The new project from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism addresses an expected severe delivery driver shortage and increasing freight demands, reports South China Morning Post.

By building a network of automated conveyor belts to transport goods, the government hopes to ensure efficient and continuous cargo movement.

The project will use existing road space—leveraging tunnels, median strips, and shoulders. It will employ high-capacity pallet systems to transport up to 1.1 tons of cargo per pallet, and is expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently in the planning phase, the Autoflow-Road system will position automated conveyor belts in tunnels beneath major highways, on above-ground tracks in the middle of roads, and along hard shoulders of motorways.

Autoflow By the Numbers

25,000

Number of drivers per day it’s estimated to replace

24

Hours a day of operation with pallets holding up to 1 tonne (around 1.1 tons) of cargo

Technology

• AutoScheduler.AI introduced centralized warehouse orchestration, which gives companies a centralized view of multi-site data. Called AutoPilot Central, the solution enables supply chain executives to get an aggregated bird’s eye view across multiple sites.

• Marsh McLennan now offers Sentrisk, an AI-powered platform with integrated advisory services to help businesses manage global supply chain risk. Sentrisk uses supply chain mapping AI and geospatial satellite imaging to help organizations map their supply chains and develop risk mitigation, transfer, and management strategies.

• Craft.co, a supply chain resilience company, launched its next-generation supplier risk management solution, providing data quality, usability, supplier risk, and compliance monitoring as well as proactive risk mitigation capabilities. Craft tackles the complexity of managing a global supplier network by providing a single platform with 1,300+ data streams.

Products

• The new Odyssey 3-runner rackable pallet from ORBIS supports heavy loads and provides load stability. Designed for automated equipment, the pallet offers dimensional consistency and improved hygienics with built-in reinforcement and a flow-through design.

← The next-generation Pro-Spotter Electric Terminal Tractor from TICO (Terminal Investment Corporation) Manufacturing debuted at the recent Advanced Clean Transportation Expo. The tractor offers higher levels of onboard energy and flexibility, making it suitable for port operations.

• APS Resource released its new APS&GO 2.0 loading dock communication system, which provides clear status to drivers and loading dock workers using highly visible, universal red “X” and green “O” LED light symbols. The combination of colors and shapes clearly communicates the presence of a trailer at the loading dock to reduce the potential for accidents resulting from truck drivers pulling away before loading/unloading is complete.

→ The new Kodiak Max industrial sign and label print system from DuraLabel uses thermal transfer technology to provide durability, vibrant colors, and sharp, 300 DPI text, graphics, barcodes, and QR codes.

• DGeo, the packaging division at Labelmaster, introduced a line of collapsible wooden crates for large-format lithium batteries. The Obexion MAX crates offer a repeatable fastening system to transport large lithium batteries. Produced by Action Wood 360, Obexion MAX crates are easy to assemble and disassemble by snapping and unsnapping the wood pieces together with Clip-Lok metal clips.

Services

• The Georgia Ports Authority and Wallenius Wilhelmsen signed a 20-year terminal agreement consolidating the company’s port and logistics operations at the Port of Brunswick. The provider’s long-term commitment in Brunswick—which is expanding its roll-on/roll-off cargo handling capabilities to become a top U.S. auto port—is expected to strengthen its position as a preferred supply chain partner to North American automotive, equipment, and breakbulk customers.

↑ DHL Global Forwarding, DHL Group’s air and ocean freight specialist, has been re-certified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The IATA CEIV Pharma certification recognizes DHL Global Forwarding’s expertise in meeting quality standards and regulatory requirements for safe and compliant air handling of high-value, time-sensitive, and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical products.

• Candor Expedite launched a cold chain division, Candor Food Chain, which combines the company’s national shipping services with a new technology—a reusable cold packaging solution that allows pallet and box-sized frozen and refrigerated shipments to go by regular transport and stay frozen or refrigerated for up to 9 days.

• CN opened a new transload logistics facility in Flat Rock, Michigan. Spanning 20,000 square feet, the Flat Rock facility is designed for inbound train operations. The facility’s first customer is Target Steel, which will transport steel coils via rail.

Transportation

↑ DACHSER’s air and sea freight division is expanding its services, adding new fixed LCL connections between the port of Rotterdam and various ports in Asia including Shanghai and Nhava Sheva. For these new LCL import and export connections, DACHSER uses its own consolidated containers.

• Lufthansa Cargo added Monterrey, Mexico, to its freighter flight schedule, connecting Europe to Monterrey and offering further destinations with belly connections to North America. The new route goes from Frankfurt to Mexico City, then to Monterrey International Airport, and back to Frankfurt, and is expected to serve automotive suppliers, electronics providers, and customers transporting medical products.

• CMA CGM Group is deploying seven additional vessels with a capacity of 7,000 TEUs from June 30 to early September 2024, with bi-weekly departures from China to alternating destinations in Northern Europe (Le Havre, Antwerp) and the Mediterranean (Fos-sur-Mer, Malta). The French Peak Service is a seasonal offering designed to meet increased maritime transport demand between Asia, Northern Europe, and the Mediterranean.

• Samskip now offers a shortsea container service connecting Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Launched from Rotterdam, the weekly Spain-Tilbury-Rotterdam shortsea option offers the sustainability advantages of intermodal transport to customers throughout Spain, supported by local customer service.

↑ COSCO SHIPPING opened a self-operated fulfillment warehouse in the Greater Los Angeles area. Tailored for cross-border ecommerce customers, the new facility is one hour from the Port of Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport. The warehouse can achieve unloading and shelving within 48 hours, with 95% of goods dispatched within the first 24 hours and 98% within 48 hours.

M&A

• Descartes Systems Group acquired Aerospace Software Developments, a provider of customs and regulatory compliance solutions.

• Cin7 acquired Inventoro, a provider of AI-driven sales forecasting and replenishment optimization solutions.

GOOD WORKS

↑ Carolina Handling is celebrating its 58th anniversary in 2024 with a yearlong campaign entitled “Handling Hunger Together” to assist neighboring hunger-relief organizations. The company is giving away 58 motorized pallet jacks to hunger-relief organizations throughout its five-state territory.

SEALED DEALS

← Arvato has taken over logistics and fulfillment for Tonies, the manufacturer and supplier of the Toniebox and accompanying figurines. The logistics campus in Guetersloh (Germany) and the East Midlands Gateway (UK) will act as central distribution centers.

• Supply chain resilience company Craft.co signed a $28-million, five-year agreement with the Secretary of the Air Force to bolster due diligence efforts across the Department of Defense. The DoD and 23 other federal agencies use the Craft platform to conduct due diligence and foreign influence checks on companies that aim to do business with the federal government.

• WSI was selected as the operator of Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s Zacha Transload Terminal in Dallas. With 50 acres of outdoor storage, the terminal features capacity for transloading and storing materials such as steel, lumber, plastics, aggregates, food, and other agricultural products.

• Ruan entered a new partnership with the Idaho State Liquor Division for dedicated contract transportation for liquor products distribution.

↑ To support its growth within mass retailers such as Costco, Target, TJMaxx, and Walmart, E&C’s Snacks forged a strategic partnership with ODW Logistics. In addition to being an E&C’s Snacks transportation partner, ODW now manages the brand’s inventory out of its Romeoville, Illinois warehouse.

UP THE CHAIN

→ AGX Freight, a full-service transportation and logistics platform, appointed Carson Mendez as its new director of brokerage operations.

← DHL Group announced a leadership transition in DHL Supply Chain North America. Patrick Kelleher, current global chief development officer (pictured), will assume the role of North America CEO effective July 1, 2024. This follows the retirement of Scott Sureddin, which takes effect on December 31, 2024.

→ Kurt Milburn was promoted to chief supply chain officer for Papa John’s International, succeeding Shane Hutchins, who will retire after 26 years at the pizza chain. Milburn joined Papa John’s in 2022 as vice president of supply chain operations.

← Monogram Foods appointed Larry Elliott as executive vice president and chief supply chain officer. Elliott oversees Monogram’s corporate operations functions, including logistics and customer service.

→ CN appointed Remi G. Lalonde as executive vice president and chief commercial officer. He succeeds Doug MacDonald, who will retire following a 35-year career with the railroad.

← Crowley named Phil Shook as senior vice president and general manager of Land Transportation Services, a newly created business unit. Shook is responsible for all land-based transportation, including brokerage solutions, intermodal services, trucking, and managed transportation.

→ End-to-end fresh meals platform FreshRealm appointed Stacey Wallace as its chief supply chain officer to oversee supply chain, planning, and fulfillment functions. She joins FreshRealm from Redbubble Group, where she served as chief supply chain officer.

RECOGNITION

↑ Averitt was named Trane Technologies’ Logistics Supplier of the Year for delivering differentiated value for Trane customers.

↑ CPC Logistics truck driver Stuart Shuck, who is assigned to drive for John Deere in Davenport, Iowa, has been inducted into the National Private Truck Council Driver Hall of Fame. Shuck was honored for demonstrating excellence on the highway, in his company, and in his community.

↑ Leslie Ajlouny, chief marketing officer for Evans Distribution Systems, was recognized with the International Warehouse Logistics Association’s (IWLA) Pinnacle Award, which acknowledges individuals whose contributions have significantly increased the value of IWLA membership.

↑ Schneider National was recognized as a 2024 Military Friendly Employer and a Military Spouse Friendly Employer for its outstanding work recruiting, hiring, and retaining military veterans.

↑ Roadrunner earned the 2023 Platinum LTL Carrier Award from Echo Global Logistics for outstanding service, commitment, and performance.

• Groendyke Transport won its record ninth National Tank Truck Carriers North American Safety Champion Award. Also known as the Heil Trophy, this award is given each year to the tank truck carrier with the best overall safety record and program in its division.

In today’s day and age, many shippers have come to expect the same visibility and tracking that they get with parcels or food delivery — knowing when the delivery starts, where it is at a specific moment, and when exactly it will arrive at their home address. The same concept is increasingly popular in B2B; with every order the carrier delivers, they are expected to provide extensive delivery details and updates on the road. This inevitably results in many redundant communication steps with drivers and clients, causing stress to operations teams and clients’ dissatisfaction when their expectations are unmet. 

With the launch of its advanced connectivity feature and carrier process digitalization, CtrlChain reaffirms its commitment to providing comprehensive logistics solutions that prioritize carriers and their needs. The data is only provided to CtrlChain three hours before and three hours after delivery, with no visibility on their end beyond that timeframe. With an integrated GPS connection, drivers will stay connected to the app, ensuring efficient coordination regardless of where the routes take them. 

Specializing in the full truckload (FTL) market, CtrlChain’s innovative system enhances service quality, significantly speeds up tasks, and reduces administrative costs for businesses. On average, operators spend 30-90 minutes planning and updating deliveries on multiple fragmented platforms. This includes planning trucks and searching for loads, bidding, coordinating appointments, and various other time-consuming tasks. By leveraging the CtrlChain platform, carriers can simplify their delivery operations, spending less time on manual tracking and more time focusing on more important activities. 

“Today’s logistics landscape is changing every day, and the need for comprehensive visibility and connectivity has never been more important,” stated Giovanni Gubbels, CEO of CtrlChain. 

“CtrlChain is committed to simplifying and enhancing the carrier process through new and emerging technologies. Reducing redundant communication and simplifying operations allows carriers to focus on what truly matters — delivering exceptional service. We believe that our comprehensive solutions not only prioritize carriers’ needs but also help set a new standard for the industry.” 

In addition to its commitment to customer satisfaction, CtrlChain continues to address industry challenges such as freight fraud, driver shortages, and sustainability concerns. Through strategic partnerships and investments in digitalization, CtrlChain remains at the forefront of driving innovation and facilitating international expansion. 

Learn more about our innovative solutions at www.ctrlchain.com. 

About CtrlChain:

CtrlChain, founded in 2018, is an innovative logistics service provider with offices located in Chicago, Eindhoven, and Barcelona. The company aims to modernize the industry, offering easy-to-implement solutions that bridge communication gaps and embrace the digitization of logistics, leading to fewer empty miles driven and less manual time spent on operations. For more information about CtrlChain and its advanced transportation management solutions, visit www.ctrlchain.com.

The global natural diamond market was valued at $100.4 billion, while the global lab-grown diamond market was valued at $24 billion in 2022.

The mined diamond market is projected to reach $155.5 billion by 2032 while the global lab-grown diamond market is projected to reach $59.2 billion by the same year, according to Allied Market Research.

Retailers will continue to wed both options—lab-grown and mined diamonds—to meet customer preferences and price points. Consumers demand increased transparency in diamond sourcing and certification.

Lab-Grown Stones Engage the Public

General Electric first synthesized lab-grown diamonds in 1954, according to the International Gem Society (IGS)—using a high-pressure belt press to expose small seed crystals to temperatures of 2,912°F and atmospheric pressures of 100,000 atm.

Demand for lab-grown diamonds has risen every year but they captivated the mainstream in 2017 and accounted for 18% of diamonds sold in the United States in 2023, according to diamond industry analyst Paul Zimnisky.

Making the Green Cut?

Though the production process is more energy intensive, lab-grown diamonds generally have a smaller environmental footprint than their natural counterparts, avoiding the use of mines and associated concerns including poor working conditions, ecosystem disruption, deforestation, and soil erosion. On average, mining companies move 250 tons of earth per carat of mined diamond.

More than 60% of lab-grown diamonds are produced in China and India, where grid electricity relies on coal, according to the Natural Diamond Council. On average, producing one polished carat of lab-grown diamond releases approximately 511 kg of greenhouse gases. In comparison, 160 kg of greenhouse gases are released per one polished carat of mined diamond, according to IGS.

Sources: Institute of Supply Chain Management, The Diamond Pro, International Gem Society, ABC News

Equipment and Pay Will Make Drivers Stay

Despite signs of improvement in the freight market, carriers and drivers continue to grapple with the lingering effects of the freight recession. Competition for drivers is intensifying, leading to a rise in driver turnover as evidenced by an increase in CDL driver job postings and truck driver job seekers. This is the key message from the Q1 2024 Driver Recruiting & Retention Data Download Report, compiled by Conversion Interactive Agency and People. Data. Analytics. (PDA).

“It’s crucial for carriers to reassess their recruitment and retention strategies,” says Kelley Walkup, president and CEO of Conversion Interactive Agency. “Several Q1 data points indicate that driver demand is increasing. With many carriers seeing improvement in freight volumes, now is the time to review the driver pipeline and be ready for the rebound.”

The Q1 data highlights equipment and compensation as drivers’ top concerns and the main reason drivers voluntarily decide to leave their carrier. However, there was a notable shift in compensation issues, with fewer drivers attributing pay problems solely to miles.

Here’s a closer look at what the data indicates:

• Driver messaging is important for recruiting and retention. “Amidst evolving trends in driver pay and competition dynamics, it’s imperative for carriers to deliver accurate equipment and pay messaging in their recruitment marketing,” notes Walkup. The Q1 data shows “pay” and “equipment” were top keywords from online driver reviews last quarter.
• Today’s drivers also emphasize the need for predictable pay in the current freight market. “Implementing strategies to maintain consistent movement for drivers and ensuring their expectations are aligned appropriately are crucial steps in addressing pay-related concerns,” says Scott Dismuke, vice president of operations at PDA. “Ultimately, the significance of a higher pay rate diminishes if drivers are not consistently logging miles.”
• Compensation concerns go beyond mileage. Q1 2024 marked the first time in five quarters that fewer than half of drivers surveyed attributed their compensation woes to miles. “Compensation became the top worry for drivers for the first time since late 2022. Fewer drivers are talking about miles, while more are talking about pay rate,” Dismuke added. “There has been a 3% drop in issues related to miles. This suggests a significant change in driver priorities, as compensation concerns now take precedence over the traditional focus on miles driven.”

Manufacturing Optimism Rebounds

The manufacturing sector is feeling upbeat again, reporting the highest levels of optimism since June 2021, according to the latest Sikich Industry Pulse Report. The manufacturing executives surveyed rate their optimism an average of 7.07 on a scale of 1 to 10, the highest rating in the past three years. (See Rating Executive Optimism chart.)

Contributing factors include an increase in customer demand and a decrease in labor challenges. Respondents also cite supply chain improvements and favorable economic conditions as reasons for increased optimism.

The survey also asked executives to determine which factors represent the greatest challenges to their business in the upcoming year. Labor shortages/increased labor costs (31%) continue to be a top issue. (See Top Challenges for 2024 chart.) Despite these challenges, business leaders are still prioritizing growth but doing so conservatively. They report being focused on existing products in current markets, with market penetration (40%) as their primary growth strategy.

New Exec Must-Have: GenAI Training

Continuing to create buzz across the supply chain sector, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is at the top of the priority list for most companies today. A new Accenture survey shows 87% of C-suite executives responsible for supply chain and production plan to invest more in GenAI. And 85% expect to reap the returns of their generative AI investments already in 2024.

But the survey shows these executives also recognize they need to better understand the technology and its potential, and they need widespread GenAI training across their organizations. Only 15% are highly confident they currently have the right data strategy and digital capabilities to use generative AI effectively.

Other interesting takeaways on GenAI training perceptions:

• 74% of respondents feel they need at least some level of training in GenAI.
• 18% recognize the necessity for extensive training in this area.
• 42% claim to be personally using GenAI tools at least once per week, down from 71% just six months ago.
• 54% believe their organization requires intermediate-level training in the technology, such as prompt engineering and model fine-tuning.
• 40% think the most crucial need is advanced training, such as developing GenAI models and applications.

Decoding Europe’s New Cargo Code

The European Union recently updated its Union Customs Code, which affects companies involved in transporting cargo to or through the EU.

The changes are a direct result of the Import Control System (ICS2) rollout, which is the third release of the new pre-arrival and security system for the EU. The ICS2 mandates that all bill of lading issuers provide advance cargo information to address security and safety concerns associated with incoming shipments entering the EU. Shippers must comply by submitting a comprehensive set of Entry Summary Declaration data for goods crossing the EU border, regardless of whether they are inbound or outbound.

What’s the impact? Here are the key points, according to Bryn Heimbeck, president of Trade Tech:

• Failure to comply with these new regulations will result in cargo shipments being halted and delayed at EU customs borders, with customs authorities withholding clearance.
• Insufficient declaration will either be rejected or subjected to intervention, potentially resulting in noncompliance penalties. “It is strongly advised that shippers prepare ahead in order to prevent disruptions to their shipments bound for or passing through the EU,” notes Heimbeck.
• Shippers can help to ensure compliance by utilizing unified platform technology that aligns with the enhanced requirements of ICS2. This type of technology is designed to integrate new regulatory changes and is built on top of existing systems and processes. “By adopting a unified platform technology, shippers can bridge the regulatory gap when it comes to global security filings such as AMS, ISF, and the latest addition, ICS2,”says Heimbeck.

Planning Gets Priority

Given the extreme supply chain disruptions companies have faced in the past few years, it’s no surprise that crisis mitigation and prepping for disruptions have become increasingly important.

New data from intelligent planning technology provider Board International confirms this: Senior supply chain professionals are placing a renewed focus on scenario planning in response to a volatile business landscape, according to the new Board 2024 Global Planning Survey.

Overall, 73% of decision-makers are taking planning more seriously, with the Ukraine War, cost-of-living crisis, and ongoing supply chain disruptions acting as major catalysts, the survey shows.

The key business threats decision makers are currently planning for:

• Cyberattacks: 36%
• Labor shortages: 35%
• Fluctuating oil prices: 34%
• Blockage of key supply chain channels: 27%

Despite an emphasis on planning to help navigate ongoing disruptions, many supply chain professionals continue to face challenges planning effectively. The survey reveals signs of planning fatigue within many companies, highlighting a 14% decrease in how seriously companies are taking planning compared to last year. In addition:

• 77% of supply chain decision makers admit their organization makes planning decisions based on assumptions.
• 29% of respondents report that ineffective planning has impacted profitability, productivity, and the ability to drive innovations and new products or services.
• 72% of supply chain professionals usually disregard the most extreme scenarios when planning, suggesting most companies are leaving themselves open to risk should the unexpected happen.

Sounding off on Tariff Increases

In May 2024, the White House announced a flurry of tariff increases impacting imports of everything from electric vehicles (tariffs are raised from the current 25% to 100%) to lithium-ion EV batteries (jumping from 7.5% to 25%), steel and aluminum products (increasing from 7.5% to 25%), and semiconductors (raising from 25% to 50%), among others.

What’s the impact? Here’s what experts are saying:

—Simon Geale, Executive Vice President of Procurement, Proxima

—Keith Hartley, CEO, LevaData

—John Donigian, Senior Director of Supply Chain Strategy, Moody’s Analytics

Which 25 Supply Chains Are Tops?

Schneider Electric retained the #1 position, followed by Cisco Systems, Colgate-Palmolive, Microsoft, and Johnson & Johnson, in Gartner’s recently announced Global Supply Chain Top 25, which recognizes leading supply chain organizations and identifies the underlying trends that drove their performance. This year marks the 20th annual list, which often includes major international brands.

New to this year’s list was NVIDIA, which made its debut in the seventh position.

The Top 25 companies are overcoming challenges and obtaining supply chain excellence through several key strategies, according to Gartner analysts. To address workforce concerns, they consistently fund people-centric strategies to drive higher engagement from their workforce.

When it comes to technology, the Top 25 supply chains are built on solid foundations in data and digital capabilities and they evaluate both traditional (non-generative) AI techniques and GenAI to build practical use cases that benefit most from AI-driven advances. Additionally, chief supply chain officers and their teams at these top-performing companies embrace uncertainty, learn from it, and evolve toward an anti-fragile supply chain.

Here are Gartner’s 25 picks:

1. Schneider Electric
2. Cisco Systems
3. Colgate-Palmolive
4. Microsoft
5. Johnson & Johnson
6. Diageo
7. NVIDIA
8. The Coca-Cola Company
9. Walmart
10. Lenovo
11. L’Oréal
12. AstraZeneca
13. PepsiCo
14. NIKE
15. Intel
16. Siemens
17. Nestlé
18. Inditex
19. Dell Technologies
20. Pfizer
21. HP
22. Danone
23. BMW
24. Heineken
25. JD.com

EV Battery Investments Charge Ahead

The global push toward a sustainable future has ignited an unprecedented surge in battery investments. This rapid growth has introduced new challenges, however, particularly impacting the stability of the battery supply chain.

“Global efforts to combat climate change are driving a surge in battery investments with the aim to de-risk supply chains that are historically highly concentrated in Asia, particularly China,” says Mirko Woitzik, global director of intelligence solutions at Everstream Analytics, which monitors global investments in battery facilities.

Sustainability concerns have prompted a boost in localization efforts for battery production in an attempt to strengthen the resilience of supply chains, most notably for the automotive sector.

Since 2021, the United States has invested more in new battery production plants than any other country, with China following far behind.

This trend is expected to continue. Everstream’s projections show that North America will keep investing in new battery production plants at a higher rate than any other region until 2030. Europe is also on track to exceed Asia’s investments in new plants by 2030.

U.S. automakers such as Ford, which currently leads the way in global investments in battery plants by companies worldwide, are driving this growth. Other U.S. and European automakers, including General Motors, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz, are also investing in new battery plants at unprecedented rates.

These investments prompt Everstream to project significant shifts in global battery procurement, diffusing concentration of activities and, in turn, increasing resilience to external shocks in certain parts of the world.

Powering the Nation

Here are the top five energy sources in the United States that keep the lights on and wheels turning.

1. Petroleum (crude oil and natural gas liquids). Petroleum makes up 36% of the U.S. energy mix. Concerns about environmental impact and dependence on foreign oil, however, are driving efforts toward cleaner alternatives.

2. Natural gas. This clean-burning fossil fuel makes up 33% of U.S. energy consumption. Natural gas is a popular choice for heating homes and businesses due to its efficiency and lower emissions compared to coal, but the extraction process (fracking) raises environmental concerns.

3. Renewables. Wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass, and geothermal sources are collectively making a significant push, currently contributing 13% of U.S. energy.

4. Coal. Coal has seen its share decline to 10% in recent years. While it remains a relatively cheap and abundant resource, concerns about air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are leading to a shift away from coal-fired power plants.

5. Nuclear power. Providing a reliable source of baseload electricity, nuclear power plants account for 8% of U.S. energy consumption. Concerns about safety and nuclear waste disposal continue to be debated.

Around 40% to 60% of a manufacturing company’s energy and carbon footprint can reside upstream in its supply chain—from raw materials, transport, and packaging to manufacturing processes—but this number can be as high as 80% for some sectors.

—U.S. Department of Energy

DOE to Restore Nuclear Plant

A shuttered nuclear power plant in Southwest Michigan will resume operations in 2025 after federal energy officials offered more than $1.5 billion in financing for the project.

The Palisades Nuclear Plant, an 800-megawatt generating station located along the coast of Lake Michigan, halted operations nearly two years ago after more than five decades. The plant was reportedly set to be dismantled entirely, but under a proposed loan offer from the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, Holtec Palisades would restore the complex and return it to service by late 2025.

If approved by federal nuclear regulators, the revamped plant would be able to produce power until at least 2051.

“The recent attacks by Iran on Israel highlight the fragile nature of international trade, particularly within a region that plays a critical role in the provisioning of the world’s oil. Companies must bolster their risk management strategies, incorporating comprehensive contingency plans that ensure flexibility and adaptability in the face of geopolitical instabilities. By fostering robustness in their supply chains, businesses can better navigate the complexities of today’s global market dynamics, maintaining operational continuity even as geopolitical tensions pose ongoing challenges.”

—Vitaliano Tobruk, Supplier Risk Management–Industry Practice Lead, Moody’s

U.S. Invests in Clean Energy, Domestic Biofuels

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will fund more than 700 clean energy projects to lower energy bills, expand access to domestic biofuels, and create jobs and new market opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act funds many of these projects.

In all, USDA is providing $238 million in funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP).

The REAP program helps agricultural producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal, and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements.

USDA has invested more than $2 billion through REAP to support renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements that will help rural business owners lower energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen their resiliency of operations.

HBIIP provides grants to fueling station and distribution facility owners, including marine, rail, and home heating oil facilities, to help expand access to domestic biofuels, a clean and affordable source of energy. These investments help business owners install and upgrade infrastructure such as fuel pumps, dispensers, and storage tanks.

USDA has invested approximately $135 million to increase access to biofuels at fueling stations. In June 2023, USDA made $450 million available in Inflation Reduction Act funding through the HBIIP to expand the use and availability of higher-blend biofuels.

UP THE CHAIN

← Rob Standish joins MD Logistics as vice president of corporate strategy and technology, a new position created within the organization. He most recently served as vice president of global operations for an electronics manufacturer.

• Instant Pot Brands appointed four new senior executives to its leadership team: Chris Robins as CEO, Craig Carrigan as CFO, Lisa Kronish as chief human resources officer and Rudy Sumarli as executive vice president, supply chain and R&D.

→ Starbucks appointed Heather Ostis as its new senior vice president and chief procurement officer of global supply chain. In the new role, Ostis will focus on strengthening supplier relationships, improving supplier performance and building network resiliency. Before joining Starbucks, Ostis served as Delta Air Line’s vice president of supply chain management.

SEALED DEALS

↑ As part of its participation in Canada’s National Shipbuilding Program, Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding awarded a contract to GEODIS to provide inbound logistics services for ship construction and repair projects.

• TBInternational, a global fashion and textile producer, has successfully gone live with o9’s Digital Brain platform for next-generation demand forecasting and operations planning capabilities.

• NESTLE International placed an order with OMNIQ Corp. for the supply of mobile data collection, computing, and communication equipment. The rugged forklift-mounted mobile computers and barcode readers help increase workforce productivity by providing the ability to scan inventory and track data using integrated features through mobile devices.

• International Trading Fashion & Apparel Supply Limited, the purchase entity of the KIABI Group, has chosen Pivot88’s quality, compliance, and traceability platform to facilitate flexible and comprehensive facility audits.

• Cornerstone Building Brands, a North American manufacturer of exterior building materials, will implement comprehensive technologies from ToolsGroup and its partner River Logic for end-to-end value chain optimization.

↑ Nintendo will implement EPG’s LFS warehouse management system to control the material flow for its video games and video game consoles. The company will also use the TIMESQUARE supply chain control tower, which provides a dashboard for operations.

M&A

↑ Sheer Logistics acquired CargoBarn, a tech-enabled third-party logistics provider based in Atlanta. The newly combined entity will ultimately operate under the Sheer Logistics brand.

• The Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) acquired Northern Dry Bulk, a Clare, Michigan-based company specializing in the transportation and storage of plastic resins in the United States and Canada.

• Following the acquisition of John Christner Trucking, Hirschbach Motor Lines has integrated operations of the two companies with joint branding. Logistics and third-party capacity offerings now operate under the name Hirschbach Solutions.

• Quantix, a supply chain services company to the chemical industry, has acquired CLX Logistics. The acquisition creates the largest chemical market-focused 3PL globally.

• Descartes Systems Group purchased OCR Services, a provider of global trade compliance solutions and content.

↑ Dachser will acquire Brummer Logistik GmbH in Germany and Brummer Logistic Solutions GmbH & Co KG in Austria, pending approval from German and Austrian competition authorities. The purchase encompasses the entire operational business of the Brummer Group.

Green Seeds

← Gebrüder Weiss hosts an international cycling campaign, GWcycles, which combines an athletic challenge with environmental protection. The company will plant 7,000 trees in Nicaragua for the kilometers covered by the participants.

RECOGNITION

↑ NFI’s Howard Robinson (pictured, middle), who has been a truck driver for 30 years, was one of five recipients of the Truckload Carriers Association’s Professional Driver of the Year award. In 2023, he received NFI’s Million Mile Award, which awards drivers for completing more than one million safe miles.

• The Hyster H40-70A forklift series is a winner of the 2023 GOOD DESIGN Award. The H40-70A models, which are available with 4,000 to 7,000 pound lift capacities, are designed around a singular base configuration derived from direct feedback from operators, managers, technicians, safety coordinators and other professionals. From there, operations can tailor additional features, creating a forklift based on their specific application.

• AutoScheduler.AI was selected as a winner of the SAP Innovation Awards 2024 in the Partner Paragon category.

↑ The Women In Trucking Association, Truckstop, and Transportation Intermediaries Association named Sarah Ruffcorn, president of Trinity Logistics, as the winner of the 10th annual Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award.

• Landstar System honored Katie Mountain, vice president of business development, and Jim Todd, CFO, with the Landstar Outstanding Management Achievement Award based on effective leadership, managerial skills, and significant contributions in sales and operations. Former Landstar President and CEO Jim Gattoni, who retired in February 2024, received the Jeffrey C. Crowe-Robert E. Zonneville Lifetime Achievement Award.

Milestone

↑ A. Duie Pyle, a family-owned transportation and logistics provider based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024.

Transportation

• Challenge Group launched an airfreight route between Mumbai and Liège, Belgium, operating twice weekly. A converted B767 freighter services the route and offers a payload of 52 tons.

• OOCL introduced service upgrades in its Asia – East Coast South America network to optimize routes and increase capacity. Its Transpacific Latin Atlantic (TLA) service now provides a direct connection between Asia and Brazil/River Plate, offering a transit time of 26 days from China to Brazil. TLA service vessels were also upsized to 14,000 TEU nominal capacity.

Technology

↑ The Simove modular system from Siemens is designed for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). The Simove platform includes modular software components and libraries for guidance control, navigation, and general automation. Using standardized automation and drive components, the modular system lets companies design AGV and AMR applications to meet operational requirements.

• Sojo Industries released Sojo Shield, a dock-to-dock software platform that provides reporting on critical tracking events such as shipping, receiving, and transport. The blockchain-based application uses geolocation technology to track products from the warehouse to retailers. Food and beverage brands and retailers get a real-time view of product information, pallet locations, and searchable updates.

• Bearing AI launched an AI-powered planning tool for shipping lines. The Deployment Planner suggests deployment adjustments to maximize efficiency, identifies underperforming vessels and schedules, proposes alternatives to maintain emissions compliance, and simulates the impact of different service schedules on fuel consumption and vessel performance.

• Descartes MacroPoint™ FraudGuard  helps shippers, freight brokers, and 3PLs identify and prevent fraudulent activities related to carrier information, load tracking, and shipment status. The new capabilities are now included as part of the MacroPoint subscription. FraudGuard can assess and flag potential instances of carrier or driver fraud by evaluating billions of data points on freight location and status for accuracy. It verifies the location of the freight and driver, blocking location tracking points that are determined to be false, and managing the interaction with the customer when fraud is detected.

← ArcBest’s newly launched Vaux Smart Autonomy forklifts and reach trucks are now equipped with NVIDIA’s Isaac Perceptor platform for autonomous mobile robots. Utilizing machine vision technology, the Isaac Perceptor modular stack offers 3D-surround perception, enabling robots to better recognize objects and track human motion for safer and more efficient operations.

Products

→ The new ZLS-T lift and tilt table from Southworth is a combination lifter and tilter designed for accessing items stored in containers, totes, or gaylords. Its pan-style platform sits essentially flush with the floor when lowered, allowing it to be loaded and unloaded by a hand pallet truck.

• The Taskmaster XL Pallet Shredder from Franklin Miller shreds entire pallets and nails to reduce bulk volume as well as pallet disposal costs. It comes with a stand, hopper, and automatic reversing controls. Options include a separator, infeed conveyor, and auxiliary discharge conveyors to convey the output into a waste container.

Services

↑ Americold executives, along with state and local leaders, gathered at the company’s Russellville, Arkansas, location to celebrate its expansion. Americold constructed a 131,000-square-foot cold storage and distribution facility, adding 42,000 pallet positions and 13 million cubic feet.

• 3PL Crane Worldwide Logistics opened a warehouse in Cork, Ireland. Serving as a distribution hub for domestic and international clients, the 126,000-square-foot facility allows easy access to Cork Airport and Ringaskiddy Port.

• Dayton Freight Lines moved its Cleveland service center to a new building located between the I-80 Ohio Turnpike and Route 20 in North Ridgeville. The 123,939-square-foot facility has 118 doors and is double the size of the previous service center.

• WSI is now the operator of Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s Zacha Transload Terminal in Dallas, Texas. The terminal provides capacity for transloading and storing materials such as steel, lumber, plastics, aggregates, food, and other agricultural products, complementing WSI’s network of rail-served warehouses.

← TSL 3166 RAIN RFID UHF Reader: The new 3166 Bluetooth Rugged RAIN RFID UHF Reader from TSL, part of HID, has read rates of up to 1,200 tags per second, utilizing the latest generation of Impinj silicon. During a single inventory scan, workers can perform multiple actions on each tag, including reading data points from multiple memory bank areas, writing new information, or locking the tag for security. The RFID reader offers longer operating times and processes more tags in a single charge—up to a 34% increase in battery life compared to the previous generation 2166 Reader.

→ AT&T Smart Label: The new solution offers track-and-trace functionality as well as near-real-time visibility and expanded condition monitoring capabilities. The discreet shipping label provides robust sensor data, including temperature, humidity, shock, and tampering as well as near-real-time information on location and status. It uses AT&T’s secure cellular network to connect around the globe in more than 210 countries.

← Wiliot Visibility Platform: The solution from Wiliot connects the digital and physical worlds using its cloud platform and IoT Pixels, which are stamp-sized, low-cost, battery-free Bluetooth devices that attach to any product, connecting it to the internet and embedding it with intelligence. Data streamed from IoT Pixels—location, temperature, humidity, and carbon footprint—are processed in the Wiliot Cloud, generating actionable insights for supply chains.

→ Reelables Active Shipping Label: Providing piece-level tracking, Reelables’ new active Bluetooth 4”x 8” shipping label has a tracking reference that is extracted and linked in the cloud to the physical label. Companies can now print shipping labels with an integrated Bluetooth tracker and trace cargo through the supply chain without any extra software integration or need to match shipments to tracking devices.

↑ DT362DN and DT382DN Rugged Tablets: The new tablets from DT Research streamline data collection for asset and inventory management. Offering options such as RFID and NFC readers, barcode scanners, GPS, Smartcard/CAC reader, and cameras, the DT362DN (6-inch) and DT382DN (8-inch) handhelds run the Microsoft Windows 11 IoT Enterprise operating system for flexible integration with applications and systems. The Intel Core i3-N300 8-Core processor (up to 3.80 GHz) and 16GB of RAM provide workload support.

↑ BOX ID Shipment Monitoring: Supply chain platform provider BOX ID introduced real-time shipment monitoring functionality to its cloud software with Sony spin-off SENSOS’ Smart Label. The intelligent, digitally networked shipping label is the size of a credit card and can be securely affixed to a wide variety of consignments. It provides precise localization and condition monitoring, including temperature, impact, and packaging integrity.

↑ Kaleris TRAX: The software solution from Kaleris consolidates track-and-trace information with centralized data​ for rail shippers and 3PLs so they don’t have to go to multiple Class 1 sites. TRAX delivers real-time updates on railcars and inventory to keep shipments on track​. A proprietary ETA algorithm projects arrival dates​ with accuracy. Out-of-the-box KPIs, metrics, and dashboards make it easy to get started with the solution.

↑ Kyocera Smart Mobile Computing and Scanning: The solution integrates Kyocera’s rugged 5G smartphones such as DuraForce PRO 3 and DuraSport 5G, AsReader scanners, and Seiko mobile printers to optimize warehouse productivity. Providing handheld, long-range scanners and RFID readers, the solution combines rapid scanning of on-site inventory, equipment, incoming products, and outgoing shipments with smartphone capabilities—Push-to-Talk instant communication, high-res photos and videos, email, and data sharing.