Potential port strike a dilemma for Harris

WASHINGTON — A dockworker strike along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts could endanger Kamala Harris’ presidential bid, say retail and transportation leaders.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) affirmed last week that it plans to strike if its contract demands are not met, and the West Coast ports, represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, has pledged solidarity.

That’s why the Biden administration will likely be working behind the scenes – if it isn’t already –...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/potential-port-strike-a-dilemma-for-harris

Borderlands: Production, exports of Mexican-built trucks soar in March

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Production and exports of Mexican-built cargo trucks soared in March; Walmart is closing a logistics facility in Fort Worth, Texas; Target announced three distribution centers in Texas; and Maersk opened a global service center in Mexico City.

Production, exports of Mexican-built cargo trucks soar in March

Mexico’s cargo truck sales, production and exports climbed in March,...

Target reimagines store design for e-commerce, same-day services

As being able to fulfill orders anywhere, anyhow has steadily become the expectation for brands, one of the United States’ largest retailers is overhauling its store design to meet it.

Target (NYSE: TGT) on Tuesday unveiled a new, larger model that will emphasize omnichannel fulfillment services, including same-day pickup, digital fulfillment and options like curbside and drive-up. The first new store debuted this week in the Houston suburb of Katy, Texas.

The new layout from Target is about...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/target-reimagines-store-design-for-e-commerce-same-day-services

White House unveils freight data exchange to bolster supply chains

The White House announced on Tuesday a freight data exchange to be coordinated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Biden administration sees the exchange as the next step toward strengthening supply chains.

The Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) includes 18 initial participants including shippers, trucking, warehousing, logistics companies and ports.

“These key stakeholders will work together with the Administration to develop a proof-of-concept information exchange to ease...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/white-house-unveils-freight-data-exchange-to-bolster-supply-chains

Amazon, Walmart to advise Washington on ocean freight policy

Some of the largest and most powerful companies in the U.S. will now have a say in shaping transportation policy in a public forum at the Federal Maritime Commission.

The FMC announced on Thursday the first 24 members to serve on its newly formed National Shipper Advisory Committee (NSAC), evenly divided between importers and exporters. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Walmart (NYSE: WMT), Target (NYSE: TGT) and Office Depot (NASDAQ: ODP) are some of the big-name online and retail companies representing...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amazon-walmart-to-advise-washington-on-ocean-freight-policy

Sales pop, inventories drop for essential retail; trucking the beneficiary

Entrance to a Target store

Several retail giants reported quarterly results this week that were favorably impacted by their status as “essential” providers during the pandemic. The fiscal second-quarter financial reports displayed favorable trends for the trucking industry – sales up and inventories down.

The run on home goods, food and consumables as stay-at-home lifestyles have taken hold amid COVID-19 was evident in financial results for Target (NYSE: TGT) and Walmart (NYSE: WMT). U.S. comparable sales climbed 24%...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/sales-pop-inventories-drop-for-essential-retail-trucking-the-beneficiary