Supply Chain Intelligence Brief

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TRUCKING

Five State of Freight takeaways: tighter market is holding

Freight Waves John Kingston January 13, 2026

Fuller said the timing of those tight inventory levels could be particularly bullish for trucking if the U.S. Supreme Court hands down a ruling soon that would overturn many of the Trump tariffs. The uncertainty about tariffs, he said, “has caused a level of conservatism.” The Supreme Court ruling will bring clarity either way, he said, and that could lead to a restocking of inventories that would benefit carriers.

Owner-ops, experts cautiously optimistic for 2026 rates bump

Overdrive Todd Dills January 13, 2026

Yet other indicators around the freight economy add to the potential positives for 2026, according to FTR’s forecasts:

• Recovery timeline: Freight recovery expected starting mid-year, with year-over-year gains appearing by year-end.

Southeastern Freight Lines expands cross-border service with new partnership

CCJ January 14, 2026

Southeastern Freight Lines (CCJ Top 250, No. 29) has announced a strategic business partnership with Fletes México Carga Express, an LTL provider in Mexico. The new service offering is aimed at meeting the growing demand for dependable cross-border freight solutions, SEFL said.

Class 8 Orders Soar More Than 100% Sequentially in December

Transport Topics Connor D. Wolf  January 13, 2026

Emissions Rules, Replacement Activity Fueled Sequential Gains, Experts Say, Wanting to See More Evidence of Sustained Turnaround.

FMCSA Chief Touts Technology’s Role in Improving Road Safety

Transport Topics Eugene Mulero January 13, 2026

“FMCSA’s approach is grounded in a simple principle: Safety and innovation are not opposites,” he said. “Innovation can enhance safety, improve efficiency and strengthen public trust. That trust is essential in all that we do.”

Trump Administration Waves White Flag on Transportation Funding Immigration Fight, But the War is Far From Over

Freight Waves Rob Carpenter January 13, 2026

DOT’s dropped appeal marks a legal defeat, but fleets and non-domiciled CDL holders remain caught in a regulatory crossfire with no clear end in sight.

SHIPPERS / 3PLs

Looking at the 2026 freight market with Echo Global Logistics CEO Doug Waggoner

Logistics Management Jeff Berman January 13, 2026

Logistics Management (LM): How do you view the current state of the freight economy?

Doug Waggoner: If you would have asked me that question two weeks ago, I would have just said it’s the same old story. I mean, everything is just flat year-over-year, for things like pricing and volume. For Echo, our volume is up. We’re showing some growth. It is hard to say that that’s a macroeconomic thing. It can just be us taking market share with a few accounts.

4PL model reemerges as disruptive market dynamics buffet shippers

Journal of Commerce Eric Johnson January 13, 2026 $Subscription Based

A trio of external forces – tariffs, automation, and cross-border e-commerce – are bringing demand for the 4PL model in global logistics back to the fore.

While the 4PL concept has existed for decades, it has gone through periods of being in and out of fashion, often due to the perception that it’s an extraneous layer for shippers wanting to exert more control over their third-party logistics and carrier partners.

Aldi to open three distribution centers by 2029

Supply Chain Dive Kelly Stroh January 13, 2026

The additions aim to support the grocery chain’s U.S. expansion plans, which include the opening of 180 stores by the end of 2026.

INDUSTRY

National diesel average heads down for eighth consecutive week, reports EIA

Logistics Management January 13, 2026

With a 1.8-cent decline, the national average came in at $3.459, for the week of January 12, following a 2.3-cent decline, to $3.477, for the week of January 5.

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)

Weekly U.S. rail traffic shows 4% drop

Freight Waves January 13, 2026

Rail traffic for U.S. railroads fell 4% for the week ending Jan. 3, 2026, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads.

Volume for the week was 404,293 carloads and intermodal units, with 192,665 carloads, down 2.8% from the corresponding week a year earlier, and 211,628 containers and trailers, down 5.1%.

Port of Long Beach Handled Record Amount of Cargo in 2025

Transport Topics/Los Angeles Times Caroline Petrow-Cohen January 13, 2026

Despite a year of trade volatility and unprecedented tariffs, the Port of Long Beach handled a record amount of cargo in 2025 and expects growth to accelerate.

Under the leadership of a new chief executive, Noel Hacegaba, the second-busiest port in the U.S. plans to invest to be ready to double the cargo it processes by 2050. That’s also the year the port is hoping to achieve zero carbon emissions. 

TECHNOLOGY

What Apple and Google’s Gemini deal means for both companies

The Verge Hayden Field January 13, 2026

The deal allows Apple to use both Gemini AI and Google’s cloud technology to power its future frontier models and Apple Intelligence features, the companies said, adding that Apple Intelligence “will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple’s industry-leading privacy standards.”

SUSTAINABILITY / SAFETY / SECURITY

What it will take to create a financially sustainable, zero-emission electric shipping ecosystem

World Economic Forum Dong Kwan Kim January 14, 2026

The global shipping industry has reached a historic turning point. After more than two centuries of reliance on fossil fuels, shipping has begun to transition towards cleaner propulsion systems as climate commitments tighten and regulatory frameworks take effect.

BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY

December core consumer prices rose at a 2.6% annual rate, less than expected

CNBC Jeff Cox January 13, 2026

Core U.S. consumer prices rose less than predicted in December, reinforcing hopes that inflation is tempering as the Federal Reserve contemplates its next move on interest rates.

Link: Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index

Small Business Optimism Continues to Rise

NFIB January 13, 2026

he NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.5 points in December to 99.5 and remained above its 52-year average of 98. Of the 10 Optimism Index components, two increased, three decreased, and five were unchanged. An increase in those expecting better business conditions primarily drove the rise in the Optimism Index. The Uncertainty Index fell 7 points from November to 84, the lowest reading since June 2024.

The Founder and CEO of Prologis on Staying Ahead of Disruptive Change

HBR Hamid Moghadam January 2026 $Subscription Based

Over the past four decades, Prologis has grown into the world’s largest real estate investment trust (REIT), with $215 billion in assets under management and 6,000 properties. A core driver of that success has been the company’s ability to anticipate change, from the rise of e-commerce and automation in the early 2000s to increasing demands for services, energy, and data centers more recently. To do that, Prologis has followed a simple playbook: Listen to customers, position yourself to act, experiment, and then invest.

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