Warehouse jobs and ocean rates have recently seen major drops. Tesla has begun fulfilling electric semi truck orders. FedEx has announced the consolidation of 3 of its companies and Merlin is preparing to make autonomous delivery flights to Alaska.
Warehouse Jobs At An All-Time Low
Employment in the warehousing industry in the United States has fallen to its lowest level in over a year, with 11,800 jobs cut from February to March, according to a preliminary jobs report from the Labor Department. Warehousing companies have reduced employment by nearly 50,000 jobs since June, as overstocked retailers scaled back inventories due to fluctuating consumer demand.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Tesla Makes A Pepsi Delivery
Tesla has delivered a fleet of its long-delayed all-electric Semi trucks to PepsiCo in California, as the automaker slowly ramps up production orders. These trucks are part of an order for 100 Tesla Semis that PepsiCo made in 2017, with other companies like Walmart, FedEx, and J.B. Hunt also awaiting their orders. The Semi trucks have a range of about 400 miles before needing to be charged.
Source: Freight Waves
Ocean Rates Dropping To Pre-Pandemic Levels
Container rates from Asia to North America’s West Coast have dropped to around $1,000 per forty-foot unit, according to Freightos’s analysis. Transpacific volumes and rates are down due to a slowdown in pandemic-driven spending on goods and excess inventories from orders pulled forward in the first half of last year. Importers are cautious about consumer demand for the rest of the year, leading to declining air volumes and rates as some opt for ocean shipping to save costs.
Source: Inside Logistics
FedEx Consolidates Express, Ground and Services
FedEx is consolidating its operating companies into one organization, Federal Express Corporation, with a fully integrated air-ground network, expected to be complete in June 2024. FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Services, and other operating companies will be consolidated, while FedEx Freight will remain a standalone company. The consolidation aims to make FedEx leaner, more agile, and better positioned to serve customers.
Source: Supply Chain Drive
Autonomous Delivery Flights To Alaska Are Underway
Merlin, a developer of autonomous flight control systems, will use a single-engine Cessna Caravan to deliver cargo to communities in Alaska as part of a demonstration of its technology’s capability on real routes. A human safety pilot will accompany each flight to monitor the experimental flight control system. Merlin has conducted missions with its automated flight control system on different aircraft types and has partnerships with Ameriflight and the U.S. Air Force for testing its autonomous flying technology.
Source: Freight Waves
As we enter the next quarter of 2023, are your logistics needs being met? If you are free for a quick call, let’s discuss your eCommerce fulfillment plans for the new year. My team of logistics experts is ready to assess your needs and develop a tailored plan that keeps your business moving forward.
For quick and easy scheduling, here’s a link to my full calendar
