Last Mile

XPO names Harik CEO of LTL business; Jacobs to step aside

XPO Logistics Inc. on Thursday named Mario Harik, currently CIO and interim head of the company’s less-than-truckload business, as permanent CEO of what will become a pure-play LTL carrier by the end of 2022.

Brad Jacobs, XPO’s founder, chairman and CEO, will step aside as CEO and become XPO’s (NYSE: XPO) executive chairman once the company spins off its truck brokerage, final-mile and managed transportation businesses. The spinoff is expected to occur during the fourth quarter. Jacobs will also...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/xpo-names-harik-permanent-ceo-of-stand-alone-ltl-business

FreightWaves Classics/Leaders: Paul Sargent led Maine’s early road-building efforts

An interstate in Maine. (Photo: Portland Press-Herald)

Autos brought changes that not all embraced

In the early years of the 20th century, automobiles were dethroning the horse and buggy as the primary method of personal transportation in the United States. Across the nation, some worried that the changes brought by the auto would be for the worse. 

Among them were journalists warning of a growing “auto terror.” In Maine, some towns – like Bar Harbor – attempted to ban cars altogether. A 1905 article in the Ellsworth American warned that motorists...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classicsleaders-paul-sargent-led-maines-early-road-building-efforts

How appliance, furniture sellers can weather inflation

2 men unload couch from truck

As retail sales slow from pandemic highs amid rising inflation, fuel prices and continued supply chain congestion, Deliveright co-founder and CEO Doug Ladden still sees opportunity for sellers of heavy goods such as furniture and appliances.

“What we’ve been seeing is volume is lighter than it was six months ago. I don’t think that is surprising,” Ladden told Modern Shipper. “Within e-commerce we’ve seen some retailers go out of business, we’ve seen some retailers slow down and we’ve seen some...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-furniture-sellers-can-weather-inflation

FarEye’s Last Mile Mandate aims to improve delivery success

Man hands packages to woman standing in front door

Depending on the study, two-fiths or more of customers won’t buy again from an online brand if they have a poor delivery experience. Tom Enright, vice president and analyst for Gartner, speaking last month at the Gartner Supply Chain Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, said 5% of all last-mile deliveries are failed deliveries.

FarEye, a global software-as-a-service last-mile logistics platform, has said that 36.8% of consumers have changed their opinion of a brand due to a bad delivery...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fareyes-last-mile-mandate-aims-to-improve-delivery-success

Failure is not a winning strategy in the last mile

White delivery van driving on highway

There is a saying that more can be learned from failure than success. But in the world of last-mile delivery, failure can often be a final outcome.

According to a Descartes survey released earlier this year, 75% of consumers had experienced delivery problems in the previous three months and 23% said they would not order from the retailer again as a result. Another 21% said they had lost trust in the retailer and 16% reported they had told friends and family to avoid the retailer.

A delivery...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/solving-for-last-mile-delivery-failures

Leveraging health care forte to improve home delivery

If there’s one industry where on-demand and on-time delivery is vital, it’s health care. From medical samples to vaccines, lab tests and critical supplies, Capstone Logistics has served the health care industry for more than 30 years. 

Hospitals, pharmacies, at-home patients and labs have relied on these services during one of the most critical times in American medical history, helping Capstone earn a reputation as an industry leader.

Often unpredictable and spontaneous, the needs of the medical...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/capstone-logistics-leverages-health-care-forte-to-improve-home-delivery

FreightWaves SONAR shows daily fluctuations in ULSD wholesale prices  

A fuel pump showing the price of diesel.

As noted in multiple articles by Craig Fuller, the founder and CEO of FreightWaves, the 2022 freight market is in a cyclical crisis due in part to much lower freight volume and lower freight rates. In addition, the cost of diesel fuel (ULSD) has risen rapidly over the past few months, and has topped $6 per gallon in markets around the nation (and is even higher in numerous locations). 

FreightWaves SONAR

Since its inception, FreightWaves SONAR has provided its subscribers with an extensive series...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-sonar-shows-daily-fluctuations-in-the-wholesale-price-of-ulsd

It’s time to rethink what last-mile delivery really means, says Gartner VP

white delivery van on the highway

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Who defines the last mile? For many retailers, e-commerce brands and shippers, the last mile starts when an item leaves their store or warehouse and ends when it arrives at the end customer’s doorstep.

But is it that simple?

“I want to expand the definition of the last mile beyond what it is because I think it is a two-way street,” explained Tom Enright, vice president and analyst for Gartner.

Speaking in a session titled “Last Mile is So Last Year — Here’s How to Reach...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/its-time-to-rethink-what-last-mile-delivery-really-means-says-gartner-vp

Viewpoint: Managing big and bulky delivery orders

Orange truck on highway

This commentary was written by Jorge Lopera, vice president and head of industry strategy at FarEye. The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Modern Shipper or its affiliates.

Items that years ago were not routinely purchased online are now proving to be some of the highest growing product categories in online retail. The market for physically large items such as furniture, appliances and other large goods (big and bulky) is no...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/viewpoint-managing-big-and-bulky-delivery-orders

Small Fleet & Owner-Operator Summit to hit FreightWaves virtual stage on June 15

Three semi-trucks travel on a highway, seen from the front at varying distances.

The Small Fleet & Owner-Operator Summit will take place on Wednesday, June 15. Leaders from across the industry will provide critical information and insights needed to streamline operations and improve bottom lines.

Speakers and topics

Each FreightWaves virtual event presents a special lineup of key business leaders, industry experts and entrepreneurs. Among the confirmed key speakers at the Summit are: Matt Parry, Senior Vice President of Werner Logistics; Paul Estrada of PE Consulting; and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/small-fleet-owner-operator-summit-to-hit-freightwaves-virtual-stage

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