Click here to view this email in your browser.

The Supply Chain Intelligence Brief is a SMC³ member benefit that provides a snapshot of the day's key industry news. Stay informed and connected with the SMC³ Supply Chain Intelligence Brief. Opt out at any time, with no impact to other SMC³ communications you may receive. If you would like to add any coworkers to the distribution list for this publication, please reply to this message with their names and email addresses.

TRUCKING

U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index shows mixed results, for freight shipments and expenditures

Logistics Management Jeff Berman February 3, 2026

“Despite uneven shipment volumes, fourth quarter spending rose nearly everywhere, driven mainly by higher freight rates,” the report noted. “This rate increase was evident because shippers in regions with declining freight still had to pay more to transport less, while regions with rising freight volumes experienced even greater spending hikes. 

Link: U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index Q4 2025

Transportation metrics show further tightening in January

Freight Waves Todd Maiden February 3, 2026

The transportation prices subindex (71.4) moved 4.8 points higher in the month to the fastest growth rate since April 2022—the last days of the freight boom. The report said some of the surge could be tied to a mix shift away from intermodal to truckload, as inventories are again being managed under just-in-time strategies.

Link: CSCMP et al. January 2026 Logistics Managers' Index

Truckload volatility reveals a fundamentally different market than previous years

Freight Waves John Paul Hampstead February 2, 2026

The price movement brokers and carriers are experiencing today in the spot market is different from previous years, because this year the weather disruptions’ effects are being reinforced by a much higher level of tender rejections, one that has now exceeded the holiday peak at 13.42%.

Knight-Swift CEO on LTL, Cycles and Scale Bloomberg Talking Transports Podcast (45m Transcript Available)

Bloomberg Talking Transports Lee Klaskow February 3, 2026

Knight-Swift’s CEO Adam Miller joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst for a fireside chat at SMC³’s JumpStart 2026 Conference in Atlanta on this episode of Talking Transports podcast. Miller explains why the company is better positioned following the near-completion of its national less-than-truckload network, with scale, flexibility and diversification supporting a renewed focus on margin recovery and network density before further LTL expansion. He also shares views on the truckload cycle, potential federal supply-side support, autonomous trucking, railroad consolidation and how his mentor Kevin Knight shaped his accountability-driven leadership style.

SHIPPERS / 3PLs

C.H. Robinson: How AI Agents Keep Freight Moving

AI Magazine Saffron Humphreys February 2, 2026

“A missed pickup isn’t just a minor inconvenience,” says Greg West, Vice President for LTL at C.H. Robinson.

“When a truck arrives and the freight or packaging isn’t ready, or the carrier couldn’t make it because they got stuck in traffic, it forces another truck to come back the next day. That might not even be our shipper’s freight, but it creates a domino effect for other freight that was supposed to get picked up and for all the other trucks down the line.”

Walmart Joins $1 Trillion Club as Frugal Shoppers Fuel Gains

Transport Topics/Bloomberg News Peyton Forte Jaewon Kong February 3, 2026

“It’s been a massive digital transformation that Walmart’s gone through over the last few years,” said Eric Clark, chief investment officer at Accuvest Global Advisors. “They’ve pivoted away from being just a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer to using technology to drive more engagement.”

Related: The Wall Street Journal Walmart Reaches $1 Trillion Market Cap as Its E-Commerce Booms

Grainger leans on AI, data and digital tools as Q4 sales rise and profits fall

Digital Commerce 360 Mark Brohan February 3, 2026

Macpherson told analysts that customer ordering behavior has shifted materially toward connected procurement channels.

“Everything direct connection to customers has become more of our share,” he said. “Actually, ePro is the biggest share we have at this point. Closer to 40% at this point. … Most of our contract customers now have a combination of ePro and KeepStock on-site.”

INDUSTRY

Diesel benchmark and futures move up again, but with possible signs of a peak

Freight Waves John Kingston February 3, 2026

The diesel price used as the benchmark for most fuel surcharges continued its upward climb this week, though volatile market trends and the march of the calendar may signal a peak in the recent surge.

Links: U.S. Energy Information Administration  Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update  and Weekly U.S. No 2 Diesel Ultra Low Sulfur (0-15 ppm) Retail Prices (Chart)

Solid January demand to largely mute Lunar New Year air freight rush

Journal of Commerce Greg Knowler February 3, 2026 $Subscription Based

Air cargo analysts and forwarders are expecting a modest pre-Lunar New Year uptick in exports on Asian trade lanes following solid demand growth in January from China to Europe and from Southeast Asia and Taiwan to the US.

TECHNOLOGY

Validating LLM Output? Prepare to Be ‘Persuasion Bombed’

MIT Sloan Management Review Steven Randazzo et al. February 3, 2026 $Subscription Based

A research study of management consultants who were asked to use a large language model to recommend strategic business decisions found that the AI responded to human validation attempts with persuasive rhetorical strategies. In addition to appealing to the user’s logic, sense of trust, and emotions, the AI also engaged in tactics such as flooding the user with large volumes of unrequested data and analyses that could overwhelm them and convince them to override their expert judgment.

SUSTAINABILITY / SAFETY / SECURITY

EPA Gives Engine Makers 30 Days to Provide DEF System Data

Transport Topics Noël Fletcher February 3, 2026

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin is asking major diesel engine manufacturers to provide critical data about diesel exhaust fluid system failures to remedy equipment problems for truckers and farmers.

EPA Wants to Know: Are DEF De-Rates Really Needed for Diesel Emissions Compliance?

Heavy Duty Trucking Deborah Lockridge February 3, 2026

• The EPA is seeking input from diesel engine manufacturers regarding failures in diesel exhaust fluid systems.
• The agency is questioning the necessity of diesel DEF de-rates for maintaining emissions compliance.

Truck Parking to Officially Receive $200M as Shutdown Ends

Transport Topics Eugene Mulero February 3, 2026

As part of fiscal 2026 funding legislation Trump signed late Feb. 3, ending the partial government shutdown, truck parking projects will receive $200 million. The Federal Highway Administration will be tasked with managing the additional funds, which are meant to improve safety and enhance efficiency along freight and commuter corridors.

BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY

The HBR Interview with Outgoing Walmart CEO Doug McMillon

HBR Adi Ignatius February 4, 2026 $Subscription Based

Before stepping down as CEO in January, Doug McMillon led Walmart, the world’s biggest company in revenue terms, for 12 years. He delivered substantial growth in sales and earnings and transformed the brick-and-mortar retail giant into a digital powerhouse as well.

Click here to unsubscribe or to change your Subscription Preferences.