Supply Chain Intelligence Brief

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TRUCKING

Key trucking voices note possible market lift, limitations for 2026

Trucking Dive David Taube January 27, 2026

“Anything could happen this year,” DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke said. “My money’s on it being a crazy year.”

UPS sees 3.2% fourth quarter earnings decline

Logistics Management Jeff Berman January 27, 2026

U.S. Domestic Package revenue, at $16.7 billion, was off 3.2% annually, due to an expected volume decline, with revenue per piece up 8.3%, to $13.27;

Link: UPS 4Q25 Earnings Call Presentation

UPS preps 30K job cuts, more driver buyouts in 2026

Supply Chain Dive Max Garland January 27, 2026

The carrier expects the moves, along with building closures, will help it save $3 billion as it adjusts to reduced Amazon volume.

Saia Aligns Logistics Unit Branding Ahead of Expansion

Transport Topics Keiron Greenhalgh January 27, 2026

Saia Logistics will employ just under 200 staff. The 3PL’s employees are based at the corporate office just outside Dallas; at Saia headquarters in Johns Creek; in Suwanee, Ga., where a managed transportation group is based; and in Chattanooga, Tenn., where its international air and ocean freight team is based.

FedEx Freight Sells $3.7 Billion of Bonds Ahead of Spinoff

Transport Topics/Bloomberg News Kevin Kingsbury and Brian Smith January 27, 2026

Tuesday’s four-part offering includes notes maturing in three to 10 years, according to a person familiar with the matter. The $1 billion 10-year, the longest tranche in the deal, is expected to yield 1.07 percentage points over Treasuries, more than 30 basis points tighter than initial price talk, said the person, who asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak publicly.

Gatik launches fully driverless commercial trucking operations

Freight Waves Thomas Wasson January 27, 2026

The medium-duty autonomous trucks equipped with Gatik Driver complete daily deliveries for Fortune 50 retailers across Texas, Arkansas and Arizona. The milestone is part of a larger autonomous trucking technology trend as companies seek to move beyond limited pilots to sustained, revenue-generating operations. 

SHIPPERS / 3PLs

Amazon to Lay Off Around 16,000 Corporate Employees

The Wall Street Journal Sean McClain and Gareth Vipers January 28, 2026 $Subscription Based

Amazon said it would cut around 16,000 employees, the company’s latest round of layoffs as the competition for dominance in artificial intelligence intensifies.

Link: Amazon News Update on our organization

Amazon to shutter all Amazon Fresh and Go stores

Retail Dive Peyton Bigora and Sam Silverstein January 27, 2026

The company will focus its brick-and-mortar strategy on Whole Foods Market, with plans to open more than 100 new stores under the banner over the next few years.

Bain report: retail sales growth to slow in 2026

Supply Chain XChange January 27, 2026

By the numbers, Bain projects U.S. retail sales to grow 3.5% year over year in 2026, to $5.3 trillion, slightly down from estimated 4.0% growth in 2025.

Link: Bain & Company 2026 Global Retail Sales Outlook

Deere to Open Two New U.S. Facilities

The Wall Street Journal Kelly Cloonan January 28, 2026 $Subscription Based

The farm-equipment manufacturer says the facilities include a distribution center in Indiana and an excavator factory in North Carolina

Link: John Deere Press Release John Deere Announces Major Expansion with Two New U.S. Facilities Coming

Global metals manufacturers expanding into US via M&A

Manufacturing Dive Shefali Kapadia January 27, 2026

Tariffs on metal imports and lucrative end markets are driving foreign corporations such as Nippon and Posco to acquire or invest in domestic assets. Experts anticipate momentum to continue in 2026.

INDUSTRY

National diesel average sees sharp increase, for second straight week, reports EIA

Logistics Management January 27, 2026

The national average price per gallon of diesel gasoline saw a significant increase, for the second consecutive week, according to data issued today by the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA).

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)

US Diesel Futures Surge After Storm Disrupts Refineries

Transport Topics/Bloomberg News Jack Wittels January 27, 2026

The freeze has “threatened Midwest U.S. refinery production,” said James Noel-Beswick, head of commodities at Sparta. Diesel stockpiles have also been seasonally low in parts of the country, and the imminent start of a heavy U.S. Gulf coast refinery turnaround period hasn’t helped, he added.

TECHNOLOGY

ChatGPT’s traffic share hits lowest point since 2023 as Gemini surges — new report exposes pressure on OpenAI

Tom’s Guide Amanda Caswell January 26, 2026

According to industry tracking firm Similarweb, ChatGPT’s share of global web traffic among generative AI platforms has fallen to its lowest level since 2023, while Gemini’s share has climbed past 20% in early 2026 — underscoring a significant acceleration of competitive pressure on OpenAI.

SUSTAINABILITY / SAFETY / SECURITY

Trucking Alliance’s safety agenda 3: broad regulatory changes on English, ELDs and insurance

Freight Waves John Kingston January 27, 2026

In its white paper, the Trucking Alliance lists recommendations on English language proficiency in several different sections.

One requirement would put some onus back on insurers or their agents: “Require certificates (of English proficiency) delivered directly by the insurer/agent and continuous monitoring for lapses or reductions in coverage.”

Distracted Driving’s Death Toll: What a Viral Dashcam Lawsuit Means for CDL Holders

Freight Waves Rob Carpenter January 27, 2026

FMCSA data shows distraction is the second-leading cause of fatal CMV crashes. A viral Turo incident and the lawsuit that followed show why carriers and drivers can’t afford to look away.

Waabi raises $1B and expands into robotaxis with Uber

Tech Crunch Rebecca Bellan January 28, 2026

The funding consists of an oversubscribed $750 million Series C round co-led by Khosla Ventures and G2 Venture Partners and roughly $250 million in milestone-based capital from Uber to support the deployment of 25,000 or more Waabi Driver-powered robotaxis exclusively on its platform. The companies did not provide a timeline for such a large-scale deployment. 

BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY

Consumer confidence down sharply in January

Chain Store Age Marianne Wilson January 27, 2026

“Confidence collapsed in January, as consumer concerns about both the present situation and expectations for the future deepened,” said Dana M Peterson, chief economist, The Conference Board. “All five components of the Index deteriorated, driving the overall Index to its lowest level since May 2014 (82.2)—surpassing its COVID-19 pandemic depths.”

Link: The Conference Board US Consumer Confidence Fell Sharply in January

U.S. Economy May Be Experiencing Step Up in Potential Growth, World Bank Says

The Wall Street Journal Paul Hannon January 28, 2026 $Subscription Based

A higher potential growth rate would indicate the economy can grow more rapidly without the Fed having to raise its key interest rate.

Link: World Bank Global Economic Prospects

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