Welcome to the June 28th edition of Sent Items.

We are officially in the thick of summer here in Nashville - it will be over 100 degrees each day next week 😱 As the industry continues to search for reliable capacity and automated efficiencies, the markets are responding.

This week, we watched a humanoid robotics company secure a massive $2.5 billion valuation to put robots in warehouses, while FedEx finally put a timeline on the much-anticipated tariff refunds. Meanwhile, the ocean freight market continues its relentless climb (the latest Drewry World Container Index hit $4,166 per 40ft container - its highest level since September 2024), and the USPS is about to make a pricing adjustment that will catch a lot of lightweight shippers off guard.

In other news, I posted this yesterday and was surprised to see it’s gained 25,000 impressions! (note: I’m serious, would love to know this future person!)

Let’s get into it.

- Matt

Agility Robotics Heads to Wall Street in $2.5B SPAC The push to automate the warehouse floor just hit a massive financial milestone. Agility Robotics is merging with Churchill Capital Corp XI, valuing the company at $2.5 billion. The deal is expected to provide more than $620 million in proceeds. Agility is the first publicly traded company entirely devoted to building and selling humanoids. Its flagship robot, Digit, is designed for environments where people and robots work together. WSJ

FedEx to Begin Tariff Refunds in August If you have been waiting to claw back illegally collected duties, relief is finally on the horizon. FedEx announced plans to start issuing tariff refunds to eligible customers starting in August. The refunds address overpayments related to customs duties from recent tariff adjustments. The carrier will prioritize returning duties first to shippers that opt in to sharing shipment and refund data with vendor partners. Supply Chain Dive

USPS Tweaks Parcel Measurements and Pricing Prepare your shipping systems: the Postal Service is tweaking how it calculates size and rates for large-but-lightweight packages starting July 12. USPS will lower its dimensional divisor from 166 to 139 and round up all fractional measurements to the next inch. In addition, they are eliminating ounce-based rate differences for sub-pound USPS Ground Advantage Commercial shipments. Shippers will face a $3 noncompliance fee if they fail to report package dimensions accurately. Supply Chain Dive

Data Check: Ocean Spot Rates Hit 22-Month High The ocean freight market shows no signs of cooling down. The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) jumped 5% this week to $4,166 per 40ft container. This represents the highest level for the composite index since September 2024. Transpacific demand remains robust due to importers frontloading shipments ahead of potential tariff changes and higher bunker-related costs. Drewry

Rising Trucking Rates Push Shippers Back to Rail As long-haul trucking rates begin to climb, U.S. companies are increasingly shifting their freight back to the railroads to protect their margins. Although intermodal transport is often slower and more complex than traditional trucking, the cost savings and fuel efficiency are making it highly attractive. For context, the average spot rate for U.S. intermodal was just $1.16 a mile for the week ended June 16. As we discussed last week with BNSF's $4 billion Barstow project, the structural pivot toward rail is gaining serious momentum. Source: The Times

Matt's Chats: Webinar Recap Thank you to everyone who tuned in for last week's Matt's Chats! We had an incredible discussion breaking down the latest market shifts, operational strategies, and how to navigate the current state of fulfillment.

Keynote Speaker: IWLA Fulfillment Forum (Chicago | August) I am incredibly honored to be the keynote speaker for the upcoming IWLA Fulfillment Forum in Chicago this August. We are going to be diving deep into the massive consolidation happening in the 3PL space, the changing technological expectations of scaling brands, and how to build truly resilient partnerships through our agnostic matchmaking platform.

The best part: Anyone can attend this event - members and non-members alike. In celebration of the US's 250th anniversary, they are offering $250 off registration through July 10 if you use the code USA250! 👉 Check out the event details here

Have a great week!

- Matt

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