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Logistics Technology News

Explore today’s cutting-edge global logistics technology news and analysis by the Journal of Commerce. Coverage includes logistics technology startups, logistics technology solutions, venture capital, management and impact, freight forwarder technology and the latest supply chain and logistics technology. 

The latest Logistics Technology News News & Analysis

Shippers eye varied ‘training wheel’ approach to origin management technology

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Getting the most out of global logistics software sometimes involves using a forwarder as a co-pilot until a shipper is ready to run processes similarly to procurement and order management internally.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsForwardingSupply chain

CMA CGM commits €100 million to new Paris-based AI research lab

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
CMA CGM is moving beyond funding and supporting startups with a hefty investment into a non-profit lab designed to improve data models that feed into artificial intelligence products.
Container linesContainer Shipping NewsLogistics Technology News

Convoy acquisition meant to serve import customer truckload demand: Flexport CEO

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Ryan Petersen tells the Journal of Commerce that the first order of business after this week’s acquisition of Convoy’s tech stack is getting the Convoy app running again and reaching out to the shuttered company’s customers.
Logistics Technology NewsForwarding

Automation forcing its way into freight audit and payment market

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
The need for shippers and brokers to speed up the auditing and payment of freight bills is bringing AI and automation-focused vendors to the fore.
Logistics Technology News

Shipping emissions data-sharing initiative launched by DNV, GSBN

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The two partners will collaborate on pilot projects aimed at accurately measuring and tracking emissions reduction data across the supply chain.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLogistics Technology News

No escaping the truckload market’s inherent fragmentation for Convoy

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
The demise of truckload broker Convoy has highlighted how difficult it is to create differentiation in a market with no dominant player, with Convoy itself to blame for stoking more competition through its technology focus.
Truck brokersTrucking NewsTruckloadLogistics Technology News

Lawsuit from former CEO prompts Slync bankruptcy filing

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
The company will sell its technology and shut operations, deciding it could not grow its business while paying the legal fees of ousted CEO Chris Kirchner.
Logistics Technology NewsForwarding

Transfix defies down market to raise $40 million for truckload brokerage

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Transfix’s investment being announced on the same day Convoy told employees it was winding down operations highlights some of the differences between members of a group broadly defined as “digital brokers.”
Truck brokersTrucking NewsTruckloadLogistics Technology News

Convoy says will shut operations, sell off technology amid market downturn

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
While sudden, the impact of Convoy shutting its business should be muted in a truckload brokerage market where shippers have access to low spot rates and plentiful capacity.
Trucking NewsTruckloadLogistics Technology News

Freight broker Convoy stops accepting loads amid pending company ‘transition’

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
The company has long been a lightning rod in the truckload industry, one of a cohort of so-called digital brokers to emerge in the 2010s backed by venture capital investors with an ambition to make the industry more efficient through digitizing processes.
Truck brokersTrucking NewsTruckloadLogistics Technology News

Hapag-Lloyd enlists India-based vendor to support US digital documentation move

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Ocean carriers are aligning with technology vendors to meet a self-imposed deadline to digitize shipping documentation, with Hapag-Lloyd's use of ODeX in the US the latest example.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesSupply chain

Forwarders facing margin pressure from smaller shipments, shift of air to ocean

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Shipments are getting smaller over time, driven in part by e-commerce growth, but also by a market that is disentangling cargo previously handled through air or ocean consolidation.
Air CargoForwardingAir Cargo Forwarder NewsLogistics Technology News

Deloitte taps asset-tracking provider Nexxiot for cargo risk management product

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Transportation sensor provider Nexxiot and Deloitte are aiming to connect cargo visibility data with the consulting firm’s “know your customer” process to fast-track container movement.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsPort NewsMarine terminalsSupply chain

CMA CGM makes big investment in electric van JV with vehicle makers

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
While light commercial vehicles are not typically used on a large scale by the ocean carrier, it has a significant landside presence where the electric vehicles could be used to lower emissions.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrucking NewsLogistics Technology News

Maersk using self-driving trucks to move Houston-Oklahoma City freight

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The shipping giant is running four dry-van round trips each week on the approximately 400-mile route between the two cities.
Trucking NewsLogistics Technology News

Doubts growing over shipping’s readiness for Europe’s ETS carbon tax

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
To comply with the European emissions trading system, ocean carriers will essentially need to become experts in carbon credit trading, on top of monitoring, verifying and reporting CO2 emissions.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-AtlanticAsia-EuropeLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Increased truckload volatility inducing shippers, brokers to use pricing technology

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Excess capacity in the truckload market is a chance for shippers to examine whether they or their freight brokers have the right technology tools to effectively price in the contract and spot markets.
TruckloadTrucking NewsTruck brokersLogistics Technology News

US LTL carrier Estes hit by widespread systems outage

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
A systems outage that has left less-than-truckload carrier Estes grappling with email, website and data exchange issues is the latest such incident to befall the logistics and transportation industry.
LTLLogistics Technology News

Norfolk Southern teams with tech company to ease intermodal cargo flow

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
The Class I railroad and DrayNow will launch an app in 2024 designed to digitize, organize and streamline processes that have previously been performed via email or over the phone.
Logistics Technology NewsNorth-American rail

Dynamics behind Flexport’s leadership change signal digital forwarding’s natural endpoint

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Much criticism has been leveled at the digital forwarding model, but steep declines in topline revenue during a year of weak demand are a sign that digital forwarders have had trouble differentiating themselves from the pack.
ForwardingLogistics Technology News

Green fuel costs could make nuclear ships economically viable: experts

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Small onboard nuclear reactors could ultimately be the lowest-cost method of decarbonization as shipping competes with other thirsty industries for sustainable net-zero fuels, according to energy and investment analysts.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Logistics provider GXO buys PFSweb amid end-to-end fulfillment rush

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
The deal comes on the heels of other acquisitions and new services launched this week at several logistics and transportation providers, all aimed at expanding their ability to deliver end-to-end global fulfillment services.
Supply chainLogistics Technology NewsLast Mile News

Logistics software helping blur lines between forwarder, shipper processes: WiseTech CEO

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Richard White said in an interview with the Journal of Commerce the logistics industry is stuck in a pattern of tackling small problems instead of viewing international trade as a large, connected system.
Logistics Technology NewsForwardingAir Cargo Forwarder NewsSupply chain

Global shippers launch 600,000-TEU tender to fast-track decarbonization

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The bids would require carriers to quote a negotiated “green premium” that cargo owners would pay to transport the containers on ships powered by zero-carbon fuels.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Flexport’s bumpy evolution shows, ultimately, people and relationships matter

Peter Tirschwell |
As many have observed in disparaging the notion of a “digital” forwarder, of which Flexport was the prototype, forwarding at its core is a business of people solving real-world problems for which there is not — and probably never will be — a technology solution, writes Peter Tirschwell.
ForwardingTrans-PacificLogistics Technology News

Drayage industry faces technology dilemma in down freight market

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
While the importance of drayage came to the fore during the pandemic, the current freight hangover is cramping the sector’s ability to take advantage of technology options on the market.
Logistics Technology NewsPort NewsNorth American portsTrucking News

Clark departs Flexport amid differences with founder over strategic shift

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
A difference of opinion over Flexport’s strategic shift toward fulfillment aimed at small businesses has prompted CEO Dave Clark to depart the company only a year after he came aboard.
ForwardingContainer Shipping NewsAir CargoAir Cargo Forwarder NewsSupply chainLogistics Technology News

OOCL Logistics joins growing group intrigued by trade finance potential

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Development of trade finance tools for small and medium-sized shippers continues to grow, evidenced by OOCL Logistics launching a trade finance platform with fintech provider Stenn.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer linesForwardingSupply chain

Key supply chain stakeholders commit to electronic bills of lading

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Digitalizing the most important document in global trade is a vital step toward a more efficient and secure paperless container shipping industry.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLogistics Technology News

Poor IT strategy over the years contributed to Yellow’s demise: analyst

Ted Prince, founder and CEO, Tri-Cities Intermodal LLC |
An LTL carrier such as Yellow is an extremely complicated business, and similar to the railroads, the enterprise software it used was developed internally — often over decades — because there was no “off-the-shelf” solution, writes analyst Ted Prince.  
Logistics Technology NewsTrucking News

FMC’s Bentzel seeks industry input for agency’s data initiative

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
With a formal request for information, Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel believes the agency is introducing a more “transparent and inclusive process” with stakeholders when it comes to policymaking.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsLogistics Technology News

Estes expands use of Optym as LTL market deals with Yellow fallout

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Estes Express Lines has long used third-party software to amp up its service to customers, with an expansion of its partnership with less-than-truckload software provider Optym the latest example.
Trucking NewsLogistics Technology News

Port Houston joins Portchain’s growing network for vessel arrival software

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Portchain has pulled in 76 container terminals into its vessel arrival coordination platform with carriers in the past 18 months, with Port Houston the latest to join.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsNorth American portsInternational ports

Logistics technology investment slowing post-pandemic: survey

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
A study of global logistics professionals around hurdles to technology investment found that respondents were uninterested in linking financial rewards with software adoption.
Logistics Technology NewsForwardingSupply chain

BNSF Logistics turns to Trucker Tools for brokerage software

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Top 30 freight broker BNSF Logistics said it will use Trucker Tools software to improve visibility and freight matching for its surface transportation customers.
Logistics Technology NewsTrucking NewsTruckloadTruck brokers

Logistics industry tiptoeing toward AI adoption: Freightos research

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Shippers and forwarders recently surveyed by Freightos believe artificial intelligence will reduce headcounts in the logistics industry, even if they have yet to figure out how best to use the still-emerging technology.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsForwardingAir Cargo Forwarder NewsSupply chain

Convoy promises on-time truckload deliveries with new guaranteed product

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Targeting industrial and retail shippers that need expensive expedited services to meet stringent on-time metrics, freight broker Convoy is offering a product that guarantees shipments will be delivered within a predetermined 30-minute window.
Truck brokersTrucking NewsTruckloadLogistics Technology News

Change management key to unlocking AI’s productivity potential for 3PLs

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Forwarders have an opportunity to reduce labor costs and improve margins using artificial intelligence (AI), but managing the transition away from a human workforce could prove difficult.
Logistics Technology NewsForwardingSupply chain

FMC’s Dye offers fixes for container flow problems through US ports

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The FMC commissioner wants to implement uniform empty return dates and define “container availability” as when the container is available for pick up, among other proposals.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsMarine terminalsNorth American portsTrucking NewsLogistics Technology News

Port of Oakland taps visibility provider to plug gaps in container status

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Technology provider QuayChain will arm the Port of Oakland with milestone data in areas near its facilities to improve its visibility portal.
North American portsPort NewsSupply chainLogistics Technology News