First, lets get a clear picture of what blockchain technology is.  A blockchain facilitates secure online transactions. A blockchain is a decentralized and distributed digital ledger that records transactions across many computers in such a way that the registered transactions cannot be altered retroactively.  So how can this technology benefit your food grade supply chain?  Shipping today is riddled with documentation, regulations, and policies that require certificates of origin, letters of credit, bills of lading, vessel manifests, and customs declarations.  When dealing with food grade materials, the paperwork can become overwhelming.  Blockchain converts documents, such as traditional vessel manifests or bills of lading into a digital ledger that all parties can see and share. This distributed database maintains a continuously growing list of data records hardened against tampering and unapproved alterations.  

Last year we wrote about a futuristic high-speed train design capable of speeds in excess of 1000 km per hour.  It is known as the "Hyperloop", the brainchild of Elon Musk, a successful entrepreneur and investor in Hyperloop technology.  On Thursday, Maryland officials gave Mr. Musk’s Boring company permission to dig a 10.1-mile tunnel beneath the state-owned portion of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, between the Baltimore city line and Maryland state route 175 in Hanover, according to the Baltimore Sun. Musk wants to build two 35-mile tunnels between Baltimore and Washington, DC.  A non-stop trip would take less than 5 minutes.  Transit times like this give new meaning to the term Expedited Service. 

Amazon.com Inc. is experimenting with a new delivery service intended to make more products available for free two-day delivery and to relieve overcrowding in its warehouses, according to people familiar with the plan.   The new delivery program is being called "Seller Flex" where the company will pick up packages from third-party sellers selling on its platform and deliver the products to consumers.  Amazon accounts for 5 to 10 percent of UPS revenue, according to analyst estimates, while FedEx has said the e-commerce giant accounts for less than 3 percent of its sales. 

Walmart has acquired Brooklyn-based delivery startup Parcel, the retail giant’s sixth technology startup acquisition in the past 14 months.  This move is just a singular acquisition toward an aggressive common industry goal; catch up with Amazon.  It makes sense.  The best online ordering system means nothing without boots, or in this case, wheels, on the ground.  

Three Square Market, (32M) is offering implanted chip technology to all of their employees on August 1st, 2017. 32M is a technology company specializing in RFID technology, touting its application as a vehicle to enhance identity protection.  Employees will be implanted with a RFID chip allowing them to make purchases in their break room micro market, open doors, login to computers, use the copy machine, etc.  This program, offered by 32M, is optional for all employees. The company is expecting over 50 staff members to be voluntarily chipped.  The big picture with this technology is providing convenience to its chip holders for everything they would use a credit, debit or personnel ID card for in the workplace.  Is it the next best thing or another chapter in George Orwell's best seller, 1984?

"Telematics", loosely defined, is described as the branch of information technology that deals with the long-distance transmission of computerized information.  Telematics is a combination of the words telecommunications and informatics. Telematics, in a broad sense, is any integrated use of telecommunications with information and communications technology. It is the technology of sending, receiving and storing information relating to remote objects, like vehicles, via telecommunication devices.  This may be considered as simply some complicated verbiage to describe an overly complicated process that we've been practicing for decades.  The most immediate application of Telemetrics will be the ELD mandate set to take affect December 18, 2017.  In this article we will attempt to outline what to expect, how to prepare and potential liability issues for your organization.

Toys R Us Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection late on Monday, Sept. 18, as the U.S.'s largest toy retailer couldn't deal with its rising debt load.  The chapter 11 filing suggests Toys R Us may survive to sell again.  Chapter 11 focuses on debt restructuring rather than liquidation.  The main difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy is that under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, the debtor's assets are sold off to pay the lenders whereas in Chapter 11, the debtor negotiates with creditors to alter the terms of the loan without having to liquidate assets.  The company said it intended to use these court-supervised proceedings to restructure its outstanding debt and establish a sustainable capital structure, adding that bankruptcy protection will enable it to invest in long-term growth.  The filing comes as the toy giant struggled to compete with online retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target.  Court documents show the company has its roots in Children's Bargain Town, a baby furniture store opened by Charles Lazarus in Washington in 1948. He subsequently opened the first Toys R Us in 1957 after adding toys and baby products to his original store.

A Harvey and Irma one-two-punch is bound to significantly effect freight movement in the Southeast and potentially the rest of the U.S.  Trucking analysts fear widespread industry disruption as Hurricane Irma slams the Eastern Seaboard, especially since the track is headed for freight distribution centers in Georgia in the coming week.  We may not realize the full impact of fewer available trucks and DC bottlenecks for days or weeks to come.  Most trucks that did get stuck in Florida are likely from somewhere other than Florida since it is such a consumption state.  So that equipment taken out of service could have an affect just about anywhere in the country. 

Freight Transportation in the Gulf Coast area, and as a result, the rest of the U.S., is expected to be experiencing major delays for the coming weeks.  Harvey has left in its wake, flooded roads, downed power lines and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of disabled tractors.  The storm also could generate a rise in long-term trucking contract prices according to a report by analysts at FTR Transportation Intelligence. 

The impact that tech-savvy customers are having on the ecommerce world is not just stronger than ever; it's faster than ever. Gone are the days when customers would surf the net trying to determine if an online order was worth the risk.  This is, of course, truest among the Generation Z population; those born after 1995.  Of course, responding to the technology laden desires of post-Millennial shoppers requires understanding them, which can be especially difficult for retail brands that weren’t born online.  This is likely a major reason for Amazons dominance in the online retail business.  Conversely, Walmart and Target have had to endure the challenges of transitioning from brick and mortar to an online presence.  Clearly Amazon has defined the direction of online retail.  Since, by some estimates, Gen Z represents more than a quarter of the U.S. population and has an annual U.S. purchasing power of $44 billion online retail is the new normal.  We thought it would be interesting to delve into some of the changes that are on the horizon for online retail.