Logistics

Amazon will buy 100,000 electric vans to assist with Prime deliveries, according to CEO Jeff Bezos, who made the announcement at the National Press Club in Washington on Sept. 19.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The drayage industry relies on owner-operators and the independent contractor model to move freight, but state action in California and New Jersey could limit the number of owner-operators available to work and disrupt drayage operations.

Acknowledging a steady drumbeat of criticism from activists and a vocal group of his own employees, Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos announced the formation of a new organization, the Climate Pledge, to meet the goals of the landmark Paris climate agreement 10 years early.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Rail and intermodal providers said they are increasing speed and efficiency to become more competitive, and technology is helping them improve operations.

A $20 billion investment spree detailed by UPS CEO David Abney last year, a plan that initially rattled Wall Street, is bearing fruit. Profit margins are improving even as 112-year-old Big Brown copes with swelling volume from voracious online shoppers, who are typically less lucrative to serve than business customers.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — A panel representing the shipping industry spoke about the looming International Maritime Organization mandate that will require cargo vessels to burn low-sulfur diesel, and shippers and carriers said the requirements could lead to price increases or the rerouting of freight.

U.S. Steel Corp. said it expects to report a wider loss than analysts were expecting, the third American steelmaker in three days to warn on their outlook. The shares fell.

Major U.S. seaports posted growth in containerized cargo volume for August, the start of the season when retailers begin importing holiday merchandise.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Steve Branscum, retired group vice president for BNSF Railway, and Mike Wilson, CEO of Consolidated Chassis Management, have received Silver Kingpin Awards from the Intermodal Association of North America during Intermodal Expo 2019 on Sept. 16.

As GM was nearing the expiration of its labor contract with the union last week, the carmaker sought to have hourly workers pay 15% of their health care costs, according to sources familiar with the talks. But by the time the company presented UAW with a deadline offer, GM walked back the proposal and called for keeping contributions steady at about 4%, said the sources.