Ron Wright

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈: 𝑨 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑭𝒐𝒐𝒅 & 𝑩𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒔 If you’re leading logistics in New York or New Jersey, congestion pricing isn’t just a traffic issue — it’s a boardroom issue. Food distributors are forecasting up to $300K in annual costs per operator under the new tolling system. For Logistics Directors and Transport Managers, this raises critical questions: How do you re-engineer routes without undermining service? What’s the right balance between cost mitigation and delivery reliability? How do you ensure stakeholders — from CFOs to frontline drivers — stay aligned? This is where strong leadership makes the difference. Directors who can navigate regulation, leverage tech for route optimization, and negotiate strategically with city planners will safeguard margins and service levels. 👉 We’re supporting food & beverage companies right now to find leaders who can step into these challenges. Would you back congestion pricing exemptions for essential goods like food?

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Pittsburgh-based R&R Family of Companies has sold its logistics subsidiaries — WLX|WLE (doing business as WLX and Western Logistics Express) — as it continues to unwind parts of its business following weeks of liquidity concerns and employee layoffs. https://lnkd.in/eSFBpiYd

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Del Monte Foods filed for Chapter 11 in New Jersey. Fresh Del Monte and Tricont Trucking & Logistics (Del Monte's trucking arm) were NOT affected by this Chapter 11 and remain separate. Del Monte Foods and Fresh Del Monte Produce are not the same company, and haven’t been for decades. 🥫 Del Monte Foods (the bankrupt one) is a U.S.-focused processed foods company (canned fruits, vegetables, fruit cups, etc.). 🍌 Fresh Del Monte Produce is a global fresh produce and logistics company, publicly traded (NYSE: FDP) and based in Cayman/Florida. This split goes back to 1997, when Del Monte was broken into: Fresh Del Monte Produce (sold to Mexican conglomerate and later IPO’d) and Del Monte Foods (focused on shelf-stable products) Here's where I think the distinction is important and what it means for freight and CPG/Food + Bev: ✅Tricont Logistics/Fresh Del Monte is better insulated 🚢Fresh Del Monte is asset-heavy, vertically integrated, and diversified They own farms, reefer ships, cold storage, container operations, and their own trucking division (Tricont). 🍌They sell fresh bananas, pineapples, melons, avocados, etc. Global demand= less reliance on U.S. consumer-packaged goods trends. ✅Tricont supports a critical supply chain 🚚Tricont is responsible for hauling perishable goods with tight time windows, which is mission-critical to Fresh Del Monte’s success. ✅Better exposure to global markets 🌍Fresh Del Monte earns significant revenue in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, which are not as affected by U.S. inflation, changing consumer preferences, or margin compression from the likes of Walmart, Kroger, and Aldi. So what's the takeaway? 👉Vertical integration=resilience. Owning logistics at this scale (like Tricont) cushions companies from upstream/downstream shocks. 👉Fresh > processed. Consumer preferences are tilting toward fresh, healthy, ready-to-eat over canned/staple. 👉Global > domestic. Exposure to multiple global markets helps offset regional downturns.

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Nassau Candy Distributors, Inc. has been named the preferred distribution partner for Ferrara’s Jelly Belly Candy Company brand in the Specialty Channel. The company reports that as part of this designation, Nassau will provide direct shipment to its Specialty Channel customers, including small parcel and less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments. Andrew Reitman, Edward Taylor Read More: https://lnkd.in/eDidAT8n

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What happens when you align people, processes, and platforms? You get smarter planning and stronger performance. US Foods is doing exactly that—modernizing delivery operations across 70+ DCs and serving 250,000+ customers daily with help from Descartes. In this on-demand web seminar, hear from Ryan Pelphrey on how they're reducing miles, enhancing visibility, and boosting customer experience at scale.

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Massachusetts Logistics Industry Sees Surge in Activity Boston, MA - The Massachusetts logistics sector is buzzing this week as local freight brokers, carriers, and shippers work to meet growing demand for timely deliveries across the Northeast. With e-commerce on the rise, industry leaders are optimistic about continued growth. "Our team has been working tirelessly to connect local businesses with reliable carriers," says Jean Bertrand, Chief Executive Officer of a local freight brokerage. "We're seeing a significant increase in demand for expedited services, particularly in the Boston area." As the industry adapts to evolving supply chain challenges, stakeholders are focusing on building stronger partnerships and leveraging technology to drive efficiency. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is encouraging businesses to explore innovative logistics solutions to stay competitive in the region.

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The January LMI report shows inventory levels rebounding from their December low, but compared to typical January surges, the rate of restocking remains modest at 53.9 versus last year’s 58.5. This is deliberate, as firms are deciding to stick with leaner inventories, likely in response to high holding costs and uncertainty. That said, Inventory Costs climbed to 71.3%, thanks to tariffs, inflation, and supply chain volatility, all of which continue to outpace inventory growth. This reinforces the need to remain cautious and cost-conscious when it comes to inventory management. #thefreightarchitects #jaguarfreight #logistics https://lnkd.in/eiRkwp3b

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