Supply Chain Digest

Cargo theft continues to be a huge and growing issue for carriers, 3PLs and shippers, the latest report from Verisk CargoNet released last week confirms. Supply Chain Digest Says... Criminal groups are also placing greater emphasis on gaining access to motor carrier accounts on compliance platforms that brokers use to validate carriers before awarding load tenders What do you say?

ISM also says that the overall economy continued in expansion for the 20th consecutive month. The PMI itself tracks closely but not exactly with the overall US economy. A Manufacturing PMI above 47.5, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy, according to ISM. The other PMI numbers we track were mostly positive.

The analysts from Gartner are fresh out with their list of the top supply chain technology trends for 2026 Let’s take a look. Gartner starts by saying that “These trends are shaped by three overarching themes: autonomy and agency, specialization and intelligence, and trust and governance." “These themes reflect a shift toward intelligent, self-directed and accountable systems that operate seamlessly across digital and physical environments,” added Gartner in a press release announcing the trends.

MSC has widened its container fleet market share gap with Maersk, according to the maritime industry analysts at Alphaliner. Supply Chain Digest Says... Maersk’s deliberate decision to cap its fleet at 4.1–4.3 Mteu from early 2024, combined with the relentless growth in the overall container fleet, has condemned the company to a falling market share.

It’s been tough times in the US freight sector for more than two years, and carriers showed mixed results in May according to the Cass Freight Report for the month released late this week. Supply Chain Digest Says... Denoyer writes that in the refrigerated market in particular, accessorial charges are going up, perhaps for reefer unit fuel. What do you say?

It has been known for some time, but this week made it official: Amazon sits atop the 2026 Fortune 500 list of the world’s largest companies, with 2025 sales of over $700 billion. That ended Walmart’s 13-year reign in the number 1 spot, as Amazon grew 12% last year, an amazing number given its existing size. Amazon will eventually be subject to the Law of Large Numbers like everyone else, but in a different way.

That put the Index above the key 50 mark that separates US manufacturingexpansion from contraction for the fifth straight month, starting to reverse a multi-year downtrend. ISM also says that the overall economy continued in expansion for the 19th consecutive month. The PMI itself tracks closely but not exactly with the overall US economy. A Manufacturing PMI above 47.5, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy, according to ISM.

The US Justice Department indicted four Chinese shipping container manufacturers, alleging that they conspired to restrict the output and fix prices of shipping containers for at least four years. Supply Chain Digest Says... Camille Boullenois, lead author of the Rhodium report, told the FT that China’s evolving industrial policies posed a “real threat” to the economic engine of countries such as Germany and other advanced industrial economies. What do you say?

Srihari Senior Consultant, Infosys Great article. I am a little suprised not to see BNSF in the mix while I understand their financial mode/operation is a little different. That would only give a complete perspective with all the players in the pool. Mike O'Brien Senior editor, Access Intelligence Surprised to see Home Depot fall off the list; thought they were winning with Sync?

It’s been tough times in the US freight sector for more than two years, and carriers showed mixed results in April according to the Cass Freight Report for the month released late last week. Supply Chain Digest Says... Those services propelled Amazon to become the world’s largest third-party logistics company based on gross logistics revenue in 2025, according to Armstrong & Associates.