CLIFF NOTES 
Top Logistics Headlines This Week

Domestic Freight Management

Winter Weather Shipping Advisory

Please note that logistics operations could be impacted across the Northeast and Midwest due to Winter Storm Liam. The storm is expected to drop a mixture of snow, sleet, ice and rain over the next few days with the potential to delay over-the-road, intermodal, air and ocean cargo transportation. Click here to track the storm. 

January Truck Orders Reach Record

According to FTR, the number of orders for Class 8 semi-trucks more than doubled during January, compared year-over-year, reaching the highest level since 2006. January was the fourth consecutive month truck orders surpassed 30,000 units. Click here to read more. 

FDA Begins Accepting Applications for VQIP

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now started accepting applications for participation in its new trusted trader program for food imports. If approved, importers could receive expedited entry, limited examination and sampling, preferred location sampling and also access to a special "help desk." Click here to read more. 

Port of Virginia Appointment System to Go Live March 1

The Port of Virginia announced that it will implement its Trucker Reservation System (TRS) at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT), effective March 1, 2018. Appointments will be required and enforced from 5am to 7am Monday through Friday and 7am to 9am on Saturdays. Virginia joins a number of the largest U.S. ports in implementing trucker appointment systems to better manage container pick ups and drop offs amid expanding import volumes. Click here to read more. 

Savannah & Charleston Ports to Create Chassis Pool

The port authorities of Savannah and Charleston have agreed to create a new chassis pool with the goal of adding 10,000 chassis by July 1, 2018, according to the JOC. The new chassis pool will supplement the existing fleet operated by the South Atlantic Chassis Pool (SACP). 

Retail Consolidation

Walmart Acquires Virtual Reality Startup

Walmart's most recent acquisition of a virtual reality startup, Spatialand, is expected to help the big-box retailer in its technology-first strategy. Spatialand will work with Walmart's Silicon Valley-based tech incubator, Store No 8, a stand-alone entity at Walmart. Click here to read more. 

Kroger Announces New Shopping Aisle Technology

Kroger announced it will roll out a new technology, Kroger Edge, to nearly 200 stores by the end of this year. The new aisle technology will display pricing and nutritional information as well as video ads and coupons for various products. Click here to read more.