NYSE: FDX

FedEx Express to test autonomous aircraft

FedEx to test Elroy Air autonomous drone

FedEx Express will test an autonomous air cargo aircraft in 2023, the company said Wednesday. Elroy Air, which has partnered with FedEx since January 2020, will supply the drone.

“FedEx was built on innovation and we are always looking toward new technologies to help enhance the logistics industry through improved safety, efficiency and customer service,” said Joe Stephens, senior vice president of global planning, engineering and technology at FedEx Express. “We look forward to continued...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-express-to-test-autonomous-aircraft

No holiday for delivery firms as fuel prices remain elevated

Fuel prices hurting delivery firms

As fuel prices have surged in the U.S., last-mile delivery companies have been put in a precarious position. Some have tried to implement surcharges to cover the added costs, while others already had surcharges in place for this scenario. But with fuel prices doubling in some areas in less than two weeks’ time, even surcharges will take time to recoup some of that increase.

In the last week, Uber (NYSE: UBER) and Lyft (NASDAQ: LYFT) have announced surcharges, and DoorDash (NYSE: DASH) has...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/no-holiday-for-delivery-firms-as-fuel-prices-remain-elevated

BrightDrop delivers first electric vans to FedEx Express

BrightDrop has delivered the first five EV600 electric delivery vans to FedEx Express as the first step in an order that could result in 500 vans operating within the FedEx fleet.

The initial vehicles will be put into operation in a FedEx Express (NYSE: FDX) facility in Inglewood, California. FedEx is building electric vehicle charging infrastructure across its network, including 500 stations that have already been installed in California.

“The delivery of the first BrightDrop EV600s is a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/brightdrop-delivers-first-electric-vans-to-fedex-express

ELMS passes first test, delivers first EV cargo van ahead of schedule

ELMS delivers first electric cargo van

The first step in the mission to launch a Class 1 electric delivery van has been reached with Electric Last Mile Solutions announcing on Wednesday that it has delivered the first Urban Delivery van from its Indiana assembly facility.

The vehicle was handed over to Randy Marion Automotive Group, a large nationwide commercial dealership group. Just last week, the dealer announced an order for 1,000 of the EVs.

“There is no doubt that the commercial last-mile delivery market is demanding electric...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/elms-passes-first-test-delivers-first-ev-cargo-van-ahead-of-schedule

FedEx Ground installs robotics in Queens, plans additional facilities

FedEx installs robotics in Queens facility

FedEx Ground has installed robotics solutions in its Queens, New York, facility to sort small packages that arrive in bulk for loading into containers bound for other hubs in the Ground network. The package delivery giant will add more robotics from Berkshire Grey in sortation facilities in Las Vegas and Columbus, Ohio, in future months.

Berkshire Grey’s (NASDAQ: BGRY) AI-enabled Robotic Product Sortation and Identification (RPSi) system is designed to autonomously process, pick, identify, sort,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-ground-installs-robotics-in-queens-plans-additional-facilities

ELMS to show prototype Class 3 electric van at FedEx event

Electric last mile systems to debut electric cargo van at FedEx contractor event

Electric Last Mile Systems (ELMS) will debut the second of its fully electric delivery vehicles at the upcoming Route Consultant Contractor Expo on July 30-31. The event is the largest FedEx Ground contractors event in the country and will be held in Nashville, Tennessee.

ELMS will show a prototype of its Class 3 vehicle, what it is calling the Urban Utility. The vehicle will join its smaller Class 1 sibling, the Urban Delivery cargo van, which will also be on display. The Class 1 is expected to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/elms-to-show-prototype-class-3-electric-van-at-fedex-event

On Prime Day, sellers rejoice – and worry

Amazon Prime Day puts e-commerce sellers in a bind

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) took its time, but earlier this month it officially announced Prime Day would return to the summer. For sellers, shippers, warehouse operators and third-party logistics (3PL) providers, it wasn’t much notice but something they needed to deal with.

Prime Days are Monday and Tuesday and are among Amazon’s biggest single selling days of the year with special deals.

David Glick, CTO of warehouse technology provider Flexe, spoke with Modern Shipper about the challenges Prime Day...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/on-prime-day-sellers-rejoice-and-worry

FedEx rolls out Nuro autonomous delivery vehicle in Houston

FedEx testing Nuro autonomous delivery robot in Houston

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) has been testing an autonomous delivery vehicle in the Houston area since April. The vehicle, a Nuro R2 model, is delivering parcels as part of a multiyear, multiphase agreement to pilot autonomous last-mile delivery.

“We have already begun testing with FedEx in Houston, learning about their operations and getting their feedback. Our goal with this partnership is to alleviate the task of high cost and difficult deliveries from everyday delivery drivers,” a Nuro...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-rolls-out-nuro-autonomous-delivery-vehicle-in-houston

More retail earnings, more blaming shipping costs for miss

This is an excerpt from Monday’s (2/8) Point of Sale retail supply chain newsletter sponsored by ArcBest.

The Container Store’s (NYSE: TCS) most recent earnings call details the reality of shifting to a greater mix of e-commerce sales at a time when transportation capacity is extremely tight. To manage limited capacity, logistics providers have implemented surcharges and placed limits on its largest customers. These additional costs are putting significant strain on retailer bottom lines at a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/more-retail-earnings-more-blaming-shipping-costs-for-miss