The global semiconductor shortage is cutting deeper into critical operations at auto makers. Ford Motor is curbing production of its F-150 pickup truck at two U.S. plants, the WSJ’s Mike Colias reports, in a setback for a product that is the nation’s top-selling vehicle and the auto maker’s main profit engine. The cuts significantly escalate a chip-shortage problem that has disrupted the auto industry globally and undercut the sector’s bid to recover from the 2020 downturn. Ford says the chip shortage could cut output by up to 20% in the first half of the year, and slice operating earnings by $1 billion to $2.5 billion, just as the company is preparing to invest heavily in new technology. That tech focus has auto makers competing with electronics manufacturers for semiconductors, in a dramatic overhaul of the sector’s traditional components supply chains that is proving more costly than car makers had imagined.

Peloton is putting more money behind its effort to speed up its supply chain. The home-exercise equipment company plans to spend $100 million on airfreight and expedited ocean freight in the first half of the year, the WSJ’s Sharon Terlep reports, and will divert containers away from Southern California’s congested ports to speed the flow of goods. The push on transportation comes as Peloton’s logistics problems appear to be deepening even as the company’s pandemic-driven growth continues at a remarkable pace. Sales more than doubled to $1.06 billion in the past quarter, and the business swung to a $63.6 million profit, even amid long delivery delay. It isn’t clear what share of orders are delayed, but customers say the backups can stretch for months beyond promised delivery dates. That leaves buyers who pay in advance for the expensive stationary bikes effectively financing Peloton’s supply chain efforts.

The hottest thing in Chinese tech right now might be bulk-bought cabbages. Hong Kong-listed Meituan has quickly become China’s third-most-valuable internet company in part through its role in what is known as community group buying. The WSJ’s Chong Koh Ping writes that the practice is a fast-growing e-commerce niche in China in which people band together to buy food and household goods at better prices. The strategy has been a hallmark of the industrial distribution market. In China, consumers stuck at home during the pandemic embraced buying fresh food online, opening up a big untapped market for e-commerce groups like Meituan and rival Pinduoduo. The bulk transactions are organized by a community leader such as a convenience-store owner or manager of an apartment block. These leaders run chat groups for customers, promoting products and pushing links to deals. The business has pushed Meituan to a $312 billion valuation.

U.S. factory orders rose 1.1% in December in the eighth straight monthly gain. (MarketWatch)

The number of new unemployment claims in the U.S. fell to the lowest level since the end of November. (WSJ)

Trucker Old Dominion Freight Line’s fourth-quarter net profit rose 32% as revenue edged up and less-than-truckload tonnage rose 4.9%. (Dow Jones Newswires)

Trucker YRC Worldwide changed its name to Yellow as it reported a growing $18.7 million loss in the fourth quarter on nearly flat revenue. (Dow Jones Newswires)

Fourth-quarter profit at truck-engine maker Cummins jumped 67% as growing demand in China and India offset flat North American sales. (Dow Jones Newswires)

A congressional investigation found high levels of toxic metals in several baby food brands and called for stricter standards for suppliers. (WSJ)

U.S. Customs agents seized millions of inbound counterfeit face masks, unapproved Covid test kits and unproven treatment drugs over the past year. (WSJ)

Electric vehicles made up 36% of Volvo’s new car sales in the European Union last year. (WSJ)

Brazilian miner Vale agreed to pay $7 billion in compensation to the state where the collapse of its dam two years ago killed 270 people. (WSJ)

Royal Dutch Shell says it is seeing signs of a rebound in energy demand after losing $19.9 billion last year. (WSJ)

France’s Air Liquide will build a nitrogen-production site in southwest China to supply Chinese electronics component producer BOE Technology. (Dow Jones Newswires)

Manufacturers have cautiously restarted factories in Myanmar following the country’s military coup. (Nikkei Asian Review)

CBRE says the availability rate for warehouse space in the U.S. fell 7.3% in the fourth quarter. (Logistics Management)

Shipping bottlenecks are developing at the Port of Oakland as congestion spreads beyond the Southern California gateways. (Splash 247)

Maersk-owned container line Hamburg Süd named Poul Hestbaek chief executive to replace Arnt Vespermann. (ShippingWatch)

Euronav is buying two liquefied natural gas-powered crude tankers that could be converted to ammonia fuel. (Lloyd’s List)

Stolt Tankers named former Shell executive Emile Hoekstra chief financial officer as the chemical-tanker owner pursues an initial public offering. (TradeWinds)

Daily spot rates for very large gas carriers have plummeted by more than $80,000 over the past month. (TradeWinds)

India plans to move toward public-private management of seven state-run ports over the next two years. (Port Strategy)

Dallas-based logistics-process automation startup Slync.io raised $60 million in a funding round backing its expansion into Asia and Europe. (VentureBeat)

Amazon is testing electric vans from Rivian Automotive with deliveries in Los Angeles. (TechCrunch)

Royal Mail is building a highly-automated parcel hub in the U.K.’s Midlands region. (Post & Parcel)

Korean Air turned a $97.6 million consolidated operating profit in 2020 as a 66% jump in cargo sales offset falling passenger numbers. (Reuters)

Union Pacific created a controlled avalanche at California’s Donner Pass to get ahead of potential heavy snow blockage. (Progressive Railroading)

Paul Page is editor of WSJ Logistics Report. Write to him at paul.page@wsj.com.

Follow the WSJ Logistics Report team: @PaulPage, @jensmithWSJ, @CostasParis. Follow the WSJ Logistics Report on Twitter at @WSJLogistics.