This Week In Logistics

Purpose. People. Proof.A social enterprise running 200 supported employees across multiple sites. A candle brand built from scratch by the people making it. And a 3PL winning large contracts — not because of charity, but because of results.This is the season one finale of This Week in Logistics, and it is a different kind of episode.CartonCloud CEO Shaun Hagen sits down with Sharon, Operations Manager at Hone — formerly Hoxton Industries — a Southwest Sydney social enterprise that has been delivering supported employment since 1969. What started as a bike repair program has grown into a multi-service operation running destruction, packaging, point of sale, return and earn, and 3PL — plus Lumiere, a candle and home fragrance brand made entirely by Hone's people from start to finish.The conversation goes beyond logistics. It is about what happens when you build an operation around purpose first — and how that discipline produces better outcomes.Sharon makes a case that most operators will not have heard before: that running a workforce with additional support needs forces the kind of clarity, structure, and communication that most operations only aspire to. The businesses that struggle, she says, are the ones where nobody really knows what the processes are. Hone does not have that luxury. And it turns out it delivers better results.At the same time, she is direct about the parts that do not make the brochure. Funding is inconsistent. Cost structures are genuinely complex. Running a commercial business while advocating for workers who deserve the opportunity is a constant balancing act. It is not always clean. But it is always worth it.The question most logistics operators ask is how to do more with less. The more useful one might be whether the operation is actually built around the people doing the work.This episode covers:How Hone grew from a local bike repair program into a multi-service 3PL with its own consumer brand — and why growth has always followed purpose, not the other way aroundWhy structure and clarity are not optional when your workforce has additional support needs — and why that standard makes Hone a better operator across the boardHow Hone wins and retains major clients like Vision Australia and Medtronic — on time delivery, accurate orders, and radical honesty when things go wrongWhat meaningful employment actually looks like for the 200 people working across Hone's sites — and why the confidence that comes from doing a job well cannot be engineered through a KPI systemWhere Lumiere came from, what it represents for Hone's people, and why it changes how the community sees the business entirelyWhy partnering with a social enterprise is a commercial decision, not a charitable one — and what operators get in return: reliability, commitment, and people who genuinely want to be thereWhat Sharon would tell any logistics operator thinking about employing people with disabilities or partnering with a social enterprise: start with an open mind and leave the assumptions at the doorThe best operators are clear about what they stand for, know their people, and do not wait for the market to calm down before they get disciplined.

FedEx Freight goes independent. A humanoid robot sorts a quarter of a million packages without a failure. And oil finally gives us a credible path to relief. Let's dive in.This Week in Logistics, we're covering two weeks of structural shifts that have been building in the background for months — and this fortnight, all three became reality.FedEx Freight completed its separation from FedEx Corporation on 1 June and began trading on the NYSE under ticker FDXF. The largest LTL carrier in North America — 26,000 service centre doors, its own board, its own salesforce, and its own technology roadmap — is now competing purely on freight merit for the first time in 25 years. Figure AI ran a warehouse endurance test that was supposed to last eight hours. It ran for 200. Three robots — Bob, Frank, and Gary — sorted 249,560 packages at near-human speed, with zero hardware failures and no human remote control. And on oil: Brent moved from $93 to $101 to $94–97 in a single fortnight on ceasefire-then-strike cycles. The EIA now forecasts $106 for May–June, dropping to $89 by Q4 if the Strait of Hormuz starts reopening — the first credible government signal of eventual relief.The question most operators are asking is when things will normalize. The more useful one is: is your operation ready for the competitive landscape that's being assembled right now?This episode unpacks what these three structural shifts mean for mid-market 3PLs and transport operators today.This week we cover:Why FedEx Freight going independent is a direct competitive signal to every transport business touching LTL freight — and what their focus on technology simplification and mid-market customers actually means for youWhat Figure AI's 200-hour robot test tells us about the pace of warehouse automation — and why the operators with the cleanest processes will be the first to benefitWhy oil settling into a volatile but narrowing range is progress — and why it's still not a reason to unwind your fuel disciplinesWhat the EIA's Q4 forecast of $89 Brent actually depends on, and why modelling against a range of $85–$105 is still the right callWhy Australia's RTCCO has moved from emergency regulation to operating reality — and what non-compliance looks like seven weeks inWhy Canada's PM making port logistics a public priority matters for operators running freight through Canadian corridorsThe difference between theoretical capacity and effective capacity — and why C.H. Robinson's June update is the clearest example of why that distinction matters right nowThree practical actions for the next seven days: pay attention to the structural shifts, model your fuel exposure for the range, and focus on execution qualityIf you run a 3PL, transport operation, or warehouse, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters:From watching structural shifts → to understanding where they create pressure and opportunity for your specific operationFrom running a temporary surcharge model → to building pricing that adjusts in both directionsFrom planning to a single fuel price → to modelling across the range your business actually needs to surviveThe pieces are clicking into place. The question is whether your operation is keeping pace.

The first real Iran deal signal since February, the RTCCO review hearing, and FedEx Freight going independent next week. Let's dive in.This Week in Logistics, we're tracking the first genuine signal of hope since the Hormuz crisis began in February — and why hope is not a plan.President Trump announced the Iran deal is largely negotiated and will be announced shortly, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude dropped below $100 a barrel for the first time in weeks. But Iran's state media immediately pushed back, calling the announcement incomplete and inconsistent with reality. The deal looks like a memorandum of understanding as a first phase, with broader negotiations to follow. Meanwhile, the Fair Work Commission held its first formal review hearing for the RTCCO — the road transport fuel cost recovery order that's been live for five weeks. And FedEx Freight, the largest LTL carrier in North America, is going independent next week. The FedEx board has approved the separation, trading starts on the New York Stock Exchange on the 1st of June under ticker FDXF — an $8.7 billion revenue business that has been sitting inside a parcel company for 25 years, now competing on its own.The question most operators are asking is whether the deal will hold. The more useful one is: what does your pricing look like if it does, and what does it look like if it doesn't?This episode unpacks what these three shifts mean for mid-market 3PLs and transport operators right now.This week we cover:Why the Iran deal headline is the most positive signal since February — and why unwinding your fuel surcharge on hope is structurally dangerousWhat Aramco and Chevron's CEOs have already told us about how slowly fuel costs come down even in the best case, and why six to twelve months is the realistic timelineWhy the RTCCO review hearing today marks a transition from crisis response to permanent regulation, and what construction, council, and small operators are now asking the CommissionThe broader lesson: emergency regulation has a habit of becoming permanent regulation, and the fortnightly fuel adjustment cadence may well outlast the crisis that triggered itWhat FedEx Freight going independent on the 1st of June actually means — 370 service centres, $1 billion in projected annual free cash flow, 300 IT applications cut, new shipment initiation from five clicks to oneWhy intermodal volumes are up over 7% year-on-year, and why the mode shift window where intermodal pricing lags trucking is still openThe customer expectation gap that is now commercially dangerous: customers hear "deal close" and expect immediate relief while operators are still carrying elevated fuel, labour, compliance, and infrastructure costsThree practical actions for the next seven days: don't unwind on hope, check your RTCCO compliance, and watch the structural shiftsIf you run a 3PL, transport operation, or warehouse, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters:From pricing to a single headline → to building margins that work in both directionsFrom assuming existing rise-and-fall clauses are enough → to verifying they meet the RTCCO minimum standardFrom treating structural shifts as distractions → to recognising the competitive landscape that exists when the fuel crisis easesThe operators who will be strongest in six months are the ones paying attention to both the fuel crisis and the structural shifts underneath it. Spot the pattern early. Simplify your response. And this week — hope is a good sign, but it is not a plan. Prepare for both outcomes.

$18 Brent Swings, Decade-Low Capacity, and Amazon's 96.4% Benchmark. Let’s dive in.This Week in Logistics, we're tracking what happens when volatility stops being a disruption and becomes the operating environment.Brent crude swung $18 in a single week — $115 down to $97 on ceasefire hopes, then back above $105 after Trump rejected Iran's latest proposal. At the same time, DAT says truck availability is already at a decade low — and CVSA's annual road check just pulled thousands more trucks off the road. And Amazon Supply Chain Services posted its first benchmark: 96.4% on-time delivery, with P&G, 3M, and Lands' End confirmed as early adopters.The question most operators are still asking is: when will fuel and capacity normalize? The more useful one is: what will your operation looks like if neither does?Join CartonCloud CEO Shaun Hagen to unpack what these three pressures mean for mid-market 3PLs and transport operators right now.This week we cover:Why planning to a single Brent price is now structurally flawed, and how to build a fuel surcharge cadence that adjusts in both directionsWhy capacity is tightening from four directions at once — fuel economics, compliance crackdowns, seasonal demand, and CVSA road check stacking on top of each otherWhat FedEx reactivating retired MD-11 freighter aircraft actually signals about the freight marketWhy Amazon's 96.4% on-time delivery rate will appear in your next customer conversation, even if your customer isn't considering switchingHow mid-market operators differentiate against a platform built for standardised freightThe CVSA Road Check numbers worth knowing this week — 15 inspections per minute, 72 hours, and roughly 13,000 trucks pulled off the road in a single weekendThree practical actions for the next seven days: build pricing across the range, manage the capacity crunch proactively, and know your own numberIf you run a 3PL, transport operation, or warehouse, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters:From planning to a single price → to building margins that work across the rangeFrom waiting for capacity to ease → to communicating before the pressure arrives at the customerFrom watching Amazon → to knowing exactly where your service complexity makes you irreplaceableThe operators who are winning right now are the ones who plan for the range, not the headline. Plan for range. Communicate before the pressure arrives. Know your number.

Wait... what do Zoolander and self-driving delivery trucks have in common? Find out in today's Ep as we take a look at the latest logistics news — from the view of operators on the ground! In this week’s This Week in Logistics, we’re joined by special guest Scott Murray, VP of Operations at CartonCloud, to get a clear, on-the-ground view of what’s actually happening across the logistics industry right now.There’s a lot happening in the headlines — fuel volatility, cost pressure, and shifting demand — but what does that really look like inside day-to-day operations?This episode goes beyond the surface to unpack how these changes are showing up for operators, where businesses are feeling the strain, and what the best operators are doing differently to stay ahead.Because right now, the environment is less forgiving — and the gap between disciplined operators and everyone else is widening.This week we cover:Why the current market feels “relentless” for logistics operators on the groundHow fuel volatility is forcing mid-contract pricing changes and difficult customer conversationsWhy capacity isn’t the real issue — profitability isWhat the best operators are doing differently, from customer selection to proactive communicationWhy process discipline matters more than technology in the current environmentHow to approach AI in logistics, without overcomplicating itWhy strong customer relationships are becoming a key advantage during volatilityIf you run a 3PL, transport operation, or warehouse, this episode will help you focus on what actually matters right now:From reacting to pressure → to understanding your true cost to serveFrom chasing volume → to protecting profitability and relationshipsGet clear on your costs, tighten your processes, and stay close to your customers — that’s what will carry operators through this period.

In this week’s episode of This Week in Logistics, CartonCloud CEO Shaun Hagen breaks down the moment logistics shifts from a cost problem to a continuity problem.Following the US–NATO blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, fuel markets have moved beyond volatility into potential supply disruption — with diesel shortages already emerging in Australia and New Zealand.This isn’t just a geopolitical story, it’s an operational one.Because what we’re seeing now is a system becoming:• more expensive to run• more administratively heavy• and less tolerant of loose executionAnd that’s how margin leaks start.Not with one dramatic event — but with multiple small frictions landing at the same time.This week we cover:• Why fuel has shifted from a pricing issue to a physical supply constraint• How surcharges are now hitting every layer of the network at different speeds• What Amazon’s fuel surcharge signals about downstream cost pressure• Why the FedEx Freight spin-off points to a faster, simpler operating modelIf you operate in transport, warehousing, or logistics, this is the moment to shift your thinking:Spot the pattern early, simplify your response, and this week’s plan, plan for continuity and not just cost.

The pressure on logistics operators has shifted from forecast to reality.This Week in Logistics we’re watching rising surcharges across ocean, air and parcel actively compress margins, while North American trade becomes more selective ahead of the USMCA review.But the bigger shift is happening inside the warehouse.Join CartonCloud CEO Shaun Hagen from the Gold Coast as he unpacks a fundamental shift in automation — where value is no longer defined by what you implement, but how quickly it integrates and delivers. Because if connection takes months, the ROI is already slipping away.This episode covers:Why surcharge complexity is creating immediate margin riskHow trade is shifting toward more controlled, compliance-driven corridorsWhy automation ROI is now defined by integration speed, not hardwarePlus — this week’s fun fact that puts warehouse scale into perspective, with a warehouse so large they have their own weather system!If you're a 3PL, shipper, or operator, this is your playbook for protecting margin and making faster, smarter execution decisions.Spot the pattern early, simplify your response, and this week especially, audit every surcharge before it audits your margins. We'll see you all next week. Head to cartoncloud.com to learn more.

Why you should automate your operation's "dumbest, harshest problem" with the highest friction, why you shouldn't tune out regarding policy talks for USA x Mexico trade, and other playbook actions for your week. In this week’s episode of This Week in Logistics, CartonCloud CEO Shaun Hagen breaks down the operational signals behind the headlines — and what they mean for 3PL providers, transport operators, and warehouse teams running supply chains day to day.In this episode, we unpack the week’s biggest logistics developments and what they mean for operators across transport, warehousing and supply chain.Topics covered:Fuel price volatility and why slow fuel surcharge adjustments quietly destroy carrier marginsWhat the upcoming USMCA trade talks could mean for cross-border freight, near-shoring strategies and North American supply chainsWhy companies like NAPA Auto Parts and Kroger are investing in targeted warehouse robotics and automationHow leading operators are shifting from “lights-out warehouses” to constraint-focused automationPlus we cover:A record-breaking month for Canadian grain railContainer freight rate changes on the Trans-Pacific trade laneAmazon and FedEx network consolidation strategiesIf you operate in transport, warehousing or logistics, this episode will help you understand where risk is emerging — and where the smartest operators are tightening execution. Learn more at CartonCloud.

In this debut episode of This Week in Logistics, Shaun unpacks three major signals shaping the industry right now.Join us to dive into on the ground innovation at Manifest in Las Vegas, the recent AI-driven shock to logistics stocks, and the US Supreme Court ruling on tariffs — as Shaun breaks down what this means for the industry today, and what it could mean for logistics operators moving forward.Presented by CartonCloudwww.cartoncloud.com