warehouse labor

Yale rebrands to Yale Lift Truck Technologies, demos technology at ProMat

CHICAGO — Kicking off what will be the first of many announcements here at ProMat 2023, materials handling firm Yale is changing its name to Yale Lift Truck Technologies to reflect the company’s doubled down focus on technology-enabled vehicles for the warehouse.

Accompanying the new brand identity were several demonstrations highlighting the latest Yale vehicles, some of which had never been seen by the public before Monday. The vehicles ranged in size and purpose, but all are fully electric...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/yale-rebrands-to-yale-lift-truck-technologies-demos-technology-at-promat

Potential FTC probe caps whirlwind week for Amazon

Another week, another whirlwind of news surrounding e-commerce’s resident superpower.

Capping a week of news about investigations, cutbacks and worse-than-expected earnings, The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported that Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) faces a potential antitrust lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission in the coming months.

According to sources the Journal reported are familiar with the matter, the timing of the case is unclear and a suit may never be brought at all. The sources said...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/potential-ftc-probe-caps-whirlwind-week-for-amazon

Amazon bumps pay for warehouse, delivery workers

Amazon warehouse delivery

It’s been a tumultuous couple months for Amazon’s logistics network as it contends with unionization efforts, an overbuild of warehouse space and an OSHA investigation into working conditions.

The heat is on. But the e-commerce giant just took a step to smooth over its relationship with front-line workers.

On Wednesday, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced that beginning in October, warehouse workers and delivery drivers will see their average starting pay rise from $18 to over $19 an hour. The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amazon-bumps-pay-for-warehouse-delivery-workers

Feds investigating Amazon warehouses in New York, Chicago, Orlando

Amazon warehouse worker

It’s no secret that a sizable chunk of Amazon warehouse workers are unhappy with workplace conditions. 

Chances are you’ve heard the stories of workers being forced to meet strict productivity standards and even urinate in bottles because they don’t have time to use the restroom on the job. Federal investigators have heard them too.

Monday morning, federal prosecutors from the Department of Labor and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York launched an investigation into...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/feds-investigating-amazon-warehouses-in-new-york-chicago-orlando

Amazon cancels or delays plans for at least 16 warehouses this year

Amazon warehouse

After spending billions doubling the size of its fulfillment network during the pandemic, Amazon finds itself in a perilous position.

In the first quarter of 2022, the e-commerce giant reported a $3.8 billion net loss after raking in an $8.1 billion profit in Q1 2021. That includes $6 billion in added costs — the bulk of which can be traced back to that same fulfillment network.

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) CFO Brian Olsavsky said the company chose to expand its warehouse network based on “the high end...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/amazon-cancels-or-delays-plans-for-at-least-16-warehouses-this-year

What Amazon’s first fully autonomous robot means for warehouse workers

Amazon fulfillment center worker and robot

Ten years after launching its robotics division, Amazon just unveiled its most advanced autonomous mobile robot (AMR) to date — and it could shake up the warehouse workplace.

Proteus isn’t Amazon’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) debut in the AMR space, but it’s the first robot the company has produced that it describes as “fully autonomous.” Proteus is unlike the other robots Amazon has released over the years that are caged off from employees. Rather, it’s designed to move packages throughout the company’s...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/what-amazons-first-fully-autonomous-robot-means-for-warehouse-workers

Overcoming warehouse labor shortages through alternative management solutions

Managing a warehouse isn’t easy, and current labor challenges have increased the complexity. After all, the warehouse can be a tough place to work.

Today’s warehouses and distribution centers are lucky if they can find qualified workers, let alone keep them from jumping ship before they gain the necessary expertise to efficiently operate in a building. In 2021, the turnover rate for warehousing was 49%, an improvement from nearly 60% in 2020 but nonetheless a continual challenge.

“Consumer demand...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/overcoming-warehouse-labor-shortages-through-alternative-management-solutions

Survey: 73% of warehouse operators can’t find enough labor

warehouse operators in search of workers

The massive surge in volumes and the ongoing labor shortages in the U.S. have many warehouse and distribution center managers concerned.

According to a new survey from Instawork, which provides flexible staffing to businesses of all types including those in the warehouse and distribution, 75% of light industrial businesses don’t feel fully prepared for 2022, and 60% struggled to keep pace with increased demand last year. The report, the State of Warehouse Labor: Staying Flexible in 2022, found...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/survey-73-of-warehouse-operators-cant-find-enough-labor

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