Fuel Surcharges Spike, UPS Drops the Scanner & The Packing Fails: The Latest Logistics News

The Squeeze: FedEx & UPS Hike Fuel Surcharges 

Just when you thought you had your Q2 margins modeled, the carriers are moving the goalposts. Supply Chain Dive reports that both FedEx and UPS have aggressively adjusted their fuel surcharge indices, driving up delivery costs across the board. Combined with the 3.5% surcharge Amazon slapped on FBA sellers earlier this month, the cost to move a box is creeping up just as consumer demand starts to soften. Source: Supply Chain Dive

Tariff Refunds: What We Know (And Don't Know)

On Monday, April 20, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officially opened Phase 1 of the CAPE portal for companies to claim their share of the $130 billion in unconstitutionally paid IEEPA tariffs. However, the WSJ Logistics Report breaks down the massive unknowns still lingering over the process. While the portal provides a submission pathway, there is zero clarity on processing timelines, how interest payments will be calculated, or when the Treasury will actually cut the checks. Source: WSJ

UPS Seeks to Replace Manual Scans

The iconic "beep" of the barcode scanner might be fading away. According to the WSJ, UPS is investing heavily in tracking tech—including smart RFID and advanced computer vision—to replace manual scanning in its warehouses and on delivery routes. The goal is twofold: eliminate the human error that leads to mis-loads and shave precious seconds off every package touch point. Source: WSJ

Allbirds Bets Big on AI

In a bid to turn its stock around, footwear brand Allbirds announced a major pivot this week, heavily anchored in Artificial Intelligence. The company is actively integrating AI into its supply chain forecasting, inventory management, and even its design processes to lean out operations and speed up time-to-market. It’s a high-stakes gamble to prove that intelligent logistics can save a struggling retail darling. But I ask: which retailers are not using AI to do all of the above. This is much more of a “pump and dump” scheme than intelligent logistics. Source: CNBC

The WCI Slips 

The Drewry World Container Index slipped 3% to $2,246 per FEU last week, ending a six-week rally triggered by Middle East conflicts and rising oil prices. Spot rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles and New York also decreased 3%. This brief cooldown is likely a mirage. Carriers have already announced 9 blank sailings on the Transpacific route next week to artificially tighten capacity. More importantly, brace yourself for May 1: Multiple carriers are rolling out Peak Season Surcharges of around $2,000 per container. Combined with the US-led naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz turning ships back and spiking oil prices, shippers should prepare for reduced schedule reliability, longer lead times, and renewed upward pressure on rates. Source: Drewry