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FedEx to Test Delivery Robots This Summer

| Mike O'Brien

FedEx is planning to test delivery robots this summer for customers including Walmart and Pizza Hut, while Target and AutoZone are looking at the capability, according to Reuters. The 10 mph robots would have to be approved by the city of Memphis. This is one innovative way companies are looking to cut last mile costs.

Stamps.com Stuns by Parting Ways with USPS, Looks to Other Carriers

| Mike O'Brien

In a bold and unexpected move, Stamps.com, which built its business through an exclusive shipping partnership with the U.S. Postal Service, is now severing that relationship as it seeks to offer its ecommerce customers more options, while keeping a sharp eye on Amazon logistics. See what the CEO had to say and how analysts reacted.

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Ryder Introduces Ecommerce Fulfillment Service

| Mike O'Brien

Transportation and supply chain provider Ryder System has unveiled a new ecommerce fulfillment service offering designed to compete with full-service platforms such as Amazon and Google as well as major carriers by providing a soup-to-nuts system for shipping directly to customers.

Amazon Backs Out of New York City Headquarters

| Daniela Forte

Amazon, bowing to local opposition, is backing out of a planned East coast headquarters in Long Island City, NY. Opponents of the $3 billion in tax breaks and incentives gained more fuel when it was learned Amazon will pay no federal income tax for the second year in a row. Plans are on track for facilities in Arlington, VA and Nashville, TN.

Amazon Officially Calls Out Carriers as Competitors

| Mike O'Brien

Amazon’s moves into logistics and fulfillment over the past few years have been well-documented, with FedEx and UPS downplaying the threat and Amazon saying it just wants to address its capacity shortfalls. Until now, that is, when Amazon added “transportation and logistics services” to the long list of competitive sectors in its 2018 10k filing.

Amazon to Launch Marketplace in the Middle East

| Daniela Forte

Amazon is making a push for the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. CNBC reported the ecommerce giant has been reaching out to large third-party sellers in North America about the opportunity to expand in the underserved, oil-rich region.

USPS Rate Hikes Send Shippers Scrambling for Savings

| Mike O'Brien

With the new U.S. Postal Service rates in effect, shippers are looking for creative ways to keep their parcel spend down as costs among the major carriers continue to rise. Find out what the increases mean and hear what some industry experts have to say about the impacts.

UPS Expanding Latch Partnership for In-Home Delivery to 10 More Cities

| Mike O'Brien

In another whack at porch piracy, UPS is expanding an in-home delivery service through smart lock partner Latch to 10 additional cities, after successful tests in New York and San Francisco. It will be available later this year in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Miami and Seattle.