Borderfree Global-e feature

Borderfree Acquired by Global-e from Pitney Bowes

| Mike O'Brien

Borderfree, a provider of cross-border shipping acquired by Pitney Bowes in 2015, is being acquired by Israeli cross-border platform firm Global-e for $100 million in cash, about a quarter of its original price, the companies announced, adding the two will enter into a strategic partnership. The deal is expected to close in Q3.

CTA Seeks AB5 Hearing Before Supreme Court

| Mike O'Brien

The California Trucking Association (CTA) is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court, asking it to ignore the recommendation of the California attorney general and instead review an appellate court decision upholding the state’s AB5 law, which calls for recognition of contract drivers as employees.

cargo containers on pier

China Import Law Will Impact Supply Chain, Inflation

| Mike O'Brien

A China import law taking effect June 21 that bans imports from the Xinjiang region due to allegations of widespread forced labor will worsen supply chain and inventory issues just as conditions are easing somewhat, while exacerbating rampant inflation, according to a report in Bloomberg.

autonomous FedEx Aurora feature

Second Autonomous Lane Added by FedEx, Aurora in Texas

| Mike O'Brien

FedEx is expanding its pilot program with Aurora Innovation, creating a new autonomous linehaul route between Aurora’s terminals in Fort Worth and El Paso, TX, making the 1,200-mile round trips weekly with a monitoring driver on board. The two companies began the runs in March, adding to another between Houston and Dallas.

parcel delivery illustration

Domestic Parcel Growth Much Slower in 2021

| Mike O'Brien

While U.S. parcel volume rose nearly 6% to 21.5B pieces in 2021, it was the slowest growth in five years, and considerably less than the massive 31.5% gain in a pandemic-driven 2020, according to Pitney Bowes’ annual index. It also showed smaller carriers growing rapidly but still holding a tiny percentage of the overall pie.

Ryder box truck feature

Ryder System Inc. Target of Takeover Bid by Private Equity Firm

| Mike O'Brien

Ryder System Inc. has become the target of a takeover bid by Miami-based private equity firm HG Vora Capital Management, at a proposed price of $86 per share, a 28.4% premium to its 30-day average, according to an SEC filing. Ryder, whose stock surged in response, has itself has been acquiring 3PL assets and investing in technology.

USPS letter carrier

USPS Cubic Pricing a Benefit for Heavier Items

| Mike O'Brien

Adding a cubic pricing option for users of USPS Parcel Select Ground product will be a boon for shippers with small, dense and heavy packages but not so much for others, experts said ahead of the July 10 live date for the change. In general, packages must be under 20 lbs. and there’s a 50,000 package a year minimum.

supply chain groovy digital image

The Real Supply Chain New Normal

| JP Wiggins

There’s just no going back to the “before” supply chain. Future generations will likely forget the lessons of the early 2020’s and make the same mistakes, but for now we’ll contend with the “new normal.” This dynamic state of affairs is going be with us for the foreseeable future. Here are 5 trends to look out for as we move forward.

USPS old mailboxes

USPS Postmaster Warns of “Uncomfortable” Mail Price Hikes

| Mike O'Brien

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said the U.S. Postal Service will be forced to initiate “uncomfortable” price increases for market dominant USPS products such as first-class mail, marketing mail and periodicals, while shippers using Parcel Select Ground can benefit from use of cubic pricing.

Sustainable Packaging: Why It Matters and How to Source It

| Brendan Heegan

Sustainability is more than just good for the planet; it’s good PR for your company. That’s why you should consider adding sustainable packaging to your repertoire. It helps your company meet sustainability goals while giving eco-conscious consumers a better choice. Here’s how to go about sourcing sustainable packaging.