Week in Review: Tive's Victory Lap Through Chaos & Change

Supply chain headlines this week read more like a movie script than business news. From Tive's milestone of selling two million tracking devices (one million in the last 13 months alone) to a string of Hollywood-worthy cargo heists totaling over $18M in November, the latest developments are anything but boring. You'll want to stay tuned as we dig into the potential cold chain shakeup brewing under a second Trump term, explore how companies are joining forces to tackle their carbon footprints, and discover why food manufacturers are betting big on AI—to solve everything from avocado production to poultry sizing challenges. Whether you're using real-time tracking for shipments across continents or trying to optimize your warehouse, these stories offer a fascinating glimpse into where we are, with less than three weeks to go in 2024.  

From 1 to 2 Million Trackers: Tive's Growth Just Went Into Overdrive

Since Tive started in 2015, our mission has been to change how companies track their shipments—to move beyond the frustrating days of refreshing web pages and hoping for the best. Now, we're celebrating a milestone that even surprised us: 2 million trackers sold, with half of those flying off the shelves in just the last 13 months.

Zero to a Million: The Eight-Year Journey

Our first million trackers (2015-2023) laid the groundwork for something bigger. We watched them travel 6.3 billion miles, protecting everything from high-value electronics to temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. Those tiny devices generated 4.5 million real-time alerts—helping catch problems before they became disasters.

Million to Multi-Million: The 13-Month Sprint

Then something clicked. The next million trackers? Sold in just over a year. Today, our trackers cover 10 million miles daily, giving 850+ customers real-time updates across road, rail, air, and ocean shipments. Just ask Sarah Zwilsky, CEO of Potomac Metals, who put it perfectly: "It's definitely worth spending a small amount of money to know the exact whereabouts of your $200,000 shipment." That's the kind of math we love: small investment, massive peace of mind.

When Cargo Goes Rogue: The $18M+ Heist Roundup for November 2024

November made headlines with a massive cargo theft epidemic sweeping across America. Criminal enterprises targeted everything from electronics and beauty products to celebrity tequila—proving that modern-day heists rival Hollywood scripts. Let's peek at the biggest freight robberies that rattled retailers last month.

Seven Masterminds. One $6.2M Score.

A daring crew in Texas showed remarkable audacity—cutting through warehouse doors to snatch $500,000 in Ray-Bans and Oculus headsets. But that was just their warm-up act. The same gang went on to steal $2.54M in phones from Coppell, and another $3.49M worth from DFW Airport. Police finally caught up with the seven-member ring, who had meticulously planned their heists using lookouts and targeting high-value electronics storage facilities.

From Tequila Troubles to Beauty Busts

While Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar watched helplessly as hijackers made off with $1M worth of their Santo Tequila in Texas (24,240 bottles vanished into thin air), California's Highway Patrol was busy recovering $3.7M in stolen beauty products near the Mexican border. The plot thickened in New York, where investigators busted an international ring moving $2M worth of designer goods—from Prada bags to Psycho Bunny apparel—through a network spanning from NYC to the Dominican Republic. The perpetrators didn't just grab goods off shelves; they convinced truck drivers to redirect entire shipments from manufacturer warehouses.

Trump's Potential Cold Chain Shakeup

The cold chain world stands at a crossroads. While you're keeping products perfectly chilled, major policy changes loom under President Trump's second term that could reshape how temperature-controlled logistics operates. From new food safety rules taking effect in January 2026 to potential tariff wars, staying ahead means understanding what's coming down the pipeline.

Farm Bill to FRIDGE: The Battle to Keep Cool Stuff Moving

Want to expand your cold chain business into new markets? The Fortifying Refrigeration Infrastructure and Developing Global Exports (FRIDGE) Act could make that happen. Tucked into both House and Senate versions of the 2024 Farm Bill, this bipartisan legislation would beef up refrigeration infrastructure globally—opening fresh opportunities for U.S. companies to ship perishable goods worldwide. But here's the catch: Congress opted for a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill instead of passing a new one. Meanwhile, food safety regulations keep piling up, with the FSMA Food Traceability Rule demanding enhanced recordkeeping starting January 2026.

Trump's Regulatory Deep Freeze: What Your Cold Storage Operation Should Watch Out For

Brace for a regulatory pendulum swing. Trump's team, backed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's planned Department of Government Efficiency, aims to slash Biden-era rules as soon as possible. EPA regulations face particular scrutiny—especially the February 2024 Risk Management Program changes set for 2027 implementation. Trade policies could send shivers through the supply chain, too. Trump's push for higher tariffs might trigger retaliation against U.S. food exports, while the 2026 USMCA review threatens to rewrite North American trade rules.  

Supply Chain Collaboration: Where Teamwork Meets Carbon Footprints

Going green sounds simple on paper—until you realize your supply chain stretches across multiple continents and has thousands of moving parts. That’s why joining forces with suppliers and prioritizing collaboration can help you reach your environmental goals, no matter how lofty.

Breaking Down Walls (& Breaking Records)

KPMG's managing director, Blythe Chorn, puts it perfectly: there's no magic wand to map out your entire supply chain. The real progress happens when brands stop trying to tackle everything alone—and start building genuine partnerships. While 100% real-time shipment visibility in your supply chain remains the holy grail, companies that collaborate with their suppliers gain a massive advantage in meeting new environmental regulations.

Get Cozy with Your Suppliers (Before Regulators Make You)

Greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting has graduated from optional to essential. Between the Fashion Act and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, brands face pressure to clean up their act. KPMG discovered a clear pattern—companies who buddy up with suppliers and leverage shared analytics crush their environmental goals… while others scramble to catch up. Their secret? They dropped the "us vs. them" mentality, and turned suppliers into climate action allies. So, start the conversation with your suppliers today; with the right partnerships and tools, you'll reach those goals faster than you think.

Hungry for Change? Your 2025 Food Manufacturing Game Plan

The clock's ticking toward 2025, and food manufacturers face some tough realities: disconnected teams, rising costs, and constant pressure to deliver. But here's the good news—smart technology could save your bacon.

From Spreadsheet Chaos to Smooth Supply Chains

Remember that time you bought too many stylish soup bowls because the unit price looked great? You're not alone. Companies still struggle with siloed operations: sales pump up demand forecasts while production maxes out efficiency—regardless of actual need. McKinsey's research shows that the right automation could reduce inventory costs by 20%—and total supply chain expenses by 10%. Take Snack Brands' success story: they cut their SKU runs from 40 to 15, halving their planning time. The secret? Unified planning systems that let everyone work from the same playbook.

When AI Meets Your Avocados

Your supply chain might look more like a game of telephone right now—messages getting lost between teams and leading to costly mistakes. But smart companies have found better ways. One manufacturer solved their year-long avocado production headache in under a week using AI-powered planning. Even Tegel Foods tackled the unique challenge of unpredictable poultry sizes with integrated systems. The numbers don't lie: a 10% boost in production efficiency goes straight to your bottom line. Modern platforms can crunch data from 31 countries (ask Vita Coco), spot trends, and help you pivot faster than ever. Plus, they'll keep you green—and smarter inventory means less waste and lower energy costs for storage.

When Your Cargo Ghosts You, Maybe You Need a Tracker

In a month where $6.2M in electronics and 24,000 bottles of celebrity tequila pulled a vanishing act, Tive's milestone of two million trackers sold feels less like a corporate achievement—and more like perfect timing. Because whether you're dodging sophisticated heists or just trying to keep your avocados fresh, knowing exactly where your cargo is shouldn't feel like solving a mystery.

Arm yourself with innovation: let Tive lead the way in transforming your supply chain operations. Embrace the future of logistics–get started with Tive today.

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