Welcome to the August 16th edition of Sent Items.

We have a packed issue this week touching on almost every mode of the supply chain, from ocean freight and air cargo to the final mile of NYC's sidewalks.

Before we dive into the headlines, I just dropped a brand new unboxing video! You can check it out here:

It’s been a big week for Third Person behind the scenes, and I'm incredibly grateful for the overwhelming response to our upcoming events. We have some exciting updates at the bottom of this newsletter, including our newly expanded Industry Partners program.

Let’s get into it.

- Matt

The Jones Act, Cabotage, and Trump's Waiver

Trump has extended a waiver for the Jones Act, sparking intense debate across the maritime and energy sectors. But what exactly is the Jones Act? Formally known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, it requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried on ships that are U.S.-flagged, U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, and crewed by U.S. citizens.

To put it in perspective, think of the airline industry. An Air Canada plane cannot fly passengers from Toronto to New York, pick up a new batch of passengers in New York, and drop them off in Florida. They must have another country as their origin or destination. This regulatory concept is called cabotage. The Jones Act is simply maritime cabotage. Proponents argue it protects national security and the domestic shipbuilding industry. Critics argue it creates massive artificial bottlenecks and spikes transportation costs - which is exactly why waivers are so highly coveted (and fiercely lobbied for) during supply chain crunches or natural disasters.

Sources: WSJ - Opinion | WSJ - Waiver Extension

Opinion: The Battle for NYC's Sidewalks

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is introducing legislation aimed directly at Amazon, looking to crack down on the working conditions and classification of the gig workers and third-party delivery partners speeding through NYC.

My take: You cannot legislate away consumer demand. New Yorkers want their packages in hours, not days, and they want shipping to be free. While worker safety and fair wages are critical, trying to unilaterally handicap the specific micro-hub infrastructure that makes urban e-commerce function - without addressing the fundamental consumer expectations driving it - is a recipe for chaos. If we force structural changes onto the final mile, the cost must be passed down to the consumer. We need a holistic approach to urban logistics, not just a political wedge issue.

Sources: WSJ | Mayor Mamdani on X

USPS Posts $2 Billion Loss as Transition Pains Mount

The U.S. Postal Service is bleeding cash. The agency reported a massive $2 billion loss for the quarter, and a closer look under the hood shows why: transportation costs are climbing rapidly. The USPS is currently in the messy middle of transitioning its primary air cargo contract away from FedEx and over to UPS. Re-architecting a logistics network of that scale comes with massive friction, and right now, that friction is showing up on the balance sheet.

Sources: The Hill | Supply Chain Dive

Ocean Freight: High Rates, High Demand

If you thought geopolitical tensions were slowing down global trade, think again. According to Drewry’s World Container Index, the average spot rate to ship a 40-foot container from Shanghai to New York jumped 10% just last week. Despite the ongoing war disruptions and the massive rerouting of vessels away from the Red Sea, underlying container demand has entirely failed to derail. Shippers are absorbing the costs and keeping the freight moving.

Sources: Drewry WCI | Lloyd's List

Behind the Scenes of Amazon's Automated Hub

Retail Dive got an inside look at Amazon’s highly automated fulfillment center in Washington. As we discussed last week with UPS's pivot, the theme of 2026 is automation. Amazon's facility showcases the intense capital expenditures required to keep human touches low and processing speeds high, setting the standard for the next generation of industrial real estate.

Source: Retail Dive

The $100 Billion Tariff Refund

In a massive windfall for specific importers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has paid out roughly $100 billion in tariff refunds related to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). As noted in corporate earnings calls, companies that successfully navigated the complex drawback and refund processes are seeing massive cash infusions drop directly to their bottom lines.

Source: WSJ

SF & NYC Dinners: OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT!

The response to our VIP Operator Dinners has been absolutely incredible. Both our San Francisco dinner at Harris' Restaurant and our NYC dinner at Keens Steakhouse are officially SOLD OUT!

Haven’t been to NYC in almost two years, so I went a little crazy and booked the largest room at the famous Keens Steakhouse. Still we have a very large waitlist - I guess we’ll need to be back again soon.

Stay tuned for our next round of dinners coming this Fall (👀 Chicago).

Finally, Calling all Industry Partners! We are rolling out an exciting partner program in the coming weeks. If you want to learn more, fill out this quick form here.

Have a great week!

- Matt

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