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Brian Straight

Brian Straight leads FreightWaves' Modern Shipper brand as Managing Editor. A journalism graduate of the University of Rhode Island, he has covered everything from a presidential election, to professional sports and Little League baseball, and for more than 10 years has covered trucking and logistics. Before joining FreightWaves, he was previously responsible for the editorial quality and production of Fleet Owner magazine and fleetowner.com. Brian lives in Connecticut with his wife and two kids and spends his time coaching his son’s baseball team, golfing with his daughter, and pursuing his never-ending quest to become a professional bowler. You can reach him at [email protected].
Dec - 2022 -
22 December
Brian Straight

Majority of gig workers say they are done with traditional employment

A new survey of gig workers found that a majority have no plans to leave the industry, despite concerns of income stability and health benefits.

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21 December
Brian Straight

New York governor signs warehouse worker protection bill into law

The Warehouse Worker Protection Act is designed to provide transparency and worker protections to warehouse employees in the state of New York, which has seen several skirmishes over working conditions at Amazon facilities.

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19 December
Brian Straight

Locus tech enhancement connects the last mile to customer checkout

Delivery management platform Locus has added a new option for retailers to better optimize last-mile delivery while optimizing capacity and business needs.

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15 December
Brian Straight

‘Deep deficit in supply chain automation’ harming companies

An analysis of supply chain job postings has found that, despite interest in automation technology, many companies are not seeking candidates with technological experience.

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14 December
Brian Straight

Consumers — and even drivers — ready for driverless, drone deliveries

A Circuit survey shows that most delivery drivers are concerned about losing their jobs, but they are interested in working with driverless and drone deliveries.

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Brian Straight

Geodis launches air zone skipping for US firms shipping to Canada

Geodis is now offering U.S.-based e-commerce companies air zone skipping service to Canada.

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12 December
Brian Straight

Matternet goes beyond line of sight in Zurich drone pilot

Matternet drones will begin flying a 7-minute route in Zurich, Switzerland, in one of the world’s largest beyond visual line of sight pilot programs.

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Brian Straight

Kiwibot launches robotic delivery service at Loyola Marymount

Robotic delivery firm Kiwibot has launched service at Loyola Marymount University, leveraging Nvidia technology and satellites to create campuswide delivery.

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Brian Straight

Prep drug and alcohol testing programs for 2023

As 2022 comes to an end, it is time for trucking carriers to evaluate their driver drug and alcohol testing programs and make necessary improvements for 2023.

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Brian Straight

IRS tax changes poised to snare gig workers, online sellers

Industry groups are urging the IRS to delay changes to the tax code that could see gig workers and online sellers facing large tax bills.

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07 December
Brian Straight

Einride announces $500M for autonomous, electric vehicle development

Einride has raised $500 million through a combination of equity and debt financing, giving it more funding to accelerate deployment of its autonomous and electric vehicles.

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06 December
Brian Straight

Driver safety, ideas on reducing fuel use top concerns for SMB fleets

While safety is top of mind for fleet operators, addressing negative driver behaviors remains unpopular.

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05 December
Brian Straight

BrightDrop adds DHL Express as EV customer, announces start of production at CAMI plant

BrightDrop said large-scale production of its vans will begin at its Ontario, Canada, assembly plant, and DHL Express is adding the EVs to its fleet.

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01 December
Brian Straight

Last-mile operations slow to adopt EVs, lack sustainability measurement tools

While there is interest in EVs in the last-mile space, many companies are reluctant to adopt them at this point.

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Nov - 2022 -
30 November
Brian Straight

Could reclassification of gig workers result in loss of jobs?

A Mercatus Center senior fellow said efforts to classify independent contractors as employees could result in fewer jobs.

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29 November
Brian Straight

Macy’s is opening e-commerce distribution centers inside stores

As part of an effort to get items to customers quicker, Macy’s has opened up mini distribution centers inside 35 retail stores to handle online orders.

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28 November
Brian Straight

What inflation? Black Friday, Cyber Monday set e-commerce records

Despite high inflation, big discounts drove shoppers to stores and online, with e-commerce sales posting records over the Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend.

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25 November
Brian Straight

Consumers push back on retailers’ online return fees

As more retailers implement fees to return items purchased online, a new survey shows consumers are pushing back.

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23 November
Brian Straight

Understanding the supply chain: A conversation with Sapphire Ventures’ Demi Obayomi

Sapphire Ventures executive Demi Obayomi explains what trends the venture capital firm is seeing in the supply chain — and where technology can help.

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22 November
Brian Straight

‘Stretched to its limits’: Survey finds last-mile driver workforce is pushing boundaries

Scandit has released a report showing that last-mile delivery drivers are working harder and faster than ever before.

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21 November
Brian Straight

The value of driver training doesn’t stop at hire date

Truck driver safety is an ongoing process that involves engagement, awareness and targeted training.

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Brian Straight

GAO to Congress: It’s time to standardize e-commerce sales taxes

E-commerce sales taxes vary across the country, creating a patchwork of regulations that sellers must follow. The GAO says Congress should fix this.

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18 November
Brian Straight

FloorFound builds out reverse logistics recommerce network

FloorFound, which specializes in oversize-item recommerce, has opened five dedicated facilities to make the resale of items easier.

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Brian Straight

As others fail, BrightDrop charges toward $1B in EV revenue

Several high-profile commercial electric vehicle makers have faced recent struggles, but BrightDrop says it is on pace for $1 billion in revenue next year.

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17 November
Brian Straight

Fleet safety: Why corrective action training must be part of the solution

Corrective action training may not prevent an incident but it will reduce the likelihood of one reoccurring.

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Brian Straight

Stord adds last-mile delivery optimization with Stord Parcel

Stord has added a carrier-agnostic last-mile delivery solution to its product suite, allowing brands to find the most efficient delivery partner for their items.

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16 November
Brian Straight

ShippingEasy seeks to paint holiday season green with carbon-neutral shipping

ShippingEasy is the latest company to offer carbon offsets to merchants shipping this holiday season.

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15 November
Brian Straight

‘Roboconomy’ infiltrates GXO Logistics facilities

GXO Logistics said it has doubled the use of automation in its facilities and is operating nearly 7,600 pieces of technology.

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10 November
Brian Straight

Cross-border payments: ‘It’s like a piece of dirt in your eye’

Euronet’s Dandelion payment network aims to cut out the middleman – and the cost – of cross-border payments.

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09 November
Brian Straight

Shorter contracts now the norm, says Warp founder

Carriers and shippers ignoring the middle mile could be leaving money on the table.

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07 November
Brian Straight

Struggling lidar firms Ouster, Velodyne announce merger

Ouster and Velodyne have seen their stock prices tumble this year, but can a merger between the two lead to a turnaround?

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04 November
Brian Straight

Walmart holds decided edge over Amazon in this key online segment

While Amazon continues to dominate Walmart in online sales, when customers are looking for groceries and other everyday items, they turn to Walmart.

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03 November
Brian Straight

Grip emerges from stealth with plans to improve DTC perishable shipping

Technology firm Grip has emerged from stealth with a $2 million funding round and plans to reimagine direct-to-consumer perishable shipping.

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02 November
Brian Straight

Einride EV truck network to launch near Port of LA

Einride will be building electric vehicle charging stations to support Maersk’s deployment of its E-truck, starting with a facility near the Port of Los Angeles.

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Brian Straight

Pitney Bowes, eBay extend cross-border shipping partnership

E-commerce platform eBay has extended agreements for Pitney Bowes to continue providing cross-border shipping services to eBay customers.

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01 November
Brian Straight

Amazon rolls out cash advance program for merchants

Amazon and payment provider Parafin are offering online sellers a cash advance offer with flexible repayment terms.

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Oct - 2022 -
31 October
Brian Straight

As big retailers fret over holiday sales, SMBs are poised for success

Small and midsize retailers remain optimistic about the holiday season, with more than two-thirds expecting profits to increase this year.

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27 October
Brian Straight

Walmart turns Texas DC into high-tech facility

The transformation of Walmart’s distribution network continues with the unveiling of a revamped facility in Texas.

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26 October
Brian Straight

ShipBob launches Amazon fulfillment service for e-commerce merchants

ShipBob has launched new integrations with Amazon, giving merchants faster inventory and shipping services when selling through the e-commerce platform.

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25 October
Brian Straight

Is gig work killing people? Researchers link poor health to income insecurity

Researchers, using self-reported data from an 11-year period, have found that gig workers suffer from poorer health than salaried workers.

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24 October
Brian Straight

Shippeo raises $40M to further supply chain visibility platform expansion

An infusion of $40 million will help Europe-based Shippeo expand its supply chain visibility platform in the U.S. and Asia.

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20 October
Brian Straight

Pallets finally get their due with online marketplace for buyers, sellers

A new online marketplace that automates the process of buying and selling pallets has launched with hopes of reducing costs for all.

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19 October
Brian Straight

Auctane reaches deal with Postal Service on shipping rates

Auctane, which counts ShipStation among its shipping brands, has reached an agreement with the U.S. Postal Service to offer customers the best rates available.

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18 October
Brian Straight

Black Friday is so 2020 — welcome to the longest holiday shopping season ever

Supply chain disruptions and inflation have changed consumer behavior and retailer strategies, leading to a longer holiday shopping season.

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14 October
Brian Straight

8 questions on FMCSA’s UCR fees and how to comply

Each year carriers must pay their Unified Carrier Registration fees, and failure to do so could result in significant penalties, including suspension of vehicle registrations.

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Brian Straight

Buying local may boost business DEI initiatives

Businesses looking to expand their diverse-owned supplier base may find success by turning to local businesses.

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13 October
Brian Straight

GXO Logistics plans to add 22,000 employees to support holiday peak

GXO Logistics plans to add 22,000 employees to support the holiday shopping season, with many of the positions extending into the new year.

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12 October
Brian Straight

Consumer sentiment could be setting up retailers for gloomy holiday

While consumers are indicating they may be spending less on holiday shopping this year, many merchants are expecting something different.

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11 October
Brian Straight

Getir may bail out troubled delivery firm Gorillas

Embattled ultrafast delivery service Gorillas could be acquired by Getir, according to sources.

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10 October
Brian Straight

Perry Ellis to offer alternative pickup options through Via.Delivery platform

Via.Delivery continues to grow its buy online, pickup anywhere business, adding iconic retailer Perry Ellis and its associated brands to its shopping options.

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06 October
Brian Straight

Warp launches temp-controlled division, names Jake McPaul to lead

Jake McPaul, who led Misfits Market’s logistics operation during the COVID-19 pandemic, will lead Warp’s new Fresh Freight division.

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05 October
Brian Straight

Gatik goes driverless in Canada

Gatik has removed the safety driver from daily routes it is running for Loblaw Companies in Canada.

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04 October
Brian Straight

UK authorities clear GXO’s $1.3B acquisition of Clipper Logistics

GXO Logistics has received regulatory approval to complete its $1.3 billion acquisition of U.K.-based Clipper Logistics.

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Brian Straight

Different mission, same challenges for public sector CPOs

Public sector procurement officers face the same challenges as commercial CPOs as they seek out ESG, diverse and local goods.

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03 October
Brian Straight

ESG-driven procurement offers opportunity, challenges for businesses

Panelists at Amazon Business’ Reshape 2022 conference talk strategies and advice to succeed with ESG initiatives.

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Sep - 2022 -
30 September
Brian Straight

Amazon VP explains how to move past limits of machine learning

Many companies believe machine learning is the solution to their problems, but it can’t overcome bad data and metrics.

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Brian Straight

What’s good for you is good for PepsiCo: Ex-CEO tells how that happened

Indra Nooyi refocused PepsiCo during her tenure as CEO, turning the company from one that made fun products to one that produced good-for-you products.

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29 September
Brian Straight

Businesses have different e-commerce needs, but it’s still about the customer

As more business purchasing moves online, Amazon Business is positioning itself to be the leader in the category.

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28 September
Brian Straight

91% of B2B buyers want to order online

While more B2B buyers are looking online, challenges persist, including missing product information and a lack of visibility into sustainably sourced products.

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Brian Straight

The metaverse and the future of e-commerce

A new survey from BigCommerce looks at the future of shopping, including NFTs and the metaverse.

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27 September
Brian Straight

GXO opens Nebraska warehouse to support Bayer Crop Science

GXO Logistics has opened a new facility for Bayer Crop Science under its flexible warehousing option GXO Direct.

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26 September
Brian Straight

Data sharing is the way to profitable last-mile delivery

FarEye is working to create a shared ecosystem of delivery data, helping brands of all sizes reduce final-mile costs.

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22 September
Brian Straight

BigCommerce survey reveals what e-commerce shoppers want

E-commerce continues to expand even as sales slow, with more than half of respondents to a survey shopping online at least once a week.

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21 September
Brian Straight

Postal Service ending reseller program could reduce shipping costs for some

With the Postal Service ending its reseller program, some SMBs could see changes to their postage rates.

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20 September
Brian Straight

The 1 decision that may determine last-mile delivery success

Many retailers and delivery providers choose to develop their own routing and fleet management software, but that can limit their flexibility and add unnecessary cost.

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19 September
Brian Straight

Can MVR monitoring be a fleet risk management tool?

FMCSA requires annual checks on a truck driver’s motor vehicle record. But doing that can leave gaps and potentially allows drivers to remain on the road when they are no longer eligible to drive a CMV.

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16 September
Brian Straight

OneRail founder talks potential of vehicle sharing

OneRail’s Bill Catania sees better asset utilization as a key to improving last-mile delivery capacity constraints.

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15 September
Brian Straight

Locus Robotics’ AMRs surpass 1 billion items picked

Locus Robotics announced that its autonomous mobile robots have now picked 1 billion items around the globe.

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12 September
Brian Straight

Ask the consumer: Delivery speed matters, the environment matters more

A new Descartes survey found that a majority of consumers will favor longer delivery times when it is better for the environment.

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Brian Straight

Bringg signs up Uber Direct France for deliveries

Bringg has joined forces with Uber Eats in France to provide retail delivery services through Uber Direct.

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09 September
Brian Straight

A dumb box no more: Warehouses are built with intelligence in mind

The modern warehouse needs to accommodate many transportation types, but it also must be equipped with business intelligence to improve real-time performance.

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07 September
Brian Straight

The evolution of Wing drone delivery

Wing has made more than 250,000 global drone deliveries, but the company remains in the early stages of its evolution.

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06 September
Brian Straight

Wage and bonus increases seen as necessary to attract warehouse talent

A new Berkshire Grey survey found that most supply chain executives believe automation is necessary to counter a shrinking workforce.

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Brian Straight

Partnerships, behind-the-scenes policy work key to Gatik’s success

While the focus is on Gatik’s self-driving technology, plenty of work goes on behind the scenes to secure state approvals for on-road operation.

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02 September
01 September
Brian Straight

10 steps to lower shipping rates

Many shippers assume the carrier’s rate is fixed, but Shipware executive Josh Taylor says that is not the case.

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Aug - 2022 -
31 August
Brian Straight

Bringg, flexible labor platform WorkWhile launch The Driver Network

Bringg and WorkWhile have launched a gig driver network to provide on-demand workers for last-mile delivery.

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Brian Straight

The supply chain, the final mile and the Great Oz

Ulta Beauty turns 1,300 stores into fulfillment centers; Seko Logistics launches tech to support customer service in the final mile.

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Brian Straight

Pitney Bowes to deploy Gatik autonomous trucks on e-commerce routes

Pitney Bowes is the second major customer in Texas to deploy Gatik’s Class 6 autonomous trucks.

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29 August
Brian Straight

Newly launched Expedite All targets 10% cut in expedited shipping rates

Expedite All, which launched on Monday, plans to consolidate smaller carriers onto its platform and give shippers options for expedited freight moves, which could lower prices 10%, the company says.

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25 August
Brian Straight

Geodis deploying 1,000 Locus Robotics autonomous mobile robots in global warehouses

Locus’ autonomous mobile robots work collaboratively with humans to improve piece-handling productivity.

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24 August
Brian Straight

Phononic, Sortimo turn Ford E-Transit into temp-controlled van for grocery delivery

Phononic and Sortimo have combined forces to create a temperature-controlled Ford E-Transit upfit option for grocery last-mile delivery providers.

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23 August
Brian Straight

Cummins to integrate Gatik’s autonomous driving tech into advanced powertrain

Cummins will integrate Gatik’s autonomous vehicle technology with its own drive-by-wire software for use on Isuzu Class 6 FTR box trucks using Cummins’ B6.7 engine.

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22 August
Brian Straight

Drones vs. e-cargo bikes: A battle for delivery efficiency

A new research paper found that no delivery method can match the energy efficiency of drones or small robots, but package delivery efficiency may be best left to vans.

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Brian Straight

Levi Strauss leveraging machine learning to optimize its fulfillment operations

Levi Strauss & Co. has developed a new technology that balances the consumer experience with business objectives when fulfilling e-commerce orders.

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19 August
Brian Straight

Amazon Business wants to improve B2B e-commerce journey

Like others, Amazon sees a large opportunity in business-to-business e-commerce, and it is positioning its Amazon Business unit to take advantage.

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18 August
Brian Straight

Returns made easy: Narvar teams with Fillogic for new retail option

Narvar is teaming with logistics-as-a-service platform Fillogic to create a new option for retailers to handle e-commerce returns.

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Brian Straight

Stord names Tom Barone president and CCO

Tom Barone, who helped lead e-commerce operations at eBay Enterprise and CommerceHub, joins Stord as the company’s first president.

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17 August
Brian Straight

Digital ledger technology is giving companies their Fridays back

Digital ledger technology creates more transparency in the freight payment process, reducing disputes between parties and speeding up payment.

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Brian Straight

HyperTrack raises $25M in series A to build out final-mile API tech

HyperTrack has raised $25 million as it looks to build an API-first approach to routing the final mile.

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16 August
Brian Straight

Geodis acquires last-mile logistics firm Need It Now Delivers

Geodis is acquiring Need It Now Delivers, adding 300 locations to its U.S. e-commerce network.

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Brian Straight

BigCommerce turns on buy-now, pay-later options for merchants

BigCommerce will offer Affirm buy-now, pay-later payment options to its merchants.

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15 August
Brian Straight

DoorDash to offer on-demand grocery delivery for Grocery Outlet

DoorDash continues expanding its grocery delivery business, adding 420 locations through Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.

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12 August
Brian Straight

Dead on Arrival? EV firm slashes 2022 production target more than 95%

EV maker Arrival, which has a 10,000 van order from UPS, said it would only produce 20 vehicles this year, down from an estimated 400 to 600 just one quarter ago.

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Brian Straight

Need an item quickly? A quarter of Americans would skip home delivery

A new survey found that while 66% of Americans trust online shipping networks to deliver time-critical items, some still avoid e-commerce in times of need.

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11 August
Brian Straight

Drayage, e-commerce returns added to Stord’s supply chain software

Cloud supply chain logistics firm Stord is adding drayage, reverse logistics and temperature-controlled fulfillment to its software.

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10 August
Brian Straight

Last-mile logistics platform Veho partners with ShipHero on e-commerce deliveries

E-commerce fulfillment platform ShipHero is adding Veho, a crowdsourced delivery provider, to its official delivery partners for e-commerce orders in Texas.

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09 August
Brian Straight

GXO Logistics continues to write new chapters in its evolving story

One year into its existence, GXO Logistics continues to find contract logistics is the right fit.

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08 August
Brian Straight

Lyft targets in-vehicle advertising with new business unit

Lyft has created a media business unit that will target advertising revenue in vehicles, some of which could be shared with drivers.

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