by LM Staff on 3 February 2026 at 7:04 pm

Rising 5.7 cents, the national diesel average, for the week of February 2, came in at $3.681 per gallon, following a 9.4-cent increase, to $3.50, for the week of January 26, and a 7.1-cent increase, to $3.530 per gallon, for the week of January 19.

by Jeff Berman on 3 February 2026 at 6:01 pm

The report’s first quarter shipment index value, at 76.1, increased 1.5% compared to the fourth quarter, and fell 4.9% annually. As for spending, the second quarter spend index value, at 191.9, was up 4.6% sequentially and up 5.2% annually, its first annual gain in three years.

by LM Staff on 3 February 2026 at 3:50 pm

The January LMI reading, at 59.6, saw a 5.2% gain over December’s 54.2 (an 18-month low), with the report stating that this marks the fastest rate of expansion going back to May 2025, while down annually compared to January 2025’s 62.0.

by Jeff Berman on 2 February 2026 at 8:37 pm

LM Group News Editor recently interviewed Mark Albrecht, VP – Artificial Intelligence and Enterprise Strategy, at C.H. Robinson, in a session at last week’s SMC3 Jump Start conference. Albrecht provided a detailed overview of the many ways in which increased AI implementation and usage is impacting, and augmenting, logistics operations.

by LM Staff on 2 February 2026 at 5:31 pm

The deal will build a bigger global team to help companies run smarter, more resilient supply chains.

by Jeff Berman on 2 February 2026 at 4:45 pm

The report’s benchmark reading, the PMI, came in at 52.6 (a reading higher than 50 indicates growth), marking a 4.7% gain over December, with the overall economy growing, at a faster rate, for the 15th consecutive month.

by Bridget McCrea on 1 February 2026 at 4:10 pm

As supply chain management software takes on greater operational responsibility, buyers are placing less emphasis on feature depth and more on speed, execution, and real-world performance. Bridget McCrea outlines eight key SCM software trends shaping 2026, including faster disruption response, growing use of AI and digital twins, increased scrutiny of implementation, and the continued need for human oversight alongside automation.

by Jeff Berman on 1 February 2026 at 4:00 pm

With cargo theft now costing the U.S. economy tens of billions annually, Congress is moving to strengthen federal enforcement through the bipartisan Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025. Jeff Berman examines how the legislation could improve coordination, increase penalties, and give the supply chain industry long-awaited tools to combat increasingly organized and sophisticated theft networks.

by Michael Levans on 1 February 2026 at 3:50 pm

As geopolitical instability, tariffs, and security risks become permanent features of global trade, supply chain disruption is no longer episodic but structural. Drawing on insights from Dagmar Trepins and Jeff Berman, this Global Issue explores how shippers, carriers, and logistics providers are shifting from cost-first strategies toward resilience, regionalization, and long-term strategic flexibility.

by By Emmanuel Hassoun, Nth Party Management Offering Lead at Accenture & Ashley Gerbino, Talent & Change, Consulting Managing Director at Accenture on 1 February 2026 at 3:45 pm

As procurement functions face ongoing disruption and increasing automation, Accenture argues that the greatest risk may be a growing skills and competency gap. This column explores why CPOs must rethink talent strategies, modernize capability assessments, and invest in continuous learning to ensure procurement teams can operate effectively in an AI-enabled, data-driven supply chain environment.

by Michael Levans on 1 February 2026 at 3:30 pm

As logistics and supply chain complexity outpaces the limits of traditional computing, quantum technologies are emerging as a new tool to improve resilience, optimization, and security across global logistics networks. This deep-dive explores how quantum computing, sensing, and secure communications are beginning to deliver real-world value—and how supply chain leaders can prepare today for responsible adoption in the years ahead.

by Bridget McCrea on 1 February 2026 at 3:00 pm

As tariff volatility, shifting trade rules, and compliance complexity reshape global commerce, global trade management (GTM) systems are moving from background tools to mission-critical supply chain platforms. Bridget McCrea examines how ongoing disruption, modernization efforts, and increased use of AI are driving stronger GTM adoption as shippers seek greater visibility, cost control, and resilience in an unpredictable trade environment.

by John D. Schulz on 1 February 2026 at 2:47 pm

Despite a prolonged soft freight environment, LTL carriers continue to maintain rare pricing discipline as they prioritize yield over volume in the face of weak demand and lingering overcapacity. In this annual market update, John Schulz examines how rising costs, post-Yellow capacity shifts, insurance pressures, and lessons from past rate wars will shape how long carriers can hold the line in 2026.

by Jeff Berman on 1 February 2026 at 2:42 pm

Ocean freight enters 2026 facing weak U.S. demand, excess vessel capacity, and continued uncertainty tied to tariffs and global trade policy. In this in-depth market outlook, Jeff Berman examines how front-loaded imports, unstable freight rates, alliance shifts, and a looming wave of new capacity are shaping another volatile year for carriers and shippers alike.

by Dagmar Trepins on 1 February 2026 at 2:33 pm

As geopolitical risk, tariff volatility, and infrastructure security concerns intensify, global logistics is shifting from episodic disruption to a permanent state of tension and transition. In this wide-ranging report, Dagmar Trepins examines how pharmaceuticals, port investment, defense logistics, and public-private collaboration are reshaping supply chain resilience, partnerships, and where long-term value is created.

by Jeff Berman on 30 January 2026 at 7:36 pm

The report, entitled “2025: Pause Shifts to Progress as Rents Approach Inflection,” explained that while 2025 delivered new shocks to global supply chains, logistics operators adapted by focusing on long-term supply chain needs, which was reflected by rents. It noted that over the first half of 2025, rents fell 2.3%, with customers pausing leasing decision-making, awaiting clarity around economic conditions and trade policy.

by Jeff Berman on 30 January 2026 at 4:35 pm

The report, entitled “U.S. Industrial Market Dynamics, Q4 2025,” observed that leasing momentum over the second half of 2025, drove annual leasing volumes to 533.2 million square-feet (SF).  Leading the way on that front was 3PL leasing, for the fourth straight quarter, representing 15.8% of total 2025 leasing activity—with 47.8% of  3PL leases inked in 2025 being new leases.

by LM Staff on 30 January 2026 at 2:41 pm

Rail carloads, at 218,784, increased 13.7%, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 266,924, were up 0.5%.

by Jeff Berman on 29 January 2026 at 8:28 pm

One of the key takeaways from Barr’s observations was the pressure that the FMCSA, and the trucking sector, by extension, currently faces in making sure it delivers on safety, for things like non-domiciled CDLs (commercial driver licenses) and entry-level driver training, and others.

by Jeff Berman on 29 January 2026 at 5:31 pm

In its merits brief filed earlier this month, C.H. Robinson said that a United States Supreme Court case, Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, which it said “will determine whether freight brokers may be held liable under varying state laws for accidents involving federally licensed motor carriers.”