Distribution Center

The report, entitled “JLL’s U.S. IND Market Dynamics Q3,” stated that third-quarter leasing volume reached 146.2 million square feet (MSF), marking the highest level of leasing activity since the first quarter of 2024 (and 387.1 MSF year-to-date).

The facility in Wellford is the third of five high-tech, perishable good DCs or "PDCs" Walmart is launching for the U.S. market, tapping technology from Witron.

How shippers are addressing root-cause challenges—one conversation at a time.

As tariffs and trade policy continued to create uncertainty, there were indications of increased industrial real estate leasing activity in the second quarter, according to the new edition of the Industrial Business Indicator (IBI), which was recently issued by San Francisco-based real estate investment trust company Prologis.

As American manufacturers and distributors reshore their supply chains, third-party logistics providers are delivering critical infrastructure and scalable solutions that facilitate the complex transition.

In its “Q2 U.S. Industrial Market Report,” the firm observed that second quarter net national absorption, at 29.9 million square-feet (MSF), was in line with the first quarter’s 30.3 MSF tally, adding that the second quarter output came in ahead of expectations, and also that demand was paced by “newly built logistics product,” which the firm defines as warehouses built since 20023.

More companies are adopting robots to improve productivity, reduce physical strain, and offset workforce gaps.

Stephanie Rodriguez, National Director of Industrial Services at Colliers, shares how she’s helping clients make smart decisions in what she calls a VUCA era—short for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.

The report, entitled “North American Big Box Industrial Overview,” observed that going back to 2020, the largest North American markets for big box industrial space—which includes modern distribution and warehouse buildings that are 200,000 square-feet or more and with ceiling heights at least 28 feet clear—have added what it called an unprecedented 1.3 billion SF (square-feet) of new supply, expanding the big-box market rate by nearly 50%.

GNC's labor-intensive inventory counting process once relied on teams navigating 450,000 square feet of warehouse space with materials handling equipment. Now, drones are streamlining cycle counts, reducing resource constraints, and improving efficiency across its distribution centers.

Occupiers signed leases for 49 mega distribution leases in 2024, topping the 43 signed in 2023 (2023 was the first year in which there was a decline in the number of mega distribution center leases—that saw sharp gains during the pandemic, topping out at 61 in 2022)

Explore unconventional practices in distribution centers, highlighting how some seemingly odd methods can be effective or even become best practices depending on context and operational needs.

The report observes that while Big-Box industrial product was the beneficiary of the highest developer interest and tenant demand during what Colliers calls the “hyperactive real estate cycle in 2021 and 2022,” it has since returned to pre-pandemic levels, with less surplus and lower demand.

One of the report’s key takeaways related to industrial markets by inventory was that developers continue to deliver modern facilities at what the firm called a “feverish” pace. Over the past four quarters, U.S. industrial inventory grew 4.1% annually, with the 25 largest markets expanding by an average of 3% annually.

The new 162,836 square-foot DC is located at 8475 Automation Drive and 30 minutes from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, said DHL. The company said that this facility is staffed by around 150 employees, working two shifts seven days per week and processing B2C (business-to-consumer) e-commerce domestic inbound and outbound parcels and packages for U.S-based online merchants.