Technology

Technology

Parallel Systems raises $100M for Panther rail vehicles, global expansion

Parallel Systems, a Los Angeles-based autonomous freight rail company, has raised $100 million in Series C funding to scale production of its Panther battery-electric rail vehicle and expand internationally. The financing follows a $38 million Series B round in 2025. Parallel targets the underutilized short-haul rail segment — routes under 500 miles, which constitute 60% of the $1 trillion surface freight market. CEO Matt Soule called the round "the strongest market signal to-date that autonomous freight rail is ready for its moment." Investors include AVP, Hillspire, Agility Global, Cobalt Capital, Anthos Capital, and Congruent Ventures.

2026-10-09

Technology

Trimble weighs sale of freight unit amid AI push

Trimble continues its strategic review of its transportation and logistics business with ongoing interest from multiple parties, while simultaneously launching new AI tools for freight operations. CEO Rob Painter confirmed no decision has been made, emphasizing comfort with retaining ownership. The company unveiled AI-driven enhancements to its TMS platform, including Arc Agent, and expanded mapping data for U.S.-Mexico cross-border freight, which now covers 6 million North American locations.

2026-10-07

Technology

STG Logistics names Jack Holmes CEO after 90% debt cut

STG Logistics has named Jack Holmes as CEO following a Chapter 11 restructuring that cut $1 billion in debt—reducing funded debt by 90%—and secured $150 million in new capital. Holmes, former UPS Freight CEO, replaces Geoff Anderman, who will stay on as adviser. The company also appointed Gary Enzor as chairman and added four new board members, including ex-Yellow Corp. CEO Darren Hawkins.

2026-10-07

Technology

C.H. Robinson acquires RXO for $5.8B in largest brokerage deal

C.H. Robinson is acquiring RXO for approximately $5.8 billion in enterprise value—the largest truck brokerage deal in history. RXO shareholders will receive $30.25 per share in cash or a cash-and-stock mix. The deal targets $300 million in run-rate cost synergies within two years; at C.H. Robinson’s trailing P/E of 26, that implies roughly $7.8 billion in value, exceeding the purchase price. RXO had suffered ten consecutive quarters of net losses and a stock price that fell below $11 last November, while C.H. Robinson’s investment-grade credit rating—two notches above the cutoff—will be maintained post-merger according to ratings agency consultations.

2026-10-07

Technology

Evri acquires US firm to enter U.S. last-mile delivery

UK parcel carrier Evri will enter the U.S. delivery market through an acquisition scheduled to close in Q3 2025. The company plans to operate from five U.S. distribution hubs starting with Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta. Evri expects $120 million in annual U.S. revenue by 2026 and aims to capture 3.7% of the U.S. last-mile parcel volume within three years. The deal includes 420 employees and 185 delivery vehicles. FMCSA approval is expected by May 2025, with service rollout beginning in October 2025.

2026-10-06

Technology

Atomic raises $12.5M for AI supply chain agents

Atomic, a startup founded by former Tesla executives, has raised $12.5 million to deploy AI agents for enterprise supply chain automation. Its software is already in production use with DoorDash and HelloFresh, validating real-world applicability. The funding supports expansion across industries and geographies, capitalizing on growing demand driven by rising logistics costs, labor shortages, and customer expectations for speed. Atomic’s agentic AI adapts autonomously to real-time data — a departure from rigid, rule-based systems — positioning it competitively against SAP and Oracle in the evolving supply chain automation market.

2026-10-03

Technology

US Robot Installations Surpass Japan Amid Food, Logistics Push

The US surpassed Japan in industrial robot installations in 2025, driven by automation in food and logistics. Japan’s installations fell 19% to 36,219 units, while Mexico saw a 7% drop to under 5,200 units. The IFR forecasts global installations will hit 655,000 units in 2026 and 806,000 by 2029. Nissan’s Re:Nissan plan cuts 20,000 jobs by 2027; BYD launched its $1.1bn Brazil plant in July 2025. Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute project 1.9 million unfilled US manufacturing jobs by 2033.

2026-10-03

Technology

PlusAI to close $800M SPAC merger by year-end

PlusAI expects to close its $800 million SPAC merger with Texas Ventures Acquisition III Corp. by year-end, securing up to $300 million in proceeds—including $60 million in committed financing and a $236 million SPAC trust—to fund operations through 2027. Its HyperFoundry platform generated $25 million in revenue this year and targets $40–$50 million in contracted revenue for 2026. Commercial pilots run daily in Texas with International and Ryder, while OEM partnerships with TRATON, Hyundai, and IVECO pave the way for SuperDrive deployment. Driverless truck commercialization is slated for 2027.

2026-10-02

Technology

CMA CGM acquires FedEx Supply Chain for $1.4 billion

CMA CGM has completed its $1.4 billion acquisition of FedEx Supply Chain, gaining control of more than 20 U.S. distribution centers and 13,000 employees. The deal, approved by U.S. antitrust regulators in August 2026, expands CMA CGM’s logistics footprint across North America. FedEx Supply Chain reported $2.1 billion in revenue in its most recent fiscal year. CMA CGM plans to invest $180 million over two years to upgrade automation and IT systems. Integration is scheduled for completion by end-2026.

2026-10-02

Technology

Port Houston container volumes edge higher as steel imports surge 54%

Port Houston container volumes edged higher as steel imports surged 54% year on year, lifting total TEU throughput to 1.2 million. Steel now comprises 14.7% of import tonnage, up from 9.8% a year earlier. The port expanded its steel staging area by 28 acres in June 2026 and deployed new cranes and rail siding for 10,000-ton unit trains. Its digital cargo tracking system processes 42,000 steel-related container movements monthly — a 39% rise since January 2026. CEO Ricardo S. Maldonado credited the growth to 18 months of targeted infrastructure and software investments.

2026-10-01

Technology

Supply Chain Visibility Investments Slow Decisions, Study Finds

New research in the Journal Of Business Logistics (published Sep 28, 2026) finds supply chain visibility tools have not accelerated decisions — and may slow them without governance. Fewer than 1% of firms assign clear ownership for exceptions; only 9% of employers feel very prepared for AI's labor impact (Sep 29, 2026); nearly half of service robots sold in 2025 targeted logistics. The study stresses predefined response guidelines and feedback loops as essential complements to visibility tech.

2026-10-01

Technology

Cognex acquires RealSense for $500 million amid robotics growth

Cognex has acquired RealSense for $500 million to enhance its machine vision and 3D sensing capabilities for robotics applications. The deal comes as the robotics market expands, with concurrent infrastructure projects like the Port of Savannah’s $1.6 billion expansion — now 60% complete — and logistics integrations such as Echo Global Logistics’ unification of ITS and Roadtex on Sep 29, 2026. UPS also launched a new secure commerce service on Sep 30, 2026. These developments reflect accelerating investment in sensor-driven automation across supply chain operations.

2026-10-01