Fulfillment history timeline
How goods came to be stored, moved, and delivered the way they are today: events, the laws and people behind them, and when each glossary term first appeared.
Pre-1900112 entries
- c. 1200 BCEPhoenician Maritime TradeEvent · Sea traders from Tyre and Sidon found colonies abroad
- c. 500 BCEPersian Royal RoadEvent · A relay highway from Susa to Sardis under Darius I
- 312 BCEVia Appia and the Roman Road NetworkEvent · Rome begins paving roads for armies and trade
- c. 200 BCERoman HorreaEvent · Rome stores grain, oil and wine in large warehouses
- c. 200 BCESilk RoadEvent · Overland trade routes link China with the Mediterranean
- c. 100 BCEIndian Ocean Monsoon TradeEvent · Ships time voyages to the seasonal monsoon winds
- c. 27 BCECursus PublicusEvent · Augustus sets up a state courier service with stations
- 533Lex Rhodia de IactuLaw · Ancient rule of jettison behind general average
- 605Grand Canal of China (Sui Dynasty)Event · Sui China joins canals to ship southern grain north
- c. 700Trans-Saharan TradeEvent · Camel caravans carry salt south and gold north
- c. 1100Champagne FairsEvent · Six yearly fairs become Europe's merchant meeting point
- c. 1104Venetian ArsenalEvent · Venice builds galleys from standardized parts
- c. 1200Yam (Mongol Postal Relay System)Event · Mongol relay stations speed messengers across Eurasia
- 1347First Known Marine Insurance ContractEvent · A Genoese policy insures a ship bound for Majorca
- 1347Shipping InsuranceTerm · Coverage for lost or damaged packages
- 1356Hanseatic LeagueEvent · German towns dominate Baltic and North Sea trade
- 1405Zheng He's Treasure VoyagesEvent · Seven Ming fleets sail as far as East Africa
- 1490Thurn und Taxis Postal ServiceEvent · A family-run post links cities of the Holy Roman Empire
- 1492Columbian ExchangeEvent · Crops, animals and diseases cross the Atlantic
- 1494Pacioli's Summa and Double-Entry BookkeepingEvent · The first printed account of double-entry bookkeeping
- 1494Consolato del MareLaw · Medieval Mediterranean code of maritime law
- 1497Vasco da Gama's Sea Route to IndiaEvent · Portugal reaches India by sailing around Africa
- c. 1500Atlantic Triangular TradeEvent · Goods, enslaved people and sugar circle the Atlantic
- 1565Manila Galleon TradeEvent · Galleons carry silver to Manila and Asian goods back
- 1566Spanish Treasure FleetEvent · Escorted convoys carry American silver to Spain
- 1600English East India CompanyEvent · A chartered company trades with Asia, then rules India
- 1602Dutch East India Company (VOC)Event · A Dutch company gets a monopoly on trade with Asia
- 1670Hudson's Bay Company CharterEvent · Charles II grants a fur trade monopoly over Hudson Bay
- 1688Lloyd's of LondonEvent · A coffee house becomes the market for marine insurance
- 1744Baltic ExchangeEvent · A London coffee house grows into a shipping market
- 1757Canton SystemEvent · Qing China limits Western trade to Guangzhou
- c. 1760Industrial RevolutionEvent · Machines and factories replace hand production
- 1760Lloyd's RegisterEvent · Underwriters start grading the condition of ships
- 1761Bridgewater CanalEvent · A canal carries coal from Worsley mines to Manchester
- 1775Benjamin FranklinPerson · First US Postmaster General, 1706–1790
- 1776The Wealth of NationsEvent · Adam Smith argues for division of labor and free trade
- 1785Oliver EvansPerson · Builder of the first automated mill, 1755–1819
- 1785Conveyor SystemTerm · Belts and rollers that move totes and cartons
- 1789Establishment of the U.S. Customs ServiceEvent · Congress sets up 59 districts to collect import duties
- 1789Duty DrawbackTerm · Refund of duties on goods later exported
- 1789Port of EntryTerm · Where imports clear US customs
- 1807Clermont SteamboatEvent · Fulton's steamboat runs up the Hudson to Albany
- 1817David RicardoPerson · Economist, theory of comparative advantage, 1772–1823
- 1819Founding of Singapore as a Free PortEvent · Raffles sets up a duty-free port open to all ships
- 1825Erie CanalEvent · A 363-mile canal links the Great Lakes to the Atlantic
- 1825Stockton and Darlington RailwayEvent · The first public railway to use steam locomotives
- 1825George StephensonPerson · Railway engineer and locomotive builder, 1781–1848
- 1830Liverpool and Manchester RailwayEvent · The first inter-city railway runs on a timetable
- 1833Isambard Kingdom BrunelPerson · Engineer of railways and steamships, 1806–1859
- 1834ZollvereinEvent · German states drop tariffs among themselves
- 1837Rowland HillPerson · Postal reformer, Penny Post, 1795–1879
- 1838SS Great Western Transatlantic Steam ServiceEvent · Brunel's steamer crosses to New York in about 15 days
- 1838Antoine-Henri JominiPerson · Military theorist who named logistics, 1779–1869
- 1839William HarndenPerson · Founder of the US express business, 1812–1845
- 1840Uniform Penny PostEvent · One prepaid penny sends a letter anywhere in Britain
- 1840Samuel CunardPerson · Founder of the Cunard Line, 1787–1865
- 1842Treaty of NankingLaw · Opium War treaty that opened China's treaty ports
- 1846Repeal of the Corn LawsLaw · 1846 UK repeal of grain tariffs that began free trade
- 1848Chicago Board of TradeEvent · An exchange standardizes grain grades and futures
- 1848Vilfredo ParetoPerson · Economist behind the 80/20 principle, 1848–1923
- 1850American Express Founded as an Express CompanyEvent · Three express firms merge to carry freight and money
- 1850Henry WellsPerson · Co-founder of Wells Fargo, American Express, 1805–1878
- 1850William FargoPerson · Co-founder of Wells Fargo, 1818–1881
- 1852Wells Fargo & Company ExpressEvent · An express and banking firm serves Gold Rush California
- 1854Elisha OtisPerson · Inventor of the safety elevator, 1811–1861
- 1860Pony ExpressEvent · Horseback riders carry mail to California in ten days
- 1860Cobden-Chevalier TreatyLaw · 1860 Anglo-French treaty that cut tariffs and spread MFN
- 1861Henry GanttPerson · Creator of the Gantt chart, 1861–1919
- 1863Richard SearsPerson · Co-founder of Sears, Roebuck, 1863–1914
- 1866Transatlantic Telegraph CableEvent · The first lasting telegraph link across the Atlantic
- 1868Frank GilbrethPerson · Pioneer of motion study, 1868–1924
- 1868Thomas RobinsPerson · Inventor of the belt conveyor, 1868–1957
- 1869First Transcontinental RailroadEvent · Rails from east and west meet at Promontory Summit
- 1869Opening of the Suez CanalEvent · A canal joins the Mediterranean and the Red Sea
- 1869Cornelius VanderbiltPerson · Steamship and railroad magnate, 1794–1877
- 1869Ferdinand de LessepsPerson · Developer of the Suez Canal, 1805–1894
- 1871Margaret KnightPerson · Inventor of the flat-bottomed bag machine, 1838–1914
- 1872Montgomery Ward Mail-Order CatalogEvent · A one-page price list starts US mail-order retail
- 1872Aaron Montgomery WardPerson · Mail-order catalog pioneer, 1843–1913
- 1872Fulfillment CenterFCTerm · Warehouse built for small customer orders
- 1874Universal Postal Union (UPU)Event · A treaty sets shared rules for international mail
- 1874Heinrich von StephanPerson · Founder of the Universal Postal Union, 1831–1897
- 1876Merchant Shipping Act 1876Law · UK law that made the Plimsoll load line compulsory
- 1878Refrigerated RailcarEvent · Swift ships chilled beef by rail in iced cars
- 1878Gustavus SwiftPerson · Meatpacker, refrigerated rail pioneer, 1839–1903
- 1878Lillian GilbrethPerson · Industrial psychologist and engineer, 1878–1972
- 1878Cold Chain ShippingTerm · Shipping goods that must stay cold
- 1878Temperature-Controlled StorageTerm · Storage kept in a set temperature range
- 1879Invention of the Pre-Cut Cardboard BoxEvent · Robert Gair cuts and creases cartons in one press
- 1879Robert GairPerson · Inventor of the pre-cut paperboard box, 1839–1927
- 1879Master CartonTerm · Supplier's outer carton of one SKU
- 1882SS Dunedin Refrigerated ShipmentEvent · Frozen meat sails from New Zealand to London intact
- 1883Railroad Standard TimeEvent · Railroads replace local times with standard zones
- 1885Canadian Pacific Railway CompletionEvent · The last spike completes Canada's line to the Pacific
- 1886Clarence BirdseyePerson · Inventor of quick-frozen food, 1886–1956
- 1887Interstate Commerce Act of 1887Law · First US federal law regulating railroad rates
- 1888Sears, Roebuck CatalogEvent · A watch catalog grows into a US mail-order giant
- 1890Bern Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Rail (CIM)Law · Treaty on rail freight contracts and liability
- 1890York-Antwerp RulesLaw · International rules for adjusting general average
- 1890Country of OriginTerm · Country where goods were made
- 1891Trans-Siberian RailwayEvent · The longest railway line links Moscow and Vladivostok
- 1892Rudolf DieselPerson · Inventor of the diesel engine, 1858–1913
- 1893Harter Act of 1893Law · US law barring carriers from contracting out negligence
- 1893Frederick McKinley JonesPerson · Inventor of truck refrigeration, Thermo King, 1893–1961
- 1893James J. HillPerson · Builder of the Great Northern Railway, 1838–1916
- 1895Julius RosenwaldPerson · President of Sears, Roebuck, 1862–1932
- 1896Rural Free Delivery (RFD)Event · The Post Office starts delivering mail to farms for free
- 1896NFPA 13Law · US standard for designing and installing fire sprinklers
- 1896Gottlieb DaimlerPerson · Engine pioneer, first motor truck, 1834–1900
- 1899Alexander WintonPerson · Auto pioneer, early car hauler, 1860–1932
1900–194589 entries
- 1900Lacey ActLaw · US ban on illegally sourced wildlife, plants and wood
- 1904A.P. MøllerPerson · Founder of the Maersk shipping group, 1876–1965
- 1905Richard SutcliffePerson · Inventor of the underground conveyor, 1849–1930
- 1906Uniform Warehouse Receipts ActLaw · Early uniform state law on warehouse receipts
- 1906Carmack AmendmentTerm · US law on carrier liability for freight
- 1906Freight ClaimTerm · Demand to a carrier for lost or damaged freight
- 1906Pick and PackTerm · Taking items off the shelf and boxing them
- 1907Founding of UPSEvent · A Seattle messenger company starts with $100
- 1907Jim CaseyPerson · Founder of UPS, 1888–1983
- 1908Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR)Law · US DOT rules for shipping hazardous materials
- 1909Agner Krarup ErlangPerson · Founder of queueing theory, 1878–1929
- 1909Alfred WeberPerson · Economist of industrial location theory, 1868–1958
- 1909Shigeo ShingoPerson · Lean consultant, SMED and poka-yoke, 1909–1990
- 1910First Air Cargo FlightEvent · A Wright plane flies silk from Dayton to Columbus
- 1910Tjalling KoopmansPerson · Economist of transportation optimization, 1910–1985
- 1910Customs BrokerTerm · Licensed filer of US customs entries
- 1911The Principles of Scientific ManagementEvent · Taylor's book on timed tasks and standard methods
- 1911Frederick Winslow TaylorPerson · Father of scientific management, 1856–1915
- 1911Labor Management SystemLMSTerm · Software that tracks warehouse labor
- 1912MS SelandiaEvent · A diesel ship proves motor power for ocean freight
- 1912Leon Leonwood BeanPerson · Founder of L.L.Bean, 1872–1967
- 1912Taiichi OhnoPerson · Architect of the Toyota Production System, 1912–1990
- 1913Ford Moving Assembly LineEvent · Ford moves cars past workers at fixed stations
- 1913Parcel PostEvent · The US Post Office starts carrying heavier packages
- 1913Ford W. HarrisPerson · Originator of the EOQ formula, 1877–1962
- 1913Henry FordPerson · Founder of Ford Motor Company, 1863–1947
- 1913Carrying CostTerm · Total cost of holding inventory over time
- 1913Economic Order QuantityEOQTerm · Order size with the lowest total cost
- 1913Shipping ZoneTerm · Carrier distance band, from 2 to 8
- 1914Opening of the Panama CanalEvent · A lock canal links the Atlantic and the Pacific
- 1914First SOLAS ConventionLaw · First ship safety treaty, adopted after the Titanic
- 1914August FruehaufPerson · Inventor of the semi-trailer, 1868–1930
- 1914Dry VanTerm · Standard enclosed trailer
- 1915Kaoru IshikawaPerson · Quality expert, fishbone diagram creator, 1915–1989
- 1916Piggly Wiggly First Self-Service GroceryEvent · Shoppers pick goods from the shelves themselves
- 1916Federal Aid Road Act of 1916Law · First federal funding program for US highways
- 1916Federal Bills of Lading Act (Pomerene Act)Law · US federal law on bills of lading in interstate trade
- 1916Shipping Act of 1916Law · Created the US Shipping Board and regulated carriers
- 1916Clarence SaundersPerson · Founder of Piggly Wiggly, 1881–1953
- 1916Bill of LadingBOLTerm · Legal shipping document and receipt
- 1917Eugene ClarkPerson · Founder of Clark Equipment, maker of the Tructractor, 1873–1942
- 1917George C. ThorpePerson · Marine officer, author of Pure Logistics, 1875–1936
- 1918U.S. Air Mail ServiceEvent · The first scheduled airmail route opens in the US
- 1919Keith TantlingerPerson · Engineer of the shipping container system, 1919–2011
- 1920Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (Jones Act)Law · US-built, US-crewed ships only between US ports
- 1921Antidumping DutyADTerm · Extra duty on goods sold below fair value
- 1924Hague RulesLaw · 1924 treaty on ocean carrier bill of lading liability
- 1924Genichi TaguchiPerson · Engineer of robust design methods, 1924–2012
- 1924Sakichi ToyodaPerson · Loom inventor and Toyota Group founder, 1867–1930
- 1924Walter A. ShewhartPerson · Father of statistical process control, 1891–1967
- 1924Ocean Bill of LadingTerm · Ocean carrier's receipt and contract
- 1924Quality Control InspectionTerm · Check that catches defects and wrong items
- 1925Air Mail Act of 1925 (Kelly Act)Law · Let the Post Office contract airmail to private airlines
- 1926Railway Labor ActLaw · Federal labor law for railroads and airlines
- 1926Ingvar KampradPerson · Founder of IKEA, 1926–2018
- 1929Warsaw ConventionLaw · First treaty on airline liability for cargo
- 1930Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act (Tariff Act of 1930)Law · 1930 tariff law still at the core of US customs law
- 19341934 West Coast Waterfront StrikeEvent · A port strike leads to hiring halls with union dispatch
- 1934Foreign-Trade Zones Act of 1934Law · US law creating zones where import duty is deferred
- 1934Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934Law · Law letting the President cut tariffs by agreement
- 1934Foreign-Trade ZoneFTZTerm · US area where duty is deferred
- 1935ReichsautobahnEvent · Germany opens its first limited-access highway
- 1935Motor Carrier Act of 1935Law · Brought interstate trucking under ICC regulation
- 1935National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)Law · Federal law protecting private-sector union rights
- 1935Less-Than-TruckloadLTLTerm · Freight that shares a trailer
- 1936Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA)Law · US ocean cargo liability law with $500 package limit
- 1936Incoterms 1936Law · First ICC edition of standard trade delivery terms
- 1936Cost, Insurance and FreightCIFTerm · Incoterm: seller pays freight and insurance
- 1936Free on BoardFOBTerm · Incoterm: seller loads goods onto the vessel
- 1936IncotermsTerm · Trade terms that split cost and risk
- 1937Kiichiro ToyodaPerson · Founder of Toyota Motor Corporation, 1894–1952
- 1938Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938Law · Federal minimum wage, overtime and child labor law
- 1938Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act)Law · Core US law on food, drugs, devices and cosmetics
- 1938Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs)Law · US safety rules for interstate trucks and drivers
- 1938Joseph NumeroPerson · Co-founder of Thermo King, 1896–1991
- 1939Pallet and Forklift Adoption in World War IIEvent · War supply makes pallets and forklifts standard
- 1939George RaymondPerson · Pallet pioneer, founder of the Raymond Corporation, 1890–1967
- 1939Leonid KantorovichPerson · Pioneer of linear programming, 1912–1986
- 1939Distribution CenterDCTerm · Warehouse that ships cases and pallets
- 1939PalletTerm · Flat platform for stacking goods
- 1940Refrigerated TrailerReeferTerm · Trailer with its own refrigeration unit
- 1941Liberty ShipsEvent · US yards build 2,710 cargo ships to one design
- 1941Lend-Lease ActLaw · 1941 law supplying Allied nations in World War II
- 1941Frank L. HitchcockPerson · Formulator of the transportation problem, 1875–1957
- 1942The Hump AirliftEvent · Allied planes fly supplies over the Himalayas to China
- 1942Brehon B. SomervellPerson · Commander of Army Service Forces, 1892–1955
- 1944Bretton Woods ConferenceEvent · 44 nations create the IMF and World Bank
- 1944Red Ball ExpressEvent · Army truck convoys supply the advance across France
- 1944Chicago ConventionLaw · Founding treaty of ICAO and international aviation
1945–1979144 entries
- 1946Ken ThomasPerson · Founder of TNT, 1913–1997
- 1947General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)Law · Postwar treaty that set most-favored-nation tariff rules
- 1947Taft-Hartley ActLaw · 1947 law adding union limits and strike injunctions
- 1947George DantzigPerson · Inventor of the simplex method, 1914–2005
- 1948Berlin AirliftEvent · Planes supply West Berlin during the Soviet blockade
- 1948Marshall PlanEvent · US aid of about $13 billion rebuilds Western Europe
- 1948Electronic Data InterchangeEDITerm · Standard documents traded between partners
- 1950Eiji ToyodaPerson · Toyota president and chairman, 1913–2013
- 1950W. Edwards DemingPerson · Statistician and quality management pioneer, 1900–1993
- 1951Armand V. FeigenbaumPerson · Originator of total quality control, 1922–2014
- 1951Joseph M. JuranPerson · Quality management pioneer, 1904–2008
- 1951Kenneth ArrowPerson · Economist, optimal inventory policy, 1921–2017
- 1951Ruben RausingPerson · Founder of Tetra Pak, 1895–1983
- 1951ABC AnalysisTerm · Ranking SKUs by their share of sales
- 1952Barcode PatentEvent · Woodland and Silver patent a code of printed lines
- 1952UCC Article 7Law · Uniform state law on warehouse receipts and bills
- 1952Bernard SilverPerson · Co-inventor of the barcode, 1924–1963
- 1952Norman Joseph WoodlandPerson · Co-inventor of the barcode, 1921–2012
- 1953First Automated Guided VehicleEvent · A tractor follows a guide wire with no driver
- 1953Gillis LundgrenPerson · IKEA designer, flat-pack pioneer, 1929–2016
- 1953Autonomous Mobile RobotAMRTerm · Warehouse robot that navigates on its own
- 1954George DevolPerson · Inventor of the industrial robot, 1912–2011
- 1956Ideal X First Container VoyageEvent · The first commercially successful container ship sails
- 1956Suez CrisisEvent · Egypt nationalizes the canal and war closes it
- 1956CMR ConventionLaw · Treaty on international road freight contracts
- 1956Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956Law · Funded the US Interstate Highway System
- 1956IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR)Law · Airline manual for shipping dangerous goods by air
- 1956UN Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous GoodsLaw · UN template for dangerous goods rules in all modes
- 1956Dwight D. EisenhowerPerson · US President, Interstate Highway backer, 1890–1969
- 1956Joseph EngelbergerPerson · Father of robotics, Unimation founder, 1925–2015
- 1956Malcom McLeanPerson · Father of containerization, 1913–2001
- 1956Robert G. BrownPerson · Developer of exponential smoothing, 1923–2013
- 1956Demand ForecastingTerm · Estimating future sales by SKU
- 1956DrayageTerm · Trucking containers from port to warehouse
- 1956Freight ClassTerm · LTL pricing rating from 50 to 500
- 1956Full Container LoadFCLTerm · One shipper's goods in a whole container
- 1956Full TruckloadFTLTerm · A shipment that fills a whole trailer
- 1956Intermodal FreightTerm · Freight moved by rail and truck in one box
- 1956National Motor Freight ClassificationNMFCTerm · Standard that sets LTL freight classes
- 1956Safety StockTerm · Extra stock that covers demand and lead time swings
- 1957Invention of Bubble WrapEvent · Failed textured wallpaper becomes cushioning
- 1957ADR AgreementLaw · Treaty on carrying dangerous goods by road
- 1957Treaty of RomeLaw · 1957 treaty founding the EEC and its customs union
- 1957Alfred FieldingPerson · Co-inventor of Bubble Wrap, co-founder of Sealed Air, 1917–1994
- 1957Charles C. HoltPerson · Developer of trend exponential smoothing, 1921–2010
- 1957Void FillTerm · Material that fills empty space in a box
- 1959First Dockside Container CraneEvent · A Matson crane lifts containers at high speed
- 1959Shannon Free ZoneEvent · Ireland opens the first modern free trade zone
- 1959St. Lawrence SeawayEvent · Oceangoing ships can reach the Great Lakes
- 1959TIR ConventionLaw · UN transit system for sealed trucks crossing borders
- 1959Herbert ScarfPerson · Economist, (s,S) inventory policy, 1930–2015
- 1960sEmergence of Automated Storage and Retrieval SystemsEvent · Machines start storing and fetching warehouse loads
- 1960Sunil ChopraPerson · Supply chain professor and author, b. 1960
- 1960Automated Storage and Retrieval SystemAS/RSTerm · Machines that store and fetch totes or pallets
- 1960Bill of MaterialsBOMTerm · List of components that make up a kit
- 1960Goods-to-PersonGTPTerm · Automation brings stock to the picker
- 1961First Unimate Industrial Robot at General MotorsEvent · A robot arm goes to work on a GM production line
- 1961Donald J. BowersoxPerson · Logistics educator, Michigan State, 1932–2011
- 1961Jay ForresterPerson · Founder of system dynamics, 1918–2016
- 1961John D. C. LittlePerson · MIT professor, proved Little's Law, 1928–2024
- 1962Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine TerminalEvent · Port Elizabeth opens as a port built for containers
- 1962Port of Rotterdam as World's Busiest PortEvent · Rotterdam leads the world in cargo for four decades
- 1962Trade Expansion Act of 1962Law · Kennedy-era trade law that contains Section 232
- 1962Peter DruckerPerson · Management thinker, 1909–2005
- 1962Sam WaltonPerson · Founder of Walmart, 1918–1992
- 1963Introduction of the ZIP CodeEvent · Five-digit codes speed up US mail sorting
- 1963Address ValidationTerm · Checking an address before printing a label
- 1964Kennedy RoundEvent · GATT talks cut industrial tariffs by about 35 percent
- 1965Maquiladora ProgramEvent · Mexican border plants assemble imported parts duty-free
- 1965IMDG CodeLaw · IMO code for shipping dangerous goods by sea
- 1965Mærsk Mc-Kinney MøllerPerson · Maersk leader in the container era, 1913–2012
- 1966Sea-Land Transatlantic Container ServiceEvent · Regular container service opens to Europe
- 1967Sea-Land Vietnam Container ServiceEvent · Containers clear a jammed war supply line
- 1967Suez Canal Closure of 1967 to 1975Event · War shuts the canal for eight years
- 1967Toll-Free 800 NumberEvent · Free calls make phone ordering work nationwide
- 1967George PlosslPerson · Inventory control author and MRP advocate, 1918–2004
- 1967Oliver WightPerson · MRP II and Class A pioneer, 1929–1983
- 1967Delivered Duty PaidDDPTerm · Incoterm: seller pays transport and duties
- 1968EEC Customs UnionEvent · Six EEC states drop internal duties and share a tariff
- 1968ISO Shipping Container StandardEvent · ISO 668 fixes container sizes worldwide
- 1968Transportation Data Coordinating Committee (TDCC)Event · US carriers begin standard formats for EDI
- 1968Hague-Visby RulesLaw · Amended Hague Rules on ocean carrier liability
- 1968Chang Yung-faPerson · Founder of Evergreen Marine, 1927–2016
- 1968Priority MailTerm · USPS 1 to 3 day parcel service
- 1968Twenty-Foot Equivalent UnitTEUTerm · Container capacity unit of one 20-foot box
- 1969Founding of DHLEvent · Couriers fly shipping papers ahead of the cargo
- 1969Adrian DalseyPerson · Co-founder of DHL, 1914–1994
- 1969Larry HillblomPerson · Co-founder of DHL, 1943–1995
- 1969Victor ScheinmanPerson · Inventor of the Stanford Arm, 1942–2016
- 1970Penn Central BankruptcyEvent · The largest US railroad files for bankruptcy
- 1970EU Tachograph RegulationLaw · EU law requiring tachographs in goods vehicles
- 1970Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970Law · Federal workplace safety law that created OSHA
- 1970OSHA General Duty ClauseLaw · OSHA catch-all duty to prevent recognized hazards
- 1970Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA)Law · US law requiring child-resistant packaging
- 1970Postal Reorganization Act of 1970Law · Replaced the Post Office Department with USPS
- 1970Gianluigi ApontePerson · Founder of MSC, b. 1940
- 19711971 to 1972 ILWU StrikeEvent · Dockworkers shut West Coast ports over container jobs
- 1971Nixon ShockEvent · The US ends dollar convertibility into gold
- 1971OSHA Materials Handling and Storage Standard (29 CFR 1910.176)Law · OSHA rule on aisles, stacking and storage safety
- 1971OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks Standard (29 CFR 1910.178)Law · Forklift safety and operator training rules
- 1972Boeing 747 FreighterEvent · The first 747 freighter enters service with Lufthansa
- 1972Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA)Law · Law creating the CPSC and its recall powers
- 1972International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC)Law · Treaty requiring safety approval of shipping containers
- 19731973 Oil CrisisEvent · An Arab oil embargo sends fuel prices soaring
- 1973Federal Express Begins Overnight ServiceEvent · 14 jets carry 186 packages through one Memphis hub
- 1973Tokyo RoundEvent · GATT talks add the first codes on non-tariff barriers
- 1973Kyoto Convention (Customs)Law · 1973 treaty on simplifying customs procedures
- 1973MARPOL ConventionLaw · Main treaty on pollution from ships
- 1973Alan HabermanPerson · Grocery executive who led UPC adoption, 1929–2011
- 1973Charles WaltonPerson · RFID pioneer, 1921–2011
- 1973Fred SmithPerson · Founder of FedEx, 1944–2025
- 1973George LaurerPerson · IBM engineer who designed the UPC, 1925–2019
- 1973Fuel SurchargeTerm · Percentage fee that tracks fuel prices
- 1973Radio Frequency IdentificationRFIDTerm · Tags read by radio, no line of sight needed
- 1973Universal Product CodeUPCTerm · 12-digit retail barcode used in North America
- 1974First UPC ScanEvent · A pack of gum is the first UPC scanned at checkout
- 1974ANSI MH16.1Law · US specification for steel storage rack design
- 1974Multi Fibre Arrangement (MFA)Law · 1974 to 2004 quota system for textile and apparel trade
- 1974Trade Act of 1974Law · US law behind Section 301, 201 and 122 tariffs
- 1974Perpetual Inventory SystemTerm · Stock records updated with every move
- 1974Section 301 TariffsTerm · Extra US duties, mainly on Chinese goods
- 1975UPS Coverage of All 48 Contiguous StatesEvent · UPS can deliver to every address in the lower 48
- 1975FTC Mail Order RuleLaw · FTC rule on shipping times, delays and refunds
- 1975Hazardous Materials Transportation ActLaw · US law authorizing federal hazmat transport rules
- 1975Magnuson-Moss Warranty ActLaw · US law on written consumer product warranties
- 1975Amancio OrtegaPerson · Founder of Zara and Inditex, b. 1936
- 1975Joseph OrlickyPerson · Pioneer of material requirements planning, 1922–1986
- 1975Hazardous Materials ShippinghazmatTerm · Regulated shipping of dangerous goods
- 1976ConrailEvent · A federal railroad rebuilds bankrupt Northeast lines
- 1976Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)Law · US duty-free program for poorer nations, lapsed 2020
- 1976International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)Law · US rules controlling defense articles and services
- 1976Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976Law · Funded Conrail and began loosening rail regulation
- 1976Sol PricePerson · Founder of Price Club, 1916–2009
- 1977European Article Numbering (EAN) StandardEvent · Europe adopts a 13-digit barcode matching the UPC
- 1977Air Cargo Deregulation Act of 1977Law · Freed US domestic air cargo routes and rates
- 1978China's Reform and Opening-UpEvent · China turns toward markets and foreign trade
- 1978ANSI/ITSDF B56.5Law · US safety standard for automatic guided vehicles
- 1978Hamburg RulesLaw · UN sea cargo convention with higher carrier liability
- 1978Jacques SaadéPerson · Founder of CMA CGM, 1937–2018
- 19791979 Oil CrisisEvent · The Iranian Revolution doubles crude oil prices
- 1979Export Administration Regulations (EAR)Law · US rules controlling exports of dual-use items
- 1979Trade Agreements Act of 1979Law · Law that implemented the Tokyo Round trade codes
- 1979Michael AldrichPerson · Inventor of teleshopping, 1941–2014
- 1979Philip B. CrosbyPerson · Quality expert, Zero Defects, 1926–2001
1980–199994 entries
- 1980sRise of the 3PL IndustryEvent · Deregulation lets carriers sell contract logistics
- 1980Shenzhen Special Economic ZoneEvent · A zone beside Hong Kong opens to foreign investment
- 1980CISGLaw · UN treaty on international sale of goods contracts
- 1980Motor Carrier Act of 1980Law · Deregulated US trucking rates and market entry
- 1980Staggers Rail Act of 1980Law · Deregulated US freight railroad rates and contracts
- 1980Cross-DockingTerm · Inbound freight moved straight to outbound trucks
- 1980Free CarrierFCATerm · Incoterm: seller hands goods to the carrier
- 1980Freight BrokerTerm · Matches your load with a trucking company
- 1980Sales and Operations PlanningS&OPTerm · Monthly plan that aligns sales and supply
- 1980Third-Party Logistics3PLTerm · An outside warehouse that ships your orders
- 1980Vendor-Managed InventoryVMITerm · Supplier decides when to restock you
- 1981GS1-128 LabelTerm · Standard carton label with an SSCC barcode
- 1982UPS Next Day AirEvent · UPS adds guaranteed overnight delivery
- 1982Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982Law · Set federal truck size and weight rules on highways
- 1983GPS Opened to Civilian UseEvent · The US makes military GPS free for civilian use
- 1983Harmonized System ConventionLaw · Treaty behind the six-digit HS product codes
- 1983Hazard Communication (HazCom)Law · OSHA rule on chemical labels, SDSs and training
- 1984Double-Stack Container TrainsEvent · Trains carry containers stacked two high
- 1984Shipping Act of 1984Law · US law regulating ocean carriers and NVOCCs
- 1984Eliyahu GoldrattPerson · Creator of the Theory of Constraints, 1947–2011
- 1984Michael DellPerson · Founder of Dell Technologies, b. 1965
- 1984ThroughputTerm · Work completed per hour or per day
- 1985Baltic Dry IndexEvent · A daily index tracks dry bulk shipping rates
- 1985Jebel Ali Free ZoneEvent · Dubai opens a free zone beside its new port
- 1985Plaza AccordEvent · Five economies agree to push down the US dollar
- 1985Schengen AgreementLaw · European pact abolishing internal border checks
- 1985Michael PorterPerson · Strategist, creator of the value chain, b. 1947
- 1986Uruguay RoundEvent · GATT talks end by creating the WTO
- 1986ANSI/RIA R15.06Law · US industrial robot safety standard based on ISO 10218
- 1986California Proposition 65Law · California warning law for listed chemicals
- 1986Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986Law · Created the national commercial driver's license
- 1986Bill SmithPerson · Father of Six Sigma at Motorola, 1929–1993
- 1988Qualcomm OmniTRACSEvent · Satellite messaging and tracking come to truck cabs
- 1988WARN ActLaw · Federal 60-day notice rule for mass layoffs and closures
- 1988David GlassPerson · Walmart CEO, logistics leader, 1935–2020
- 1988Harmonized System CodeHS CodeTerm · Six-digit international product code
- 1989Abolition of the UK National Dock Labour SchemeEvent · UK ends the registered dockers' monopoly on port work
- 1989FedEx Acquires Flying Tiger LineEvent · FedEx buys an air cargo line and its global routes
- 1989U.S. Adoption of the Harmonized SystemEvent · The US moves its tariff schedule to HS codes
- 1989Canada-United States Free Trade AgreementLaw · 1989 US-Canada trade pact later folded into NAFTA
- 1989Toxics in Packaging LawsLaw · State limits on heavy metals and PFAS in packaging
- 1989Harmonized Tariff ScheduleHTSTerm · US product codes that set import duty rates
- 1990The Machine That Changed the WorldEvent · An MIT study of car plants popularizes lean production
- 1990James P. WomackPerson · Lean thinking author, LEI founder, b. 1948
- 1990Enterprise Resource PlanningERPTerm · Core business software and system of record
- 1991MercosurEvent · Four South American states form a common market
- 1991Walmart Retail LinkEvent · Walmart shows suppliers store-level sales data
- 1991William G. PagonisPerson · Gulf War logistics general, b. 1941
- 1991Advance Shipping NoticeASNTerm · Notice sent before a shipment arrives
- 1992SAP R/3 and the ERP EraEvent · SAP's client-server software defines large-company ERP
- 1992ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)Law · ASEAN free trade area cutting intra-regional tariffs
- 1992Quill Corp. v. North DakotaLaw · 1992 case requiring physical presence for sales tax
- 1992Marc RaibertPerson · Founder of Boston Dynamics, b. 1949
- 1993ECT Delta TerminalEvent · Rotterdam opens the first automated container terminal
- 1993Efficient Consumer Response (ECR)Event · Grocers and suppliers cooperate to cut $30 billion
- 1993EU Single MarketEvent · Goods cross EU internal borders without customs checks
- 1993Customs Modernization Act of 1993Law · US law making importers responsible for reasonable care
- 1993Negotiated Rates Act of 1993Law · Ended the trucking undercharge claims crisis
- 1993Wang WeiPerson · Founder of SF Express, b. 1970
- 1994Channel TunnelEvent · A rail tunnel under the Channel links England and France
- 1994First Secure Online PurchaseEvent · An encrypted card payment buys a Sting CD online
- 1994North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)Law · 1994 to 2020 North American trade pact replaced by USMCA
- 1994Trucking Industry Regulatory Reform Act of 1994Law · Ended tariff filing for most negotiated truck rates
- 1994WTO Customs Valuation AgreementLaw · WTO rules on how customs value is calculated
- 1994Jeff BezosPerson · Founder of Amazon, b. 1964
- 1994Masahiro HaraPerson · Inventor of the QR code, b. 1957
- 1994Tracking NumberTerm · Number that follows a package's scans
- 1995Amazon.com LaunchEvent · Jeff Bezos opens an online bookstore to the public
- 1995Burlington Northern Santa Fe MergerEvent · Two western railroads combine into BNSF
- 1995Dot-Com Boom and BustEvent · Internet stocks soar to a 2000 peak, then crash
- 1995eBay LaunchEvent · AuctionWeb opens and sells a broken laser pointer
- 1995World Trade Organization (WTO) EstablishedEvent · The WTO takes over from GATT as the trade rules forum
- 1995ICC Termination Act of 1995Law · Abolished the ICC and created the STB
- 1996Union Pacific-Southern Pacific MergerEvent · A rail merger sets off a western service crisis
- 1996Information Technology AgreementLaw · WTO deal eliminating tariffs on IT products
- 1996Jakob HattelandPerson · Co-founder of AutoStore cube storage, b. 1951
- 1996John J. Bartholdi IIIPerson · Warehouse science researcher at Georgia Tech, 1947–2019
- 19971997 UPS Teamsters StrikeEvent · 185,000 UPS workers walk out for 15 days
- 1998Deutsche Post Acquires DHLEvent · The German post buys DHL in steps over four years
- 1998Formation of FedEx GroundEvent · FedEx buys Caliber and turns RPS into FedEx Ground
- 1998Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998 (OSRA)Law · Allowed confidential ocean service contracts
- 1998Tim CookPerson · Apple CEO, former operations chief, b. 1960
- 1999Auto-ID CenterEvent · MIT researchers develop the EPC and low-cost RFID tags
- 1999Maersk Acquires Sea-LandEvent · Maersk buys Sea-Land's international container line
- 1999Panama Canal HandoverEvent · Panama takes over running the canal from the US
- 1999WebvanEvent · An online grocer builds costly warehouses and fails
- 1999Montreal ConventionLaw · Treaty on airline liability for cargo and passengers
- 1999Revised Kyoto ConventionLaw · WCO blueprint for modern, simplified customs procedures
- 1999David Simchi-LeviPerson · MIT supply chain professor, b. 1955
- 1999Jack MaPerson · Co-founder of Alibaba Group, b. 1964
- 1999Jeff WilkePerson · Builder of the Amazon fulfillment network, b. 1966
- 1999Kevin AshtonPerson · Coined Internet of Things, Auto-ID Center, b. 1968
- 1999Same-Day FulfillmentTerm · Shipping an order the day it arrives
2000–2019136 entries
- 2000Amazon Marketplace LaunchEvent · Third-party sellers list on Amazon's product pages
- 2000Philips Albuquerque FireEvent · A chip plant fire hits Ericsson harder than Nokia
- 2000African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)Law · US duty-free access for eligible sub-Saharan goods
- 2000International Fire Code (IFC)Law · Model US fire code adopted by states and cities
- 2000Tim SteinerPerson · Co-founder and CEO of Ocado, b. 1969
- 2001China Joins the WTOEvent · China becomes the 143rd member of the WTO
- 2001Doha RoundEvent · WTO talks on development that never fully concluded
- 2001September 11 Attacks and Supply Chain SecurityEvent · Border closures halt parts and cargo security tightens
- 2001Customs Trade Partnership Against TerrorismCTPATTerm · CBP security program with fewer inspections
- 20022002 West Coast Port LockoutEvent · Employers lock out dockworkers at 29 ports for 11 days
- 2002Alameda CorridorEvent · A 20-mile rail expressway links LA and Long Beach ports
- 2002Amazon Free Super Saver ShippingEvent · Amazon makes free shipping an everyday offer
- 2002Container Security Initiative (CSI)Event · US officers screen containers at foreign ports
- 200224-Hour RuleLaw · US rule to file ocean cargo data before foreign loading
- 2002Bioterrorism Act of 2002Law · Law creating FDA food registration and prior notice
- 2002ISPM 15Law · Global heat-treatment and stamp rule for wood pallets
- 2002ISPS CodeLaw · IMO security code for ships and port facilities
- 2002Trade Act of 2002Law · US law mandating advance electronic cargo data
- 2003Creation of U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionEvent · US Customs merges into a new border agency, CBP
- 2003Kiva Systems FoundedEvent · A startup builds robots that bring shelves to pickers
- 2003EU RoHS DirectiveLaw · EU limits on hazardous substances in electronics
- 2003EU WEEE DirectiveLaw · EU take-back and recycling rules for electronics
- 2003Mick MountzPerson · Founder of Kiva Systems, b. 1965
- 2003Peter WurmanPerson · Kiva Systems co-founder and CTO, b. 1965
- 2003Raffaello D'AndreaPerson · Kiva Systems co-founder, robotics engineer, b. 1967
- 2003Automated Commercial EnvironmentACETerm · CBP's electronic system for imports
- 2004DARPA Grand ChallengeEvent · Prize races push driverless vehicles forward
- 2004Richard LiuPerson · Founder of JD.com, b. 1973
- 2005Amazon Prime LaunchEvent · Free two-day shipping for a yearly fee
- 2005Formation of GS1Event · EAN International and the UCC merge as GS1
- 2005Hurricane KatrinaEvent · A hurricane floods New Orleans and halts Gulf ports
- 2005Maersk Acquires P&O NedlloydEvent · Maersk becomes the largest container line by far
- 2005Yangshan Deep-Water PortEvent · Shanghai builds deep berths on islands offshore
- 2005WCO SAFE Framework of StandardsLaw · WCO standards for supply chain security and AEO programs
- 2005Yossi SheffiPerson · Director of MIT Transportation and Logistics, b. 1948
- 2005Delivery PromiseTerm · Delivery date shown to the shopper
- 2005Distributed InventoryTerm · Stock split across several warehouses
- 2005Global Trade Item NumberGTINTerm · GS1 product identifier used worldwide
- 2005Peak SeasonTerm · The busiest stretch of the year for orders
- 2006Emma MaerskEvent · The largest container ship of its day enters service
- 2006Shopify LaunchEvent · Snowboard shop software becomes a hosted store platform
- 2006EU REACH RegulationLaw · EU chemicals registration and restriction law
- 2006EU Repeal of the Liner Conference Block ExemptionLaw · Ended EU antitrust immunity for liner conferences
- 2006IMMEX ProgramLaw · Mexican duty-free temporary import program for exporters
- 2006Postal Accountability and Enhancement ActLaw · Split USPS products into market-dominant and competitive
- 2006SAFE Port Act of 2006Law · Port security law behind C-TPAT and the ISF rule
- 2006Tobi LütkePerson · Co-founder and CEO of Shopify, b. 1980
- 2006DropshippingTerm · Supplier ships orders for the seller
- 2006Fulfillment by AmazonFBATerm · Amazon stores and ships your orders
- 2006Fulfillment by MerchantFBMTerm · You ship your own Amazon orders
- 2007iPhone Launch and the Rise of Mobile CommerceEvent · The smartphone becomes a major shopping channel
- 2007UCP 600Law · ICC rules governing documentary letters of credit
- 2007Rick CohenPerson · Founder of Symbotic, C&S chief, b. 1952
- 2008Great Recession Freight DownturnEvent · US freight shipments fall about 25 percent
- 2008Somali Piracy CrisisEvent · Hijackings off Somalia bring naval patrols
- 2008Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)Law · 2008 law on children's product testing and certificates
- 2008Rotterdam RulesLaw · UN door-to-door sea cargo treaty, not yet in force
- 2008Xu YangtianPerson · Founder of SHEIN, b. 1984
- 2008Importer Security FilingISFTerm · Ocean import filing due before loading
- 2009Singles' DayEvent · Alibaba's November 11 sale becomes a shopping giant
- 2009Tony HsiehPerson · CEO of Zappos, 1973–2020
- 2010Eyjafjallajökull Eruption Air Cargo DisruptionEvent · Volcanic ash closes European airspace
- 2010Shanghai Becomes World's Busiest Container PortEvent · Shanghai passes Singapore with 29 million TEU
- 2010Dodd-Frank Section 1502Law · SEC conflict minerals disclosure for listed companies
- 2010Incoterms 2010Law · ICC trade terms used from 2011 until 2020
- 2010PACT ActLaw · US law limiting remote sales of tobacco and vapes
- 2010Delivered at PlaceDAPTerm · Incoterm: buyer pays the import duties
- 20112011 Thailand FloodsEvent · Floods shut hard disk drive factories in Thailand
- 20112011 Tōhoku Earthquake Supply Chain ShockEvent · Japan's earthquake halts car and chip supply chains
- 2011China-Europe Railway ExpressEvent · Scheduled freight trains run from China to Europe
- 2011ePacketEvent · Cheap tracked postal shipping from China to the US
- 2011EU Consumer Rights DirectiveLaw · EU rules on online sales, withdrawal rights and delivery
- 2011EU Falsified Medicines DirectiveLaw · EU anti-counterfeit rules for prescription medicines
- 2011Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)Law · 2011 law shifting FDA food safety to prevention
- 2012Amazon Acquires Kiva SystemsEvent · Amazon buys the maker of shelf-carrying robots
- 2012MAP-21Law · 2012 US transportation law that ordered ELDs
- 2012Rodney BrooksPerson · Roboticist, iRobot and Rethink founder, b. 1954
- 2013Belt and Road InitiativeEvent · China funds ports and railways across three continents
- 2013Maersk Triple E ClassEvent · Maersk takes delivery of 18,000 TEU ships
- 2013Rana Plaza CollapseEvent · A garment factory collapse kills 1,134 in Bangladesh
- 2013Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA)Law · US law on serialized, interoperable drug tracing
- 2013Union Customs Code (UCC)Law · EU's core customs law for imports, exports and transit
- 2013WTO Trade Facilitation AgreementLaw · WTO treaty to speed up and simplify border clearance
- 2013Dave ClarkPerson · Builder of the Amazon delivery network, b. 1973
- 2013Ryan PetersenPerson · Founder and CEO of Flexport, b. 1980
- 2013SerializationTerm · A unique serial number on every unit
- 20142014-2015 West Coast Port SlowdownEvent · Contract talks bring months of West Coast congestion
- 2014Amazon Prime NowEvent · Two-hour delivery from local hubs in Manhattan
- 2014Dimensional WeightDIM weightTerm · Billable weight based on package size
- 2015Amazon Picking ChallengeEvent · Robot teams compete to pick items from shelves
- 2015New Suez CanalEvent · Egypt adds a 35-kilometer parallel channel
- 2015Tianjin Port ExplosionsEvent · Chemical warehouse blasts kill 173 at Tianjin port
- 2015UPS and FedEx Ground DIM PricingEvent · Ground carriers bill every package by DIM weight
- 2015ELD MandateLaw · Requires electronic logging devices for truck drivers
- 2015Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)Law · FDA rule making food importers verify foreign suppliers
- 2015UK Modern Slavery Act 2015Law · UK law requiring slavery statements from large firms
- 2015Billable WeightTerm · The weight a carrier actually charges for
- 2015Robotic Piece PickingTerm · Robot arm that picks single items
- 2016COSCO-China Shipping MergerEvent · China's two biggest shipping groups combine
- 2016FedEx Acquires TNT ExpressEvent · FedEx buys the Dutch express carrier TNT
- 2016Hanjin Shipping BankruptcyEvent · Korea's largest container line fails, stranding cargo
- 2016Launch of Amazon AirEvent · Amazon starts its own cargo airline
- 2016Otto-Budweiser Autonomous Truck DeliveryEvent · A self-driving truck hauls beer 120 miles
- 2016Panama Canal ExpansionEvent · Larger locks open the canal to Neopanamax ships
- 2016Walmart Acquires Jet.comEvent · Walmart buys Jet.com and hands Marc Lore its e-commerce
- 2016Zipline Rwanda Drone DeliveryEvent · Drones deliver blood to hospitals across Rwanda
- 2016China Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail Import PolicyLaw · China's tax rules for consumer imports via e-commerce
- 2016Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA)Law · CBP process to investigate antidumping duty evasion
- 2016FAA Part 107Law · FAA rules for commercial drones under 55 pounds
- 2016General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)Law · EU data protection law covering customer data
- 2016Sanitary Transportation RuleLaw · FDA rule for safe transport of human and animal food
- 2016Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2016Law · 2016 customs law that raised US de minimis to $800
- 2016Marc LorePerson · Founder of Diapers.com and Jet.com, b. 1971
- 2016De MinimisTerm · Value limit for duty-free imports
- 2016Lithium Battery ShippingTerm · Shipping batteries under dangerous goods rules
- 2016Micro-Fulfillment CenterMFCTerm · Small urban site for fast local delivery
- 2017Amazon Acquires Whole FoodsEvent · Amazon buys a national chain of grocery stores
- 2017NotPetya CyberattackEvent · Malware cripples Maersk and other logistics firms
- 2017Ocean Carrier Alliance RealignmentEvent · Three alliances come to dominate east-west trades
- 2017Yangshan Phase IV Automated TerminalEvent · Shanghai opens a vast automated container terminal
- 2017Peak SurchargeTerm · Temporary fee during the holiday peak
- 2018Ocado-Kroger PartnershipEvent · Kroger plans robotic grocery centers with Ocado
- 2018TradeLensEvent · Maersk and IBM's blockchain shipping data platform
- 2018U.S.-China Trade WarEvent · Section 301 tariffs hit most imports from China
- 2018Marketplace Facilitator LawLaw · State laws making marketplaces collect sales tax
- 2018Section 201 Safeguard TariffsLaw · Temporary US tariffs on import surges, used on solar
- 2018Section 232 TariffsLaw · National-security tariffs on metals, autos and more
- 2018South Dakota v. WayfairLaw · Supreme Court case allowing economic nexus for sales tax
- 2019Amazon Ends FedEx ContractsEvent · FedEx drops its express and ground deals with Amazon
- 2019Amazon Prime One-Day ShippingEvent · Amazon makes free one-day delivery the Prime standard
- 2019UPU Terminal Dues ReformEvent · Countries may set their own inbound packet rates
- 2019California AB5Law · California ABC test for independent contractor status
- 2019EU Market Surveillance RegulationLaw · EU rule requiring an EU-based responsible operator
- 2019FAA Part 135 Drone Delivery CertificationLaw · Air carrier certification used for US drone delivery
- 2019German Packaging Act (VerpackG)Law · German packaging registration and recycling law
- 2019U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA)Law · Limited US-Japan pact on farm and industrial tariffs
2020–94 entries
- 20202020-2022 Global Supply Chain CrisisEvent · Congestion, box shortages and record freight rates
- 2020Beirut Port ExplosionEvent · Stored ammonium nitrate explodes and wrecks the port
- 2020COVID-19 E-Commerce SurgeEvent · US online sales jump 32 percent as stores close
- 2020Global Semiconductor ShortageEvent · A chip shortfall halts car and electronics output
- 2020ANSI/RIA R15.08Law · US safety standard for industrial mobile robots
- 2020EU Mobility Package ILaw · EU rules on driver rest, cabotage and posted drivers
- 2020IMO 2020Law · Global 0.50% sulphur cap on marine fuel
- 2020Incoterms 2020Law · Current ICC trade terms for buyer and seller duties
- 2020ISO 3691-4Law · International safety standard for AGVs and AMRs
- 2020Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)Law · Asia-Pacific trade pact covering 15 economies
- 2020USMCALaw · North American free trade pact that replaced NAFTA
- 2020Dark StoreTerm · Store closed to shoppers, used for online orders
- 2021AfCFTA Trading BeginsEvent · Trade starts under the African free trade area
- 2021Brexit Customs BorderEvent · Customs checks return between Britain and the EU
- 2021Colonial Pipeline Ransomware AttackEvent · Ransomware shuts the largest US fuel pipeline
- 2021Ever Given Suez Canal BlockageEvent · A grounded container ship blocks Suez for six days
- 2021USPS Delivering for America PlanEvent · A 10-year USPS plan rebuilt around packages
- 2021Yantian Port COVID ClosureEvent · An outbreak slows a major Shenzhen container terminal
- 2021California AB 701 Warehouse Quota LawLaw · Limits and disclosure for warehouse productivity quotas
- 2021California SB 343Law · California truth in recycling labels law
- 2021EU VAT E-Commerce PackageLaw · 2021 EU VAT rules for online sales and imports
- 2021German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG)Law · German law on supply chain human rights due diligence
- 2021Import Control System 2 (ICS2)Law · EU advance cargo security filing system
- 2021Maine Packaging EPR LawLaw · First US state packaging EPR law, enacted 2021
- 2021Oregon Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization ActLaw · Oregon packaging EPR law, first to collect fees
- 2021UK Low-Value Import VAT RulesLaw · UK rules taxing imports up to £135 at point of sale
- 2021Warehouse Indirect Source RuleLaw · Southern California emissions points rule for warehouses
- 2021Warehouse Worker Protection ActLaw · State laws regulating warehouse productivity quotas
- 2021Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention ActUFLPATerm · US law barring Xinjiang-made imports
- 20222022 Freight Rail Labor DisputeEvent · Congress imposes a deal to stop a national rail strike
- 2022Amazon Becomes Largest U.S. Parcel CarrierEvent · Amazon Logistics passes UPS in US parcel volume
- 2022Amazon Labor Union JFK8 VoteEvent · Staten Island workers win the first US Amazon union vote
- 2022Amazon ProteusEvent · Amazon's first fully autonomous warehouse robot
- 2022Black Sea Grain InitiativeEvent · A UN deal lets Ukraine ship grain during the war
- 2022ChatGPT LaunchEvent · OpenAI's chatbot brings generative AI into wide use
- 2022Freight Recession of 2022-2024Event · Truck rates fall while carrier capacity stays high
- 2022MSC Overtakes MaerskEvent · MSC becomes the largest container line by capacity
- 2022Port of Tuas OpeningEvent · Singapore opens a port planned for full automation
- 2022Rhine Low Water CrisisEvent · Drought leaves Rhine barges sailing with small loads
- 2022Russian Invasion of Ukraine Supply Chain DisruptionEvent · Sanctions, closed airspace and blocked ports
- 2022Shanghai COVID LockdownEvent · A citywide lockdown cripples Shanghai trucking
- 2022California SB 54Law · California EPR law for packaging and plastic foodware
- 2022Colorado Packaging EPR LawLaw · Colorado producer-funded recycling program for packaging
- 2022EU Digital Services Act (DSA)Law · EU rules for online platforms and marketplaces
- 2022FSMA Food Traceability RuleLaw · FDA traceability records rule for high-risk foods
- 2022INFORM Consumers ActLaw · US law making marketplaces verify high-volume sellers
- 2022Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA)Law · 2022 law adding FDA registration rules for cosmetics
- 2022New York Warehouse Worker Protection ActLaw · New York quota disclosure and injury reduction law
- 2022Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA 2022)Law · 2022 US law curbing ocean carrier fees and practices
- 2022Postal Service Reform Act of 2022Law · 2022 USPS reform that ended retiree health prefunding
- 2022Reese's LawLaw · US safety rules for button and coin cell batteries
- 2022UK Plastic Packaging TaxLaw · UK tax on plastic packaging under 30% recycled content
- 2022Lot TrackingTerm · Recording batch numbers so units can be traced
- 20232023 UPS-Teamsters ContractEvent · A five-year deal for 340,000 workers averts a strike
- 2023Amazon RegionalizationEvent · Amazon splits its US network into eight regions
- 2023Convoy ShutdownEvent · A digital freight broker once worth $3.8 billion closes
- 2023Panama Canal Drought RestrictionsEvent · Low lake levels cut daily canal transits
- 2023Red Sea Shipping CrisisEvent · Houthi attacks send container ships around Africa
- 2023Yellow Corporation BankruptcyEvent · The third-largest US LTL carrier shuts down
- 2023California Climate Disclosure LawsLaw · California laws on emissions and climate risk reporting
- 2023Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)Law · EU carbon charge on imports of steel, aluminium and more
- 2023EU Batteries RegulationLaw · EU lifecycle rules for batteries, design to recycling
- 2023EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)Law · EU ban on products linked to deforestation
- 2023EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)Law · Safety, labeling, and EU contact rules for products
- 2023EU Machinery RegulationLaw · EU safety rules for machinery, applying from 2027
- 2023Minnesota Warehouse Distribution Worker Safety ActLaw · Minnesota warehouse quota and injury-rate law
- 2023OSHA Warehousing National Emphasis ProgramLaw · OSHA program targeting warehouses for inspection
- 2023UK Packaging EPRLaw · UK producer fees for household packaging waste
- 2023Washington Warehouse Worker Quota Law (HB 1762)Law · Washington law on warehouse quotas and safety
- 2023Windsor FrameworkLaw · UK-EU deal on goods moving from GB to Northern Ireland
- 2023USPS Ground AdvantageTerm · USPS ground parcel service up to 70 lb
- 20242024 Canadian Rail LockoutEvent · A lockout halts most Canadian freight rail at once
- 20242024 ILA Port StrikeEvent · A three-day strike closes East and Gulf Coast ports
- 2024EU Consortia Block Exemption ExpiryEvent · EU ends a competition law exemption for carriers
- 2024Francis Scott Key Bridge CollapseEvent · A ship strike closes Baltimore's main channel
- 2024Cal/OSHA Indoor Heat Illness Prevention StandardLaw · California heat rule for indoor workplaces
- 2024CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM)Law · Canada's digital system for import duties and payment
- 2024Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)Law · EU directive on corporate human rights due diligence
- 2024Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)Law · EU product sustainability rules and unsold goods ban
- 2024EU ETS Extended to ShippingLaw · EU carbon allowances required for ship emissions
- 2024EU Forced Labour RegulationLaw · EU ban on products made with forced labour
- 2024FMC Demurrage and Detention Billing RuleLaw · FMC rules on how demurrage and detention is billed
- 2024Oregon Warehouse Worker Quota Law (HB 4127)Law · Oregon law requiring written warehouse quotas
- 2025Amazon's One Millionth RobotEvent · Amazon deploys its one millionth warehouse robot
- 2025End of De MinimisEvent · US ends duty-free entry for imports of $800 or less
- 2025Gemini CooperationEvent · Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd launch a hub-and-spoke network
- 2025NMFC Density-Based Classification OverhaulEvent · Most LTL freight moves to classes based on density
- 2025UPS-Amazon Volume Glide-DownEvent · UPS plans to cut its Amazon volume by more than half
- 2025CPSC eFilingLaw · Mandatory electronic filing of safety certificates
- 2025EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)Law · EU-wide rules on packaging design, waste and EPR
- 2025FuelEU MaritimeLaw · EU limit on greenhouse gas intensity of ship fuel
- 2025USTR Port Fees on Chinese-Built ShipsLaw · Section 301 fees on China-linked vessels at US ports
- 2025Freight DensityTerm · Pounds per cubic foot of a shipment
- 2025IEEPA TariffsTerm · 2025 US duties applied by country