The Stockout

Black Friday is not canceled, but shoppers want even better deals

It’s that time of year – retail news abounds on FreightWaves and elsewhere

I thought Target’s management team put it well last week as it now describes consumers as “resourceful,” meaning they are still shopping but are looking for value and waiting for deals, rather than “resilient,” the term it used previously. Along similar lines, the National Retail Federation expects November-December holiday sales to rise moderately – it forecasts a 2.5%-3.5% year-over-year increase, suggesting it doesn’t...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/black-friday-is-not-canceled-but-shoppers-want-even-better-deals

SONAR expands LTL and intermodal data offering

New to SONAR – LTL pricing by freight class

Long-haul LTL shipments typically have higher rates for Classes 70-85 freight (blue line) than for long-haul LTL shipments for Classes 50-65 freight (red line). (Chart: SONAR) 

LTL pricing is far more complex than that of other freight modes and has more to do with the density of the freight being shipped than the distance. According to Zach Strickland, SONAR’s head of freight market intelligence, “revenue per hundredweight [published by public carriers...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/sonar-expands-ltl-and-intermodal-data-offering

Nikola exec says battery versus hydrogen not an either/or

Nikola joins The Stockout show

On Monday’s The Stockout show, Grace Sharkey and I interviewed Tom Schmitt, chief commercial officer of Nikola Corp. Nikola is the leading company that offers alternatively fueled Class 8 trucks. It offers both battery-electric and hydrogen-electric options. Schmitt does not believe that one of those technologies will win out over the other. Instead, as shippers and fleet owners look to reduce their fossil fuel usage and lower their carbon footprints, he expects...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nikola-exec-says-battery-versus-hydrogen-not-an-either-or

Retail and CPG industries grapple with election results

The Stockout Show: Election special

(Image: FWTV)

On Monday’s The Stockout show, I discussed what the election results could mean for the retail and CPG industries. For those who prefer to read, FreightWaves’ Caleb Revill summarized it well. On the show, I went through four major issues: tariffs, taxes, the Federal Trade Commission and food regulations. Producing the show one day before Election Day, I also speculated on how the CPG and retail industries might vote based on their presumed...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/retail-and-cpg-industries-grapple-with-election-results

Tariffs, regulations and taxes among key issues for retail on election day

Mike Baudendistel, head of intermodal solutions at FreightWaves SONAR, discussed on The Stockout’s election special Monday what Tuesday’s presidential election might mean for the retail and consumer packaged goods industries.

Baudendistel broke down several policy issues, culminating in predictions on whom he thinks stakeholders would vote for on each topic.

Tariffs

Up first on the agenda was tariffs, a hotly debated topic between presidential nominees Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

“Trump says he...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tariffs-regulations-and-taxes-among-key-issues-for-retail-on-election-day

Echo exec meets Mexico challenges with integrated logistics model

The Stockout Show: Logistics challenges abound in Mexico

(Image: FWTV)

On Monday’s The Stockout show, Grace Sharkey and I interviewed Troy Ryley, president, Mexico, at Echo Global Logistics. Ryley joined Echo in his current role 10 months ago with the objective of turning a basic truck brokerage model into an integrated logistics model. What that means is he intends for Echo to serve as a single point of accountability to shippers – one that is well equipped to handle the many challenges that...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/echo-exec-meets-mexico-challenges-with-integrated-logistics-model

Retail, CPG industries brace for election results

Latest The Stockout show explores sock puppets

This is how RFK Jr. sees U.S. food regulators. (Image: FWTV)

On Monday’s The Stockout show, which focuses on topics relevant to shippers in the retail and CPG industries, Grace Sharkey and I discussed how the election could impact those sectors. If Trump is elected, the Federal Trade Commission could look much different. That’s of particular importance to the retail industry since the FTC has been especially active in addressing what it considers...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/retail-cpg-industries-brace-for-election-results

Consolidated full truckloads change the game for shippers

Shippers have to be laser-focused on service and quality in order to maintain positive relationships with their customers. This is even more true for companies sending their products into big box retailers. 

Too often, however, the transportation options available to shippers make it difficult to meet the stringent must arrive by dates (MABD) and required arrival dates (RAD) laid out by these large retailers. This can result in fines, damaged relationships and even lost end cap display space,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/consolidated-full-truckloads-change-the-game-for-shippers

Reefer tender rejection rates surge following hurricanes

Reefer and dry van markets diverging

(Chart: SONAR)

Showing signs of capacity tightening, the reefer tender rejection rate has risen to 14% while the dry van market remains muted at 5%. Spiking reefer tender rejection rates outbound from Florida were a major part of that. While reefer rejections have been rising for months, hurricane relief efforts appear to have had more impact on the reefer market than on the dry van market, suggesting that supply and demand in the reefer segment is much more...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/reefer-tender-rejection-rates-surge-following-hurricanes

Brittain Ladd returns to The Stockout

Start your week with Brittain Ladd

On Monday at 10 a.m. EDT, Grace Sharkey and I will again interview one of our favorite guests: outspoken independent consultant Brittain Ladd. The depth of Ladd’s expertise is impressive and spans companies and topics throughout the retail space and far beyond. 

On his prior The Stockout appearance, his Starbucks comments were prescient. Ladd described the company as being “in a world of hurt” and said its board had appointed the wrong CEO. It instead needed an...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/brittain-ladd-returns-to-the-stockout

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