Supply Chain Intelligence Brief

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TRUCKING

LTL carriers push general rate hikes despite lackluster US freight demand

Journal of Commerce William B. Cassidy October 22, 2025 $Subscription Based

Whether freight demand is up or down, US less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers are planning to hike pricing in 2026, starting with tariff rates for non-contractual customers.

LTL capacity remains lower than before Yellow went out of business in July 2023, and operating costs are rising.

Knight-Swift logs another tough quarter on road to recovery

Freight Waves Todd Maiden October 22, 2025

Management stated on a Wednesday conference call with analysts that a seasonal lift in demand across the platform has not been observed heading into the holidays. However, it noted some constructive conversations with customers around project work for the fourth quarter.

Link: Knight-Swift Transportation Third Quarter Earnings Presentation (LTL Data Slides 4,6) and Earnings Release Knight-Swift Transportation Third Quarter 2025 Revenue and Earnings

Saia Announces Retirement of CIO Rohit Lal and Appointment of Successor Tarak Patel

Saia Press Release Globe News Wire October 22, 2025

Succeeding Lal as the Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Tarak Patel brings extensive experience leading technology and digital transformation initiatives across global organizations. Mr. Patel joins Saia from Smurfit WestRock, where he served as CIO of the Consumer Packaging & Machinery Division and led a worldwide transformation of processes, technologies, and operating models. His career also includes leadership roles at E. & J. Gallo Winery and Henkel, where he spearheaded enterprise-wide technology initiatives and large-scale supply chain integrations.

SHIPPERS / 3PLs

Beyond the algorithm: How Uber Freight is using AI to redefine logistics

Supply Chain Management Review Brian Straight October 22, 2025

Over time, that evolved into a system that doesn’t just answer questions—it anticipates them.

“Now we’ve got situations where folks are no longer logging in and asking a question,” he said. “They’re logging in and being presented with things that the AI model believes they should be interested in.”

Amazon Testing New Warehouse Robots and AI Tools for Workers

The Wall Street Journal Sean McLain October 22, 2025 $Subscription Based

The retail giant unveiled a trio of new technologies Wednesday that it is testing or preparing to deploy in its warehouses and delivery vans. They include a robot arm called Blue Jay, designed to sort packages; an artificial-intelligence agent called Eluna, intended to help human managers deploy workers and avoid bottlenecks; and augmented-reality glasses to be worn by delivery drivers in the field.

Link: Amazon Blog Amazon’s 7 newest AI and robotics systems are empowering employees and speeding up delivery

Amazon introduces ‘Blue Jay’ warehouse robot that performs multiple tasks at once

CNBC Annie Palmer October 22, 2025

Amazon  on Wednesday unveiled a new robotic system that’s capable of performing multiple tasks at once in the company’s warehouses.

The system, called Blue Jay, is made up of a series of robotic arms that are suspended from a conveyor belt-like track. Those arms are tipped with suction-cup devices that allow them to grab and sort items of varying shapes and sizes.

Target previews how it will use AI to fuel its next retail phase

Digital Commerce 360 Mark Brohan October 22, 2025

Among Target’s most visible initiatives is Trend Brain. The generative AI platform scans global data to identify emerging styles and design patterns. The system helps merchants spot trends early and make faster buying decisions — an effort to fuse machine intelligence with human creativity.

Link: Tech at Target Blog Powering Possibility in Stores and Beyond

INDUSTRY

September domestic intermodal volumes show unexpected boost: IANA

Journal of Commerce Ari Ashe October 22, 2025 $Subscription Based

Domestic intermodal volumes surged 5.8% in September year over year, according to new data from the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), an unexpected gain considering cautious end-of-quarter signals from major providers after lackluster volumes in July and August.

Link: IANA Intermodal Information Service Statistics Dashboard

U.S. Trade War Drives Canada to Fast-Track Port Expansion

The Wall Street Journal Paul Berger October 22, 2025 $Subscription Based

Port officials say the upgrades are needed because Montreal soon will reach its container-handling capacity. But trade growth isn’t guaranteed. The port last year handled the equivalent of almost 1.5 million containers, down about 16% from its peak in 2019.

How UPS, FedEx and DHL Express handle customs hangups post-de minimis

Supply Chain Dive Max Garland October 22, 2025

The post-de minimis customs snafus have led to surprise fees and unexpected cases of package disposals for a wave of consumers, according to recent reports. The complications could challenge importers’ efforts to keep customers happy as the peak holiday shipping season draws near.

Factoring companies squeezed by slowing shipper payments: Alsobrooks

Freight Waves John Kingston October 22, 2025

But the weak freight market combined with other economic ills is resulting in factoring companies now finding themselves waiting longer to get paid by whoever hired the carrier in the first place, according to Bryan Alsobrooks, president of factoring company Phoenix Capital .

Delivery robot maker Starship Technologies gains $50 million VC

DC Velocity October 21, 2025

Firm targets American urban markets for expansion of autonomous fleet from 2,700 robots today to over 12,000 robots by 2027.

Link: Starship Technologies Press Release Starship Technologies Raises $50M Series C to Scale Autonomous Delivery Across U.S. Cities

TECHNOLOGY

2026 FreightTech 25 winners revealed onstage at F3

Freight Waves John Paul Hampstead October 22, 2025

Incumbents with a renewed focus on leading-edge technology also surged in the rankings: after acquiring Convoy, Trucker Tools, and Outgo, DAT Freight and Analytics took the #10 spot. Logistics incumbent C.H. Robinson spent much of the year deploying agentic AI throughout its Navisphere platform, cutting headcount and growing operating income—a performance good enough to snag Robinson’s first appearance on the list at #13.

Global IT spend to exceed $6 trillion in 2026

CIO Dive Roberto Torres October 22, 2025

IT spending will reach new heights in 2026, surpassing $6 trillion for the first time in Gartner’s annual projections, the analyst firm said Wednesday. Spending is set to grow by 9.8% year over year, according to the forecast.

Links: Gartner Press Release Gartner Forecasts Worldwide IT Spending to Grow 9.8% in 2026 and Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2025 Orlando: Day 3 Highlights

How Can Leaders Adapt to AI?

Knowledge At Wharton Michael Platt October 21, 2025

Adapting to AI: Three Future-Proof Leadership Skills

• Cognitive flexibility
• Emotional intelligence
• Curiosity and a mindset of continuous learning

How To Monetize Your Data

HBR Suraj Srinivasan  et al. October 21, 2025 $Subscription Based

Many organizations are sitting on valuable proprietary data but lack a clear plan for commercializing it. As interest in selling data grows—driven by advances in AI, pressure to find new sources of revenue, and the success of firms like Amazon, Mastercard, and Instacart—leaders need a structured approach. The most effective strategies start close to home: with core businesses, existing partners, and a focus on data that supports the company’s primary mission.

Economic shifts in the age of AI

Bank of America Institute Taylor Bowley October 22, 2025

What does AI mean for overall economic growth, productivity, and the labor market? AI-related capital expenditures, particularly in software and computing, have significantly boosted GDP growth in 2025, contributing up to 1.3 percentage points in Q2, according to BofA Global Research.

SUSTAINABILITY / SAFETY / SECURITY

Surprise: Corporate Sustainability Isn’t Dead

MIT Sloan Management Review Andrew Winston October 22, 2025

In an annual CEO sustainability study by United Nations Global Compact and Accenture, a remarkable 99% of leaders said they intend to “maintain or expand their commitments.” Almost as many, 88%, said the business case is stronger in 2025 than it was five years ago.

Bain found that 54% of CEOs now link sustainability to business value. This is up from 34% in 2018

We Finally Know How to Get the One Renewable Energy Source Loved by Both Parties

The Wall Street Journal Christopher Mims October 23, 2025 $Subscription Based

America has an effectively limitless supply of energy waiting to be tapped, right beneath the feet of hundreds of millions of its citizens.

The equipment required to get at it is almost 100% domestic or comes from nearby allies. And politicians on both sides of the aisle love it, unlike other low-carbon, renewable energy sources.

GM plans "eyes-off" self-driving car system in AI advancement

Axios Nathan Bomey October 22, 2025

How it works: GM’s eyes-off system will use a mix of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), radar and cameras.

That contrasts with Tesla’s FSD, which uses only cameras. CEO Elon Musk says the transportation network was built for humans who drive only with their eyes, and thus self-driving cars should work the same way.

Related: TechCrunch GM’s under-the-hood overhaul puts AI and automated driving at the center

Link: GM News: GM announces eyes-off driving, conversational AI, and unified software platform

BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY

23 States in Recession Reveal the Fragility of the U.S. Economy

LinkedIn Inside Economics Mark Zandi Moody’s Analytics October 22, 2025

Nearly one-third of national GDP is produced in states that are either in recession or at high risk of entering one. These regions, spread across every part of the country, are showing signs of strain. Another third of states are treading water, while the rest are still growing, though their momentum is fading.

Sales Teams, Don’t Undervalue Face Time with Customers

HBR Prabhakant Sinha et al. October 22, 2025 $Subscription Based

Digital and virtual channels make B2B sales more efficient—but they can also make relationships brittle. When stakes are high and customer needs are ambiguous, showing up in person creates the trust, insight, and context that data and dashboards can’t deliver. By treating face-to-face time as a strategic investment rather than a logistical expense, leaders can strengthen relationships, uncover hidden opportunities, and outmaneuver competitors who rely solely on screens.

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