Warehouse Wisdom, Weekly. 12/26/2025

🚚 Happy Friday.

If you have been on the road this week, you may have noticed a small holiday miracle. Gas prices are lower heading into the holidays, giving shippers and consumers alike a modest break at the pump. At the same time, the convenience of fast shipping continues to come with a growing environmental price tag, as expedited delivery options drive higher emissions and increased pressure on fulfillment networks.

This Friday after Christmas we cover the week’s most important logistics news, including shifting tariffs and de minimis rules, ocean carriers pulling capacity, rail merger drama, postal labor updates, AI-powered checkout tools, and what all of this means for small and midsize businesses trying to ship smarter, not harder. Hope you got everything you asked for this Christmas…Let’s dive in!

International Logistics

Tariffs tighten, ports adapt, and ocen carriers prepare to pull capacity

Tariffs, enforcement actions, and cargo theft are reshaping U.S.–Mexico trade in ways that are forcing shippers to rethink cross-border strategies. Increased inspections and compliance scrutiny are slowing some freight flows, while organized cargo theft continues to be a costly wildcard for companies moving goods through key border regions. For SMBs, this means more documentation discipline and a renewed focus on secure carriers and routes.

Port Houston saw November volumes dip slightly, but exports remain a bright spot, climbing 8% year to date. The data suggests U.S. exporters are still finding demand overseas, even as imports soften and inventory levels normalize. For businesses relying on Gulf Coast gateways, Houston continues to prove its resilience as a diversified port.

Ocean carriers are signaling another round of capacity discipline as the new year approaches, with blank sailings expected on U.S. East Coast routes. The strategy is aimed at propping up rates after recent softness, which could translate into less schedule flexibility for shippers. If you depend on ocean freight, this is another reminder to build buffer time into your supply chain plans.

Maersk’s latest test voyage through the Red Sea hints at a cautious reopening of one of the world’s most disrupted trade corridors. While not a full return to normal operations, the move suggests carriers are exploring options as security conditions evolve. Any sustained reopening could eventually ease transit times and costs for Asia–Europe and Asia–U.S. East Coast trade.

U.S. customs revenue from low-value shipments has officially crossed the $1 billion mark following changes to de minimis enforcement. As regulators look more closely at small parcels entering the country, especially from overseas e-commerce sellers, importers may see higher compliance costs and fewer shortcuts. The era of frictionless low-value imports appears to be fading.

Freight and Shipping

Rail mergers, postal labor peace, and NYC congestion pricing on pause

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have formally filed for merger approval, launching what is expected to be a long and closely watched regulatory process. Supporters argue the deal could improve efficiency across the rail network, while critics warn of reduced competition and higher rates. Shippers that rely on rail should stay tuned, because this one could reshape domestic freight for years.

Canada Post and its union have reached a tentative labor agreement, easing near-term fears of service disruptions. While the deal still needs member approval, it brings temporary stability to Canadian shipping networks. For SMBs shipping into or within Canada, this is a welcome pause in labor uncertainty.

New York City’s congestion pricing plan remains stuck in legal limbo after a judge delayed a ruling on the case. The pause prolongs uncertainty for carriers and delivery companies that could face new fees for operating in Manhattan. For now, nothing changes, but the meter may still start running eventually.

Logistics Vitals

De minimis duties quietly become a billion dollar revenue stream

Low-value shipments are no longer flying under the radar, and the revenue numbers prove it.

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection has collected more than $1 billion in duties from low-value shipments

• Enforcement has increased alongside the surge in cross-border e-commerce

• Regulators are signaling tighter scrutiny of overseas sellers and small-parcel imports

Online Marketplaces

AI checkout arrives as Amazon and TikTok keep sellers guessing

DoorDash has launched an app inside ChatGPT, allowing users to discover and order food directly through conversational AI. The move shortens the distance between browsing and buying, and signals how quickly AI is becoming a front door for commerce. For retailers, speed and convenience continue to win.

ChatGPT’s instant checkout tools could boost conversions by removing friction, but they also raise questions about who owns the customer relationship. Retailers may gain efficiency, but lose some control. As usual, convenience comes with trade-offs.

Amazon is tightening platform access as AI shopping agents expand, signaling a more controlled marketplace environment. Sellers may find fewer automation shortcuts available going forward. The message is clear: innovation is welcome, as long as it plays by Amazon’s rules.

TikTok’s U.S. future remains uncertain after another delay of a potential ban, with Oracle floated as a possible stakeholder in a restructured entity. For sellers, the platform remains viable, but long-term planning still comes with an asterisk.

Warehouse Tech

Retailers get serious about smarter fulfillment

Funding flows to AI while drone restrictions ground new tech Kargo raised new funding to expand its AI-driven logistics technology, showing that investors are still backing tools with clear operational value. Even in a cautious funding climate, efficiency-focused automation remains attractive.

Meanwhile, the FCC has banned the import of new foreign-made drones, limiting options for companies experimenting with drone-based warehouse and yard applications. Innovation continues, but not without regulatory friction.

Warehouse Quick Deliveries

Broker margins and FedEx revenue

• New legislation could significantly impact truck broker margins, potentially reshaping pricing dynamics across the freight market.

• FedEx revenue results highlight ongoing shifts in shipping demand and customer mix.