Who wants to own a trucking company? Retailers are starting to line up

Retailers looking to buy trucking assets

BJ’s Wholesale Clubs. American Eagle Outfitters. Ashley Furniture. They are among a growing trend of retailers buying up transportation and logistics assets.

Over the last four decades, trucking capacity was generally plentiful and retailers were more than happy to outsource it, explained  Gary Petty, president of the National Private Truck Council (NPTC). Freight rates were low and there was no shortage of “bottom-feeder carriers” willing to haul items cheaply. 

“Companies could pick and choose...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/supply-chain-crisis-drives-more-retailers-to-buy-logistics-and-trucking-firms

Wilson Logistics acquired by nation’s biggest furniture retailer

Ashley Furniture seeks to dodge supply chain woes by purchasing a carrier

Ashley Furniture confirmed to FreightWaves that it has entered into an agreement to acquire asset-based logistics provider Wilson Logistics. An affiliate of Ashley Distribution Services (ADS) inked the deal on Nov. 22.

Terms of the financial transaction were not disclosed. The deal remains subject to regulatory approval but is expected to close by the end of the year.  

Springfield, Missouri-based Wilson Logistics has a truckload fleet of over 1,200 trucks serving the western U.S. The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/wilson-logistics-acquired-by-nations-biggest-furniture-retailer

Environmental groups take aim at retail giants as ocean freight polluters

Shipping aims for more environmental sustainability.

Two environmental groups have thrown down the gauntlet to 15 of the world’s most prominent companies, demanding they achieve emissions-free ocean shipping by 2030, contractually agree to ship their goods on zero-emission vessels, and reject “false solutions” like liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a sustainable way to get goods to market.

In a report published Tuesday, Pacific Environment and Stand.earth also urged the U.S. government to go beyond its April pledge that required the ocean freight...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/environmental-groups-take-aim-at-retail-giants-as-ocean-freight-polluters