The week of June 4th: 10 things eft's been reading

It’s all about efficiencies in this week’s set of articles as players across the transport sector question how to make services better faster and cheaper.

Target looks like to reduce the time between hubs and stores as part of a bid to improve its brick and mortar operation. Target Experiments With Faster Supply Chain. [Forbes]

They’re not the only ones looking at speeding up delivery as a host of start-ups looking at moving people and goods more efficiently and quickly through automation. Self-driving technology is going to change a lot more than cars. [ars technical]

The impetus for automation in transportation is being pushed up by a lack of labor currently that is hitting trucking particularly hard. The US needs 50,000 truck drivers to avoid a shipping squeeze. [CNBC]

While it is easy to get carried away in the tech bubble, this article reminds us why we need to persevere with upgrading public networks. We can’t forget about mass transit when we talk about the ‘future of transportation’. [The Verge]

This graphic demonstrates exactly why investment is needed in public transport as getting the Amtrak between Toronto and New York is not only the slowest but produces the most CO₂ per passenger. This Graphic Maps the Greenest Modes of Transportation. [National Geographic]

It’s not just the US where logistics is struggling to fill demand, especially as consumer shipping ramps up with China also looking at smarter solutions. How to tackle inefficiencies in China’s US$35 trillion logistics industry? More big data, AI, robotics. [South China Morning Post]

This is pushing big e-commerce giants to look at integrating their supply chains and snap-up investments. Alibaba, Cainiao Invest $1.38B In Chinese Logistics Company ZTO Express. https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/2018/05/29/alibaba-cainiao-invest-1-38b-in-chinese-logistics-company-zto-express.

JD.com is following Alibaba’s steps, picking up its own 10% stake in a logistics player. China’s JD.com picks 10% stake in logistics operator for $115m.[China Money Network]

In another mega-deal, Sainsbury’s and Walmart announced they would tie up, citing savings in the supply chain as the big reason, but how realistic is this? Sainsbury’s and Asda: Why logistics, not regulators, will be its biggest challenge. [SHD Logistics]

To be honest, I just enjoyed the irony of this story. Tesla in Autopilot mode crashes into parked police cruiser. [USA Today]

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