Supply Chain Firms Boost Sourcing from Womenowned Businesses

Supply Chain Firms Boost Sourcing from Womenowned Businesses

Supply chain giants like Walmart are committing to increasing procurement from certified women-owned businesses over the next five years. This initiative aims to enhance brand image, foster innovation, mitigate risks, and fulfill social responsibility. Diverse sourcing not only builds consumer trust but also strengthens supply chain resilience, creating a win-win scenario for businesses in terms of both commercial and social value. Companies should establish clear objectives, optimize procurement processes, and collaboratively build an inclusive supply chain ecosystem.

01/29/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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UPS Expands Biopharma Cold Chain Services Globally

UPS Expands Biopharma Cold Chain Services Globally

UPS expands its International Special Commodities (ISC) program, adding over 50 international destinations to meet the biopharmaceutical industry's growing demand for cold chain logistics. The program supports the transport of biologics, dangerous goods, and commodities requiring dry ice refrigeration, adhering strictly to international regulations and providing contingency plans for safe and efficient global transportation. This expansion enhances UPS's ability to handle temperature-sensitive shipments, ensuring product integrity and compliance throughout the supply chain for the biomedical sector.

01/29/2026 Logistics
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US Dockworkers Union Avoids Strikes Seeks Congress Help in Labor Talks

US Dockworkers Union Avoids Strikes Seeks Congress Help in Labor Talks

International Longshoremen's Association President Harold Daggett has postponed the planned port shutdowns, opting instead to engage in discussions with Congress to resolve the dispute with the United States Maritime Alliance over issues such as automation and non-union labor. This move aims to avert a significant blow to the US economy. However, the underlying conflict between labor and management remains unresolved, and the future direction hinges on the ability of all parties to reach a consensus.

01/29/2026 Logistics
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North American Intermodal Volume Rises in Q3 on Domestic Demand

North American Intermodal Volume Rises in Q3 on Domestic Demand

The Intermodal Association of North America reported that intermodal volumes in Q3 grew nearly 5% year-over-year, driven primarily by domestic container shipping. Despite economic uncertainty, the intermodal market demonstrated resilience, although the growth rate was the slowest since 2009. Industry experts suggest that intermodal transportation is gaining market share from trucking and is expected to maintain steady growth in the future. The increase highlights the continued importance of intermodal solutions for efficient freight movement across North America.

01/29/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Sees Mixed Trends Carloads Drop Container Growth Slows

US Rail Freight Sees Mixed Trends Carloads Drop Container Growth Slows

Data from the Association of American Railroads reveals a divergence in US rail freight: carload traffic is declining year-over-year, primarily due to weak coal demand; container traffic growth is slowing, potentially signaling cooling consumer demand. This analysis examines key factors influencing rail freight volume and explores future opportunities and challenges for the industry. The slowdown in container traffic raises concerns about the overall economic outlook, as it often serves as a leading indicator of consumer spending.

01/29/2026 Logistics
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Redprairies Cloudbased WMSTMS Solution Transforms Supply Chains

Redprairies Cloudbased WMSTMS Solution Transforms Supply Chains

RedPrairie introduced its cloud supply chain services, integrating WMS and TMS functionalities for flexible and efficient operations in both single and multi-tenant environments. Strategic acquisitions enhanced their technological capabilities, reshaping the supply chain landscape. This move provides businesses with scalable and adaptable solutions to manage their logistics and warehousing needs in the cloud, offering improved visibility and control over their supply chain processes. RedPrairie's cloud offering aims to optimize performance and reduce operational costs for its clients.

01/29/2026 Logistics
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Wenzhou Leather Fair Signals Chinas Shift to Smart Shoe Manufacturing

Wenzhou Leather Fair Signals Chinas Shift to Smart Shoe Manufacturing

The 2026 Wenzhou International Leather Exhibition is a professional trade fair for the entire shoe and leather industry chain. It gathers over 700 domestic and international enterprises, showcasing leather, shoe materials, shoe machinery, and related products. The exhibition will also feature the Shoe Industry Intelligent Manufacturing and Fashion Design Summit, discussing industry transformation and upgrading. Leveraging its industrial chain advantages and digital development, Wenzhou aims to build a "World Shoe Capital", bringing new business opportunities to exhibitors.

01/30/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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West Coast Import Boom Fuels Strong Q4 Intermodal Growth

West Coast Import Boom Fuels Strong Q4 Intermodal Growth

The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) reported a strong start to Q4 for intermodal transportation, with October volumes up 8.9% year-over-year. This growth was fueled by a surge in West Coast imports and robust consumer spending. International containers were a key driver, showing a cumulative increase of 15.2% for the year. Industry experts anticipate strong international freight volumes to continue through the end of the year. Tightening truck capacity is expected to further benefit intermodal transportation.

01/30/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Intermodal Rises Coal Declines in February

US Rail Freight Intermodal Rises Coal Declines in February

According to the Association of American Railroads, U.S. rail carload traffic decreased slightly by 0.7% year-over-year for the week ending February 8. However, intermodal traffic increased by 7.4%. Chemical and nonmetallic minerals carloads increased, while coal and metallic ores carloads declined. Year-to-date, carload traffic is even with last year, while intermodal traffic is up 9.7%. The rail freight market is experiencing structural changes, with intermodal transportation becoming a major driver of growth.

01/30/2026 Logistics
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US Rail Freight Volumes Reflect Economic Uncertainty

US Rail Freight Volumes Reflect Economic Uncertainty

According to the Association of American Railroads, for the week ending February 22, U.S. rail carload traffic decreased by 13.6% year-over-year, while container traffic increased by 2.3%. Year-to-date through early 2025, carload traffic is down 2.4%, and container traffic is up 8.4%. This contrasting situation reflects the challenges and opportunities of the U.S. economy's transition, foreshadowing structural changes and the rise of emerging industries. The diverging trends suggest a complex economic landscape.

01/30/2026 Logistics
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