Market Shifts, USPS Rate Hikes, WCI Spot Rates & Other News
If you thought the first week of January was going to be a slow ease-in, Week 2 had other plans. It has been a heavy week for the industry with significant news regarding Fast Group winding down operations, alongside major updates from Walmart and the USPS (who decided to raise rates and lock down data in the same week).
Oh, and if you haven't looked at your postage meter lately, USPS rate hikes started on Sunday.
Let’s dive in.
Fast Group Winding Down Operations
Significant news hit the market last week regarding Fast Group - the parent company of Sendle, FirstMile, and ACI Logistix. Max Garland at Supply Chain Dive reported that the company is winding down operations effective immediately due to capital constraints. It is a difficult moment for the team and a significant shift in the alternative carrier landscape. I fear there will be more headlines this year of smaller carriers going out of business - I’ve seen some rate cards recently and it’s simply not possible for them to make money (and gravity always wins!) Source: Supply Chain Dive
USPS Rate Hikes Begin
The USPS January 2026 Price Change went into effect Sunday.The headline stats: Ground Advantage prices are jumping an average of 7.8%, while Priority Mail is up 6.6%. If your 2026 budget was built on 2025 rates, you will want to review your postage metrics. Source: USPS
Walmart & Wing: Drone Delivery Scales Up
While Amazon is pulling drones out of Italy, Walmart is doubling down in the US. The retailer announced a massive expansion of its partnership with Wing (Alphabet's drone unit), scaling service to 270 stores across the country. The move will bring 30-minute aerial delivery to millions more customers, proving that for Walmart, the "last mile" is increasingly becoming the "last 400 feet." Source: WSJ
Birkenstock's Warning: 2026 Tariffs Will Bite
The tariff pain is getting specific. Birkenstock CFO Ivica Krolo warned investors this week that new 2026 tariffs will have a "material impact" on margins that price hikes alone might not fix. It’s one of the first major consumer brands to explicitly flag that the "efficiency" levers have been pulled, and now the costs are likely to stick. Source: Supply Chain Dive
Decreases in the Drewry World Container Index Spot Rates
The WCI spot rates on Shanghai to New York decreased 10% to $3,568 per 40ft container and those from Shanghai to Los Angeles decreased 7% to $2,909 per 40ft container. Carriers were unable to sustain rates because of weak demand despite upwards pressure on spot rates due to the expected Chinese New Year factory shutdowns next month.
Ocean carriers have put on hold their plans to resume transits via the Red Sea amid escalating protests in Iran and the risk of direct US military intervention, which continues to drive volatility in the region.
Penske Deploys AI to Track Freight
While everyone talks about "AI," Penske Logistics is deploying it. The company announced it is rolling out a new AI-based platform (via partner Augment - Harish Abbott’s newco (ex Deliverr)) to track shipments across its massive fleet. The goal isn't just visibility; Penske projects a 30-40% productivity gain by using the tool to automate manual "track and trace" calls and emails. If you’re still calling dispatchers for status updates in 2026, you’re officially behind the curve. Source: Transport Topics
USPS to Restrict Tracking Data Access
The Postal Service is tightening its grip on data. Starting in April 2026, the USPS will restrict access to bulk package tracking data, forcing third-party service providers (aggregators, software platforms) to sign new agreements and potentially pay fees for API access. While this won't affect consumers tracking their own packages, it’s a major hurdle for the logistics tech ecosystem that relies on these free data streams to power your dashboards. Source: Supply Chain 24/7
-Matt Hertz, Founder & CEO of Third Person, the smartest way for e-commerce brands to find a 3PL
