Author: Mohamad Fala

Schneider National announced June 7 that it has closed an acquisition on fellow Wisconsin-based carrier deBoer Transportation, a regional and dedicated carrier headquartered in Blenker.

Schneider expects to quickly integrate the company into its existing businesses. Drivers and equipment will be deployed to support growth opportunities in dedicated and power-only operations. Schneider said the plan is consistent with its strategy.

Schneider currently has approximately 9,000 company tractors and 36,700 trailers supporting $5.6 billion in annual revenue.

Dive Brief:

• Two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Austin, Texas, will test Refraction AI’s self-driving vehicles for delivery, Refraction AI announced May 31.
• Refraction offers a robot-as-a-service platform that includes self-driving technology, tele-operations and a delivery robot that uses the bike line or the margin of the road while traveling.
• Three Chick-fil-A locations in Santa Monica, California, previously tested robot delivery in 2021 through a partnership with Kiwibot.

Dive Brief:

• Amazon has delayed or canceled plans for at least 13 facilities in its distribution network this year, according to local news reports.
• Shifts in plans have affected locations in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee and California, per reports. Many of these adjustments surfaced following the company’s acknowledgement that it overbuilt its warehouse footprint in April.
• Amazon is delaying some warehouse openings so it can reduce 2022 operating expenses following a rocky Q1 earnings report, Marc Wulfraat, president and founder of supply chain consulting firm MWPVL International, said in an email. The change will allow Amazon to avoid incurring further labor costs until at least next year when it needs more network capacity, Wulfraat added.

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration proposed June 15 that future planes produce lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions before they can be certified by federal regulators.

The Federal Aviation Administration proposal would increase fuel-efficiency standards for jets and large turboprop and propeller-driven planes that it has not yet certified, and for planes built after Jan. 1, 2028.

The FAA will develop means to determine the relationship between fuel efficiency and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.

The rule, if made final, would cover large airliners under development, including Boeing’s 777X and new versions of its 787 and the Airbus A330neo, plus various business jets and other planes. The FAA said the rule would bring the United States in line with carbon dioxide emission standards set by the United Nations’ aviation organization.

Shippers are looking at developing their own truck fleets due to low service levels and greater affordability, a leading logistics report says.

The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals released its 2022 “State of Logistics” report June 21 that was produced with consulting firm Kearney and Penske Logistics. It discussed annual comparisons of freight costs in the U.S. supply chain.

It predicted that a drop in demand and rates in the second quarter of this year “will squeeze carrier margins” while shippers “miffed” by current service levels, including driver shortages, will seek to have their own trucking fleets.