Supply Chain Intelligence Brief

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TRUCKING

ACT Research reveals how fast trucking capacity is shrinking

Freight Waves John Paul Hampstead November 3, 2025

ACT Research’s October research is one of the first comprehensive looks at the trucking market since English Language Proficiency enforcement has been toughened, and impacts to trucking capacity are clear. What isn’t obvious, though, is whether the demand side of the market will show up.

614,000 drivers might exit trucking amid Trump’s immigration crackdown: Analysis

Over Drive Alex Lockie November 3, 2025

President Donald Trump’s English language mandate for drivers, DOT’s new rule tightening rules for non-citizen drivers, and serious immigration enforcement on the interstates might push as many as 800,000 CDL holders out of commercial driving, according to a study written for J.B. Hunt by Noël Perry of Transport Futures.

Link: Transport Futures Immigation Control -Supply Chain Crisis? 

FMCSA Targets CDL Mills as Transportation Secretary Questions Truck Driver Shortage Narrative

Heavy Duty Trucking Deborah Lockridge November 3, 2025

“We are going to continue the pressure. We are going to get compliance, and in the end, if it takes money, if it takes pulling states’ ability to issue CDLs, we will stop at nothing to make sure that our roads are safe,” Duffy said.

“I think it begs the question, who is testing these drivers?" Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. "

Truckload 2025: How carriers are navigating a three-year freight slump

Logistics Management John Schulz November 1, 2025

For Logistics Management’s annual deep dive into the truckload sector, we aim to answer three key questions: How is the overall economy challenging even the largest, best-run carriers? How are carriers adapting and adjusting business models to meet that reality? And what does the future hold for TL shippers regarding rates and capacity?

UPS readies 5.9% rate bump, fee increases on Dec. 22

Supply Chain Dive Max Garland November , 2025

The rate hike will help “support ongoing expansion and capability enhancements,” the carrier said. The impact on customers will vary by shipping characteristics and the terms of their UPS contracts.

Link: UPS Shipping Costs and Rates

Leadership Lessons: Frank Granieri of A. Duie Pyle

Supply Chain 24/7 Andy Gray November 3, 2025

Welcome to Leadership Lessons — real stories from supply chain leaders on how they built their careers and what they’ve learned along the way. In this edition, we talk with Frank Granieri, Chief Commercial Officer at A. Duie Pyle. He shares how loading UPS trailers at 18, studying finance at Penn State, and earning his CDL later in his career taught him the value of staying close to the front lines.

SHIPPERS / 3PLs

Manufacturing output heads down in October, for eighth consecutive month, reports ISM

Logistics Management Jeff Berman November 3, 2025

In an interview with LM, Susan Spence, Chair of the ISM’s Manufacturing Business Survey Committee, said that, in some ways, this report is similar to the September edition; albeit with some minor gains for its demand indicators, New Orders, New Export Orders (up 1.5%, to 44.5), Backlog of Orders and Customers’ Inventories.

“While there were some gains, they all continued to contract,” she said. “We are going in circles, with things stagnating.

Related: Manufacturing Dive US manufacturing dips despite improved demand: PMI

Link: Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing PMI® Report

The Perfect Storm: Why freight brokerages face a wave of failures in 2026

Freight Waves Craig Fuller November 3, 2025

If the current freight climate continues, a number of freight brokerages—many of them large—will likely fail over the next year.

The current market presents a toxic combination of sluggish freight volumes and firming spot rates, which is the worst possible environment for freight brokers.

Amazon sales reach second-highest total to date in Q3

Digital Commerce 360 Abbas Haleem November 3, 2025

In Q3 of its fiscal 2025, Amazon grew sales to $180.2 billion globally. That’s a 12% year-over-year increase from $158.8 billion.

AWS accounted for $33 billion of that, which reflects 20% year-over-year growth. But the majority of Amazon’s sales in Q3 came from North America, where they reached $106.3 billion (11% growth).

UPS buys Canadian healthcare 3PL for $1.6 billion

DC Velocity November 3, 2025

Parcel delivery and logistics giant UPS Inc. has paid $1.6 billion to acquire Andlauer Healthcare Group Inc. (AHG), a Canadian firm that provides customized third-party logistics (3PL) and specialized cold chain transportation solutions for the healthcare sector.

Link: UPS Press Release UPS Acquires Andlauer Healthcare Group for $1.6 Billion, Accelerating Its Expansion as a Global Leader in Complex Healthcare Logistics

INDUSTRY

Cardboard Box Sales Slump, Stoking Lackluster Holiday Fears

Transport Topics/Bloomberg News Ilena Peng November 3, 2025

U.S. corrugated box shipments fell to the lowest third-quarter reading since 2015, maintaining the more measured pace seen in the previous quarter, according to Friday data from industry group Fibre Box Association. Packaging companies in recent weeks have warned that economic uncertainty is weighing on retailers and consumers.

Intermodal savings rose in Q3, but might not yield high rates in ‘26

Journal of Commerce Ari Ashe November 3, 2025 $Subscription Based

US shippers saved an average of 21% on spot market freight and nearly 25% on contract loads in the third quarter by using domestic intermodal instead of long-haul trucking as truckload spot rates began to recover, according to the latest Journal of Commerce Intermodal Savings Index (ISI).

TECHNOLOGY

Beautiful women, open doors and drivers: trucking cybersecurity risks proliferate

Freight Waves John Kingston November 3, 2025

While it was Todd Florence, the CIO of LTL carrier Estes Express Lines who told the audience about the fake director of operations, it was Ahmed Shah, senior security analyst at Malleum Information Security who, in a separate presentation, discussed how LInkedIn could have a role for cyber crooks.

Shah said the MGM cyber attack in 2023 utilized LinkedIn as an entrance to the company.

SUSTAINABILITY / SAFETY / SECURITY

OEMs win first round of CARB’s Clean Truck lawsuit

CCJ Jason Cannon November 3, 2025

U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins Friday afternoon issued a preliminary injunction barring California from enforcing the terms of its Clean Truck Partnership.

Related: Freight Waves Judge blocks CARB’s Clean Truck Partnership enforcement

Science-based climate targets boost corporate reputation, decarbonization pace: report

ESG Dive Lamar Johnson November 3, 2025

Responses were collected from 171 companies who have had an SBTi-validated target in place for more than two years, and the report is also based on 22 case studies. From the companies surveyed, 95% reported positive reputational effects, 90% said the goals positively impacted their climate ambition and 86% said having the goals positively impacted their decarbonization pace.

Link: SBTi The Impact of Setting Science-Based Targets on Businesses 

Trucks from Amazon’s largest-ever order of eHGVs begin deliveries

Green Fleet November 4, 2025

The first trucks from Amazon’s largest-ever order of electric heavy-goods vehicles (eHGVs) have joined the company’s fleet today, crossing the Humber Bridge to deliver packages to customers nationwide.

Once fully deployed, the UK will be home to 160 eHGVs, the largest number of electric trucks in Amazon’s global transportation network.

Increased supply chain scrutiny at odds with customs enforcement capability

Journal of Commerce Eric Johnson November 3, 2025 $Subscription Based

Increasing trade regulations in various countries are putting a burden on customs agencies that most are unable to cope with because those agencies lack the ability to effectively scrutinize product components and suppliers involved in complex supply chains.

AI and automation drive the next era of commercial vehicle safety

Fleet Owner Josh Fisher November 3, 2025

AI-powered coaching and dashcams prevent accidents by providing real-time feedback and reinforcing safe driving behaviors.

Digital inspections and automated maintenance workflows reduce downtime, improve compliance, and ensure vehicles are road-ready.

Waymo’s robotaxis are coming to three new cities

The Verge Andrew J. Hawkins November 3, 2025

Waymo said it plans on launching commercial robotaxi services in three new cities: San Diego, Las Vegas, and Detroit. The announcement comes after the company said it would begin rapidly scaling to bring its fully driverless technology to more people on a faster timeline.

Related: Waymo Blog Creating an all-weather Driver

BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY

Third-quarter earnings are indicating a divided economy

CNBC Laya Neelakandan November 3, 2025

Quarterly earnings reports from consumer companies are increasingly showing how consumers are diverging in their spending.

Commonly called a “K-shaped” economy, companies are seeing wealthier Americans spend more while lower-income Americans are paring back.

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