Logistics Management’s Top Logistics News Stories 2016

The Top Read Web News Stories of 2016

1.) UPS, FedEx announce similar additional handling charges on ground packages (May)​ 

When it comes to pricing changes, transportation and logistics bellwethers are usually on the same page. And that was again made clear with changes each company made for additional handling charges on ground packages. Read the full article here.

2.) DSV's acquisition of UTi Worldwide is now official (January) 

The sale of Long Beach Calif.-based non asset-based third-party logistics (3PL) services provider UTi Worldwide to Denmark-based global 3PL DSV for $1.35 billion and $7.10 per share is now official, UTi and DSV officials said today. This follows an October announcement from UTi in which it said it had entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by DSV.  Read the full article here.

3.) FedEx acquisition of TNT is made official (May) 

The $4.8 billion acquisition of Netherlands-based TNT Express-NV, a provider of mail and courier services and the fourth largest global parcel operator, by transportation and logistics services provider FedEx was made official today. Read the full article here.

4.) FedEx follows lead of UPS, announces 2017 rate increases (Sept)

Perhaps the most significant change announced by FedEx is that fuel surcharges for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground will be adjusted on a weekly basis instead of the current process in which adjustments are made on a monthly basis with a two-month lag between U.S. government published fuel indexes and the fuel surcharges. Read the full article here.

5.) FedEx acquisition of GENCO is a done deal (Feb) 

FedEx said it signed an agreement to acquire Pittsburgh-based GENCO, a third-party logistics (3PL) services provider specializing in product lifecycle and reverse logistics, FedEx said late last week the deal has officially been completed. Read the full article here.

6.) 73-hour, seven-day workweek limit set by Senate panel for truck drivers (May) 

Truck drivers’ hours-of-service limits may be tweaked under a fiscal 2017 transportation funding bill passed by an influential Senate appropriations committee this spring. Under the move spearheaded by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the legislation set a 73-hour cap as the allowable hours per seven-day work week that truck drivers may work before taking a break. Read the full article here.

7.) Norbert Dentressangle acquires Jacobson Companies (July) 
Lyon, France-based Norbert Dentressangle, a $5.5 billion global third-party logistics (3PL) services provider focused on global logistics, transport, ocean, and air services, said today it has acquired Des Moines, Iowa-based Jacobson Companies, a value-added warehousing (VAW) company, for $750 million from private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners. Read the full article here.

8.) Walmart’s new on-time delivery standards may create supply chain challenges for its suppliers (Sept) 
Effective February 2017, Walmart is going to require its suppliers (shippers) to meet a two-day shipping window instead of its previous four-day window, as well as up its required compliance rate from 90 percent to 95 percent. Read the full article here.

9.) Maersk shakes up ocean carrier marketplace…again (Sept) 
Maersk Line – the world’s largest container shipping company – should consolidate its position and poise itself for even more growth, say maritime analysts. Read the full article here.

10.) Uber for trucking label may not be accurate, explains Armstrong report (Aug) 
With the ostensible proliferation of new players on the trucking scene that say they are essentially an Uber for trucking, it turns out that this description may in fact be a misnomer, according to a recent report issued by supply chain consultancy Armstrong & Associates. Read the full article here.