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Welcome to this week’s Supply Chain Radar, where robots roll into warehouses, tariffs shake up trucking, and factoring firms fight for cash flow.
Amazon is reportedly preparing to automate 600,000 warehouse jobs, while the White House’s 25% truck import tariff threatens to send new tractor prices soaring to $250K. Meanwhile, freight financiers are feeling the squeeze as shippers stretch payments to 120 days, and DSV puts USA Truck back on the market just months after its Schenker merger.
Scroll on for automation ambitions, tariff tremors, and freight finance friction.
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OneRail’s AI Engine Deliver the Future
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Tired of waiting weeks for a delivery? So was OneRail founder Bill Catania and that frustration sparked a logistics revolution. OneRail’s AI-powered platform connects retailers to 12 million drivers and 1,000+ courier partners in real time, slashing delays and boosting customer satisfaction. With dynamic routing, IBM integration, and one-hour delivery windows, it’s redefining retail logistics.
Read more about how OneRail is transforming the last mile.
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USA Truck Back on the Market
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DSV is putting USA Truck up for sale, just months after acquiring it through its $15B purchase of DB Schenker. The Danish logistics giant says the Arkansas-based carrier doesn’t align with its asset-light model, though USA Truck will continue operations under current leadership. Once a pandemic turnaround story, the fleet now faces another transition.
Read more about DSV’s divestment plans for USA Truck.
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Environmental watchdog Basel Action Network (BAN) says the U.S. exports roughly 33,000 metric tons of hazardous electronics waste each month to countries like Malaysia and Thailand — many of which ban such imports. The shipments, laced with toxic metals, endanger workers, contaminate farmland, and undermine global recycling laws. BAN calls it “a troubling pattern of illegal exports.”
Read more about the U.S. e-waste crisis.
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From Aldi to US Foods, FreightWaves just crowned its 2025 Shipper of Choice award winners, honoring companies that carriers love to work with. These shippers stand out for strong relationships, seamless data connectivity, and best-in-class facilities management.
Do you agree these are the best shippers in the business? Who do you think deserves the award next year?
Check out the full list and share your take.
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Could Shippers Get Tariff Refunds?
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With the Supreme Court set to review President Trump’s use of emergency powers on Nov. 5, billions in tariff revenue could soon be refunded. If the court strikes down the levies, U.S. importers may reclaim duties paid under IEEPA tariffs, but the process promises to be complex and slow. Experts urge shippers to prepare documentation now.
Read more on how to navigate potential tariff refunds.
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Truck Import Duty Set to Hit Fleets
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Starting Nov. 1, imported heavy-duty trucks will face a 25% tariff under a new White House order aimed at boosting U.S. manufacturing and national security. Analysts warn the move could drive tractor prices from $175K to $250K, delay fleet orders, and strain supply chains. Experts say shippers should brace for rising costs and uncertainty.
Read more on how the new tariff reshapes the trucking market.
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Amazon is reportedly exploring plans to automate up to 600,000 warehouse jobs, aiming to make 75% of its fulfillment network robotic. Internal documents reviewed by The New York Times outline not only automation plans but also community outreach efforts to soften job-loss backlash, from toy drives to PR-friendly “good neighbor” events. Amazon says the reports don’t reflect the official hiring strategy.
Read more on Amazon’s automation ambitions.
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Factoring Feels the Pinch from Shippers
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At FreightWaves’ F3, Phoenix Capital CEO Bryan Alsobrooks warned that shippers stretching payment terms from 30 to 120 days are squeezing factoring companies — and, ultimately, carriers. To offset the cash crunch, factors are hiking rates, tightening margins already under strain. Meanwhile, industry consolidation is accelerating as smaller firms seek shelter under bank-backed players like Phoenix.
Read more on the pressures reshaping freight factoring.
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Here’s the scoop on the SCR Egg-O-Meter: It’s a brand-new rating tool that checks out what the media said about business and supply chain execs in the past 30 days and scores them based on the tonality of mentions from a natural language processing algorithm.
The “Egg-o-Meter” is like a quirky kitchen gadget for measuring how well a supply chain leader can cook up success. It cracks open key traits—like adaptability, collaboration, and innovation—and scrambles them into a perfect leadership recipe. The goal? To avoid being a hard-boiled traditionalist or a runny risk-taker. It’s all about being the ideal sunny-side-up mix to lead teams through the ever-changing heat of the supply chain kitchen!
Learn more about the meter here.
Willem Uijen, Unilever – 78.95%
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| Willem Uijen, Unilever’s Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer, has spent over two decades shaping one of the world’s most complex supply networks into a model for sustainable growth. With a career spanning engineering, procurement, and global operations, Uijen’s focus has remained consistent: creating value chains that are resilient, regenerative, and equitable for the communities that power them.
At the heart of his strategy lies Unilever’s commitment to regenerative agriculture and supplier collaboration. Under his leadership, the company has launched 25 regenerative farming projects across 350,000 hectares, with a goal to cover 1 million hectares by 2030. These initiatives—ranging from intercropping coffee in India to water and soil conservation in Indonesia—aim to strengthen smallholder livelihoods while restoring ecosystems vital to Unilever’s food and personal care brands.
Uijen’s approach also extends to industrial resilience. In India, Unilever is investing in new manufacturing facilities for palm oil and bottle caps in Telangana, expanding its supply presence while supporting local production and job creation. Meanwhile, through its Supplier Climate Programme, Unilever works with over 300 suppliers to reduce Scope 3 emissions, focusing on raw materials and packaging—the source of nearly two-thirds of its carbon footprint.
For Uijen, sustainability is inseparable from supply chain performance. By empowering smallholders, innovating in manufacturing, and prioritizing nature-positive practices, he’s ensuring that Unilever’s global operations remain both profitable and planet-conscious—a blueprint for balancing commercial growth with environmental stewardship.
Check out past Egg-O-Meter mentions and past newsletters here.
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