Supply Chain Intelligence Brief

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TRUCKING

J.B. Hunt’s belt tightening yields big Q3 beat

Freight Waves Todd Maiden October 15, 2025

J.B. Hunt Transport Services reported a notable step up in earnings despite a slight falloff in revenue during the third quarter. The multimodal transportation provider previously outlined a $100-million cost reduction program, the fruits of which showed up in a big way in the recent period.

Link: J.B. Hunt Press Release J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Reports U.S. GAAP Revenues, Net Earnings And Earnings Per Share For The Third Quarter 2025

Spot truckload market shows mixed signals in September as volumes slip and rates inch up, reports DAT

Logistics Management Jeff Berman October 15, 2025

As for carriers, he explained that some carriers are benefiting, which he described as kind of the rub of lower volumes, but a little-higher rates, in that there is less to go around, but the people that are getting the higher rates are feeling better off than they were a few weeks ago. That comes with the caveat, though, that things will come back down, as the market comes to the reality that there is no real systemic market change underway, he added.

SHIPPERS / 3PLs

2026 Third-Party Logistics Study: How shippers and 3PLs can align in a changing market

Fleet Owner Jade Brasher October 15, 2025

This year’s Third-Party Logistics Study shows a shift toward strategic partnerships driven by supply chain disruptions, cost savings, and digital transformation needs.

Shippers prioritize performance, transparency, and on-time deliveries, demanding more from their carrier partners.

Link: NTT Data/Penske 2026 Third-Party Logistics Study

Consumers Expected to Return Nearly $850 Billion in Merchandise in 2025

National Retail Federation October 15, 2025

Retailers estimate that 15.8% of their annual sales will be returned this year, totaling $849.9 billion, according to the 2025 Retail Returns Landscape report released today by the National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, a UPS company. The returns rate is in line with 16.9% last year, when returns totaled $890 billion.

Related: DC Velocity Forecast: Shoppers to return one in every six purchases this peak

Link: NRF/Happy Returns 2025 Retail Returns Landscape

De minimis light? Retailers explore postal shipping in new tariff age

Freight Waves Eric Kulisch October 15, 2025

Amid reports that non-compliant shipments are piling up in UPS air terminals following the recent abolition of a U.S. tariff exemption favorable to B2C retailers, there is rising interest in international postal channels as a way to minimize parcel shipping costs and complexity associated with new customs requirements for small-dollar imports.

INDUSTRY

National diesel average declines, for the week of October 13, reports EIA

Logistics Management October 15, 2025

The national average price per gallon, for the week of October 13, fell 4.6 cents, to $3.665, following a 4.3-cent decrease, to $3.711, for the week of October 6.

Links: U.S. Energy Information Administration  Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update  and Weekly U.S. No 2 Diesel Ultra Low Sulfur (0-15 ppm) Retail Prices (Chart)

Prologis Raises Outlook as Warehouse Leasing Picks Up

The Wall Street Journal Liz Young and Nicholas G. Miller October 15, 2025 $Subscription Based

“Demand has clearly turned a corner,” said Chris Caton, managing director of global strategy and analytics at Prologis, on a call with investors Wednesday.

Related: Freight Waves Prologis sees warehouse market nearing upcycle

Port of Los Angeles Sees Import Drop in September

Transport Topics/Bloomberg News Laura Curtis October 15, 2025

“We’re past peak season and expect to see cargo volume soften over the last three months of the year,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka told reporters Oct. 15. “And of course, ongoing turbulent negotiations with our largest trading partner could intensify that decline.”

EU Exports to U.S. Drop Sharply

The Wall Street Journal Ed Frankl October 16, 2025 $Subscription Based

European Union goods exports to the U.S. tumbled in August after the agreement of a tariff deal that ramped up duties on most goods from the economic bloc.

Spot rates in eastbound trans-Pacific pop after carriers set new GRIs

Journal of Commerce Bill Mongelluzzo October 15, 2025 $Subscription Based

Spot rates on the eastbound trans-Pacific have jumped by about $700 to the US West Coast this week with retailers stepping up their purchase orders for the fourth quarter now that factories in Asia have reopened following the Golden Week and Autumn festivals, market sources say.

TECHNOLOGY

AI Data Centers, Desperate for Electricity, Are Building Their Own Power Plants

The Wall Street Journal Jennifer Hiller October 15, 2025 $Subscription Based

Data centers consumed less than 2% of U.S. electricity before about 2020, but by 2028 could use as much as 12% of U.S. electricity, according to the Energy Department and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.

SUSTAINABILITY / SAFETY / SECURITY

Dash cam providers aim to use AI to predict accidents

CCJ Angel Coker Jones October 15, 2025

Dash cam providers are now focusing on predicting accidents before they happen by combining a variety of data, from telematics and weather to driver history and cognitive performance, among other factors.

Wabash turns $462M adverse verdict into $30M payout

Trucking Dive David Taube October 16, 2025

Wabash agreed to settle a legal case involving a fatal crash with a $30 million payout after initially facing $450 million in punitive damages and $12 million in compensatory damages, according to a securities filing last week.

DOT docks California $40 million for ELP compliance failure

CCJ Jason Cannon October 16, 2025

FMCSA is withholding $40,685,225 from Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) funding from California. MCSAP provides grant funding for states to conduct roadside inspections, traffic enforcement, safety audits of trucking companies, and public education campaigns.

California delays rulemaking timeline for climate regulations to 2026

ESG Dive Zoya Mirza October 15, 2025

The final regulations were previously slated to be issued Tuesday, according to a schedule provided by CARB during its August public workshop. The agency said the delay was due to the “large volume of public comments” its staff received following the workshop and the “ongoing input related to identifying the range of covered entities.”

New Data Rebuts Long-Haul Misconception: Truck Electrification is Feasible on I-10 Today

Altitude By Geotab October 15, 2025

Current Range is Sufficient for Most Legs: The majority of heavy-duty operations are not continuous, full-corridor treks, but a series of shorter, manageable segments. The data confirms the required distances align with current EV capabilities: 62% of driving legs are under 200 miles, a distance serviceable by most mid-range electric trucks, and 82% are under 400 miles, placing them within reach of long-range models.

Related: CCJ The death of range anxiety

Talke USA to Upfit Trucks With Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powertrains

Transport Topics Keiron Greenhalgh October 15, 2025

When exploring options to add zero-emission equipment, Talke chose fuel cell over battery-electric tractors. “Weight is a crucial question for us,” Boehm said. “EVs are the heaviest option, so EVs weren’t an option for us.” Talke also explored using R99 renewable diesel but found that much of the fuel supply was being shipped to California.

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