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.

Ecommerce Shipping: Feeling the Need for Speed

| Daniela Forte

Sixty-three percent of customer expect items to be delivered within three days, and younger generations are showing loyalty toward companies that offer free expedited delivery options, even if they have to pay for it, according to a study by LaserShip. Here is a look at what customers expect from retailers when it comes to their shipping strategy.

cargo containers on pier

Amazon Steps up Ocean Freight Shipping from China to the U.S.

| Mike O'Brien

Amazon has been quietly shipping ocean freight from China to West Coast ports, in another sign of its increasing logistics ambitions and an entire supply chain play, according to a report in USA Today. In the past year, Amazon Logistics has shipped 4.7 million cartons of consumer goods from China to Long Beach and Seattle.

ecommerce fraud

7 Tips for Ecommerce Merchants to Detect Online Fraud

| Srii Srinivasan

Being an ecommerce business comes with its own set of unique challenges. For one, it’s very difficult to validate a real customer, and you can also face a lot of issues that come with unauthorized transactions—such as resulting chargebacks, which can cause even more financial loss. Here are seven tips that can help you detect online fraud.

Intermodal Demand Leading to More Hubs, Facilities

| Mike O'Brien

A growth in intermodal transportation by rail from coastal ports is leading to increased development of distribution facilities near so-called inland ports in locations like Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Salt Lake City, eastern Pennsylvania and Kansas City, according to a new report from commercial real estate firm JLL.

UPS driver feature

UPS 2019 Rate Increase of 4.9% Given 3 Weeks Before Effective Date

| Mike O'Brien

Less than three weeks before the new prices take effect the day after Christmas, UPS announced its 2019 rate schedule, including an overall increase of 4.9% for its ground, air and international services, leaving shippers scrambling to adapt at the busiest time of year. See what charges went up and what it means.

FedEx Ground driver

Here’s What You Can Expect with the FedEx 2019 GRI

| Victor Zhou

FedEx announced a 4.9% general rate increase (GRI), matching increases from both itself and UPS in recent years. As each carrier will target different increases in their rates between services, weights and zones to net the overall average increase, here’s a deep dive look at how the FedEx GRI breaks down among its shipping services.

Teamsters Approve UPS Freight Contract, Averting Costly Strike

| Mike O'Brien

UPS on Sunday reached an agreement with the Teamsters on its UPS Freight contract, avoiding a costly strike ahead of the critical holiday season. The deal gives UPS five years of relative labor peace, as it now has new contracts in place with the Teamsters for its freight and package divisions.