Orchestrating Inbound Freight: How Proven Dedicated Processes Keep Yards Flowing

Inbound freight should feel predictable. A trailer hits the gate, gets spotted to the door it was scheduled for, is unloaded inside its window, and the empty clears the yard before the next live load shows up. When that sequence holds, the yard breathes. When it breaks down at any step, the yard fills, dock […]

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 […]

Global Sourcing in Flux; Rewiring Ecommerce Supply Chains; How Hot is the Cold Chain? and other Logistics News

Logistics and supply chain news and highlights shaping the future of global logistics.

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.

The Hidden Costs of Inefficient Warehousing

Warehousing costs extend beyond leases and labor. Optimized warehouse management systems remove the hidden costs caused by inefficiencies.

Who Pays the Freight? Why This Idiom Matters

The party responsible for freight controls the visibility, execution, and oversight of transportation decisions

USPS, DHL eCommerce Expand Long-Term Final-Mile Partnership With $10 Billion Parcel Delivery Agreement

For USPS, the agreement offers stable parcel volume growth as the organization continues trying to offset structural declines in traditional mail. For DHL, the partnership avoids the substantial capital investment required to build a nationwide residential delivery operation from scratch.

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.”

Kindness, Curiosity, and Featherweight Sewing Machines

Bill Stankiewicz, the veteran managing director of Savannah Supply Chain, shares the personal lessons that shaped his compassionate and disciplined leadership style–from saving for college to famously saving an employee’s job.

New Robot Sense: Space Perception via sound

Sonair’s ultrasonic technology adds sound-powered 3D spatial awareness to robot perception. Moving beyond the prototype phase, the technology is now in production.

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?

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.

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

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.

1 in 6 Women Truckers Experience Harassment. These Truck Stops Are Doing Something About It.

Data shows truck stops are the most common site of harassment against women drivers. WIM and Trucker Path are using technology and $200 million in federal backing to make stopping safer for women on the road.

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

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

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.

Why Carrier Costing Is Becoming Core Logistics Infrastructure

Carrier costing is no longer just a back-office accounting function. Modern costing systems now support pricing strategy, emissions reporting, operational visibility, and stronger shipper-carrier collaboration across the supply chain.

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 […]

Top Logistics Companies and Supply Chain Solutions

The May edition of 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.

What 3PLs and Freight Forwarders Get Wrong About SaaS

What most organizations are actually seeking is relief from managing infrastructure—not a specific deployment model. “SaaS” can represent several architectural models.

Measure Twice, Automate Once: Don’t Build on a Shaky Foundation

Before investing in robotics, make sure your WMS and processes are built to support it.

Alaska Finds An Edge

Building on solid partnerships with companies that know the terrain and how to navigate it, the Last Frontier is taking off as a partner in global supply chains and energy markets.

Amazon Just Wholesale’d Its Supply Chain. What Happens Now?

Amazon’s new logistics offering is bigger than the headlines suggest. Here’s a breakdown of what it means for shippers and 3PLs.

10 Tips for Maximizing the Value of Technology in Your Supply Chain

Since 2020, supply chains have been in a period of transformation. Companies first sought to maintain continuity in the face of massive disruption and then pivoted to improve resiliency and manage growth in emerging channels, all while contending with persistent labor shortages and shifting customer expectations. The DHL Supply Chain Insight 2030 report indicates the […]

Unlocking Next-Level Visibility and AI Power in Your Supply Chain

Softeon’s Massively Observable Warehouse concept, powered by our Softeon AI Layer (SAIL) framework, transforms the warehouse into a living, data-rich environment that’s ready for AI innovation.

What’s New in Warehouse Automation; Global Logistics Connections Strengthen; Port Container Volumes Rise; and More Logistics & Supply Chain News

Logistics and supply chain news and highlights shaping the future of global logistics.

The Hidden Risks in Temperature-Controlled Freight

Temperature-controlled freight leaves little room for error. Small oversights in equipment, carrier selection, insurance coverage, or in-transit communication can quickly turn into costly claims.

The Future of Seaports: Unlocking Growth and Opportunity

As land constraints tighten at major gateways, seaport growth will depend on smarter use of existing footprints. Densification, modernization, predictive analytics, and sustainability investments are reshaping how ports build capacity and resilience.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Ecommerce Innovations

Warehouse technology continues to evolve across fulfillment, storage, inventory management, and parcel visibility. Here’s a look at new solutions designed to improve operational flexibility.

Clean Tech Hits Its Stride as Freight Faces a Defining Moment

ACT Expo 2026 signals a shift from experimentation to execution across fleets, fuels, and automation.

How to Safeguard Your Network Against Market Volatility

Supply chain resilience is about building adaptive networks that can sense and respond to disruption in real time. With tools like TMS platforms, digital twins, and 4PL partnerships, companies can stay ahead of market volatility.

Rethinking Logistics Cost Management: Closed-Loop Solutions Provide Visibility

Logistics cost management is evolving as companies move away from manual processes toward closed-loop systems that connect transportation management and freight audit. This integrated approach improves visibility, reduces billing discrepancies, and helps organizations capture real savings across the supply chain.

Elevating Supply Chain from ‘Necessary Evil’ to C-Suite Influence

Heidi Hoffman leads the supply chain practice at ON Partners Executive Search.

10 Tips to Optimize Warehouse Automation

Warehouses are rapidly deploying automation, yet many fail to achieve their full return on investment. The challenge isn’t the hardware but poor coordination, creating “islands of automation” that worsen bottlenecks instead of synchronizing systems.

FedEx Freight Outlines AI and Fuel Strategy Ahead of Spin-Off at ACT Expo

Incoming CEO John A. Smith said FedEx Freight’s spin-off strategy will center on practical sustainability, predictive AI, and network optimization, with a focus on technologies that improve operations as the company becomes a standalone carrier.

Could UK Exporters Really Lose a Shipment Over a Hyphen?

A small formatting detail could create big border delays in 2026. U.S. authorities have stepped up enforcement of ISPM 15 pallet stamp formatting, meaning one missing hyphen could trigger inspections and unexpected costs for exporters.

Why Financial Control Must Begin Inside Your TMS

Integrating shipment execution with contract-level rating intelligence allows shipments to be rated using negotiated transportation provider agreements before the freight moves.

Heavy Haul At the U.S.–Mexico Border: What It Takes to Keep Complex Freight Moving

Cross-border heavy haul shipping requires coordination across regulations, infrastructure, and operational teams.

Cross-Border Logistics Solutions: Keeping Freight in Motion

As nearshoring trends and tariff regulations reshape North American freight flows, shippers turn to experienced logistics partners to manage complexity, ensure continuity, and keep goods flowing smoothly across borders.

Tesla Semi Enters Production as Diesel’s Cost Advantage Collapses

Tesla’s electric Class 8 truck is entering production just as diesel’s cost advantage erodes, forcing fleets to rethink the economics of long-haul freight.

3 Pillars of a Resilient Supply Chain

Rapidly evolving business dynamics, coupled with rising costs and labor constraints, have underscored the critical need for a resilient supply chain. A fully connected, technology-driven infrastructure strategy is required to maintain market share and successfully navigating this challenge requires an integrated approach anchored by three core pillars.

Driver Shortage—or Market Reset? How Compliance, Demographics, and Capacity Are Reshaping Freight

By Amy Roach | April 24, 2026 The trucking industry’s long-running “driver shortage” debate has taken on new urgency in 2026. But this year, the shortage doesn’t look quite the way it used to. As freight markets begin to tighten after years of excess capacity, a mix of regulatory enforcement, demographic pressure, and shifting labor […]

Green Seeds: Logistics Companies Logging Real Environmental Progress

From the trans-Pacific corridor to natural gas exhausts, industry players are making measurable environmental progress—on the water, in the air, and on the ground.

When Will We Start Seeing Fully Autonomous Supply Chains?

100% Autonomous? Up in the Air Trick question. Full autonomy is likely already happening in some small pockets of the global economy. Scale is the real variable. Agentic AI is collapsing timelines fast: By 2030 the tech is ready and deployed for most routine decisions. However, 100% autonomy at scale takes decades: Human organizations change […]

Supply Chain Autonomy Gets in the Zone

From AI-driven advancements in perception to new lanes for self-driving trucks, companies are making moves toward autonomy.

Beyond the Hype: How AI Is Really Improving Warehouse Performance

Artificial intelligence has quickly become one of the most talked-about forces in supply chain transformation. For logistics leaders, the opportunity is real—but so is the confusion. Between bold vendor claims and headlines about “lights-out warehouses,” it can be difficult to distinguish what AI actually delivers today versus what remains aspirational. For organizations responsible for warehousing […]

Not Having Parcel Functionality in Your TMS Is a Blind Spot

Some shippers treat parcel shipping like a utility bill. A bill paid weekly that is occasionally higher than usual, but you aren’t totally sure why. For businesses where parcel shipments are not the primary way products reach end-users, parcel expenses get lumped in with other internal shipping expenses. The result is a blind spot on […]

Rusting Russian Rail Link

For decades, Russian rail corridors were marketed to global customers importing product from Russia as the “reliable middle ground” between slow ocean freight and expensive air cargo. However, the backbone of Russian Eurasian land-bridge logistics isn’t faring well.

Rewiring the Supply Chain for the AI Era

AI promises a level of precision and agility that traditional systems simply cannot achieve. While this technology’s potential is enormous, the question remains: Are supply chains truly prepared to embrace it?

Improving Highway Safety: Beyond the Blame Game

The notion that freight brokers should be responsible for evaluating carrier safety is not only unrealistic but counterproductive. This issue goes beyond liability debates. Clarity, accountability, and a focused commitment to reforms can make highways safer for everyone.

The Invisible Shortage: How Petrochemical Shortages Could Impact Packaging

A global naphtha shortage is driving up the cost of plastic packaging across supply chains. Shippers face rising costs and new sourcing challenges as disruptions ripple from the Middle East to Asia and the U.S.

Shifting Your Data Strategy

Global supply chains are entering a new era where traditional supplier audits and annual assessments are no longer enough. Supply chain leaders must adopt real-time supplier intelligence, continuous monitoring, and AI-driven risk scoring to stay ahead of disruption.

Who’s Making an Impact? Nominations Open for ALAN’s 2026 Humanitarian Logistics Awards

Nominations are now open for ALAN’s 2026 Humanitarian Logistics Awards, recognizing companies and individuals making a difference in disaster relief. Learn who’s eligible, key deadlines, and how to submit a nomination.

2026 Perspectives and Market Research: Logistics IT Accelerates

In IL’s latest survey, technology providers reveal demand for their services continues to ramp up and AI’s role in their offerings grows more powerful.

Asking the Right Questions When Selecting A Data Center Transportation Partner

For manufacturers and operators, evaluating transportation providers begins with addressing key considerations to ascertain experience and innovative solutions.

18 Ways to Break Through Global Supply Chain Complexity

Managing a global supply chain requires navigating ongoing disruptions, fluctuating tariffs, geopolitical tension, and more. Here are 18 tips to help cut through these obstacles.

Freight Mode Optimization: When to Shift Between Road, Sea, and Air in a Volatile Market

Freight markets remain unpredictable, with rates fluctuating, capacity tightening, and disruption affecting all modes at different times. For businesses moving goods within the UK and internationally, transport decisions can no longer be treated as fixed. They require regular review and adjustment in line with changing conditions. What Is Freight Mode Optimization? Freight mode optimization refers […]

Site Selection: Georgia Beckons

Seeking to locate facilities or expand operations in the Southeast? Georgia is calling. Here’s how the state’s logistics ecosystem continues to enhance connectivity and how leading providers fuel growth.

You’re Pitching a Cargo Heist Movie. What’s the Title and Plot Synopsis?

THE DRINKS ARE ON THEM: A wisecracking trucker and misfit crew swipe limited-edition glow-in-the-dark tequila, livestreaming their clout-chasing escape. A relentless sheriff is on their tail while fan meetups and stunt gags snowball. Their bumbling hype-man geotags the hideout for a brand deal. Cops crash the party instead, turning neon toasts into silver cuffs.

WRITTEN BY Ann Stawski
DIRECTOR OF Marketing & Communications
Odyssey Logistics

Try Things, Fail Fast, and Take Responsibility

RepSpark CEO Meghann Butcher shares her playbook for scaling a B2B ecommerce platform—from building a culture of radical transparency and ‘failing fast’ to optimizing the supply chain with real-time inventory and AI.

Combating Supply Chain Threats

Cross-border logistics is entering a phase where digital infrastructure and security are becoming critical. The result: cybersecurity is no longer an IT function—it’s an existential risk to business continuity and trust.

What the USPS Bribery Conviction Can Teach the Logistics Industry About Contract Integrity

A federal fraud conviction related to USPS transportation contracts—issued around the same time the agency struck a new deal with Amazon—offers a timely blueprint for protecting outsourced logistics networks from the inside out.

10 Tips to Strengthen Your Carrier Partnerships

In today’s volatile freight market, shippers and carriers succeed when they operate with clarity, consistency, and trust. Yet the path to a productive carrier relationship isn’t always straightforward. These 10 tips highlight what matters most.

NOTED: Supply Chain Highlights

A snapshot of the latest supply chain activity, including logistics partnerships, executive moves, sustainability initiatives, investments, mergers and acquisitions, and industry recognition.

Warehouse Management: Meaning, Advantages, and Systems

In today’s fast-paced logistics environment, effective warehouse management is essential for maintaining efficiency, accuracy, and resilience. By combining strong processes with advanced warehouse management systems, businesses can optimize performance and strengthen their position within the supply chain.

Rock Salt: Slippery Conditions, Rock-Solid Supply Chain

When snowstorms crystallize the need for salt, here’s how a major port cranks up operations to meet demand, keeping roads and sidewalks seasoned and safe.

3PL Technology Companies

Third-party logistics (3PL) providers are undergoing a digital revolution – leveraging AI, digital twin solutions, and real-time intelligence to radically redefine supply chain performance. These standout 3PLs drive unparalleled efficiency, end-to-end visibility, and sustained growth through technology innovations.

IN BRIEF: New Services and Solutions

China Eastern Air Logistics Co., Ltd. (CEAL) deployed high-capacity automated guided vehicles (AGVs) from Lödige Industries to automate transportation of unit load devices. Six 10-foot AGVs have been implemented in CEAL’s cargo terminal 4 at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Conquer the Chaos: Why Global Trade Management Systems Matter Now

With tariffs, disruptions, and rate swings reshaping global trade, shippers need better visibility and agility. GTM systems help them keep up.

Supply Chain Takeaways: Returns, Resilience, and AI Trends

Logistics and supply chain news and highlights shaping the future of global logistics.

The Top 20 Fleet Management Challenges Faced By Owners and How to Overcome Them

By addressing fleet management challenges head-on, businesses can build resilient, efficient, and future-ready fleet operations.

The Next Great Convergence in Global Commerce: DPP, Ambient IoT, and GS1

Global businesses are standing at the edge of a new era in supply chain visibility and product intelligence. As the European Union begins implementing Digital Product Passport (DPP) requirements across key sectors, companies must prepare for a future in which every product is expected to carry a dynamic, digital record of its lifecycle. These mandates are already influencing how products are being designed, manufactured, tracked, and verified across global supply chains.

Unpacking Supply Chain Certifications

The right certifications—the ones recognized across the industry—can pay off in a big way. Here’s how to choose strategically and take action.

Risky Business: Inside the Freight Fraud Surge

Escalating cargo crime is forcing shippers and carriers to rethink risk, visibility, and security.

Iran Conflict Strains Global Supply Chains, With Secondary Impacts Emerging

Rising fuel costs and shipping delays are just the start, as the Iran conflict begins to ripple through global logistics, manufacturing, and industrial markets.

RFID vs. Barcode: Their Key Differences

In today’s fast-paced supply chains and data-driven environments, tracking technologies play a critical role in maintaining visibility, accuracy, and efficiency. The debate around RFID vs. Barcode continues to shape how businesses manage inventory, assets, and logistics across industries. This article explores the differences between RFID and barcode technologies, outlining their strengths, limitations, and real-world applications. […]

Understanding Incoterms: Definition, Importance, and Key Responsibilities

Incoterms are a foundational element of global trade, providing a standardized framework that defines the responsibilities of buyers and sellers in international transactions. Whether goods are shipped across oceans or borders, incoterms help clarify who pays for what, who bears risk, and when ownership responsibilities shift. In simple terms, Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are globally […]

Building an Automation-Ready Warehouse Workforce in a Volatile Labor Market

Why workforce readiness—not technology alone—has become the defining factor in warehouse resilience.

Podcast Roundup: Press Play on Progress

These popular Inbound Logistics podcasts set the supply chain agenda in 2025.

2026 READING GUIDE: There’s a Book For That!

These 15 top reads will help you address many key concerns likely to hit your supply chain in 2026.

How Automation Builds Resilient Supply Chains

Resilience is the new efficiency. As automation touches every supply chain process—from picking to final delivery—future-proof solutions demand clean data, a holistic vision, and the right software backbone to weather any disruption.

Overcoming Geopolitical Uncertainty and Turning Challenges into Opportunities

Q. What are the biggest challenges facing the freight market? A. The most obvious answer is the ever-changing geopolitical landscape. Globally there have been some headwinds in the trade routes, with many ocean carriers shifting how they operate. Tariffs have certainly forced many to shift aspects of their supply chain or for some, unfortunately, halt […]

2026 Top 100 Logistics & Supply Chain Technology Providers

Selected by Inbound Logistics editors, these 100 companies provide a range of solutions from widely adopted technologies such as Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) to newer offerings such as AI and robotics.

Supply Chain Orchestration: Enabling End-to-End Visibility and Smarter Decision-Making

Enhance your business efficiency by mastering supply chain orchestration. Discover practical strategies and insights to streamline operations.

Inside Job: Embedding Risk Protection Where Freight Decisions Happen

For decades, cargo insurance has been an afterthought in freight operations, an administrative box to tick after rates are negotiated and the load is on the move. That separation made sense when every policy required phone calls, paperwork, and manual underwriting. But in a digital, data-driven supply chain, risk protection can no longer live outside the workflow. It belongs inside it.

Break Bulk vs Cross Docking: Which Shipping Service is Right For You?

In today’s fast-moving global economy, efficient shipping and logistics strategies are essential for any business involved in trade. Two commonly used methods—break bulk shipping and cross docking—play a critical role in modern supply chain management. While both approaches aim to move freight efficiently, they are often used to handle bulk shipments, which involve consolidating or […]

IN BRIEF: New Services and Solutions

The Hyster J45-70A is an updated electric counterbalanced forklift, with zero exhaust emissions, in the 4,500- to 7,000-pound capacity range. Designed for industrial operations, it can be configured with a range of drive motor and battery options for outdoor and indoor applications.

Fuel Volatility is Back: Diesel Prices Top $5 for First Time Since 2022

Diesel prices surpass $5 for the first time since in four years, raising transportation costs and adding new pressure on trucking, freight, and supply chains.

Most Read Articles of 2025

As supply chains navigated volatility, risk, and transformation, these stories stood out to our readers—offering practical insight into the systems, partners, and strategies shaping logistics in 2025.

Betting on the Right Transportation Provider

Stack the odds in your favor with these six best practices for selecting a winning transportation partner.

The Choreography of Complex Cargo: Intricate Steps, High Stakes

From tearing down an aircraft to choreographing the move of fire-fighting helicopters to affected areas, top logistics providers execute every step of these high-stakes shipments carefully and precisely.

WHAT’S THE WORD: The Language of Logistics

From refreshers to recently coined terms and emerging concepts (should we be concerned about shadow AI?), here are some quick definitions to add to your logistics dictionary.

Supply Chain Predictions: Roadmap to 2030

Explore the strategic roadmap to 2030. Industry experts share predictions on AI adoption, autonomous vehicles, and the critical technology shifts required to stay competitive over the next decade.

Robotics Turbocharge Inventory

With AI-optimized intelligence and storage-capacity boosting configurations, these robotics systems speed order fulfillment and enable supply chain efficiency gains.

Dead Stock: What It Is and How to Avoid It

For any business that stores or sells products, dead stock is more than a minor inconvenience—it’s a silent drain on resources. Items that sit unsold for too long take up space, tie up capital, and reduce efficiency across the operation. In warehouses and backrooms around the world, shelves filled with unsold goods represent money that […]

Why “Global” Freight Audit Isn’t a Buzzword… It’s a Business Requirement

In today’s freight audit and payment environment, the word global is used loosely. A truly global freight audit provider does more than process invoices from around the world.

Real-Time Sales Data: The Missing Link

Despite progress in supply chain digitization, automation, and AI, one gap undermines sales efficiency: real-time sales data sharing between retailers and suppliers. This disconnect creates forecasting challenges, burdens inventory systems, and slows responsiveness at a time when speed and agility are critical for competitiveness.