationships. Effective leaders recognize that technology matters, but success is ultimately defined by how they support people, make tradeoffs, and handle change.

You Diversified Your Suppliers, But What About Your Robots?

You Diversified Your Suppliers, But What About Your Robots?

We often think about supply chain risk as something that happens upstream: an extreme weather event delaying a shipment from a single-source supplier or a carrier battling a data breach. That’s no longer the whole picture here. There are risks just as serious much closer to home.

Alan Miller

Macrologistics & Micrologistics: A Modern Framework for Unlocking Logistics Performance

In today’s competitive landscape, logistics has evolved from a back‑office necessity into one of the most powerful levers for business performance and differentiation. Yet despite its potential, many organizations still struggle to extract meaningful value from their logistics operations. The reason is straightforward: logistics is often treated as a single, monolithic function—broad, complex, and difficult […]

TMS and DRP: The Recipe for Resilience

TMS and DRP: The Recipe for Resilience

Ajinomoto Foods North America (AFNA) worked with EY Consulting and Blue Yonder to digitize its largely manual resource planning system and logistics processes that were hampering AFNA’s visibility, service, and efficiency.

Fill Rate Explained: Benefits, Fill Rate Formula, and More

Fill Rate Explained: Benefits, Fill Rate Formula, and More

In wholesale, retail, and logistics operations, fill rate is one of the most important indicators of inventory performance and customer service. This guide is intended for supply chain professionals, inventory managers, and business leaders seeking to optimize order fulfillment and customer satisfaction. Understanding and optimizing fill rate is crucial for maintaining customer loyalty and operational […]

IN BRIEF: Rail Growth, AI Automation, and Warehouse Expansion

IN BRIEF: Rail Growth, AI Automation, and Warehouse Expansion

3PL CEVA Logistics opened a new warehouse in Dubai South Free Zone, an emerging logistics hub in the United Arab Emirates and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council region. Designed for ecommerce customers, the nearly 250,000-square-foot facility, which opened in January 2026, handles more than 30,000 units per day.

TMS Solutions: New Capabilities, Rich Possibilities

TMS Solutions: New Capabilities, Rich Possibilities

Shippers operating without a transportation management system are leaving real money on the table. Today’s integrated TMS solutions are the map and the key, opening a treasure chest of financial governance, real-time visibility, and the intelligence needed to run smart.

Supply Chain Tech Landscape: From Resilience to Orchestration

Supply Chain Tech Landscape: From Resilience to Orchestration

The deep integration of artificial intelligence as a “system of action” is the most significant shift revealed in Inbound Logistics’ annual supply chain technology survey. No longer is AI a standalone feature; it has become the bedrock of enterprise execution. That shift reflects in this year’s Top 100 Logistics & Supply Chain Technology Providers. Aera […]