Parcel

The new four-year contract includes raises, better pensions, mental health benefits, and protections around AI and automation.

Seattle-based global e-commerce bellwether Amazon recently announced it has it will be expanding its Same-Day and Next-Day Delivery services, with a rural focus, for tens of millions of United States-based customers located in more than 4,000 smaller cities, towns, and rural communities by the end of 2025.

The company explained that this investment comprises its major divisions—DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, DHL Supply Chain, and DHL eCommerce, in various ways, including enhancing infrastructure, expanding networks and capacity, and elevating service capabilities.

The de minimis exemption, which allowed shipments under $800 sent from China and Hong Kong to the U.S. to not be subject to tariffs, and officially came to an end on May 2. With this change now in effect, it requires all shipments from these regions—regardless of value—to undergo full customs processing and be subject to applicable tariffs, as noted in various reports.

Executives from San Diego-based parcel consultancy Shipware offered up some observations on this development, with Amazon and FedEx renewing business ties, following a June 2019 breakup, in which FedEx announced it made a “strategic decision” not to renew the FedEx Express U.S. contract with Amazon, as it focused on serving the broader e-commerce market.

A report stated that Amazon has tapped FedEx to be a partner for the delivery of select large packages to homes, citing an Amazon spokesman, saying the company, “has reached an agreement with FedEx to serve as one of several third-party partners to deliver packages to our customers.”

Following the United States and China announcing yesterday that they have agreed to drop substantial tariffs placed on each other for a 90-day period, through August 12, the White House announced later in the day, through an executive order, that it is lowering applied de minimis tariff rates placed on low-value imports under $800 imported into the United States from China and also Hong Kong.

This move is expected to have a major impact on online retailers like Shein and Temu, which rely on sending goods directly to U.S. shoppers without paying tariffs.

The second quarter edition of the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, which was recently released by New York-based investment firm TD Cowen Inc. and Shreveport, La.-based 3PL and freight audit and payment company AFS Logistics LLC, highlighted how various freight transportation modes are dealing with various issues, including tariff-related actions and an anticipated downward shift in consumer confidence, which could potentially impact prospects for a freight market recovery.

In this podcast, Jeff Berman, Group News Editor for Logistics Management and the Peerless Media Supply Chain Group, interviews Paul Yaussy, Senior Director of Parcel Consulting, for San Diego-based Shipware, and Adi Karamcheti, Consultant, Professional Services at Shipware.

Following a February 18 announcement by the United States Postal Service (USPS), which stated that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy notified the Postal Service Board of Governors to begin the search for “identifying his successor,” DeJoy announced yesterday that March 24 would be his last day in the role.

Soon after United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy notified the Postal Service Board of Governors “it is time for them to begin the process of identifying his successor” on February 18, reports surfaced late last week that the White House intends to make major changes to the organization.

Operating revenue, at $22.499 billion, increased 4.1%, annually, paced by what the USPS called strategic price increases, as well as a strong political and election mailing season. Net income, at $144 million, marked a solid turnaround, compared a $2.1 billion net loss a year ago, largely driven by various strategic initiatives through the organization’s “Delivering for America” plan. Total quarterly volume, at 31.015 million pieces, rose 1.8% annually.

Not long after announcing it would no longer accept international inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong posts, in the United States Postal Service (USPS) reversed course today, saying that in conjunction with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the parties are, “working closely together to implement an efficient collection mechanism for the new China tariffs to ensure the least disruption to package delivery.

The first quarter edition of the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, which was recently released by New York-based investment firm TD Cowen Inc. and Shreveport, La.-based 3PL and freight audit and payment company AFS Logistics LLC, highlighted how various freight transportation modes are handling various factors, including low demand, overcapacity, and pricing.