Faced with economic uncertainty and increasing competition, wholesale distributors are planning significant shifts in their inventory strategies for 2026, according to Phocas Software’s first annual 2026 Inventory Trends in Wholesale Distribution report. The report, which surveyed over 100 global distribution professionals, shows that 54% expect to adopt a new demand forecasting approach in 2026. This… Continue reading 54% of distributors seek demand forecasting overhaul in 2026, report finds
Month: March 2026
Flatbed report: Farm equipment sales send a mixed signal for ag freight demand
January 2026 farm equipment sales data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) paints a cautious picture for agricultural activity heading into the new year. Total farm tractor sales fell 4.7% year-over-year to 8,771 units, with the headline decline driven largely by weakness at the high end of the market — tractors over 100 horsepower… Continue reading Flatbed report: Farm equipment sales send a mixed signal for ag freight demand
Torc Robotics takes autonomous trucks into Michigan’s snow and ice
Torc Robotics is taking its autonomous trucks where few competitors have ventured: the snow, ice and rain of Michigan’s humid continental climate. The Daimler Truck subsidiary announced it will expand public-road testing to the greater Ann Arbor area using the latest-generation autonomous chassis based on the Freightliner Cascadia. This marks a first and strategic departure… Continue reading Torc Robotics takes autonomous trucks into Michigan’s snow and ice
Broker liability at the Supreme Court: real-time coverage as the arguments are made
Good morning. Editor at large John Kingston and Washington bureau chief John Gallagher will be following the oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday in Montgomery vs. Caribe, the case that is expected to settle an almost existential question in freight brokerage: does the safety exception of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (F4A),… Continue reading Broker liability at the Supreme Court: real-time coverage as the arguments are made
Reefer Produce Report: Weather wrecks supply, rates tell two different stories
The Big Picture Mother Nature is reshaping the produce freight map. California storms and Florida’s freeze are pulling supply out of the two biggest shipping regions in the country — and yet, rates aren’t responding the way you’d expect. Florida continues to slide for the second straight week, reefer rates down 15% , California capacity… Continue reading Reefer Produce Report: Weather wrecks supply, rates tell two different stories