Modern Shipper covers the gig economy, including same-day, on-demand, and last-mile delivery jobs and services. Readers will find current news on gig economy companies, gig economy workers, gig economy data and trends. In addition, Modern Shipper focuses on e-commerce, e-commerce platforms and companies, and e-commerce services and technologies.
With all the challenges facing the supply chain, companies can’t afford to have bad delivery experiences for their customers. Visibility into the process helps, if it starts early enough.
Amazon this week unveiled Proteus, its first “fully autonomous” mobile warehouse robot.
Using dropship vendors offers retailers many advantages, especially in current times, but managing them is another matter.
What’s it like to have a totally antiquated supply chain management process and build a new one from the ground up? Karon Evanoff tells her story.
Shopify believes its new B2B e-commerce platform could spark a return to peak pandemic glory.
The NHTSA has approved the Einride Pod autonomous vehicle for on-road operation.
Stord adds flex warehouse capacity in three key markets as it continues building its first-party fulfillment network.
As CalArk grew its local delivery fleet, it realized drivers could not take advantage of a short-haul exemption from ELD rules with current technology. So it built a new system.
Zipline received an FAA Part 135 air carrier certification that gives it the largest commercial drone delivery radius in the U.S.
ABI Research predicts the last-mile robot delivery market will grow rapidly in the years ahead, delivering more than $3 billion worth of items by 2030.
Two listening sessions in the next two weeks will kick off the Biden administration’s effort to create a new federal definition of independent contractor status.
FedEx has deployed 150 BrightDrop electric vans into its California delivery network.
Germany’s Wingcopter, known for using drones to deliver medical supplies, is headed for a new frontier — grocery.
G Squared is to provide Transfix with financing and more capital.
New York City-based Jokr is the latest casualty of the ultrafast grocery downturn, pulling out of the U.S. market.
Last-mile delivery facilitator AxleHire has expanded into the Atlanta area, giving it a footprint in 17 of the top 25 markets in the U.S.
Retail sales are still up double digits compared to pre-COVID. Inventory-to-sales ratios have yet to fully recover.
With Amazon Prime Day less than a month away, here are the details you need to know.
Omnichannel fulfillment company ShipBob has integrated with Klaviyo’s technology, offering new insights and the ability to proactively communicate with customers.
Following an acquisition that gave ShipX end-to-end e-commerce delivery capabilities, the company is looking to expand its geography.
A pair of logistics companies — one with fresh funding, the other entering a worker appraisal period — trimmed headcounts significantly.
A lesser-known rival of Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub, Waitr adds the first national convenience store to its platform.
The union representing more than 3,300 UPS pilots has reached a tentative agreement with the express delivery company on a two-year contract extension, both sides separately announced late Tuesday. If approved by rank-and-file members of the Independent Pilots Association, the deal will ensure UPS and its customers of uninterrupted deliveries related to labor issues through […]
Warehouse automation firm Hai Robotics has raised an additional $100 million to scale its R&D efforts.
FedEx adds Vena, a top rail executive, to its board. It also revises incentive targets and hikes its dividend 53%.
An effort by Uber and Lyft to have voters define the companies’ drivers as independent contractors has been blocked by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
After enduring years of setbacks, Amazon’s drone delivery program is finally ready for takeoff.
Two lawsuits filed by Amazon customers in late May and early June allege that Prime isn’t what was promised.
As some gig platforms remove fuel surcharges, Gridwise is stepping into the void with a new program offering 50 cents off per gallon.
It’s the end of the line for Electric Last Mile Solutions as it becomes the first transportation SPAC to file for bankruptcy liquidation.
Not many retailers use them right now, but parcel lockers could hold the key to cutting last-mile costs.
Alphabet-backed Wing is hoping to expand its drone delivery service in Virginia through the introduction of a public delivery zone.
In a presentation at the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium, a General Mills executive said transformation can’t occur if executives get tied up in the day-to-day.
Retailers need to rethink last-mile delivery, moving away from the idea of just delivering goods and toward the concept of a customer experience.
Sustainable last-mile delivery provider gofor partnered with PI Energy to wrap its EVs with solar panels for easy charging.
The mobility and delivery platform teamed up with the United Nations World Food Program to deliver food to Ukraine.
Supply chains can be a differentiator, and even a moneymaker, for retailers willing to embrace change and encourage risk.
Data from a recent survey shows that supply chain executives are paying greater attention to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The contract logistics provider said it wants to create the world’s largest air- and ground-based security robotics fleet.
As consumer demand rises, so do the challenges and costs of final mile delivery of oversized items.
StoreBound saw demand for its kitchen and furniture products explode during the pandemic, but its outdated technology was holding it back.
XPO Logistics is the latest logistics company to partner with Google Cloud, which is quickly gaining traction in the supply chain world.
The route optimization software provider is the latest last-mile delivery company to secure a sizable raise.
The new Nationwide shipping service launched Tuesday in three cities, with more to come.
Locus has turned its routing solution into an end-to-end delivery management platform for companies of all sizes.
With many of America’s top brands embracing a marketplace model, what’s stopping other brands from doing the same?
KBX Logistics is using 26-foot autonomous trucks from Gatik to replace some Class 8 routes in Texas.
On the first day of the big Gartner Supply Chain Symposium, an audience is told that no two days are ever alike in the supply chain business.
The e-commerce parcel shipping solutions provider is Descartes’ sixth acquisition since the beginning of 2021.
Because electric vehicle charging infrastructure takes time to install, delivery fleets should be thinking about the shift to EVs now.
Last Mile Solutions told the Securities and Exchange Commission it is nearly out of cash and could run out of money this month.
The California Trucking Association filed its brief to the Supreme Court, laying out arguments why the court should review AB5 in the state’s trucking sector.
On-demand delivery platform Cartwheel has partnered with Square and The Restaurant Marketing and Delivery Association to offer a new delivery option for restaurants.
Walmart will build four new fulfillment centers utilizing a combination of robotics, humans and machine learning for faster order fulfillment times.
“One of the more challenging aspects of any tech startup is to strategically coordinate the scale of the organization. Working closely with Microsoft will help ensure we are utilizing best practices to develop rapidly without incurring technical debt,” says FetchGoat’s CTO.
As worker shortages persist, industries across the board are turning to robots to fill gaps, with record orders in the first quarter.
Some Massachusetts politicians are demanding answers from rideshare and delivery companies on efforts to extend health and safety protections to workers.
New operating efficiencies could open the door to expanded fleet electrification, the Postal Service says.
Refraction AI will use driverless robots to deliver from two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Austin, Texas, beginning in late June.
The cargo.one booking platform enables forwarders to search, book and track shipments on one platform within seconds.
As e-commerce accelerated, so too did the evolution of last-mile delivery. Now it seeks to find a sustainable and profitable future.
UPS has acquired Delivery Solutions, an omnichannel delivery technology company, as it dives deeper into e-commerce last-mile delivery.
Quiet Platforms partners with Pitney Bowes to expand its unique “plug-and-play” logistics platform.Quiet Platforms partners with Pitney Bowes to expand its unique “plug-and-play” logistics platform.
Sources say Just Eat Takeaway is slashing its asking price for Grubhub by nearly $6 billion as it searches for a buyer.
The instant delivery platform is scaling back its facility footprint as 15-minute delivery reaches an inflection point.
In the latest Conversations with Nicole, Nicole Glenn talks with Ellen Voie, founder and CEO of Women in Trucking.
In what was a difficult quarter for American Eagle and retailers generally, the outfitter’s supply chain business showed promise.
Turkish ultrafast delivery company Getir told employees in an internal memo this week that it would be laying off about 14% of its workforce.
With logistics subsidiary Quiet Platforms, American Eagle is developing a unique strategy to help retailers compete with Amazon.
The supply chain saw fewer people leaving their jobs in 2021, and while overall pay increased, men disproportionately benefited from the increase.
Flytrex, which operates drone delivery services in North Carolina and Texas, will deliver ice cream from Unilever’s The Ice Cream Shop.
Veho has opened three facilities in Florida as it expands its last-mile e-commerce delivery business.
U.K. retailer Asda is expanding its partnership with Blue Yonder and adding last-mile delivery capabilities from Bringg as it seeks to improve its omnichannel supply chain.
Gorillas, a Berlin-based startup that delivers grocery, food and convenience items in 15 minutes or less, is laying off half of its employees.
Walmart announced it will add drone delivery to 32 locations in six states this year with partner DroneUp.
A new per-package charge has been levied on Standard cross-border ground service.
The e-commerce giant will deliver packages from local malls using its network of Amazon Flex gig drivers.
Partnering with AI-powered supply chain company Symbotic, Walmart is bringing robots to its 42 regional DCs.
Pitney Bowes found that U.S. parcel volumes grew 6% last year, and more growth is forecast for the next five years.
Wingcopter is partnering with Continental Drones Ltd. on what would be the world’s largest commercial deployment of delivery drones.
Executives from Cherre and Faropoint, two firms that analyze industrial real estate data, break down what to look for in a warehouse.
The third-party food delivery platform is the latest to make a move in the burgeoning grocery delivery space.
Autonomous technology company Gatik will expand operations in Kansas.
Data is showing improvement in the last mile as the industry recovers from the supply chain chaos of 2021.
The robotic fulfillment and inventory optimization software provider looks to continue growth and expansion.
Target Corp. reported Q1 2022 earnings before the bell Wednesday, turning in weaker-than-expected numbers.
The company blames a faster-than-expected rise in costs during the second half of the quarter.
Ryder, which provides fleet, supply chain and transportation management, adds two new warehouses to its last-mile delivery network.
Ree Automotive will team with EAVX on an electric Class 5 walk-in van that will enter trials this summer.
Uber Eats and Boston-based Motional have officially entered the autonomous delivery market with the launch of a Santa Monica, California, service.
French automaker Renault is developing a hybrid last-mile delivery model that would deploy drones and e-bikes from delivery vans.
Drone pilot programs continue to pop up, but Amazon is generally not among those receiving attention as its program has reportedly stalled. What can be learned from the slow rollout of Prime Air?
A proposal to give truck drivers overtime pay would ultimately slow freight movement and impact the speed of e-commerce deliveries.
Increasing use of automation is helping GXO Logistics reduce the carbon footprint of its facilities and customer supply chains.
Israel-based drone delivery company Flytrex will deliver subs from Jersey Mike’s to customers in a North Carolina town.
Grocery delivery firm Instacart is hoping to cash in on its value with a public stock offering.
The company has created a new “baseline” for package-delivery activity, S&P says in assigning its debt an “A” rating.
Less than a year after acquiring Blue Yonder, Panasonic announced plans for a supply chain business IPO focused on the SaaS business.
Loop Returns is now offering Shopify brands the ability to facilitate e-commerce returns through any Happy Returns location across the country.
Investor Caroline Duffy says supply chain tech companies that push the envelope on customer delight will continue to thrive even in a down market.
