The U.S. freight-rail regulator is pushing to increase competition and improve the flow of corn, chemicals and other goods on the country’s railroad tracks. The Surface Transportation Board is proposing a new rule on so-called reciprocal switching, the WSJ’s Ted Man reports, setting up a clash with a railroad industry that sharply opposes a requirement that carriers say would spur congestion and undercut their business. Under the proposed rule, railroads that fail to provide reliable service could be ordered to share tracks with competitors. STB Chairman Martin Oberman says the goal is to have the threat of increased competition motivate railroads to boost their on-time performance. The action comes after labor and locomotive shortages led to cascading delays and trip cancellations on major freight networks in recent years, resulting in everything from delays shipping goods from American factories to shortages of feed at dairies and poultry plants.

Venture-capital investors are betting that an artificial-intelligence-driven overhaul of logistics operations has only just started. The data-heavy nature of logistics makes it ripe for an AI remake, and investors and analysts believe the sector might serve as an early test case for how AI can reshape an industry. The WSJ’s Marc Vartabedian reports venture investors now are writing checks to startups leveraging AI for a host of emerging supply-chain applications such as predictive analytics and industrial safety. Jake Medwell, a co-founder of 8VC, says AI has ushered in new possibilities for the supply-chain sector. The firm recently co-led a $17 million seed funding round into Terminal Industries, which is developing an AI-based logistics yard management platform with Prologis Ventures. Kaitlyn Glancy of venture firm Eclipse, which has backed several logistics tech startups, says the operations can be a great place to use AI to “drive predictable and accurate analytics.”

• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing expects supply constraints on AI chips to last another 18 months. (Nikkei Asia)

Reducing the mountains of plastic waste produced by booming food-delivery services may be as simple as a light nudge. Asia-based scientists have found that messages prompting consumers in China to forgo single-use cutlery could help cut back the stacks of forks, spoons and knives that have piled up as delivery apps have grown. The WSJ’s Sha Hua reports the study examining consumer behavior suggests that prompts within the apps could slash plastic waste in the country by more than 3 million metric tons a year—the equivalent weight of 10 Empire State Buildings. The study suggests some modest behavioral prods could help address the growing environmental concerns that have come with the growth of popular apps and online commerce. The Covid-19 pandemic turbo-boosted food-delivery services around the world, contributing to a surge in plastic waste just as e-commerce expansion flooded cities with more cardboard packaging.

Flexport let go of several senior executives hired by Dave Clark after he resigned abruptly as CEO of the freight forwarder this week. (WSJ)

Initial U.S. unemployment claims fell last week to the lowest level since February. (MarketWatch)

General Motors delivered a counteroffer to the United Auto Workers that shows the sides remain far apart one week out from a strike deadline. (WSJ)

President Biden is nominating Mike Whitaker to lead the Federal Aviation Administration. (WSJ)

The owner of a tanker carrying Iranian oil seized by the U.S. pleaded guilty to violating U.S. international commerce laws. (Financial Times)

Mediterranean Shipping pushed the first voyage of its newest ultra-large containership into next year. (ShippingWatch)

Container lines Zim and Mediterranean Shipping struck a capacity-sharing agreement on Asia and European services. (Journal of Commerce)

U.S. regulators will allow United Parcel Service to fly package delivery drones over longer distances out of the view of operators. (The Verge)

Alibaba is stepping up efforts to expand its e-commerce platform in the U.S. amid slumping business in China. (South China Morning Post)

Truckers Saia and XPO both reported sharp growth in less-than-truckload shipments in August following rival Yellow’s demise. (Dow Jones Newswires)

Freighter operator Air Transport Services Group raised its annual earnings-per-share guidance on the impact of a new debt offering and share buybacks. (Dow Jones Newswires)

Macy’s says renegotiated parcel carrier contracts helped cut the retailer’s delivery expenses by 0.5% last quarter. (Sourcing Journal)

Saks says improved inventory management helped boost the apparel retailer’s profit margin despite falling sales. (Women’s Wear Daily)

A bankruptcy court approved a Party City restructuring plan that reduces the retailer’s debt by nearly $1 billion. (Retail Dive)

Same-store sales at outdoor specialty retailer Sportsman’s Warehouse fell 16.1% last quarter. (Dow Jones Newswires)

The National Retail Federation acquired the Reverse Logistics Association. (DC Velocity)

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The Association of American Railroads says a regulatory order for BNSF Railway to provide common-carrier service to a Montana shipper is “disastrous.” An item in Thursday’s newsletter misidentified the railroad targeted by the regulator’s order.

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.