Maritime Industry Briefing: Automation Drives Growth, Drayage Scheduling Tool Acquired

## Automation Fuels GXO Logistics' North American Growth According to a report from FreightWaves, GXO Logistics is betting on continued demand tailwinds across North America, driven by the company's focus on robotics and AI. GXO, one of the world's largest pure-play logistics providers, expects these technology investments to power stronger margins and free cash flow by 2026. 'We're seeing demand tailwinds across North America,' said GXO CEO Malcolm Wilson. 'Automation and AI are really driving our business forward.' The company plans to leverage its expertise in warehouse automation to capture market share, as shippers increasingly seek out logistics providers with advanced material handling capabilities. GXO operates over 900 facilities worldwide and has been an early adopter of robotic solutions to boost productivity and reduce labor costs. ## CargoSprint Acquires Dray Dog Scheduling Tool In other news, the Journal of Commerce reports that logistics technology firm CargoSprint has acquired Dray Dog, a key appointment scheduling tool used by drayage carriers serving the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Dray Dog is widely adopted among large drayage fleets moving containers in and out of the San Pedro Bay ports complex. The tool handles a significant portion of the appointment slots at the 11 marine terminals in the two ports. 'The acquisition of Dray Dog strengthens our ability to provide end-to-end visibility and optimization for drayage carriers,' said CargoSprint CEO Matt Motsick. 'This will help our customers improve asset utilization and reduce turn times at the ports.' The deal comes as container terminals and trucking companies continue to grapple with congestion and inefficiencies in the Southern California supply chain. Automated scheduling and appointment tools are seen as crucial to improving fluidity at major gateways.