NOTED: The Supply Chain In Brief-Oct 2021

Good Works

  • Through support from Penske Truck Leasing and Lineage Logistics and a $2 million grant from the Darden Restaurants Foundation, Feeding America added refrigerated trucks for 10 food banks to support mobile pantry programs and food distribution for communities in need. Each food bank receives a 26-foot vehicle that can transport 12,000 pounds of food in each trip.
  • To support aid efforts following an earthquake, Volga-Dnepr Group organized two charter flights to deliver more than 110 tons of essential cargo, such as tents, water purifiers, mobile kitchens, and general cargo, to Port-au-Prince in Haiti.


Green Seeds

  • Performance Team, A Maersk Company, is adding 16 Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 trucks to its transportation fleet, replacing 16 diesel trucks. In addition to zero tailpipe emissions, the trucks improve working conditions for drivers with a quieter cab and by eliminating exposure to diesel fuel and exhaust.
  • Odyssey Logistics & Technology’s Odyssey Cloverleaf Program is on target to reduce carbon emissions by more than 300,000 metric tons in 2021. In the program, the company’s sustainability and carrier teams calculate emissions and other metrics, offer recommendations, and employ emerging technologies such as alternative fuel vehicles and IoT-enabled devices to enhance customers’ supply chains.
  • CEVA Logistics is offsetting 100% of its less-than-containerload logistics, reducing its customers’ carbon footprint at no additional cost. Through the purchase of carbon credits, the company will contribute to the conservation of the Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone.

M&A

  • TrueCommerce, a supply chain cloud solutions provider, acquired DiCentral, a business-to-business application programming interface solutions provider.
  • Logistics automation platform Magaya acquired Qwyk, a cloud-based digital freight forwarder platform, and SimpliShip, a freight marketplace platform.
  • Global logistics group Deutsche Post acquired ocean freight forwarder J.F. Hillebrand Group.
  • Omnichannel fulfillment solutions provider Whiplash acquired Utah-based 3PL fulfillment provider Enlinx.
  • Zebra Technologies intends to acquire antuit.ai, a software-as-a-service solutions provider for the retail and consumer packaged goods industries.
  • Global air cargo company Worldwide Flight Services acquired Pinnacle Logistics, a U.S. cargo handling services provider.

Shovel Ready

  • Saddle Creek Logistics Services plans to open an 864,000-square-foot distribution center in Fort Worth, Texas, in December 2021. The shared-space facility will help the third-party logistics provider accommodate growth from new and existing clients. The newly constructed building has 40-foot ceilings and 120 dock doors, and can be built out to suit specific client needs.
  • The Atkins Group is constructing a warehousing and distribution facility in Decatur, Illinois, in the city’s logistics corridor. The 635,000-square-foot facility will boost the region’s position as an emerging logistics and distribution site. Construction will wrap up in the summer of 2022.

Sealed Deals

  • Saysh, a community-centered lifestyle brand for women, is partnering with third-party logistics provider SCI Group to fulfill e-commerce orders for its first sneaker, which sold out via preorders. By fulfilling orders out of its Canadian facilities and shipping directly to consumers in the United States, SCI helps Saysh reduce costs through waived or refunded duties.
  • MedZoomer, an on-demand prescription delivery platform, selected Delivery Drivers to help deliver medication from the pharmacy to consumers in less than two hours. Delivery Drivers provides the onboarding, accounting, and risk management services that go into partnering with independent contractors for last-mile deliveries.
  • Tesco, a U.K.-based grocery retailer, is partnering with E2open to replace its legacy transportation management system. E2open will help modernize and streamline supply chain processes from procurement to payment and improve Tesco’s stock management, visibility, and transportation execution.

Recognition

  • Technology manufacturer Lenovo awarded GEODIS with the Logistics Excellence Award. GEODIS played a key role for the company amid the pandemic, ultimately helping Lenovo navigate surging demand and achieve record-breaking sales in 2021.
  • The Containerization & Intermodal Institute honored Eugene D. Seroka, executive director at the Port of Los Angeles, with the 2021 Connie Award in recognition of his leadership throughout the pandemic and contributions to containerization, world trade, and transportation.

Up the Chain

  • Port logistics platform EDRAY hired Brett Parker as its chief commercial officer. Parker brings expertise in final-mile importing, drayage, freight brokerage, less-than-truckload, and full truckload as the co-founder and former president of Cargomatic, a digital logistics brokerage.
  • AutoScheduler.AI hired Andrew Gibson as its chief technology officer to lead the company’s software development efforts. Gibson brings 25 years of experience as a leader in warehousing, transportation, and data science with Nestle.
  • Mars Petcare appointed Ruben Cejudo as vice president of the North American supply chain for its Mars Pet Nutrition North America division. Bringing nearly 30 years of experience, Cejudo most recently served as vice president of supply chain for hair care and deodorants at Unilever.

In Memoriam

  • John Ruan III, chairman emeritus at Ruan, died at the age of 78 on September 11, 2021. Beyond his dedication to the Ruan family of companies, he was a strong advocate for the transportation industry and played a significant philanthropic role in Iowa and communities around the country.