So much of what we thought we knew about demand – that thing that drives the actions of our customers – was upended. btrebilcock@peerlessmedia.com

Being able to adapt a fulfillment center's systems and output to respond to surging ecommerce demand can be seen as shaping key trends btrebilcock@peerlessmedia.com

Taking steps to expand its United States facilities footprint, Chicago-based third-party logistics (3PL) services provider and global freight forwarder SEKO Logistics said this week it has opened two new East Coast-based regional distribution hubs in Baltimore and Charlotte. btrebilcock@peerlessmedia.com

At the ProMatDX keynote, a distinguished group of women in supply chain converged to share their career experiences and discuss how they successfully implemented, measured and showcased operational success (and sometimes challenged the status quo). btrebilcock@peerlessmedia.com

The February 2021 TCI, which is the most recent month for which data is available, came in at 11.23, ahead of January’s 10.37 and December’s 8.51 readings. btrebilcock@peerlessmedia.com

Rail carloads—at 233,300—headed up 17.4% annually, and intermodal units—at 280,424 units—were up 32.4%. btrebilcock@peerlessmedia.com

Commerce reported that March retail sales—at $619.1 billion—were up 9.8% compared to February, while rising 27.7% annually, and the National Retail Federation reported that its calculation of March retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, pointed to a 7.4% seasonally-adjusted increase, from February, and a 17.7% unadjusted annual gain. btrebilcock@peerlessmedia.com

Total March POLA volume—at 957,500 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—represented a 113% annual increase compared to March 2020, and total March POLB volume—at 840,387 TEU—was up 62.3% annually. btrebilcock@peerlessmedia.com