Logistics Management

The new edition of the Shippers Conditions Index (SCI), which was recently released by freight transportation consultancy FTR, again reflected harsh market conditions for shippers, for various reasons.

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending July 11, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Rail carloads, at 223,040, saw a slight 0.4% annual decrease, topping the week ending July 4, which was likely impacted by the timing of the July 4 holiday, at 212,691, and trailed the week ending June 27, at 232,408.

The NextGen Supply Chain Conference has released the agenda for the 2026 event, bringing together some of the industry’s most innovative supply chain leaders for three days of practical education, executive networking and real-world case studies focused on the technologies and strategies shaping tomorrow’s supply chains.

Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and Port of Long Beach (POLB) June volumes finished the first half of 2026 with very strong volume growth, according to data recently respectively issued by the ports. POLA reported that total June volume—at 1,002,734 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—increased 12% annually, for the busiest June on record for the port, and also marking the third time monthly volumes have topped the 1 million TEU mark, something only POLA has done more than once.

Earlier this week, Copenhagen, Denmark-based A.P. Moeller Maersk, an integrated container logistics services provider recently announced a major Boston-area expansion, with the planned opening of a Hopedale, Mass.-based fulfillment center set to open in late August. Company officials said that the $100 million investment into this 617,000 square-foot facility will expand Maersk’s Northeast U.S. logistics footprint and add roughly 1,000 jobs.

United States industrial real estate market activity showed strong second quarter momentum, paced by demand and supply being in balance, according to data recently issued by Chicago-based Cushman & Wakefield. The firm noted that the national vacancy rate came in at 6.9%, with leasing activity climbing to its highest level in around four years.

United States retail sales saw both sequential and annual gains in June, according to data issued today by the United States Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau. Total June retail sales, at $768.6 billion were up 0.2%, from May to June, and rose 6.7% annually, Commerce reported. And it added that, from April through June, total sales increased 6.4% compared to the same period a year ago. June marks the ninth consecutive month of retail sales gains.

Recording Date/Time Thursday, July 16, 2026 7:55AM Podcast Duraton 44:04 hrs/min/sec Topics covered in this podcast were: Lockheed's approach to LTL planning and operations; the company's approach to managing transportation costs; truckload procurement, and trade and tariffs, among others. Lucas “Luke” Martin is the Enterprise Logistics Lead for Lockheed Martin’s Global Supply Chain  Operation. In this capacity, he is responsible for leading the Corporation’s Global Logistics Program.

The latest TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index projects truckload, less-than-truckload and parcel shipping costs will remain elevated through the third quarter of 2026, with higher fuel prices continuing to push freight rates higher. The quarterly index found that truckload rates reached their highest level in nearly four years during the second quarter, while LTL pricing climbed to another record high.

Logistics Management Group News Editor Jeff Berman recently caught up with Matt Muenster, Chief Economist, at Green Bay, Wis.-based Breakthrough, an innovator in transportation management, dedicated to creating transparent and fair strategies for the world’s leading shippers. Muenster provided Berman with an overview of trade and tariffs, key economic indicators, AI, and Peak Season, among other topics.