Sent Items #228: Amazon Dethrones USPS, FedEx Takes the Crown & Our Retreat Recap

Welcome to the March 22nd edition of Sent Items.

I am still recovering from the Spring Third Person Logistics & Leadership Retreat here in Nashville this past Monday through Wednesday. Bringing together 45 brilliant operators under one roof without a single pitch deck is a rare thing, and the conversations and experience was unbeatable (their words, not mine!) Here are just a few photos that don’t begin to do justice on the fun we had:

[Applications for the September Retreat (Sept 28-30) are now open! Apply ASAP and hit reply if you are interested in sponsoring]

While we were talking shop in Music City, the macro landscape completely shifted. According to new data, Amazon has officially unseated the USPS in delivery volume, and FedEx has taken the revenue crown from UPS. The old guard is officially being displaced. Add in a major disruption to global trade routes due to conflict in the Middle East, and a viral moment highlighting the rapid evolution of AI, and we have one of the busiest news weeks of the year.

If you want a glimpse into how fast our intelligence tools are evolving, look no further than Aaron Rubin's viral tweet about Claude this week (over 1M views!) It is a stark reminder that the tools we use for efficiency are getting sharper by the day, fundamentally changing how lean teams can operate.

Let’s get into it!

— Matt

The Flippening: Amazon Overtakes the Postal Service It finally happened. According to new ShipMatrix data reported by Supply Chain Dive, Amazon delivered more packages in the U.S. last year than the USPS, making it the unquestioned king of parcel volume. By massively regionalizing its network and aggressively pulling volume in-house, Amazon has fundamentally rewired the American delivery infrastructure. If you are a 3PL or a brand relying heavily on the postal service, this shift in density is going to have long-term impacts on the USPS's cost structure and pricing. Source: Supply Chain Dive

FedEx Overtakes UPS as the New King of Delivery Volume isn't the only thing shifting. The WSJ reports that FedEx has officially overtaken UPS in global delivery revenue. This changing of the guard perfectly coincided with FedEx's Q3 earnings report this week, where the company showcased massive margin improvements driven by its aggressive "Network 2.0" cost-cutting and consolidation strategy. While UPS continues to navigate the hangover of its new Teamster contract, FedEx is leaning out its operations and reaping the financial rewards. Source: WSJ

Global Trade Disruption: The Iran War's Toll The geopolitical situation in the Middle East has sharply escalated, and supply chains are taking a direct hit. The WSJ details how the widening conflict involving Iran is severely disrupting global trade, forcing massive detours around critical chokepoints and driving up transit times and insurance premiums. Be sure to check out the excellent chart in the article detailing the impacted shipping lanes. Source: WSJ

Data Check: Spot Rates Keep Sliding Despite the geopolitical unrest, ocean spot rates continue to cool. The latest Drewry World Container Index composite fell again this week, providing a bit of a buffer for importers dealing with longer transit times. Source: Drewry WCI

Third Person Updates & Events

Looking Back: The March Retreat A massive thank you to everyone who traveled to Nashville for the retreat this week. The caliber of operators, the depth of the sessions, and the overall energy were off the charts. We tackled everything from contract negotiations to facility automation, and the peer-to-peer insights were invaluable.

Applications Open: The September Retreat (Sept 28-30) We know each iteration gets even better, and we are already building the next one. Applications are officially open for our fall September Retreat (Sept 28-30) here in Nashville. If you are an operator looking to connect with the best in the business, apply now. (Note: We also have a few select sponsorship opportunities open for September - reply to this email if your company wants to get involved).

Miami VIP Dinner (March 31) We are heading to South Beach! We will be hosting our next VIP Operator's Dinner in Miami on March 31. We only have 2 spots left. 👉 RSVP / Request a Spot Here

One Week Left! Two-Year Anniversary Promo for 3PLs There is only one week left to take advantage of our Second Anniversary special! We are offering 3PLs 30% off our monthly rate when you commit to an annual plan.

On The Mic: Podcasts & Webinars

🎧 Out of the Box Podcast I had a fantastic time joining Abby and Margherita on the Out of the Box podcast this week. We dug into the current state of 3PLs, e-commerce, and what it actually takes to scale operations today. 👉 Listen/Watch Here

📺 Matt's Chats: Live from the Retreat If you couldn't make it to Nashville, we brought a piece of the retreat to you. We hosted a special live edition of Matt's Chats right from the event. 👉 Watch the Episode Here:

Where I'll Be

🏙️ SubSummit (Kansas City | May 13-15) I’m heading to KC in May for SubSummit, the biggest and most valuable event for subscription brands. I have an exclusive promo code coming for brands who want to attend. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks!

Have a great week!

- Matt

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