Companies looking at electric heavy-duty trucks are starting to get sticker shock over the operating costs of new-technology big rigs. Ryder System CEO Robert Sanchez tells the WSJ Logistics Report’s Paul Berger that the take-up for its services offering electric trucks to fleets has been slow as companies look at the total costs of running the vehicles on regular routes. A Ryder analysis found that light-duty, battery-electric vans raise annual operating costs by several percentage points. As trucks get heavier the cost difference becomes more pronounced, with annual costs of operating battery-electric big rigs about twice as expensive as diesel trucks. Ryder’s experience illustrates the challenges facing governments as they try to push truckers out of heavily polluting diesel rigs and into zero-emission vehicles. It also suggests that manufacturers have more work to do on the technology, including making significant advances in battery weight, range and charging times.

• Amazon is rolling out 50 electric heavy-duty trucks for use in Southern California, including at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. (Los Angeles Times)
• The Port of Oakland launched a $53 million zero-emissions project to bring hydrogen-powered trucks to its container terminals. (Heavy Duty Trucking)

Artificial intelligence is creating new logistics demand in the physical world. The race to power new AI models and keep internet and mobile services humming around the clock is leading to a boom in data-center building. The WSJ’s Bob Tita reports that is creating a windfall for the makers of generators and battery systems that are crucial to keeping power flowing through the electrical grid. AI servers are being layered on top of an already robust data-center market for cloud-based servers. U.S. data-center space expanded by 26% in 2023, according to CBRE, with a record amount under construction.  Companies including electric equipment makers Eaton, ABB, Schneider Electric and generator manufacturers Caterpillar and Cummins attribute rising electrical equipment sales to data centers’ expansion. Engine maker Cummins recently said it expects sales from its power-generation business to increase by 10% to 15% this year, up sharply from its previous forecast.

The food-delivery sector appears to be ordering up some consolidation. Rivals Uber and Instacart will start working together under an unlikely partnership that will allow customers to order Uber Eats restaurant food via the Instacart app. The WSJ’s Preetika Rana reports the deal is an attempt to counter competition from DoorDash, a common foe that has taken over as the leading company in the U.S. restaurant-delivery market, ahead of Uber Eats. The tie-up is the latest sign of the strains hitting companies in the sector as they try to maintain the growth they saw during pandemic lockdowns. Instacart has been working to defend its leading position in the grocery-delivery sector against DoorDash, which started making inroads into that market during the pandemic. Although analysts have speculated about a merger between Uber and Instacart, an Instacart spokeswoman said the new deal isn’t a precursor to a merger.

Germany’s goods trade rebounded in March as both exports and imports increased. (WSJ)

Spirit AeroSystems’ first-quarter loss widened to $616.7 million amid ongoing talks with Boeing about a buyout of the aircraft-parts supplier. (MarketWatch)

Startup Wayve Technologies raised more than $1 billion to accelerate development of AI-based products for automakers. (WSJ)

BP plans to cut at least $2 billion in costs after profit was hit by lower oil and gas prices and a U.S. refinery outage. (WSJ)

Tesla’s sales in China dropped in April, while its Chinese electric-vehicle rivals reported higher sales. (WSJ)

Rivian Automotive’s quarterly loss expanded to $1.45 billion but the EV maker’s revenue nearly doubled to $1.2 billion. (MarketWatch)

The European Union is proposing restrictions on 11 vessels that contribute to Russia’s ability to sustain its war against Ukraine. (Bloomberg)

Authorities plan to use explosives to free the Dali containership from the wreckage of the Key Bridge while the crew shelters in place on board. (WBAL)

International prices for robusta coffee reached new highs on tightening supplies. (Nikkei Asia)

Brazilian pulp and paper supplier Suzano is looking at buying International Paper in a deal potentially worth more than $15 billion. (Reuters)

Floods and landslides that have killed dozens of people in Brazil have closed the port at Porto Alegre. (Loyd’s List)

DHL owner Deutsche Post maintained its outlook after profit slipped in the first quarter on sagging express demand and weakening freight forwarding rates. (Dow Jones Newswires)

Mediterranean Shipping will fight a $63.5 million fine that U.S. regulators are imposing over freight fees. (ShippingWatch)

The Philly Shipyard is looking into a partnership with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to boost shipbuilding capacity. (TradeWinds)

Amazon’s army of warehouse robots has grown to 750,000 automated pickers, lifters and sorters. (Business Insider)

BNSF Railway’s first-quarter net profit fell 8% to $1.14 billion as a measure of pricing strength fell 10%. (Railway Age)

Williams-Sonoma will pay $3.2 million for wrongly labeling products as “Made in USA” that were manufactured in China and other countries. (Supply Chain Dive)

Volvo Cars promoted Francesca Gamboni to chief supply chain officer. (Automotive Logistics)

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

Follow the WSJ Logistics Report team: @PaulPage, @bylizyoung and @pdberger. Follow the WSJ Logistics Report on X at @WSJLogistics.