Warehouse Wisdom, Weekly. 01/02/2026

🚚 Happy Friday.

If your warehouse is still tripping over unwanted sweaters and duplicate gadgets, you’re not alone. A new cottage industry has emerged to deal with post-holiday returns, with companies now offering to handle the entire returns process on behalf of overwhelmed shoppers. For retailers and fulfillment operators, it’s another reminder that peak season does not end when the gifts are opened. Sometimes it ends when the boxes come back.

In this week’s update, we’ll walk through what’s ahead for freight and shipping in 2026, how e-commerce and fulfillment models are being forced to evolve, why LTL carriers are cautiously optimistic, what’s happening with warehouse vacancies, and where logistics technology may finally be turning a corner. Let’s dive in!

Freight and Shipping

Autonomous trucks, rail drama, and a blueprint for a freight survival

California may finally be ready to loosen the regulatory handcuffs on autonomous trucking. After years of delays and debate, state regulators appear closer to allowing driverless heavy-duty trucks on public roads. For shippers and carriers, this is less about sci-fi dreams and more about labor shortages, utilization rates, and cost control. While widespread adoption is still a ways off, the direction of travel is becoming harder to ignore.

Looking ahead to 2026, freight winners are unlikely to be the biggest or the loudest, but the most adaptable. According to uShip’s CEO, resilience will come from building networks that can handle disruption as a baseline condition rather than an exception. For SMBs, the takeaway is simple. Flexible carrier relationships, diversified modes, and realistic expectations will matter more than chasing the cheapest rate on a good week.

Meanwhile, rail consolidation is running into serious resistance. Rival railroads are pushing back hard against Norfolk Southern’s proposed merger, warning that reduced competition could hurt service levels and raise costs for shippers. As regulators weigh the arguments, uncertainty remains high, which is never a comfortable place for supply chains that rely on predictable transit and pricing.

Online Marketplaces

E-commerce grows up: partnerships multiply as easy wins disappear

The last mile continued to get more crowded in 2025. Retailers and carriers leaned heavily on partnerships to expand delivery options, speed, and coverage without taking on all the risk themselves. From parcel lockers to gig delivery networks, the theme was collaboration over ownership. For SMBs, this means more delivery choices but also more complexity when deciding which partners actually improve the customer experience.

At the same time, e-commerce is heading toward what many are calling a structural reckoning. Easy growth fueled by cheap ads, fast money, and forgiving consumers is fading. Rising fulfillment costs, tougher customer expectations, and margin pressure are forcing retailers to rethink assortments, inventory strategies, and fulfillment models. The next phase of e-commerce looks less flashy and far more operationally disciplined.

Logistics Vitals

LTL looks ahead: A cautious rebound for 2026

After a bruising period, LTL carriers are signaling cautious optimism for 2026. Volumes remain uneven, but signs of stabilization are emerging as carriers rebalance networks and shippers adjust freight strategies. Key takeaways:

• LTL volumes showed modest improvement late in the year

• Pricing discipline remains a priority across carrier networks

• Carrier exits and consolidation have reduced excess capacity

• Shippers should expect fewer discounts, but more reliable service

Commercial Real Estate

Vacancies rise, but Big Box retailers still rule

Warehouse vacancies may be climbing, but demand for large, modern facilities has not disappeared. Availability is rising fastest in smaller and older buildings, while newer big-box facilities continue to attract tenants. The result is a two-tier market where some landlords are negotiating aggressively and others are holding firm.

For SMBs searching for space, this creates opportunity with caveats. There may be more options than a year ago, but not all space is created equal. Location, clear heights, trailer parking, and labor access still matter, and the best buildings are not being discounted just because vacancy headlines sound dramatic.

Warehouse Tech

Electric trucks inch closer to prime time

DHL’s pilot of Tesla Semi trucks delivered stronger results than expected, exceeding performance targets around range and efficiency. While electric heavy-duty trucks are far from mainstream, pilots like this suggest the technology is moving from experiment to viable use case on select routes. For shippers, this matters less as a sustainability headline and more as a future capacity question. As electric fleets scale gradually, they could reshape carrier economics on predictable lanes where fuel savings and reliability outweigh complexity.

Warehouse Quick Deliveries

A lobster heist and nuclear-powered curiosity

• Lobster heist at Costco highlights supply chain oddities.

• Nuclear power enters the shipping conversation.