Transportation TIP List: Week of November 13th, 2016

Election Day has come and gone, but the top trends in the transportation industry keep moving. If you could vote for the most important trends in logistics, how would you cast your ballot? This week, retail holiday preparation and autonomous delivery vehicles are some of the top candidates on our TIP List. The stories below take a look at how the results of the 2016 election will affect the transportation and supply chain industry – both short-term and beyond.

• How Logistics Must Change to Meet Holiday Retail Needs: Expectations surrounding e-commerce sales are now part of the logistics equation. Logistics companies and retail supply chains alike need to adapt to meet high-delivery volumes for the holiday season.

• FTR Analyzes Potential Impact of Election on Trucking Industry: Whenever there is a change in power, there are risks that arise. However, FTR foresees limited short-term impact to the overall economy — and the transportation industry — as a result of the U.S. presidential election results.

• Robo-Couriers Are Breaking the Logistics Chain to Transform How We Order Online: Thanks to a new generation of learning robots, automation of logistics will stretch from the production line to delivery. Currently, self-driving trucks and cars are offering a glimpse at the next generation of haulage vehicles.

• U.S. Retail Industry Asks Donald Trump to Embrace ‘Fair and Open Trade’: The rail industry has reached out to president-elect Donald Trump, asking him to move quickly on issues such as tax reform, the regulatory system and the international trade market.

• Retail CEOs Breathe Sigh of Relief as Vote Distraction Ends: Many retailers have complained that the election was a massive distraction keeping Americans from shopping — but it is safe to say that the conclusion of the election has opened up opportunities for the all-important holiday shopping season.

• Donald Trump’s Infrastructure Plan Faces Speed Bumps: Donald Trump’s current proposal for $1 trillion worth of new infrastructure construction relies entirely on private financing. However, industry experts say it may fall short in funding improvements to roads, bridges and airports.

• Last Week’s Spot Truckload Rates Jump on Increased Demand: Spot truckload market availability gained 4.8 percent, while the number of trucks posted dropped 2 percent in the week ending Nov. 5^th. The average spot truckload van rate was up 5 cents week-over-week, just 1 cent below last year’s levels.

What do you think are the most important post-election industry trends?