This Week In Logistics

#ThisWeekinLogistics, we're covering two weeks of news in one episode — because the volume of developments between late April and early May has been extraordinary.

The Strait of Hormuz escalated from blockade to live fire. Amazon opened its entire logistics network to any business globally. And Q1 freight earnings confirmed what operators have been feeling on the ground — rates are up, but it's fuel and supply pressure doing the work, not demand.

The question most people are still asking is when does this settle. The more useful one is what does your operation look like if it doesn't?

This episode unpacks all three structural shifts and what they mean for mid-market 3PLs and transport operators right now.

This week we cover:

• Why the Strait of Hormuz crisis has moved from economic disruption to a permanent operating environment — and what that means for your planning assumptions
• Why every fuel model built on pre-February assumptions is now structurally wrong
• What Amazon Supply Chain Services actually is, who it competes with, and where mid-market operators still have a clear advantage
• Why the freight upcycle is real but fragile — and how a supply-driven cycle behaves differently to a demand-driven one
• Why every major parcel carrier globally is running an active fuel surcharge simultaneously for the first time ever
• The mode-shift window that's open right now — and how offering options turns a provider into a logistics partner
• Three practical actions for the next seven days: stress-testing your fuel model, mapping your Amazon exposure, and connecting to crisis infrastructure

If you run a 3PL, transport operation, or warehouse, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters:

From waiting for normal → to planning for what's in front of youFrom riding the rate wave → to fixing your cost structure while conditions allowFrom reacting to Amazon → to knowing exactly where you compete and win

The operators doing well right now aren't waiting for things to calm down. They're being disciplined because things haven't — and they're planning for that to stay the case.

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 ground
• How fuel volatility is forcing mid-contract pricing changes and difficult customer conversations
• Why capacity isn’t the real issue — profitability is
• What the best operators are doing differently, from customer selection to proactive communication
• Why process discipline matters more than technology in the current environment
• How to approach AI in logistics, without overcomplicating it
• Why strong customer relationships are becoming a key advantage during volatility

If 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 serve

From chasing volume → to protecting profitability and relationships

Get 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 how volatility is no longer hitting headline rates — it’s creeping into the hidden cost stack, operational admin, and service expectations.

Following ongoing global fuel shocks, the market may look stable on the surface — but underneath, costs are accelerating, compliance is tightening, and execution risk is rising across every layer of the supply chain.

This isn’t just about pricing anymore.

It’s about how quickly your systems, processes, and data can adapt.

Because right now, the gap between average operators and disciplined operators is widening fast.

This week we cover:

• Why fuel volatility is now hitting through surcharges, accessorials, and admin — not base rates
• What Australia’s new fortnightly fuel adjustment ruling means for pricing cadence and cash flow
• How rising parcel surcharges signal hidden margin pressure across networks
• Why clean data and admin infrastructure are now critical for compliance, refunds, and cash recovery
• How UPS, Home Depot, and major players are raising the bar on visibility, predictability, and service expectations

If you operate in transport, warehousing, or logistics, this episode will help you shift your focus:From watching rates → to managing the full cost stack.

From broad service promises → to selective, reliable execution.

Spot the hidden costs early, tighten your systems, and protect your margins before they slip.

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 execution

And 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 model

If 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 freight market looks stable on the surface — but underneath, operators are feeling the squeeze.

This Week in Logistics, we’re unpacking the growing gap between headline indicators and day-to-day reality. Ocean rates are flat, capacity is available, but behind the scenes, fuel spikes, surcharges, and network instability are quietly driving up costs and increasing execution risk.

Join CartonCloud CEO Shaun Hagen as he breaks down why this is not a crisis moment — but a dangerous one. Because in this kind of market, average operators get caught off guard, while disciplined teams adjust faster and protect margin.

This episode covers:

• Why flat freight rates can mask deeper supply chain instability
• How fuel, fertilizer, + surcharge layering is creating a “silent” margin squeeze
• What blank sailings + early booking behaviour reveal about declining network confidence
• Where automation + infrastructure are actually delivering value (and where they’re not)
• A practical 3-step operator playbook to protect margin and improve execution this week

Plus — this week’s logistics fun fact: the $2M “KitKat heist” and how serialization turned a chocolate theft into a real-time supply chain tracking case study.

If you're a 3PL, shipper, or logistics operator, this episode will help you read beyond the headlines, adapt faster, and make smarter operational decisions in a tightening market.

Spot the pattern early, separate cost from execution, and don’t let “stable” signals hide real risk.

Find out more at CartonCloud.

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 risk
• How trade is shifting toward more controlled, compliance-driven corridors
• Why automation ROI is now defined by integration speed, not hardware

Plus — 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.

Episode 4 of This Week in Logistics explores the hidden forces reshaping global supply chains, from rising ocean rates and fuel-driven margin pressure to tightening cross-border capacity and growing policy risk. Shaun Hagen breaks down how Section 301 investigations, Mexico’s driver shortage, and shifting cost structures are creating the “illusion of capacity” — and what logistics operators must do to stay resilient and in control.

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 margins
• What the upcoming USMCA trade talks could mean for cross-border freight, near-shoring strategies and North American supply chains
• Why companies like NAPA Auto Parts and Kroger are investing in targeted warehouse robotics and automation
• How leading operators are shifting from “lights-out warehouses” to constraint-focused automation

Plus we cover:

• A record-breaking month for Canadian grain rail
• Container freight rate changes on the Trans-Pacific trade lane
• Amazon and FedEx network consolidation strategies

If 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.

The global supply chain is facing another stress test — and this week, resilience isn’t optional.

In this episode of This Week in Logistics, Shaun Hagen breaks down the widening Middle East conflict and its impact on the Strait of Hormuz, with shipping lanes spiking up to 50% and airspace closures disrupting global freight.We unpack what that means for fuel surcharges, capacity crunches, and downstream inflation — even for regional 3PLs.

Because the operators who win won’t be the ones with the best predictions — they’ll be the ones with the best execution discipline.

If you're a 3PL, shipper, or logistics operator planning for 2026, this is your operational brief for the week.

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