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TRUCKING

 

Amazon Is Widening Its Sway Over the Freight Industry

Bloomberg Thomas Black March 9, 2026 $Subscription Based

Amazon is opening its less-than-truckload (LTL) operations to third parties to compete with carriers such as Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. and XPO Inc.

Amazon's entry into the LTL market may not widely disrupt the sector, but the logistics industry will need to pay close attention to how Amazon wields its growing influence and potentially impacts rates.

 

 

Iran Supply Chain Disruptions Threaten US Trucking

Transport Topics Connor D. Wolf  March 12, 2026

The Iran conflict has caused major disruptions to global supply chains that experts warn could ripple down to domestic trucking.

 

February Class 8 Orders Surge 156% From Prior Year

Transport Topics Connor D. Wolf  March 12, 2026

North American Class 8 truck orders jumped year over year in February, climbing more than 150%.

ACT Research preliminary data showed orders rose 156% to 46,200 units. The results were also up 50% from the 30,806 orders reported in January.

Related: Transport Topics Daimler Truck Confidence in DTNA Sales Rebound Grows

 

Data center construction helps flatbed trucking rates soar: DAT

Trucking Dive David Taube March 12, 2026

Flatbed spot rates are soaring due to AI data center construction, DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke told Trucking Dive.

The demand particularly lends itself to specialized freight for one-off jobs in remote areas that can have long deadhead mile components on return routes and accessorials, he said.

 

PlusAI Adds Night Driving for Latest SuperDrive Iteration

Transport Topics Keiron Greenhalgh March 12, 2026

PlusAI is continuing to expand the capabilities of its SuperDrive autonomous truck software, adding night driving and construction zone handling with the latest iteration.

Link: PlusAI Press Release PlusAI Launches SuperDrive™ 6.0 to Accelerate Scaled Commercialization of Driverless Autonomous Trucking Operations

 

 

SHIPPERS / 3PLs

 

Thoma Bravo strikes deal for WWEX Group, plans merger with Auctane to expand AI-Driven shipping and logistics

Logistics Management Jeff Berman March 12, 2026

When asked about the main benefits of this deal for Thoma Bravo and WWEX customers, Madine observed that this combination delivers meaningful value to all stakeholders, with WWEX Group’s customers gaining access to significantly deeper technological capabilities, on top of the comprehensive logistics expertise and personalized service they already rely on.

“The result is a more comprehensive solution that connects the entire shipping journey from checkout to doorstep across parcel, LTL, truckload and international,” he said.

Link: Thoma Bravo Press Release Thoma Bravo to Acquire WWEX Group and Combine with Auctane to Form Global Logistics Leader

 

Amazon Moves Prime Day Into June From July

Transport Topics/Bloomberg News Spencer Soper and Jaewon Kong March 12, 2026

Amazon.com Inc. is moving up its annual Prime Day sale to June from July, according to people familiar with the matter, shifting the schedule for an event that’s become a big part of the e-commerce economy.

 

 

INDUSTRY

 

New month, near record for LA port volumes

Freight Waves Stuart Chirls March 12, 2026

The Port of Los Angeles processed 824,323 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) in February, second-busiest in port history and an increase of 3% from a year ago.

Link: Port of Los Angeles Container Statistics

 

Supply Chain 101: Why the Strait of Hormuz Is So Important

Supply Chain 24/7 March 12, 2026

A narrow waterway in the Middle East handles about 20% of the world’s oil shipments, meaning disruptions can quickly ripple through global supply chains

 

FedEx introduces reusable shipping boxes for B2B shipments

Digital Commerce 360 Mark Brohan March 12, 2026

FedEx Corp. has introduced a design for reusable shipping boxes in B2B shipments, part of an effort to reduce packaging use and improve handling efficiency in certain distribution operations.

It developed the packaging system with reusable packaging provider Returnity.

Link: FedEx Press Release FedEx and Returnity Launch New Reusable Box Solution for B2B Shippers

 

Flexport’s latest tech rollout comes amid–and alongside–global freight chaos

Freight Waves John Kingston March 13, 2026

As Petersen described it, Flexport Atlas allows its users to “zoom in on any port and see what’s happening. What are the terminals? What are the ships that are coming and going to this port? What are the current levels of congestion?” The list continued from there.

 

 

TECHNOLOGY

 

Who in the C-Suite Should Own AI?

HBR Toby E. Stuart March 12, 2026 $Subscription Based

The question of who controls AI is the critical org-chart issue at the dawn of the AI era, and it will influence a company’s strategy, investment levels, and the distribution of power and influence among leaders.

 

The Shape of the Thing

One Useful Thing Ethan Mollick March 12, 2026

Starting in late 2025, we entered a new era thanks to AI agents like Claude Code, OpenAI’s Codex, and OpenClaw. These are AI systems that you can just give work to, sometimes hours of human work, and get back reasonable and useful results in minutes. This is an era of managing AIs, rather than working with them.

 

Physical AI, part 2: Humanoid robots

Bank of America Institute Lynelle Huskey and Vanessa Cook March 12, 2026

AI is redefining robotics, enabling a new generation of humanoid robots that can perceive, learn and act autonomously in the physical world. After decades of incremental progress, the field has reached a turning point, with breakthroughs in generative AI and large language models accelerating the rise of “embodied intelligence” and reshaping expectations for what service robots can accomplish.

The humanoid robot population is poised for take-off.

 

Rivian CEO’s AI-Powered Robotics Startup Raises $500 Million

The Wall Street Journal Kate Clark March 11, 2026 $Subscription Based

Based in Palo Alto, Calif., Mind Robotics is building AI-powered robots that can perform physical work in Rivian automotive plants and other factories. The goal is for the robots to pick up parts, assemble components and manipulate items such as wiring harnesses.

 

SUSTAINABILITY / SAFETY / SECURITY

 

CARB Schedules New Virtual Public Workshop on SB 253 Rollout

LinkedIn Michael Littenberg March 12, 2026

According to CARB:

1. The workshop will include an update from CARB staff on additional information for the 8/10/26 Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reporting deadline.

2. The workshop will also cover the next stage in regulatory development and provide an overview of the development of the greenhouse gas reporting requirements for 2027-2030.

Link: California Air Resources Board CARB Virtual Public Workshop on California Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reporting

 

Trump Administration Sues California in Bid to Nix Car Pollutant Rules

The Wall Street Journal Clara Hudson March 12, 2026 $Subscription Based

The lawsuit, filed Thursday by the Justice and Transportation departments, targets the California Air Resources Board over its standards for limiting pollutants from light-duty vehicle tailpipes. The suit also takes issue with the state’s efforts to boost production of zero-emission vehicles.

 

The Electric Grid Needs Huge Upgrades. No One Knows Who Will Pay for Them.

The Wall Street Journal Katherine Blunt and Jennifer Hiller March 12, 2026 $Subscription Based

The U.S. power industry is embarking on an AI-driven expansion of the electric grid, a build-out that promises to be one of the most expensive since World War II.

Some of the costs are set to be shared between power-gobbling AI companies and consumers already bridling at utility bills.

Related: TechCrunch Google and Tesla think we’re managing the electrical grid all wrong

 

ATA Shines Spotlight on Staged Truck Accidents

Transport Topics Connor D. Wolf  March 12, 2026

American Trucking Associations put the spotlight on staged truck accidents as part of its documentary series highlighting industry stories.

 

 

 

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