BITE SIZED SUPPLY CHAIN/LOGISTICS INFORMATION Info SNACKS
With diesel prices jumping sharply since the conflict in the Middle East, C.H. Robinson is easing the impact for its contract carrier network by oering free discount fuel cards and free cash advances for fuel. The C.H. Robinson C.H. ROBINSON FUELS SAVINGS 60% of supply chain disruptions will be resolved without human intervention by 2031, as AI enables increasingly autonomous supply chains. –Gartner Inc.
AUTONOMY GETS A TEXASSIZED PROMOTION
International Motors is taking its autonomous ambitions out of the lab and onto the long haul by launching a live freight trial with Ryder System on Texas highways. Their factory-built Level 4 trucks now run a 600-mile loop along I-35 between Laredo and Temple, embedded directly into a working supply chain rather than a test track. Early returns are turning heads: Perfect on-time performance, 92% autonomous driving coverage, and pre-trip checks clocking in under 30 minutes, all with a safety driver still riding shotgun. The clear endgame is to prove autonomous trucking can plug into today’s networks without costly new infrastructure and scale fast from there.
Fuel Card unlocks discounts on fuel at thousands of truck stops across the United States. The card oers big savings: up to $385 in one fill and up to $9,000 a year per truck.
The maritime industry moves 80% of global trade but has long lacked data on vessel performance. New Northeastern University research finds a counterintuitive truth: The most ecient tankers bypass familiar, shorter routes. By ranging across multiple regions, these ships spend up to 50% more time carrying cargo rather than sailing empty, making them significantly more profitable and environmentally sound. The study also identified clear seasonal patterns in global oil flows—with Northern Hemisphere demand peaking in February/March—oering operators a tool to strategically position ships in the future. THE LONG GAME WINS
–A statement from food giant Nestlé after about 12 tons, or 413,793 KitKat candy bars were stolen while en route between production and distribution locations. If the missing candy bars enter unocial sales channels across European markets, all products can be traced using the unique batch code assigned to individual bars. As a result, consumers, retailers, and wholesalers would be able to identify if a product is part of the stolen shipment by scanning the on-pack batch numbers. If a match is found, the scanner will be given clear instructions on how to alert the company. “The vehicle and its load are still nowhere to be found.”
Unilever is selling its food business to McCormick in a $45-billion mega- merger. Reflecting global consolidation, this move creates a $20-billion culinary giant—featuring Knorr, Hellmann’s, and Cholula—while allowing Unilever to focus entirely on health and personal care. The combined entity will immediately reshape global sourcing and production strategies. DITCHING DINNER FOR DERMATOLOGY
April 2026 • Inbound Logistics 1
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