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TRUCKING

Estes Logistics expands with Key Trucking acquisition

Freight Waves Todd Maiden February 16, 2026

“Our priority was finding a partner that could provide good service and expanded opportunities to our customers while being a great home for our long-term employees. Estes is both,” said Mike Castagno, owner of Key Trucking, in a news release.

Link: ACT Capital Advisors Press Release ACT Capital Advisors Represents Key Trucking in its Sale to Estes Logistics

SHIPPERS / 3PLs

Gap Ditches “Fast and Cheap” for a More Resilient Supply Chain

Supply Chain 24/7 Andy Gray February 16, 2026

For years, supply chain success was measured by two things: fast and cheap. Retail giant Gap says that the formula no longer works in today’s environment.

Report: Amazon plans second big store in Chicago area

Chain Store Age February 13, 2026

The company has proposed a mega-store in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook, reported the Chicago Tribune. The development includes a 225,000-sq.-ft., Amazon store and a two-level, 150,000-sq.-ft. Ashley Furniture store, the report said.

INDUSTRY

How packaging and logistics companies are automating their warehouses

CNBC Laya Neelakandan February 13, 2026

Workers at DHL Group used to walk close to a half marathon each day just to classify, pick and move items across massive warehouses.

Now, their distance and efforts are greatly reduced by autonomous mobile robots that can unload containers for the package delivery and supply chain management company with a speed of up to 650 cases per hour.

The high-stakes fight over New York City’s renewed delivery regulation law

Freight Waves John Kingston February 16, 2026

A Teamsters-led rally on the steps of New York City’s city hall Thursday marked the reintroduction of a law that would require final mile delivery companies such as Amazon to be licensed by the city, and by extension face the possibility of more regulation than they encounter now.

TECHNOLOGY

Yes, You Can Vibe-Code. Here’s How to Get Started.

The Wall Street Journal Alexandra Samuel February 16, 2026 $Subscription Based

Work is full of time-sucking, tedious or annoying tasks, particularly when you’re on a computer. I used to spend hours on stupid chores like reorganizing someone else’s messy spreadsheet.

Now, I use artificial intelligence to whip up programs that handle these tasks. What some people call “vibe coding” is a powerful way that AI can boost your efficiency and reduce work irritations.

Related: Scientific American How Claude Code is bringing vibe coding to everyone

Why Your Digital Investments Aren’t Creating Value

HBR Prabhakant Sinha et al. February 16, 2026 $Subscription Based

Many companies are pouring money into AI, analytics, and CRM platforms, yet struggle to translate those investments into measurable revenue growth. The problem isn’t technology adoption but the failure to redesign how commercial organizations generate insight, make decisions, and coordinate action. Companies that succeed treat digital as a commercial operating model transformation, making four shifts that turn digital from a perceived tax into a durable growth dividend.

SUSTAINABILITY / SAFETY / SECURITY

The rise of cost-effective EVs and the impact of tariffs on maintenance

Fleet Owner Jade Brasher February 16, 2026

“The first wave of EVs was driven by sustainability, and we believe the next wave will be driven by total cost of ownership,” Collins told FleetOwner. If the battery alone accounts for 30 to 40% of the total cost of the EV, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, “and you've watched battery prices go from about $153 a kilowatt-hour a few years ago down to the low $80s today … as that occurs, the major cost of the vehicle (the battery) gets more powerful and less expensive.”

New York Senate passes bill targeting corporate climate disclosures

ESG Dive Zoya Mirza February 13, 2026

The Empire State’s Senate greenlit a bill that would require large companies doing business in the state to disclose their emissions. The bill is similar to California’s SB 253.

BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY

US manufacturing pipeline grows, firms plan $1B in new factories

Freight Waves Noi Mahoney February 16, 2026

A wave of new manufacturing projects announced in recent weeks underscores continued capital investment across the U.S., with companies in heavy equipment, advanced electronics, automation and industrial components committing around $1 billion combined in new facilities and expansions.

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