Parcel delivery

Work sharing with carriers helps parcel shippers reduce costs with faster transit

Over the past couple of years, parcel shippers have watched delivery costs proliferate, forcing them to consider the benefits of diversifying parcel carriers and “take some of their eggs out of FedEx and UPS baskets,” as FreightWaves’ Mark Solomon pointed out in December. However, as demand intensifies in the parcel carrier space, shippers are struggling to find clarity as they evaluate their options.

“There’s some smoke and mirrors out there, meaning there are carrier options that truly aren’t...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/work-sharing-with-carriers-helps-parcel-shippers-reduce-costs-with-faster-transit

Check Call: More delays expected but not at the ports

Hot Take

Image: Jim Allen/FreightWaves

Customs and Border Patrol have been busy little bees. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics on Wednesday released the North American Transborder Freight numbers that show there was $68.6 billion of truck freight and $14.7 billion of rail freight crossing U.S. borders in the month of September. The current numbers are a 8.1% increase for trucks and a 6.6% increase for rail over last year’s September numbers. 

The total value of transborder freight for both...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/check-call-more-delays-expected-but-not-at-the-ports

Report: Amazon Air puts 70% of US population within next-day reach

An Amazon Air jet takes off.

An expanded route network, more sophisticated scheduling through hub airports and greater use of partner airlines to supplement its fleet have significantly enhanced Amazon Air’s ability to conduct overnight deliveries, according to new research from DePaul University.

During the past six months, Amazon’s private airline has plugged critical gaps in its network and increased flight activity to position itself for what is expected to be an enormous holiday season for online shopping in 2021. It...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/report-amazon-air-puts-70-of-us-population-within-next-day-reach

Cambridge, SoftBank back Parcel Perform in $20M Series A

While Dana von der Heide and Arne Jeroschewski were working to improve e-commerce logistics within Asia Pacific at DHL, the pair realized advancing the experience for retailers could not be done with just one carrier. 

This inspired them to step away from DHL and co-found Parcel Perform, a Singapore-based e-commerce logistics software-as-a-service company that leverages over 700 carriers worldwide to improve the consumer experience of global parcel deliveries.

“We quickly realized that if you...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cambridge-softbank-back-parcel-perform-in-20m-series-a

DHL pulling its Parcelcopter drone, ceasing drone development

DHL delivery drone stops production

International shipping giant DHL is ceasing development of its Parcelcopter delivery drones, according to a Monday report in German publication WELT. That halts the company’s nearly decadelong quest to become a leader in the emerging drone industry.

”We are not continuing the Parcelcopter project,” Alexander Edenhofer, a DHL spokesman, told Benedikt Fuest of WELT. According to Fuest, the company (OCTUS: DPSGY) also said it will cease its pilot program with German manufacturer Wingcopter, through...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dhl-pulling-its-parcelcopter-drone-ceasing-drone-development

Postal Service reports $3 billion year-on-year loss

Shipping and package volume moved by the U.S. Postal Service declined by 14.1% year-on-year in its fiscal year 2021 third quarter as a surge in demand for package delivery services began to slow, the quasi-governmental agency said Friday.

Revenue for that sector of the Postal Service’s business also fell in the quarter compared to 2020, by $646 million, or 7.8%. Despite those decreases, its shipping and package volume is still higher than pre-pandemic levels.

“We believe consumer behavior has...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/postal-service-reports-3-billion-year-on-year-loss

BBAM goes bananas for Boeing 737-800 freighter

A white WestJet plane with aqua trim flying above the clouds and coming towards camera.

BBAM Aircraft Leasing & Management has signed with Boeing (NYSE: BA) to convert a dozen more of its 737-800 passenger aircraft into dedicated freighters as e-commerce and express cargo markets continue to create strong demand among carriers for all-cargo aircraft.

The San Francisco-based leasing firm currently has 31 firm orders and commitments for the 737-800 converted freighter. In January, the company placed an order for six conversions with an option for six more. 

BBAM will be the first...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bbam-goes-bananas-for-boeing-737-800-freighter

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

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