Ben Ames
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Technology reporter at @DCVelocity, covering all things logistics. Can be found paddling boats, bickering with Alexa. On Mastodon at @benbames@newsie.social
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Articles by Ben Ames
Cargo theft drives need for "cybershields" Original
Cargo theft is on the rise, and we're not just talking about small-scale shoplifting. Across the globe, entire trailers and containers are going missing.
Analysts: Democratic midterm election sweep could shift permitting rules, but not tariffs
The U.S. midterm election sweep of the House and Senate by Democrats will doubtless have impacts on global supply chains, but worldwide tariffs are likely to remain largely intact over the next twelve months, according to an analysis by Moody’s. That’s because most import duties are a domain of executive branches, and there have not been any significant recent changes in chief government executives across the world.
Democratic midterm election sweep could shift permitting rules, but not tariffs
The U.S. midterm election sweep of the House and Senate by Democrats will doubtless have impacts on global supply chains, but worldwide tariffs are likely to remain largely intact over the next twelve months, according to an analysis by Moody's. That's because most import duties are a domain of executive branches, and there have not been any significant recent changes in chief government executives across the world.
DOT awards $498 million for port improvement projects in 19 states
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Tuesday announced the 35 projects that will receive funding for port infrastructure improvements, covering a total of $498 million in 19 states. The grant money was awarded through the Maritime Administration (MARAD)'s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants. In a statement, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) praised the move, calling it vital to our economic and national security.
Accenture collaboration will speed up rollout of AMRs in factories and warehouses
Accenture will collaborate with a German certification organization to accelerate the installation of physical AI platforms in automated factories and warehouses, the consulting firm said today. By working with TUV SUD, which is a testing, inspection, and certification organization, Accenture said it can now help companies safely deploy physical AI equipment such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) alongside human workers faster.
TMS expands its reach
Transportation management system (TMS) software has been a mainstay of logistics operations for years, helping users plan and arrange for the physical transport of goods across the supply chain while striking the optimal balance between cost and speed. For decades, the software has paid for itself by generating savings and efficiencies in straightforward freight hauls.
NRF says holiday season spending will rise 4.2% over 2025
Retail sales in November and December will grow 4.2% over 2025 as consumers remain resilient despite higher gas prices, persistent inflation, higher interest rates, and elevated consumer debt, according to a forecast from the National Retail Federation (NRF). Despite the overall increase, that economic turbulence could affect spending by consumers in lower income brackets much more than their wealthier neighbors, a pattern that economists call a “K-shaped” distribution.
Symbotic says latest acquisition uses conveyor automation to free up DC space
The Massachusetts-based warehouse robotics vendor Symbotic has bought a German firm that provides a software-driven sortation system, saying the platform replaces traditional conveyor infrastructure with intelligent, omnidirectional movement. Symbotic bought Cellumation GmbH, a Bremen, Germany-based automation company and creator of the "celluveyor," a software-driven sortation technology. Cellumation says its system is made up of hundreds of independently controlled, omnidirectional cells.
First hurricane to reach U.S. in 2026 could arrive by Friday night Original
The first major storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season strengthened to dangerous category 3 status over the Gulf of Mexico last night, but is forecasted to weaken quickly once it makes landfall on the Alabama coast sometime Friday night. Hurricane Isaias-which is pronounced "issy-ay-ahs"-will likely come ashore late Friday night or early Saturday morning around Mobile Bay, Alabama, according to forecasts from Everstream.
C.H. Robinson agrees to acquire fellow freight broker RXO for $5.8 billion
Freight broker C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. has agreed to acquire fellow truck brokerage firm RXO for an implied value of $5.8 billion in a stock-and-cash transaction that it said will combine the two companies' trucking brokerage and managed transportation businesses, and also merge their individual strengths; C.H. Robinson's global forwarding and RXO's expedited and last mile services.
Trade group criticizes California laws regulating cold chain warehouses Original
A pair of new California laws signed over the weekend sets demands for cold storage warehouses in a bid to hold them accountable for industrial disasters like the recent fire at a warehouse in Los Angeles, but some industry voices say they go too far. The June 17 fire at a nearly 500,000-square-foot cold storage facility operated by Lineage Logistics in Boyle Heights, California, burned for eight days and was followed by significant cleanup and public health challenges.
DHL ramps up battery logistics network
DHL on Tuesday said it is expanding its global battery logistics network to support the rapid growth of the electrified value chain, spanning electric mobility, battery manufacturing, industrial equipment, and energy storage systems. According to DHL, demand for electric vehicles, battery energy storage systems, and renewable energy solutions is creating new supply chains that require specialized handling, regulatory expertise and global coordination.
Freight conglomerate orders 2,500 Tesla Semi trucks
A huge order this week for Tesla Semi vehicles will nearly double the fleet of Class 8 electric trucks on U.S. highways, according to Catalyst Mobility, the clean transportation nonprofit formerly known as CALSTART, and the Smart Freight Centre, an international non-profit organization focused on reducing the emission impacts of global freight transportation.
Cushman & Wakefield says industrial construction costs are rising
Industrial construction costs are rising across the Americas as improving demand and a recovering development pipeline create renewed competition for materials and skilled labor, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s 2026 Industrial Construction Cost Guide. The report found that construction costs increased across all three project sizes tracked. Small industrial projects rose an average of 3.6% year-over-year to $144 per square foot.
Private equity buyers whet their appetite for logistics real estate
Private equity firms are continuing to purchase large swaths of logistics real estate, as EQT Real Estate on Thursday said it had acquired a portfolio of 32 buildings across five submarkets in Southern California -totaling 5.2 million square feet-from Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.
Your artificial intelligence is creating real-world problems Original
Supporters of artificial intelligence (AI) paint the fast-growing technology as a panacea for labor shortages, spiraling business demands, and the complexity of 21st-century life. So it's probably no surprise that businesses throughout the supply chain-and seemingly every other sector, too-are scrambling to incorporate AI-powered chatbots, agents, and robots into their operations. But have you talked about this trend with anyone under 30?
Manufacturers expect costs to continue rising
Manufacturers expect costs to continue rising, with raw material and other input costs projected to increase 5.0% over the next year as the conflict in the Middle East and ongoing trade uncertainties continue to pressure supply chains, according to the National Association of Manufacturers' Q3 Manufacturers' Outlook Survey.
Industry notes Truck Driver Appreciation Week Original
Voices from across the freight industry are acknowledging National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW) from September 13 to 19, marking the event at a time when the trucking sector has seen a swift succession of changes. After spending more than three years struggling with low cargo rates during a prolonged freight recession, truckers and fleets are finally seeing those statistics start to change.
Vecna Robotics raises $31 million as demand soars for U.S.-built robots Original
Warehouse robot maker Vecna Robotics has raised $31 million in venture backing, saying that it plans to boost its commercial sales and to accelerate the development of new capabilities as demand for American-made warehouse automation technology soars in the wake of a recent White House policy prohibiting the purchase of certain robots from foreign companies.
Pitney Bowes expands as two rival firms shut down
In reaction to two of its competitors announcing plans to shut down, digital shipping solution provider Pitney Bowes Inc. is adding new high-speed sorting equipment across its network and hiring 400 additional employees. The expansion of its presort services business will support mailing customers affected by the planned closure of Postal Center International (PCI) and by the recent closure of Capitol Presort Services LLC, Shelton, Connecticut-based Pitney Bowes said.
UPS shifts stance from a small package carrier to a provider of integrated logistics solutions Original
Parcel delivery and logistics giant UPS Inc. on Monday said it is continuing to reconfigure its network to adjust to a future with drastically less of the high-volume, low-profit margin revenue that it had previously drawn from delivering floods of e-commerce packages for Amazon. That evolution continues the trend discussed a month ago, when the Atlanta-based company on July 28 announced second-quarter 2026 consolidated revenues of $22.8 billion, with consolidated operating profit of $930 million.
How to "digest" your IoT data
Logistics practitioners have applied internet of things (IoT) technologies to their operations at increasing rates in recent years, seeking to collect new data that could help eliminate blind spots throughout their supply chains.
Companies need more control over last-mile delivery networks and data Original
U.S. enterprises that have greater control over their last-mile network infrastructure and data are much better able to handle rising business pressures than their peers, according to a study from FarEye, a Chicago-based provider of delivery software. The research examined how U.S. companies are responding to persistent delivery cost inflation, increasingly complex fulfillment networks, and changing expectations around speed, reliability, and control.
Amid Worsening Drought, Panama Canal Restricts Cargo Ships to Lighter Weights
Amid Worsening Drought, Panama Canal Restricts Cargo Ships to Lighter Weights By Ben Ames Ocean carriers hike their container fees since vessels must carry less cargo so their hulls draw shallower drafts. As an El Nino weather pattern continues to squeeze moisture out of North and South American rainfall patterns, the Panama Canal Authority is coping with resulting water shortages by restricting the passage of cargo ships to lighter-weight vessels.
3PL Rhenus Group offers "book and claim" service to reduce transport emissions Original
In a move to offer its customers a streamlined method for reducing the climate impact of transport emissions, logistics service provider (LSP) The Rhenus Group will team with the freight transportation emissions tracking and reduction portal provider Shipzero, the firms said.
ASTM to set faster standards for “rapidly converging technologies”
The global industrial standards organization ASTM International has launched an initiative to accelerate the process of setting safety and performance thresholds for “rapidly converging technologies.” West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based ASTM says its standards improve safety and performance in manufacturing and materials, products and processes, and systems and services. The group also provides services such as training, proficiency testing, certification, and its new portal service Compass.
Fortna to be sold from one private equity firm to another Original
The Atlanta-based systems integrator Fortna will be sold from one private equity firm to another in a deal to reduce the company's debt by $1.8 billion and raise $150 million in cash, allowing it to continue operating while reducing its interest payments. Under terms of the proposed deal, the company will be acquired by Los Angeles-based investment firm Ares Management and other lenders. Fortna had previously been acquired by the private equity firm Thomas H.
Amid worsening drought, Panama Canal restricts cargo ships to lighter weights Original
As an El Nino weather pattern continues to squeeze moisture out of North and South American rainfall patterns, the Panama Canal Authority is coping with resulting water shortages by restricting the passage of cargo ships to lighter-weight vessels. In a series of tighter conditions for the draft-or depth underwater-of cargo ships passing through its Neopanamax Locks, the canal has already reduced its optimal maximum limit of 50 feet.
U.S. manufacturers turn to temp firms for hiring Original
Demand for U.S. manufacturing workers remains significantly stronger than traditional labor reports suggest, according to a report from Hirequest, a Goose Creek, South Carolina-based staffing and recruiting service provider. Hirequest says that manufacturing staffing revenue in Q1 and Q2 is tracking at approximately three times its pre-pandemic level, reflecting sustained demand from manufacturers nationwide.
Warehouse automation trio-merger fills out its starting lineup
Less than a month after their private equity parent company rolled them up into a single company, the trio of Intelligrated, Trew, and Transnorm has now named the executives who will fill four of their C-suite leadership roles, including CEO, COO, CRO, and CFO. In July, the New York-based investment firm American Industrial Partners (AIP) completed its acquisition of Honeywell's Intelligrated and Transnorm divisions and moved to combine them with Trew.
Private equity firm Stonepeak adds Texas railyard to its logistics catalog
The private equity firm Stonepeak made another addition this week to its collection of logistics infrastructure facilities, revealing that it had acquired an 860,100-square foot, rail-served freight site in Fort Worth, Texas.
European Union activates sustainable packaging rules Original
New rules took effect in the European Union (EU) today requiring retail businesses to use sustainable packaging, with regulators saying that unnecessary packaging waste is difficult to recycle and is expensive for both businesses and consumers.
DAT: trucking contract rates post record rebound
Truckers and fleets continued to get good news this week about the sector’s recovery from a nearly three-year long freight recession, as the load board and freight analytics provider DAT Freight & Analytics reported that contract rates for dry van and refrigerated truckload freight posted their largest June-to-July increases on record. Rates climbed even as freight volumes declined across all three equipment types, highlighting the growing influence of shrinking capacity on pricing.
Toyota opens $100 million forklift plant in Indiana
Forklift manufacturing powerhouse Toyota on Tuesday opened a $100 million lift truck manufacturing facility at the Columbus, Indiana, headquarters of its Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA) division, marking a significant expansion for the company that already produces some 40% of forklifts sold in the U.S. The 295,000-square foot factory will expand production at the site by producing electric forklifts for both the company's Toyota and Raymond brands, bringing TMHNA's total...
GXO predicts greater profits in shift from retail and e-com to B2B Original
As contract logistics provider GXO approaches the five-year mark since spinning off from parent company XPO, it is planning to shift its focus from gobbling up smaller firms in a series of mergers and acquisitions toward more "organic growth" in lucrative sectors like aerospace & defense, life science & medical devices, and technology & data centers.
Report: U.S. manufacturing growth faces workforce constraint
A shortage of trained factory workers could slow the growth of the American manufacturing sector, according to a report from Misumi Americas, a sourcing partner for mechanical components and assemblies. U.S. manufacturing has posted productivity and investment gains between 2024 and 2026, but Misumi Americas’ “The Rise of U.S. Manufacturing” report cited statistics that the industry will need 3.8 million additional workers by 2033, and 1.9 million of those jobs could go unfilled without action.
Federal regulators approve DoorDash plan for drone delivery
Last-mile food delivery service provider DoorDash has obtained federal authorization to operate as an air carrier and offer flying drone delivery service, the company said Wednesday. San Francisco-based DoorDash said it had secured Part 135 air carrier certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a license which attests to an operator’s aircraft airworthiness, maintenance programs, and safety procedures.
White House ban on foreign robot sales could hamstring logistics automation Original
When the Trump Administration on Tuesday banned certain imported robots from sale in the U.S., the move was ostensibly intended to boost national security and to encourage domestic robot production, but a new analysis shows the policy could also stop U.S. companies from purchasing the types of mobile robots used in logistics, such as AMRs and AGVs for goods-to-person, sortation, and picking applications.
C.H. Robinson says it will appeal $604 million highway crash ruling
Freight broker C.H. Robinson and third party logistics (3PL) trade group the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) are pushing back on a court case where a jury yesterday awarded $604 million in corporate fines to the families of drivers killed in a highway wreck between a freight truck and several passenger vehicles. The case, "Lipe v.
U.S. grocery sales slow down as stretched consumers buy less
The US grocery slowdown has entered a “decisive new phase of falling unit sales” as stretched American consumers pull back and buy fewer items, according to a report from Bain & Company and NielsenIQ. The impact could hit broadly across the grocery logistics sector, including online retailers as well as value players from discounters and dollar stores to mass and club. The slowdown in U.S. grocery began in mid-2025 with the emergence of a clear trend of negative unit growth.
Is data the most valuable thing in your DC? Original
If you had asked a warehouse manager five years ago about their company's inventory management practices, you'd probably have heard a lot about the frequency of cycle counts-both full and partial. The answer also might have included particulars on the equipment used, whether it was pencils and clipboards or scanning guns. And at the largest companies, you might even have heard about the emerging use of predictive analytics to better align future supply with demand.
Peak Technologies names Heel as new CEO
Peak Technologies, the venture-backed systems integrator that has grown swiftly through mergers and acquisitions, today said it had named a new leader, announcing that Joachim (Joe) Heel has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, replacing Tony Rivers. Massachusetts-based Peak is the former Peak-Ryzex, which was acquired in 2021 by Dallas-based investment firm Sole Source Capital LLC and has since gone on a consolidation tear through the barcoding and data collection sector.
Trucking sector recovery to hit a ceiling without better freight growth
A measure of trucking sector business conditions jumped in May to its strongest level ever, but that market rebound likely will hit a ceiling soon unless freight demand strengthens considerably, according to a study from transportation analyst firm FTR. FTR's Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) in May jumped to 20.4 - its strongest level ever due mostly to highly favorable freight rates for carriers.
Teletrac Navman to operate as standalone telematics firm after private equity acquisition Original
The telematics and fleet management tech firm Teletrac Navman on Monday began to operate as a standalone private company, after being acquired by a private equity firm. Miami-based investment firm Respida Capital on July 6 completed its acquisition of Northbrook, Illinois-based Teletrac Navman from its previous owner, Vontier Corporation. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Vontier retains a minority equity stake in the business.
RMH leans on private equity backing for 2nd systems integration acquisition Original
RMH Systems (RMH), a private equity-backed provider of automation, material handling, packaging, and industrial scale solutions, has acquired Top Shelf Integrated Solutions, a material handling integrator based in Columbus, OH. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the acquisition marks RMH's second add-on since the private equity firm Rotunda Capital Partners took a stake in the firm in 2025.
Apparel brands prepare for European launch of digital tags
Clothing brands are preparing for the launch in Europe of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for the apparel industry, a regulation intended to promote sustainability by creating a unique digital record that provides information about a specific product throughout its lifecycle. The European Commission's central DPP registry is expected to go live by July 19 under Article 13 of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
CMA CGM Group to buy FedEx Supply Chain for $1.4 billion Original
French logistics service provider CMA CGM Group has agreed to acquire FedEx Supply Chain for $1.4 billion, saying the move would nearly triple the size of the North American contract logistics operations of the CMA CGM subsidiary CEVA Logistics. According to FedEx, its Pittsburgh-based FedEx Supply Chain division provides warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, returns, recycling, and transportation management.
Consumer brands prepare for packaging reduction laws Original
With California's Individual Source Reduction Plan deadline of August 1 fast approaching, brands selling packaged products in California are under pressure to model, document, and submit defensible plans to reduce pollution, industry experts say.
SC Ports will close a container terminal as global trade faces "headwinds" Original
As shifting tariffs and soaring fuel prices continue to hamstring global container volumes, South Carolina Ports says it will temporarily close operations at its Leatherman Terminal starting August 1. In a statement on June 25, SC Ports said it "plans to pause operations at Leatherman Terminal as of Aug.
early peak season pushes container rates higher Original
Even as stratospheric fuel costs have eased slightly this week due to sporadic progress on reopening ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, container shipping rates continue to climb higher in response to hot demand during an early peak season, according to industry analysis.
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