💥 The readers have spoken! The votes are in and we are excited to announce our Reader's Choice Top 10 3PLs of 2026.... Congrats to: 1. @EchoLogistics 2. @HubGroup 3. #KencoGroup 4. @ShipStation Global (formerly WWEX Group) 5. @DHLsupplychain 6. @LyndenInc 7. @R2_Logistics 8. @PLSLogistics 9. #ODWlogistics 10. @RyderSystemInc Thanks to everyone who voted! #Top103PLs #Top10 #3PLs #InboundLogistics

⚡ 𝗚𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 '𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗹𝗹? Nearly $1 million in graded @Pokemon and sports cards disappeared from a parked delivery vehicle in Santa Ana, California last week. The driver left the vehicle unattended and later discovered the lock on the cargo door was missing. Two pallets of cards were gone, and a third had been disturbed. The cards’ grading company, PSA, deactivated the certificates tied to the stolen items and alerted marketplace partners to watch for rare and serialized pieces. The straightforward theft comes as companies across the supply chain are increasingly turning their fraud prevention efforts toward emerging digital threats. Conversations around digital fraud are certainly warranted. The FBI warned in April that criminals are using impersonation, spoofed domains ,and compromised accounts to hijack freight. But @CargoNet’s holiday advisories say companies should be aware of the potential for both traditional theft of unattended freight and identity-based fraud. → Don’t neglect the basics. Loaded vehicles should not be unattended, solid locks should be confirmed, and extra care should be taken with high-value cargo.

[Content Partner Post] There is real value in being surrounded by people who understand the decisions, pressure and constant change that come with keeping retail supply chains moving. #LINK2027 brings together leaders and teams from the nation’s largest retailers and grocers, fast-growing startups and consumer brands to learn from one another, exchange ideas that have been tested and find solutions they can put to work. Learn more: rila.org/link-Inbound-logist…

How do you move from AI buzz to actual ROI in the supply chain? We asked the experts and a few must-haves kept coming up: connected data, strict governance, and keeping human judgment at the center. To deploy agentic AI that delivers, keep these ideas front and center: • Data & Governance: Clean, connected infrastructure is non-negotiable before scaling automated agents (Ross Meyercord, @PropelConverged) • Human-in-the-Loop: Keep operator judgment and decision frameworks accountable, especially in regulated workflows (Nishith Rastogi, @locus_sh; Keith Moore, @AutoschedulerAI and Matthew Fotouhi, @MagayaSoftware) • Procurement & Orchestration: Prevent autonomous agents from adding operational friction without an overarching governing layer (Chris Vessey, @procurewithORO) • Operational Context: AI fails without real-time visibility into shop-floor and cross-border constraints (Peter Budweiser, @Celonis) • Data Portability & Trust: Ask key questions about vendor explainability before turning on default AI features (Ben Hussey, @Katana_MRP and Deepti Sharma, @TrueCommerce) Plus, get strategic insights on preparing for agentic frameworks from @Gartner_inc analyst Jan Snoeckx, George Maksimenko of @adexincom, and Troy Lester, @warptechco. Read the full article for practical AI frameworks: inboundlogistics.com/article… What are your AI ROI hacks? Tell us below.

📈Data comes from everywhere in the supply chain: shipments, invoices, warehouse shifts, carrier negotiations, returns—the list goes on. Companies that put their data to work tend to spend less, move faster, and catch problems sooner. Those that don’t can end up overpaying or making poor decisions without realizing it. Sorting through your mounds of data and fixing challenges like these is a big job, and many shippers don’t have the staff or software to do it alone. That’s where specialized providers come in. Each of the following companies featured in the Inbound Logistics 2026 Logistics Planner works on one or more of these problems. @CT_Logistics_ | Founded in 1923, CT Logistics specializes in freight audit and payment, with ISO-certified processes and payments managed in more than 100 countries. The company also offers a transportation management system and other analytics tools. Fortigo | Fortigo combines a cloud-based multimodal TMS with freight audit and payment in a single system. It is a FedEx Certified Freight Bill Audit and Pay provider for parcel and LTL, and offers real-time dashboards and a savings guarantee. @Freightgate | Driven by a culture of continuous innovation, Freightgate has offered a cloud logistics platform since 2000. It covers TMS, rate management, and global shipment visibility for shippers, forwarders, and carriers. @A3Freight | A3 pairs freight payment with consulting and AI-assisted spend analysis. Its team validates the savings it finds and works with clients to capture them. Services include benchmarking, claims management, and contract negotiation. ARTC Logistics @ar_traffic | ARTC has provided transportation software and services since 1964. Its offerings include freight audit and payment, rate negotiation support, and custom studies, along with an online dashboard that tracks freight spend. @CTSIGlobal | CTSI-Global, in business since 1957, processes tens of billions of dollars in freight spend each year. It offers global freight audit and payment, parcel spend management, the Honeybee TMS, and dashboards for benchmarking and trend analysis. @EasyMetrics | Easy Metrics makes a cloud-based warehouse performance platform that combines labor, process, and financial data. Operations managers can see cost to serve and gross margin by customer, process, and facility. Looking for more partners to help you find and fix logistics cost leaks? Check out the 2026 Logistics Planner today: inboundlogistics.com/logisti…

🚨 EVENT ALERT: Our live webinar with @OdysseyLogistic' Mike Beckwith is happening tomorrow, October 21, at 1:00 PM ET. If you haven't reserved your spot yet, there's still time to learn how to protect your freight from sudden fraud, driver out-of-service orders, and roadside inspection delays before your loads fall through. Can't make the live session? Register anyway, and we’ll email you the full recording. Register now: streamyard.com/watch/4REkQBR…

The logistics world never stops moving. Neither do we. 🚛📦 With fresh insights on everything from transportation strategy to tech innovations, Inbound Logistics keeps you one step ahead. Get your FREE subscription today → inboundlogistics.com/subscri… #LogisticsLeaders #SupplyChainStrategy #InboundLogistics

📣 What we're talking about this week: Everything you need to know about #hazmat #logistics; how to assess your #transportation contingency plans; how #3PLs can help with #AI; this year's top #trucking trends; the future of #parcel delivery #infrastructure. lnkd.in/p/entnJqBQ

It’s been a few months since the landmark $10B last-mile delivery deal between @DHLGlobal and @USPS Find out what DHL eCommerce Americas CEO Scott Ashbaugh told us about the future of parcel delivery infrastructure in the U.S. — and why he believes USPS makes sense as the last-mile provider of choice. Listen to the clip, then check out the full video podcast here: inboundlogistics.com/video-p…

📖 Ready for two fresh picks from the Inbound Logistics Supply Chain Insights library? This info hub features the latest research from industry leaders to help you make smarter, faster decisions. This week’s two essential reads are: Why Going Global Isn’t Always the Right Call – Get a practical framework for balancing global, domestic, regional, and hybrid sourcing based on cost, service, risk, and operational readiness. Offered by @G3_Enterprises How to Prepare for Peak Season – And Avoid the Nightmare Before Christmas – Download this playbook for insider tips to capitalize on peak opportunities while reducing risk and stress during the holiday rush. Offered by jam-n Logistics Access the full collection for free: inboundlogistics.com/whitepa…

Yards used to be an afterthought in supply chain management. Not anymore. Modern yard management systems (YMS), often powered by AI, are eliminating blind spots with real-time visibility. The payoff: ✔️ Less detention and demurrage ✔️ Fewer idle dock doors ✔️ Reduced product spoilage ✔️ Shorter driver wait times Our new special report, Turning Yards Into Strategic Ground, features insights from @KalerisOfficial, @KellerLogistics, @yard_management, and @YMXLogistics. Read the full report: inboundlogistics.com/article… #SupplyChain #YardManagement #Logistics #YMS

Driver issues are now the #1 concern for 71% of carriers. 🚛 And for shippers, cargo theft has spiked to a top concern for 53%. Our 2026 Trucking Perspectives Report surveyed hundreds of market participants to find out how the industry is responding to workforce pressures, rising fuel costs, supply constraints, and more. Watch the 🎥 for key findings 👉 📊 Read the full report: inboundlogistics.com/article… 🏆 PLUS: Find your next carrier partner in our 2026 Top 100 Trucking Companies list: inboundlogistics.com/article… #Trucking #Logistics #SupplyChain #Shippers #Carriers #FreightTransportation

Think your load is safe just because it's booked? Think again. Rates can be locked and carriers confirmed, but double brokering, driver compliance flags, or surprise enforcement actions can put your freight at risk instantly. In this upcoming Inbound Logistics webinar, Mike Beckwith, CTB (VP of Operations at @OdysseyLogistic) shares actionable strategies to protect your booked capacity—and how to respond fast when a carrier falls through. 🗓️ Wednesday, October 21 | 1:00 PM EDT / 10:00 AM PDT 🔗 Register here: streamyard.com/watch/4REkQBR…

Meet this week’s Planner Partner spotlight: @WSI_Logistics. A private 3PL with 60 years of experience, WSI has a warehouse network spanning 14 million sq. ft. Combining efficient processes and advanced technology, WSI helps businesses optimize logistics, enhance operations, and boost customer satisfaction. 👉 Learn more about WSI here: inboundlogistics.com/planner… Looking for more trusted supply chain partners? Find a leading logistics provider here: inboundlogistics.com/find-a-…

🥖 Overnight on Oct. 11, hackers accessed the refrigeration controllers at roughly 150 French supermarkets and set them to defrost. Les Mousquetaires, Intermarché’s parent company, says fridges ran as hot as 50°C (or 122°F) for about six hours. Affected stores were forced to throw out all their fresh and frozen food. The reported entry point was outdated or unpatched Danfoss controllers with remote access that wasn’t properly secured. Danfoss says the targeted models were obsolete or not updated. Practical takeaways for anyone moving or storing perishables: → Cold chain risk doesn’t stop at the reefer trailer. Store coolers, DC freezers, and pharma storage run on connected controllers too. → Know which of your refrigeration controllers are reachable from the internet and who is responsible for patching them. → Intermarché warned its insurance may not cover this type of incident. Read your policy before you need it. Cold chain threats have historically been physical. As technology evolves, they've become digital too. Image: AFP

Supply chain professionals met in Nashville last week for @cscmp EDGE 2026, and two topics came up in nearly every conversation: AI and freight fraud. Highlights from our coverage: • @esteelauderco’s Roberto Canevari explained how the company decides which products need speed, agility, or resilience • TQL’s David Mitsui said cargo theft incidents are down while the value per theft climbs • The 31st Langley 3PL Study was released • @BreakthroughNA presented on diesel supply and truckload capacity. Read the full recap: inboundlogistics.com/article… #CSCMPEDGE #SupplyChain #Logistics

Our publisher Keith Biondo sharing some thoughts today: The Philippines Container Crisis — A Harbinger of Transpacific Friction Do your Asia-Pacific supply lines touch Southeast Asia? Then dial into what's going on at the Philippines ports of Manila, Batangas, and Subic Bay. What started as landside container imbalance and yard congestion is now a serious operational bottleneck. What's the problem? Imports are heavily outstripping exports leaving empty cans piling up with nowhere to put them. Off-dock storage is jammed at 100% capacity, and truckers are stranded waiting to drop off empty boxes. First to take action is Hapag-Lloyd, by temporarily suspending new container bookings into Philippine ports through year-end. If that doesn't take the pressure off, other liners will likely follow suit. Then local drayage delays will quickly cascade into broader feeder disruptions and regional port omitted sailings. While you are waiting for the dust to settle you can take action to limit damage of similar SNAFUs: • Build extra lead time into regional feeder schedules routing through Philippine transshipment gateways when destination ports lack off-dock empty storage. • Audit your contracts to ensure you aren't paying for carrier-driven gate closures. • Negotiate clear terms regarding demurrage, detention, and return location liabilities when destination ports lack off-dock storage. • Keep close tabs on local warehousing and bonded facilities which will be essential buffers while port fluidity normalizes. We’re tracking how carrier delistings and empty-container evacuations play out and what it means for your broader demand-driven strategy.

📣 What we're talking about this week: #WMS flexibility: promise vs. reality; the new era of #global #trade (from a CEO who knows); mapping #AI to #supplychain resilience; a smarter solution for #footwear #fulfillment. lnkd.in/p/e-3qUJ9Y

𝗔𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄. @DHLGlobal and @NYUStern released the latest Globalization Tracker this week. A few numbers stood out: → Goods trade grew faster in H1 2026 than in any half-year in the past 15 years, apart from the Covid rebound. → AI-enabling goods like semiconductors and data-transmission equipment drove 42% of goods trade growth in 2025. In Q1 2026, that share hit 76%. → Growth is forecast at 3.4% a year through 2029, up from 2.7% over the last decade. That outlook is stronger than it was before the tariff hikes or the Iran war. Tariffs and the Strait of Hormuz closure did real damage in specific places. Saudi Arabia’s trade value fell 37% in the first five months of the year, but the global impact on trade numbers was limited. The U.S. accounts for only about 13% of world imports and roughly half of those were exempt from the tariff increases. Direct U.S.–China trade has fallen to 1.6% of world trade, but Chinese inputs increasingly reach the U.S. through third countries. Counting those indirect imports, U.S. reliance on China has dropped only slightly. The report advises leasers to plan for disruption without retreating from global markets. Companies that pull back while competitors stay global risk losing ground. Source: DHL Globalization Tracker, October 2026