Technology

Warehouse control systems are becoming the hard dependency for autonomy, and fleet uptime is the limiting factor

Two August 2026 signals, a warehouse software push and a trucking uptime playbook, point to the same operational constraint: execution, not algorithms.

AI email agents are becoming the new front door for freight, and warehouse control systems are next in line

C.H. Robinson’s AI agents replying to quote emails in seconds is colliding with a separate push in warehouses: making control software the orchestration layer f

Warehouse robot orders rose 2% in early 2026, and that’s forcing operators to treat WCS as the automation contract’s control plane

Robot purchases are still climbing, but the bigger enterprise shift is where control lives: in the warehouse control system that must orchestrate AMRs, shuttles

‘Always-on’ supply chains are becoming a procurement spec, not a maturity badge

A July 2026 outlook event and Supply Chain Digital’s reporting converge on the same operational shift: continuous visibility is moving from pilot to baseline ex

Transportation capacity hits near-record lows as freight market tightens toward 2022 levels

The LMI flags near-record low transport capacity, Samsara debuts mid-transit visibility tech, and Saia keeps expanding, here's what it means for shippers.

Apple brings Alibaba's Qwen AI to Mac users in China, signaling a new era of localized enterprise AI integration

Apple published a guide enabling Mac users in mainland China to connect Alibaba's Qwen AI to Siri and Writing Tools, a move that reshapes enterprise AI deployme

56% of chief supply chain officers call AI integration a major hurdle, and Starbucks' scrapped tool shows why

Supply chain AI is stumbling at scale. Here's what separates the teams making it work from those wasting the budget.

The Modern Data Company wins TX-RAMP Level 2 certification, opening DataOS to Texas public-sector procurement

DataOS earns TX-RAMP Level 2, letting Texas agencies procure the platform directly while EdgeConneX backs new state rules on data center transparency.

Early digital movers are pulling ahead as 'always-on' supply chains become an enterprise baseline

Manufacturers that moved early on automation and digital transformation are already reaping measurable advantages as real-time, connected supply chains shift fr

Nvidia's China AI chip share is forecast to collapse from 40% to 8% as Huawei scales

Bernstein projects Nvidia's China AI chip share will fall from 40% to 8% in 2026, even as Siemens taps NVIDIA for agentic AI in supply chains.

AI acquisitions, drone networks, and a warehouse construction surge are reshaping North American logistics in 2026

From Altana's customs AI deal to DoorDash's drone push, logistics operators face a wave of technology and infrastructure shifts with direct procurement implicat

Aurora's second-generation driverless trucks signal a new phase for autonomous freight, as Amtrak and eVTOL deals reshape the broader mobility stack

Aurora launches gen-2 driverless trucks, Amtrak marks ADA progress, and Vertical Aerospace signs an eVTOL deal, three signals that enterprise mobility is enter

UPS and PayPal both raise guidance on the same day, validating multi-year restructuring bets

UPS lifted its 2026 revenue outlook to $91.2B and PayPal bumped profitability guidance as both companies report restructuring gains.

BEN turns connected fleets into ad networks with $1M Accelevate investment and new transportation media platform

Brand Engagement Network backs Accelevate with $1M, then launches a joint AI platform that converts existing fleet cameras and displays into real-time advertisi

Commercial drone market forecast to 2035 and what it means for logistics operators

The Business Research Company's 2026 UAV report maps a decade of growth in commercial drones, as AV software consolidation and energy storage advances reshape l

IBM, Baringa, and MegaCorp Logistics detail the shift from reactive to predictive supply chain AI

Experts from IBM, Baringa, and MegaCorp Logistics outline how predictive AI is replacing reactive logistics models amid geopolitical and climate disruption.

US logistics costs drop to 7.8% of GDP as talent and technology demands reshape supply chain priorities

CSCMP and Kearney's 37th State of the Logistics Union puts US logistics spend at 7.8% of GDP, while talent gaps drive demand for credentialed supply chain profe

Autonomous trucks, warehouse robots, and drones converge as supply chain automation accelerates

PepsiCo runs 35 driverless trucks commercially, Volvo targets Q1 2027 for full autonomy, and Amazon's new warehouse robot joins a wave of supply chain automatio

Supply Chain 247 homepage: top stories spanning robotics, AI, urban logistics, and major retail investment

Amazon bets $11.6B on European robotics, NYC microhubs cut 3,000 truck trips, and Exol launches AI fulfillment sites as supply chain automation hits a new gear.

Inside the Next Era of Trucking: Volvo’s Vision for Autonomous Tech, Driver Experience, and Global Logistics

Supply chains are under pressure like never before—fuel prices are volatile, driver shortages persist, and new technologies are rewriting the rules in real time. In fact, at major U.S. truckload carriers, driver turnover has historically exceeded 90% annually—highlighting just how urgent it is to improve both efficiency and the driver experience. Trucking isn’t just…

Inside the Spot Freight Shift: How Manifold Is Simplifying a Fragmented Logistics Market

The freight market is in the midst of a notable shift. With national tender rejection rates approaching 14% by the end of Q1, freight conditions have shifted back in carriers’ favor, often coinciding with increased activity in the spot market. At the same time, logistics teams are juggling an increasingly fragmented ecosystem of portals, emails,…

H55 selects Safran to supply the electric propulsion unit for the Bristell B23 Energic

Safran Electrical & Power and H55 have signed an agreement to integrate the Safran ENGINeUS electric motor into the H55 electric propulsion system, powering the fully electric Bristell B23 Energic aircraft.

Autonomous Trucking Can Shrink Coast-to-Coast Delivery Times and Increase Fleet Productivity

The idea of a self-driving 80,000-pound truck barreling down the interstate once felt like science fiction. Now, it’s operating on real freight lanes in Texas. After years of hype and recalibration, autonomous trucking is entering its proving ground. Persistent driver shortages and rising freight demand have forced the industry to look beyond incremental improvements. The…

Transportation Management Systems Don’t Compete With Carriers, Brokers, or Shippers — They Align Them

Transportation management systems are undergoing a quiet but consequential shift. Once viewed primarily as tools for tracking loads and storing paperwork, modern TMS platforms are increasingly expected to function as the operational backbone of logistics organizations. As freight volumes continue to fluctuate, margins remain tight, and supply chains rely on a growing mix of…

The New Freight Standard: Why Verified Trucking Reviews Matter in Modern Supply Chains

For decades, the freight industry has leaned heavily on compliance data and opaque reputation systems, leaving carriers, brokers, and shippers with little visibility into actual service quality. Reviews often sat behind paywalls, skewed negative, or lacked validation altogether, making it difficult to separate reliable partners from unreliable ones. Today, the vast majority of trucking remains…

Smarter Drayage Delivers Profit and Reliability

Drayage, the short-haul transport of containers from ports to warehouses, has become a critical link in global logistics. E-commerce growth and shifting supply chain strategies have pushed this step into sharper focus. U.S. containerized imports totaled 28,196,462 TEUs in 2024, a 13 percent increase from the previous year, underscoring the rising demand for port-to-warehouse…

Fleet Lifecycle Management: Data, Safety Tech, and Timely Refreshes Cut Costs and Maintain Competitiveness

Volatile tariffs, inflationary pressures, and advances in fleet lifecycle management are forcing trucking executives to make strategic choices under uncertainty. The decision to replace or upgrade Class 8 trucks is no longer just about cost-per-month—it’s about lifecycle value, operational safety, compliance readiness, and long-term competitiveness. As the EV credit deadline approaches and OEMs release…

Driving the Future at ACT Expo: Windrose Showcases Its Purpose-Built Electric Class 8 Trucks

At the ACT Expo, Hammer Down host Mike Bush dives deeper into the future of freight with a hands-on look at Windrose Technology’s electric Class 8 trucks. Joined by Joseph Jaramillo, Driver Supervisor at Talon Logistics, Mike takes a test drive to experience the smooth ride, dual digital displays, and unique features—like advanced regen modes and a…

Supply Chain Leaders Must Abandon Outdated Routing and Embrace Last Mile Optimization Through Modeling and AI

As geopolitical tensions disrupt global shipping and tariffs create fresh uncertainty in international trade, companies are being forced to reexamine their most vulnerable supply chain segment—the last mile . While upstream operations get the spotlight during crises, the final leg of delivery remains a persistent blind spot. That oversight has consequences: empty trucks, fragmented delivery…

ACT Expo Highlights: Hammer Down Talks Clean Trucking Technology with Leaders from OneH2, Schaeffler, and WEX

In a special episode of Hammer Down, host Mike Bush hit the show floor at ACT Expo, one of the logistics industry’s premier events for sustainable transportation. The conversations highlighted real-world innovations and clean trucking technology accelerating the shift to a lower-emissions future. Prathamesh Dabholkar, Project Engineer at OneH2, discussed the company’s mobile hydrogen…