Chain Links: What we're reading this week
Logistics is sexy (we knew that). Amazon is growing its share of everything it touches (we knew that). And China’s logistics space continues to grow apace (ditto)
Convincing people that the development of the logistics industry is a scintillating topic is difficult. Bring up supply chain management, cold-chain storage, or international freight shipments and you will probably get a blank stare. But logistics don’t just go round the world—it also makes the world go round, and that’s why some of the world’s biggest tech companies, including Uber, Amazon, and Alibaba, are obsessed with it.
Source: Techcrunch
Amazon Is Capturing Bigger Slice of U.S. Online Holiday Spending
Amazon.com is increasing its share of U.S. online spending during the holiday season, even as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp. and other rivals seek to attract consumers with promotional sales and free deliveries.
Source: Bloomberg
Truckers pair up to work around hours of service caps
Some haulers are coming up with a creative solution to haul cargo over more time—and miles—than hours of service regulations allow, the Wall Street Journal reports. By driving in pairs, teams of two drivers can alternate their time at the wheel and keep a truck in nearly constant motion, stopping only to exchange cargo, fill gas tanks, and give drivers pit stops.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Amazon on track to boost expedited shipping volume in 2016
Online mega-retailer Amazon.com added more than three million new members to its subscription-based Amazon Prime service in the third week of December alone.
They will join “tens of millions” of global members in the expedited delivery program, and promise a boost for 2016 in the company’s shipping volume for two-day shipping, same-day delivery, and Prime Now two-hour delivery services.
Source: Amazon.com Inc.
What a difference an election makes. Argentina’s new president, Mauricio Macri, has issued orders to reverse some of the regulations and taxes that made trade with Argentina so difficult and restrictive under his predecessor, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. The measures, which include lifting controls on foreign currency and ending some restrictions on imports and taxes on exports, should bring more predictability to the country’s markets and boost economic growth.
Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report
Family of man killed by forklift sues manufacturer
The family of a man killed a year ago by a forklift at the Elizabeth Arden Logistics Center in Roanoke has sued the manufacturer, Raymond Corp., for $10 million.
Source: WSLS-TV
China’s logistics industry continued to grow from January through November-report
China’s logistics sector continued to show solid growth for most of calendar year 2015, according to a report. However, the report cautioned that the industry still has a ways to go to operate efficiently.
Source: CNTV
What We're Reading This Week news feed
