FAA outlines new rules for drones and their operators
Federal officials say they will allow operators to fly small drones over people and at night, potentially giving a boost to commercial use of the machines.
Distribution & Logistics
Articles
Retailers urge shoppers to buy early amid shipping crunch
The earlier-than-usual deadlines come as more people turn to online shopping during the pandemic, creating a logjam for shipping companies as well as delivery delays. The U.S. Post Office admits that processing plants are “overwhelmed.”
Warehouses luring more cash than offices in pandemic-fueled flip
Investors have poured money into industrial properties in 2020, spending more on U.S. warehouses than office buildings for the first time as social-distancing pushes even more consumers to e-commerce.
Phishing ploy targets COVID-19 vaccine distribution effort
IBM security researchers say they have detected a cyber-espionage effort using targeted phishing emails to try to collect vital information on the World Health Organization’s initiative for distributing COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries.
US Foods planning $20M distribution center expansion in Fishers
The wholesale food distributor received a positive recommendation from the Fishers Plan Commission on Wednesday to change zoning of an adjacent property so the company can eventually add 69,000 square feet to its existing 230,000-square-foot facility.
North Split construction, traffic closures to begin in December
The North Split project, which was first announced in 2017, will reconfigure the Interstate 65/Interstate 70 interchange on the northeast side of downtown.
Home Depot buying HD Supply in deal valued at $8 billion
HD Supply is a distributor of maintenance, repair and operations products. It has two business units in Indianapolis.
Netherlands-based firm confirms plans for $150M local cold-storage facility
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered NewCold more than $2.8 million in conditional tax credits based on the company’s plans to hire 202 workers by the end of 2023.
Online shopping surge could lead to holiday delivery delays
U.S. online holiday sales are expected to shatter previous records. Adobe Analytics, which measures sales at 80 of the top 100 U.S. online retailers, predicts a total of $189 billion in online holiday sales, a 33% increase compared to last year.
Netherlands-based business eyes Indy area for $149M cold-storage facility
Netherlands-based NewCold, an advanced cold storage logistics company, is considering a 55-acre parcel along Council Drive in the Lebanon Business Park as a potential location for its new 384,300-square-foot warehouse.
Retailer Lowe’s to open delivery terminal in Greenwood
The 92,000-square-foot facility, which will handle last-mile delivery for bulky items like grills and patio furniture, is part of the retailer’s $1.7 billion investment in its distribution network.
Ivy Tech, Conexus to launch first-of-its-kind truck driver training program
The one-semester program, which includes both on-the-road driver training and academic instruction, is set to begin in January at Ivy Tech campuses in Indianapolis, Lafayette, Fort Wayne, Evansville and Lawrenceburg.
Panel: Manufacturers must prepare for coming technology revolution
Artificial intelligence, data analysis tools and other digital technology will revolutionize manufacturing and companies need to get ready for it, said panelists at an IBJ/Conexus Indiana industry event Friday.
Amazon’s ‘Christmas Creep’ poses stress test for FedEx, UPS
FedEx and United Parcel Service are girding for their biggest test yet in the e-commerce era, with the holiday shopping season pushed ever earlier and stretching the limits of shipping networks already strained by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Monarch Beverage Co. to be acquired by Illinois beer distributor
Indianapolis-based Monarch, family-owned and locally operated since 1947, is the state’s largest beer distributor. It has about 600 employees.
Amazon: Nearly 20,000 workers have tested positive for COVID-19
The online retail behemoth, revealing the data for the first time, said that the infection rate of its employees was well below that seen in the general U.S. population.
Spot Freight spins off new software company, adds 40 workers
The spinoff company, Red Technologies, is built around proprietary software that Spot launched in 2015 to help connect shippers, trucking companies and drivers for the purpose of freight brokering.
Texas developer plans $325M industrial park in Whiteland
Dallas-based Mohr Capital has already broken ground on the first building in the master-planned Mohr Logistics Park—a 1 million-square-foot distribution center for Cooper Tire—and has several more in the early planning stages.
Delivery giants Amazon, UPS, FedEx hiring tens of thousands
The delivery giants have seen a boom in residential deliveries since lockdowns kept consumers out of stores, and fear of contracting the virus has limited their shopping trips.
Power-tool maker plans 450-worker repair hub in Greenwood
Milwaukee Tool, which will open a 150,000-square-foot facility on Southtech Drive, has been on a growth tear, with employment increasing from 1,000 to 5,000 over the last decade.