Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:43:27 -0400 https://www.dcvelocity.com/podcasts en-us © 2026 Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY yes b1a9f8ba-c955-5fc4-8171-504c3e273e43 AGiLE Business Media episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) AGiLE Business Media https://storage.buzzsprout.com/mbhj09a4ljbfc6mjc513xicj6zba?.jpg Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY https://www.dcvelocity.com/podcasts Guest: Andrei Quinn-Barabanov of Moody’s on inflation risks; Growth drives new demands for cobots; A shift in robotic final mile delivery Guest: Andrei Quinn-Barabanov of Moody’s on inflation risks; Growth drives new demands for cobots; A shift in robotic final mile delivery Our guest on this week's episode is Andrei Quinn-Barabanov, supply chain practice lead at Moody’s. New inflation reports came out this week showing that last month we reached the highest inflation rates of the past three years. Inflation is even higher when it comes to transportation cost increases. To help us understand how such inflation affects our supply chains, our guest joins DC Velocity’s Senior News Editor Ben Ames.

The market outlook for collaborative robots remains strong as the equipment advances to accommodate heavier duty use around the world. Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports that new research from Interact Analysis that shipments of these cobots designed to work with and alongside humans are predicted to grow at an average annual rate of more than 17% between 2025 to 2030.

Ben Ames reports that this week that a change is coming to robotic last mile fulfillment. Starship Technologies is an Estonian tech startup that makes autonomous, self-driving bots. If you’ve been on any large university campuses in the last few years, you’ve probably seen them driving along pathways and college quads, delivering small items like e-commerce orders for snacks and burritos. But now Starship says they plan to wind down their operations on U.S. university campuses and shift their focus to retail grocery chains and hot food delivery in cities across Europe and the U.S. Ben shares why the company has shifted their strategy.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Andrei Quinn-Barabanov, supply chain practice lead at Moody’s. New inflation reports came out this week showing that last month we reached the highest inflation rates of the past three years. Inflation is even higher when it comes to transportation cost increases. To help us understand how such inflation affects our supply chains, our guest joins DC Velocity’s Senior News Editor Ben Ames.

The market outlook for collaborative robots remains strong as the equipment advances to accommodate heavier duty use around the world. Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports that new research from Interact Analysis that shipments of these cobots designed to work with and alongside humans are predicted to grow at an average annual rate of more than 17% between 2025 to 2030.

Ben Ames reports that this week that a change is coming to robotic last mile fulfillment. Starship Technologies is an Estonian tech startup that makes autonomous, self-driving bots. If you’ve been on any large university campuses in the last few years, you’ve probably seen them driving along pathways and college quads, delivering small items like e-commerce orders for snacks and burritos. But now Starship says they plan to wind down their operations on U.S. university campuses and shift their focus to retail grocery chains and hot food delivery in cities across Europe and the U.S. Ben shares why the company has shifted their strategy.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-19336676 Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1152 logistics, supply chain, inflation, distribution, Moody’s, Andrei Quinn-Barabanov, Iran War, fuel prices, transportation, cobots, robotics, Interact Analysis, final mile, grocery, Starship Technologies, ID Label 7 23 full false Guest: Jim Mozer of Crown and ITA on forklift safety; Venture capital invests in warehouses; Strengthening global disaster response Guest: Jim Mozer of Crown and ITA on forklift safety; Venture capital invests in warehouses; Strengthening global disaster response Our guest on this week's episode is Jim Mozer, Senior Vice President at Crown Equipment Corporation. He is representing the Industrial Truck Association, the industry association for the lift truck industry. This coming Tuesday, the supply chain industry hosts National Forklift Safety Day. Now in its 13th year, this day is set aside annually to remind us of the importance of safe practices when working on and around forklifts. National Forklift Safety Day is sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association. Our guest and DC Velocity Group Editorial Director David Maloney discuss what will take place at Tuesday’s National Forklift Safety Day event in Washington, D.C.

The logistics sector has seen a tremendous impact in recent years from venture capital and other investment firms, through mergers and acquisitions, taking private companies public on the stock market, and other strategies. This week Senior News Editor Ben Ames wrote a story about more big money making changes in the industry, but it wasn’t in a sexy area like robotics or drones, it was in good old fashioned warehouses.

Earlier this week, German logistics giant DHL Group announced the launch of its DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics (DAHL). Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports on this global training initiative designed to give humanitarian organizations and local responders practical logistics knowledge and skills—ultimately allowing them to better prepare for and respond to crises.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jim Mozer, Senior Vice President at Crown Equipment Corporation. He is representing the Industrial Truck Association, the industry association for the lift truck industry. This coming Tuesday, the supply chain industry hosts National Forklift Safety Day. Now in its 13th year, this day is set aside annually to remind us of the importance of safe practices when working on and around forklifts. National Forklift Safety Day is sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association. Our guest and DC Velocity Group Editorial Director David Maloney discuss what will take place at Tuesday’s National Forklift Safety Day event in Washington, D.C.

The logistics sector has seen a tremendous impact in recent years from venture capital and other investment firms, through mergers and acquisitions, taking private companies public on the stock market, and other strategies. This week Senior News Editor Ben Ames wrote a story about more big money making changes in the industry, but it wasn’t in a sexy area like robotics or drones, it was in good old fashioned warehouses.

Earlier this week, German logistics giant DHL Group announced the launch of its DHL Academy of Humanitarian Logistics (DAHL). Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports on this global training initiative designed to give humanitarian organizations and local responders practical logistics knowledge and skills—ultimately allowing them to better prepare for and respond to crises.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-19301167 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1135 supply chain, logistics, distribution, warehousing, Industrial Truck Association, ITA, Crown Equipment Corporation, Jim Mozer, National Forklift Safety Day, lift trucks, venture capital, BKM Capital Partners, Kayne Anderson Real Estate, industrial real es 7 22 full false Guest: Matt Lekstutis of Efficio on China and world trade; The upbeat forklift market; Automation comes to the high seas Guest: Matt Lekstutis of Efficio on China and world trade; The upbeat forklift market; Automation comes to the high seas Our guest on this week's episode is Matt Lekstutis, director at Efficio, a supply chain and consulting firm. Two weeks ago, President Trump had an historic meeting with China’s President Xi. It was a highly anticipated gathering, as there was a lot to talk about, including the war against Iran and the ongoing oil constraints. Our guest this week talks with DC Velocity Group Editorial Director David Maloney to unwrap what took place and to discuss international trade and world-wide threats to our supply chains. 

Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports that buyers of forklifts and pallet-handling equipment are upbeat in 2026, with many expecting to increase capital expenditures on those items this year as compared to last year. This information is based on a recent Voice of Market report from London-based research firm Interact Analysis. The researchers surveyed decision-makers involved in the use, selection, and purchase of automation technologies for their facilities globally.

We’ve been writing for years about autonomous vehicles, first with AGVs and AMRs in warehouses, there are self-driving forklifts, outdoor delivery robots on sidewalks, increasingly self-driving cars, a small but growing number of self-driving trucks, and some flying drones both indoors and out. But a story that caught the eye of Senior News Editor Ben Ames this week was about autonomous commercial ships.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Matt Lekstutis, director at Efficio, a supply chain and consulting firm. Two weeks ago, President Trump had an historic meeting with China’s President Xi. It was a highly anticipated gathering, as there was a lot to talk about, including the war against Iran and the ongoing oil constraints. Our guest this week talks with DC Velocity Group Editorial Director David Maloney to unwrap what took place and to discuss international trade and world-wide threats to our supply chains. 

Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports that buyers of forklifts and pallet-handling equipment are upbeat in 2026, with many expecting to increase capital expenditures on those items this year as compared to last year. This information is based on a recent Voice of Market report from London-based research firm Interact Analysis. The researchers surveyed decision-makers involved in the use, selection, and purchase of automation technologies for their facilities globally.

We’ve been writing for years about autonomous vehicles, first with AGVs and AMRs in warehouses, there are self-driving forklifts, outdoor delivery robots on sidewalks, increasingly self-driving cars, a small but growing number of self-driving trucks, and some flying drones both indoors and out. But a story that caught the eye of Senior News Editor Ben Ames this week was about autonomous commercial ships.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-19259984 Fri, 29 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1324 supply chain, logistics, world trade, China, Matt Lekstutis, Efficio, forklifts, pallet handling, Interact Analysis, autonomous ships, International Maritime Organization, IMO, ID Label 7 21 full false Guest Hannah Hurckes of Boss Lady Logistics on fallout from the Supreme Court’s broker decision; Gaining “Momentum” with Agentic AI; A robotics acquisition Guest Hannah Hurckes of Boss Lady Logistics on fallout from the Supreme Court’s broker decision; Gaining “Momentum” with Agentic AI; A robotics acquisition Our guest on this week's episode is Hannah Hurckes, Founder and CEO, Boss Lady Logistics. Last week the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously on a case that could end up changing the freight industry as we know it, especially the brokerage part of freight movement. Hurckes shares the details and the impacts of this landmark ruling with DC Velocity Senior Editor Victoria Kickham.

The buzzword of the season in supply chain software right now is agentic AI. But that technology, and artificial intelligence overall really, is still so new that there are probably more questions than answers about how it will affect each user’s own business processes. This week Senior News Editor Ben Ames traveled to Las Vegas to attend the Manhattan Associates Momentum conference, where much of the discussion focused on some new tools to help users implement agentic AI into their workflows and deal with the “blackbox” problem.

Warehouse robotics and automation company Locus Robotics said this week it has acquired Nexera Robotics. Nexera is a Vancouver-based developer of advanced robotic grasping technology. This is a big deal because it will help advance Locus’ newest offering—its Locus Array system--which it released at the MODEX show in April. Victoria Kickham reports.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Hannah Hurckes, Founder and CEO, Boss Lady Logistics. Last week the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously on a case that could end up changing the freight industry as we know it, especially the brokerage part of freight movement. Hurckes shares the details and the impacts of this landmark ruling with DC Velocity Senior Editor Victoria Kickham.

The buzzword of the season in supply chain software right now is agentic AI. But that technology, and artificial intelligence overall really, is still so new that there are probably more questions than answers about how it will affect each user’s own business processes. This week Senior News Editor Ben Ames traveled to Las Vegas to attend the Manhattan Associates Momentum conference, where much of the discussion focused on some new tools to help users implement agentic AI into their workflows and deal with the “blackbox” problem.

Warehouse robotics and automation company Locus Robotics said this week it has acquired Nexera Robotics. Nexera is a Vancouver-based developer of advanced robotic grasping technology. This is a big deal because it will help advance Locus’ newest offering—its Locus Array system--which it released at the MODEX show in April. Victoria Kickham reports.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-19223076 Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1155 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, trucking, Supreme Court, freight brokerage, Hannah Hurckes, Boss Lady Logistics, Manhattan Associates, Blue Yonder, agentic AI, AI modeling, Locus Robotics, Nexera Robotics, grasping end-effectors, Werner 7 20 full false Guest: Patrick Van den Bossche of Kearney on the 2026 Reshoring Index; Will AI take away jobs? Safety in trucking fleets Guest: Patrick Van den Bossche of Kearney on the 2026 Reshoring Index; Will AI take away jobs? Safety in trucking fleets Our guest on this week's episode is Patrick Van den Bossche, partner at Kearney, a global management consulting firm. There has been a huge effort in recent years to return manufacturing to the United States, as much of this production has been outsourced to overseas factories for decades. But have these attempts been successful? Van den Bossche is the lead author of new research called the 2026 Reshoring Index Report and offers his insights and findings from the report on whether the current state of reshoring initiatives.. 

Artificial intelligence has so many up sides that investors are betting big right now on the benefits of the technologies – you can just look at the stock market for evidence of that. But we do hear of the downside of the many jobs AI may eliminate. Ben Ames reports on new research that shows which types of jobs are most vulnerable and the areas of the world that might be most affected (Hint: the U.S. is high on the vulnerablity list).

There is a wealth of data in trucking today, much of it derived from the telematics and other advanced technology tools that connect what’s happening in the truck to a company’s broader IT system. Companies can use this vast array of data to improve safety and enhance operations. But while most small and mid-sized fleets claim to be “data rich,” they say they are starved for ways to best use the information they get from all of those tech tools.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Patrick Van den Bossche, partner at Kearney, a global management consulting firm. There has been a huge effort in recent years to return manufacturing to the United States, as much of this production has been outsourced to overseas factories for decades. But have these attempts been successful? Van den Bossche is the lead author of new research called the 2026 Reshoring Index Report and offers his insights and findings from the report on whether the current state of reshoring initiatives.. 

Artificial intelligence has so many up sides that investors are betting big right now on the benefits of the technologies – you can just look at the stock market for evidence of that. But we do hear of the downside of the many jobs AI may eliminate. Ben Ames reports on new research that shows which types of jobs are most vulnerable and the areas of the world that might be most affected (Hint: the U.S. is high on the vulnerablity list).

There is a wealth of data in trucking today, much of it derived from the telematics and other advanced technology tools that connect what’s happening in the truck to a company’s broader IT system. Companies can use this vast array of data to improve safety and enhance operations. But while most small and mid-sized fleets claim to be “data rich,” they say they are starved for ways to best use the information they get from all of those tech tools.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-19177899 Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1315 supply chain, logistics, distribution, trade, tariffs, Kearney, Patrick Van den Bossche, reshoring, supply chain disruption, labor, artificial intelligence, Allianz, trucking fleets, safety, Northland Insurance, Werner 7 19 full false Guest: Omar Qari of Logicbroker on how retailers and brands respond to shifting geopolitical uncertainty; Carton diversity drives sortation designs; China doubles down on robotics Guest: Omar Qari of Logicbroker on how retailers and brands respond to shifting geopolitical uncertainty; Carton diversity drives sortation designs; China doubles down on robotics Our guest on this week's episode is Omar Qari, CEO of Logicbroker. Every industry has had to adjust to the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty – the Iran war, high fuel prices, volatile tariff policy – the list goes on. So, how are retailers and brands making the needed adjustments to deal with these shifting trade conditions and uncertain supply availability? Our guest offers his insights with Senior News Editor Ben Ames.

Most warehouses have packages of some kind that they need to sort - either inbound cases that have to go to storage or processing areas or goods in outbound packages that have to be sorted to dock doors. Senior Editor Victoria Kickham wrote for this month’s DC Velocity about how the wide diversity of these cartons is driving changes in automated sortation system design.

Ben Ames reports that it’s no surprise  that robotics technology is taking on a larger role in how supply chains operate. We’ve also seen for some years now that many of the Asia-Pacific nations are leaders in that category, both in building robots and in using them for applications like manufacturing. But we saw a report this week about exactly how China sees that sector developing in coming years. This comes from China’s latest Five-Year Plan, which is China's blueprint for operating its economy. And sure enough, the country said it will continue to place robotics at the heart of its industrial system, along with artificial intelligence. 


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Omar Qari, CEO of Logicbroker. Every industry has had to adjust to the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty – the Iran war, high fuel prices, volatile tariff policy – the list goes on. So, how are retailers and brands making the needed adjustments to deal with these shifting trade conditions and uncertain supply availability? Our guest offers his insights with Senior News Editor Ben Ames.

Most warehouses have packages of some kind that they need to sort - either inbound cases that have to go to storage or processing areas or goods in outbound packages that have to be sorted to dock doors. Senior Editor Victoria Kickham wrote for this month’s DC Velocity about how the wide diversity of these cartons is driving changes in automated sortation system design.

Ben Ames reports that it’s no surprise  that robotics technology is taking on a larger role in how supply chains operate. We’ve also seen for some years now that many of the Asia-Pacific nations are leaders in that category, both in building robots and in using them for applications like manufacturing. But we saw a report this week about exactly how China sees that sector developing in coming years. This comes from China’s latest Five-Year Plan, which is China's blueprint for operating its economy. And sure enough, the country said it will continue to place robotics at the heart of its industrial system, along with artificial intelligence. 


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-19146645 Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1199 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, material handling, world trade, retail, Omar Qari, Logicbroker, sortation, shipping, packaging, Regal Rexnord, Beckhoff Automation, EuroSort, Mouser Electronics, China, robotics, artificial intelliegence, Werner 7 18 full false Guest: Lisa Dyer of the GPS Innovation Alliance on vulnerabilities of GPS systems; Growing technology gaps; The clever ways thieves steal cargo Guest: Lisa Dyer of the GPS Innovation Alliance on vulnerabilities of GPS systems; Growing technology gaps; The clever ways thieves steal cargo Our guest on this week's episode is Lisa Dyer, Executive Director of the GPS Innovation Alliance. Many of us rely on GPS satellite technology every day. But what we may not realize is that these important systems are vulnerable to criminals, hackers, and a range of other bad actors. Between jamming GPS signals and mimicking real signals, the potential for harm is real—unless we do something about it. Lisa Dyer of the GPS Innovation Alliance shares about these potential threats to our GPS systems and what can be done to secure them.

Just about every company on the globe is trying to figure out what to do about artificial intelligence and other digitalization efforts, especially where they can be deployed in their operations and whether it is worth the huge investments.  Yet, Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports on some new research that shows there is a considerable gap between these digital ambitions and actual execution.

Cargo theft is a topic that we’ve been covering more and more in recent months. Every now and then, a high profile example makes the news, like those thieves that recently stole an entire truckload of lobsters or the ones who stole a truck of Kit-Kat bars. But on a day to day basis, it happens far more often, and one reason is that the thieves are constantly becoming better at being criminals. Senior News Editor Ben Ames reported that during the first quarter of 2026, thieves in the U.S. and Canada committed fewer heists but they targeted more valuable goods. He shares what types of goods are stolen the most and the clever ways thieves are pulling off these capers.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Lisa Dyer, Executive Director of the GPS Innovation Alliance. Many of us rely on GPS satellite technology every day. But what we may not realize is that these important systems are vulnerable to criminals, hackers, and a range of other bad actors. Between jamming GPS signals and mimicking real signals, the potential for harm is real—unless we do something about it. Lisa Dyer of the GPS Innovation Alliance shares about these potential threats to our GPS systems and what can be done to secure them.

Just about every company on the globe is trying to figure out what to do about artificial intelligence and other digitalization efforts, especially where they can be deployed in their operations and whether it is worth the huge investments.  Yet, Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports on some new research that shows there is a considerable gap between these digital ambitions and actual execution.

Cargo theft is a topic that we’ve been covering more and more in recent months. Every now and then, a high profile example makes the news, like those thieves that recently stole an entire truckload of lobsters or the ones who stole a truck of Kit-Kat bars. But on a day to day basis, it happens far more often, and one reason is that the thieves are constantly becoming better at being criminals. Senior News Editor Ben Ames reported that during the first quarter of 2026, thieves in the U.S. and Canada committed fewer heists but they targeted more valuable goods. He shares what types of goods are stolen the most and the clever ways thieves are pulling off these capers.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-19109400 Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1550 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, trucking, cargo theft, GPS vulnerabilities, GPS Innovation Alliance, Lisa Dyer, digitalization, artificial intelligence, PwC, Verisk CargoNet, credential harvesting, Werner 7 17 full false Guest: Helaine Rich of ePost Global on rising fuel costs; Truck stops work to accommodate women drivers; Changing shopping patterns Guest: Helaine Rich of ePost Global on rising fuel costs; Truck stops work to accommodate women drivers; Changing shopping patterns Our guest on this week's episode is Helaine Rich, Vice President of Strategic Sales and Administration at ePost Global. As the war against Iran is in its seventh week, fuel prices continue to rise. And it is getting to the point where carriers can no longer just simply absorb those costs. So, how have those unexpected costs affected supply chain companies? Senior News Editor Ben Ames discusses with our guest how companies are coping and trying to adjust to these latest uncertainties. 

Each year, the number of women taking the wheel is rising. Right now, women make up about 9 1/2 percent of truck drivers, according to the Women in Trucking organization. Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports that as women continue to impact the industry, truck stops are looking to make life on the road better for these women drivers. She shares the top three truck stops nationwide that are tops for best accommodating women truckers.

Shoppers can sometimes be fickle. Just a few years ago, most retailers were losing traction with in-store shopping, forcing malls nationwide to close. Now we see a new trend where younger shoppers are returning to store shopping. Ben Ames reposts on a consumer survey he saw this week that found that only 12% of Gen Z and 9% of Millennials this summer plan to shop entirely online this summer, while the rest of shoppers are omnichannel, meaning that 69% of Americans are planning to shop both in-store and online. What does this mean for how companies manage their inventories?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Helaine Rich, Vice President of Strategic Sales and Administration at ePost Global. As the war against Iran is in its seventh week, fuel prices continue to rise. And it is getting to the point where carriers can no longer just simply absorb those costs. So, how have those unexpected costs affected supply chain companies? Senior News Editor Ben Ames discusses with our guest how companies are coping and trying to adjust to these latest uncertainties. 

Each year, the number of women taking the wheel is rising. Right now, women make up about 9 1/2 percent of truck drivers, according to the Women in Trucking organization. Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports that as women continue to impact the industry, truck stops are looking to make life on the road better for these women drivers. She shares the top three truck stops nationwide that are tops for best accommodating women truckers.

Shoppers can sometimes be fickle. Just a few years ago, most retailers were losing traction with in-store shopping, forcing malls nationwide to close. Now we see a new trend where younger shoppers are returning to store shopping. Ben Ames reposts on a consumer survey he saw this week that found that only 12% of Gen Z and 9% of Millennials this summer plan to shop entirely online this summer, while the rest of shoppers are omnichannel, meaning that 69% of Americans are planning to shop both in-store and online. What does this mean for how companies manage their inventories?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-19071813 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400 998 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, fuel prices, ePost Global, Helaine Rich, Iran War, women truckers, American Trucking Associations, truck stops, Women in Motion, Trucker Path, consumer shopping, o9 Solutions,Werner 7 16 full false Guest: Disney Petit on a better way for customer returns; Managing a variety of robots successfully; Autonomous fulfillment advances Guest: Disney Petit on a better way for customer returns; Managing a variety of robots successfully; Autonomous fulfillment advances Our guest on this week's episode is Disney Petit – founder and CEO of LiquiDonate, a company that provides software for companies to donate unwanted returned items. As any retailer can tell you, returns can be the most difficult part of their work. Each return has to be evaluated to decide what to do with it. But what if there is a better idea for handling returns? With Earth Day approaching, we present a great way to find homes for returned items that cannot be resold. Rather than disposing of these items in landfills, LiquiDonate connects retailers and others who process returns with schools and non-profits that can use the items.

Our team just returned from the MODEX conference this week in Atlanta where we saw all sorts of material handling systems and automation that will probably be coming to a warehouse nearby soon. Ben Ames reports on getting lots of these systems from a variety of vendors to work together: Walk into any distribution center and you’ll see products from several different vendors running at the same time on the warehouse floor, not to mention all the different brands of software controlling them that you can't even see. So how do you make them all behave well together and work toward a single goal?

Many things also caught the eye of Victoria Kickham at MODEX 2026 this week. She chose a couple of things to highlight. The first was the launch of an autonomous warehouse fulfillment system from Locus Robotics. The company debuted its Locus Array system, which is an autonomous, in-aisle picking solution that combines mobile robotics, an integrated robotic picking arm, and AI-powered perception to complete picking and fulfilment tasks without manual intervention. She also talked with robotics company Boston Dynamics about the long-term potential of humanoid robots in the warehouse.



Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Disney Petit – founder and CEO of LiquiDonate, a company that provides software for companies to donate unwanted returned items. As any retailer can tell you, returns can be the most difficult part of their work. Each return has to be evaluated to decide what to do with it. But what if there is a better idea for handling returns? With Earth Day approaching, we present a great way to find homes for returned items that cannot be resold. Rather than disposing of these items in landfills, LiquiDonate connects retailers and others who process returns with schools and non-profits that can use the items.

Our team just returned from the MODEX conference this week in Atlanta where we saw all sorts of material handling systems and automation that will probably be coming to a warehouse nearby soon. Ben Ames reports on getting lots of these systems from a variety of vendors to work together: Walk into any distribution center and you’ll see products from several different vendors running at the same time on the warehouse floor, not to mention all the different brands of software controlling them that you can't even see. So how do you make them all behave well together and work toward a single goal?

Many things also caught the eye of Victoria Kickham at MODEX 2026 this week. She chose a couple of things to highlight. The first was the launch of an autonomous warehouse fulfillment system from Locus Robotics. The company debuted its Locus Array system, which is an autonomous, in-aisle picking solution that combines mobile robotics, an integrated robotic picking arm, and AI-powered perception to complete picking and fulfilment tasks without manual intervention. She also talked with robotics company Boston Dynamics about the long-term potential of humanoid robots in the warehouse.



Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-19032663 Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1278 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, MODEX, LiquiDonate, Disney Petit, SVT Robotics, Infios, Roboteon, Fanuc, Boston Dynamics, Locus Robotics, automation, robotics, Werner 7 15 full false Guest: Christelle Keefer of A3 on gaps in automation skills; Robot density is growing; Fleets flex in AI Guest: Christelle Keefer of A3 on gaps in automation skills; Robot density is growing; Fleets flex in AI Our guest on this week's episode is Christelle Keefer, director of training and certifications at The Association for Advancing Automation (A3).  As labor becomes harder to find for our distribution and manufacturing facilities, companies are turning more and more to automation. This is National Robotics Week  - when the industry celebrates the impacts that these mechanical workers are making on our operations. Our guest speaks with Senior Editor Ben Ames about gaps that still remain when deploying robots to work with human workers.

New information from the International Federation of Robotics, or IFR, illustrates just how prevalent robots are becoming in factories and industrial settings around the world. The group released its World Robotics 2025 report this week, which outlines the number of factory robots being used in various regions as compared to the local manufacturing workforce. 

TD Cowen, a banking and investment analysis firm, shared the results of their quarterly “1Q26 TD Cowen Carrier Survey” this week. It showed that a lot of the companies that operate trucking fleets are looking increasingly to technology for answers, and specifically AI. The survey found that 26% of trucking carriers would be willing to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools entirely instead of relying on human freight brokers. What might this mean for the freight broker industry?



Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Christelle Keefer, director of training and certifications at The Association for Advancing Automation (A3).  As labor becomes harder to find for our distribution and manufacturing facilities, companies are turning more and more to automation. This is National Robotics Week  - when the industry celebrates the impacts that these mechanical workers are making on our operations. Our guest speaks with Senior Editor Ben Ames about gaps that still remain when deploying robots to work with human workers.

New information from the International Federation of Robotics, or IFR, illustrates just how prevalent robots are becoming in factories and industrial settings around the world. The group released its World Robotics 2025 report this week, which outlines the number of factory robots being used in various regions as compared to the local manufacturing workforce. 

TD Cowen, a banking and investment analysis firm, shared the results of their quarterly “1Q26 TD Cowen Carrier Survey” this week. It showed that a lot of the companies that operate trucking fleets are looking increasingly to technology for answers, and specifically AI. The survey found that 26% of trucking carriers would be willing to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools entirely instead of relying on human freight brokers. What might this mean for the freight broker industry?



Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18995243 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400 979 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, robotics, automation, Association for Advancing Automation, A3, Christelle Keefer, labor, International Federation of Robotics, IFR, robot density, freight, trucking, TD Cowen, artificial intelligence, Werner 7 14 full false Guest: Stefan Heck of Nauto on distracted driving; Coping with surging diesel prices; Cold storage goes high tech Guest: Stefan Heck of Nauto on distracted driving; Coping with surging diesel prices; Cold storage goes high tech Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Stefan Heck, CEO and Founder of Nauto. We have turned the calendar to April and many of our listeners may not be aware that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. From phones to radios to navigation systems, there are many things that can distract drivers as they move down our nation’s roadways. Even professional drivers can be distracted, putting themselves, their loads, and of course other drivers at risk. Senior Editor Victoria Kickham discusses with our guest how extensive the problem of distracted driving is and what can be done to assure greater safety on our roads.

Among the impacts of the war against Iran is the rising cost of oil, with a good bit of the oil the world relies upon stuck in the Strait of Hormuz. That has created uncertainty to energy markets and higher prices per barrel. And in turn, that leads to rising prices at the pump for both gasoline and diesel for drivers on American roads. Senior News Editor Ben Ames takes a look at the impacts of higher diesel prices on America’s trucking fleets.

Rising e-grocery sales and growing investment in domestic food production are fueling demand for cold-storage warehouse space nationwide, and companies are responding in a variety of ways—from building state-of-the-art automated facilities to adding technology that can make existing refrigerated and frozen space easier to manage. Victoria Kickham looked into this trend for a story in our April issue and found a couple of examples that illustrate how quickly—and technologically—the cold storage landscape is changing.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Stefan Heck, CEO and Founder of Nauto. We have turned the calendar to April and many of our listeners may not be aware that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. From phones to radios to navigation systems, there are many things that can distract drivers as they move down our nation’s roadways. Even professional drivers can be distracted, putting themselves, their loads, and of course other drivers at risk. Senior Editor Victoria Kickham discusses with our guest how extensive the problem of distracted driving is and what can be done to assure greater safety on our roads.

Among the impacts of the war against Iran is the rising cost of oil, with a good bit of the oil the world relies upon stuck in the Strait of Hormuz. That has created uncertainty to energy markets and higher prices per barrel. And in turn, that leads to rising prices at the pump for both gasoline and diesel for drivers on American roads. Senior News Editor Ben Ames takes a look at the impacts of higher diesel prices on America’s trucking fleets.

Rising e-grocery sales and growing investment in domestic food production are fueling demand for cold-storage warehouse space nationwide, and companies are responding in a variety of ways—from building state-of-the-art automated facilities to adding technology that can make existing refrigerated and frozen space easier to manage. Victoria Kickham looked into this trend for a story in our April issue and found a couple of examples that illustrate how quickly—and technologically—the cold storage landscape is changing.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18948014 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1453 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, trucking, distracted driving, Stefan Heck, Nauto, Iran War, diesel prices, DAT Freight & Analytics, cold storage, DHL Supply Chain, RLCold, Corvus Robotics, Kroger, Werner 7 13 full false Guest: Ian Massey of S-RM on the ongoing supply chain impacts from the war against Iran; What is “port proximate” and why is it changing?; Work remains to optimize pharmaceutical supply chains. Guest: Ian Massey of S-RM on the ongoing supply chain impacts from the war against Iran; What is “port proximate” and why is it changing?; Work remains to optimize pharmaceutical supply chains. Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Massey, Head of Corporate Intelligence, EMEA, S-RM. As the war against Iran continues, supply chains feel the effects – whether that is oil tankers stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, disruptions to air cargo flying through the Middle East, or many other impacts that conflicts of this time bring. Victoria Kickham talks with this week’s guest about these effects and potential risk scenarios.  

For years upon years, importers have rented warehouse space near ports, because of course, ships would bring freight to US shores, and they needed a convenient space to store those goods. However, as Ben Ames reports, that conventional wisdom now seems to be shifting. The industrial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield says that for the year of 2025,  “port-proximate” industrial markets captured that segment's lowest market share in the past 15 years. We explain where these distributors are going instead and what is driving those shifts in location.

Pharmaceutical companies are racing to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) across their supply chains, but the technology is not yet making a widespread impact., Victoria Kickham reports. This is according to industry research released this week from WBR Insights. The researchers surveyed 100 heads of supply chain from across Europe to identify key challenges and emerging solutions facing the industry. And they found that pharmaceutical supply chains are “performing but not yet optimized”—and that there is work to be done when it comes to making the most of AI investments.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Massey, Head of Corporate Intelligence, EMEA, S-RM. As the war against Iran continues, supply chains feel the effects – whether that is oil tankers stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, disruptions to air cargo flying through the Middle East, or many other impacts that conflicts of this time bring. Victoria Kickham talks with this week’s guest about these effects and potential risk scenarios.  

For years upon years, importers have rented warehouse space near ports, because of course, ships would bring freight to US shores, and they needed a convenient space to store those goods. However, as Ben Ames reports, that conventional wisdom now seems to be shifting. The industrial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield says that for the year of 2025,  “port-proximate” industrial markets captured that segment's lowest market share in the past 15 years. We explain where these distributors are going instead and what is driving those shifts in location.

Pharmaceutical companies are racing to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) across their supply chains, but the technology is not yet making a widespread impact., Victoria Kickham reports. This is according to industry research released this week from WBR Insights. The researchers surveyed 100 heads of supply chain from across Europe to identify key challenges and emerging solutions facing the industry. And they found that pharmaceutical supply chains are “performing but not yet optimized”—and that there is work to be done when it comes to making the most of AI investments.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18918859 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0400 1281 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, transportation, ports, Iran war, Ian Massey, S-RM, Middle East, Strait of Hormuz, oil shipments, port proximity, Cushman and Wakefield, industrial real estate, distribution, pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, W 7 12 full false Guest: Mark Becker of G10 Fulfillment on safe handling and shipping of lithium-ion batteries; Workers experience AI anxiety; The logistics behind hyperscaling data centers. Guest: Mark Becker of G10 Fulfillment on safe handling and shipping of lithium-ion batteries; Workers experience AI anxiety; The logistics behind hyperscaling data centers. Our guest on this week's episode is Mark Becker, CEO of G10 Fulfillment. We have all heard the stories about the fire risks of lithium-ion batteries – for instance, you can’t put them in your checked luggage on a flight or use portable power-bank batteries inside an airplane cabin. Of course, larger industrial batteries used in forklifts and mobile robotic systems are built to much better specifications than many consumer batteries, but how can we assure they are safe? Ben Ames talks with this week’s guest about best practices for shipping, storing, and fulfillment of lithium-ion batteries.

The modern workplace is changing amid widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and ongoing economic uncertainty—issues we’ve been talking about quite frequently on the podcast. New information on this topic from staffing and recruitment agency Randstad USA emphasizes the “AI anxiety” piece and is in line with other recent research that raises some pretty big questions about where we’re headed. Victoria Kickham shares the details.

There is a lot of logistics effort  required to build the physical machinery that makes AI work. We’re talking about buildings and pipes and wires and chips and servers. The companies that build these data centers — called hyperscalers — are spending a ton of money in a race for market share. The latest Goldman Sachs report upgraded the estimate for 2026 spending on those projects from $465 billion $527 billion. This week DHL announced a “significant expansion” of its North America data center logistics (DCL) infrastructure with 10 dedicated warehouse sites totaling more than seven million square feet of capacity set to go live in 2026.  Ben Ames has this report.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Mark Becker, CEO of G10 Fulfillment. We have all heard the stories about the fire risks of lithium-ion batteries – for instance, you can’t put them in your checked luggage on a flight or use portable power-bank batteries inside an airplane cabin. Of course, larger industrial batteries used in forklifts and mobile robotic systems are built to much better specifications than many consumer batteries, but how can we assure they are safe? Ben Ames talks with this week’s guest about best practices for shipping, storing, and fulfillment of lithium-ion batteries.

The modern workplace is changing amid widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and ongoing economic uncertainty—issues we’ve been talking about quite frequently on the podcast. New information on this topic from staffing and recruitment agency Randstad USA emphasizes the “AI anxiety” piece and is in line with other recent research that raises some pretty big questions about where we’re headed. Victoria Kickham shares the details.

There is a lot of logistics effort  required to build the physical machinery that makes AI work. We’re talking about buildings and pipes and wires and chips and servers. The companies that build these data centers — called hyperscalers — are spending a ton of money in a race for market share. The latest Goldman Sachs report upgraded the estimate for 2026 spending on those projects from $465 billion $527 billion. This week DHL announced a “significant expansion” of its North America data center logistics (DCL) infrastructure with 10 dedicated warehouse sites totaling more than seven million square feet of capacity set to go live in 2026.  Ben Ames has this report.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18880579 Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1178 logistics, supply chain, warehousing, transportation, Mark Becker, hazmat handling, lithium-ion batteries, G10 Fulfillment, artificial intelligence, AI anxiety, labor, Randstad USA, hyperscalers, data centers, DHL, Goldman Sachs, Storage Solutions 7 11 full false Guest: Mike Van Bree of the American Ladder Institute on safety when working at heights; A cybersecurity collaboration; Sensing your way to a smoother supply chain Guest: Mike Van Bree of the American Ladder Institute on safety when working at heights; A cybersecurity collaboration; Sensing your way to a smoother supply chain Our guest on this week's episode is Mike Van Bree, director of product safety and engineering at Louisville Ladder Inc. and current president of the American Ladder Institute (ALI). This is Friday the 13th, and you have probably heard that old adage not to walk under ladders. That warning is probably not so much because it might bring you bad luck, but because it is an unsafe thing to do. And that brings us to our guest today: March is National Ladder Safety Month in the United States – a reminder to follow proper safety procedures while working at heights in warehouse and distribution centers, among other places.  Mike Van Bree brings some safe practices when working with ladders to our discussion.

This week we saw the launch of a new plan by businesses in Europe to cooperate on joining together to set standards and practices for cybersecurity, specifically for software used in industrial automation and manufacturing. Ben Ames tells you what their plans are to defend themselves against cyber criminals.

Global demand for sensors in logistics is set to double between 2024 and 2033, according to recent industry reports. Victoria Kickham shares about a feature she wrote for DC Velocity’s March issue that examines how sensor technology is helping companies improve the efficiency, accuracy, and security of their supply chains. Specifically, she looked into an inventory project by Walmart and a recent market expansion by a transportation industry security startup that shows just how powerful sensors are in logistics.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The latest series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Mike Van Bree, director of product safety and engineering at Louisville Ladder Inc. and current president of the American Ladder Institute (ALI). This is Friday the 13th, and you have probably heard that old adage not to walk under ladders. That warning is probably not so much because it might bring you bad luck, but because it is an unsafe thing to do. And that brings us to our guest today: March is National Ladder Safety Month in the United States – a reminder to follow proper safety procedures while working at heights in warehouse and distribution centers, among other places.  Mike Van Bree brings some safe practices when working with ladders to our discussion.

This week we saw the launch of a new plan by businesses in Europe to cooperate on joining together to set standards and practices for cybersecurity, specifically for software used in industrial automation and manufacturing. Ben Ames tells you what their plans are to defend themselves against cyber criminals.

Global demand for sensors in logistics is set to double between 2024 and 2033, according to recent industry reports. Victoria Kickham shares about a feature she wrote for DC Velocity’s March issue that examines how sensor technology is helping companies improve the efficiency, accuracy, and security of their supply chains. Specifically, she looked into an inventory project by Walmart and a recent market expansion by a transportation industry security startup that shows just how powerful sensors are in logistics.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The latest series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18838719 Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1247 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, ladder safety, National Ladder Safety Month, Mike Van Bree, Louisville Ladder Inc., American Ladder Institute, cybersecurity, ENFORCERS, sensors, Walmart, ambient IoT, Wiliot, GenLogs, Storage Solutions 7 10 full false Guest: Jackson Wood of Descartes on what war in the Middle East means for supply chains; Most warehouses lack needed agility; Is trucking ready for a recovery? Guest: Jackson Wood of Descartes on what war in the Middle East means for supply chains; Most warehouses lack needed agility; Is trucking ready for a recovery? Our guest on this week's episode is Jackson Wood, director of industry strategy, global trade intelligence at Descartes. The United States is now at war with Iran in military actions that have now spread throughout the Middle East. With that part of the world being in major disruption, what are the implications for global transportation, ships moving oil and gas, and just supply chains in general? In an interview with Ben Ames, our guest offers some insights.  

Having agility within our supply chains is a crucial way to prepare for unexpected events, whether that is a pandemic or now with the new war in the Middle East. Yet, Victoria Kickham reports on some new research that shows agility is something that many warehouses still struggle to achieve.

There are some signs that the long-term freight recession in the trucking sector may be coming to an end. Ben Ames reports on some new statistics that point to some light at the end of the tunnel for carriers.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The latest series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jackson Wood, director of industry strategy, global trade intelligence at Descartes. The United States is now at war with Iran in military actions that have now spread throughout the Middle East. With that part of the world being in major disruption, what are the implications for global transportation, ships moving oil and gas, and just supply chains in general? In an interview with Ben Ames, our guest offers some insights.  

Having agility within our supply chains is a crucial way to prepare for unexpected events, whether that is a pandemic or now with the new war in the Middle East. Yet, Victoria Kickham reports on some new research that shows agility is something that many warehouses still struggle to achieve.

There are some signs that the long-term freight recession in the trucking sector may be coming to an end. Ben Ames reports on some new statistics that point to some light at the end of the tunnel for carriers.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The latest series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18802662 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0500 1380 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, transportation, Iran war, Middle East, Jackson Wood, Descartes, agility, Lucas Systems, trucking, freight recession, FTR, Storage Solutions 7 9 full false Guest: Per Hong of Kearney on tariffs, Iran, and more; The "pandemic echo” affecting parcel fleets; How Agentic AI impacts hiring Guest: Per Hong of Kearney on tariffs, Iran, and more; The "pandemic echo” affecting parcel fleets; How Agentic AI impacts hiring Our guest on this week's episode is Per Hong, senior partner and global lead of Kearney Foresight. By now we have all heard that the emergency tariffs placed earlier in the year were ruled illegal last week by the Supreme Court, but now we have new tariffs – and the potential of war with Iran. There is lots going on right now that could have major impacts on our supply chains. Our guest helps us to unravel it all and offers advice on how supply chain leaders should prepare for whatever is next.

Have you ever heard of a pandemic echo?  Apparently that is what is happening right now within the parcel delivery fleet sector. Ben Ames helps us to understand what it means and why it is affecting parcel. 

More than half (55%) of supply chain leaders expect that advancements in agentic AI systems will reduce the need to hire for entry-level positions, and 51% say the technology will drive a shift to overall workforce reductions. That’s according to a survey from business and technology insights company Gartner, released this week. We look at the numbers from this report and what they may mean for hiring in supply chain jobs going forward.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The latest series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Per Hong, senior partner and global lead of Kearney Foresight. By now we have all heard that the emergency tariffs placed earlier in the year were ruled illegal last week by the Supreme Court, but now we have new tariffs – and the potential of war with Iran. There is lots going on right now that could have major impacts on our supply chains. Our guest helps us to unravel it all and offers advice on how supply chain leaders should prepare for whatever is next.

Have you ever heard of a pandemic echo?  Apparently that is what is happening right now within the parcel delivery fleet sector. Ben Ames helps us to understand what it means and why it is affecting parcel. 

More than half (55%) of supply chain leaders expect that advancements in agentic AI systems will reduce the need to hire for entry-level positions, and 51% say the technology will drive a shift to overall workforce reductions. That’s according to a survey from business and technology insights company Gartner, released this week. We look at the numbers from this report and what they may mean for hiring in supply chain jobs going forward.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The latest series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18762163 Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0500 1418 logistics, supply chain, distribution, Per Hong, Kearney, tariffs, Iran, global trade, parcel fleets, Geotab, hiring, Agentic AI, Gartner, Werner 7 8 full false Guest: Fab Brasca of Kinaxis on who is leading in AI adoption; The top five freight bottlenecks; A new data threat is lurking Guest: Fab Brasca of Kinaxis on who is leading in AI adoption; The top five freight bottlenecks; A new data threat is lurking Our guest on this week's episode is Fab Brasca, senior vice president of market strategy at Kinaxis. The use of artificial intelligence is growing and its potential impacts on supply chains might be practically limitless. But how fast should companies move on adopting these technologies – and who is way ahead of the pack in implementing AI? Ben Ames answers these questions with today’s guest.

Our supply chains are supposed to be in motion to be efficient, yet a lot of the time our freight is stuck in neutral due to road congestion. The American Transportation Research Institute published its annual ranking of the country’s worst freight bottlenecks this week. Find out where the worst bottleneck in America is snarling traffic.

This week we learned about a new cybersecurity threat to worry about, and this comes from a brand new technology called quantum computing. In fact, this technology is no new that it’s really still in development, not in the markets yet. But that isn’t stopping hackers from using it already, as cyber-adversaries are harvesting companies’ encrypted data now even though they can’t open those files, because they plan to decrypt it on a future date, once quantum computing becomes powerful enough


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The latest series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Fab Brasca, senior vice president of market strategy at Kinaxis. The use of artificial intelligence is growing and its potential impacts on supply chains might be practically limitless. But how fast should companies move on adopting these technologies – and who is way ahead of the pack in implementing AI? Ben Ames answers these questions with today’s guest.

Our supply chains are supposed to be in motion to be efficient, yet a lot of the time our freight is stuck in neutral due to road congestion. The American Transportation Research Institute published its annual ranking of the country’s worst freight bottlenecks this week. Find out where the worst bottleneck in America is snarling traffic.

This week we learned about a new cybersecurity threat to worry about, and this comes from a brand new technology called quantum computing. In fact, this technology is no new that it’s really still in development, not in the markets yet. But that isn’t stopping hackers from using it already, as cyber-adversaries are harvesting companies’ encrypted data now even though they can’t open those files, because they plan to decrypt it on a future date, once quantum computing becomes powerful enough


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The latest series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18715022 Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500 1205 supply chain, logistics, distribution, artificial intelligence, Fab Brasca, Kinaxis, trucking, road congestion, ATRI, cybersecurity, quantum computing, apex analytics, data theft, Werner 7 7 full false Guest: Lisa DeNight of Newmark on the industrial real estate market on the rise; Thoughts on improving infrastructure; Striving for fast, dynamic execution Guest: Lisa DeNight of Newmark on the industrial real estate market on the rise; Thoughts on improving infrastructure; Striving for fast, dynamic execution Our guest on this week's episode is Lisa DeNight, managing director and head of North American Industrial Research for Newmark. Before a company can manufacture and distribute a product, they need the proper building designed to house their operations. That is where the industrial real estate market comes in. Like the home real estate market there are ebbs and flows depending on the economy and other factors. But there are signs for hope in the industrial real estate market in 2026, as our guest shares the latest industry trends and research.

This week The National Association of Manufacturers shared new research that shows that the lack of spending on our nation’s infrastructure is affecting manufacturing across the country. NAM says that highway congestion and delays in freight carrying finished goods are having big impacts on our economy and that there is a need to invest further in our crumbling infrastructure. They suggest where to focus attention this year.

Research released this week tracks a turning point in supply chain strategy as organizations start to prioritize speed of execution as their main source of competitive advantage these days. That’s according to research from supply chain software provider Infios. The company surveyed 100 U.S.-based supply chain leaders and found that nearly 80% said fast, dynamic execution—rather than planning or visibility alone—is their best competitive weapon in today’s volatile marketplace.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Lisa DeNight, managing director and head of North American Industrial Research for Newmark. Before a company can manufacture and distribute a product, they need the proper building designed to house their operations. That is where the industrial real estate market comes in. Like the home real estate market there are ebbs and flows depending on the economy and other factors. But there are signs for hope in the industrial real estate market in 2026, as our guest shares the latest industry trends and research.

This week The National Association of Manufacturers shared new research that shows that the lack of spending on our nation’s infrastructure is affecting manufacturing across the country. NAM says that highway congestion and delays in freight carrying finished goods are having big impacts on our economy and that there is a need to invest further in our crumbling infrastructure. They suggest where to focus attention this year.

Research released this week tracks a turning point in supply chain strategy as organizations start to prioritize speed of execution as their main source of competitive advantage these days. That’s according to research from supply chain software provider Infios. The company surveyed 100 U.S.-based supply chain leaders and found that nearly 80% said fast, dynamic execution—rather than planning or visibility alone—is their best competitive weapon in today’s volatile marketplace.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18666766 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0500 1222 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, industrial real estate, Newmark, Lisa DeNight, manufacturing, infrastructure, transportation, The National Association of Manufacturers, Körber, Infios, technology, automation, Werner 7 6 full false Guest: Jake Heldenberg of Vanderlande on automation trends and predictions; Gamification comes to DCs; What’s up with retail? Guest: Jake Heldenberg of Vanderlande on automation trends and predictions; Gamification comes to DCs; What’s up with retail? Our guest on this week's episode is Jake Heldenberg, director of sales engineering, Warehouse Solutions, North America at Vanderlande. We are only a bit more than a month into 2026 and it is hoped that automation companies will see a glimmer of hope after a somewhat uneven 2025. Our guest today offers insight into the automation market and he shares trends and predictions for the remainder of the year.

Finding and retaining warehouse talent is a challenge these days. However, this week, Gartner released research about what companies are doing to address that challenge—and they found that warehouse and distribution center leaders are focused on developing better employee engagement strategies. And “gamification” is at the top of the list. Victoria Kickham reports.

This week, Ben Ames took a deep dive this week into retail logistics when he attended the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) annual Link trade show, held in Orlando. That’s a show where you have a lot of the nation’s biggest shippers and biggest carriers, all packed into the same convention center to talk about the retail industry. And with all those interests side by side, you get some really interesting conversations. Ben shares about some of the more interesting things he heard affecting the retail industry.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jake Heldenberg, director of sales engineering, Warehouse Solutions, North America at Vanderlande. We are only a bit more than a month into 2026 and it is hoped that automation companies will see a glimmer of hope after a somewhat uneven 2025. Our guest today offers insight into the automation market and he shares trends and predictions for the remainder of the year.

Finding and retaining warehouse talent is a challenge these days. However, this week, Gartner released research about what companies are doing to address that challenge—and they found that warehouse and distribution center leaders are focused on developing better employee engagement strategies. And “gamification” is at the top of the list. Victoria Kickham reports.

This week, Ben Ames took a deep dive this week into retail logistics when he attended the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) annual Link trade show, held in Orlando. That’s a show where you have a lot of the nation’s biggest shippers and biggest carriers, all packed into the same convention center to talk about the retail industry. And with all those interests side by side, you get some really interesting conversations. Ben shares about some of the more interesting things he heard affecting the retail industry.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18636749 Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0500 1251 supply chain, logistics, distribution, warehousing, automation, Jake Heldenberg, Gartner, gamification, labor, retail, RILA, Tractor Supply, LL Bean, Werner 7 5 full false Guest: Suketu Gandhi of Kearney on supply chain takeaways from last week in Davos, Combating missed LTL pickups, Trends in the trucking space Guest: Suketu Gandhi of Kearney on supply chain takeaways from last week in Davos, Combating missed LTL pickups, Trends in the trucking space Our guest on this week's episode is Suketu Gandhi, a partner and global chair in the Strategic Operations practice at management and consulting firm Kearney. The annual World Economic Forum was held last week in Davos, Switzerland. This year it was more politicized than normal, especially with more than 60 heads of state making appearances and lots of international intrigue. But while the politicians stole the spotlight, the primary purpose of the meeting each year is to bring business leaders together to talk about how to improve business operations.  This week’s podcast guest was one of the attendees and speakers at the conference and shares his impressions and takeaways from the week in Davos. 

Artificial intelligence is being applied to all sorts of supply chain operations. This week we learned about some practical applications for the tech in the less-than-truckload space, as CH Robinson has some nifty new tools to avoid missed LRL freight pickups.

The annual SMC3 JumpStart meeting was held this week in Atlanta. The conference deals with the major issues and challenges facing the trucking industry. Key themes across the three days were the state of the freight economy (which remains marked by uncertainty), rise of artificial intelligence (which is being applied pretty broadly in LTL), and accelerating levels of fraud across the industry (which pose risks from both a safety and economic perspective).



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Suketu Gandhi, a partner and global chair in the Strategic Operations practice at management and consulting firm Kearney. The annual World Economic Forum was held last week in Davos, Switzerland. This year it was more politicized than normal, especially with more than 60 heads of state making appearances and lots of international intrigue. But while the politicians stole the spotlight, the primary purpose of the meeting each year is to bring business leaders together to talk about how to improve business operations.  This week’s podcast guest was one of the attendees and speakers at the conference and shares his impressions and takeaways from the week in Davos. 

Artificial intelligence is being applied to all sorts of supply chain operations. This week we learned about some practical applications for the tech in the less-than-truckload space, as CH Robinson has some nifty new tools to avoid missed LRL freight pickups.

The annual SMC3 JumpStart meeting was held this week in Atlanta. The conference deals with the major issues and challenges facing the trucking industry. Key themes across the three days were the state of the freight economy (which remains marked by uncertainty), rise of artificial intelligence (which is being applied pretty broadly in LTL), and accelerating levels of fraud across the industry (which pose risks from both a safety and economic perspective).



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18597486 Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0500 1480 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, trucking, LTL, Davos, World Economic Forum, Suketu Gandhi, Kearney, artificial intell 7 4 full false Guest: Ronak Amin of HERE Technologies on preventing bridge strikes by trucks; More maritime freight fright; Are humanoid robots ready for prime time? Guest: Ronak Amin of HERE Technologies on preventing bridge strikes by trucks; More maritime freight fright; Are humanoid robots ready for prime time? Our guest on this week's episode is Ronak Amin - global product marketing lead for fleet, mobility, and transport solutions at Here Technologies. Bridges and trucks are two elements that do not mix well. Many would be surprised to learn that an over-the-road truck strikes a bridge or an underpass every 36 minutes. Of course these accidents risk lives besides disrupting traffic flow. What can be done to prevent bridge strikes? Our guest offers some insights.

One major container ship line recently decided to resume sailings in the Red Sea but has now backed out of those plans and will instead continue sailing around Africa rather than going through the Suez Canal. In recent years the canal has been nearly empty of commercial traffic, due to violence and missiles from forces in Yemen, who were targeting Israeli and other western hemisphere ships due to the bloodshed in Israel’s war with Hamas. What does this change mean for shippers looking for some certainty in an ever-changing environment?

We’ve talked a lot about advances in humanoid robots recently, and there was more news this week. New Gartner research released on Tuesday found that the hype around humanoids is outpacing the technology’s readiness for large-scale deployment in logistics—and that means that we will probably see a lot of pilot projects over the next few years, but it’s going to be a while before these human-looking robots become commonplace on the warehouse floor.



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ronak Amin - global product marketing lead for fleet, mobility, and transport solutions at Here Technologies. Bridges and trucks are two elements that do not mix well. Many would be surprised to learn that an over-the-road truck strikes a bridge or an underpass every 36 minutes. Of course these accidents risk lives besides disrupting traffic flow. What can be done to prevent bridge strikes? Our guest offers some insights.

One major container ship line recently decided to resume sailings in the Red Sea but has now backed out of those plans and will instead continue sailing around Africa rather than going through the Suez Canal. In recent years the canal has been nearly empty of commercial traffic, due to violence and missiles from forces in Yemen, who were targeting Israeli and other western hemisphere ships due to the bloodshed in Israel’s war with Hamas. What does this change mean for shippers looking for some certainty in an ever-changing environment?

We’ve talked a lot about advances in humanoid robots recently, and there was more news this week. New Gartner research released on Tuesday found that the hype around humanoids is outpacing the technology’s readiness for large-scale deployment in logistics—and that means that we will probably see a lot of pilot projects over the next few years, but it’s going to be a while before these human-looking robots become commonplace on the warehouse floor.



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18559243 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500 1126 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, bridge strikes, trucking, HERE Technologies, Ronak Amin, Suez Canal, CMA CGM, Xenata, Gartner, humanoid robots, Werner 7 3 full false Guest: Tony Bradley of Arizona Trucking Association on freight fraud and non-domiciled drivers; Robots become more human; Hesitancy adopting Agentic AI Guest: Tony Bradley of Arizona Trucking Association on freight fraud and non-domiciled drivers; Robots become more human; Hesitancy adopting Agentic AI Our guest on this week's episode is Tony Bradley, president and CEO of the Arizona Trucking Association and the executive director of the Arizona Trucking Association Foundation. We have seen huge changes within the trucking industry during the past year based on two big issues – the licensing of non-domiciled drivers and the huge surges we see in freight fraud. Victoria Kickham finds out more about what is being done to address these issues in this week’s guest interview.  

One of the technology topics that has gotten a lot of buzz lately has been humanoid robots, which of course are that family of robots that have heads and bodies and torsos, and either walk on two legs or roll on a moving base like an AMR. This technology is very new of course, and has been seen only in research labs until recently. Ben Ames reports on an example of how one of these critters might fit into a real world workflow.

A recent survey of North American transportation, logistics, and supply chain executives reveals a disconnect between what those leaders see as the promise of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and their readiness to implement them. Victoria Kickham reports on a new survey that examines the effects of adopting AI and machine learning (ML) in logistics, and it revealed some interesting information about Agentic AI and its role in the industry.



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Tony Bradley, president and CEO of the Arizona Trucking Association and the executive director of the Arizona Trucking Association Foundation. We have seen huge changes within the trucking industry during the past year based on two big issues – the licensing of non-domiciled drivers and the huge surges we see in freight fraud. Victoria Kickham finds out more about what is being done to address these issues in this week’s guest interview.  

One of the technology topics that has gotten a lot of buzz lately has been humanoid robots, which of course are that family of robots that have heads and bodies and torsos, and either walk on two legs or roll on a moving base like an AMR. This technology is very new of course, and has been seen only in research labs until recently. Ben Ames reports on an example of how one of these critters might fit into a real world workflow.

A recent survey of North American transportation, logistics, and supply chain executives reveals a disconnect between what those leaders see as the promise of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and their readiness to implement them. Victoria Kickham reports on a new survey that examines the effects of adopting AI and machine learning (ML) in logistics, and it revealed some interesting information about Agentic AI and its role in the industry.



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18520134 Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500 1130 logistics, supply chain, distribution, warehousing, Tony Bradley, Arizona Trucking Association, Agentic AI, Ortec, artificial intelligence, Siemens, robots, Humanoid 7 2 full false Guest: Amy Dean of SC Codeworks on tariffs and Foreign Trade Zones; Mixed job reports; Safety standards for humanoid robots Guest: Amy Dean of SC Codeworks on tariffs and Foreign Trade Zones; Mixed job reports; Safety standards for humanoid robots Our guest on this week's episode is Amy Dean, VP of Operations at SC Codeworks. The shipping world is still waiting on the Supreme Court’s ruling on whether the administration can lawfully collect the tariffs that have been assessed on nearly every trading nation. In the meantime, there may be a strategy to mitigate some of those tariff impacts – and that is by using Foreign Trade Zones. 

While employment trends show few new jobs, a new survey from resume platform company Resume.org found that most companies are planning to add more staff this year, and that a majority of those will do so quickly—by adding new hires in the first quarter. We look at what skills employers are looking for from new employees.

One of the emerging supply chain technologies that’s been getting the most buzz in recent months is humanoid robots; these are two-legged, walking robots. However, this technology is new — and there are certain shortcomings. Humanoids collapse and fall down when power is cut. So that creates safety risk in the event of a fall. But according to a report from Interact Analysis, the industry is working on this problem.



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Amy Dean, VP of Operations at SC Codeworks. The shipping world is still waiting on the Supreme Court’s ruling on whether the administration can lawfully collect the tariffs that have been assessed on nearly every trading nation. In the meantime, there may be a strategy to mitigate some of those tariff impacts – and that is by using Foreign Trade Zones. 

While employment trends show few new jobs, a new survey from resume platform company Resume.org found that most companies are planning to add more staff this year, and that a majority of those will do so quickly—by adding new hires in the first quarter. We look at what skills employers are looking for from new employees.

One of the emerging supply chain technologies that’s been getting the most buzz in recent months is humanoid robots; these are two-legged, walking robots. However, this technology is new — and there are certain shortcomings. Humanoids collapse and fall down when power is cut. So that creates safety risk in the event of a fall. But according to a report from Interact Analysis, the industry is working on this problem.



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18481381 Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500 1110 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, distribution, Foreign Trade Zones, bonded warehouses, Amy Dean, SC Codeworks, hiring, employment trends, Resume.org, humanoid robots, safety standards, Interact Analysis, Werner 7 1 full false Guest: Jason Schenker of Prestige Economics with predictions for supply chains in 2026; Managing risks among shifting policies; Stabilizing your workforce Guest: Jason Schenker of Prestige Economics with predictions for supply chains in 2026; Managing risks among shifting policies; Stabilizing your workforce Our guest on this week's episode is Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics and chairman of the Futurist Institute. In what has become an annual tradition, one of our nation’s leading economists joins us to review the economy of 2025 and preview economic trends for 2026. He also focuses on supply chains and the prospects for the material handling market in the year ahead.

When it comes to managing risk in the new year, companies can expect much of the same as we’ve seen this year, according to a recent report from risk and claims administration company Sedgwick. Victoria Kickham shares how the report examines risks across industries and aims to help companies navigate evolving trends.

The labor market is changing fast, whether we’re talking about the unemployment rate, job creation, turnover, a skilled labor shortage, or artificial intelligence. And this week Ben Ames reports on new research that lays out four major themes on what employers are going to have to do to keep themselves staffed up in 2026. But many workers are concerned that their employers won’t prepare them properly for the many changes they will face in their jobs. 



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics and chairman of the Futurist Institute. In what has become an annual tradition, one of our nation’s leading economists joins us to review the economy of 2025 and preview economic trends for 2026. He also focuses on supply chains and the prospects for the material handling market in the year ahead.

When it comes to managing risk in the new year, companies can expect much of the same as we’ve seen this year, according to a recent report from risk and claims administration company Sedgwick. Victoria Kickham shares how the report examines risks across industries and aims to help companies navigate evolving trends.

The labor market is changing fast, whether we’re talking about the unemployment rate, job creation, turnover, a skilled labor shortage, or artificial intelligence. And this week Ben Ames reports on new research that lays out four major themes on what employers are going to have to do to keep themselves staffed up in 2026. But many workers are concerned that their employers won’t prepare them properly for the many changes they will face in their jobs. 



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18386811 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0500 2057 supply chain, logistics, distribution, economy, trade policies, tariffs, Jason Schenker, Prestige Economics, interest rates, labor, Randstad USA, AI, Sedgwick, Ontegos Cloud, cyber threats, supply chain risks, training, ID Label 6 49 full false Guest: Bill Catania of OneRail on holiday last mile delivery trends; Prospects for industrial real estate in 2026; Robots to the rescue. Guest: Bill Catania of OneRail on holiday last mile delivery trends; Prospects for industrial real estate in 2026; Robots to the rescue. Our guest on this week's episode is Bill Catania, founder & CEO of OneRail. Christmas will be here before we know it – just a couple of weeks to go. For shippers, that means one final push to get all of those future presents where they need to be. What are the trends driving this year’s peak season? Our guest shares what he has seen from his base of retail customers.  

Ben Ames shares about a new report from industrial  real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield that says that 2026 could be a little better, at least in terms of commercial real estate than it has been his past year. That category includes office, industrial, multifamily, and retail, so a broad area but it includes things like the warehouses and brick and mortar stores that we cover for the magazine. They said that after the “extraordinary macroeconomic uncertainty” of the past year, the U.S. commercial real estate (CRE) sector could enter 2026 with renewed momentum, clearer visibility, and growing optimism - and a lot of it has to do with the growth of AI data centers.

One of Victoria Kickham's stories in the December issue of DC Velocity deals with automated truck loading and unloading. This is a topic that’s of growing interest across the industry; we see more and more robotics vendors tackling this physically demanding job – which many in the industry will tell you is probably the worst job in the warehouse. The story also digs into the rising cost of warehouse labor and how new approaches to robotics can help with that – specifically, the rise of robotics-as-a-service models and special leasing programs can help alleviate the capital expenses involved in purchasing robotics.



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Bill Catania, founder & CEO of OneRail. Christmas will be here before we know it – just a couple of weeks to go. For shippers, that means one final push to get all of those future presents where they need to be. What are the trends driving this year’s peak season? Our guest shares what he has seen from his base of retail customers.  

Ben Ames shares about a new report from industrial  real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield that says that 2026 could be a little better, at least in terms of commercial real estate than it has been his past year. That category includes office, industrial, multifamily, and retail, so a broad area but it includes things like the warehouses and brick and mortar stores that we cover for the magazine. They said that after the “extraordinary macroeconomic uncertainty” of the past year, the U.S. commercial real estate (CRE) sector could enter 2026 with renewed momentum, clearer visibility, and growing optimism - and a lot of it has to do with the growth of AI data centers.

One of Victoria Kickham's stories in the December issue of DC Velocity deals with automated truck loading and unloading. This is a topic that’s of growing interest across the industry; we see more and more robotics vendors tackling this physically demanding job – which many in the industry will tell you is probably the worst job in the warehouse. The story also digs into the rising cost of warehouse labor and how new approaches to robotics can help with that – specifically, the rise of robotics-as-a-service models and special leasing programs can help alleviate the capital expenses involved in purchasing robotics.



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18320899 Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0500 888 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, last mile delivery, OneRail, Bill Catania, holiday shipping, commercial real estate, Cushman & Wakefield, artificial intelligence, AI, robotics, truck loading and unloading, Pickle Robot, Contoro Robotics, ID Label 6 48 full false Guest: Marc Schaffer on the big rail merger; AI imbeds in the warehouse; The people behind the tech Guest: Marc Schaffer on the big rail merger; AI imbeds in the warehouse; The people behind the tech Our guest on this week's episode is Marc Schaffer, principal economist at Breakthrough Fuel. Sometime in the new year we will likely find out whether the huge mega-merger between two historic railroads will go through. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern aim to join forces to create a true transcontinental railroad. But it’s not without controversy. What will the effects be on our nation’s supply chains? This week's guest offers some insights. 

Warehouses are getting smarter every day. A study released just after Thanksgiving shows that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are no longer just experimental tools but are becoming core drivers of productivity, accuracy, and workforce evolution in the warehouse. This is according to a study from Mecalux and the MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab at MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics. 

This week we reported on a story about the people behind AI and other leading edge technologies. It wasn’t about the software coders who write the instructions for AI and large language models and other platforms. But rather it was about the electricians and manufacturing experts who keep all this stuff running. The reports came from Siemens USA, the American arm of the German industrial technology provider, and they announced a plan to train 200,000 electricians and manufacturing experts by 2030. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Marc Schaffer, principal economist at Breakthrough Fuel. Sometime in the new year we will likely find out whether the huge mega-merger between two historic railroads will go through. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern aim to join forces to create a true transcontinental railroad. But it’s not without controversy. What will the effects be on our nation’s supply chains? This week's guest offers some insights. 

Warehouses are getting smarter every day. A study released just after Thanksgiving shows that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are no longer just experimental tools but are becoming core drivers of productivity, accuracy, and workforce evolution in the warehouse. This is according to a study from Mecalux and the MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab at MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics. 

This week we reported on a story about the people behind AI and other leading edge technologies. It wasn’t about the software coders who write the instructions for AI and large language models and other platforms. But rather it was about the electricians and manufacturing experts who keep all this stuff running. The reports came from Siemens USA, the American arm of the German industrial technology provider, and they announced a plan to train 200,000 electricians and manufacturing experts by 2030. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18306194 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0500 1437 supply chain, logistics, distribution, Marc Schaffer, Breakthrough Fuel, rail merger, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, freight, artificial intelligence, warehousing, MIT, Mecalux, Siemens USA, technology, trade skills, ID Label 6 47 full false Guest: Kraig Foreman of DHL Supply Chain on expectations for peak season; How transportation feels about AI; The joy of robots Guest: Kraig Foreman of DHL Supply Chain on expectations for peak season; How transportation feels about AI; The joy of robots Our guest on this week's episode is Kraig Foreman, president of eCommerce at DHL Supply Chain. While stores are already showing the Christmas spirit with all of their beautiful decorations and being crammed with lots of inventory – peak season has not officially kicked off yet. But it will next week with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. After a tumultuous year for supply chains – are retailers prepared to handle the most wonderful time of the year? Our guest today joins Victoria Kickham with some insights.  

While many industries are struggling to realize value from AI, transportation appears to be ahead of the curve, according to Breakthrough, which is a Wisconsin-based provider of transportation and supply chain solutions for shippers. That result came from the company’s “Peak Shipping Season Pulse,” a survey of 300 industry decision-makers. The report found that 49% of U.S. transportation leaders say artificial intelligence reshaped how they managed this year’s Q4 peak season rush.

According to a survey of more than 400 U.S. warehouse associates, most view robotics and automation as a benefit to their careers and livelihoods. The survey was conducted by global warehouse robotics provider Exotec and is detailed in the company’s recent “Warehouse Workers Sentiment Report: Understanding the Impact of Automation on Retention and Satisfaction.” Company leaders said the survey reveals a “surprisingly strong embrace of robotics” on the warehouse floor, with a majority of respondents saying they are interested in working with robots. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Kraig Foreman, president of eCommerce at DHL Supply Chain. While stores are already showing the Christmas spirit with all of their beautiful decorations and being crammed with lots of inventory – peak season has not officially kicked off yet. But it will next week with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. After a tumultuous year for supply chains – are retailers prepared to handle the most wonderful time of the year? Our guest today joins Victoria Kickham with some insights.  

While many industries are struggling to realize value from AI, transportation appears to be ahead of the curve, according to Breakthrough, which is a Wisconsin-based provider of transportation and supply chain solutions for shippers. That result came from the company’s “Peak Shipping Season Pulse,” a survey of 300 industry decision-makers. The report found that 49% of U.S. transportation leaders say artificial intelligence reshaped how they managed this year’s Q4 peak season rush.

According to a survey of more than 400 U.S. warehouse associates, most view robotics and automation as a benefit to their careers and livelihoods. The survey was conducted by global warehouse robotics provider Exotec and is detailed in the company’s recent “Warehouse Workers Sentiment Report: Understanding the Impact of Automation on Retention and Satisfaction.” Company leaders said the survey reveals a “surprisingly strong embrace of robotics” on the warehouse floor, with a majority of respondents saying they are interested in working with robots. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18231345 Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0500 1253 logistics, supply chain, distribution, Kraig Foreman, DHL supply chain, peak season, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, retail, artificial intelligence, AI, transportation, technology, Breakthrough, robotics, Exotec, labor, ID Label 6 46 full false Alex Saric from Ivalua on what is holding back tech investments; Thinking small brings agility; The AI disconnect Alex Saric from Ivalua on what is holding back tech investments; Thinking small brings agility; The AI disconnect Our guest on this week's episode is Alex Saric, CMO at Ivalua. We have definitely seen a lot of uncertainty this year due to changing economic policies and the supply chain shifts that have resulted. It has placed a lot of companies on the sidelines trying to figure out what to do next with their technology investments. How do they get from just being in survival mode to thriving? Our guest today joins Ben Ames with some insights.  

Working with small businesses can help strengthen supply chains and boost local economies; that’s according to a report from supplier intelligence platform Supplier.io, released earlier this week. The company analyzed data from more than 500 large enterprises for its 2025 Small Business Impact Report—to learn more about those companies’ small sourcing initiatives. We share some highlights from that report.

A report from the supply chain software company Kinaxis reveals that there is a gap between AI ambition and AI implementation. The report found that at many organizations, business leaders tend to underestimate the new risks and complexities that AI may introduce. But on the other hand, their staffers are very well aware of those complexities, because they’re focused on the practical realities, such as the effort, change management, and technical challenges. The executives want a fast ROI from AI, but staffers see the hurdles.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by:  Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Alex Saric, CMO at Ivalua. We have definitely seen a lot of uncertainty this year due to changing economic policies and the supply chain shifts that have resulted. It has placed a lot of companies on the sidelines trying to figure out what to do next with their technology investments. How do they get from just being in survival mode to thriving? Our guest today joins Ben Ames with some insights.  

Working with small businesses can help strengthen supply chains and boost local economies; that’s according to a report from supplier intelligence platform Supplier.io, released earlier this week. The company analyzed data from more than 500 large enterprises for its 2025 Small Business Impact Report—to learn more about those companies’ small sourcing initiatives. We share some highlights from that report.

A report from the supply chain software company Kinaxis reveals that there is a gap between AI ambition and AI implementation. The report found that at many organizations, business leaders tend to underestimate the new risks and complexities that AI may introduce. But on the other hand, their staffers are very well aware of those complexities, because they’re focused on the practical realities, such as the effort, change management, and technical challenges. The executives want a fast ROI from AI, but staffers see the hurdles.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by:  Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18191560 Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:00:00 -0500 1025 supply chain, logistics, distribution, technology investments, artificial intelligence, Alex Saric, Ivalua, Supplier.io, small businesses, procurement, Kinaxis, AI deployment, Storage Solutions 6 45 full false Guest: Noel Thomas of Darkwatch on human trafficking and slave labor within supply chains; Ryder raises awareness; Cargo thieves find clever ways to steal freight Guest: Noel Thomas of Darkwatch on human trafficking and slave labor within supply chains; Ryder raises awareness; Cargo thieves find clever ways to steal freight Our guest on this week's episode is Noel Thomas, founder and CEO of Dark Watch. Without even knowing it, many companies with extended supply chains may participating in human trafficking and forced labor. It exists around the world and even here in the United States where people are manipulated into modern forms of slavery. What can we do to protect our supply chains and company reputations, while more importantly helping these most vulnerable people? 

Transportation and logistics provider Ryder System, Inc. is doing its part to address the issue of human trafficking in the supply chain. Ryder is hosting a mobile exhibit on the issue at its Fort Worth, Texas, Transportation Management Center today. The event is for Ryder employees, local law enforcement, and public officials and it features the Freedom Drivers Project (FDP); this is a national mobile exhibit developed by the nonprofit group Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), which is an alliance of trucking industry companies, law enforcement, and government agencies.

We’ve heard a lot about cargo theft lately, and that’s not surprising, given that there is so much freight moving around the country on any given day. The latest report we saw from the theft prevention firm CargoNet shows that many thieves are focusing their efforts on only the highest value cargo shipments. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by:  Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Noel Thomas, founder and CEO of Dark Watch. Without even knowing it, many companies with extended supply chains may participating in human trafficking and forced labor. It exists around the world and even here in the United States where people are manipulated into modern forms of slavery. What can we do to protect our supply chains and company reputations, while more importantly helping these most vulnerable people? 

Transportation and logistics provider Ryder System, Inc. is doing its part to address the issue of human trafficking in the supply chain. Ryder is hosting a mobile exhibit on the issue at its Fort Worth, Texas, Transportation Management Center today. The event is for Ryder employees, local law enforcement, and public officials and it features the Freedom Drivers Project (FDP); this is a national mobile exhibit developed by the nonprofit group Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), which is an alliance of trucking industry companies, law enforcement, and government agencies.

We’ve heard a lot about cargo theft lately, and that’s not surprising, given that there is so much freight moving around the country on any given day. The latest report we saw from the theft prevention firm CargoNet shows that many thieves are focusing their efforts on only the highest value cargo shipments. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by:  Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18151105 Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:00:00 -0500 1385 supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, distribution, human trafficking, forced labor, slavery, Dark Watch, Noel Thomas, Ryder System, The Freedom Truckers Project, Truckers Against Trafficking, cargo theft, CargoNet, Storage Solutions 6 44 full false Guest: Brodie Sutherland of Patriot Critical Minerals Corp. on securing a domestic supply of critical minerals; Supply chain digitalization becomes a priority; The market expands for self-driving trucks Guest: Brodie Sutherland of Patriot Critical Minerals Corp. on securing a domestic supply of critical minerals; Supply chain digitalization becomes a priority; The market expands for self-driving trucks Our guest on this week's episode is Brodie Sutherland, CEO of Patriot Critical Minerals Corp. Just yesterday a major issue on the agenda for the meeting between President Trump and China’s President Xi’s was access to critical minerals, including rare earth minerals. It looks like the Chinese ban on exporting these crucial minerals will now be lifted, but that ban reminds us of how vulnerable our supply chains are to assuring that critical minerals are available for production of semiconductors, military equipment, and the electronics that run our everyday lives. Sutherland leads a company that is looking to begin mining of America’s largest deposit of tungsten, located in Nevada. He shares about the importance of assuring a domestic supply of critical minerals. 

As technologies advance, companies are finding even greater need for digitalization of their supply chains. Nearly 40% of companies surveyed recently say they will allocate more than a quarter of their 2026 budgets to technology investments, according to information from logistics technology platform and solutions provider Ontegos Cloud.

This week we’ve seen continued momentum in companies expanding their networks of self driving cars and trucks. Most of what we’re seeing falls into the category of carriers dipping their toe in the water, and trying out pilot projects or proof of concept trials. But the technology does seem to be getting more reliable and these week we see two more examples. We discuss what is being done and how human drivers are reacting to the potential of being replaced. 



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by:  Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Brodie Sutherland, CEO of Patriot Critical Minerals Corp. Just yesterday a major issue on the agenda for the meeting between President Trump and China’s President Xi’s was access to critical minerals, including rare earth minerals. It looks like the Chinese ban on exporting these crucial minerals will now be lifted, but that ban reminds us of how vulnerable our supply chains are to assuring that critical minerals are available for production of semiconductors, military equipment, and the electronics that run our everyday lives. Sutherland leads a company that is looking to begin mining of America’s largest deposit of tungsten, located in Nevada. He shares about the importance of assuring a domestic supply of critical minerals. 

As technologies advance, companies are finding even greater need for digitalization of their supply chains. Nearly 40% of companies surveyed recently say they will allocate more than a quarter of their 2026 budgets to technology investments, according to information from logistics technology platform and solutions provider Ontegos Cloud.

This week we’ve seen continued momentum in companies expanding their networks of self driving cars and trucks. Most of what we’re seeing falls into the category of carriers dipping their toe in the water, and trying out pilot projects or proof of concept trials. But the technology does seem to be getting more reliable and these week we see two more examples. We discuss what is being done and how human drivers are reacting to the potential of being replaced. 



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by:  Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18111878 Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1445 supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, critical minerals, rare earth minerals, Patriot Critical Minerals Corp., Brodie Sutherland, mining, digitalization, Ontegos Cloud, self-driving trucks, autonomous vehicles. Aurora Innovation, Uber, Teamsters, Storag 6 43 full true Guest: Abdil Tunca on managing robots; Trucking may get some relief; Demand for industrial real estate surges Guest: Abdil Tunca on managing robots; Trucking may get some relief; Demand for industrial real estate surges Our guest on this week's episode is Abdil Tunca, senior principal analyst at Gartner's Supply Chain Practice. While we aren’t quite yet to the era of the Jetsons, we have seen some remarkable advancements in robotics over the past few years. In fact, many future supply chain managers may be managing more robots than human workers. What will that be like? Our guest has some insights.

The trucking industry, and especially the truckload sector, has been in a market slump that has lasted a few years now. Recently there have been some new rules out of Washington that may offer some relief. How is the industry reacting to them?

Demand for industrial real estate—which includes warehousing and logistics space—surged in the third quarter, according to a report from real estate firm Colliers. The company’s Q3 U.S. Industrial Market Statistics report forecasts a stabilizing industrial landscape that is poised for growth, marked by stronger demand and slowing development. 



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by:  Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Abdil Tunca, senior principal analyst at Gartner's Supply Chain Practice. While we aren’t quite yet to the era of the Jetsons, we have seen some remarkable advancements in robotics over the past few years. In fact, many future supply chain managers may be managing more robots than human workers. What will that be like? Our guest has some insights.

The trucking industry, and especially the truckload sector, has been in a market slump that has lasted a few years now. Recently there have been some new rules out of Washington that may offer some relief. How is the industry reacting to them?

Demand for industrial real estate—which includes warehousing and logistics space—surged in the third quarter, according to a report from real estate firm Colliers. The company’s Q3 U.S. Industrial Market Statistics report forecasts a stabilizing industrial landscape that is poised for growth, marked by stronger demand and slowing development. 



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by:  Storage Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18069439 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1280 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, robotics, Gartner, Abdil Tunca, trucking, truckload, OOIDA, Colliers, industrial real estate, Storage Solutions 6 42 full false Guest: Frank Kenney of Cleo on supply chains during the government shutdown; What's in store for peak holiday season?; Trucking hits speed bumps Guest: Frank Kenney of Cleo on supply chains during the government shutdown; What's in store for peak holiday season?; Trucking hits speed bumps Our guest on this week's episode is Frank Kenney, director of industry strategy at Cleo. The Federal government shutdown is in its third week now with no end in sight. Beyond the politics of each party blaming the other for failing to fund the government, there are real repercussions that affect many aspects of American life – including our supply chains. Our guests shares how this latest disruption is adding even more uncertainty and how our supply chains should respond. 

Price and trust top shoppers’ wish lists this holiday season, as U.S. consumers say accurate delivery promises are just as important as good deals this year, ramping up the pressure on retailers to meet shipping expectations.

The trucking industry has been in a freight recession for more than three years now, which generally means there are too many trucks for not enough freight, so the rates that drivers can charge are super low. But there’s more to the picture than that, and this week we saw a report that shed some light on it. It reveals that business conditions are very different depending if you’re in the truckload sector, less than truckload, or parcel. 



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Duravant Integrated Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Frank Kenney, director of industry strategy at Cleo. The Federal government shutdown is in its third week now with no end in sight. Beyond the politics of each party blaming the other for failing to fund the government, there are real repercussions that affect many aspects of American life – including our supply chains. Our guests shares how this latest disruption is adding even more uncertainty and how our supply chains should respond. 

Price and trust top shoppers’ wish lists this holiday season, as U.S. consumers say accurate delivery promises are just as important as good deals this year, ramping up the pressure on retailers to meet shipping expectations.

The trucking industry has been in a freight recession for more than three years now, which generally means there are too many trucks for not enough freight, so the rates that drivers can charge are super low. But there’s more to the picture than that, and this week we saw a report that shed some light on it. It reveals that business conditions are very different depending if you’re in the truckload sector, less than truckload, or parcel. 



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Duravant Integrated Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-18028893 Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1274 supply chain, distribution, logistics, Cleo, Frank Kenney, government shutdown, peak season, consumers, shipments, Narvar, trucking, AFS Logistics, TD Cowen, Duravant Integrated Logistics 6 41 full false Guest: Amanda Hedberg of Aspire on training workers with disabilities for warehouse jobs; The commercial real estate market; Turning uncertainty into an advantage Guest: Amanda Hedberg of Aspire on training workers with disabilities for warehouse jobs; The commercial real estate market; Turning uncertainty into an advantage Our guest on this week's episode is Amanda Hedberg, vice president of Strategic Initiatives at Aspire, a Chicago non-profit organization that works to place people with disabilities into the labor market. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This yearly event began in 1945 and is now commemorating 80 years of acknowledging the good work that people with mental and physical disabilities bring to their jobs, including work within our supply chains. Hedberg shares how t Aspire trains people with disabilities find meaningful work, including employment in warehouses. 

Our DC Velocity editorial staff spent the week at CSCMP EDGE conference in National Harbor, Maryland, near the nation’s capital. On today's podcast we will talk about what we learned there:

Ben shares about a session on the market for industrial real estate, which includes warehouses and fulfillment centers. According to the speakers, the U.S. right now has more unused logistics space available for rent in the industrial real estate market than at any time in U.S. history. We explained how the market got to that point and what is being done to better utilize the abundant space.

Ben also shares about another session on the rise of the “synthetic workforce,” which is a term for increasing applications in artificial intelligence, and specifically agentic AI. Speakers stressed that the Synthetic Workforce is not just on the horizon but is already here. 

Victoria shares about a session presented by Per Kristian Hong, a global lead at management consulting firm Kearney. His talk was titled “Harnessing Uncertainty: Global Supply Chains in an Era of Geopolitical Disruption.” His central message was that these turbulent times we’re experiencing are the norm and that supply chain leaders need to recalibrate and move from forecasting to foresight.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Duravant Integrated Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Amanda Hedberg, vice president of Strategic Initiatives at Aspire, a Chicago non-profit organization that works to place people with disabilities into the labor market. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This yearly event began in 1945 and is now commemorating 80 years of acknowledging the good work that people with mental and physical disabilities bring to their jobs, including work within our supply chains. Hedberg shares how t Aspire trains people with disabilities find meaningful work, including employment in warehouses. 

Our DC Velocity editorial staff spent the week at CSCMP EDGE conference in National Harbor, Maryland, near the nation’s capital. On today's podcast we will talk about what we learned there:

Ben shares about a session on the market for industrial real estate, which includes warehouses and fulfillment centers. According to the speakers, the U.S. right now has more unused logistics space available for rent in the industrial real estate market than at any time in U.S. history. We explained how the market got to that point and what is being done to better utilize the abundant space.

Ben also shares about another session on the rise of the “synthetic workforce,” which is a term for increasing applications in artificial intelligence, and specifically agentic AI. Speakers stressed that the Synthetic Workforce is not just on the horizon but is already here. 

Victoria shares about a session presented by Per Kristian Hong, a global lead at management consulting firm Kearney. His talk was titled “Harnessing Uncertainty: Global Supply Chains in an Era of Geopolitical Disruption.” His central message was that these turbulent times we’re experiencing are the norm and that supply chain leaders need to recalibrate and move from forecasting to foresight.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Duravant Integrated Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17989876 Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1325 supply chain, logistics, labor, disability awareness, Amanda Hedberg, Aspire Chicago, CSCMP EDGE, industrial real estate, synthetic workforce, Per Kristian Hong, resiliency, Duravant Integrated Solutions 6 40 full false Guest: Sean Daley of Sphera on shifts in EPA regulations; Creative ways to adapt to tariffs; Chinese robots are on the move Guest: Sean Daley of Sphera on shifts in EPA regulations; Creative ways to adapt to tariffs; Chinese robots are on the move Our guest on this week's episode is Sean Daley, director of sustainability consulting at Sphera. Among the many changes happening in Washington is a reprioritizing of environmental issues. The Environmental Protection Agency is among many of the government agencies that has undergone dramatic policy changes. Our guest discusses those changes and how to prepare for shifting EPA regulations.  

The world has been experiencing America’s new trade policies and the rollout of tariffs for nearly seven months now and we are starting to see their effect on imports, including some creative ways that some companies are adapting, including the use of "B2B2C" shipments.

Accelerated growth in China’s mobile robotics market over the past 10 years is giving way to globalization strategies as Chinese companies face growing economic pressures at home. Many of these Chinese mobile robotics companies are trying to expand their reach to customers in Europe and North America, in particular. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Duravant Integrated Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Sean Daley, director of sustainability consulting at Sphera. Among the many changes happening in Washington is a reprioritizing of environmental issues. The Environmental Protection Agency is among many of the government agencies that has undergone dramatic policy changes. Our guest discusses those changes and how to prepare for shifting EPA regulations.  

The world has been experiencing America’s new trade policies and the rollout of tariffs for nearly seven months now and we are starting to see their effect on imports, including some creative ways that some companies are adapting, including the use of "B2B2C" shipments.

Accelerated growth in China’s mobile robotics market over the past 10 years is giving way to globalization strategies as Chinese companies face growing economic pressures at home. Many of these Chinese mobile robotics companies are trying to expand their reach to customers in Europe and North America, in particular. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Duravant Integrated Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17947497 Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1164 supply chain, logistics, EPA, Sean Daley, Sphera, environmental regulation, greenhouse gas emissions, tariffs, trade, ITS Logistics, China, mobile robotics, Interact Analysis, Duravant Integrated Solutions 6 39 full false Guest: Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network on 20 years of being there for others; Tariffs force changes in sourcing; New drivers of e-commerce Guest: Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network on 20 years of being there for others; Tariffs force changes in sourcing; New drivers of e-commerce Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). Twenty years ago last month, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, leaving in its wake an estimated $125 billion dollars of damage and countless lives changed. It was during this catastrophe that a group logisticians had an idea - and ALAN, the American Logistics Aid Network, was born. Our guest shares the work of ALAN and reflects on the organization’s past 20 years of service to the world during times of crisis.

The changing trade landscape that supply chains have experienced this year are continuing to impact where around the world products are manufactured and then sourced into the United States. And now it seems that small businesses are playing a larger role when it comes to sourcing, as companies continue to deal with the ups and downs of tariffs. This is according to a report from sourcing solutions provider Supplier.io, released this week. 

New research shows that e-commerce is swiftly becoming more complex than just the classic image of using your laptop to order from a website and have a product shipped to your home. Geopost, a large French last-mile and parcel delivery firm,  surveyed customers across 22 European countries for an annual study on e-commerce trends. They found that sector is changing fast, in large part because of the influence of Gen Z consumers. We tell you what differences this generation is making on online shopping.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Duravant Integrated Solutions


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). Twenty years ago last month, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, leaving in its wake an estimated $125 billion dollars of damage and countless lives changed. It was during this catastrophe that a group logisticians had an idea - and ALAN, the American Logistics Aid Network, was born. Our guest shares the work of ALAN and reflects on the organization’s past 20 years of service to the world during times of crisis.

The changing trade landscape that supply chains have experienced this year are continuing to impact where around the world products are manufactured and then sourced into the United States. And now it seems that small businesses are playing a larger role when it comes to sourcing, as companies continue to deal with the ups and downs of tariffs. This is according to a report from sourcing solutions provider Supplier.io, released this week. 

New research shows that e-commerce is swiftly becoming more complex than just the classic image of using your laptop to order from a website and have a product shipped to your home. Geopost, a large French last-mile and parcel delivery firm,  surveyed customers across 22 European countries for an annual study on e-commerce trends. They found that sector is changing fast, in large part because of the influence of Gen Z consumers. We tell you what differences this generation is making on online shopping.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: Duravant Integrated Solutions


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17911717 Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1679 supply chain, logistics, ALAN, American Logistics Aid Network, Kathy Fulton, disaster relief, tariffs, world trade, resilience, Supplier.io, sourcing, Gen Z consumers, e-commerce, Geopost, Duravant Integrated Solutions 6 38 full false Guest: Doug Cantriel of Ford on the automaker's future focus; The priorities of online shoppers; Zebra earns its stripes Guest: Doug Cantriel of Ford on the automaker's future focus; The priorities of online shoppers; Zebra earns its stripes Our guest on this week's episode is Doug Cantriel, the head of North American transportation for the Ford Motor Company’s Customer Service Division. Accurately delivering more than 400,000 parts every night to 3,000-plus Ford automotive dealers is complex work. Charged with this daily task is the team led by Cantriel. They manage the delivery of parts from suppliers to packagers, distribution centers, and then finally to the dealers. Cantriel will be a keynote speaker at this year’s EDGE conference in Washington DC that begins on October 5. 

Amid economic uncertainty and high prices, consumers are looking for a cost-conscious, seamless online shopping experience in 2025. That’s according to data from Ryder System, Inc. The information comes from the company’s 11th annual benchmark study on U.S. shopping behaviors, preferences and expectations, and it aims to help brands and retailers optimize their omnichannel sales and supply chain strategies. 

Ben Ames attended the Zebra conference this week in Nashville, where Zebra executives said the company is moving beyond that pure data collection function  to a broader umbrella function of analyzing the data their devices collect and finding better efficiencies across the entire supply chain enterprise. In their game plan, they will provide not just asset visibility, but also a connection to frontline workers, and ultimately, intelligent automation.

 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: DHL Supply Chain


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Doug Cantriel, the head of North American transportation for the Ford Motor Company’s Customer Service Division. Accurately delivering more than 400,000 parts every night to 3,000-plus Ford automotive dealers is complex work. Charged with this daily task is the team led by Cantriel. They manage the delivery of parts from suppliers to packagers, distribution centers, and then finally to the dealers. Cantriel will be a keynote speaker at this year’s EDGE conference in Washington DC that begins on October 5. 

Amid economic uncertainty and high prices, consumers are looking for a cost-conscious, seamless online shopping experience in 2025. That’s according to data from Ryder System, Inc. The information comes from the company’s 11th annual benchmark study on U.S. shopping behaviors, preferences and expectations, and it aims to help brands and retailers optimize their omnichannel sales and supply chain strategies. 

Ben Ames attended the Zebra conference this week in Nashville, where Zebra executives said the company is moving beyond that pure data collection function  to a broader umbrella function of analyzing the data their devices collect and finding better efficiencies across the entire supply chain enterprise. In their game plan, they will provide not just asset visibility, but also a connection to frontline workers, and ultimately, intelligent automation.

 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: DHL Supply Chain


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17873120 Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1374 Ford Motor Company, Doug Cantriel, parts delivery, CSCMP EDGE25, e-commerce, consumers, Ryder System, Zebra, data collection, artificial intelligence, DHL Supply Chain 6 37 full false Guest: Clete Cordero on progress on the new freight classifications; Assuring cargo safety in ocean freight: Procurement under pressure Guest: Clete Cordero on progress on the new freight classifications; Assuring cargo safety in ocean freight: Procurement under pressure Our guest on this week's episode is Clete Cordero, vice president of pricing and traffic at Southeastern Freight Lines. He is also chairman of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). In July, NMFTA introduced a new system of freight classification to the trucking industry. The new system is design to streamline freight classes by basing it shipments on density and dimensions rather than on commodity type. Our guest shares how the industry is responding to the new classification system and how both shippers and carriers are adapting to it.

A lot of people in transportation and logistics this week have seen the video of a shipping container accident at the Port of Long Beach, where several stacks of containers tumbled off a ship that had recently arrived at the port. Coincidently this week, a new report from the World Shipping Council urges stronger safety measures for ocean cargo. We discuss the areas where more safety is needed and what's behind the current problems.

A challenging business climate is placing increased strain on procurement departments—and it’s slowing their ability to respond quickly and manage risk. This is according to a report from procurement software company Oro Labs. The research findings come from the company’s inaugural State of Enterprise Procurement Ability Report. We share some of the report's findings.

 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: DHL Supply Chain


Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Clete Cordero, vice president of pricing and traffic at Southeastern Freight Lines. He is also chairman of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). In July, NMFTA introduced a new system of freight classification to the trucking industry. The new system is design to streamline freight classes by basing it shipments on density and dimensions rather than on commodity type. Our guest shares how the industry is responding to the new classification system and how both shippers and carriers are adapting to it.

A lot of people in transportation and logistics this week have seen the video of a shipping container accident at the Port of Long Beach, where several stacks of containers tumbled off a ship that had recently arrived at the port. Coincidently this week, a new report from the World Shipping Council urges stronger safety measures for ocean cargo. We discuss the areas where more safety is needed and what's behind the current problems.

A challenging business climate is placing increased strain on procurement departments—and it’s slowing their ability to respond quickly and manage risk. This is according to a report from procurement software company Oro Labs. The research findings come from the company’s inaugural State of Enterprise Procurement Ability Report. We share some of the report's findings.

 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: DHL Supply Chain


Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17833879 Fri, 12 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0400 1199 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, Clete Cordero, Southeastern Freight Lines, National Motor Freight Traffic Association, NMFTA, ocean freight, ports, safety, World Shipping Council, procurement, Oro Labs, DHL Supply Chain 6 36 full false Guest: John Lash of e2open on what the end of the de minimis exemption means to shippers; Is the EV market mature; Measuring supply chain performance Guest: John Lash of e2open on what the end of the de minimis exemption means to shippers; Is the EV market mature; Measuring supply chain performance Our guest on this week's episode is John Lash, group vice president of product strategy at e2open. Last week the de minimis exemption ended. This tariff exemption applied to imports on low-value goods. Our guest shares how its loss will affect supply chains and impact small importers in particular. Will this limit consumer choice?

There was some steady movement in recent years for adopting electric vehicles, but now with course changes in Washington, it seems that EVs have hit some speed bumps. While growth continues, it has slowed compared to adoption in other countries. We look at both the growth of both electric automobiles and industrial trucks and the factors affecting the advancement of EVs in the American market. 

How do supply chain managers measure performance and try to get a little better year after year? And how do you measure your contractors’ performance and make sure they meet your standards? The answer is often KPIs, key performance indicators. It’s a way to pick a measurable part of the process that you put a number on, and track its progress. But it turns out that various sectors throughout the economy use KPIs in different ways to measure and improve their supply chain performance. 

 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: DHL Supply Chain


Other links


]]> Our guest on this week's episode is John Lash, group vice president of product strategy at e2open. Last week the de minimis exemption ended. This tariff exemption applied to imports on low-value goods. Our guest shares how its loss will affect supply chains and impact small importers in particular. Will this limit consumer choice?

There was some steady movement in recent years for adopting electric vehicles, but now with course changes in Washington, it seems that EVs have hit some speed bumps. While growth continues, it has slowed compared to adoption in other countries. We look at both the growth of both electric automobiles and industrial trucks and the factors affecting the advancement of EVs in the American market. 

How do supply chain managers measure performance and try to get a little better year after year? And how do you measure your contractors’ performance and make sure they meet your standards? The answer is often KPIs, key performance indicators. It’s a way to pick a measurable part of the process that you put a number on, and track its progress. But it turns out that various sectors throughout the economy use KPIs in different ways to measure and improve their supply chain performance. 

 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:


This podcast episode is sponsored by: DHL Supply Chain


Other links


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17796016 Fri, 05 Sep 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1315 supply chain, logistics, distribution, de minimus, John Lash, e2open, tariffs, e-commerce, electric vehicles, EVs, Here Technologies, SBD, Calstart, Hydrogen fuel cells, KPIs, RXO, metrics, DHL Supply Chain 6 35 full false Guest: Scott Cornell of Travelers with tips on protecting food in transit; Hopes for the upcoming peak season; Can truckload rebound? Guest: Scott Cornell of Travelers with tips on protecting food in transit; Hopes for the upcoming peak season; Can truckload rebound? Our guest on this week's episode is Scott Cornell, vice president of transportation at Travelers. Summer will soon be wrapping up, but the heat of summer will be around for a few more weeks yet, at least. Too much of that heat can destroy food and other products while they are in transit. How can we protect temperature-controlled cargo? We have some tips. 

As we approach peak season, a new survey shows that the supply chain sector is actually feeling more confident in their fulfillment systems for 2025 than they were in 2024. The research shows that 84% expressed confidence in their fulfillment systems for 2025, compared to the 70% of executives who entered peak season confident last year.

Conditions in the truckload freight market have remained stable this year but coming peak-season shipping activity is likely to test that stability. This is according to some recent data from freight brokerage RXO, which released its latest quarterly Curve report earlier this month. We share the results of that research and what it may mean for pricing and truckload capacity.

 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: DHL Supply Chain

Other links


]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Scott Cornell, vice president of transportation at Travelers. Summer will soon be wrapping up, but the heat of summer will be around for a few more weeks yet, at least. Too much of that heat can destroy food and other products while they are in transit. How can we protect temperature-controlled cargo? We have some tips. 

As we approach peak season, a new survey shows that the supply chain sector is actually feeling more confident in their fulfillment systems for 2025 than they were in 2024. The research shows that 84% expressed confidence in their fulfillment systems for 2025, compared to the 70% of executives who entered peak season confident last year.

Conditions in the truckload freight market have remained stable this year but coming peak-season shipping activity is likely to test that stability. This is according to some recent data from freight brokerage RXO, which released its latest quarterly Curve report earlier this month. We share the results of that research and what it may mean for pricing and truckload capacity.

 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: DHL Supply Chain

Other links


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17756139 Fri, 29 Aug 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1200 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, Travelers, Scott Cornell, food shipments, temperature-controlled cargo, trucking, Deposco, distribution, DHL Supply Chain, peak season, truckload, RXO, 6 34 full false Guest: Chris Steiner of Dematic on installing automation in brownfield facilities; Keeping our highways safe; The rise of humanoid robots Guest: Chris Steiner of Dematic on installing automation in brownfield facilities; Keeping our highways safe; The rise of humanoid robots Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Steiner, senior vice president of product management at Dematic. In the past, automation was often viewed as nice to have. But in these days of customer expectations for speed and shortages of available workers, automation is now a "must have." We often think of automation just being placed into shiny new facilities, but a lot can be done to automate existing legacy facilities. Our guests shares about the benefits of implementations in existing "brownfield" facilities and suggests tips for making them successful. 

The trucking industry is asking the federal government to accelerate recent efforts to ensure safety on the nation’s highways; this is in reaction to a Florida crash involving a freight truck making an illegal U-turn on an interstate. The crash left three people dead. Trucking organizations are asking to suspend states’ authority to issue non-domiciled CDLs (commercial driving licenses), which some states provide to non-U.S. citizens or out-of-state applicants under certain circumstances. The driver involved in the deadly crash had this type of CDL.

Robotics technology has been developing really quickly in recent years, and it’s been finding new applications in logistics. One of the newest areas where this is happening is in humanoid robots, which move around walking on two legs instead of rolling on wheels, and use two arms to grab totes and boxes. This week we saw some news about one of the latest advancements in the area, which is using artificial intelligence to allow them to learn new skills or movements from demonstrations by humans, instead of by following software code.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links


]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Steiner, senior vice president of product management at Dematic. In the past, automation was often viewed as nice to have. But in these days of customer expectations for speed and shortages of available workers, automation is now a "must have." We often think of automation just being placed into shiny new facilities, but a lot can be done to automate existing legacy facilities. Our guests shares about the benefits of implementations in existing "brownfield" facilities and suggests tips for making them successful. 

The trucking industry is asking the federal government to accelerate recent efforts to ensure safety on the nation’s highways; this is in reaction to a Florida crash involving a freight truck making an illegal U-turn on an interstate. The crash left three people dead. Trucking organizations are asking to suspend states’ authority to issue non-domiciled CDLs (commercial driving licenses), which some states provide to non-U.S. citizens or out-of-state applicants under certain circumstances. The driver involved in the deadly crash had this type of CDL.

Robotics technology has been developing really quickly in recent years, and it’s been finding new applications in logistics. One of the newest areas where this is happening is in humanoid robots, which move around walking on two legs instead of rolling on wheels, and use two arms to grab totes and boxes. This week we saw some news about one of the latest advancements in the area, which is using artificial intelligence to allow them to learn new skills or movements from demonstrations by humans, instead of by following software code.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17717246 Fri, 22 Aug 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1282 supply chain, logistics, brownfield installations, warehousing, distribution, Chris Steiner, Dematic, trucking, safety, OOIDA, ATA, CDLs, drivers, robotics, humanoids, artificial intelligence, Boston Dynamics, Toyota Research Institute, Storage Solutions 6 33 full false Guest: Joel Wayment of Cardinal Health on securing temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals; Cargo theft plagues shippers; Our changing food supply chains Guest: Joel Wayment of Cardinal Health on securing temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals; Cargo theft plagues shippers; Our changing food supply chains Our guest on this week's episode is Joel Wayment, VP/GM at Cardinal Health Third Party Logistics and Packaging Solutions. We are definitely in the dog days of summer and in just about every part of the country we are really feeling the heat. While many people like to soak up the sun’s rays, high temperatures are not so welcome for the pharmaceuticals we rely on to stay healthy every day. A lot of drugs have to be kept at strict temperatures to remain effective. But how challenging is it to assure proper conditions as drugs move through our supply chains? Our guest offers his expertise on how to assure the safety of important drugs while transiting summer heat.

Incidents of cargo theft are on the rise. One of the most recent pieces of evidence is a report from supply chain visibility and risk analysis firm Overhaul. The company’s United States Q2-2025 Cargo Theft Report found that cargo theft rose 33% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025. That continues a steady climb in such incidents over the past few years. And they expect thefts to increase in the coming months of peak season.

According to the management consulting firm Kearney, the global food system is breaking away from traditional operating models as companies are struggling to protect their operating margins. Rising costs of food production are having major impacts on the food supply chain. We discuss the problems and possible solutions.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links



]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Joel Wayment, VP/GM at Cardinal Health Third Party Logistics and Packaging Solutions. We are definitely in the dog days of summer and in just about every part of the country we are really feeling the heat. While many people like to soak up the sun’s rays, high temperatures are not so welcome for the pharmaceuticals we rely on to stay healthy every day. A lot of drugs have to be kept at strict temperatures to remain effective. But how challenging is it to assure proper conditions as drugs move through our supply chains? Our guest offers his expertise on how to assure the safety of important drugs while transiting summer heat.

Incidents of cargo theft are on the rise. One of the most recent pieces of evidence is a report from supply chain visibility and risk analysis firm Overhaul. The company’s United States Q2-2025 Cargo Theft Report found that cargo theft rose 33% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025. That continues a steady climb in such incidents over the past few years. And they expect thefts to increase in the coming months of peak season.

According to the management consulting firm Kearney, the global food system is breaking away from traditional operating models as companies are struggling to protect their operating margins. Rising costs of food production are having major impacts on the food supply chain. We discuss the problems and possible solutions.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links



]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17676545 Fri, 15 Aug 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1188 supply chain, logistics, distribution, pharmaceuticals, Joel Wayment, Cardinal Health, cold chain logistics, cargo theft, Overhaul, food supply, Kearney, Storage Solutions 6 32 full false Guest: James Shefelbine of PraxiChain on Union Pacific's proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern; Freight markets stuck in low gear; The health of the logistics industry Guest: James Shefelbine of PraxiChain on Union Pacific's proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern; Freight markets stuck in low gear; The health of the logistics industry Our guest on this week's episode is James Shefelbine, principal at PraxiChain Consulting. Last week it was announced that Union Pacific Railroad has entered into an agreement to acquire Norfolk Southern. Aside from creating a true transcontinental railroad, it greatly would expand the reach of this historic rail company. But not everyone is onboard with the merger. Who is in favor and who is opposed? What’s the likelihood the deal is approved and how might it affect shippers? Our guest offers his expert insights.

For the past three years or so, the U.S. truckload industry has been stuck in a freight recession, with demand weakening quarter after quarter. Now, there’s debate over whether that freight recession may be over, but even if it is, the sector faces a long uphill climb to get back to where it once was. We report on some new statistics and analysis.

Economic activity expanded across the logistics industry in July, driven by strong activity among middle-mile firms that are bearing the brunt of efforts to stay ahead of trade-related uncertainties. That’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI) report, which was released this week. Will the expansion continue or was this activity due mostly to a surge of imports trying to beat tariff deadlines?


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

Join the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.


]]> Our guest on this week's episode is James Shefelbine, principal at PraxiChain Consulting. Last week it was announced that Union Pacific Railroad has entered into an agreement to acquire Norfolk Southern. Aside from creating a true transcontinental railroad, it greatly would expand the reach of this historic rail company. But not everyone is onboard with the merger. Who is in favor and who is opposed? What’s the likelihood the deal is approved and how might it affect shippers? Our guest offers his expert insights.

For the past three years or so, the U.S. truckload industry has been stuck in a freight recession, with demand weakening quarter after quarter. Now, there’s debate over whether that freight recession may be over, but even if it is, the sector faces a long uphill climb to get back to where it once was. We report on some new statistics and analysis.

Economic activity expanded across the logistics industry in July, driven by strong activity among middle-mile firms that are bearing the brunt of efforts to stay ahead of trade-related uncertainties. That’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI) report, which was released this week. Will the expansion continue or was this activity due mostly to a surge of imports trying to beat tariff deadlines?


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

Join the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17636257 Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1297 supply chain, logistics, James Shefelbine, PraxiChain Consulting, railroads, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, freight, trucking, truckload, Class 8 trucks, U.S. Bank, FTR, Logistics Managers' Index, Storage Solutions 6 31 full false Guest: Lisa Anderson of LMA Consulting on how the One Big Beautiful Bill may help manufacturers; A new transcontinental railroad; Preparing for weather extremes Guest: Lisa Anderson of LMA Consulting on how the One Big Beautiful Bill may help manufacturers; A new transcontinental railroad; Preparing for weather extremes Our guest on this week's episode is Lisa Anderson, founder and president of LMA Consulting Group. The One Big Beautiful Bill is now the law of the land. Among the provisions in this expansive legislation are incentives to encourage business investment. But, how will the bill affect our supply chains and will it provide support to grow domestic manufacturing? Our guest offers some insights.

Two of the nation’s major railroads are attempting to create the country’s first coast-to-coast freight railway. On Tuesday, Union Pacific said it had made an offer to acquire Norfolk Southern in an $85 billion cash and stock deal. The acquisition would connect more than 50,000 route miles across 43 states, linking about 100 ports and reaching nearly every corner of North America. Will such a deal be approved, as many industry groups are speaking out against the proposed merger. 

Chief procurement officers have a lot to worry about these days with all of the trade turmoil around the world, but now add another worry to their plates - the risk of extreme weather events. There have always been hurricanes and typhoons, but in recent years the severity of some of those events has gotten worse, with examples in the US of violent floods and fast spreading wildfires. The consulting firm Proxima has issued a report that identifies the five nations that are most vulnerable to extreme weather and climate sourcing risks. We share the list. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series has just started on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Lisa Anderson, founder and president of LMA Consulting Group. The One Big Beautiful Bill is now the law of the land. Among the provisions in this expansive legislation are incentives to encourage business investment. But, how will the bill affect our supply chains and will it provide support to grow domestic manufacturing? Our guest offers some insights.

Two of the nation’s major railroads are attempting to create the country’s first coast-to-coast freight railway. On Tuesday, Union Pacific said it had made an offer to acquire Norfolk Southern in an $85 billion cash and stock deal. The acquisition would connect more than 50,000 route miles across 43 states, linking about 100 ports and reaching nearly every corner of North America. Will such a deal be approved, as many industry groups are speaking out against the proposed merger. 

Chief procurement officers have a lot to worry about these days with all of the trade turmoil around the world, but now add another worry to their plates - the risk of extreme weather events. There have always been hurricanes and typhoons, but in recent years the severity of some of those events has gotten worse, with examples in the US of violent floods and fast spreading wildfires. The consulting firm Proxima has issued a report that identifies the five nations that are most vulnerable to extreme weather and climate sourcing risks. We share the list. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series has just started on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17600199 Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1261 supply chain, logistics, One Big Beautiful Bill, manufacturing, investment, Lisa Anderson, LMA Consulting Group, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, railroads, labor unions, American Chemistry Council, extreme weather, procurement, Proxima, Storage Solutions 6 30 full false Guest: Manish Kapoor of Growth Catalyst Group on how supply chains are handling back-to-school season; Where Girl Scouts and supply chains intersect: Encouraging robots to get along Guest: Manish Kapoor of Growth Catalyst Group on how supply chains are handling back-to-school season; Where Girl Scouts and supply chains intersect: Encouraging robots to get along Our guest on this week's episode is Manish Kapoor, founder and CEO of Growth Catalyst Group. Since we have passed the mid-summer mark of 2025, retailers are now focused on the next dates on the retail calendar – and that’s back to school season. This is traditionally the second busiest season of the retail year. But like everything in supply chains in 2025, this year has not been normal. Our guest helps us find out how retail supply chains are coping and what we can expect over the coming weeks.

A new industry-sponsored program is designed to inspire next generation of supply chain leaders. Girl Scouts of the USA and contract logistics provider DHL Supply Chain have launched the "Solutions Superstar" program to advance critical thinking and problem-solving skills for K-12 girls and to introduce them to supply chain careers. 

A modern distribution center or fulfillment center is often full of automation at many different levels. It might have robots like AMRs and AGVs, dense storage like an AS/RS, and software platforms like an ERP or WMS system. But often, each of those units operates by itself, or it takes orders from just one source, like the WMS software. And that can make it hard for them all to work together as a team. But lately, we’ve been seeing progress in the industry toward fixing that situation.  


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series has just started on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Manish Kapoor, founder and CEO of Growth Catalyst Group. Since we have passed the mid-summer mark of 2025, retailers are now focused on the next dates on the retail calendar – and that’s back to school season. This is traditionally the second busiest season of the retail year. But like everything in supply chains in 2025, this year has not been normal. Our guest helps us find out how retail supply chains are coping and what we can expect over the coming weeks.

A new industry-sponsored program is designed to inspire next generation of supply chain leaders. Girl Scouts of the USA and contract logistics provider DHL Supply Chain have launched the "Solutions Superstar" program to advance critical thinking and problem-solving skills for K-12 girls and to introduce them to supply chain careers. 

A modern distribution center or fulfillment center is often full of automation at many different levels. It might have robots like AMRs and AGVs, dense storage like an AS/RS, and software platforms like an ERP or WMS system. But often, each of those units operates by itself, or it takes orders from just one source, like the WMS software. And that can make it hard for them all to work together as a team. But lately, we’ve been seeing progress in the industry toward fixing that situation.  


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series has just started on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17563884 Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1297 supply chain, logistics, Growth Catalyst Group, Manish Kapoor, retail, back-to-school shopping, consumers, e-commerce, tariffs, DHL Supply Chain, Girl Scouts of the USA, leadership training, AMRs, robotics, VDA5050, Seegrid, BlueBotics, Otto Motors, Mobil 6 29 full false Guest: Zac Rogers of Colorado State University on the uncertain summer for supply chains; The latest on cargo theft; CEOs still think sustainability is good for business Guest: Zac Rogers of Colorado State University on the uncertain summer for supply chains; The latest on cargo theft; CEOs still think sustainability is good for business Our guest on this week's episode is Zac Rogers, associate professor of Supply Chain Management at Colorado State University and the lead author of the monthly Logistics Managers' Index report. This past week a number of economic numbers came out. On Tuesday, The Consumer Price Index showed some rise in inflation, a few major banks also reported solid earnings, and we saw some evidence of strong consumer spending during Prime Days. Yet all of these reports came in the midst of the ongoing tariff and trade uncertainty. Where are supply chains at and where are they going as we begin the second half of 2025? Our guest offers some expert insights.

One topic we've heard a lot about lately is cargo theft. So it’s not surprise that this trend is continuing, but a report that came out this week shared some new details on exactly what thieves are stealing and how they’re doing it.

A new study shows that companies are still focused on sustainability despite a scaling back of ESG oversight since the change of administration in Washington this year. This is a survey from sustainability ratings provider EcoVadis. The key takeaway is that 87% of companies surveyed say they have maintained or increased their investment in business sustainability efforts this year, with many saying they are doing so “behind the scenes” amid growing regulatory debate and uncertainty over the role of those corporate ESG-related programs.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series has just started on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Zac Rogers, associate professor of Supply Chain Management at Colorado State University and the lead author of the monthly Logistics Managers' Index report. This past week a number of economic numbers came out. On Tuesday, The Consumer Price Index showed some rise in inflation, a few major banks also reported solid earnings, and we saw some evidence of strong consumer spending during Prime Days. Yet all of these reports came in the midst of the ongoing tariff and trade uncertainty. Where are supply chains at and where are they going as we begin the second half of 2025? Our guest offers some expert insights.

One topic we've heard a lot about lately is cargo theft. So it’s not surprise that this trend is continuing, but a report that came out this week shared some new details on exactly what thieves are stealing and how they’re doing it.

A new study shows that companies are still focused on sustainability despite a scaling back of ESG oversight since the change of administration in Washington this year. This is a survey from sustainability ratings provider EcoVadis. The key takeaway is that 87% of companies surveyed say they have maintained or increased their investment in business sustainability efforts this year, with many saying they are doing so “behind the scenes” amid growing regulatory debate and uncertainty over the role of those corporate ESG-related programs.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series has just started on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17526829 Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1583 supply chain, logistics, trade policies, tariffs, Zac Rogers, Colorado State University, sustainability, EcoVadis, ESG, cargo theft, CargoNet, Zebra Robotics Automation 6 28 full false Guest: Jimmy Roussel of IDScan.net on preventing warehouse identity fraud; Awards for innovation; The cobot market is set for a growth spurt Guest: Jimmy Roussel of IDScan.net on preventing warehouse identity fraud; Awards for innovation; The cobot market is set for a growth spurt Our guest on this week's episode is Jimmy Roussel, CEO of IDScan.net. Among the problems that supply chains have had to deal with lately is an increasing rise of identity fraud at warehouses and fulfillment centers nationwide. Counterfeit identification is often used by those committing the fraud to get inside the warehouse gate.  Thefts of entire trucks often follow. Our guest discusses the scope of the problem, how it happens, and ways to counteract fraud and theft.

Winners of the International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) Award were announced this past week. The IFOY recognizes the most innovative  technologies of 2025. This year’s technology competition included 49 products on the initial application list, 21 of which made it final round. The entries were then subjected to strict engineering testing and evaluation to determine winners. We reveal who won and the innovative technologies that were honored.

There have been conflicting reports lately about the health of the warehouse automation market, but there is good news for those making and selling  collaborative robots—those are bots that work alongside humans, often referred to as “cobots.” The market for that technology is set to rebound this year following a trough in 2024, according to the latest market outlook report from research firm Interact Analysis.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Suppy Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jimmy Roussel, CEO of IDScan.net. Among the problems that supply chains have had to deal with lately is an increasing rise of identity fraud at warehouses and fulfillment centers nationwide. Counterfeit identification is often used by those committing the fraud to get inside the warehouse gate.  Thefts of entire trucks often follow. Our guest discusses the scope of the problem, how it happens, and ways to counteract fraud and theft.

Winners of the International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) Award were announced this past week. The IFOY recognizes the most innovative  technologies of 2025. This year’s technology competition included 49 products on the initial application list, 21 of which made it final round. The entries were then subjected to strict engineering testing and evaluation to determine winners. We reveal who won and the innovative technologies that were honored.

There have been conflicting reports lately about the health of the warehouse automation market, but there is good news for those making and selling  collaborative robots—those are bots that work alongside humans, often referred to as “cobots.” The market for that technology is set to rebound this year following a trough in 2024, according to the latest market outlook report from research firm Interact Analysis.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Suppy Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17473314 Fri, 11 Jul 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1072 supply chain, distribution, warehousing, identity fraud, freight theft, Jimmy Roussel, IDScan.net, IFOY Awards, International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year Awards, collaborative robots, Interact Analysis, Zebra Robotics, Automation 6 27 full false Guest: Mark Baxa of CSCMP on the legacy of FedEx founder Fred Smith; The continuing debate on autonomous vehicles; Supply chains grapple with geopolitical uncertainty Guest: Mark Baxa of CSCMP on the legacy of FedEx founder Fred Smith; The continuing debate on autonomous vehicles; Supply chains grapple with geopolitical uncertainty Our guest on this week's episode is Mark Baxa, president & CEO of The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, also known as CSCMP. Earlier this week the supply chain industry lost an icon. Fred Smith was the founder of FedEx – a company that has literally revolutionized the delivery business. Our guest discusses how Fred Smith’s vision and business savvy has left lasting impacts on the supply chain industry.  

Autonomous vehicles continue to see wider adoption while fostering more debates on their safety. Most uses are for robotaxis, with some limited applications for hauling freight. However, this week we saw a rally by Teamsters Union members who lobbied legislators in Massachusetts to pass a state law to require human drivers inside these vehicles. That was a reaction to plans by Waymo — the self-driving car company that is a unit of Google’s parent company Alphabet — to start deploying its cars in Massachusetts. 

Senior Editor Victoria Kickham was in Salt Lake City this week at the SMC3 Connections conference. That’s a trucking and supply chain event that takes place each year and draws a crowd of about 500. The conference covered a range of issues, but she says two things really stood out - tariffs/trade and AI. She dives into these two topics in her report.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Mark Baxa, president & CEO of The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, also known as CSCMP. Earlier this week the supply chain industry lost an icon. Fred Smith was the founder of FedEx – a company that has literally revolutionized the delivery business. Our guest discusses how Fred Smith’s vision and business savvy has left lasting impacts on the supply chain industry.  

Autonomous vehicles continue to see wider adoption while fostering more debates on their safety. Most uses are for robotaxis, with some limited applications for hauling freight. However, this week we saw a rally by Teamsters Union members who lobbied legislators in Massachusetts to pass a state law to require human drivers inside these vehicles. That was a reaction to plans by Waymo — the self-driving car company that is a unit of Google’s parent company Alphabet — to start deploying its cars in Massachusetts. 

Senior Editor Victoria Kickham was in Salt Lake City this week at the SMC3 Connections conference. That’s a trucking and supply chain event that takes place each year and draws a crowd of about 500. The conference covered a range of issues, but she says two things really stood out - tariffs/trade and AI. She dives into these two topics in her report.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17410037 Fri, 27 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1263 Supply chain, logistics, CSCMP, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, Mark Baxa, Fred Smith, FedEx, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, Teamsters, LTL freight, SCM3, tariffs, Zebra Robotics Automation 6 26 full false Jorge Gonzalez Henrichsen of the Nearshore Company on USMCA's future; Ensuring safety in the skies; Integrating technologies at our ports Jorge Gonzalez Henrichsen of the Nearshore Company on USMCA's future; Ensuring safety in the skies; Integrating technologies at our ports Our guest on this week's episode is Jorge Gonzalez Henrichsen, co-CEO of The Nearshore Company. It’s now been five years since the USMCA trade agreement was negotiated between the Mexico, Canada, and the United States, replacing NAFTA. In this current time of trade friction, including new tariffs on both Mexico and Canada, what’s still working with USMCA and what’s next for the trade alliance? Our guest offers some insights.

There is an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers in our nation. Recently a new study was delivered to Congress that showed the FAA hired only two-thirds of the air traffic controllers called for by its staffing models. By fiscal year 2024, nearly a third of air traffic control facilities had fallen 10% below model standards and about 22% had fallen 15% below. We discuss why there is a lack of air traffic controllers and what can be done to assure safety in the skies. 

Despite widespread adoption of digital tools and automation technologies, marine terminals around the world face persistent challenges with issues such as data connectivity, system integration, and real-time visibility. New research shows that there are lots of opportunities for real-time, automated data connectivity across terminals. It seems that many terminals have made big technology investments, and the next step is to ensure that their systems connect and all work together.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jorge Gonzalez Henrichsen, co-CEO of The Nearshore Company. It’s now been five years since the USMCA trade agreement was negotiated between the Mexico, Canada, and the United States, replacing NAFTA. In this current time of trade friction, including new tariffs on both Mexico and Canada, what’s still working with USMCA and what’s next for the trade alliance? Our guest offers some insights.

There is an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers in our nation. Recently a new study was delivered to Congress that showed the FAA hired only two-thirds of the air traffic controllers called for by its staffing models. By fiscal year 2024, nearly a third of air traffic control facilities had fallen 10% below model standards and about 22% had fallen 15% below. We discuss why there is a lack of air traffic controllers and what can be done to assure safety in the skies. 

Despite widespread adoption of digital tools and automation technologies, marine terminals around the world face persistent challenges with issues such as data connectivity, system integration, and real-time visibility. New research shows that there are lots of opportunities for real-time, automated data connectivity across terminals. It seems that many terminals have made big technology investments, and the next step is to ensure that their systems connect and all work together.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17370068 Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1285 supply chain, logistics, USMCA, trade agreements, Jorge Gonzalez Henrichsen, The Nearshore Company, air traffic controllers, FAA, Tideworks Technology, maritime, ports, technology, digitalization, Storage Solutions 6 25 full false Guest: Brett Wood of ITA and Toyota on National Forklift Safety Day; When it comes to hiring drivers - act fast!; Manufacturing with AI and automation Guest: Brett Wood of ITA and Toyota on National Forklift Safety Day; When it comes to hiring drivers - act fast!; Manufacturing with AI and automation Our guest on this week's episode is Brett Wood, Chair this year of the Industrial Truck Association (better known as the ITA). In his daytime job, Brett is the President and CEO of Toyota Material Handling North America. This past Tuesday, the material handling industry recognized the 12th annual National Forklift Safety Day. Sponsored by ITA, the highlight of the day was a series of presentations on safety held at the National Press Club in Washington DC. Wood speaks about the event held this week and the importance and impacts of safety programs.

Carriers looking to fill driver positions need to act faster when they identify candidates and ensure that their hiring process is efficient, according to a new report from truck driving technology platform Tenstreet. They found that carriers in their network that responded to driver applications within five minutes see a 6.2% hiring rate, which is nearly double the platform average of 3.7%.—so that speaks to the need for fast action. 

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has launched a new program called the Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM). The goal is to help transform the nation’s industrial base by advancing the future of “new manufacturing,” alongside ideas in workforce training, advanced technologies, and industry collaboration. The initiative includes a group of six founding industry consortium members, who are Amgen, Flex, GE Vernova, PTC, Sanofi, and Siemens. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Brett Wood, Chair this year of the Industrial Truck Association (better known as the ITA). In his daytime job, Brett is the President and CEO of Toyota Material Handling North America. This past Tuesday, the material handling industry recognized the 12th annual National Forklift Safety Day. Sponsored by ITA, the highlight of the day was a series of presentations on safety held at the National Press Club in Washington DC. Wood speaks about the event held this week and the importance and impacts of safety programs.

Carriers looking to fill driver positions need to act faster when they identify candidates and ensure that their hiring process is efficient, according to a new report from truck driving technology platform Tenstreet. They found that carriers in their network that responded to driver applications within five minutes see a 6.2% hiring rate, which is nearly double the platform average of 3.7%.—so that speaks to the need for fast action. 

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has launched a new program called the Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM). The goal is to help transform the nation’s industrial base by advancing the future of “new manufacturing,” alongside ideas in workforce training, advanced technologies, and industry collaboration. The initiative includes a group of six founding industry consortium members, who are Amgen, Flex, GE Vernova, PTC, Sanofi, and Siemens. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17331747 Fri, 13 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1401 supply chain, logistics, Industrial Truck Association, ITA, forklifts, National Forklift Safety Day, Brett Wood, Toyota Material Handling North America, trucking, hiring, drivers, Tenstreet, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, manufacturing, artificial 6 24 full false Guest: Michael Needham of Efficio on restoring pharmaceutical manufacturing to the U.S.; The latest LMI measure on the health of the industry; How safety programs are lowering injuries but seeing higher costs Guest: Michael Needham of Efficio on restoring pharmaceutical manufacturing to the U.S.; The latest LMI measure on the health of the industry; How safety programs are lowering injuries but seeing higher costs Our guest on this week's episode is Michael Needham, principal procurement & supply chain at Efficio Consulting. Among the flurry of executive orders issued recently by the White House is one aimed at restoring pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities here in the U.S. Currently most drugs and ingredients are manufactured in China and India. How will such a move affect supply chains? Our guest offers his views on what can be manufactured here easily and what could be more difficult.

Measuring the health of our supply chains, the Logistics Manager’s Index came out on Tuesday, showing an expansion in logistics activity in May. Logistics expanded for the second straight month, marked by a mix of slowing inventory levels and rising costs across the board, researchers said. We look at the specific numbers and what they mean.

This week we saw a study on workplace injuries. This report came from the Travelers Companies. It found that the number of workplace injuries overall continues to decline, although the costs associated with them are climbing. We dive into some of the details of the report and how emphasizing safety can affect the workplace. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Michael Needham, principal procurement & supply chain at Efficio Consulting. Among the flurry of executive orders issued recently by the White House is one aimed at restoring pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities here in the U.S. Currently most drugs and ingredients are manufactured in China and India. How will such a move affect supply chains? Our guest offers his views on what can be manufactured here easily and what could be more difficult.

Measuring the health of our supply chains, the Logistics Manager’s Index came out on Tuesday, showing an expansion in logistics activity in May. Logistics expanded for the second straight month, marked by a mix of slowing inventory levels and rising costs across the board, researchers said. We look at the specific numbers and what they mean.

This week we saw a study on workplace injuries. This report came from the Travelers Companies. It found that the number of workplace injuries overall continues to decline, although the costs associated with them are climbing. We dive into some of the details of the report and how emphasizing safety can affect the workplace. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17293684 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1015 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, Efficio, Michael Needham, pharmaceutical manufacturing, drugs, Logistics Managers' Index, economics, tariffs, workplace injuries, safety, Travelers, Storage Solutions 6 23 full false Guest: Ian Williams of Orkin on how to think like a mouse; Global exporters chime in on tariffs; New rules for forklifts in California Guest: Ian Williams of Orkin on how to think like a mouse; Global exporters chime in on tariffs; New rules for forklifts in California Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Williams, Technical Services Manager at Orkin. He helps us to understand a subject that few people want to talk about –  the pests that often overrun facilities. We are talking mice, rats, bugs, and other critters that get in and destroy products, contaminate areas, and just cause a general nuisance. Williams has some great ideas on how to keep them out of our buildings – and if they get in – to deal with them for good. Often it involves thinking like a mouse.

Globally, nearly 60% of companies expect a negative impact from the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariff rollout, which happened back on April 2. That’s according to a survey of 4,500 companies from around the world, including the United States, conducted in March and April by international credit insurer Allianz Trade. 

We got some clarity this week about one important aspect of logistics, which is forklifts. This ended a long debate about whether propane-fueled forklifts could operate in warehouses in the state of California, and it had been caught up in a lawsuit. To cut to the chase, propane forklifts will be allowed. We share the details of the new agreement and what it means for California's attempts to have zero-emission vehicles operating in many parts of our supply chains.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Williams, Technical Services Manager at Orkin. He helps us to understand a subject that few people want to talk about –  the pests that often overrun facilities. We are talking mice, rats, bugs, and other critters that get in and destroy products, contaminate areas, and just cause a general nuisance. Williams has some great ideas on how to keep them out of our buildings – and if they get in – to deal with them for good. Often it involves thinking like a mouse.

Globally, nearly 60% of companies expect a negative impact from the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariff rollout, which happened back on April 2. That’s according to a survey of 4,500 companies from around the world, including the United States, conducted in March and April by international credit insurer Allianz Trade. 

We got some clarity this week about one important aspect of logistics, which is forklifts. This ended a long debate about whether propane-fueled forklifts could operate in warehouses in the state of California, and it had been caught up in a lawsuit. To cut to the chase, propane forklifts will be allowed. We share the details of the new agreement and what it means for California's attempts to have zero-emission vehicles operating in many parts of our supply chains.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17254469 Fri, 30 May 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1530 supply chain, logistics, Orkin, Ian Williams, pest control, warehouses, distribution, tariffs, exporters, Allianz Trade, California CARB, propane, forklifts, Western Propane Gas Association, Storage Solutions 6 22 full false Guest: John Lash of e2open on Chinese tariff pause; How shippers are planning their next 90 days; Remote job opportunities in logistics Guest: John Lash of e2open on Chinese tariff pause; How shippers are planning their next 90 days; Remote job opportunities in logistics Our guest on this week's episode is John Lash, group vice president of strategy at e2open. We now have a pause in tariffs with China – or at least a sizable reduction in the amount of those tariffs compared to what was in place two weeks ago in the ongoing tariff wars. How are supply chains reacting and where do we go from here? Will we see another surge in imports during the 90 day pause and how do companies prepare for back-to-school and holiday seasons? Our guest share his insights.

Shippers and importers need to be able to plan their shipments over the busy summer months, but there is little certainty to help them plan. We look at how companies are making adjustments during the Chinese tariff pause and how that may affect their planning for the rest of the year.

Today, many workers in general are facing “return to office” mandates, but frontline workers in some industries, including logistics, are seeing an increase in opportunities to work from home. This information comes from a survey by resume-building platform Resume Now and frontline workforce hiring company Talroo. We look at what jobs in logistics are seeing increases in remote work opportunities.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Kardex

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is John Lash, group vice president of strategy at e2open. We now have a pause in tariffs with China – or at least a sizable reduction in the amount of those tariffs compared to what was in place two weeks ago in the ongoing tariff wars. How are supply chains reacting and where do we go from here? Will we see another surge in imports during the 90 day pause and how do companies prepare for back-to-school and holiday seasons? Our guest share his insights.

Shippers and importers need to be able to plan their shipments over the busy summer months, but there is little certainty to help them plan. We look at how companies are making adjustments during the Chinese tariff pause and how that may affect their planning for the rest of the year.

Today, many workers in general are facing “return to office” mandates, but frontline workers in some industries, including logistics, are seeing an increase in opportunities to work from home. This information comes from a survey by resume-building platform Resume Now and frontline workforce hiring company Talroo. We look at what jobs in logistics are seeing increases in remote work opportunities.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Kardex

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17215738 Fri, 23 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1218 supply chain, logistics, China tariffs, tariff pause, John Lash, e2open, Freightos, Everstream Analytics, labor, remote work, Resume Now, Talroo, Kardex 6 21 full false Guest: Hamilton Galloway of Oxford Economics on the economic impacts of the forklift industry; How AI is helping logistics employees; Supply chain optimization see higher adoption rates Guest: Hamilton Galloway of Oxford Economics on the economic impacts of the forklift industry; How AI is helping logistics employees; Supply chain optimization see higher adoption rates Our guest on this week's episode is Hamilton Galloway, head of U.S. consultancy at Oxford Economics. Many of our listeners use forklifts in their supply chain operations every day. They really are the workhorses for moving products within facilities. But you might be surprised at the impact that the forklift industry makes on the overall U.S. economy. Recently the Industrial Truck Association, the industry organization that represents the forklift industry, partnered with Oxford Economics to evaluate those economic impacts. We share the remarkable numbers of the industry's contributions to GDP, jobs, taxes, and more.

Logistics companies are taking a hard look at how artificial intelligence can help their operations. This week you saw how AI is having an effect on overworked logistics employees. Are those effects good or bad? 

A new survey of more than 300 supply chain decision makers found that companies are prioritizing technology investments, compliance, and outsourced services to optimize their supply chains and adapt to changing regulations—specifically as they navigate today’s evolving trade and tariffs landscape. We share some of the interesting findings.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Kardex

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Hamilton Galloway, head of U.S. consultancy at Oxford Economics. Many of our listeners use forklifts in their supply chain operations every day. They really are the workhorses for moving products within facilities. But you might be surprised at the impact that the forklift industry makes on the overall U.S. economy. Recently the Industrial Truck Association, the industry organization that represents the forklift industry, partnered with Oxford Economics to evaluate those economic impacts. We share the remarkable numbers of the industry's contributions to GDP, jobs, taxes, and more.

Logistics companies are taking a hard look at how artificial intelligence can help their operations. This week you saw how AI is having an effect on overworked logistics employees. Are those effects good or bad? 

A new survey of more than 300 supply chain decision makers found that companies are prioritizing technology investments, compliance, and outsourced services to optimize their supply chains and adapt to changing regulations—specifically as they navigate today’s evolving trade and tariffs landscape. We share some of the interesting findings.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Kardex

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17164363 Fri, 16 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1272 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, Industrial Truck Association, Oxford Economics, Hamilton Galloway, artificial intelligence, AI, labor, ActivTrak, supply chain optimization, tariffs, RSM, Kardex 6 20 full false Guest: Keith Peterson of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association on new freight classifications; The downsides of stockpiling inventories; Small businesses are bucking the odds Guest: Keith Peterson of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association on new freight classifications; The downsides of stockpiling inventories; Small businesses are bucking the odds Our guest on this week's episode is Keith Peterson, director of operations at The National Motor Freight Traffic Association. For many years, less-than-truckload motor freight has been classified by a complex and rather outdated system. That is about to change – starting in July the industry will begin listing freight commodities in a system that is more condensed and modernized. But, what will this new freight classification system mean for both carriers and shippers? Our guest explains.

Many companies have been stockpiling extra inventory ahead of the implementation of new tariffs, but a new report this week shows that there can be possible downsides to that strategy. We share what they are and who is affected.

Despite the economic uncertainty, a new report from DHL Express shows that small and mid-sized companies seem to be beating the odds. DHL Express surveyed more than 400 customers—all small or mid-sized businesses in the United States—and found that despite the prevailing economic turmoil, most are confident in their business outlook.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Kardex

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Keith Peterson, director of operations at The National Motor Freight Traffic Association. For many years, less-than-truckload motor freight has been classified by a complex and rather outdated system. That is about to change – starting in July the industry will begin listing freight commodities in a system that is more condensed and modernized. But, what will this new freight classification system mean for both carriers and shippers? Our guest explains.

Many companies have been stockpiling extra inventory ahead of the implementation of new tariffs, but a new report this week shows that there can be possible downsides to that strategy. We share what they are and who is affected.

Despite the economic uncertainty, a new report from DHL Express shows that small and mid-sized companies seem to be beating the odds. DHL Express surveyed more than 400 customers—all small or mid-sized businesses in the United States—and found that despite the prevailing economic turmoil, most are confident in their business outlook.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Kardex

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17131603 Fri, 09 May 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1130 supply chain, logistics, freight classification, LTL shipping, National Motor Freight Traffic Association, NMFTA, Keith Peterson, tariffs, imports, warehousing, inventories, Deposco, DHL Express, small business outlook, Kardex 6 19 full false Guest: Ram Ben Tzion of Publican on the end to the De Mimimus exemption; Freight fraud is on the rise; New requirements for truckers Guest: Ram Ben Tzion of Publican on the end to the De Mimimus exemption; Freight fraud is on the rise; New requirements for truckers Our guest on this week's episode is Ram Ben Tzion, the founder and CEO of Publican. Today marks the end of the De Minimus tax exemption for many imported goods. If you are not familiar with that exemption, it was designed to reduce the import paper work and tax duty collecting for low-value goods. But as a result, there were claims of abuse, unfair competition, and that the exemption allowed drug traffickers to easily import illegal drugs. So, starting today, there are new rules. Our guest shares the details and how supply chains will be affected. 

This week, the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) released a report  showing that freight brokers nationwide are facing some pretty staggering losses due to cargo theft and what they say are “increasingly complex fraud schemes.” We examine the most common scheme and what can be done to reduce fraud and cargo theft.

This week the administration ordered that all truck drivers be proficient in understanding the English language in order to drive a truck in the United States. The new order rescinds the previous guidance issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which back in 2016 had relaxed the enforcement of existing English proficiency standards. Drivers found not to be in compliance will automatically declared "out of service." Exactly how it will be enforced and what the specifics are remain to be seen.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Kardex

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ram Ben Tzion, the founder and CEO of Publican. Today marks the end of the De Minimus tax exemption for many imported goods. If you are not familiar with that exemption, it was designed to reduce the import paper work and tax duty collecting for low-value goods. But as a result, there were claims of abuse, unfair competition, and that the exemption allowed drug traffickers to easily import illegal drugs. So, starting today, there are new rules. Our guest shares the details and how supply chains will be affected. 

This week, the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) released a report  showing that freight brokers nationwide are facing some pretty staggering losses due to cargo theft and what they say are “increasingly complex fraud schemes.” We examine the most common scheme and what can be done to reduce fraud and cargo theft.

This week the administration ordered that all truck drivers be proficient in understanding the English language in order to drive a truck in the United States. The new order rescinds the previous guidance issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which back in 2016 had relaxed the enforcement of existing English proficiency standards. Drivers found not to be in compliance will automatically declared "out of service." Exactly how it will be enforced and what the specifics are remain to be seen.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Kardex

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17087399 Fri, 02 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1131 supply chain, logistics, transportation, Ram Ben Tzion, Publican, De Minimus, import duties, cargo fraud, cargo theft, Transportation Intermediaries Association, brokerage, trucking, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Kardex 6 18 full false Guest: Matthew Haber of Cofactr on how tariffs will affect manufacturers; The case for being resilient; New charges to be imposed on Chinese vessels Guest: Matthew Haber of Cofactr on how tariffs will affect manufacturers; The case for being resilient; New charges to be imposed on Chinese vessels Our guest on this week's episode is Matthew Haber, the CEO and co-founder of Cofactr. Recent surveys show that both consumers and business leaders don’t think tariffs are a good thing. In both cases they feel this economic policy is leading us to higher prices and a recession. Manufacturers in particular are trying to figure out what to do next. And our guest today looks at the impacts of the changing U.S. trade policies on manufacturing. 

A study out this week confirms that some of the actions supply chain professionals have taken in recent years to build up their companies’ resilience have worked – most companies say they are confident in their ability to manage disruptions these days. However, a good portion of those supply chain pros also point to some lingering problems – particularly when it comes to supply chain visibility. 

This week we heard about another type of fee being applied by the Trump Administration on global trade, which is a new set of fees starting in October that will affect cargo vessels and container ships that are built, owned, or operated by Chinese companies. The White House says this has to do with unfair foreign practices affecting U.S. commerce. We dig into what the supply chain industry says about these new fees. Will they help or hurt U.S. businesses?


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: ID Label

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Matthew Haber, the CEO and co-founder of Cofactr. Recent surveys show that both consumers and business leaders don’t think tariffs are a good thing. In both cases they feel this economic policy is leading us to higher prices and a recession. Manufacturers in particular are trying to figure out what to do next. And our guest today looks at the impacts of the changing U.S. trade policies on manufacturing. 

A study out this week confirms that some of the actions supply chain professionals have taken in recent years to build up their companies’ resilience have worked – most companies say they are confident in their ability to manage disruptions these days. However, a good portion of those supply chain pros also point to some lingering problems – particularly when it comes to supply chain visibility. 

This week we heard about another type of fee being applied by the Trump Administration on global trade, which is a new set of fees starting in October that will affect cargo vessels and container ships that are built, owned, or operated by Chinese companies. The White House says this has to do with unfair foreign practices affecting U.S. commerce. We dig into what the supply chain industry says about these new fees. Will they help or hurt U.S. businesses?


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: ID Label

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-17043304 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1147 supply chain, logistics, tariffs, manufacturing, Matthew Haber, Cofactr, resilience, visibility, GSI US, cargo shipping, China, ports, maritime, American Association of Port Authorities, World Shipping Council, ID Label 6 17 full false Guest: Ken Ramoutar of Lucas Systems on how technology can help with warehouse challenges; How tariffs affect consumer spending; Pay bumps in logistics Guest: Ken Ramoutar of Lucas Systems on how technology can help with warehouse challenges; How tariffs affect consumer spending; Pay bumps in logistics Our guest on this week's episode is Ken Ramoutar, Chief Marketing Officer at Lucas Systems.  As supply chains adjust to changing conditions, they will continue to need tools to increase flexibility, speed, and productivity. That’s where technology can come to the rescue. Our guest offers insights into how new technologies can help operators address the many challenges they face today.

Most economists are predicting that an uncertain market like this one means individual shoppers will cut back on discretionary spending - things like luxury goods and travel. Instead, they’ll save up their money because most models predict the tariffs will cause higher prices on goods. And that may already be happening, but this week we saw two measures that showed that many consumers are actually buying more goods in certain sectors. We explain why.

Despite the economic uncertainty we’ve been experiencing, wages for truck drivers and warehouse staff surged in the first quarter amid strong demand for frontline workers nationwide. This is according to a report from two employment industry companies – resume-building platform Resume Now and talent-matching platform Talroo. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: ID Label

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ken Ramoutar, Chief Marketing Officer at Lucas Systems.  As supply chains adjust to changing conditions, they will continue to need tools to increase flexibility, speed, and productivity. That’s where technology can come to the rescue. Our guest offers insights into how new technologies can help operators address the many challenges they face today.

Most economists are predicting that an uncertain market like this one means individual shoppers will cut back on discretionary spending - things like luxury goods and travel. Instead, they’ll save up their money because most models predict the tariffs will cause higher prices on goods. And that may already be happening, but this week we saw two measures that showed that many consumers are actually buying more goods in certain sectors. We explain why.

Despite the economic uncertainty we’ve been experiencing, wages for truck drivers and warehouse staff surged in the first quarter amid strong demand for frontline workers nationwide. This is according to a report from two employment industry companies – resume-building platform Resume Now and talent-matching platform Talroo. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: ID Label

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16996718 Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1101 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, technology, automation, Lucas Systems, Ken Ramoutar, consumer spending, National Retail Federation, SymphonyAI, wages, Resume Now, Talroo, employment, ID Label 6 16 full false Guest: Will Eadie on the state of the manufacturing workforce; Safety first in the warehouse; A different approach to AI Guest: Will Eadie on the state of the manufacturing workforce; Safety first in the warehouse; A different approach to AI Our guest on this week's episode is Will Eadie, chief strategy officer at WorkJam. As the United States works to ramp up its manufacturing base, one area remains a problem – and that is finding good workers to provide the needed manufacturing labor. What are the challenges in hiring for manufacturing and how do companies retain good workers? Our guest offers his insight and potential strategies.

Warehouses can often be dangerous places to work. People and machines are constantly moving around. Products are being lifted overhead in an environment where speed it essential. Sadly, all of this movement can occasionally lead to accidents. We share some new research into what causes accidents in warehouses and how good training and awareness are needed to prevent them.

We write a lot in DC Velocity about how artificial intelligence is making slow but steady inroads in supply chains. Most of the focus has been on the technology itself and not so much the people working with it. However, CMA CGM, the big French ocean container carrier and logistics provider, is taking a different approach to AI implementation.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: ID Label

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Will Eadie, chief strategy officer at WorkJam. As the United States works to ramp up its manufacturing base, one area remains a problem – and that is finding good workers to provide the needed manufacturing labor. What are the challenges in hiring for manufacturing and how do companies retain good workers? Our guest offers his insight and potential strategies.

Warehouses can often be dangerous places to work. People and machines are constantly moving around. Products are being lifted overhead in an environment where speed it essential. Sadly, all of this movement can occasionally lead to accidents. We share some new research into what causes accidents in warehouses and how good training and awareness are needed to prevent them.

We write a lot in DC Velocity about how artificial intelligence is making slow but steady inroads in supply chains. Most of the focus has been on the technology itself and not so much the people working with it. However, CMA CGM, the big French ocean container carrier and logistics provider, is taking a different approach to AI implementation.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: ID Label

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16962387 Fri, 11 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1242 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, labor, WorkJam, Will Eadie, safety, IntellaParts, artificial intelligence, CMA CGM, Mistral AI, ID Label 6 15 full false Guest: Dr. Robert Sroufe of Chatham University on the future of sustainable supply chains; The industry reacts to the new tariffs; the latest Logitics Managers' Index Guest: Dr. Robert Sroufe of Chatham University on the future of sustainable supply chains; The industry reacts to the new tariffs; the latest Logitics Managers' Index Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Robert Sroufe, professor of sustainability at the Falk School of Sustainability & Environment at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. Supply chains are among the largest users of our world’s energy. Yet our industry is one of the most advanced in advocating for sustainability. But as political winds shift dramatically in Washington, many environmental policies may be on the chopping block. Where do our industry’s efforts lie going forward? Our guest has some insights and suggestions to better our supply chains while reducing their negative impacts on the environment.

The White House termed Wednesday as Liberation Day – the day the administration announced all of the new tariffs. But it seems that supply chain leaders are feeling more shackled than liberated by the tariffs. We report on what leading supply chain groups, researchers, and economists are saying about how the tariffs will affect supply chain operations and world trade.

This week the March Logistics Managers’ Index report emphasized all the volatility we’ve been observing in the economy. Economic activity in logistics expanded in March, but at a much slower rate compared to the first two months of the year. We look at the numbers and what trends they may reveal about the health of our supply chain industry.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: ID Label

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Robert Sroufe, professor of sustainability at the Falk School of Sustainability & Environment at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. Supply chains are among the largest users of our world’s energy. Yet our industry is one of the most advanced in advocating for sustainability. But as political winds shift dramatically in Washington, many environmental policies may be on the chopping block. Where do our industry’s efforts lie going forward? Our guest has some insights and suggestions to better our supply chains while reducing their negative impacts on the environment.

The White House termed Wednesday as Liberation Day – the day the administration announced all of the new tariffs. But it seems that supply chain leaders are feeling more shackled than liberated by the tariffs. We report on what leading supply chain groups, researchers, and economists are saying about how the tariffs will affect supply chain operations and world trade.

This week the March Logistics Managers’ Index report emphasized all the volatility we’ve been observing in the economy. Economic activity in logistics expanded in March, but at a much slower rate compared to the first two months of the year. We look at the numbers and what trends they may reveal about the health of our supply chain industry.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: ID Label

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16917597 Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1417 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, Dr. Robert Sroufe, Chatham University, sustainability, tariffs, Prestige Economics, Moodys, Kearney, National Retail Federation, RILA, The National Association of Manufacturers, Logistics Managers' Index, transportati 6 14 full false Guest: Danny Ramon of Overhaul on the rise of cargo theft; The growing use of in-cab video; Prioritizing supply chain resilience Guest: Danny Ramon of Overhaul on the rise of cargo theft; The growing use of in-cab video; Prioritizing supply chain resilience Our guest on this week's episode is Danny Ramon, director of intelligence and response at Overhaul Risk Advisory Services. Cargo theft continues to be a problem for transportation companies. Sophisticated organized thieves target goods in transit – from high valued electronics to even a recent shipment of eggs. How can shipping companies prevent and discourage theft of their goods? Our guest discusses the growing incidents of cargo theft and what can be done to prevent them.

We’ve seen increasing use of technology inside truck cabs in recent years, with the rise of tools like electronic logging devices (ELDs), GPS locators, and lots of smartphone apps. But one of the technologies that’s been more challenging to adapt has been dash-cams. Laws vary from state to state on what is permissible to capture and record on camera devices. However, there are now some new technologies that can help to overcome the patchwork of state laws and still provide valuable information that these dash cameras can provide.

A report from supply chain software company Cleo found that supply chain resilience is rising in stature among business leaders, ranking right up there with cybersecurity concerns. The company’s 2025 Global Supply Chain Executive Report shows that 83% of executives surveyed said that supply chain resilience is as critical to their companies as cybersecurity is, with many saying they are turning to technology to boost resilience.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Danny Ramon, director of intelligence and response at Overhaul Risk Advisory Services. Cargo theft continues to be a problem for transportation companies. Sophisticated organized thieves target goods in transit – from high valued electronics to even a recent shipment of eggs. How can shipping companies prevent and discourage theft of their goods? Our guest discusses the growing incidents of cargo theft and what can be done to prevent them.

We’ve seen increasing use of technology inside truck cabs in recent years, with the rise of tools like electronic logging devices (ELDs), GPS locators, and lots of smartphone apps. But one of the technologies that’s been more challenging to adapt has been dash-cams. Laws vary from state to state on what is permissible to capture and record on camera devices. However, there are now some new technologies that can help to overcome the patchwork of state laws and still provide valuable information that these dash cameras can provide.

A report from supply chain software company Cleo found that supply chain resilience is rising in stature among business leaders, ranking right up there with cybersecurity concerns. The company’s 2025 Global Supply Chain Executive Report shows that 83% of executives surveyed said that supply chain resilience is as critical to their companies as cybersecurity is, with many saying they are turning to technology to boost resilience.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16876450 Fri, 28 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1071 supply chain, logistics, distribution, transportation, cargo theft, Danny Ramon, Overhaul Risk Advisory Services, Dash-cams, Lytx, Cleo, supply chain resilience, Zebra Robotics Automation 6 13 full false Guest: Andrei Quinn-Barabanov of Moody’s on supply chains five years after Covid hit us; Integrating diverse automation; New battery charging and energy solutions Guest: Andrei Quinn-Barabanov of Moody’s on supply chains five years after Covid hit us; Integrating diverse automation; New battery charging and energy solutions Our guest on this week's episode is Andrei Quinn-Barabanov, Supply Chain Industry Practice Lead and Senior Director with Moody’s. It was five years ago this month that our world was rocked with the Covid-19 virus. That is when businesses and schools closed and we were all stuck at home waiting for things to get better. All the while, supply chains kept us fed and happy at home, for the most part. Our supply chains had to adjust and they are still feeling the effects of the pandemic five years later. Our guest reflects on how supply chains reacted then and how they now will never be the same.

Most of our editorial staff was at ProMat 2025 this past week in Chicago – a huge supply chain show and the largest material handling exhibition in North America.  And everywhere we looked, there were robotics and automation systems to be seen. Most distribution facilities and factories will eventually end up with a number of different types of automation and robotics within their facilities. So, the big challenge is to integrate all of these disparate systems to play nice with one another. We look at a couple of "orchestration" solutions on display at ProMat.

All of the automation solutions exhibited at ProMat take power. In this episode, we look at some innovative energy solutions that keep those automation systems operating at peak performance. We also discuss an energy management solution that can potentially lower the utility bills of facilities.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Andrei Quinn-Barabanov, Supply Chain Industry Practice Lead and Senior Director with Moody’s. It was five years ago this month that our world was rocked with the Covid-19 virus. That is when businesses and schools closed and we were all stuck at home waiting for things to get better. All the while, supply chains kept us fed and happy at home, for the most part. Our supply chains had to adjust and they are still feeling the effects of the pandemic five years later. Our guest reflects on how supply chains reacted then and how they now will never be the same.

Most of our editorial staff was at ProMat 2025 this past week in Chicago – a huge supply chain show and the largest material handling exhibition in North America.  And everywhere we looked, there were robotics and automation systems to be seen. Most distribution facilities and factories will eventually end up with a number of different types of automation and robotics within their facilities. So, the big challenge is to integrate all of these disparate systems to play nice with one another. We look at a couple of "orchestration" solutions on display at ProMat.

All of the automation solutions exhibited at ProMat take power. In this episode, we look at some innovative energy solutions that keep those automation systems operating at peak performance. We also discuss an energy management solution that can potentially lower the utility bills of facilities.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16836034 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1543 supply chain, logistics, distribution, Covid Pandemic, risk management, Moody's, Andrei Quinn-Barabanov, robotics, automation, orchestration, Dexory, GreyMatter, Movu, AutoStore, Ocado, EnerSys, Concentric, Zebra Robotics Automation 6 12 full false Guest: Erin Mittlestaedt, CEO of the FruitGuys, discusses the impact of tariffs on America's farmers; Global trade growth expected to slow; Chief supply chain officers are not prepared for tariff impacts Guest: Erin Mittlestaedt, CEO of the FruitGuys, discusses the impact of tariffs on America's farmers; Global trade growth expected to slow; Chief supply chain officers are not prepared for tariff impacts Our guest on this week's episode is Erin Mittlestaedt, the CEO of the FruitGuys. The world continues to react to the trade disruptions caused by the Trump administration’s new tariffs. Of course, tariffs don’t only mean that we pay more for imports, it also affects exports because of the retaliatory tariffs imposed by other countries that we trade with. Farmers will be among those hit the hardest by retaliatory tariffs. They may limit export markets and if other farmers are not exporting as much also that means the market will flood with more domestic products, reducing the income. Our guest shares what the new trade policies will mean for these farmers.  

Despite anticipating geopolitical shifts, Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs) remain largely unprepared for their impact. That’s according to a recent report from British management consulting firm Egon Zehnder. The company’s latest CSCO report surveying supply chain business leaders found that their jobs have many competing priorities demanding their attention. As a result, just 15% of CSCOs surveyed reported feeling prepared for the impact of trade policy changes such as tariffs.

Increasing tariffs essentially means adding a tax on U.S. companies that import goods. As a result, these companies either source less of their products internationally or consumers will buy less of them because of higher prices on the shelves. Either way, freight carriers won’t be happy because they’ll be hauling less cargo. A new report shows the possible impacts of the tariff war on the carrier community and it also speaks of the probability that growth in international trade will slow this year.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Erin Mittlestaedt, the CEO of the FruitGuys. The world continues to react to the trade disruptions caused by the Trump administration’s new tariffs. Of course, tariffs don’t only mean that we pay more for imports, it also affects exports because of the retaliatory tariffs imposed by other countries that we trade with. Farmers will be among those hit the hardest by retaliatory tariffs. They may limit export markets and if other farmers are not exporting as much also that means the market will flood with more domestic products, reducing the income. Our guest shares what the new trade policies will mean for these farmers.  

Despite anticipating geopolitical shifts, Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs) remain largely unprepared for their impact. That’s according to a recent report from British management consulting firm Egon Zehnder. The company’s latest CSCO report surveying supply chain business leaders found that their jobs have many competing priorities demanding their attention. As a result, just 15% of CSCOs surveyed reported feeling prepared for the impact of trade policy changes such as tariffs.

Increasing tariffs essentially means adding a tax on U.S. companies that import goods. As a result, these companies either source less of their products internationally or consumers will buy less of them because of higher prices on the shelves. Either way, freight carriers won’t be happy because they’ll be hauling less cargo. A new report shows the possible impacts of the tariff war on the carrier community and it also speaks of the probability that growth in international trade will slow this year.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16792859 Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1050 supply chain, logistics, transportation, distribution, The FruitGuys, Erin Mittlestaedt, farm exports, agriculture, tariffs, Egon Zehnder, DHL, global trade, Zebra Robotics Automation 6 11 full false Guest: Rosemary Coates of the Reshoring Institute on whether trade wars will lead to reshoring manufacturing; a week of roller coaster tariffs; The health of the supply chain industry Guest: Rosemary Coates of the Reshoring Institute on whether trade wars will lead to reshoring manufacturing; a week of roller coaster tariffs; The health of the supply chain industry Our guest on this week's episode is Rosemary Coates, executive director of the Reshoring Institute. We’ve seen a roller coaster week involving tariffs. First they are on, then exceptions, then some reprieve. It makes one dizzy. But one of the stated aims of the new administration for establishing all of these tariffs is to force more manufacturing to return to domestic shores. Is that a workable strategy? Our guest offers some insights into reshoring initiatives and what industries are best suited to returning their manufacturing to America.

Adding to the theme of this week's episode, we look back at the tariff directives this week for international trade. What actually happened and how did the week end? We also discuss how this appears to be more of a negotiating strategy based on the president's past history of negotiating deals. Yet in the middle of all of it, how can supply chain managers properly plan and not add the costs often associated with uncertainty?

Despite the chaos, supply chains seem to be holding their own, as reflected in the monthly numbers reported this week in the Logistics Managers' Index. Rising inventory levels boosted activity across the transportation and warehousing industries. This occurred because companies were replenishing inventory following the holiday peak season, but also because they were rushing to import products ahead of tariffs. We break down the numbers and what they may predict for future supply chain health.



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Rosemary Coates, executive director of the Reshoring Institute. We’ve seen a roller coaster week involving tariffs. First they are on, then exceptions, then some reprieve. It makes one dizzy. But one of the stated aims of the new administration for establishing all of these tariffs is to force more manufacturing to return to domestic shores. Is that a workable strategy? Our guest offers some insights into reshoring initiatives and what industries are best suited to returning their manufacturing to America.

Adding to the theme of this week's episode, we look back at the tariff directives this week for international trade. What actually happened and how did the week end? We also discuss how this appears to be more of a negotiating strategy based on the president's past history of negotiating deals. Yet in the middle of all of it, how can supply chain managers properly plan and not add the costs often associated with uncertainty?

Despite the chaos, supply chains seem to be holding their own, as reflected in the monthly numbers reported this week in the Logistics Managers' Index. Rising inventory levels boosted activity across the transportation and warehousing industries. This occurred because companies were replenishing inventory following the holiday peak season, but also because they were rushing to import products ahead of tariffs. We break down the numbers and what they may predict for future supply chain health.



Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16752332 Fri, 07 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0500 1521 supply chain, logistics, transportation, warehousing, tariffs, trade wars, reshoring, The Reshoring Institute, Rosemary Coates, Logistics' Mangers Index, Zebra Robotics Automation 6 10 full false Guest: Brian Lynch of EY Americas on what the ports labor settlement means for shippers; Automation moves from hype to center stage; Jobs with the highest risks of injuries Guest: Brian Lynch of EY Americas on what the ports labor settlement means for shippers; Automation moves from hype to center stage; Jobs with the highest risks of injuries Our guest on this week's episode is Brian Lynch, EY Americas Transportation Sector Leader and an Executive Director in the Transaction Strategy and Execution practice at EY-Parthenon. With the ratification earlier this week of the new 6-year agreement between dock workers and ports on the East and Gulf Coasts, it seems like we will have some labor peace that will last a while. Our guest discusses what that bit of certainty means to both shippers and carriers. 

Mobile robots in the warehouse—such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), goods-to-person systems, and automated storage and retrieval systems—have now been accepted as mature technologies. Susan Lacefield, executive editor of Supply Chain Xchange, joins us to talk about the industry acceptance of these technologies and to preview the latest issue of SCX that focuses on robotics and automation.

Supply chains are among those industries where workers face a higher level of risk of injury, according to new research released by manufacturer Kuru. The study analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify where supply chain jobs rank among jobs from other industries for the potential for on-the-job injuries.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links


]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Brian Lynch, EY Americas Transportation Sector Leader and an Executive Director in the Transaction Strategy and Execution practice at EY-Parthenon. With the ratification earlier this week of the new 6-year agreement between dock workers and ports on the East and Gulf Coasts, it seems like we will have some labor peace that will last a while. Our guest discusses what that bit of certainty means to both shippers and carriers. 

Mobile robots in the warehouse—such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), goods-to-person systems, and automated storage and retrieval systems—have now been accepted as mature technologies. Susan Lacefield, executive editor of Supply Chain Xchange, joins us to talk about the industry acceptance of these technologies and to preview the latest issue of SCX that focuses on robotics and automation.

Supply chains are among those industries where workers face a higher level of risk of injury, according to new research released by manufacturer Kuru. The study analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify where supply chain jobs rank among jobs from other industries for the potential for on-the-job injuries.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16710965 Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0500 1190 supply chain, logistics, labor, warehousing, dockworkers, ports, maritime, EY Americas, Brian Lynch, Supply Chain Xchange, automation, robotics, AMRs, AS/RS, mobile robotics, work injuries, Kuru, Zebra Robotics Automation 6 9 full false Guest: Matt Wicks of Zebra Technology on the increased use of warehouse robotics; Trends in electric trucks; Dissecting the latest holiday returns season Guest: Matt Wicks of Zebra Technology on the increased use of warehouse robotics; Trends in electric trucks; Dissecting the latest holiday returns season Our guest on this week's episode is Matt Wicks, senior director of robotics automation at Zebra Technologies. Robotics are rapidly gaining acceptance in distribution operations. They can work 24/7 with a high degree of uptime and accuracy. Our guest shares in which areas of warehouse operations robotics are proving to be the most useful, trends that are leading to their adoption, and what might be hindering robotic deployments in some cases.

During this first month of the new administration in Washington, we have seen a shift away from support of electric vehicles, including electric trucks that serve our supply chain operations. As a result, California has responded with adjustments to its electric vehicle mandates. In this segment, we discuss other trends and hindrances towards electric vehicle adoption, as well as an innovative technology that is being piloted for long-haul trucks in Europe.

Supply chains continue to deal with a growing volume of returns following holiday peak, and 2024 was no exception. Recent survey data from technology company Akeneo showed that 65% of shoppers made holiday returns this year, with most reporting that their online experience played a large role in their reason for doing so. We look at how the returns season went this year and what practices retailers can implement to decrease the number of product returns.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Matt Wicks, senior director of robotics automation at Zebra Technologies. Robotics are rapidly gaining acceptance in distribution operations. They can work 24/7 with a high degree of uptime and accuracy. Our guest shares in which areas of warehouse operations robotics are proving to be the most useful, trends that are leading to their adoption, and what might be hindering robotic deployments in some cases.

During this first month of the new administration in Washington, we have seen a shift away from support of electric vehicles, including electric trucks that serve our supply chain operations. As a result, California has responded with adjustments to its electric vehicle mandates. In this segment, we discuss other trends and hindrances towards electric vehicle adoption, as well as an innovative technology that is being piloted for long-haul trucks in Europe.

Supply chains continue to deal with a growing volume of returns following holiday peak, and 2024 was no exception. Recent survey data from technology company Akeneo showed that 65% of shoppers made holiday returns this year, with most reporting that their online experience played a large role in their reason for doing so. We look at how the returns season went this year and what practices retailers can implement to decrease the number of product returns.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16669761 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0500 1214 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, automation, Matt Wicks, Zebra, robotics, EV, electric trucks, DHL, California Clean Fleets Rule, EPA, JD Power, hybrid vehicles, returns, reverse logistics, Akeneo 6 8 full false Guest: Jay Rogers of Haddy on digital manufacturing; Changes in warehouse rents; The biggest traffic bottlenecks for logistics Guest: Jay Rogers of Haddy on digital manufacturing; Changes in warehouse rents; The biggest traffic bottlenecks for logistics Our guest on this week's episode is John (Jay) Rogers, CEO and co-founder of Haddy. There has been a push in the past few years to do more manufacturing here at home. One of the key technologies that is enabling more domestic production is digital manufacturing. That’s where Haddy comes in. Haddy is the world’s first 3D printing furniture manufacturer powered by AI and advanced robotic technology. Jay Rogers talks with us about this unique approach to manufacturing. 

A new report from Colliers, the industrial real estate firm, reveals data on fourth quarter warehouse construction. The report shows that renters of warehouse space should begin to see some relief after the seriously steep rent hikes they’re seen in recent years. 

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released its annual list of the nation’s top truck bottlenecks. This is the group’s 14th annual report on this issue. Its goal is not only to identify the top congested freight markets, but also to help local, state, and federal governments target funding to areas most in need of relief. The full report shares ways to reduce chokepoints, lower emissions, and drive economic growth. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is John (Jay) Rogers, CEO and co-founder of Haddy. There has been a push in the past few years to do more manufacturing here at home. One of the key technologies that is enabling more domestic production is digital manufacturing. That’s where Haddy comes in. Haddy is the world’s first 3D printing furniture manufacturer powered by AI and advanced robotic technology. Jay Rogers talks with us about this unique approach to manufacturing. 

A new report from Colliers, the industrial real estate firm, reveals data on fourth quarter warehouse construction. The report shows that renters of warehouse space should begin to see some relief after the seriously steep rent hikes they’re seen in recent years. 

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released its annual list of the nation’s top truck bottlenecks. This is the group’s 14th annual report on this issue. Its goal is not only to identify the top congested freight markets, but also to help local, state, and federal governments target funding to areas most in need of relief. The full report shares ways to reduce chokepoints, lower emissions, and drive economic growth. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16623667 Fri, 14 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0500 1429 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, Haddy, Jay Rogers, digital manufacturing, 3D printing, robotics, furniture, warehouse rents, Colliers, industrial real estate, trucking, ATRI, traffic bottlenecks, Zebra Robotics Automation 6 7 full false Guest: Maggie Barnett of LVK on managing supply chains with on-again off-again tariffs; The logistics economy picks up speed; The challenges of applying Generative AI Guest: Maggie Barnett of LVK on managing supply chains with on-again off-again tariffs; The logistics economy picks up speed; The challenges of applying Generative AI Our guest on this week's episode is Maggie Barnett, CEO of third party logistics company LVK. It has been a whirlwind week in Washington. First the administration announced shocking new tariffs. Then within hours those new tariffs for Canada and Mexico were called off and postponed for a month. New Chinese tariffs remain. With all of the back and forth and uncertainty, how are supply chains to plan for their future? Our guest offers some advice and also discusses the changing de minimis rules for importing small-value items that had formerly been exempt from tariffs.

Economic activity in logistics expanded in January, growing at its fastest clip in more than two years; that’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI) report, released this week. We look at the solid numbers and what they mean for the near-term future of supply chains.

Artificial intelligence is one of the biggest buzzwords of the year, but a new study shows that although most supply chain organizations are testing it out, a lot of them are running into challenges. This news comes in a new survey from the analyst group Gartner that found that generative AI (GenAI) is being deployed by 72% of supply chain organizations, but most are experiencing just middling results for productivity and ROI. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Maggie Barnett, CEO of third party logistics company LVK. It has been a whirlwind week in Washington. First the administration announced shocking new tariffs. Then within hours those new tariffs for Canada and Mexico were called off and postponed for a month. New Chinese tariffs remain. With all of the back and forth and uncertainty, how are supply chains to plan for their future? Our guest offers some advice and also discusses the changing de minimis rules for importing small-value items that had formerly been exempt from tariffs.

Economic activity in logistics expanded in January, growing at its fastest clip in more than two years; that’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI) report, released this week. We look at the solid numbers and what they mean for the near-term future of supply chains.

Artificial intelligence is one of the biggest buzzwords of the year, but a new study shows that although most supply chain organizations are testing it out, a lot of them are running into challenges. This news comes in a new survey from the analyst group Gartner that found that generative AI (GenAI) is being deployed by 72% of supply chain organizations, but most are experiencing just middling results for productivity and ROI. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16582427 Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0500 1044 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, 3PL, LVK, Maggie Barnett, tariffs, de minimis, LMI, Logistics Managers' Index, economy, Gen AI, Gartner, Zebra Robotics Automation 6 6 full false Guest: Kathy Fulton of ALAN on LA wildfire relief; More manufacturing on the way; New freight classifications Guest: Kathy Fulton of ALAN on LA wildfire relief; More manufacturing on the way; New freight classifications Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, the executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). We have all seen the unprecedented damage caused by the wildfires near Los Angeles. It is at times like this that the supply chain industry can mobilize resources to make sure supplies get to those who need help. Kathy Fulton shares what the emergency needs are, what is being done, and what more can be done. She also gives her take on the role of FEMA in disaster response.

We saw some encouraging signs this week of manufacturing projects here in the U.S. Of course, manufacturing brings the promise of new jobs, and also of material handling, warehousing, trucking, and all the logistics that’s needed to make a factory work. We discuss two new projects - the construction of a $1.2 billion plant in Oklahoma for producing materials for batteries and GE Vernova plans to invest $600 million in its U.S. factories over the next two years to support its energy businesses.  

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, or NMFTA, published proposed changes to its National Motor Freight Classification system this week. The NMFC is a freight classification tool that businesses throughout the less-than-truckload industry use to classify and establish prices for moving freight. When they take effect later this year, shippers may see changes in the LTL prices they pay to move freight.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, the executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). We have all seen the unprecedented damage caused by the wildfires near Los Angeles. It is at times like this that the supply chain industry can mobilize resources to make sure supplies get to those who need help. Kathy Fulton shares what the emergency needs are, what is being done, and what more can be done. She also gives her take on the role of FEMA in disaster response.

We saw some encouraging signs this week of manufacturing projects here in the U.S. Of course, manufacturing brings the promise of new jobs, and also of material handling, warehousing, trucking, and all the logistics that’s needed to make a factory work. We discuss two new projects - the construction of a $1.2 billion plant in Oklahoma for producing materials for batteries and GE Vernova plans to invest $600 million in its U.S. factories over the next two years to support its energy businesses.  

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, or NMFTA, published proposed changes to its National Motor Freight Classification system this week. The NMFC is a freight classification tool that businesses throughout the less-than-truckload industry use to classify and establish prices for moving freight. When they take effect later this year, shippers may see changes in the LTL prices they pay to move freight.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16540273 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 13:00:00 -0500 1541 logistics, supply chain, distribution, American Logistics Aid Network, ALAN, Kathy Fulton, manufacturing, Stardust Power, GE Vernova, freight classifications, National Motor Freight Traffic Association, NMFTA, LTL trucking, CSCMP EDGE 202525 6 5 full false Guest: Kristen Purvis of ePost Global on smart returns management; Dealing with global trade complexities; The new administration fills supply chain oversight roles Guest: Kristen Purvis of ePost Global on smart returns management; Dealing with global trade complexities; The new administration fills supply chain oversight roles Our guest on this week's episode is Kristen Purvis, product manager at ePost Global. Retailers have just completed a very successful holiday shopping season. But now those same retailers are dealing with many unwanted gifts in the form of returns. Are there ways they can successfully managing them? Our guest has some insights into ways to cut costs, be more sustainable in reverse logistics operations, and incorporate artificial intelligence into returns processes.

Technology is vital to any business operation, but a recent study shows that logistics leaders view it as fundamental to managing growth in an increasingly complex global trade environment. The study, which was released this week by logistics technology vendor Descartes Systems Group, found that 74% of supply chain and logistics leaders view technology as fundamental or highly important to their organization’s growth strategy in the face of rising global trade challenges. 

It’s been a busy week in Washington DC as the new administration has officially started the process of appointing directors to top posts, including those that oversee and regulate our supply chains. We talk about the new nomination for Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, as well as important appointments to head the Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Maritime Commission.


 Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Kristen Purvis, product manager at ePost Global. Retailers have just completed a very successful holiday shopping season. But now those same retailers are dealing with many unwanted gifts in the form of returns. Are there ways they can successfully managing them? Our guest has some insights into ways to cut costs, be more sustainable in reverse logistics operations, and incorporate artificial intelligence into returns processes.

Technology is vital to any business operation, but a recent study shows that logistics leaders view it as fundamental to managing growth in an increasingly complex global trade environment. The study, which was released this week by logistics technology vendor Descartes Systems Group, found that 74% of supply chain and logistics leaders view technology as fundamental or highly important to their organization’s growth strategy in the face of rising global trade challenges. 

It’s been a busy week in Washington DC as the new administration has officially started the process of appointing directors to top posts, including those that oversee and regulate our supply chains. We talk about the new nomination for Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, as well as important appointments to head the Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Maritime Commission.


 Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16496867 Fri, 24 Jan 2025 13:00:00 -0500 1200 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, distribution, Kristen Purvis, ePost Global, returns management, artificial intelligence, global trade, Descartes Systems, Sean Duffy, Department of Transportation, Patrick Fuchs, Surface Transportation Board, Louis So 6 4 full false Guest: Zac Rogers of Colorado State University on supply chains in 2025; What ports want from the new administration; Cutting corners on the job Guest: Zac Rogers of Colorado State University on supply chains in 2025; What ports want from the new administration; Cutting corners on the job Our guest on this week's episode is Zac Rogers, associate professor of operations and supply chain management, Colorado State University. 2025 is just two weeks old and most of us have barely settled into the new year.  Considering the unknown economic outlook, politics, possible tariffs, and ongoing turmoil around the world, it could be another interesting and a possibly volatile year for supply chains. Our guest shares his insights based data from on his role in helping to produce the monthly Logistics Managers' Index.

We’re in the middle of the transition season for a new administration in Washington DC. There are a lot of unknowns in this time of change, but one thing that's definitely happening is that business interests are busy lobbying politicians to protect their interests. And this week we saw some details that show what policies supply chain interest groups might want to happen in coming years. This was news from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), which released an eight-point wish-list for its recommended policy agenda to support the nation’s seaports.

Manufacturing and logistics workers are raising a red flag over workplace quality issues according to industry research released this week. And it’s all related to internal and external pressures that are causing workers to cut corners, risking both safety and compliance demands. 


 Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Zac Rogers, associate professor of operations and supply chain management, Colorado State University. 2025 is just two weeks old and most of us have barely settled into the new year.  Considering the unknown economic outlook, politics, possible tariffs, and ongoing turmoil around the world, it could be another interesting and a possibly volatile year for supply chains. Our guest shares his insights based data from on his role in helping to produce the monthly Logistics Managers' Index.

We’re in the middle of the transition season for a new administration in Washington DC. There are a lot of unknowns in this time of change, but one thing that's definitely happening is that business interests are busy lobbying politicians to protect their interests. And this week we saw some details that show what policies supply chain interest groups might want to happen in coming years. This was news from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), which released an eight-point wish-list for its recommended policy agenda to support the nation’s seaports.

Manufacturing and logistics workers are raising a red flag over workplace quality issues according to industry research released this week. And it’s all related to internal and external pressures that are causing workers to cut corners, risking both safety and compliance demands. 


 Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16455047 Fri, 17 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0500 1429 supply chain, logistics, transportation, ports, Zac Rogers, Logistics Managers' Index, economy, tariffs, American Association of Port Authorities, manufacturing, Ideagen, CSCMP EDGE 2025 6 3 full false Guest: Ian Wilson of Everstream Analytics on what the dockworker labor settlement means for shippers; New trends in artificial intelligence and data science; The difficulty in finding warehouse space Guest: Ian Wilson of Everstream Analytics on what the dockworker labor settlement means for shippers; New trends in artificial intelligence and data science; The difficulty in finding warehouse space Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Wilson, Senior Analyst with Intelligence Solutions at Everstream Analytics. At what seems like the 11th hour, dockworkers and ports on the East and Gulf Coasts agreed to a new contract. What will labor peace mean for shippers using those ports? Our guest has some insights. He also talks about whether there will be possible impacts for shippers on the West Coast due to the out-of-control wildfires raging around Los Angeles.

In a report in the MIT Sloan Management Review, researchers Tom Davenport and Randy Bean wrote about five trends in AI and data science that all businesses should be paying attention to this year. AI has become a very hot topic in logistics circles in the past couple of years, so any research that sheds light on how this technology is affecting business and commerce is something we want to pay attention to. The five trends range from the promise of agentic AI to the struggle over which C-suite role should oversee data and AI responsibilities.

We’re in a part of the business cycle where it can be pretty difficult to find enough warehouse space to rent or lease, whether you’re a manufacturer, retailer, or a 3PL. This information comes from a quarterly measurement from the commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. The report said the overall national industrial real estate vacancy rate edged higher in the fourth quarter. More vacancy means it’s easier to find a place to rent—although vacancy still remains well below pre-pandemic levels. We discuss the report's outlook for available space in the new year.


 Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Wilson, Senior Analyst with Intelligence Solutions at Everstream Analytics. At what seems like the 11th hour, dockworkers and ports on the East and Gulf Coasts agreed to a new contract. What will labor peace mean for shippers using those ports? Our guest has some insights. He also talks about whether there will be possible impacts for shippers on the West Coast due to the out-of-control wildfires raging around Los Angeles.

In a report in the MIT Sloan Management Review, researchers Tom Davenport and Randy Bean wrote about five trends in AI and data science that all businesses should be paying attention to this year. AI has become a very hot topic in logistics circles in the past couple of years, so any research that sheds light on how this technology is affecting business and commerce is something we want to pay attention to. The five trends range from the promise of agentic AI to the struggle over which C-suite role should oversee data and AI responsibilities.

We’re in a part of the business cycle where it can be pretty difficult to find enough warehouse space to rent or lease, whether you’re a manufacturer, retailer, or a 3PL. This information comes from a quarterly measurement from the commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. The report said the overall national industrial real estate vacancy rate edged higher in the fourth quarter. More vacancy means it’s easier to find a place to rent—although vacancy still remains well below pre-pandemic levels. We discuss the report's outlook for available space in the new year.


 Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16414542 Fri, 10 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0500 1308 supply chains, logistics, warehousing, Longshoremen, ILA, ports, labor, artificial intelligence, Ian Wilson, Everstream Analytics, MIT, warehouse space, Cushman & Wakefield, CSCMP EDGE 2025 6 2 full false Guest: Jason Schenker of Prestige Economics with predictions for supply chains in 2025; What will happen with labor pools this year? 'Tis the season of retail returns Guest: Jason Schenker of Prestige Economics with predictions for supply chains in 2025; What will happen with labor pools this year? 'Tis the season of retail returns Our guest on this week's episode is Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics. Schenker is one of the world's leading economists and he shares his insights into what happened in 2024 with the U.S. economy as well as predictions for 2025. Our discussion includes the economic outlook for supply chains and the material handling industry in particular, inflation, consumer prices, interest rates, employment, and looming tariffs 

One of the top themes we covered in the past year was the labor pool, and specifically how employers in the logistics sector have struggled to find either qualified employees for increasingly technical positions, or simple enough at all for even entry level positions for things like warehouse work and truck driving. This week a report was released that identified five workplace trends that are coming up in the new year, and methods for how employers can best adapt.

With peak shipping season behind us, it’s time to move on to peak returns season. We are now in the thick of it when it comes to reverse logistics, as retailers and e-commerce fulfillment companies deal with all those post-holiday gifts coming back. We preview a January story in DC Velocity that reveals that many retailers are rethinking their approaches when it comes to managing their returns processes.


 
Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics. Schenker is one of the world's leading economists and he shares his insights into what happened in 2024 with the U.S. economy as well as predictions for 2025. Our discussion includes the economic outlook for supply chains and the material handling industry in particular, inflation, consumer prices, interest rates, employment, and looming tariffs 

One of the top themes we covered in the past year was the labor pool, and specifically how employers in the logistics sector have struggled to find either qualified employees for increasingly technical positions, or simple enough at all for even entry level positions for things like warehouse work and truck driving. This week a report was released that identified five workplace trends that are coming up in the new year, and methods for how employers can best adapt.

With peak shipping season behind us, it’s time to move on to peak returns season. We are now in the thick of it when it comes to reverse logistics, as retailers and e-commerce fulfillment companies deal with all those post-holiday gifts coming back. We preview a January story in DC Velocity that reveals that many retailers are rethinking their approaches when it comes to managing their returns processes.


 
Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16376991 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0500 1642 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, 2025 economic outlook, Prestige Economics, Jason Schenker, labor, inflation, interest rates, Top Employers Institute, returns, reverse logistics, Werner Premium Services 6 1 full false Guest: Lee Ambrose of Remote Security Solutions on securing supply chain facilities from harm; California looks to phase out new gasoline-powered vehicles; What traffic congestion costs us. Guest: Lee Ambrose of Remote Security Solutions on securing supply chain facilities from harm; California looks to phase out new gasoline-powered vehicles; What traffic congestion costs us. Our guest on this week's episode is Lee Ambrose, vice president at Remote Security Solutions. We hear regularly about securing our supply chains from threats, such as products being stolen while they are in transit. But security is more than just theft - it is also securing and protecting facilities and the people who work in them. Our guest discusses the possible threats that face our supply chains and how to keep both workers and products safe from harm. 

California this week got federal approval to move ahead to the final stages of approval for its 2022 plan to gradually scale back the sale of gas-powered cars within the state. They needed federal approval to have a standard different from broader U.S. rules, and the EPA has now allowed what’s called the Advanced Clean Cars II rule. This means that by 2035, all new cars sold in California will have to be zero-emissions models, which includes battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid cars. 

Congestion on U.S. highways is costing the trucking industry big, according to research from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), which was released this week. The group found that traffic congestion on U.S. roadways added $108.8 billion in costs to the trucking industry in 2022—the latest data available. This is a record high. We look at states with the highest amount of traffic congestion.


 
Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Lee Ambrose, vice president at Remote Security Solutions. We hear regularly about securing our supply chains from threats, such as products being stolen while they are in transit. But security is more than just theft - it is also securing and protecting facilities and the people who work in them. Our guest discusses the possible threats that face our supply chains and how to keep both workers and products safe from harm. 

California this week got federal approval to move ahead to the final stages of approval for its 2022 plan to gradually scale back the sale of gas-powered cars within the state. They needed federal approval to have a standard different from broader U.S. rules, and the EPA has now allowed what’s called the Advanced Clean Cars II rule. This means that by 2035, all new cars sold in California will have to be zero-emissions models, which includes battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid cars. 

Congestion on U.S. highways is costing the trucking industry big, according to research from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), which was released this week. The group found that traffic congestion on U.S. roadways added $108.8 billion in costs to the trucking industry in 2022—the latest data available. This is a record high. We look at states with the highest amount of traffic congestion.


 
Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16316616 Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1467 supply chain, logistics, distribution, Lee Ambrose, Remote Security Solutions, security, trucking, cargo theft, active shooter, Electric vehicles, Advanced Clean Cars, Earthjustice, OOIDA, traffic congestion, American Transportation Research Institute, We 5 48 full false Guest: Dwight Klappich of Gartner on the hype cycle for warehouse robots and drones; Global trends in forklift sales; Common mistakes made in reorganizing supply chain teams. Guest: Dwight Klappich of Gartner on the hype cycle for warehouse robots and drones; Global trends in forklift sales; Common mistakes made in reorganizing supply chain teams. Our guest on this week's episode is Dwight Klappich, research vice president and Gartner Fellow at consultancy Gartner, Inc. There is tremendous interest in the growth of robotics and drone applications now being deployed in distribution operations. Is the hype and attention they have received warranted?  Klappich defines the "hype cycle" and how it can be a useful tool for determining when is the right time to adopt new automation technologies.

A new report out this week reveals that global forklift sales are sputtering. Lift truck sales are even falling short of their initial forecasts for 2024, according to Interact Analysis, a British consulting firm. That group has now revised their forecast for global forklift sales growth for 2024 down to just 0.3%, which is basically flat. We explain why sales have not met expectations, which sectors are most affected, and prospects for the future.

Many logistics and supply chain leaders are focused on reorganizing their supply chains these days—but as they do so, they should be careful to avoid common pitfalls that can derail their efforts. That’s according to recent research from Gartner that identifies critical organizational design mistakes that will prevent supply chain leaders from delivering on business goals. The research revealed that the most successful projects radically redesign supply chain structure based on distinct organizational needs, while prioritizing balance, strength, and speed as key business objectives.


 
Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dwight Klappich, research vice president and Gartner Fellow at consultancy Gartner, Inc. There is tremendous interest in the growth of robotics and drone applications now being deployed in distribution operations. Is the hype and attention they have received warranted?  Klappich defines the "hype cycle" and how it can be a useful tool for determining when is the right time to adopt new automation technologies.

A new report out this week reveals that global forklift sales are sputtering. Lift truck sales are even falling short of their initial forecasts for 2024, according to Interact Analysis, a British consulting firm. That group has now revised their forecast for global forklift sales growth for 2024 down to just 0.3%, which is basically flat. We explain why sales have not met expectations, which sectors are most affected, and prospects for the future.

Many logistics and supply chain leaders are focused on reorganizing their supply chains these days—but as they do so, they should be careful to avoid common pitfalls that can derail their efforts. That’s according to recent research from Gartner that identifies critical organizational design mistakes that will prevent supply chain leaders from delivering on business goals. The research revealed that the most successful projects radically redesign supply chain structure based on distinct organizational needs, while prioritizing balance, strength, and speed as key business objectives.


 
Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16264418 Fri, 13 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1463 supply chain, logistics, Gartner, Dwight Klappich, robotics, drones, automation, hype cycle, forklifts sales, Interact Analysis, supply chain reorganization, Werner Premium Services 5 47 full false Guest: Paul Caron of S-RM on fallout from the Blue Yonder ransomware attack; The latest LMI numbers shows steady logistics growth; Managing all of those e-commerce deliveries. Guest: Paul Caron of S-RM on fallout from the Blue Yonder ransomware attack; The latest LMI numbers shows steady logistics growth; Managing all of those e-commerce deliveries. Our guest on this week's episode is Paul Caron, a cyber Intelligence expert whose title is Head of Cyber Security, Americas at global intelligence and cybersecurity consultancy S-RM. Last week we learned of a major ransomware attack at Blue Yonder that put many supply chains in a somewhat perilous situation just as we went into Black Friday. So, how secure are our supply chains and should this latest attack be something of a wake-up call? Our guest offers some insights into such attacks and how supply chain companies can build security and resilience into their systems.

Economic activity in the logistics industry expanded in November, continuing a steady growth pattern that began earlier this year and signaling a return to seasonality after several years of fluctuating conditions. That’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index report (LMI), which was released this week. We look at the numbers behind the index and what they mean for the health of the logistics industry.

We are smack in between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and knee-deep in the middle of the winter-peak shopping season. And that means we’re also in the middle of the peak-shipping season, when e-commerce retailers are handling a huge surge of orders for holiday gifts. Most shoppers are demanding to receive their goods in two days or less. We share a report card on how they are doing at getting these shipments to their destinations on time.
 
 
Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Paul Caron, a cyber Intelligence expert whose title is Head of Cyber Security, Americas at global intelligence and cybersecurity consultancy S-RM. Last week we learned of a major ransomware attack at Blue Yonder that put many supply chains in a somewhat perilous situation just as we went into Black Friday. So, how secure are our supply chains and should this latest attack be something of a wake-up call? Our guest offers some insights into such attacks and how supply chain companies can build security and resilience into their systems.

Economic activity in the logistics industry expanded in November, continuing a steady growth pattern that began earlier this year and signaling a return to seasonality after several years of fluctuating conditions. That’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index report (LMI), which was released this week. We look at the numbers behind the index and what they mean for the health of the logistics industry.

We are smack in between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and knee-deep in the middle of the winter-peak shopping season. And that means we’re also in the middle of the peak-shipping season, when e-commerce retailers are handling a huge surge of orders for holiday gifts. Most shoppers are demanding to receive their goods in two days or less. We share a report card on how they are doing at getting these shipments to their destinations on time.
 
 
Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16233931 Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0500 982 supply chain, logistics, distribution, Paul Caron, S-RM, cyber security, ransomware, Blue Yonder, cyberattacks, Logistics Managers' Index, LMI, Zac Rogers, holiday shipping, Project44, Werner Premium Services 5 46 full false Guest: Chris Jamroz on the LTL market; Forecasts for holiday shopping; Supply chain threats in the New Year Guest: Chris Jamroz on the LTL market; Forecasts for holiday shopping; Supply chain threats in the New Year Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Jamroz, CEO at Roadrunner. It is no secret that the trucking industry has had a challenging couple of years. In addition to economic factors, like higher interest rates and inflation, truckers have also had to face too much capacity in the market and disruptions from several natural disasters. How has the less-than-truckload market weathered these storms and what are prospects for 2025? Our guest shares his insights.

Businesses are cautiously optimistic as peak holiday shipping season draws near, with many anticipating year-over-year sales increases despite continuing to battle challenging supply chain conditions. That’s according a report from DHL Express U.S. released this week; it’s DHL’s 2024 Peak Season Shipping Survey. The company surveyed small and medium-sized businesses to gauge their holiday business outlook compared to last year and found that a mix of optimism and “strategic caution” prevail ahead of this year’s peak.

It seems like there’s always a new supply chain disruption right around the corner.  This week a new report from trucking and logistics provider Averitt predicted the first month of 2025 could have more turmoil than usual. The Averitt report tracked three potential supply chain hurdles as we head into 2025: the disruptions caused by Chinese New Year (CNY), the looming threat of potential tariffs on foreign-made products that could be imposed by the incoming Trump Administration, and the unresolved contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX).


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Jamroz, CEO at Roadrunner. It is no secret that the trucking industry has had a challenging couple of years. In addition to economic factors, like higher interest rates and inflation, truckers have also had to face too much capacity in the market and disruptions from several natural disasters. How has the less-than-truckload market weathered these storms and what are prospects for 2025? Our guest shares his insights.

Businesses are cautiously optimistic as peak holiday shipping season draws near, with many anticipating year-over-year sales increases despite continuing to battle challenging supply chain conditions. That’s according a report from DHL Express U.S. released this week; it’s DHL’s 2024 Peak Season Shipping Survey. The company surveyed small and medium-sized businesses to gauge their holiday business outlook compared to last year and found that a mix of optimism and “strategic caution” prevail ahead of this year’s peak.

It seems like there’s always a new supply chain disruption right around the corner.  This week a new report from trucking and logistics provider Averitt predicted the first month of 2025 could have more turmoil than usual. The Averitt report tracked three potential supply chain hurdles as we head into 2025: the disruptions caused by Chinese New Year (CNY), the looming threat of potential tariffs on foreign-made products that could be imposed by the incoming Trump Administration, and the unresolved contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX).


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16155280 Fri, 22 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0500 1144 supply chain, logistics, trucking, less-than-truckload, LTL, Chris Jamroz, Roadrunner Freight, holiday peak, DHL Express U.S., SMEs, Averitt, supply chain disruptions, Werner Premium Services 5 45 full false Guest: Judah Levine of Freightos on impacts of proposed tariffs in a second Trump term; Who is using all the warehouse space? Automation moves beyond the hype. Guest: Judah Levine of Freightos on impacts of proposed tariffs in a second Trump term; Who is using all the warehouse space? Automation moves beyond the hype. Our guest on this week's episode is Judah Levine , head of research at Freightos Group. We are now past the elections here in the United States and supply chains are already planning for life under a second Trump administration. The president-elect has promised sweeping tariffs on imports that will have huge impacts to our supply chains. Our guest shares his insights into how importers are trying to bring goods into the country before higher tariffs are enacted and what impacts proposed tariffs may have in the future for our nation's international trade.

A new report this week from commercial real estate firm CBRE shares trends in industrial real estate. The report explains that the businesses leasing the most warehouse space are 3PLs, third-party logistics providers. The amount of space that 3PLs are leasing rose significantly over the past year and reveals some interesting themes about the economy overall.

We saw more information this week pointing to the growing use of robotics in logistics and supply chain operations. Technology research and consulting firm Gartner came out with its Hype Cycle for Mobile Robots and Drones. The report shows that supply chains are poised for accelerated adoption of mobile robots and drones as those technologies mature and companies focus on implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and automation across their logistics operations. The report explains that several mobile robotics technologies will mature over the next two to five years, and it also identifies breakthrough and rising technologies set to have an impact in the future.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Judah Levine , head of research at Freightos Group. We are now past the elections here in the United States and supply chains are already planning for life under a second Trump administration. The president-elect has promised sweeping tariffs on imports that will have huge impacts to our supply chains. Our guest shares his insights into how importers are trying to bring goods into the country before higher tariffs are enacted and what impacts proposed tariffs may have in the future for our nation's international trade.

A new report this week from commercial real estate firm CBRE shares trends in industrial real estate. The report explains that the businesses leasing the most warehouse space are 3PLs, third-party logistics providers. The amount of space that 3PLs are leasing rose significantly over the past year and reveals some interesting themes about the economy overall.

We saw more information this week pointing to the growing use of robotics in logistics and supply chain operations. Technology research and consulting firm Gartner came out with its Hype Cycle for Mobile Robots and Drones. The report shows that supply chains are poised for accelerated adoption of mobile robots and drones as those technologies mature and companies focus on implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and automation across their logistics operations. The report explains that several mobile robotics technologies will mature over the next two to five years, and it also identifies breakthrough and rising technologies set to have an impact in the future.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16114149 Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1509 supply chain, logistics, tariffs, Judah Levine, Freightos, warehouses, third-party logistics providers, 3PL, CBRE, Gartner, robotics, drones, Werner Premium Services 5 44 full false Guest: Jeff Rogers of Ryder on military veterans transitioning to industry careers; Use cases of AI in supply chains; The latest LMI numbers Guest: Jeff Rogers of Ryder on military veterans transitioning to industry careers; Use cases of AI in supply chains; The latest LMI numbers Our guest on this week's episode is Jeff Rogers, director of field maintenance operations at Ryder, Inc. Veterans' Day is Monday. The supply chain industry, like many fields, has a large number of veterans who have brought the skills they acquired in the military and now apply them to civilian work. Our guest today shares about his own military experience and how it has helped him carve out a long and successful career at Ryder.

You can hardly turn anywhere in our industry without hearing something about artificial intelligence and how it is bound to impact supply chains. However, actual and successful use cases are still being worked on. This week we learned about some actual examples of how AI is being deployed, working a bit behind the scenes to complete some common supply chain tasks.

The return to steadier growth across logistics markets continued in October, as industry conditions moderated from the ups and downs of the last few years. That’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index, or LMI, which was published on Tuesday. We share the latest statistics from the report and discuss what the numbers mean in reflecting trends in the industry.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jeff Rogers, director of field maintenance operations at Ryder, Inc. Veterans' Day is Monday. The supply chain industry, like many fields, has a large number of veterans who have brought the skills they acquired in the military and now apply them to civilian work. Our guest today shares about his own military experience and how it has helped him carve out a long and successful career at Ryder.

You can hardly turn anywhere in our industry without hearing something about artificial intelligence and how it is bound to impact supply chains. However, actual and successful use cases are still being worked on. This week we learned about some actual examples of how AI is being deployed, working a bit behind the scenes to complete some common supply chain tasks.

The return to steadier growth across logistics markets continued in October, as industry conditions moderated from the ups and downs of the last few years. That’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index, or LMI, which was published on Tuesday. We share the latest statistics from the report and discuss what the numbers mean in reflecting trends in the industry.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16071539 Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1091 supply chain, logistics, transportation, economy, Ryder, Jeff Rogers, military veterans, maintenance, artificial intelligence, C.H. Robinson, XPO, GXO, RXO, QXO, Logistics' Managers Index, Werner Premium Services 5 43 full false Guest: Ashray Lavsi of Efficio on what happens to supply chains if China attacks Taiwan; Top investments in supply chain tech; Will this be a flat holiday season for retailers? Guest: Ashray Lavsi of Efficio on what happens to supply chains if China attacks Taiwan; Top investments in supply chain tech; Will this be a flat holiday season for retailers? Our guest on this week's episode is Ashray Lavsi, a principal at the global procurement and supply chain consultancy Efficio. It's no secret that China has ambitions to bring Taiwan into its fold. Chinese rhetoric and military operations in the region have already threatened Taiwan, which has acted as a sovereign nation since the end of the Second World War. But such a move against Taiwan would cause major chaos to our supply chains, including the 50% of world container shipments that currently pass through the Taiwan Strait. While we hope this will not turn into a worst-case scenario, what should shippers and manufacturers do now to prepare for a potential attack on or blockade of Taiwan from China?

A new report from Gartner outlines the supply chain investments in digital technology that companies are currently prioritizing. And it should be no surprise as to which digital technology tops the list for investment dollars. We reveal the tech and discuss the impact that it is making on supply chains.

We have turned the calendar to November and that means the holidays are right around the corner, so it is not too early to talk about the upcoming holiday shopping season. Are consumers expected to fill their stockings to the brim this year? We offer insights from two new reports that show that consumer spending may be somewhat flat this peak shopping season.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ashray Lavsi, a principal at the global procurement and supply chain consultancy Efficio. It's no secret that China has ambitions to bring Taiwan into its fold. Chinese rhetoric and military operations in the region have already threatened Taiwan, which has acted as a sovereign nation since the end of the Second World War. But such a move against Taiwan would cause major chaos to our supply chains, including the 50% of world container shipments that currently pass through the Taiwan Strait. While we hope this will not turn into a worst-case scenario, what should shippers and manufacturers do now to prepare for a potential attack on or blockade of Taiwan from China?

A new report from Gartner outlines the supply chain investments in digital technology that companies are currently prioritizing. And it should be no surprise as to which digital technology tops the list for investment dollars. We reveal the tech and discuss the impact that it is making on supply chains.

We have turned the calendar to November and that means the holidays are right around the corner, so it is not too early to talk about the upcoming holiday shopping season. Are consumers expected to fill their stockings to the brim this year? We offer insights from two new reports that show that consumer spending may be somewhat flat this peak shopping season.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium Services

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-16032301 Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1521 supply chain, logistics, distribution, Efficio, Ashray Lavsi, China, Taiwan, digital technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, Generative AI, tech investments, Gartner, holiday shopping, retail, Relex, Rakuten, Werner Premium Services 5 42 full false Guest: Dennis Moon of Roadie on delivering for Halloween; Forecasting technology trends; Is pallet handling the next robotic frontier? Guest: Dennis Moon of Roadie on delivering for Halloween; Forecasting technology trends; Is pallet handling the next robotic frontier? Our guest on this week's episode is Dennis Moon, COO of Roadie, a crowd-sourcing delivery company. Halloween is just a few days away. It has grown in popularity over the years to now be among America's favorite holidays - right up there with Christmas and Thanksgiving. Making sure that the deliveries of all of the costumes, decorations, and treats get to their destinations on time is a big task. Our guest shares some insights into how companies are delivering the goods for Halloween.

It certainly has been an interesting year in logistics. Many natural disasters and man-made problems have caused supply chain disruptions on a global scale. As we begin to wind down 2024, it leaves us to ponder what is in store for 2025? Will we see more of the same or will technology help to create a better environment for logistics companies? We look at some predictions for supply chain technology trends that will drive the market forward in the coming year.

As robots continue to make inroads into our distribution centers, there is one area that is just now getting some love from the robots. That area is bulk handling - specifically handling heavy items moved and stored on pallets. Bulk handling is getting this new attention from robotics companies, as they see this as an area where automation can help deal with the labor challenges of lifting and moving heavy loads.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dennis Moon, COO of Roadie, a crowd-sourcing delivery company. Halloween is just a few days away. It has grown in popularity over the years to now be among America's favorite holidays - right up there with Christmas and Thanksgiving. Making sure that the deliveries of all of the costumes, decorations, and treats get to their destinations on time is a big task. Our guest shares some insights into how companies are delivering the goods for Halloween.

It certainly has been an interesting year in logistics. Many natural disasters and man-made problems have caused supply chain disruptions on a global scale. As we begin to wind down 2024, it leaves us to ponder what is in store for 2025? Will we see more of the same or will technology help to create a better environment for logistics companies? We look at some predictions for supply chain technology trends that will drive the market forward in the coming year.

As robots continue to make inroads into our distribution centers, there is one area that is just now getting some love from the robots. That area is bulk handling - specifically handling heavy items moved and stored on pallets. Bulk handling is getting this new attention from robotics companies, as they see this as an area where automation can help deal with the labor challenges of lifting and moving heavy loads.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15990946 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1088 supply chain, logistics, Roadie, Halloween deliveries, Dennis Moon, technology trends, Forrester, pallets, automation, robotics, autonomous mobile robots, Zebra Robotics Automation 5 41 full false Guest: Bindiya Vakil of Resilinc on managing supply chain risk in the wake of recent hurricanes; How companies can use their own big data; New research into green supply chains Guest: Bindiya Vakil of Resilinc on managing supply chain risk in the wake of recent hurricanes; How companies can use their own big data; New research into green supply chains Our guest on this week's episode is Bindiya Vakil, CEO and co-founder at Resilinc. As the Southeast is continuing to recover from the double whammy of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, supply chains have recovered to bring goods to the affected areas and the people who need help. But what can we do to strengthen those supply chains and reduce future risk from the disruptions that widespread natural disasters like hurricanes can cause? 

Companies are collecting lots of data about their operations and their supply chains. However, most are not using that data effectively. What can companies do to capture and take advantage of their own big data?

New research shows that regulatory compliance, tech advances, and consumer demand will spur 8% growth in eco-friendly warehousing and transportation services over the next 10 years. These trends continue to impact supply chain operations, as companies look to integrate electric vehicles into their fleets, use alternative fuels to power vehicles and facilities, and use more energy-efficient equipment and automation systems. We explore what is behind the numbers in the new research.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Bindiya Vakil, CEO and co-founder at Resilinc. As the Southeast is continuing to recover from the double whammy of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, supply chains have recovered to bring goods to the affected areas and the people who need help. But what can we do to strengthen those supply chains and reduce future risk from the disruptions that widespread natural disasters like hurricanes can cause? 

Companies are collecting lots of data about their operations and their supply chains. However, most are not using that data effectively. What can companies do to capture and take advantage of their own big data?

New research shows that regulatory compliance, tech advances, and consumer demand will spur 8% growth in eco-friendly warehousing and transportation services over the next 10 years. These trends continue to impact supply chain operations, as companies look to integrate electric vehicles into their fleets, use alternative fuels to power vehicles and facilities, and use more energy-efficient equipment and automation systems. We explore what is behind the numbers in the new research.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15949397 Fri, 18 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1316 hurricanes, supply chain resiliency, supply chains, logistics, distribution, green logistics, Bindiya Vakil, Resilinc, IFS, MIT, Deloitte, Custom Market Insights, sustainability, Zebra Robotics Automation 5 40 full false Guest: Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network on hurricane recovery; Hurricane Milton can have lasting supply chain effects; Drones are deployed in lights-out facilities Guest: Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network on hurricane recovery; Hurricane Milton can have lasting supply chain effects; Drones are deployed in lights-out facilities Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director at the American Logistics Aid Network, or better known in the logistics industry as ALAN. All of us have witnessed the devastation that Hurricane Helene brought to the Southeast and the Carolinas in particular. And then right on the heels of that we had Hurricane Milton tearing across Florida earlier this week. It is during disasters like these that we see the best that the logistics industry has to offer, and of course that is the work of ALAN. Kathy shares what her team is doing to match logistics services with those who need help in those recovering areas.

Florida and the Southeast region have been hit hard by storms and disruptions this Fall.  Hurricane Milton moved across central Florida just this week. So the damage reports are obviously not in yet. But we have learned a lot about the longterm effects of recent events and disruptions on supply chains, including Hurricane Helene, the East and Gulf Coast dockworkers strike, and Hurricane Milton. 

We discuss a new technology that may impact warehouse inventory operations.
Inventory drone provider Corvus Robotics made news this week with a product update and the announcement of a new $18 million funding round. The update includes new cameras that allow the drones to work in a lights-out environment—essentially, they deliver a fully autonomous experience.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director at the American Logistics Aid Network, or better known in the logistics industry as ALAN. All of us have witnessed the devastation that Hurricane Helene brought to the Southeast and the Carolinas in particular. And then right on the heels of that we had Hurricane Milton tearing across Florida earlier this week. It is during disasters like these that we see the best that the logistics industry has to offer, and of course that is the work of ALAN. Kathy shares what her team is doing to match logistics services with those who need help in those recovering areas.

Florida and the Southeast region have been hit hard by storms and disruptions this Fall.  Hurricane Milton moved across central Florida just this week. So the damage reports are obviously not in yet. But we have learned a lot about the longterm effects of recent events and disruptions on supply chains, including Hurricane Helene, the East and Gulf Coast dockworkers strike, and Hurricane Milton. 

We discuss a new technology that may impact warehouse inventory operations.
Inventory drone provider Corvus Robotics made news this week with a product update and the announcement of a new $18 million funding round. The update includes new cameras that allow the drones to work in a lights-out environment—essentially, they deliver a fully autonomous experience.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15910041 Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1460 logistics, supply chain, warehouses, American Logistics Aid Network, ALAN, Kathy Fulton, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, disaster relief, Corvus Robotics, drones, inventory, cycle counting, Averitt, Redfin, Zebra Robotics Automation 5 39 full false Guest: Elizabeth Gallenagh of the Healthcare Distribution Alliance on the Drug Supply Chain Security Act; How vulnerable are bridges to container ship strikes; Testing autonomous delivery vehicles Guest: Elizabeth Gallenagh of the Healthcare Distribution Alliance on the Drug Supply Chain Security Act; How vulnerable are bridges to container ship strikes; Testing autonomous delivery vehicles Our guest on this week's episode is Elizabeth Gallenagh, general counsel and senior VP, Supply Chain Integrity, for the Healthcare Distribution Alliance. Pharmaceutical supply chains have been ramping up for a number of years to meet the requirements of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, also known as DSCSA.  The DSCSA requires the tracking and serializing of all pharmaceutical products. The deadline is set for November, but is the industry ready for it? Our guest shares some insights. 

It has been six months since the Francis Scott Key highway bridge over Baltimore harbor collapsed when a containership lost power and drifted into the bridge abutment. And now a team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University has completed a study that identifies which bridges across the U.S. may be most vulnerable to another such collapse. They did the work because they believe that chances are high for another such incident, and that risk to the Key Bridge amid modern shipping traffic had been underestimated.

Two European companies are among the most recent firms to put autonomous last-mile delivery to the test with a project in Bern, Switzerland. Swiss transportation and logistics company Planzer has teamed up with fellow Swiss firm Loxo, which develops autonomous driving software solutions. They will run a two-year pilot project in which a Loxo-equipped, Planzer parcel delivery van will handle last-mile logistics in Bern’s city center.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Elizabeth Gallenagh, general counsel and senior VP, Supply Chain Integrity, for the Healthcare Distribution Alliance. Pharmaceutical supply chains have been ramping up for a number of years to meet the requirements of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, also known as DSCSA.  The DSCSA requires the tracking and serializing of all pharmaceutical products. The deadline is set for November, but is the industry ready for it? Our guest shares some insights. 

It has been six months since the Francis Scott Key highway bridge over Baltimore harbor collapsed when a containership lost power and drifted into the bridge abutment. And now a team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University has completed a study that identifies which bridges across the U.S. may be most vulnerable to another such collapse. They did the work because they believe that chances are high for another such incident, and that risk to the Key Bridge amid modern shipping traffic had been underestimated.

Two European companies are among the most recent firms to put autonomous last-mile delivery to the test with a project in Bern, Switzerland. Swiss transportation and logistics company Planzer has teamed up with fellow Swiss firm Loxo, which develops autonomous driving software solutions. They will run a two-year pilot project in which a Loxo-equipped, Planzer parcel delivery van will handle last-mile logistics in Bern’s city center.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics Automation

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15824921 Fri, 04 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1391 supply chain, logistics, pharmaceutical, DSCSA, drug distribution, Elizabeth Gallenagh, Healthcare Distribution Alliance, bridges, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore bridge collapse, autonomous deliveries, Planzer, Loxo, Zebra Robotics Automation 5 38 full false Guest: Judah Levine of Freightos on potential dockworkers' strike; Volunteer drivers wanted; Biofuels for the air Guest: Judah Levine of Freightos on potential dockworkers' strike; Volunteer drivers wanted; Biofuels for the air Our guest on this week's episode is Judah Levine, head of research at Freightos. The deadline is Monday to avert a dockworkers strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. That is when the current labor contract is expiring. A strike of even short duration could wreck a lot of supply chains. Our guest gives us the latest update on the negotiations and what effects a strike might have.

Wreaths Across America is seeking carriers and drivers to join the nonprofit’s Honor Fleet, delivering wreaths this holiday season to cemeteries across the country in honor of U.S. military veterans. We share about the organization's mission and how volunteer drivers can help.

One of the biggest impacts of pollution is from airplanes that pump out their emissions right into the upper atmosphere. We heard this week about a plan from Honeywell, the big industrial technology provider, to create a special kind of fuel mix called sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for both passengers and freight planes.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A  new series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Judah Levine, head of research at Freightos. The deadline is Monday to avert a dockworkers strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. That is when the current labor contract is expiring. A strike of even short duration could wreck a lot of supply chains. Our guest gives us the latest update on the negotiations and what effects a strike might have.

Wreaths Across America is seeking carriers and drivers to join the nonprofit’s Honor Fleet, delivering wreaths this holiday season to cemeteries across the country in honor of U.S. military veterans. We share about the organization's mission and how volunteer drivers can help.

One of the biggest impacts of pollution is from airplanes that pump out their emissions right into the upper atmosphere. We heard this week about a plan from Honeywell, the big industrial technology provider, to create a special kind of fuel mix called sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for both passengers and freight planes.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A  new series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Werner

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15824847 Fri, 27 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1164 supply chain, logistics, port strike, longshoremen, Freightos, Judah Levine, trucking, Wreaths Across America, Honeywell, sustainable aviation fuel, Werner 5 37 full false Guest: Dana Stiffler of Gartner on their Women in Supply Chain survey; Dock workers threaten to strike; New research into the future of trucking Guest: Dana Stiffler of Gartner on their Women in Supply Chain survey; Dock workers threaten to strike; New research into the future of trucking Our guest on this week's episode is Dana Stiffler, distinguished VP analyst at Gartner, an industry research and consulting firm. Women continue to be leaders in our industry throughout the world and their impacts are immeasurable. Recently Gartner teamed with the women's supply chain organization AWESOME to complete the ninth annual Women in Supply Chain survey that looks at the work of the female gender in supply chains. Our guest shares the results of the survey and offers insights into growing the number of women in leadership positions.

Many supply chain managers are keeping a careful eye on the ongoing negotiations with dock workers at the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports – and we are getting much closer now to the September 30th deadline. We have the latest on the negotiations and what supply chain executives are doing to prepare for potential shutdowns at those key ports.

Truck drivers nationwide have a mixed outlook on the future of the trucking industry, according to a survey by freight marketplace Truckstop. The study was released this week in conjunction with National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, which runs through this Saturday, September 21. Truckstop surveyed 850 of its carrier customers to learn more about their lives and experiences on the road. We share highlights of their findings.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2024

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dana Stiffler, distinguished VP analyst at Gartner, an industry research and consulting firm. Women continue to be leaders in our industry throughout the world and their impacts are immeasurable. Recently Gartner teamed with the women's supply chain organization AWESOME to complete the ninth annual Women in Supply Chain survey that looks at the work of the female gender in supply chains. Our guest shares the results of the survey and offers insights into growing the number of women in leadership positions.

Many supply chain managers are keeping a careful eye on the ongoing negotiations with dock workers at the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports – and we are getting much closer now to the September 30th deadline. We have the latest on the negotiations and what supply chain executives are doing to prepare for potential shutdowns at those key ports.

Truck drivers nationwide have a mixed outlook on the future of the trucking industry, according to a survey by freight marketplace Truckstop. The study was released this week in conjunction with National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, which runs through this Saturday, September 21. Truckstop surveyed 850 of its carrier customers to learn more about their lives and experiences on the road. We share highlights of their findings.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2024

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15787818 Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1429 supply chain, logistics, women in supply chain, Gartner, AWESOME, Dana Stiffler, East Coast ports, West Coast ports, port strike, dockworkers, labor, National Retail Federation, FourKites, Truckstop, trucking 5 36 full false Guest: Andrew Billings of North Highland on the upcoming peak retail season; Raymond establishes a battery manufacturing plant; Sales of EVs slump Guest: Andrew Billings of North Highland on the upcoming peak retail season; Raymond establishes a battery manufacturing plant; Sales of EVs slump Our guest on this week's episode is Andrew Billings, vice president and supply chain capability lead at North Highland. The retail world has already survived this year’s Prime Day and now we are heading into the peak holiday shopping season. Are retailers prepared and are there any clues as to what consumers will be snapping up this year? Our guest has some insights.

With an eye on assuring it has the raw materials it needs, lift truck manufacturing company Raymond Corp. has opened a new production plant in Binghamton, New York to manufacture batteries to power its line of electric forklifts. The new facility expands on and replaces a former operation by its assembly plant.

While electric vehicles are gaining popularity, the transition to EVs is not happening as fast as earlier market predictions. J.D. Power, the automotive industry analyst firm, says it is cutting back on earlier forecasts for EV market share as sales of battery-powered cars cool off. They cited drivers’ concerns about finding enough public charging ports and also the rising popularity of hybrid cars such as plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)—which combine battery power with gasoline engines.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2024

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Andrew Billings, vice president and supply chain capability lead at North Highland. The retail world has already survived this year’s Prime Day and now we are heading into the peak holiday shopping season. Are retailers prepared and are there any clues as to what consumers will be snapping up this year? Our guest has some insights.

With an eye on assuring it has the raw materials it needs, lift truck manufacturing company Raymond Corp. has opened a new production plant in Binghamton, New York to manufacture batteries to power its line of electric forklifts. The new facility expands on and replaces a former operation by its assembly plant.

While electric vehicles are gaining popularity, the transition to EVs is not happening as fast as earlier market predictions. J.D. Power, the automotive industry analyst firm, says it is cutting back on earlier forecasts for EV market share as sales of battery-powered cars cool off. They cited drivers’ concerns about finding enough public charging ports and also the rising popularity of hybrid cars such as plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)—which combine battery power with gasoline engines.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2024

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15748410 Fri, 13 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1296 supply chain, logistics, retail sales, holiday peak season, Amazon, Walmart, Andrew Billings, North Highland, Raymond Corp., lift trucks, batteries, electric vehicle sales 5 35 full false Guest: Michael Sadowski on sustainability in the apparel industry; Truck drivers' salaries; Safety in dock areas Guest: Michael Sadowski on sustainability in the apparel industry; Truck drivers' salaries; Safety in dock areas Our guest on this week's episode is Michael Sadowski, a researcher and author who just completed a study on sustainability in the apparel industry.  Released by the Apparel Impact Institute, the study looks at the apparel industry's use of  available resources. Of course, there are the fabrics that are grown and harvested or man-made materials that consume water and power. Most of our clothing is also made overseas, so the industry also needs to be aware of its carbon footprint to deliver all of those new goods to our closets and dresser drawers.

This week we saw a report about truck driver salaries. This came from a survey done every other year by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), and they found that truckload drivers in the U.S. earned a median annual amount of $76,420 in 2023, posting an increase of 10% over the survey done two years ago. We break down which modes of trucking earn the best salaries.

Data from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) show that a quarter of all industrial accidents happen at loading docks. That makes this vital, high-activity area within a distribution center a place for vigilant attention to detail. We look at how technologies and better awareness are making a difference to reduce injuries around the docks.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2024

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Michael Sadowski, a researcher and author who just completed a study on sustainability in the apparel industry.  Released by the Apparel Impact Institute, the study looks at the apparel industry's use of  available resources. Of course, there are the fabrics that are grown and harvested or man-made materials that consume water and power. Most of our clothing is also made overseas, so the industry also needs to be aware of its carbon footprint to deliver all of those new goods to our closets and dresser drawers.

This week we saw a report about truck driver salaries. This came from a survey done every other year by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), and they found that truckload drivers in the U.S. earned a median annual amount of $76,420 in 2023, posting an increase of 10% over the survey done two years ago. We break down which modes of trucking earn the best salaries.

Data from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) show that a quarter of all industrial accidents happen at loading docks. That makes this vital, high-activity area within a distribution center a place for vigilant attention to detail. We look at how technologies and better awareness are making a difference to reduce injuries around the docks.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2024

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15707553 Fri, 06 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1321 supply chain, logistics, Michael Sadowski, Apparel Impact Institute, sustainability, apparel industry, Net Zero, trucking, labor, salaries, American Trucking Associations, dock safety, CSCMP EDGE 2024 5 34 full false Guest: Dawn Andre of Jaggaer on absorbing new supply chain grads; The latest supply chain tech; The U.S. Air Force tests autonomous cargo planes Guest: Dawn Andre of Jaggaer on absorbing new supply chain grads; The latest supply chain tech; The U.S. Air Force tests autonomous cargo planes Our guest on this week's episode is Dawn Andre, chief product officer at Jaggaer. New supply chain talent is on the way, as college programs continue to mold new entrants for the industry. But what are some of the best ways to make use of these new recruits? Our guest has some ideas.

Victoria Kickham is off this week, so filling her seat is Susan Lacefield, the executive editor of Supply Chain Xchange. Susan shares about the newly released issue of Supply Chain Xchange that features articles on the latest in supply chain technologies. We also preview the upcoming CSCMP EDGE conference starting at the end of September in Nashville.

We cover a lot about self-driving vehicles in the magazine, but now autonomous transport is taking to the skies. We report on testing by the U.S. Air Force earlier this month of new autonomous cargo planes. The planes use smaller commercially-available Cessna planes equipped with tech that will allow them to take off, fly, and land without a pilot. These airplanes are much cheaper to operate than traditional military cargo planes.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dawn Andre, chief product officer at Jaggaer. New supply chain talent is on the way, as college programs continue to mold new entrants for the industry. But what are some of the best ways to make use of these new recruits? Our guest has some ideas.

Victoria Kickham is off this week, so filling her seat is Susan Lacefield, the executive editor of Supply Chain Xchange. Susan shares about the newly released issue of Supply Chain Xchange that features articles on the latest in supply chain technologies. We also preview the upcoming CSCMP EDGE conference starting at the end of September in Nashville.

We cover a lot about self-driving vehicles in the magazine, but now autonomous transport is taking to the skies. We report on testing by the U.S. Air Force earlier this month of new autonomous cargo planes. The planes use smaller commercially-available Cessna planes equipped with tech that will allow them to take off, fly, and land without a pilot. These airplanes are much cheaper to operate than traditional military cargo planes.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15669606 Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1220 supply chain, logistics, labor, recruitment, Dawn Andre, Jaggaer, Digital Twins, CSCMP EDGE, routing, virtual reality, augmented reality, autonomous airplanes, cargo, military logistics, Joby, Reliable Robotics, Cessna, Hyster Company 5 33 full false Guest: Jim Bunsey of PERC on the advantages of propane power; Labor turmoil on Canadian railroads; Automating repetitive warehouse tasks Guest: Jim Bunsey of PERC on the advantages of propane power; Labor turmoil on Canadian railroads; Automating repetitive warehouse tasks Our guest on this week's episode is Jim Bunsey, director of commercial business development at the Propane Education & Research Council, better known in the industry as PERC. With the goal of reducing carbon footprints and clearing the air, supply chain managers are seeking cleaner technologies to power their operations. Our guest shares that the full energy cycle should be considered when choosing power for material handling equipment and transportation vehicles, including the carbon footprint of the energy creation, such as power produced by fossil-burning power plants.

The big news in North American supply chains this week  has been the Canadian rail stoppage. This has been a real whirlwind of huge potential damage to retail and manufacturing operations at a time when supply chains were already in somewhat vulnerable positions. Yesterday, the railroads were locked down over a labor dispute. But last night, the Canadian government stepped in to order workers to report and to resolve their labor issues with binding arbitration. How fast can the railroads get back on track and what does this mean for supply chains?

Companies running large warehouses are looking for ways to improve performance and increase efficiency, all while dealing with persistent market pressures like labor shortages and space constraints. For many companies, warehouse automation is the answer to those problems. We look at two examples where automation is making a difference in warehouse operations. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jim Bunsey, director of commercial business development at the Propane Education & Research Council, better known in the industry as PERC. With the goal of reducing carbon footprints and clearing the air, supply chain managers are seeking cleaner technologies to power their operations. Our guest shares that the full energy cycle should be considered when choosing power for material handling equipment and transportation vehicles, including the carbon footprint of the energy creation, such as power produced by fossil-burning power plants.

The big news in North American supply chains this week  has been the Canadian rail stoppage. This has been a real whirlwind of huge potential damage to retail and manufacturing operations at a time when supply chains were already in somewhat vulnerable positions. Yesterday, the railroads were locked down over a labor dispute. But last night, the Canadian government stepped in to order workers to report and to resolve their labor issues with binding arbitration. How fast can the railroads get back on track and what does this mean for supply chains?

Companies running large warehouses are looking for ways to improve performance and increase efficiency, all while dealing with persistent market pressures like labor shortages and space constraints. For many companies, warehouse automation is the answer to those problems. We look at two examples where automation is making a difference in warehouse operations. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15630249 Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1256 supply chain, logistics, PERC, Propane Education Research Council, propane, rail, labor issues, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, automation, Swisslog, Virto Group, Fives Group, Carrefour, Hyster Company 5 32 full false Guest: Scott Walker of Powerfleet on new proposed rules to address heat-related illnesses in workplaces: Ports look at green tech; Electric vehicle transition is stuck in the slow lane Guest: Scott Walker of Powerfleet on new proposed rules to address heat-related illnesses in workplaces: Ports look at green tech; Electric vehicle transition is stuck in the slow lane Our guest on this week's episode is Scott Walker, vice president of Supply Chain Product Management for Powerfleet. Last month the U.S. Department of Labor  issued a proposed rule to regulate how employers manage and protect workers in extreme heat conditions – both for indoor work, such as in factories and warehouses, and outdoor work, like in trucking, docks and in yards. The proposals would require each employer with more than 10 workers to have a program in place to address heat-related issues with measures to reduce the chance of heat-related stress and illnesses in the workplace. Our guest explains some of the details of the proposed rules and how employers can prepare now to promote safer workplaces.

The total cost of ownership for battery-electric versions of cargo-handling equipment used in our world's maritime ports is about 1.3 times higher than that of diesel-powered equipment, according to industry estimates, Until those costs come down, battery-electric container handling equipment is likely to remain a small portion of the equipment operating at ports around the world. However, research and testing are underway. We look at two examples of where electric systems are being piloted for port operations.

The adoption of electric vehicles in the United States has been slowed by the lack of a sufficient public charging infrastructure, but that shortcoming is showing small signs of improvement.  A survey of almost 10,000 EV drivers found that satisfaction in the nation’s EV charging network increased for a second consecutive quarter. We discuss what is hindering more EV adoptions and the difficulty in finding suitable places to charge them.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Scott Walker, vice president of Supply Chain Product Management for Powerfleet. Last month the U.S. Department of Labor  issued a proposed rule to regulate how employers manage and protect workers in extreme heat conditions – both for indoor work, such as in factories and warehouses, and outdoor work, like in trucking, docks and in yards. The proposals would require each employer with more than 10 workers to have a program in place to address heat-related issues with measures to reduce the chance of heat-related stress and illnesses in the workplace. Our guest explains some of the details of the proposed rules and how employers can prepare now to promote safer workplaces.

The total cost of ownership for battery-electric versions of cargo-handling equipment used in our world's maritime ports is about 1.3 times higher than that of diesel-powered equipment, according to industry estimates, Until those costs come down, battery-electric container handling equipment is likely to remain a small portion of the equipment operating at ports around the world. However, research and testing are underway. We look at two examples of where electric systems are being piloted for port operations.

The adoption of electric vehicles in the United States has been slowed by the lack of a sufficient public charging infrastructure, but that shortcoming is showing small signs of improvement.  A survey of almost 10,000 EV drivers found that satisfaction in the nation’s EV charging network increased for a second consecutive quarter. We discuss what is hindering more EV adoptions and the difficulty in finding suitable places to charge them.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15594428 Fri, 16 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1161 supply chain, logistics, OSHA, labor, heat illnesses, Scott Walker, Powerfleet, ports, electric vehicles, APM Terminals, Port of Mobile, Hyster 5 31 full false Guest: Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network on recovery efforts from Hurricane Debby; The latest numbers from the Logistics Managers Index; Will we face a labor strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports? Guest: Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network on recovery efforts from Hurricane Debby; The latest numbers from the Logistics Managers Index; Will we face a labor strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports? Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). This week Hurricane Debby made landfall on the East Coast, bringing with it lots of rain, flooding, and damage to Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. It is now making its way up the coast. What are the effects on supply chains and how is the industry responding to help those in need? 

It is always good for us to track the health of the supply chain industry. This week the latest data show that economic activity in the logistics industry expanded in July, marking the eighth straight month of moderate growth across warehousing and transportation markets; that’s according to the latest monthly Logistics Managers Index (LMI) report, which was released this week.

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is  calling on the Biden administration to engage the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) which represents dock workers, and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents port operators to come to a new labor agreement to avoid a possible strike at East Coast and Gulf Coasts ports. The two sides are far apart on a new agreement as the current pact is set to expire on September 30. A strike could have widespread impacts on the flow of goods during peak season.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). This week Hurricane Debby made landfall on the East Coast, bringing with it lots of rain, flooding, and damage to Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. It is now making its way up the coast. What are the effects on supply chains and how is the industry responding to help those in need? 

It is always good for us to track the health of the supply chain industry. This week the latest data show that economic activity in the logistics industry expanded in July, marking the eighth straight month of moderate growth across warehousing and transportation markets; that’s according to the latest monthly Logistics Managers Index (LMI) report, which was released this week.

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is  calling on the Biden administration to engage the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) which represents dock workers, and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents port operators to come to a new labor agreement to avoid a possible strike at East Coast and Gulf Coasts ports. The two sides are far apart on a new agreement as the current pact is set to expire on September 30. A strike could have widespread impacts on the flow of goods during peak season.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15557479 Fri, 09 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1124 supply chain, logistics, ALAN, The American Logistics Aid Network, Kathy Fulton, Hurricane Debby, Logistics Managers' Index, Retail Industry Leaders Association, International Longshoreman's Association, United States Maritime Alliance, dock strike, ports 5 30 full false Guest: Tom Behnke of Boxzooka on back-to-school season distribution and retailing; Sharing rewards with the workforce; Predicted slowing of growth in automation projects Guest: Tom Behnke of Boxzooka on back-to-school season distribution and retailing; Sharing rewards with the workforce; Predicted slowing of growth in automation projects Our guest on this week's episode is Tom Behnke, vice president of sales and marketing at distribution 3PL Boxzooka. With the turning of the calendar pages to August, it's back-to-school season for most American families. While stores have been stocked for some time with the latest in shoes, clothing, and school supplies, parents are now shopping in earnest to prepare their young learners for a good school year. What does it take for distributors and retailers to succeed in this second-biggest peak shopping season of the year, and will they experience any hiccups?

Lineage Logistics, a cold storage warehouse and transportation company, has now gone public on the NASDAQ stock exchange. They raised $4.4 billion in shares sold in their initial public offer, which translates to an overall valuation of the company at $18 billion. So, what do you do with $4.4 billion? When the IPO happened last week, they shared some pretty typical plans: mostly paying down debt from all the borrowing they had done to grow so large. But this week, we learned about some new plans, which involve sharing some of that windfall profit with employees.
 
The global outlook for investments in warehouse automation was revised down this week, mainly due to challenging economic conditions in some other parts of the world. That’s according to research from British consulting firm Interact Analysis, which released a mid-year report Tuesday updating its global warehouse automation forecast from last fall. Conditions look better in the Americas. Warehouse-automation revenue forecast projections for the United States have increased compared the fall forecast, mainly as a result of higher consumer spending, improved sentiment toward the economy, and Amazon starting to invest again, according to the report.  


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Tom Behnke, vice president of sales and marketing at distribution 3PL Boxzooka. With the turning of the calendar pages to August, it's back-to-school season for most American families. While stores have been stocked for some time with the latest in shoes, clothing, and school supplies, parents are now shopping in earnest to prepare their young learners for a good school year. What does it take for distributors and retailers to succeed in this second-biggest peak shopping season of the year, and will they experience any hiccups?

Lineage Logistics, a cold storage warehouse and transportation company, has now gone public on the NASDAQ stock exchange. They raised $4.4 billion in shares sold in their initial public offer, which translates to an overall valuation of the company at $18 billion. So, what do you do with $4.4 billion? When the IPO happened last week, they shared some pretty typical plans: mostly paying down debt from all the borrowing they had done to grow so large. But this week, we learned about some new plans, which involve sharing some of that windfall profit with employees.
 
The global outlook for investments in warehouse automation was revised down this week, mainly due to challenging economic conditions in some other parts of the world. That’s according to research from British consulting firm Interact Analysis, which released a mid-year report Tuesday updating its global warehouse automation forecast from last fall. Conditions look better in the Americas. Warehouse-automation revenue forecast projections for the United States have increased compared the fall forecast, mainly as a result of higher consumer spending, improved sentiment toward the economy, and Amazon starting to invest again, according to the report.  


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15520589 Fri, 02 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1195 supply chain, distribution, retail, logistics, back to school, Tom Behnke, Boxzooka, Lineage Logistics, warehousing, automation, Interact Analysis, Storage Solutions 5 29 full false Guest: Kevin Ledversis of Newcastle Systems on employee satisfaction and retention; Logistics companies respond to Mexico's manufacturing boom; Generative AI in sourcing and procurement Guest: Kevin Ledversis of Newcastle Systems on employee satisfaction and retention; Logistics companies respond to Mexico's manufacturing boom; Generative AI in sourcing and procurement Our guest on this week's episode is Kevin Ledversis, vice president of sales at Newcastle Systems. Labor continues to be in short supply, which means that it is important for distributors and warehouse operators to hold on to the labor that they do have by keeping warehouse employees engaged and happy. Our guest shares ways to foster an environment of employee contentment.

Mexico recently passed China to become the U.S.’s largest trading partner. We’ve seen Mexico rise very quickly in the business landscape due to tariffs on imports from China to the U.S. as well as global disruptions, such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. As a result, there has been a swift shift toward Mexico as a new manufacturing hub. To move all the freight now being generated south of the border, there has been a rush from leading logistics  companies to build supply chain links between the U.S. and Mexico. 

The adoption of generative artificial intelligence—or GenAI—for sourcing and procurement is gaining steam, and recent research from Gartner shows that its mainstream application may be just two years away. Gartner said this week that GenAI for procurement is at the “peak of inflated expectations.” Essentially, the data show that use cases are growing and AI capabilities are improving, making GenAI for sourcing and procurement a fast-moving technology within supply chains.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Kevin Ledversis, vice president of sales at Newcastle Systems. Labor continues to be in short supply, which means that it is important for distributors and warehouse operators to hold on to the labor that they do have by keeping warehouse employees engaged and happy. Our guest shares ways to foster an environment of employee contentment.

Mexico recently passed China to become the U.S.’s largest trading partner. We’ve seen Mexico rise very quickly in the business landscape due to tariffs on imports from China to the U.S. as well as global disruptions, such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. As a result, there has been a swift shift toward Mexico as a new manufacturing hub. To move all the freight now being generated south of the border, there has been a rush from leading logistics  companies to build supply chain links between the U.S. and Mexico. 

The adoption of generative artificial intelligence—or GenAI—for sourcing and procurement is gaining steam, and recent research from Gartner shows that its mainstream application may be just two years away. Gartner said this week that GenAI for procurement is at the “peak of inflated expectations.” Essentially, the data show that use cases are growing and AI capabilities are improving, making GenAI for sourcing and procurement a fast-moving technology within supply chains.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15480926 Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1247 supply chain, logistics, labor, employee retention, Newcastle Systems, Kevin Ledversis, Mexico manufacturing, UPS, Schneider, Truckload Carriers Association, GenAI, Gartner, sourcing, procurement, Storage Solutions, 5 28 full false Guest: Dennis Mullahy on supply chain continuity; Walmart invests in grocery DCs; Computer vision systems see new warehouse applications Guest: Dennis Mullahy on supply chain continuity; Walmart invests in grocery DCs; Computer vision systems see new warehouse applications Our guest on this week's episode is Dennis Mullahy. He is the former chief supply chain officer for Macy’s and he has also worked in the supply chain operations for several other large retailers, including Ulta, Michaels, and Meijer. These days, Mullahy is an independent consultant working with a number of supply chain startups. He is also a senior advisor to Fortna. He talks to us about supply chains post-pandemic, facility designs, and maintaining supply chain continuity. 

This week we learned some new details about how Walmart, the nation’s largest grocery retailer, is rolling out a “supply chain transformation” that relies on new investments in data, intelligent software, and automation.  Walmart week opened a 730,000 square-foot perishable distribution center (PDC) in Texas, which is designed to keep its more than 4,600 stores stocked with fresh and frozen merchandise. The new facility receives and processes fresh produce, eggs, dairy, flowers, and frozen goods for delivery to Walmart stores. It does that by leveraging technology to process more than double the volume of a traditional DC, getting items onto store shelves faster than ever before.

Some recent research shows that by 2027, half of companies with warehouse operations will leverage artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled vision systems to replace traditional scanning-based cycle-counting processes. This information comes from Gartner, and was presented at their Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo in Barcelona in June. AI-enabled vision systems are novel, hyper-automation solutions that combine industrial 3D cameras, computer vision software, and advanced AI pattern recognition technologies, as well as machine learning. Gartner says the technology can “radically change” the way many manually dependent processes are performed.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dennis Mullahy. He is the former chief supply chain officer for Macy’s and he has also worked in the supply chain operations for several other large retailers, including Ulta, Michaels, and Meijer. These days, Mullahy is an independent consultant working with a number of supply chain startups. He is also a senior advisor to Fortna. He talks to us about supply chains post-pandemic, facility designs, and maintaining supply chain continuity. 

This week we learned some new details about how Walmart, the nation’s largest grocery retailer, is rolling out a “supply chain transformation” that relies on new investments in data, intelligent software, and automation.  Walmart week opened a 730,000 square-foot perishable distribution center (PDC) in Texas, which is designed to keep its more than 4,600 stores stocked with fresh and frozen merchandise. The new facility receives and processes fresh produce, eggs, dairy, flowers, and frozen goods for delivery to Walmart stores. It does that by leveraging technology to process more than double the volume of a traditional DC, getting items onto store shelves faster than ever before.

Some recent research shows that by 2027, half of companies with warehouse operations will leverage artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled vision systems to replace traditional scanning-based cycle-counting processes. This information comes from Gartner, and was presented at their Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo in Barcelona in June. AI-enabled vision systems are novel, hyper-automation solutions that combine industrial 3D cameras, computer vision software, and advanced AI pattern recognition technologies, as well as machine learning. Gartner says the technology can “radically change” the way many manually dependent processes are performed.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15431814 Fri, 19 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1345 supply chain, logistics, Dennis Mullahy, Fortna, supply chain continuity, automation, Walmart, grocery, perishables, Alert Innovation, Swisslog, vision systems, Gartner, Storage Solutions 5 27 full false Guest: Dr. Alex Scott of the University of Tennessee on California CARB's new regulations for railroads; The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl; The State of Logistics Guest: Dr. Alex Scott of the University of Tennessee on California CARB's new regulations for railroads; The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl; The State of Logistics Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Alex Scott, an associate professor of supply chain management at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Many of our regular listeners are familiar with CARB, the California Air Resources Board, and their attempts to reduce air pollution in the Golden State. However, recently, new regulations have hit supply chain companies hard in California. We reported a few weeks ago on new regulations for phasing out internal combustion engines in forklifts. And now CARB is going after train locomotives by proposing regulations that will require technology that currently does not really exist. Is this too far too soon? Dr. Scott has extensively studied this issue and offers some interesting perspectives.

One of the biggest logistics stories this week was Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall in Texas on Monday, battering the Gulf Coast and leaving millions of homes and business in the region without power and disrupting supply chains. We share the latest on how logistics companies are helping with the cleanup, partly through the efforts of the American Logistics Aid Network. ALAN is hard at work coordinating logistics and supply chain services for humanitarian organizations that are trying to get support to the affected areas. 

Over at DC Velocity’s sister publication, Supply Chain Xchange, we have been working on a series of podcasts on the current State of Logistics. The podcast uses the Annual State of Logistics Report from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals or CSCMP as a jumping off point while also incorporating in some other voices that share in detail what is currently happening in the logistics sector with specific episodes focused on trucking, rail, ocean, inventory, and more.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Alex Scott, an associate professor of supply chain management at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Many of our regular listeners are familiar with CARB, the California Air Resources Board, and their attempts to reduce air pollution in the Golden State. However, recently, new regulations have hit supply chain companies hard in California. We reported a few weeks ago on new regulations for phasing out internal combustion engines in forklifts. And now CARB is going after train locomotives by proposing regulations that will require technology that currently does not really exist. Is this too far too soon? Dr. Scott has extensively studied this issue and offers some interesting perspectives.

One of the biggest logistics stories this week was Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall in Texas on Monday, battering the Gulf Coast and leaving millions of homes and business in the region without power and disrupting supply chains. We share the latest on how logistics companies are helping with the cleanup, partly through the efforts of the American Logistics Aid Network. ALAN is hard at work coordinating logistics and supply chain services for humanitarian organizations that are trying to get support to the affected areas. 

Over at DC Velocity’s sister publication, Supply Chain Xchange, we have been working on a series of podcasts on the current State of Logistics. The podcast uses the Annual State of Logistics Report from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals or CSCMP as a jumping off point while also incorporating in some other voices that share in detail what is currently happening in the logistics sector with specific episodes focused on trucking, rail, ocean, inventory, and more.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15404661 Fri, 12 Jul 2024 13:00:00 -0400 1281 supply chain, logistics, CARB, California Air Resources Board, Dr. Alex Scott, University of Tennessee, railroads, locomotives, Hurricane Beryl, American Logistics Aid Network, CSCMP, State of Logistics, Storage Solutions 5 26 full false Guest: John Lash of e2open on the new White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience; Regulations top trucking concerns; A shakeup in freight brokerage Guest: John Lash of e2open on the new White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience; Regulations top trucking concerns; A shakeup in freight brokerage Our guest on this week's episode is John Lash, group vice president of product strategy at e2open. Good supply chains allow companies to remain competitive. But sometimes they need a bit of government help, especially when their competitors receive assistance from their own governments. That’s one reason why the Biden administration has launched the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience. Our guest shares why this latest task force was created and what it is intended to address.

Government regulations are always a big topic at trucking-industry events, and that was certainly the case this week at the SMC3 Connections conference in Colorado Springs. Connections is an annual educational event sponsored by SMC3. We share some of the highlights from the conference, including proposed government regulations that freight companies see as concerns due to their their implementation timelines.

This week UPS sold its Coyote Logistics division to RXO. UPS had acquired Coyote for $1.8 billion in 2015, when it was a hot startup in the freight brokerage sector. Since that time, conditions have gotten really tough in the truckload freight business, which has been in a freight recession for about two years now. The sale reflects that downturn, as Coyote was sold for just over $1 billion. We look at the deal and discuss how both RXO and UPS will benefit from it moving forward.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is John Lash, group vice president of product strategy at e2open. Good supply chains allow companies to remain competitive. But sometimes they need a bit of government help, especially when their competitors receive assistance from their own governments. That’s one reason why the Biden administration has launched the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience. Our guest shares why this latest task force was created and what it is intended to address.

Government regulations are always a big topic at trucking-industry events, and that was certainly the case this week at the SMC3 Connections conference in Colorado Springs. Connections is an annual educational event sponsored by SMC3. We share some of the highlights from the conference, including proposed government regulations that freight companies see as concerns due to their their implementation timelines.

This week UPS sold its Coyote Logistics division to RXO. UPS had acquired Coyote for $1.8 billion in 2015, when it was a hot startup in the freight brokerage sector. Since that time, conditions have gotten really tough in the truckload freight business, which has been in a freight recession for about two years now. The sale reflects that downturn, as Coyote was sold for just over $1 billion. We look at the deal and discuss how both RXO and UPS will benefit from it moving forward.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15328802 Fri, 28 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1463 supply chain, logistics, John Lash, e2open, White House task force, supply chain resilience, SMC3, trucking, freight brokerage, trucking regulations, UPS, RXO, Coyote Logistics, Equipment Depot 5 25 full false Guest: Arun Rajan of C.H. Robinson on Generative AI in transportation; Is India the next big manufacturing hub? An industry ribbon-cutting Guest: Arun Rajan of C.H. Robinson on Generative AI in transportation; Is India the next big manufacturing hub? An industry ribbon-cutting Our guest on this week's episode is Arun Rajan, chief strategy and innovation officer at transportation provider C.H. Robinson. Artificial intelligence is beginning to make inroads into logistics operations. But beyond all the hype, are there ways that generative AI can benefit transportation companies now?  

We’ve all heard about the decline of imports from China and how other countries are benefiting from that decline. Today we learn about one exporting country that is on the rise. It's India.

Norwegian warehouse automation company AutoStore opened its new U.S. headquarters this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Located in Salem, New Hampshire, the building replaces the company’s previous U.S. headquarters, which officials said they had outgrown. The new facility is twice the size of the old building and is just about 10 miles away.  It features a complete AutoStore automated storage system in-house as a way to demonstrate the technology.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Arun Rajan, chief strategy and innovation officer at transportation provider C.H. Robinson. Artificial intelligence is beginning to make inroads into logistics operations. But beyond all the hype, are there ways that generative AI can benefit transportation companies now?  

We’ve all heard about the decline of imports from China and how other countries are benefiting from that decline. Today we learn about one exporting country that is on the rise. It's India.

Norwegian warehouse automation company AutoStore opened its new U.S. headquarters this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Located in Salem, New Hampshire, the building replaces the company’s previous U.S. headquarters, which officials said they had outgrown. The new facility is twice the size of the old building and is just about 10 miles away.  It features a complete AutoStore automated storage system in-house as a way to demonstrate the technology.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15290589 Fri, 21 Jun 2024 13:00:00 -0400 1292 Generative AI, artificial intelligence, logistics, supply chain, transportation, C.H. Robinson, Arun Rajan, Port of Savannah, India manufacturing, GEP, global manufacturing, UPS, Georgia Ports, AutoStore, Equipment Depot 5 24 full false Guest: Don Hicks of Optilogic on new port congestion; The self-managed warehouse of the future; Autonomous forklift shipments are on the rise Guest: Don Hicks of Optilogic on new port congestion; The self-managed warehouse of the future; Autonomous forklift shipments are on the rise Our guest on this week's episode is Don Hicks, CEO of Optilogic. We saw during the pandemic how badly our ports were jammed with all of the many imported goods we needed and wanted to keep us happy while stuck in our homes. The congestion had eased a bit in the past year or so, but now things are beginning to jam up again. What’s causing that congestion? Our guest has some answers as well as advice on how to deal with these new problems.
 
Software giant Microsoft Corp. and the German supply chain management and e-commerce solution provider Arvato  plan to team up to develop plans for what they call a “self-managing warehouse of the future.” They call this the “Moonshot” research project, and say it will be powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and cloud computing.

Shipments of autonomous industrial lift trucks are expected to double from 2024 to 2025 in North America and Europe, driven by a declining industrial workforce and related demand for automated and tech-connected equipment. That’s according to data from global technology research firm ABI Research, which was released earlier this month. We discuss their projections and what's behind trend.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Don Hicks, CEO of Optilogic. We saw during the pandemic how badly our ports were jammed with all of the many imported goods we needed and wanted to keep us happy while stuck in our homes. The congestion had eased a bit in the past year or so, but now things are beginning to jam up again. What’s causing that congestion? Our guest has some answers as well as advice on how to deal with these new problems.
 
Software giant Microsoft Corp. and the German supply chain management and e-commerce solution provider Arvato  plan to team up to develop plans for what they call a “self-managing warehouse of the future.” They call this the “Moonshot” research project, and say it will be powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and cloud computing.

Shipments of autonomous industrial lift trucks are expected to double from 2024 to 2025 in North America and Europe, driven by a declining industrial workforce and related demand for automated and tech-connected equipment. That’s according to data from global technology research firm ABI Research, which was released earlier this month. We discuss their projections and what's behind trend.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15214013 Fri, 14 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1243 supply chain, logistics, distribution, warehousing, port congestion, Optilogic, Don Hicks, autonomous forklifts, lift trucks, ABI Research, Microsoft, Arvato, warehouse of the future, Equipment Depot 5 23 full false Guest: Brett Wood of ITA on National Forklift Safety Day; What's measured in DCs; New life for Convoy's business intelligence Guest: Brett Wood of ITA on National Forklift Safety Day; What's measured in DCs; New life for Convoy's business intelligence Our guest on this week's episode is Brett Wood, president and CEO of Toyota Material Handing North America. He also serves as the current chair of the Industrial Truck Association. Each year, the forklift industry sets apart a special day, known as National Forklift Safety Day, to recognize the importance of driver training and safe practices when operating industrial trucks. It's sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association. This year, National Forklift Safety Day will be held this coming Tuesday in Washington D.C. We talk with Wood about the event that is planned and how listeners can participate.
 
The Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) held  its 47thAnnual Conference in Dallas this week. The event drew about 500 attendees and was chock full of educational sessions  covering technology, labor issues, and case studies about facility and operations improvement projects. There was also update on the major trends and issues shaping the industry, including the release of the annual DC Metrics study.

In 2023, Flexport bought the digital technology of bankrupt Convoy, a digital freight matching company. Now we learn how Flexport intends to market that technology to help small carriers in managing their businesses.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Brett Wood, president and CEO of Toyota Material Handing North America. He also serves as the current chair of the Industrial Truck Association. Each year, the forklift industry sets apart a special day, known as National Forklift Safety Day, to recognize the importance of driver training and safe practices when operating industrial trucks. It's sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association. This year, National Forklift Safety Day will be held this coming Tuesday in Washington D.C. We talk with Wood about the event that is planned and how listeners can participate.
 
The Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) held  its 47thAnnual Conference in Dallas this week. The event drew about 500 attendees and was chock full of educational sessions  covering technology, labor issues, and case studies about facility and operations improvement projects. There was also update on the major trends and issues shaping the industry, including the release of the annual DC Metrics study.

In 2023, Flexport bought the digital technology of bankrupt Convoy, a digital freight matching company. Now we learn how Flexport intends to market that technology to help small carriers in managing their businesses.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15212425 Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1240 supply chain, logistics, Brett Wood, Toyota Material Handling, Industrial Truck Association, National Forklift Safety Day; Warehousing Education and Research Council, WERC, DC Metrics, Flexport, Convoy, Equipment Depot 5 22 full false Guest: Alex DaSilva of AccuWeather on a super-charged upcoming hurricane season; Resilient and efficient manufacturing supply chains; Pushback on CARB forklift regulations Guest: Alex DaSilva of AccuWeather on a super-charged upcoming hurricane season; Resilient and efficient manufacturing supply chains; Pushback on CARB forklift regulations Our guest on this week's episode is Alex DaSilva, Lead Hurricane Forecaster at AccuWeather. Last year the Atlantic hurricane season was the fourth-most active hurricane season on record. There with 20 named storms. And the forecasts for this year’s hurricane season are even worse. How will that affect our supply chains and what can we do to prepare for possible disruptions?  Our guest shares what this year's storm season may be like and why we may see such a surge in major hurricanes this summer.

Priorities may be shifting when it comes to supply chain preparedness. A recent study from Deloitte – released this past week -- examines the factors causing companies to expand and enhance their supply chains following several years of focus on resilience. The report is titled “Restructuring the Supply Base: Prioritizing a Resilient, Yet Efficient Supply Chain.” And it found that companies are trying to strike a better balance between performance and cost by reevaluating and restructuring their supply base. 

There is ongoing debate over California’s controversial regulations that will eventually phase out most non-electric forklifts . Why is this such a hot button issue in the Golden State?

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Alex DaSilva, Lead Hurricane Forecaster at AccuWeather. Last year the Atlantic hurricane season was the fourth-most active hurricane season on record. There with 20 named storms. And the forecasts for this year’s hurricane season are even worse. How will that affect our supply chains and what can we do to prepare for possible disruptions?  Our guest shares what this year's storm season may be like and why we may see such a surge in major hurricanes this summer.

Priorities may be shifting when it comes to supply chain preparedness. A recent study from Deloitte – released this past week -- examines the factors causing companies to expand and enhance their supply chains following several years of focus on resilience. The report is titled “Restructuring the Supply Base: Prioritizing a Resilient, Yet Efficient Supply Chain.” And it found that companies are trying to strike a better balance between performance and cost by reevaluating and restructuring their supply base. 

There is ongoing debate over California’s controversial regulations that will eventually phase out most non-electric forklifts . Why is this such a hot button issue in the Golden State?

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15170963 Fri, 31 May 2024 13:00:00 -0400 1407 supply chain, logistics, distribution, hurricanes, tornados, AccuWeather, Alex DaSilva, Deloitte, manufacturing, resilience, CARB, forklifts, Toyota Material Handling, Western Propane Gas Association, Yale Lift Truck Technologies 5 21 full false Guest: Omar Troncoso, a partner at Kearney, on nearshoring research; Rankings of top global supply chains; Warehouse ergonomics Guest: Omar Troncoso, a partner at Kearney, on nearshoring research; Rankings of top global supply chains; Warehouse ergonomics Our guest on this week's episode is Omar Troncoso. He is a partner at consulting firm Kearney and heads their Mexico City office. In the wake of pandemic disruptions, we all learned that our complex supply chains were just too complex. On top of that, we have seen more tariffs for Chinese goods and other world events that have encouraged companies to bring their manufacturing much closer to U.S. soil. Each year, Kearney  has researched reshoring trends. They just recently published those results in a study called Made in America for America. Our guest is the co-author of the report and shares what trends they uncovered.

One of the stories that our readers look forward to every year is the list from consulting firm Gartner of its “Global Supply Chain Top 25.” This year was actually the 20th year the firm has released that ranking. Schneider Electric is tops again this year. We find out other high-ranking firms and the criteria that makes their supply chains successful.

We often hear about how tough warehouse work can be and how that can be a contributing factor to the industry’s labor problems. Even in good times it can be hard to find workers for warehouse and distribution center jobs. It’s physically demanding work that can lead to injuries. As a result, more and more managers and company leaders are focused on introducing ergonomic solutions designed to ease the stress and strain of warehouse jobs. We preview a story in our June issue highlighting new ergonomic technologies, including exosuits.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Omar Troncoso. He is a partner at consulting firm Kearney and heads their Mexico City office. In the wake of pandemic disruptions, we all learned that our complex supply chains were just too complex. On top of that, we have seen more tariffs for Chinese goods and other world events that have encouraged companies to bring their manufacturing much closer to U.S. soil. Each year, Kearney  has researched reshoring trends. They just recently published those results in a study called Made in America for America. Our guest is the co-author of the report and shares what trends they uncovered.

One of the stories that our readers look forward to every year is the list from consulting firm Gartner of its “Global Supply Chain Top 25.” This year was actually the 20th year the firm has released that ranking. Schneider Electric is tops again this year. We find out other high-ranking firms and the criteria that makes their supply chains successful.

We often hear about how tough warehouse work can be and how that can be a contributing factor to the industry’s labor problems. Even in good times it can be hard to find workers for warehouse and distribution center jobs. It’s physically demanding work that can lead to injuries. As a result, more and more managers and company leaders are focused on introducing ergonomic solutions designed to ease the stress and strain of warehouse jobs. We preview a story in our June issue highlighting new ergonomic technologies, including exosuits.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15127012 Fri, 24 May 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1388 supply chain, logistics, nearshoring, transportation, shipping, Kearney, Omar Troncoso, exosuits, ergonomics, Gartner Top 20, Yale 5 20 full false Guest: Chris Hayes of Travelers on risks of distracted driving; New tariffs on Chinese imports; Cows fuel fleets Guest: Chris Hayes of Travelers on risks of distracted driving; New tariffs on Chinese imports; Cows fuel fleets Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Hayes, assistant vice president, risk control, at insurer Travelers. There are a lot of things that distract drivers as they travel down our nation's roads. From cell phones to radios to things they may see along the way – just about anything could distract a driver at the wrong moment. Our guest shares the latest research from Travelers into the problems of distracted driving, how it can affect commercial and transportation fleets, and what can be done to limit distractions.

The Biden Administration this week unveiled a new round of tariffs directed at Chinese goods that the government feels gives Chinese companies an unfair competitive advantage. Some of the tariffs involve products used in our supply chains, and not every importer is happy to see these new tariffs. We look at what tariffs are being levied and explain why there is some opposition to them.

This week, two clean energy companies – renewable natural gas (or RNG) provider Clean Energy Fuels and RNG producer Maas Energy Works – announced plans to build nine bio-fuel RNG production facilities at dairy farms in seven states. Maas Energy will build the facilities, and the RNG produced will feed Clean Energy’s nationwide network of RNG stations, which provide fuel for heavy- and medium-duty trucks, buses, and other fleets of equipment. The project involves collecting manure from the dairy farms and capturing the methane emissions to produce RNG that involves “dairy digester” technology.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Hayes, assistant vice president, risk control, at insurer Travelers. There are a lot of things that distract drivers as they travel down our nation's roads. From cell phones to radios to things they may see along the way – just about anything could distract a driver at the wrong moment. Our guest shares the latest research from Travelers into the problems of distracted driving, how it can affect commercial and transportation fleets, and what can be done to limit distractions.

The Biden Administration this week unveiled a new round of tariffs directed at Chinese goods that the government feels gives Chinese companies an unfair competitive advantage. Some of the tariffs involve products used in our supply chains, and not every importer is happy to see these new tariffs. We look at what tariffs are being levied and explain why there is some opposition to them.

This week, two clean energy companies – renewable natural gas (or RNG) provider Clean Energy Fuels and RNG producer Maas Energy Works – announced plans to build nine bio-fuel RNG production facilities at dairy farms in seven states. Maas Energy will build the facilities, and the RNG produced will feed Clean Energy’s nationwide network of RNG stations, which provide fuel for heavy- and medium-duty trucks, buses, and other fleets of equipment. The project involves collecting manure from the dairy farms and capturing the methane emissions to produce RNG that involves “dairy digester” technology.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15086816 Fri, 17 May 2024 11:00:00 -0400 984 supply chain, logistics, transportation, fleets, distracted driving, Travelers, Chris Hayes, Chinese tariffs, American Apparel & Footwear Association, Proxima, Moody's, Clean Energy Fuel, bio fuels, Maas Energy Works, Yale Lift Truck Technologies 5 19 full false Guest: John Lash of e2open on new European ESG regulations; Sortation that is revved up and ready; Is the freight recession about to shift into reverse? Guest: John Lash of e2open on new European ESG regulations; Sortation that is revved up and ready; Is the freight recession about to shift into reverse? Our guest on this week's episode is John Lash, group vice president of product strategy at global supply chain platform e2open. The EU has agreed to new environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rules within The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D). This requires companies to act if their supply chains cause environmental damages such as toxic air, packaging, and packaging waste or violate forced labor laws. But what will this updated call to action mean for corporate accountability? 

Everything seems to be getting more “high tech” these days. In our current issue, we take a look at how this trend is affecting sorters—which, of course, are keys to keeping warehouse and distribution center processes running smoothly and efficiently.

Both shippers and carriers throughout North America know all too well that the truckload industry has been in the low cycle of a freight recession for nearly two years. There are basically too many trucks and not enough cargo moving to fill them all. However, we’ve lately gotten some indication that things are finally getting ready to turn around. 

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is John Lash, group vice president of product strategy at global supply chain platform e2open. The EU has agreed to new environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rules within The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D). This requires companies to act if their supply chains cause environmental damages such as toxic air, packaging, and packaging waste or violate forced labor laws. But what will this updated call to action mean for corporate accountability? 

Everything seems to be getting more “high tech” these days. In our current issue, we take a look at how this trend is affecting sorters—which, of course, are keys to keeping warehouse and distribution center processes running smoothly and efficiently.

Both shippers and carriers throughout North America know all too well that the truckload industry has been in the low cycle of a freight recession for nearly two years. There are basically too many trucks and not enough cargo moving to fill them all. However, we’ve lately gotten some indication that things are finally getting ready to turn around. 

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15042540 Fri, 10 May 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1245 supply chain, logistics, ESG, environmental, European Union, John Lash, e2open, CS3D, sorters, Intralox, MODEX, Trew Automation, Opex, ACT Research, freight, trucking, Yale Lift Truck Technologies 5 18 full false Guest: Jeff Burnstein of A3 on the state of the robotics market; A rise in supply chain AI investments; Walmart squeezes more costs from its distribution operations Guest: Jeff Burnstein of A3 on the state of the robotics market; A rise in supply chain AI investments; Walmart squeezes more costs from its distribution operations Our guest on this week's episode is Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the world’s largest trade group for robotics & automation companies. Robotics have impacted supply chains in ways few other technologies ever have. From filling orders in warehouses to loading and unloading trucks, robotics and automation are making our supply chains run more efficiently and accurately. And while the use of robotics has seen steady growth in the industry, what is the near-term outlook? 

Supply chain leaders are bullish on generative AI, with most saying they expect to reap returns on their investments in the technology this year and that they plan to invest even more in the future. This is according to an Accenture survey of C-Suite executives worldwide, released this week 

Walmart is famous for making its supply chain as efficient as possible. This week we learned about another way they squeeze cost out of the system. The company opened a high-tech consolidation center in Illinois. This is a 490,000-square foot facility that uses automation to flow three times more volume of goods through the building than a manual version. They have about 10 total of these consolidation centers, but most of those are manual; this is actually the third one of these high-tech ones they operate, following the first one which opened in California in 2019.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the world’s largest trade group for robotics & automation companies. Robotics have impacted supply chains in ways few other technologies ever have. From filling orders in warehouses to loading and unloading trucks, robotics and automation are making our supply chains run more efficiently and accurately. And while the use of robotics has seen steady growth in the industry, what is the near-term outlook? 

Supply chain leaders are bullish on generative AI, with most saying they expect to reap returns on their investments in the technology this year and that they plan to invest even more in the future. This is according to an Accenture survey of C-Suite executives worldwide, released this week 

Walmart is famous for making its supply chain as efficient as possible. This week we learned about another way they squeeze cost out of the system. The company opened a high-tech consolidation center in Illinois. This is a 490,000-square foot facility that uses automation to flow three times more volume of goods through the building than a manual version. They have about 10 total of these consolidation centers, but most of those are manual; this is actually the third one of these high-tech ones they operate, following the first one which opened in California in 2019.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-15000289 Fri, 03 May 2024 11:00:00 -0400 955 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, robotics, automation, A3, Association for Advancing Automation, Jeff Burnstein, artificial intelligence, supply chain AI, Accenture, Walmart, Yale Lift Truck Technologies 5 17 full false Guest: John Donigian of Moody's on supply chain risks; A safer way to ship lithium batteries; The rising demand for industrial trucks Guest: John Donigian of Moody's on supply chain risks; A safer way to ship lithium batteries; The rising demand for industrial trucks Our guest on this week's episode is John Donigian, senior director of strategy - supply chain for risk assessment firm Moody’s. We have been reporting for more than a year on just what a difficult time the logistics industry has experienced. Costs remain high and lead times have increased. Our guest provides an overview of what is causing logistics to be stuck in the doldrums.

Scientists are looking at ways to make better batteries, but for some time now lithium ion has just been the best way to pack a lot of power into a small space. This week we heard about one way to move toward a safer way to transporting lithium ion batteries -  and it has to do with blockchain.

Demand for forklifts, aisle trucks, container handlers, and similar equipment is on the rise, thanks to planned infrastructure development projects around the world. This is according to data from Chicago-based research firm MarketsandMarkets, released earlier this month. The researchers say demand for industrial vehicles for material handling and transportation is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 5% by 2030.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is John Donigian, senior director of strategy - supply chain for risk assessment firm Moody’s. We have been reporting for more than a year on just what a difficult time the logistics industry has experienced. Costs remain high and lead times have increased. Our guest provides an overview of what is causing logistics to be stuck in the doldrums.

Scientists are looking at ways to make better batteries, but for some time now lithium ion has just been the best way to pack a lot of power into a small space. This week we heard about one way to move toward a safer way to transporting lithium ion batteries -  and it has to do with blockchain.

Demand for forklifts, aisle trucks, container handlers, and similar equipment is on the rise, thanks to planned infrastructure development projects around the world. This is according to data from Chicago-based research firm MarketsandMarkets, released earlier this month. The researchers say demand for industrial vehicles for material handling and transportation is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 5% by 2030.

 

Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14962055 Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1215 supply chain, logistics, Moody's, supply chain risk, John Donigian, lithium batteries, MSC, GSBN, blockchain, Hapag-Lloyd, industrial trucks, forklifts, narrow aisle trucks, VNA, MarketsandMarkets, Travero Logistics 5 16 full false Guest: David Correll of MIT on supply chain sustainability; Women truckers head to Washington; What happened to Yellow Corp.? Guest: David Correll of MIT on supply chain sustainability; Women truckers head to Washington; What happened to Yellow Corp.? Our guest on this week's episode is David Correll, a research scientist with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Transportation and Logistics. This coming Monday, April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. Begun in 1970, this is a worldwide event designed to recognize the importance of preserving our environment. Due to their basic role of moving goods worldwide, our supply chains are among the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases. While we can’t totally eliminate our environmental footprints, there are things we can do to lessen their impacts on the environment. Each year, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics produce a State of Supply Chain Sustainability report. Correll is the project lead for this ambitious research. He shares about the progress being made toward sustainability within supply chains.

Members of the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) Women in Motion (WIM) group met with federal government leaders in Washington this week to advocate for policies that support women drivers and that will encourage recruitment and retention of more women in the industry. We look at the specific legislation they are promoting to improve the lives of women truckers.

Freight company Yellow Corp. went out of business last year. It was one of the largest trucking companies to declare bankruptcy in history. Yellow blames its demise on contract negotiations with the Teamsters, while the union says the company spent more than it could afford to acquire other companies and expand. Regardless, the bankruptcy court has been selling off the company's remaining assets. We look at those assets and what other trucking firms have been buying them in order to expand their own operations at bargain prices.

 
 
Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is David Correll, a research scientist with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Transportation and Logistics. This coming Monday, April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. Begun in 1970, this is a worldwide event designed to recognize the importance of preserving our environment. Due to their basic role of moving goods worldwide, our supply chains are among the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases. While we can’t totally eliminate our environmental footprints, there are things we can do to lessen their impacts on the environment. Each year, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics produce a State of Supply Chain Sustainability report. Correll is the project lead for this ambitious research. He shares about the progress being made toward sustainability within supply chains.

Members of the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) Women in Motion (WIM) group met with federal government leaders in Washington this week to advocate for policies that support women drivers and that will encourage recruitment and retention of more women in the industry. We look at the specific legislation they are promoting to improve the lives of women truckers.

Freight company Yellow Corp. went out of business last year. It was one of the largest trucking companies to declare bankruptcy in history. Yellow blames its demise on contract negotiations with the Teamsters, while the union says the company spent more than it could afford to acquire other companies and expand. Regardless, the bankruptcy court has been selling off the company's remaining assets. We look at those assets and what other trucking firms have been buying them in order to expand their own operations at bargain prices.

 
 
Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14919331 Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1652 supply chain, logistics, MIT, CSCMP, David Correll, Yellow Corp., Estes Express, XPO, Roadrunner, American Trucking Associations, Travero Logistis 5 15 full false Guest: John Paxton of MHI on MODEX 2024 and the MHI's Annual Industry Report; The shifting priorities of transportation; A forecast for growth in manufacturing Guest: John Paxton of MHI on MODEX 2024 and the MHI's Annual Industry Report; The shifting priorities of transportation; A forecast for growth in manufacturing Our guest on this week's episode is  John Paxton, CEO of MHI. Supply chain professionals gathered just a few weeks ago in Atlanta for MODEX 2024. It is one of the most exciting stops on a professional’s calendar, as there were three large halls filled with the latest in supply chain technologies to explore. MHI is the industry trade group responsible for organizing and presenting MODEX. Paxton shares key takeaways from the show as well as discusses in detail some of the important findings from the MHI Annual Industry Report. Released during MODEX, this research gives a snapshot of the current state of the industry.

Transportation industry leaders have shifted their priorities in 2024, with cost concerns taking a back seat to climate issues that can cause major supply chain disruptions. This is according to the 2024 State of Transportation Report from transportation management technology provider Breakthrough. Respondents said extreme weather events—such as the months-long Panama Canal drought—are their number one transportation challenge this year. They also said such issues are pushing environmental sustainability initiatives to the top of their companies’ agendas.

The U.S. manufacturing sector has emerged from the pandemic on a strong growth trajectory, and continued growth is expected over the next 10 years. That’s according to a report from the National Association of Manufacturers and Deloitte, the consulting firm. The report says the sector is growing in response to three trends, as companies work to meet evolving customer demands, de-risk their supply chains, and leverage government incentives and policies 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  John Paxton, CEO of MHI. Supply chain professionals gathered just a few weeks ago in Atlanta for MODEX 2024. It is one of the most exciting stops on a professional’s calendar, as there were three large halls filled with the latest in supply chain technologies to explore. MHI is the industry trade group responsible for organizing and presenting MODEX. Paxton shares key takeaways from the show as well as discusses in detail some of the important findings from the MHI Annual Industry Report. Released during MODEX, this research gives a snapshot of the current state of the industry.

Transportation industry leaders have shifted their priorities in 2024, with cost concerns taking a back seat to climate issues that can cause major supply chain disruptions. This is according to the 2024 State of Transportation Report from transportation management technology provider Breakthrough. Respondents said extreme weather events—such as the months-long Panama Canal drought—are their number one transportation challenge this year. They also said such issues are pushing environmental sustainability initiatives to the top of their companies’ agendas.

The U.S. manufacturing sector has emerged from the pandemic on a strong growth trajectory, and continued growth is expected over the next 10 years. That’s according to a report from the National Association of Manufacturers and Deloitte, the consulting firm. The report says the sector is growing in response to three trends, as companies work to meet evolving customer demands, de-risk their supply chains, and leverage government incentives and policies 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14831655 Fri, 12 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0400 1194 supply chain, logistics, MODEX24, MHI, John Paxton, Annual Industry Report, Breakthrough, transportation, manufacturing, National Association of Manufacturers, Deloitte, Travero Logistics 5 14 full false Guest: Stephen Dyke of FourKites on how shippers are adjusting after the Key Bridge collapse; New stats show the health of logistics; Applying Gen AI to business practices Guest: Stephen Dyke of FourKites on how shippers are adjusting after the Key Bridge collapse; New stats show the health of logistics; Applying Gen AI to business practices Our guest on this week's episode is  Stephen Dyke, principal solution advisor at FourKites. It has been more than a week since the cargo ship Dalia struck and brought down Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. Supply chain managers are working hard to adjust to limited operations at the Port of Baltimore, and shippers are shifting cargo to other ports and road networks. Our guest shares the latest from Baltimore and the current impacts to supply chains. 

Economic activity in the logistics industry grew for the fourth straight month in March and marked a continued return to more “healthy and normal” growth levels. That’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index (or LMI) report, which was released this week. 

Ever since ChatGPT came out a little more than a year ago, people have been playing around with these chatbots that are powered by generative artificial intelligence, better known as GenAI. But while these tools can definitely do some impressive things in terms of holding natural language text conversations with humans and instantly researching the internet to provide unique answers, how that can actually help us get our work done better and faster is a harder question to answer . We got a little more information this week with the news that KPMG is expanding its relationship with Google Cloud, with the goal to apply GenAI in practical ways in business.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Stephen Dyke, principal solution advisor at FourKites. It has been more than a week since the cargo ship Dalia struck and brought down Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. Supply chain managers are working hard to adjust to limited operations at the Port of Baltimore, and shippers are shifting cargo to other ports and road networks. Our guest shares the latest from Baltimore and the current impacts to supply chains. 

Economic activity in the logistics industry grew for the fourth straight month in March and marked a continued return to more “healthy and normal” growth levels. That’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index (or LMI) report, which was released this week. 

Ever since ChatGPT came out a little more than a year ago, people have been playing around with these chatbots that are powered by generative artificial intelligence, better known as GenAI. But while these tools can definitely do some impressive things in terms of holding natural language text conversations with humans and instantly researching the internet to provide unique answers, how that can actually help us get our work done better and faster is a harder question to answer . We got a little more information this week with the news that KPMG is expanding its relationship with Google Cloud, with the goal to apply GenAI in practical ways in business.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14834286 Fri, 05 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0400 1188 supply chain, logistics, transportation, Port of Baltimore, Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, shipping, maritime, Stephen Dyke, FourKites, Logistics Managers' Index, Zac Rogers, GenAI, KPMG, Google Cloud, Travero Logistics 5 13 full false Guest: Crystal Parrott of Plus One Robotics on how automation can help retailers handle peaks; Supply chain impacts of the Baltimore bridge disaster; Drones show potential for middle-mile deliveries Guest: Crystal Parrott of Plus One Robotics on how automation can help retailers handle peaks; Supply chain impacts of the Baltimore bridge disaster; Drones show potential for middle-mile deliveries Our guest on this week's episode is  Crystal Parrott, chief operating officer at Plus One Robotics. Retailers have always had to deal with seasonal peak periods. However, those fluctuating volumes make it difficult on distribution operations. But now, there are technologies that make it easier to smooth out the peaks. Our guest shares how those technologies can bring huge benefits for retail distribution.

The major story we’ve been covering this week has been the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor when it was struck by a container ship leaving Maryland on its way to Sri Lanka. Investigators and rescue workers are still trying to figure out how that tragedy happened, and it could take years to ultimately rebuild the bridge, which carried traffic on I-695. In the meantime, the closure of the Port of Baltimore has forced supply chains managers to adapt. We look at how ships and trucks are being rerouted to other ports and roads and what overall effects this disaster may add to supply chain disruptions and complexity.

We take a sneak peek at a story in the April issue of DC Velocity that looks at how drones are impacting middle-mile freight movement. There is a European company that is very close to making commercial delivery operations with larger drones a reality. Dronamics has developed a Cessna-sized aircraft called the Black Swan. It’s a middle-mile drone that can deliver 770 pounds of cargo up to about 1,500 miles. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Crystal Parrott, chief operating officer at Plus One Robotics. Retailers have always had to deal with seasonal peak periods. However, those fluctuating volumes make it difficult on distribution operations. But now, there are technologies that make it easier to smooth out the peaks. Our guest shares how those technologies can bring huge benefits for retail distribution.

The major story we’ve been covering this week has been the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor when it was struck by a container ship leaving Maryland on its way to Sri Lanka. Investigators and rescue workers are still trying to figure out how that tragedy happened, and it could take years to ultimately rebuild the bridge, which carried traffic on I-695. In the meantime, the closure of the Port of Baltimore has forced supply chains managers to adapt. We look at how ships and trucks are being rerouted to other ports and roads and what overall effects this disaster may add to supply chain disruptions and complexity.

We take a sneak peek at a story in the April issue of DC Velocity that looks at how drones are impacting middle-mile freight movement. There is a European company that is very close to making commercial delivery operations with larger drones a reality. Dronamics has developed a Cessna-sized aircraft called the Black Swan. It’s a middle-mile drone that can deliver 770 pounds of cargo up to about 1,500 miles. 


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14790064 Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1221 supply chain, logistics, Port of Baltimore, Key bridge disaster, Freightos, Ease Logistics, Crystal Parrott, Plus One Robotics, automation, robotics, Dronamics, delivery drones, 5 12 full false Guest: Photographer Anne-Marie Michel on life on the road for women truckers; The warehouse building boom has ended; The costs of truck electrification Guest: Photographer Anne-Marie Michel on life on the road for women truckers; The warehouse building boom has ended; The costs of truck electrification Our guest on this week's episode is Anne-Marie Michel, a photographer based in London who has just completed a photographic book on female truckers. Women drivers make up a growing percentage of our nation’s truck operators. Michel captured the lives of these women and the special bond they share as "Sisters of the Road."

This week we heard that that warehouse construction boom that resulted from Covid supply chain delays and customer demand is finally cooling off. That comes from a report from Cushman & Wakefield, which found that construction starts in the industrial sector have slowed dramatically this year for two reasons:  tenant demand has waned and hurdles to new construction activity have grown. 

We all know that due to climate change we have to eventually wean off of fossil fuels to power the nation’s transportation fleets. But, a new report shows that there are lots of hurdles to jump and a huge cost to embracing our electrical future. We share the details and expected costs of the needed infrastructure that will be needed. It may require a more common-sense approach to electrification.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Anne-Marie Michel, a photographer based in London who has just completed a photographic book on female truckers. Women drivers make up a growing percentage of our nation’s truck operators. Michel captured the lives of these women and the special bond they share as "Sisters of the Road."

This week we heard that that warehouse construction boom that resulted from Covid supply chain delays and customer demand is finally cooling off. That comes from a report from Cushman & Wakefield, which found that construction starts in the industrial sector have slowed dramatically this year for two reasons:  tenant demand has waned and hurdles to new construction activity have grown. 

We all know that due to climate change we have to eventually wean off of fossil fuels to power the nation’s transportation fleets. But, a new report shows that there are lots of hurdles to jump and a huge cost to embracing our electrical future. We share the details and expected costs of the needed infrastructure that will be needed. It may require a more common-sense approach to electrification.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14745017 Fri, 22 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0400 1251 supply chain, logistics, Sisters of the Road, trucking, Anne-Marie Michael, Uber Freight, women truckers, industrial construction, warehousing, Cushman & Wakefield, truck electrification, Clean Freight Coalition, Aptean 5 11 full false Guest: Breanna Herbert of Orbis on reusable packaging; Final-mile deliveries in urban areas; The advantages of using a 4PL Guest: Breanna Herbert of Orbis on reusable packaging; Final-mile deliveries in urban areas; The advantages of using a 4PL Our guest on this week's episode is Breanna Herbert, senior product manager at Orbis Corp. One way that companies can meet their sustainability goals is to transform the way they package goods. That’s where reusable packaging can help to create greener supply chains. Our guest offers some insights and also shares about packaging products that are made from recycled materials gathered from shorelines of the world's oceans.

We have all seen  those Amazon or UPS trucks pull right up outside our driveways and watch a delivery driver carry a single box to our doorstep to make a delivery. But that type of delivery is not practical in urban areas where the trucks cannot easily navigate. Instead, they often use e-bikes in cities, but that can also present some problems. We discuss some ways that New York City is utilizing technology to make bike-based deliveries more practical.

Shippers are turning to logistics services providers more and more in the wake of the pandemic economy to get a better handle on costs and improve their supply chain operations. One company that is working with a 4PL is Core Health & Fitness, which makes commercial fitness equipment and related digital solutions. We talk about the benefits they have gained with this logistics partnership.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Breanna Herbert, senior product manager at Orbis Corp. One way that companies can meet their sustainability goals is to transform the way they package goods. That’s where reusable packaging can help to create greener supply chains. Our guest offers some insights and also shares about packaging products that are made from recycled materials gathered from shorelines of the world's oceans.

We have all seen  those Amazon or UPS trucks pull right up outside our driveways and watch a delivery driver carry a single box to our doorstep to make a delivery. But that type of delivery is not practical in urban areas where the trucks cannot easily navigate. Instead, they often use e-bikes in cities, but that can also present some problems. We discuss some ways that New York City is utilizing technology to make bike-based deliveries more practical.

Shippers are turning to logistics services providers more and more in the wake of the pandemic economy to get a better handle on costs and improve their supply chain operations. One company that is working with a 4PL is Core Health & Fitness, which makes commercial fitness equipment and related digital solutions. We talk about the benefits they have gained with this logistics partnership.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14653542 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1255 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, Breanna Herbert, Orbis Corp., sustainability, reusable containers, plastic pallets, recycling, ocean waste, Newlab, Swobbee, Popwheels, Swiftmile, Core Health & Fitness, Redwood Logistics, Aptean 5 10 full false Guest: Eric Fullerton updating Red Sea shipping attacks; Same-day delivery drives higher revenues; How consumers feel about retail experiences Guest: Eric Fullerton updating Red Sea shipping attacks; Same-day delivery drives higher revenues; How consumers feel about retail experiences Our guest on this week's episode is Eric Fullerton, senior director of product marketing at project44. Transportation networks continue to be disrupted by the ongoing militia attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. To counter it, most ocean carriers are rerouting goods away from the Suez Canal and extending their ocean miles by sailing around the horn of Africa. We discuss the latest and what shippers can and should be doing to counteract the effects of these ongoing supply chain constraints. 

New research into demand for same-day delivery shows that it’s not just hype – consumers still want fast service, and it can actually add up to higher revenue for companies that provide it. That’s according to a report published this week by crowdsourced delivery platform Roadie. 

Retailers gathered in Dallas this past week for the Retail Industry Leaders Association annual meeting. We report on two large retailers, Nordstrom and Walmart, and what they are doing to enhance their customers' delivery experiences.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new series on Supply Chain Jobs of Tomorrow  starts this week, as all eight episodes drop this Tuesday.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Eric Fullerton, senior director of product marketing at project44. Transportation networks continue to be disrupted by the ongoing militia attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. To counter it, most ocean carriers are rerouting goods away from the Suez Canal and extending their ocean miles by sailing around the horn of Africa. We discuss the latest and what shippers can and should be doing to counteract the effects of these ongoing supply chain constraints. 

New research into demand for same-day delivery shows that it’s not just hype – consumers still want fast service, and it can actually add up to higher revenue for companies that provide it. That’s according to a report published this week by crowdsourced delivery platform Roadie. 

Retailers gathered in Dallas this past week for the Retail Industry Leaders Association annual meeting. We report on two large retailers, Nordstrom and Walmart, and what they are doing to enhance their customers' delivery experiences.


Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new series on Supply Chain Jobs of Tomorrow  starts this week, as all eight episodes drop this Tuesday.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14608987 Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1248 supply chain, logistics, ocean shipping, Red Sea, Suez Canal, maritime, Eric Fullerton, project44, RILA, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Roadie, UPS, Same-day delivery, Nordstrom, Walmart, Aptean 5 9 full false Guest: Peter Latta of A. Duie Pyle on the challenges of running a successful trucking and logistics provider for 100 years; Closing the warehouse labor gap; Inventories begin to stabilize Guest: Peter Latta of A. Duie Pyle on the challenges of running a successful trucking and logistics provider for 100 years; Closing the warehouse labor gap; Inventories begin to stabilize Our guest on this week's episode is Peter Latta, chairman and CEO of A. Duie Pyle, a  Northeast regional trucking and logistics company. This year marks the 100th anniversary of A. Duie Pyle. Latta discusses some of the challenges his company has overcome to hit the century mark as well as issues currently facing the trucking industry.

Finding workers for our nation’s warehouses has not been easy the past couple of years. But there is automation available that can help to close the warehouse labor gap. Looking for ways to maximize your workforce and improve throughput? Automated forklifts may be the answer.


The Covid pandemic caused all sorts of headaches for anyone trying to run a logistics business. One of the biggest challenges was the wild fluctuations of inventory levels in warehouses. We experienced huge demand for certain goods, then shortages, then over-compensation, then port congestion… basically it was a mess. But things may be finally improving. We discuss a report this week that said that U.S. retailers may have finally gotten their inventory levels to settle down again,  or right-sized.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Eight new episodes drop Tuesday on Supply Chain Jobs of Tomorrow. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe to Supply Chain in the Fast Lane and listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Peter Latta, chairman and CEO of A. Duie Pyle, a  Northeast regional trucking and logistics company. This year marks the 100th anniversary of A. Duie Pyle. Latta discusses some of the challenges his company has overcome to hit the century mark as well as issues currently facing the trucking industry.

Finding workers for our nation’s warehouses has not been easy the past couple of years. But there is automation available that can help to close the warehouse labor gap. Looking for ways to maximize your workforce and improve throughput? Automated forklifts may be the answer.


The Covid pandemic caused all sorts of headaches for anyone trying to run a logistics business. One of the biggest challenges was the wild fluctuations of inventory levels in warehouses. We experienced huge demand for certain goods, then shortages, then over-compensation, then port congestion… basically it was a mess. But things may be finally improving. We discuss a report this week that said that U.S. retailers may have finally gotten their inventory levels to settle down again,  or right-sized.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Eight new episodes drop Tuesday on Supply Chain Jobs of Tomorrow. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe to Supply Chain in the Fast Lane and listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media & Events Buzzsprout-14562571 Fri, 23 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1270 supply chain, transportation, logistics, A. Duie Pyle, Peter Latta, trucking, LTL, warehousing, labor, automated forklifts, Raymond Corporation, inventory, Bank of America 5 8 full false Guest: Steve Ardagh of Eagle Protect on ethical sourcing; Reshoring picks up momentum; Ongoing world events continue to impact our supply chains Guest: Steve Ardagh of Eagle Protect on ethical sourcing; Reshoring picks up momentum; Ongoing world events continue to impact our supply chains Our guest on this week's episode is Steve Ardagh, the founder and CEO of Eagle Protect, a protective glove supplier.  Our supply chains contain products sourced and manufactured all over the world. But sometimes, the origins of products may not be in line with our values. Products may be produced in sweatshops, or ignore child labor standards, or they may take advantage of minority groups or even enslaved people. How do we assure ethical sourcing of the products in our supply chains? Our guest has some thoughts on this topic.

Nearshoring, or moving manufacturing closer to our markets, is gaining in popularity. And we have seen a lot of recent activity in Mexico  that is further evidence of this growing trend. How does nearshoring reduce risk and stabilize our supply chains?

Transportation of goods continues to be affected by world events, such as attacks on shipping within the Red Sea, the ongoing drought in Panama, and two major wars. Retailers are starting to feel these effects, as delays and higher freight costs pose earnings risk for U.S. and European companies importing from Asia.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Steve Ardagh, the founder and CEO of Eagle Protect, a protective glove supplier.  Our supply chains contain products sourced and manufactured all over the world. But sometimes, the origins of products may not be in line with our values. Products may be produced in sweatshops, or ignore child labor standards, or they may take advantage of minority groups or even enslaved people. How do we assure ethical sourcing of the products in our supply chains? Our guest has some thoughts on this topic.

Nearshoring, or moving manufacturing closer to our markets, is gaining in popularity. And we have seen a lot of recent activity in Mexico  that is further evidence of this growing trend. How does nearshoring reduce risk and stabilize our supply chains?

Transportation of goods continues to be affected by world events, such as attacks on shipping within the Red Sea, the ongoing drought in Panama, and two major wars. Retailers are starting to feel these effects, as delays and higher freight costs pose earnings risk for U.S. and European companies importing from Asia.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14516934 Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1032 supply chain, logistics, transportation, Suez Canal, Red Sea, Panama Canal, ethical sourcing, Steve Ardagh, Eagle Protect, BlueGrace Logistics, Arrive Logistics, retail, Moody's Investors Service, Aptean 5 7 full false Guest: Siddharth Priyesh of CrimsonLogic on battling supply chain inflation and high interest rates; New research shows a lack of AI use in logistics; The progress of digitalization throughout transportation Guest: Siddharth Priyesh of CrimsonLogic on battling supply chain inflation and high interest rates; New research shows a lack of AI use in logistics; The progress of digitalization throughout transportation Our guest on this week's episode is Siddharth Priyesh, vice president and head of the Americas and Caribbean regions at CrimsonLogic. All businesses have been affected by increasing inflation and the high interest rates that have been set to curb that inflation. It has caused some sectors to suffer worse than others. Transportation has been one of the industries hit the hardest with higher costs. Will those impacts continue during the year, and what can businesses do to lessen the pain? 

Transportation and logistics professionals in the United States and Europe say their companies are coming up short in three areas that get a lot of attention in business circles these days: artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, and supply chain visibility. That’s according to a recent study from location data and technology firm Here Technologies, released this week. We share the details of the research and what it means to supply chain management. 

One of the biggest buzzwords of the past couple years has been digitalization. But in the waves of new technology we see all the time, it to can be hard to keep track of exactly what that means. And are we there yet? Are we digitalized? This week, we saw two stories that give an idea of a progress report on that question, specifically in the area of transportation. We share the details.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Siddharth Priyesh, vice president and head of the Americas and Caribbean regions at CrimsonLogic. All businesses have been affected by increasing inflation and the high interest rates that have been set to curb that inflation. It has caused some sectors to suffer worse than others. Transportation has been one of the industries hit the hardest with higher costs. Will those impacts continue during the year, and what can businesses do to lessen the pain? 

Transportation and logistics professionals in the United States and Europe say their companies are coming up short in three areas that get a lot of attention in business circles these days: artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, and supply chain visibility. That’s according to a recent study from location data and technology firm Here Technologies, released this week. We share the details of the research and what it means to supply chain management. 

One of the biggest buzzwords of the past couple years has been digitalization. But in the waves of new technology we see all the time, it to can be hard to keep track of exactly what that means. And are we there yet? Are we digitalized? This week, we saw two stories that give an idea of a progress report on that question, specifically in the area of transportation. We share the details.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14471942 Fri, 09 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1067 supply chain, logistics, transportation, Siddharth Priyesh, CrimsonLogic, AI, visibility, digitalization, Here Technologies, Uber Freight, JB Hunt Transport, C.H. Robinson; Aptean 5 6 full false Guest: Chris Jones of Descartes on labor shortages; Rail safety one year out from East Palestine derailment; Versatile AMRs Guest: Chris Jones of Descartes on labor shortages; Rail safety one year out from East Palestine derailment; Versatile AMRs Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Jones, executive vice president of industry for Descartes. Unemployment rates in the United States continue to be under 4% - the latest report released today shows unemployment currently at 3.7%. The low unemployment further demonstrates the growing strength of the overall economy. However, one thing that may stifle additional growth is the difficulty of finding good workers with so few people looking for new jobs. Logistics technology company Descartes has just completed a study called How Bad Is the Supply Chain and Logistics Workforce Challenge?  We talk about the results of the study and what it means for finding workers to run our supply chains.

It has been a year since that terrible railroad accident in East Palestine, Ohio. Since then, the railroad industry, Congress, and safety agencies have been haggling over how to make trains safer to prevent such future accidents. Railroads have proposed some voluntary measures to increase safety while at the same time stifling a bill in Congress that would mandate some safety procedures. We discuss where things stand now.

From warehouses to farms, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are helping boost productivity, save labor, and continuously improve operations. We look at the cover story for the  February issue of DC Velocity that discusses how AMRs are reshaping the warehousing landscape and even influencing how work is done in other industries.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Jones, executive vice president of industry for Descartes. Unemployment rates in the United States continue to be under 4% - the latest report released today shows unemployment currently at 3.7%. The low unemployment further demonstrates the growing strength of the overall economy. However, one thing that may stifle additional growth is the difficulty of finding good workers with so few people looking for new jobs. Logistics technology company Descartes has just completed a study called How Bad Is the Supply Chain and Logistics Workforce Challenge?  We talk about the results of the study and what it means for finding workers to run our supply chains.

It has been a year since that terrible railroad accident in East Palestine, Ohio. Since then, the railroad industry, Congress, and safety agencies have been haggling over how to make trains safer to prevent such future accidents. Railroads have proposed some voluntary measures to increase safety while at the same time stifling a bill in Congress that would mandate some safety procedures. We discuss where things stand now.

From warehouses to farms, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are helping boost productivity, save labor, and continuously improve operations. We look at the cover story for the  February issue of DC Velocity that discusses how AMRs are reshaping the warehousing landscape and even influencing how work is done in other industries.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14428723 Fri, 02 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1069 supply chain, logistics, employment, labor, Descartes, Chris Jones, warehousing, East Palestine, railroad safety, Norfolk Southern, Association of American Railroads, AMRs, Geek+, UPS Supply Chain, Allbirds, Hippo Harvest, Zebra Technologies, Aptean 5 5 full false Guest: Melanie Nuce-Hilton of GS1 US on 2D barcode benefits; The latest on autonomous trucks; Freight markets remain sluggish Guest: Melanie Nuce-Hilton of GS1 US on 2D barcode benefits; The latest on autonomous trucks; Freight markets remain sluggish Our guest on this week's episode is Melanie Nuce-Hilton, senior vice president, innovation and partnerships, at GS1 US. The world has long used barcodes for data tracking and transactions – we see them stamped on nearly every product we buy. However, new standards are being introduced to replace the humble bar code with more sophisticated codes that can contain much more data. We talk about the benefits and use cases for the newer 2D types of barcodes.

We’ve been hearing about the potential for autonomous self-driving trucks for a few years now. The technology could be applied in transportation and could ease driver shortages. There have been a number of pilot programs for testing autonomous vehicles, but we also see some opposition to their adoption over concerns of safety. Today we share some of the latest news concerning these autonomous technologies. 

Speakers at this year's SMC3 JumpStart conference in Atlanta shared their views that the challenging conditions that have plagued freight markets for the past couple of years will continue in 2024 – but that the volatility will diminish as the year progresses. We share details on what they had to say.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Melanie Nuce-Hilton, senior vice president, innovation and partnerships, at GS1 US. The world has long used barcodes for data tracking and transactions – we see them stamped on nearly every product we buy. However, new standards are being introduced to replace the humble bar code with more sophisticated codes that can contain much more data. We talk about the benefits and use cases for the newer 2D types of barcodes.

We’ve been hearing about the potential for autonomous self-driving trucks for a few years now. The technology could be applied in transportation and could ease driver shortages. There have been a number of pilot programs for testing autonomous vehicles, but we also see some opposition to their adoption over concerns of safety. Today we share some of the latest news concerning these autonomous technologies. 

Speakers at this year's SMC3 JumpStart conference in Atlanta shared their views that the challenging conditions that have plagued freight markets for the past couple of years will continue in 2024 – but that the volatility will diminish as the year progresses. We share details on what they had to say.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14384088 Fri, 26 Jan 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1523 supply chain, logistics, bar codes, GS1, Melanie Nuce-Hilton, autonomous trucks, Teamsters, Gatik, Knight-Swift, Embark Trucks, Uber Freight, Aurora Innovation, Ryder System, Kodiak Robotics, SMC3, AI, Estes Express, CH Robinson, Aptean 5 4 full true Guest: Greg Vecchi of SafeDefend on protecting facilities from active shooters; Automation companies struggle in China; Gamification comes to the warehouse Guest: Greg Vecchi of SafeDefend on protecting facilities from active shooters; Automation companies struggle in China; Gamification comes to the warehouse Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Greg Vecchi, director of training at SafeDefend LLC . Businesses are statistically among the most common places where active shootings occur, yet most businesses don’t have the security to prevent a motivated person from entering a facility and committing violent acts. Most just think it could never happen to them. However, there are actions that businesses can take to thwart or mitigate the harm caused by a would-be attacker.  Vecchi is a retired FBI supervisory special agent and former chief of the FBI Behavioral Science Unit. He has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience including being a career FBI negotiator. Currently, he is the director of training at security company SafeDefend. We discussed the root causes of violence in facilities and how companies can better defend themselves against attacks. 

With the growth of warehouse automation, we see more and more technology and devices come into what has traditionally been a completely manual space. But while the automation market is exploding in the US — for both suppliers and customers of that equipment — a report this week  analyzed why most western vendors fail when they try to expand into the world’s fastest growing market, which is China.

A little friendly competition in the warehouse can help boost morale and motivate workers. That’s according to a study from warehouse technology company Lucas Systems, released this week. The study examined how workers feel about “game mechanics”-- these are things like workplace competitions, rewards, teamwork, and leaderboards that track performance. Nearly 84% of workers polled said they were more likely to stay with a company that develops such workplace competitions around their daily tasks. 


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Greg Vecchi, director of training at SafeDefend LLC . Businesses are statistically among the most common places where active shootings occur, yet most businesses don’t have the security to prevent a motivated person from entering a facility and committing violent acts. Most just think it could never happen to them. However, there are actions that businesses can take to thwart or mitigate the harm caused by a would-be attacker.  Vecchi is a retired FBI supervisory special agent and former chief of the FBI Behavioral Science Unit. He has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience including being a career FBI negotiator. Currently, he is the director of training at security company SafeDefend. We discussed the root causes of violence in facilities and how companies can better defend themselves against attacks. 

With the growth of warehouse automation, we see more and more technology and devices come into what has traditionally been a completely manual space. But while the automation market is exploding in the US — for both suppliers and customers of that equipment — a report this week  analyzed why most western vendors fail when they try to expand into the world’s fastest growing market, which is China.

A little friendly competition in the warehouse can help boost morale and motivate workers. That’s according to a study from warehouse technology company Lucas Systems, released this week. The study examined how workers feel about “game mechanics”-- these are things like workplace competitions, rewards, teamwork, and leaderboards that track performance. Nearly 84% of workers polled said they were more likely to stay with a company that develops such workplace competitions around their daily tasks. 


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14339994 Fri, 19 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0500 1720 supply chain, logistics, warehouses, distribution, SafeDefend, Greg Vecchi, active shooter, workplace violence, automation, China, Interact Analysis, gamification, Lucas Systems, Aptean 5 3 full false Guest: Ian Arroyo of Freightos on Red Sea shipping attacks; The best truck stops; New independent contractor rules Guest: Ian Arroyo of Freightos on Red Sea shipping attacks; The best truck stops; New independent contractor rules Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Arroyo, chief strategy officer at Freightos. Ships crossing the Red Sea are under constant threat of attacks by militant groups responding to the Israeli-Hamas conflict. The situation is constraining global trade and causing many shipping lines to bypass the Suez Canal and instead sail around Africa to reach Europe and North American destinations, resulting in huge increases in costs for shippers. 

Trucker Path, a developer of mobile apps and services for the trucking industry, released their annual list of the Top 100 Truck Stops in the U.S. – a guide to the top places for drivers to stop and eat, rest, and fuel up as they travel the nation’s highways. See which truck stop tops the list.

Many trucking firms and logistics operations are not happy after the U.S. Labor Department has released new rules defining independent contractors that could affect how drivers and others are classified. The new rules may require many of these workers to be classified as employees. But the rules are not very clear in what tests companies should use to make the correct classifications. Courts may have to eventually settle the issue.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Arroyo, chief strategy officer at Freightos. Ships crossing the Red Sea are under constant threat of attacks by militant groups responding to the Israeli-Hamas conflict. The situation is constraining global trade and causing many shipping lines to bypass the Suez Canal and instead sail around Africa to reach Europe and North American destinations, resulting in huge increases in costs for shippers. 

Trucker Path, a developer of mobile apps and services for the trucking industry, released their annual list of the Top 100 Truck Stops in the U.S. – a guide to the top places for drivers to stop and eat, rest, and fuel up as they travel the nation’s highways. See which truck stop tops the list.

Many trucking firms and logistics operations are not happy after the U.S. Labor Department has released new rules defining independent contractors that could affect how drivers and others are classified. The new rules may require many of these workers to be classified as employees. But the rules are not very clear in what tests companies should use to make the correct classifications. Courts may have to eventually settle the issue.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14298428 Fri, 12 Jan 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1118 supply chain, logistics, DC Velocity, Logistics Matters, Freightos, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Ian Arroyo, Trucker Path, truck stops, Kwik Star, independent contractors, AB5, NRF, ATA, Aptean 5 2 full false Guest: Jason Schenker of Prestige Economics with predictions for supply chains in 2024; 'Tis the season of retail returns; Honoring women working in supply chains Guest: Jason Schenker of Prestige Economics with predictions for supply chains in 2024; 'Tis the season of retail returns; Honoring women working in supply chains Our guest on this week's episode is Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics & chairman of The Futurist Institute. He is a well-known economist who regularly focuses on supply chains and creates forecasts and economic outlooks for the industry. 2023 was a rough year for most aspects of the supply chain economy. Schenker shares the economic issues that caused supply chain problems during the past year and what issues will affect supply chains in 2024. 

We are now past the holiday peak season and we know what that means for retailers – we’ve now moved into the returns season. This year, retailers are figuring out how to differentiate between legitimate consumer returns and those who use returns to conduct fraud.

The new year often signals a new round of industry awards and accolades. This year is no different, as many trade associations prepare to recognize industry professionals for their many achievements. The Women in Trucking Association has been out front on this issue, announcing over the past couple of weeks plans to honor women truck drivers and logistics leaders with two separate awards this spring.  We provide details on how you can nominate deserving supply chain professionals.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics & chairman of The Futurist Institute. He is a well-known economist who regularly focuses on supply chains and creates forecasts and economic outlooks for the industry. 2023 was a rough year for most aspects of the supply chain economy. Schenker shares the economic issues that caused supply chain problems during the past year and what issues will affect supply chains in 2024. 

We are now past the holiday peak season and we know what that means for retailers – we’ve now moved into the returns season. This year, retailers are figuring out how to differentiate between legitimate consumer returns and those who use returns to conduct fraud.

The new year often signals a new round of industry awards and accolades. This year is no different, as many trade associations prepare to recognize industry professionals for their many achievements. The Women in Trucking Association has been out front on this issue, announcing over the past couple of weeks plans to honor women truck drivers and logistics leaders with two separate awards this spring.  We provide details on how you can nominate deserving supply chain professionals.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14255135 Fri, 05 Jan 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1471 supply chain, logistics, world trade, economics, 2024, Prestige Economics, The Futurist Institute, Jason Schenker, National Retail Federation, retail fraud, returns management, Women In Trucking, Transportation Intermediaries Association, Aptean 5 1 full false Guest: Col. Ted Silvester on the logistics behind Toys for Tots; Industry predictions for 2024; The growth of the electric vehicle market Guest: Col. Ted Silvester on the logistics behind Toys for Tots; Industry predictions for 2024; The growth of the electric vehicle market Our guest on this week's episode is Col. Ted Silvester USMC (Ret.) and VP, marketing & development, for the  Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Each year, the United States Marine Corps Reserve and its partners undertake one of the nation’s largest toy drives, Toys for Tots. The organization's goal is to assure that all children have toys for Christmas morning. It takes an army – or rather a Marine Corps - of volunteers and corporate partners to pull it off. Col. Silvester shares about the logistics behind the annual campaign. 

As we close our 2023, it is natural to look ahead to 2024. While 2023 was a down year for logistics, there is some hope that conditions will improve in the coming year. A new report from Prologis offers some insights into prospects for the logistics sector and the major trends that will affect the industry in 2024.

Electric vehicles (EV) for last-mile delivery remain in demand around the world, according to a recent market report from research firm Global Market Estimates. The group says the EV market for last-mile delivery will grow at a nearly 16% compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2023 and 2028, driven largely by demand for
more sustainable business practices in general, as well as government policies
and incentives to purchase EVs. 


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Col. Ted Silvester USMC (Ret.) and VP, marketing & development, for the  Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Each year, the United States Marine Corps Reserve and its partners undertake one of the nation’s largest toy drives, Toys for Tots. The organization's goal is to assure that all children have toys for Christmas morning. It takes an army – or rather a Marine Corps - of volunteers and corporate partners to pull it off. Col. Silvester shares about the logistics behind the annual campaign. 

As we close our 2023, it is natural to look ahead to 2024. While 2023 was a down year for logistics, there is some hope that conditions will improve in the coming year. A new report from Prologis offers some insights into prospects for the logistics sector and the major trends that will affect the industry in 2024.

Electric vehicles (EV) for last-mile delivery remain in demand around the world, according to a recent market report from research firm Global Market Estimates. The group says the EV market for last-mile delivery will grow at a nearly 16% compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2023 and 2028, driven largely by demand for
more sustainable business practices in general, as well as government policies
and incentives to purchase EVs. 


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14193041 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 12:00:00 -0500 1270 supply chain, logistics, Col. Ted Silvester, Toys for Tots, transportation, Prologis, PERC, electric vehicles, 2024 predictions,Global Market Estimates 4 49 full false Guest: Carson Krieg of project44 on holiday shipping; New workers are most at risk for injuries; The need to know partners and suppliers better Guest: Carson Krieg of project44 on holiday shipping; New workers are most at risk for injuries; The need to know partners and suppliers better Our guest on this week's episode is Carson Krieg, director of global alliances at project44. With Christmas only 10 days away, we are just about to finish the busiest time of the year for the shipping industry. So, how are things going? Have we seen the snags of previous years, or is there too much capacity? Have shippers over-prepared for the season? Our guest has some insights.

New employees are most vulnerable to workplace accidents. New research from Travelers shows that a  third of workplace injuries occur during an employee’s first year on the job, driven by strains from overexertion. We look at what types of injuries are most common and what can be done to reduce the risks of injuries among new employees.

How well do you know your suppliers and partners? New legislation as well as security concerns make it imperative that companies get to know their suppliers and other business partners better. For example, starting in the new year, many companies doing business in Canada will have to report on their efforts to make sure they’re not using forced labor or child labor. Companies should also make sure that their partners don't provide an entrance way into their own computer systems for hackers to exploit.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Carson Krieg, director of global alliances at project44. With Christmas only 10 days away, we are just about to finish the busiest time of the year for the shipping industry. So, how are things going? Have we seen the snags of previous years, or is there too much capacity? Have shippers over-prepared for the season? Our guest has some insights.

New employees are most vulnerable to workplace accidents. New research from Travelers shows that a  third of workplace injuries occur during an employee’s first year on the job, driven by strains from overexertion. We look at what types of injuries are most common and what can be done to reduce the risks of injuries among new employees.

How well do you know your suppliers and partners? New legislation as well as security concerns make it imperative that companies get to know their suppliers and other business partners better. For example, starting in the new year, many companies doing business in Canada will have to report on their efforts to make sure they’re not using forced labor or child labor. Companies should also make sure that their partners don't provide an entrance way into their own computer systems for hackers to exploit.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14153763 Fri, 15 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0500 1232 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, peak season shipping, project44, Carson Krieg, Travelers, workplace injuries, forced labor, child labor, VicOne, cybersecurity, PERC 4 48 full false Guest: Chirag Modi of Blue Yonder on White House initiatives to strengthen domestic supply chains; The logistics economy dipped down last month; What will it take to see autonomous trucks at scale? Guest: Chirag Modi of Blue Yonder on White House initiatives to strengthen domestic supply chains; The logistics economy dipped down last month; What will it take to see autonomous trucks at scale?
Our guest on this week's episode is Chirag Modi, corporate VP of industry strategy at Blue Yonder. Last week the Biden administration unveiled more plans to strengthen our domestic supply chains, with the goals of making them more resilient.  Our guest shares some details on these initiatives and how they may impact our supply chains.

Economic activity in the logistics industry fell in November following three months of steady increases; that’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index report (LMI), which was released this past Tuesday. We look behind the numbers at what they mean for the economy and the supply chain industry.

We keep hearing of the promise of self-driving truck and cars, but it has been a tough year for autonomous vehicle companies. A few have hit major speed bumps in developing their technologies. Yet, there are a few bright spots as these technologies are tested and advanced. We look at what it may take before we see deployment in large numbers of autonomous vehicles.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

Other links

]]>
Our guest on this week's episode is Chirag Modi, corporate VP of industry strategy at Blue Yonder. Last week the Biden administration unveiled more plans to strengthen our domestic supply chains, with the goals of making them more resilient.  Our guest shares some details on these initiatives and how they may impact our supply chains.

Economic activity in the logistics industry fell in November following three months of steady increases; that’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index report (LMI), which was released this past Tuesday. We look behind the numbers at what they mean for the economy and the supply chain industry.

We keep hearing of the promise of self-driving truck and cars, but it has been a tough year for autonomous vehicle companies. A few have hit major speed bumps in developing their technologies. Yet, there are a few bright spots as these technologies are tested and advanced. We look at what it may take before we see deployment in large numbers of autonomous vehicles.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14113408 Fri, 08 Dec 2023 12:00:00 -0500 1047 supply chain, Logistics, Logistics Managers' Index, economy, PERC, Chirag Modi, Blue Yonder, autonomous vehicles, Tesla, GM, TuSimple, Gatik, Daimler Truck, Torc Robotics, Uber Freight 4 47 full false Guest: Matthew Hart of Soter Analytics on preventing peak season injuries; Tech companies answer the call; A new last-mile delivery king is crowned Guest: Matthew Hart of Soter Analytics on preventing peak season injuries; Tech companies answer the call; A new last-mile delivery king is crowned Our guest on this week's episode is Matthew Hart, founder and CEO of Soter Analytics. This is the season of gift giving. And many of those gifts are online retail orders that have to be delivered by parcel carriers. Along with increasing volumes comes the risk of more injuries to delivery workers, especially among part-time or seasonal workers not used to increased physical activity. How can these potential injuries be prevented? Our guest offers some insight on protecting workers while keeping them even more productive.

From the warehouse to the road, logistics operations are ripe for technology solutions that make it easier for shippers and carriers to get orders where they need to go. New entrants to the market are answering the call. In a December article, Victoria Kickham takes a close look at three companies are providing specific solutions for transportation, warehousing, and labor-related challenges. 

There is a new king of last-mile deliveries. Ben Ames discusses how one major retailer has surpassed both UPS and FedEx in the number of parcels it delivers and what it means to the industry.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Matthew Hart, founder and CEO of Soter Analytics. This is the season of gift giving. And many of those gifts are online retail orders that have to be delivered by parcel carriers. Along with increasing volumes comes the risk of more injuries to delivery workers, especially among part-time or seasonal workers not used to increased physical activity. How can these potential injuries be prevented? Our guest offers some insight on protecting workers while keeping them even more productive.

From the warehouse to the road, logistics operations are ripe for technology solutions that make it easier for shippers and carriers to get orders where they need to go. New entrants to the market are answering the call. In a December article, Victoria Kickham takes a close look at three companies are providing specific solutions for transportation, warehousing, and labor-related challenges. 

There is a new king of last-mile deliveries. Ben Ames discusses how one major retailer has surpassed both UPS and FedEx in the number of parcels it delivers and what it means to the industry.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14071167 Fri, 01 Dec 2023 12:00:00 -0500 1105 supply chain, logistics, technology, injuries, parcel, deliveries, Soter Analytics, Matthew Hart, Axle Technologies, Gather AI, Hyer, Amazon, UPS, FedEx, Veho, PERC 4 46 full false Guest: Liz Richards of MHEDA reflecting on her time in the industry; Shippers and carriers share pain points; A model for distribution Guest: Liz Richards of MHEDA reflecting on her time in the industry; Shippers and carriers share pain points; A model for distribution Our guest on this week's episode is Liz Richards, the soon-to-be retiring CEO of MHEDA, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association - an organization that helps distributors and their customers in finding the right material handling solutions for meeting today’s distribution challenges. She has led MHEDA for nearly 29 years and will retire at the end of the year. We talk about the changes she has seen in the industry and what the future may hold for MHEDA.

It has been a challenging year for both shippers and their logistics providers, but these two groups working in transporting goods should not have relationships that are in opposition to each other nor have competing goals. We discuss a new report from McKinsey that talks about both can find a win-win if they coordinate and complement each other’s capabilities.
 
We discuss the DHL's new Americas Region Hub in Atlanta. The facility is being considered a model of high-tech material handling systems and green energy solutions—and it’s pushing the company closer to net zero. What makes this facility stand out as the model for the future?


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Liz Richards, the soon-to-be retiring CEO of MHEDA, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association - an organization that helps distributors and their customers in finding the right material handling solutions for meeting today’s distribution challenges. She has led MHEDA for nearly 29 years and will retire at the end of the year. We talk about the changes she has seen in the industry and what the future may hold for MHEDA.

It has been a challenging year for both shippers and their logistics providers, but these two groups working in transporting goods should not have relationships that are in opposition to each other nor have competing goals. We discuss a new report from McKinsey that talks about both can find a win-win if they coordinate and complement each other’s capabilities.
 
We discuss the DHL's new Americas Region Hub in Atlanta. The facility is being considered a model of high-tech material handling systems and green energy solutions—and it’s pushing the company closer to net zero. What makes this facility stand out as the model for the future?


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-14014859 Fri, 24 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0500 1243 supply chain, logistics, transportation, warehousing, Liz Richards, MHEDA, material handling, McKinsey, shippers, carriers, DHL, green technologies, Hyster 4 45 full false Guest: Duane Duhamel of ISN on top OSHA safety violations; Dealing with computer chip shortages; A unique partnership Guest: Duane Duhamel of ISN on top OSHA safety violations; Dealing with computer chip shortages; A unique partnership Our guest on this week's episode is Duane Duhamel, Director of Health, Safety and Environment at ISN, a provider of contractor and supplier management solutions.  OSHA recently released its list of top 10 safety violations. Of course, the violations mean that some things are not being done safely in the workplace – and many of the most common violations occur in transportation and warehouses. We look at what those violations are, why they happen, and what can be done to better assure safety within supply chain operations.

One hangover from the pandemic that has really caused problems is a lingering shortage of computer chips. This is a problem because those chips are a crucial part of so many products in our connected world. The shortage affects production of electronics, but also things like trucks and other vehicles. This week we learned about how some engineering companies are coping with that problem.

There seems to be no shortage of industry products and projects designed to create more environmentally friendly supply chains, and we heard about a new one this week. This is a partnership between industry and academia, specifically Lucas Systems and Carnegie Mellon University. It is designed to address the problem of excess packaging in distribution centers. We share details on the project and how it will be implemented.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Duane Duhamel, Director of Health, Safety and Environment at ISN, a provider of contractor and supplier management solutions.  OSHA recently released its list of top 10 safety violations. Of course, the violations mean that some things are not being done safely in the workplace – and many of the most common violations occur in transportation and warehouses. We look at what those violations are, why they happen, and what can be done to better assure safety within supply chain operations.

One hangover from the pandemic that has really caused problems is a lingering shortage of computer chips. This is a problem because those chips are a crucial part of so many products in our connected world. The shortage affects production of electronics, but also things like trucks and other vehicles. This week we learned about how some engineering companies are coping with that problem.

There seems to be no shortage of industry products and projects designed to create more environmentally friendly supply chains, and we heard about a new one this week. This is a partnership between industry and academia, specifically Lucas Systems and Carnegie Mellon University. It is designed to address the problem of excess packaging in distribution centers. We share details on the project and how it will be implemented.


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13991038 Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0500 1170 supply chain, logistics, transportation, trucking, warehousing, OSHA, Duane Duhamel, ISN, chip shortages, Avnet, Lucas Systems, Carnegie Mellon University, sustainable packaging, Hyster 4 44 full false Guest: Evan Dexter of Ryder System on transitioning vets into logistics jobs; California incentivizes electric trucks at its ports; Manufacturers focus on front-line workers Guest: Evan Dexter of Ryder System on transitioning vets into logistics jobs; California incentivizes electric trucks at its ports; Manufacturers focus on front-line workers Our guest on this week's episode is Evan Dexter, vice president, rental product management at Ryder System, Inc. Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day, a day we remember our military families and the important work they do to safeguard all of us. One of the ways our industry helps to support our troops is through programs designed to transition veterans into logistics jobs. We hear how Dexter made that transition himself and how his company works to bring other vets into the logistics industry. 

New laws in California will require that about half the trucks sold in California must be all-electric by 2035. As a step toward this goal, we report on an effort by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to award $60 million in vouchers for the purchase of new electric trucks for drayage operations within the ports.

Facing a host of economic and labor challenges, manufacturers are sharpening their focus on frontline workers as a way to differentiate and propel their organizations forward. That’s according to recent research from consultancy PwC and the Manufacturing Institute, which is the workforce and development arm of the National Association of Manufacturers.  We report on details from this research.



CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Evan Dexter, vice president, rental product management at Ryder System, Inc. Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day, a day we remember our military families and the important work they do to safeguard all of us. One of the ways our industry helps to support our troops is through programs designed to transition veterans into logistics jobs. We hear how Dexter made that transition himself and how his company works to bring other vets into the logistics industry. 

New laws in California will require that about half the trucks sold in California must be all-electric by 2035. As a step toward this goal, we report on an effort by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to award $60 million in vouchers for the purchase of new electric trucks for drayage operations within the ports.

Facing a host of economic and labor challenges, manufacturers are sharpening their focus on frontline workers as a way to differentiate and propel their organizations forward. That’s according to recent research from consultancy PwC and the Manufacturing Institute, which is the workforce and development arm of the National Association of Manufacturers.  We report on details from this research.



CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13947681 Fri, 10 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0500 1150 supply chain, logistics, transportation, drayage, Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, electric trucks, Ryder System, Evan Dexter, Hyster, manufacturing 4 43 full false Guest: Art Eldred of Vargo on the rise of AS/RS; Holiday shopping forecasts; Truckers aid armed forces members Guest: Art Eldred of Vargo on the rise of AS/RS; Holiday shopping forecasts; Truckers aid armed forces members Our guest on this week's episode is Art Eldred, vice president and growth officer at Vargo, a systems integrator. Automation is increasingly an answer for distribution facilities that need to fulfill a growing number of orders, but can’t find enough workers. Automated storage and retrieval systems are one of the tried and true technologies that are finding more applications in today’s warehouses. We discuss their benefits and use cases.

The National Retail Federation has released is annual projections of holiday shopping.  The NRF says that despite higher prices, inflation, and the uncertain economy, shoppers are expected to open their wallets even more than they did last year - with a return to pre-pandemic holiday spending.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is launching its 17th annual Truckers for Troops campaign next week. This is a two-week fundraising effort that supports U.S. military personnel overseas and veterans here at home. We discuss the campaign and how you can participate.



CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Art Eldred, vice president and growth officer at Vargo, a systems integrator. Automation is increasingly an answer for distribution facilities that need to fulfill a growing number of orders, but can’t find enough workers. Automated storage and retrieval systems are one of the tried and true technologies that are finding more applications in today’s warehouses. We discuss their benefits and use cases.

The National Retail Federation has released is annual projections of holiday shopping.  The NRF says that despite higher prices, inflation, and the uncertain economy, shoppers are expected to open their wallets even more than they did last year - with a return to pre-pandemic holiday spending.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is launching its 17th annual Truckers for Troops campaign next week. This is a two-week fundraising effort that supports U.S. military personnel overseas and veterans here at home. We discuss the campaign and how you can participate.



CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13903133 Fri, 03 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0400 1292 suppy chain, logistics, transportation, warehousing, distribution, Art Eldred, Vargo, AS/RS, automated storage and retrieval systems, automation, robotics, National Retail Federation, NRF, holiday shopping, OOIDA, Truckers for Troops, Hyster 4 42 full false Guest: Chris Grossman of Spectaire on California emissions programs; New growth projections for 3PL markets; Manufacturers adopt new technologies Guest: Chris Grossman of Spectaire on California emissions programs; New growth projections for 3PL markets; Manufacturers adopt new technologies Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Grossman, chief commercial officer of Spectaire. It is often said that as California goes, so goes the nation, as other states tend to follow the regulations that the Golden State adopts. Recently there was a new agreement between the state and original equipment manufacturers on California emissions programs  that may affect transportation nationwide. The difficult thing is that there seems to be a gap between measuring emissions and calculating emissions. We explain the differences and what can be done to comply with the regulations.

Demand for third-party logistics services – or 3PL services – is on the rise, due to a range of factors including e-commerce and technology adoption. This is according to recent market research from  Fact.MR. They released data this week showing that the 3PL market size is expected to grow by a nearly 8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next several years, reaching more than $2.1 billion by 2032. 

Consulting firm Forrester Research has a set of predictions for 2024 about how various factors will affect the way  “smart manufacturing” firms will deploy different technologies in the new year. These include the industrial metaverse, generative AI, re-shoring, and autonomous vehicles. We explain what they are and how they might influence technology adoptions for manufacturing.

 
CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: nVision Global

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Grossman, chief commercial officer of Spectaire. It is often said that as California goes, so goes the nation, as other states tend to follow the regulations that the Golden State adopts. Recently there was a new agreement between the state and original equipment manufacturers on California emissions programs  that may affect transportation nationwide. The difficult thing is that there seems to be a gap between measuring emissions and calculating emissions. We explain the differences and what can be done to comply with the regulations.

Demand for third-party logistics services – or 3PL services – is on the rise, due to a range of factors including e-commerce and technology adoption. This is according to recent market research from  Fact.MR. They released data this week showing that the 3PL market size is expected to grow by a nearly 8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next several years, reaching more than $2.1 billion by 2032. 

Consulting firm Forrester Research has a set of predictions for 2024 about how various factors will affect the way  “smart manufacturing” firms will deploy different technologies in the new year. These include the industrial metaverse, generative AI, re-shoring, and autonomous vehicles. We explain what they are and how they might influence technology adoptions for manufacturing.

 
CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: nVision Global

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13858496 Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0400 1093 supply chain, logistics, transportation, third-party logistics, 3PL, California emissions, Spectaire, Chris Grossman, manufacturing, Fact.MR, smart technologies, Forrester Research, nVisionGlobal 4 41 full false Guest: Sunderesh Heragu of Oklahoma State University on supply chain impacts from the Middle East conflict; New funding for alternative energy; Innovations to solve supply chain problems Guest: Sunderesh Heragu of Oklahoma State University on supply chain impacts from the Middle East conflict; New funding for alternative energy; Innovations to solve supply chain problems Our guest on this week's episode is Sunderesh S. Heragu, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University. The world is still in shock over the ongoing devastation happening in Israel and Gaza. In addition to the human tragedies, there are also economic and supply chain impacts to the ongoing conflict. Our guest shares his expertise on how supply chains in the region are being affected.

New federal funding for reducing carbon emissions from transportation and logistics has been introduced to promote the use of hydrogen as a fuel. The $7 billion in funding comes from the Department of Energy and the bipartisan infrastructure bill. The money is intended to launch seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs located throughout the country and are designed to  advance the use of hydrogen fuel for moving goods. 

A conference at MIT this week highlighted supply chain innovation. The event brought together academics from MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics and practitioners from retail, manufacturing, transportation, and high-tech to talk about how technology is being put to work to improve logistics and transportation operations.



CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: nVision Global

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Sunderesh S. Heragu, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University. The world is still in shock over the ongoing devastation happening in Israel and Gaza. In addition to the human tragedies, there are also economic and supply chain impacts to the ongoing conflict. Our guest shares his expertise on how supply chains in the region are being affected.

New federal funding for reducing carbon emissions from transportation and logistics has been introduced to promote the use of hydrogen as a fuel. The $7 billion in funding comes from the Department of Energy and the bipartisan infrastructure bill. The money is intended to launch seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs located throughout the country and are designed to  advance the use of hydrogen fuel for moving goods. 

A conference at MIT this week highlighted supply chain innovation. The event brought together academics from MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics and practitioners from retail, manufacturing, transportation, and high-tech to talk about how technology is being put to work to improve logistics and transportation operations.



CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: nVision Global

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13815956 Fri, 20 Oct 2023 13:00:00 -0400 1218 supply chain, logistics, transportation, Israel, Hamas, Sunderesh Heragu, Oklahoma State University, Innovation, Hydrogen fuels, Department of Energy, Walmart, nVision Global 4 40 full false Guest: Tracey Bellamy of Telgian on fire prevention for logistics facilities; Expectations for peak season; More supply chain disruptions Guest: Tracey Bellamy of Telgian on fire prevention for logistics facilities; Expectations for peak season; More supply chain disruptions Our guest on this week's episode is Tracey Bellamy, chief engineering officer at Telgian Engineering and Consulting, a firm that specializes in fire prevention. October is fire prevention month. Most supply chain companies have facilities that they must protect from potential fires and other hazards. But fire codes vary widely from city to city and the codes have not kept up with newer material handling technologies as well as new stored products made from plastic compounds that have been introduced since the codes were established. How can supply chain managers best protect their facilities? 

Peak season will soon be upon us. Given the current state of the economy, especially  high inflation and rising energy prices, what should retailers except from shoppers this season?  It seems that despite those challenges, a recent survey shows that most small- and mid-sized businesses are optimistic about the holiday shopping season this year.

Global situations continue to have ripple effects on our supply chains. This week we saw the Hamas attacks against Israel and the prospects of another prolonged conflict in the Middle East region. Domestically, Congress is at a standstill with the vacancy in the House leadership, leaving in limbo some significant legislation that could affect supply chains. What will the overall  impacts to the movement of the goods we rely upon daily?

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: nVision Global

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Tracey Bellamy, chief engineering officer at Telgian Engineering and Consulting, a firm that specializes in fire prevention. October is fire prevention month. Most supply chain companies have facilities that they must protect from potential fires and other hazards. But fire codes vary widely from city to city and the codes have not kept up with newer material handling technologies as well as new stored products made from plastic compounds that have been introduced since the codes were established. How can supply chain managers best protect their facilities? 

Peak season will soon be upon us. Given the current state of the economy, especially  high inflation and rising energy prices, what should retailers except from shoppers this season?  It seems that despite those challenges, a recent survey shows that most small- and mid-sized businesses are optimistic about the holiday shopping season this year.

Global situations continue to have ripple effects on our supply chains. This week we saw the Hamas attacks against Israel and the prospects of another prolonged conflict in the Middle East region. Domestically, Congress is at a standstill with the vacancy in the House leadership, leaving in limbo some significant legislation that could affect supply chains. What will the overall  impacts to the movement of the goods we rely upon daily?

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: nVision Global

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13772673 Fri, 13 Oct 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1246 supply chain, logistics, transportation, warehousing, fire prevention, Telgian, Travey Bellamy, Israel, Hamas, peak season, DHL, Everstream Analytics, NMFTA, nVision Global 4 39 full false Guest: Jeannie Carpenter of Jabil on creating sustainable supply chains; How company culture affects worker performance; Will nearshoring actually increase domestic manufacturing? Guest: Jeannie Carpenter of Jabil on creating sustainable supply chains; How company culture affects worker performance; Will nearshoring actually increase domestic manufacturing? Our guest on this week's episode is Jeannie Carpenter, senior director of global logistics at Jabil. Most supply chain managers aim to design their networks to be efficient at the lowest possible cost. But they also want to make good decisions that will help reduce their supply chain’s impact on the environment. Today's guest explains that those objectives don’t have to be mutually exclusive. 

New research is out that shows how company culture affects employee performance. A company's culture can drive productivity, innovation, and service, with three-quarters
of employees surveyed saying that workplace culture affects their ability to do their
best work. But what are the attributes these employees say defines a good company culture?

Global supply chain disruptions in the last three years have made it more difficult to source, manufacture, and assemble goods overseas and then ship them around the world for sale. For the American market, it makes business sense to make products domestically in the U.S., or at least closer to our neighborhood. But does our nation have the capacity and cost effectiveness to bring manufacturing back home?

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: nVision Global

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jeannie Carpenter, senior director of global logistics at Jabil. Most supply chain managers aim to design their networks to be efficient at the lowest possible cost. But they also want to make good decisions that will help reduce their supply chain’s impact on the environment. Today's guest explains that those objectives don’t have to be mutually exclusive. 

New research is out that shows how company culture affects employee performance. A company's culture can drive productivity, innovation, and service, with three-quarters
of employees surveyed saying that workplace culture affects their ability to do their
best work. But what are the attributes these employees say defines a good company culture?

Global supply chain disruptions in the last three years have made it more difficult to source, manufacture, and assemble goods overseas and then ship them around the world for sale. For the American market, it makes business sense to make products domestically in the U.S., or at least closer to our neighborhood. But does our nation have the capacity and cost effectiveness to bring manufacturing back home?

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: nVision Global

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13641664 Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1179 supply chain, logistics, Jeannie Carpenter, Jabil, sustainability, manufacturing, reshoring, nearshoring, company culture, employee satisfaction, nVision Global 4 38 full false Guest: Pawan Joshi of E2open on shippers reclaiming the skies; Freight unloading robots are coming; Celebrating technicians in trucking Guest: Pawan Joshi of E2open on shippers reclaiming the skies; Freight unloading robots are coming; Celebrating technicians in trucking Our guest on this week's episode is Pawan Joshi, executive vice president, product management & strategy at E2open. With the rebound in air travel, there are more flights available now to shippers, including cargo-only flights and belly space on passenger planes. How can shippers take advantage of that extra capacity and the lower rates now available? 

We’ve seen a lot of advances in robots that move inventory around the warehouse in recent years. But one problem that has remained really hard to solve has been getting boxes into and out of truck trailers or shipping containers. But now we are seeing new technologies to address truck loading and unloading, with some significant investments and pilot programs making progress on this difficult, labor-heavy aspect of distribution.

More women are joining the trucking industry as technicians. A new survey shows a year-over-year increase in the number of female equipment technicians. This news comes as the trucking industry celebrates National Technician Appreciation Week.



CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: nVision Global

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Pawan Joshi, executive vice president, product management & strategy at E2open. With the rebound in air travel, there are more flights available now to shippers, including cargo-only flights and belly space on passenger planes. How can shippers take advantage of that extra capacity and the lower rates now available? 

We’ve seen a lot of advances in robots that move inventory around the warehouse in recent years. But one problem that has remained really hard to solve has been getting boxes into and out of truck trailers or shipping containers. But now we are seeing new technologies to address truck loading and unloading, with some significant investments and pilot programs making progress on this difficult, labor-heavy aspect of distribution.

More women are joining the trucking industry as technicians. A new survey shows a year-over-year increase in the number of female equipment technicians. This news comes as the trucking industry celebrates National Technician Appreciation Week.



CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: nVision Global

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13686342 Fri, 29 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1373 supply chain, logistics, distribution, air freight, Pawan Joshi, E2open, nVision Global, FedEx, Boston Dynamics, Otto Group, Pickle, Mujin, Dexterity AI, Women in Trucking, technicians, American Trucking Associations 4 37 full false Guest: Spencer Shute of Proxima on the UAW strike; Supply chain companies invest in artificial intelligence; A look at the tasks that AI is automating Guest: Spencer Shute of Proxima on the UAW strike; Supply chain companies invest in artificial intelligence; A look at the tasks that AI is automating Our guest on this week's episode is Spencer Shute, principal consultant  at Proxima, a company that provides procurement services. While negotiations are ongoing, the strike by the United Auto Workers against the big three automakers is entering its second week and may expand to other plants. Of course, the longer this goes on, the more it affects supply chains. Shute discusses the current state of the labor dispute, what may happen next, and how supply chains may be impacted. 

Artificial intelligence continues to see wide adoption within supply chains. What tasks are being made more efficient with artificial intelligence, and are we seeing the quality results expected? Also, are there adequate company policies in place to govern how employees use AI?

Sticking to the theme of artificial intelligence, we also look new research into who is investing in artificial intelligence and the differences between generative AI and regenerative AI.

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Spencer Shute, principal consultant  at Proxima, a company that provides procurement services. While negotiations are ongoing, the strike by the United Auto Workers against the big three automakers is entering its second week and may expand to other plants. Of course, the longer this goes on, the more it affects supply chains. Shute discusses the current state of the labor dispute, what may happen next, and how supply chains may be impacted. 

Artificial intelligence continues to see wide adoption within supply chains. What tasks are being made more efficient with artificial intelligence, and are we seeing the quality results expected? Also, are there adequate company policies in place to govern how employees use AI?

Sticking to the theme of artificial intelligence, we also look new research into who is investing in artificial intelligence and the differences between generative AI and regenerative AI.

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13640516 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1104 4 36 full false Guest: Mike Kotecki on engineers advancing into management; Warehouse yards go digital; A possible bumpy road for EV adoption Guest: Mike Kotecki on engineers advancing into management; Warehouse yards go digital; A possible bumpy road for EV adoption Our guest on this week's episode is retired materials handling executive Mike Kotecki. He has just written a new book, Leadership for Engineers: How to Turn Perfectly Good STEM Professionals into Management . Kotecki was formerly an executive with HK Systems and Dematic. He discusses his personal journey into management and how STEM professionals have many of the tools needed to become good industry leaders. He also shares tips for helping them to fill gaps they may have in their backgrounds and training in order for them to progress in management and be noticed when promotions roll around.

Digital technologies have been transforming our distribution centers and warehouses over the past few years. Now, similar technology is moving from inside the four walls to outside the facility and into the yard. We look at how these technologies along with artificial intelligence are beginning to impact yard and trailer management.

Hardly a day goes by when we don’t hear talk about the potential of electric cars and trucks. But, rapid adoption of electric vehicles may face some hurdles, including a lack of infrastructure and the need to keep current vehicles that run on fossil fuels operating through their useful lifecycles. We discuss some of the roadblocks to fast adoption of EVs.

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is retired materials handling executive Mike Kotecki. He has just written a new book, Leadership for Engineers: How to Turn Perfectly Good STEM Professionals into Management . Kotecki was formerly an executive with HK Systems and Dematic. He discusses his personal journey into management and how STEM professionals have many of the tools needed to become good industry leaders. He also shares tips for helping them to fill gaps they may have in their backgrounds and training in order for them to progress in management and be noticed when promotions roll around.

Digital technologies have been transforming our distribution centers and warehouses over the past few years. Now, similar technology is moving from inside the four walls to outside the facility and into the yard. We look at how these technologies along with artificial intelligence are beginning to impact yard and trailer management.

Hardly a day goes by when we don’t hear talk about the potential of electric cars and trucks. But, rapid adoption of electric vehicles may face some hurdles, including a lack of infrastructure and the need to keep current vehicles that run on fossil fuels operating through their useful lifecycles. We discuss some of the roadblocks to fast adoption of EVs.

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13597955 Fri, 15 Sep 2023 13:00:00 -0400 1342 supply chain, logistics, DC Velocity, Logistics Matters, Mike Kotecki, STEM, engineers, EVs, electric vehicles, digitalization, yard management 4 35 full false Guest: Don Hicks of Optilogic on nearshoring; Signs of optimism in freight markets; A new battery plant Guest: Don Hicks of Optilogic on nearshoring; Signs of optimism in freight markets; A new battery plant Our guest on this week's episode is Don Hicks, CEO of Optilogic. As manufacturing is declining in China, many companies are turning to Mexico and other Latin American countries to assure a steady supply of goods while also shortening their supply chains. But will nearshoring actually resolve many of the problems supply chains have faced in the past few years?  We discuss the benefits and pitfalls of nearshoring designs.

Freight brokers are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel – and there is new data to back up that better conditions may be returning. We discuss freight markets and what might soon be a return to more normal conditions following this year's declining market.

The transportation industry is gradually introducing more electric-powered vehicles while moving away from diesel engines to power trucks.  Such a change, though, requires a lot more batteries than are currently available. This week we heard of plans from several truck companies to join together to build a new factory for domestic battery manufacturing. This will assure more battery supply for the trucks they hope to build.

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Don Hicks, CEO of Optilogic. As manufacturing is declining in China, many companies are turning to Mexico and other Latin American countries to assure a steady supply of goods while also shortening their supply chains. But will nearshoring actually resolve many of the problems supply chains have faced in the past few years?  We discuss the benefits and pitfalls of nearshoring designs.

Freight brokers are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel – and there is new data to back up that better conditions may be returning. We discuss freight markets and what might soon be a return to more normal conditions following this year's declining market.

The transportation industry is gradually introducing more electric-powered vehicles while moving away from diesel engines to power trucks.  Such a change, though, requires a lot more batteries than are currently available. This week we heard of plans from several truck companies to join together to build a new factory for domestic battery manufacturing. This will assure more battery supply for the trucks they hope to build.

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13556089 Fri, 08 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1339 supply chain, logistics, transportation, nearshoring, Optilogic, Don Hicks, Logistics Managers' Index, freight markets, trucking, batteries, electric vehicles 4 34 full false Guest: Patrick Soleymani of George Mason University on depressed freight markets; Cargo theft is on the rise; Workers required to return to offices Guest: Patrick Soleymani of George Mason University on depressed freight markets; Cargo theft is on the rise; Workers required to return to offices Our guest on this week's episode is Patrick Soleymani, associate professor within the management area in the School of Business at George Mason University. By any measure, 2023 has been a difficult year for the trucking industry. Just how bad are market conditions and when will trucking see a return to better times? Our guest offers some insights as to what has caused the freight recession and how long it may last.

Cargo theft is on the rise, both from warehouses and directly from trucks while freight is in transport. What is causing more of these crimes to occur, and what can be done to prevent them? 

During the pandemic, many employees began working from home for the first time --  but now companies are requiring that most of them return to the office. New research this week reveals some recent trends affecting where people work and what is motivating companies to desire that their employees return to the office.

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Patrick Soleymani, associate professor within the management area in the School of Business at George Mason University. By any measure, 2023 has been a difficult year for the trucking industry. Just how bad are market conditions and when will trucking see a return to better times? Our guest offers some insights as to what has caused the freight recession and how long it may last.

Cargo theft is on the rise, both from warehouses and directly from trucks while freight is in transport. What is causing more of these crimes to occur, and what can be done to prevent them? 

During the pandemic, many employees began working from home for the first time --  but now companies are requiring that most of them return to the office. New research this week reveals some recent trends affecting where people work and what is motivating companies to desire that their employees return to the office.

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13512490 Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1230 supply chain, logistics, distribution, Patrick Soleymani, George Mason University School of Business, freight recession, trucking, Cargo theft, CargoNet, Return to Office, ResumeBuilder.com, PERC 4 33 full false Guest: Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network on recovery efforts for Maui; Drought in Panama limits canal shipping; Wireless charging tech for material handling Guest: Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network on recovery efforts for Maui; Drought in Panama limits canal shipping; Wireless charging tech for material handling Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director of ALAN, the American Logistics Aid Network. Just within the past two weeks, our nation has been rocked by two weather-related catastrophes: the wildfire tragedy in Maui and also Tropical Storm Hilary, which has brought unprecedented rain and flooding to western states. We talk about these disasters and how our logistics industry is responding to provide connections between transportation providers and the agencies on the ground coordinating relief efforts. 

Some of the same drought conditions that contributed to the tragic fires in Maui are also causing problems for the movement of goods through the Panama Canal. This week more restrictions were imposed on the number and weight of ships that can traverse the canal. We discuss the latest news from the canal. 

New technologies are emerging all the time for warehouses and transportation operations. One new intriguing tech is wireless charging for autonomous mobile robot systems and automated guided vehicles. We share what is spurring on the adoption of this technology. 


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director of ALAN, the American Logistics Aid Network. Just within the past two weeks, our nation has been rocked by two weather-related catastrophes: the wildfire tragedy in Maui and also Tropical Storm Hilary, which has brought unprecedented rain and flooding to western states. We talk about these disasters and how our logistics industry is responding to provide connections between transportation providers and the agencies on the ground coordinating relief efforts. 

Some of the same drought conditions that contributed to the tragic fires in Maui are also causing problems for the movement of goods through the Panama Canal. This week more restrictions were imposed on the number and weight of ships that can traverse the canal. We discuss the latest news from the canal. 

New technologies are emerging all the time for warehouses and transportation operations. One new intriguing tech is wireless charging for autonomous mobile robot systems and automated guided vehicles. We share what is spurring on the adoption of this technology. 


CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13465186 Fri, 25 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1639 supply chain, logistics, ALAN, The American Logistics Aid Network, Kathy Fulton, wireless charging, Panama Canal, Maui wildfires, Tropical Storm Hilary 4 32 full false Guest: Anne Reinke of TIA on preventing freight fraud; Prepping docks for winter weather; The effects of innovation and emerging tech on supply chains Guest: Anne Reinke of TIA on preventing freight fraud; Prepping docks for winter weather; The effects of innovation and emerging tech on supply chains Our guest on this week's episode is Anne Reinke, president and CEO of TIA, The Transportation Intermediaries Association. Cargo theft and transportation fraud are on the rise.  Criminal groups and bad actors often pose as legitimate freight brokers and carriers with the aim of taking payments for services they will never fulfill. What can carriers and shippers do to be sure they are staying away from fraudsters and selecting legitimate transportation providers? Our guest has some suggestions. 

It may seem early, but now is the time to start evaluating your loading docks to see if they are prepped and ready for winter weather – at least for those companies operating in Northern climates, where snow and ice can cause safety and productivity challenges, as well as dampen the effects of those energy-saving measures so many warehouses are focused on these days.

We preview an upcoming article in DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  that discusses a number of high-level concepts that can guide or jumpstart how companies think about innovation and incorporating emerging technologies.  

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Anne Reinke, president and CEO of TIA, The Transportation Intermediaries Association. Cargo theft and transportation fraud are on the rise.  Criminal groups and bad actors often pose as legitimate freight brokers and carriers with the aim of taking payments for services they will never fulfill. What can carriers and shippers do to be sure they are staying away from fraudsters and selecting legitimate transportation providers? Our guest has some suggestions. 

It may seem early, but now is the time to start evaluating your loading docks to see if they are prepped and ready for winter weather – at least for those companies operating in Northern climates, where snow and ice can cause safety and productivity challenges, as well as dampen the effects of those energy-saving measures so many warehouses are focused on these days.

We preview an upcoming article in DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  that discusses a number of high-level concepts that can guide or jumpstart how companies think about innovation and incorporating emerging technologies.  

CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13429414 Fri, 18 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1023 supply chain, logistics, distribution, warehouse, winterizing, docks, innovation, Mark Dancer, Anne Reinke, TIA, Transportation Intermediaries Association, PERC 4 31 full false Guest: Dr. Thomas Evans of Honeywell on meeting automation goals; Skills gaps in finding new workers; How do we tell when we are at the bottom of the transportation trough? Guest: Dr. Thomas Evans of Honeywell on meeting automation goals; Skills gaps in finding new workers; How do we tell when we are at the bottom of the transportation trough? Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Thomas Evans, robotics chief technology officer for Honeywell. Supply chains have been roughed up quite a bit this year, with transportation in a recession and many warehouse projects on hold throughout the industry. Yet, even with the current economic climate, buyers are still making investments in warehouse robotics, but possibly smaller investments than they would like. In this environment, what can logistics companies do to hit their long-term goals for automation? Our guest shares some insights.

It’s getting harder to find the right talent in the supply chain, especially when it comes to filling leadership roles and developing the next generation of corporate supply chain managers. That’s according to a recent survey by Alcott Global, a Singapore-based supply chain and logistics recruitment and talent management firm.  Half of those surveyed listed the lack of talent as a key problem.  On top of that, the survey showed that the talent that is available lacks the right skill set needed to succeed in supply chain management.

Freight markets have been down quite a bit this summer and it makes managers wonder if we have seen the bottom of the cyclical trough. A new report from U.S. Bank offers some data points that may shed some light on how long the freight recession will last.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Thomas Evans, robotics chief technology officer for Honeywell. Supply chains have been roughed up quite a bit this year, with transportation in a recession and many warehouse projects on hold throughout the industry. Yet, even with the current economic climate, buyers are still making investments in warehouse robotics, but possibly smaller investments than they would like. In this environment, what can logistics companies do to hit their long-term goals for automation? Our guest shares some insights.

It’s getting harder to find the right talent in the supply chain, especially when it comes to filling leadership roles and developing the next generation of corporate supply chain managers. That’s according to a recent survey by Alcott Global, a Singapore-based supply chain and logistics recruitment and talent management firm.  Half of those surveyed listed the lack of talent as a key problem.  On top of that, the survey showed that the talent that is available lacks the right skill set needed to succeed in supply chain management.

Freight markets have been down quite a bit this summer and it makes managers wonder if we have seen the bottom of the cyclical trough. A new report from U.S. Bank offers some data points that may shed some light on how long the freight recession will last.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13365370 Fri, 11 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1124 supply chain, logistics, transportation, freight, trucking, Honeywell, Dr. Thomas Evans, Alcott Global, U.S. Bank, robotics 4 30 full false Guest: Caroline Chumakov on Gartner's Women in Supply Chain Survey; Yellow Freight shuts down; A rocky road for logistics in July Guest: Caroline Chumakov on Gartner's Women in Supply Chain Survey; Yellow Freight shuts down; A rocky road for logistics in July Our guest on this week's episode is Caroline Chumakov, director analyst, talent and sustainability team at Gartner. Women continue to make inroads and impacts within supply chains as they are filling more executive and leadership positions in the industry. Our guest shares about the findings of new Gartner research,  2023 Women in Supply Chain Survey.

Probably the biggest story in logistics over the past week was the shutdown of Yellow Corp. They were the nation’s third-largest less-than-truckload freight company, with about 30,000 employees and 60,000 tractors and trailers. We discuss what happened this week and what it may mean for shippers without Yellow as a carrier.

We continued to see slowing conditions across logistics and supply chain in July,  part of a trend that began earlier this year. This week, researchers released the monthly Logistics Managers' Index report for July. It showed that economic conditions in the industry contracted for a third straight month.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Caroline Chumakov, director analyst, talent and sustainability team at Gartner. Women continue to make inroads and impacts within supply chains as they are filling more executive and leadership positions in the industry. Our guest shares about the findings of new Gartner research,  2023 Women in Supply Chain Survey.

Probably the biggest story in logistics over the past week was the shutdown of Yellow Corp. They were the nation’s third-largest less-than-truckload freight company, with about 30,000 employees and 60,000 tractors and trailers. We discuss what happened this week and what it may mean for shippers without Yellow as a carrier.

We continued to see slowing conditions across logistics and supply chain in July,  part of a trend that began earlier this year. This week, researchers released the monthly Logistics Managers' Index report for July. It showed that economic conditions in the industry contracted for a third straight month.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC - The Propane Education and Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13345823 Fri, 04 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1368 supply chain, logistics, PERC, propane, Gartner, Caroline Chumakov, ATA, Yellow Corp., Teamsters, Logistics Managers' Index, economy 4 29 full false Guest: Tom Nightingale of AFS Logistics on the UPS labor settlement; Prospects look good for 2024 warehouse projects; Extending the life of robots Guest: Tom Nightingale of AFS Logistics on the UPS labor settlement; Prospects look good for 2024 warehouse projects; Extending the life of robots Our guest on this week's episode is Tom Nightingale, CEO of AFS Logistics. UPS and the Teamsters Union that represents 340,000 UPS drivers and warehouse workers reached a tentative agreement this week on a new labor deal. What will this mean for shippers? Will rates see a rise? And how will other carriers respond? Our guest has some insights on how this and other recent labor negotiations will impact transportation providers and the supply chains they serve.

We saw a slowdown in warehouse construction over the past year following that post-Covid boom when accelerating e-commerce and unprecedented demand for logistics services in general caused a surge in the need for warehousing space. The recent slowdown is due to declining e-commerce activity and rising interest rates over the past year, but it looks like we may hit bottom and see growth heading into 2024, in both warehouse construction and related warehouse automation projects. 

Robotics have certainly impacted distribution in recent years, with tens of thousands of units now roaming the world's warehouses. Many of these are provided under a Robots-as-a-Service model, or RaaS, where the manufacturer owns the robots and simply leases them based on run time or products moved. Therefore, it is an advantage to keep the robots in top-notch condition to assure uptime and profitability. We discuss how one company, Locus Robotics, is building a new facility and capability to support that model.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Tom Nightingale, CEO of AFS Logistics. UPS and the Teamsters Union that represents 340,000 UPS drivers and warehouse workers reached a tentative agreement this week on a new labor deal. What will this mean for shippers? Will rates see a rise? And how will other carriers respond? Our guest has some insights on how this and other recent labor negotiations will impact transportation providers and the supply chains they serve.

We saw a slowdown in warehouse construction over the past year following that post-Covid boom when accelerating e-commerce and unprecedented demand for logistics services in general caused a surge in the need for warehousing space. The recent slowdown is due to declining e-commerce activity and rising interest rates over the past year, but it looks like we may hit bottom and see growth heading into 2024, in both warehouse construction and related warehouse automation projects. 

Robotics have certainly impacted distribution in recent years, with tens of thousands of units now roaming the world's warehouses. Many of these are provided under a Robots-as-a-Service model, or RaaS, where the manufacturer owns the robots and simply leases them based on run time or products moved. Therefore, it is an advantage to keep the robots in top-notch condition to assure uptime and profitability. We discuss how one company, Locus Robotics, is building a new facility and capability to support that model.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13307943 Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1202 supply chain, logistics, trucking, parcel, transportation, UPS, Teamsters, contract, Tom Nightingale, AFS Logistics, Interact Analysis, warehousing, automation, Locus Robotics, robots 4 28 full false Guest: Greg Tuthill of SeaCube Containers on food waste during transit; The latest on the potential Teamsters strike at UPS; A need for office etiquette Guest: Greg Tuthill of SeaCube Containers on food waste during transit; The latest on the potential Teamsters strike at UPS; A need for office etiquette Our guest on this week's episode is Greg Tuthill, chief commercial officer at SeaCube Containers. It is estimated that 1.3 billion tons of food are lost or wasted annually worldwide — that adds up to about 30% of all food grown and more than a trillion dollars' worth annually. Much of the waste comes from food that spoils during shipping. The problem is only expected to get worse as people in many parts of our planet face food insecurity. How can we better protect foods from spoiling while they are in transit? Our guest discusses the problems faced in shipping foods and some possible solutions to avoid spoilage. 

There are a number of labor issues affecting supply chains — labor disruptions at ports in both the U.S. and Canada and a current strike at Yellow Freight to name a few. But nothing looms as large as the potential Teamsters strike at UPS. We share the latest of what is happening with negotiations at the parcel carrier giant.

A changing work environment and declining interpersonal skills are combining to create headaches in the workplace — and many companies are responding with training programs designed to create a more professional, respectful office culture. This is according to a recent ResumeBuilder.com survey, released earlier this month. We discuss highlights from the report.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:Travero Logistics

Other links


]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Greg Tuthill, chief commercial officer at SeaCube Containers. It is estimated that 1.3 billion tons of food are lost or wasted annually worldwide — that adds up to about 30% of all food grown and more than a trillion dollars' worth annually. Much of the waste comes from food that spoils during shipping. The problem is only expected to get worse as people in many parts of our planet face food insecurity. How can we better protect foods from spoiling while they are in transit? Our guest discusses the problems faced in shipping foods and some possible solutions to avoid spoilage. 

There are a number of labor issues affecting supply chains — labor disruptions at ports in both the U.S. and Canada and a current strike at Yellow Freight to name a few. But nothing looms as large as the potential Teamsters strike at UPS. We share the latest of what is happening with negotiations at the parcel carrier giant.

A changing work environment and declining interpersonal skills are combining to create headaches in the workplace — and many companies are responding with training programs designed to create a more professional, respectful office culture. This is according to a recent ResumeBuilder.com survey, released earlier this month. We discuss highlights from the report.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:Travero Logistics

Other links


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13264090 Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:00:00 -0400 1216 supply chain, logistics, distribution, Greg Tuthill, SeaCube Containers, Travero Logistics, UPS, Teamsters, RILA, ResumeBuilder.com 4 27 full false Guest: Darcy MacClaren of SAP on Prime Day and AI in supply chains; The State of Logistics; Women in the driver's seat Guest: Darcy MacClaren of SAP on Prime Day and AI in supply chains; The State of Logistics; Women in the driver's seat Our guest on this week's episode is Darcy MacClaren, global chief revenue officer for digital supply chain at SAP. We keep hearing of AI everywhere these days and how it might revolutionize our supply chains. On top of that, consumers this week experienced the annual Amazon Prime Day. How are both of these affecting the supply chain industry?  

It has been a rocky year in transportation, as the market resets from the pandemic-infused highs of the past couple of years. Recently CSCMP released its annual State of Logistics report detailing how supply chains have been operating over the past year. In addition, next month CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly will release its special State of Logistics issue that takes a deep dive into the various sectors of supply chain. We preview the issue and the organizations participating in this annual review.

According to Women in Trucking, the number of women drivers has been growing in recent years, in line with overall industry demand to recruit more drivers to the field. And that’s not all that’s growing; they also said the number of women in related roles is increasing. We look at the progress that women are making in supply chain roles.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:Travero Logistics

Other links


]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Darcy MacClaren, global chief revenue officer for digital supply chain at SAP. We keep hearing of AI everywhere these days and how it might revolutionize our supply chains. On top of that, consumers this week experienced the annual Amazon Prime Day. How are both of these affecting the supply chain industry?  

It has been a rocky year in transportation, as the market resets from the pandemic-infused highs of the past couple of years. Recently CSCMP released its annual State of Logistics report detailing how supply chains have been operating over the past year. In addition, next month CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly will release its special State of Logistics issue that takes a deep dive into the various sectors of supply chain. We preview the issue and the organizations participating in this annual review.

According to Women in Trucking, the number of women drivers has been growing in recent years, in line with overall industry demand to recruit more drivers to the field. And that’s not all that’s growing; they also said the number of women in related roles is increasing. We look at the progress that women are making in supply chain roles.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:Travero Logistics

Other links


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13223793 Fri, 14 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0400 1098 supply chain, logistics, CSMP, State of Logistics, SAP, Darcy MacClaren, Amazon, Prime Day, artificial intelligence, CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly, Women in Trucking, Travero Logistics 4 26 full false Guest: Bart De Muynck of project44 on the drying Panama Canal; Does the freight recession foretell a wider economic recession? Finding workers gets harder Guest: Bart De Muynck of project44 on the drying Panama Canal; Does the freight recession foretell a wider economic recession? Finding workers gets harder Our guest on this week's episode is Bart De Muynck, chief industry officer at project44. The world continues to see the effects of climate change, and now it is affecting our transportation networks. Ongoing drought conditions in Central America have caused lower water levels in the Panama Canal, restricting the number of vessels and the amount of containers they can carry as they make the canal journey. How long will the restrictions possibly last and what will be the effects on ocean shipping as we approach peak season?  Our guest shares his insights. 

The slow period in trucking is expected to continue, according to industry experts gathered at the SMC3 Connections supply chain conference this week in Orlando. They expect the sluggish freight conditions will hang around for a while and that a broader economic recession is likely to follow.

One of the biggest challenges for any company in logistics right now is labor. With low unemployment rates, skills shortages, boomer retirements, and having to compete with gig work jobs, it can be hard for many transportation and warehousing companies to stay fully staffed. This week we learned about another complication in that area, which is the rising rate of positive drug tests as more states legalize the private use of marijuana. That  trend makes it even harder to find good workers.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Bart De Muynck, chief industry officer at project44. The world continues to see the effects of climate change, and now it is affecting our transportation networks. Ongoing drought conditions in Central America have caused lower water levels in the Panama Canal, restricting the number of vessels and the amount of containers they can carry as they make the canal journey. How long will the restrictions possibly last and what will be the effects on ocean shipping as we approach peak season?  Our guest shares his insights. 

The slow period in trucking is expected to continue, according to industry experts gathered at the SMC3 Connections supply chain conference this week in Orlando. They expect the sluggish freight conditions will hang around for a while and that a broader economic recession is likely to follow.

One of the biggest challenges for any company in logistics right now is labor. With low unemployment rates, skills shortages, boomer retirements, and having to compete with gig work jobs, it can be hard for many transportation and warehousing companies to stay fully staffed. This week we learned about another complication in that area, which is the rising rate of positive drug tests as more states legalize the private use of marijuana. That  trend makes it even harder to find good workers.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:Travero Logistics

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13139545 Fri, 30 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1269 supply chain, logistics, Panama Canal, Bart De Muynck, project44, drug testing, labor, recession, freight markets, SMC3, Travero Logistics 4 25 full false Guest: Jason Haith of OEC Group on evolving freight markets; Railroads sue California over new locomotive regulations; and changing warehouse workforce dynamics Guest: Jason Haith of OEC Group on evolving freight markets; Railroads sue California over new locomotive regulations; and changing warehouse workforce dynamics Our guest on this week's episode is Jason Haith, branch manager of OEC Group's Louisville office. Anyone who has followed freight markets over the past year is well aware that they have undergone drastic changes.  These changes make it harder for both shippers and carriers to decide what is fair pricing as they move to sign new contracts and to find carriage on the spot markets. As a seasoned analyst of logistics markets, Haith provides insights on what to expect for the remainder of the year and what early next year may look like in freight offerings.

The State of California has created a rule that would require switch, industrial, and passenger locomotives built in 2030 or after to operate in zero-emissions mode while in California, and in 2035 or after for freight line haul. It would also set a 30-minute idling limit for locomotives in the state and would require railroads to set aside funds to upgrade to cleaner locomotive technologies. Railroad groups are suing the state over these new regulations, saying the technology that California requires isn't really even available yet. We discuss the requirements and their implications for the rail industry.

With low unemployment rates continuing, operators of warehouses and distribution centers are finding it harder than ever to find good workers. New research is showing what it may take to attract new workers while retaining current staff.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC: The Propane Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jason Haith, branch manager of OEC Group's Louisville office. Anyone who has followed freight markets over the past year is well aware that they have undergone drastic changes.  These changes make it harder for both shippers and carriers to decide what is fair pricing as they move to sign new contracts and to find carriage on the spot markets. As a seasoned analyst of logistics markets, Haith provides insights on what to expect for the remainder of the year and what early next year may look like in freight offerings.

The State of California has created a rule that would require switch, industrial, and passenger locomotives built in 2030 or after to operate in zero-emissions mode while in California, and in 2035 or after for freight line haul. It would also set a 30-minute idling limit for locomotives in the state and would require railroads to set aside funds to upgrade to cleaner locomotive technologies. Railroad groups are suing the state over these new regulations, saying the technology that California requires isn't really even available yet. We discuss the requirements and their implications for the rail industry.

With low unemployment rates continuing, operators of warehouses and distribution centers are finding it harder than ever to find good workers. New research is showing what it may take to attract new workers while retaining current staff.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC: The Propane Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13086535 Fri, 23 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1310 supply chain, freight, logistics, spot market, ocean freight, maritime, Jason Haith, OEC Group, PERC, CARB, locomotives, railroads, labor 4 24 full false Guest: Dr. Stefan Heck of Nauto on how AI is providing driver safety; How manufacturers feel about current conditions; A focus on ESG initiatives Guest: Dr. Stefan Heck of Nauto on how AI is providing driver safety; How manufacturers feel about current conditions; A focus on ESG initiatives Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Stefan Heck, CEO and founder of Nauto, a technology company that improves safety for fleet drivers. June is National Safety Month. Drivers on our nation’s roads have less than two seconds to react to most situations that can result in an accident, injury, or even death. But there are technologies available that incorporate artificial intelligence to help assure safety on our roadways.  Our guest shares how these new technologies alert commercial drivers to unsafe conditions before they happen.

We have seen the rise of manufacturing here in the U.S. as many companies are bringing their production back from Asia to North America.  New research this week reveals how manufacturers are feeling about the current conditions for reshoring. 

The newest DC Measures study is out. Produced by WERC in conjunction with DC Velocity, the research tracks the latest developments in distribution strategies and operational metrics. This allows companies to benchmark the performance of their warehouses as well as to track industry trends.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC: The Propane Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Stefan Heck, CEO and founder of Nauto, a technology company that improves safety for fleet drivers. June is National Safety Month. Drivers on our nation’s roads have less than two seconds to react to most situations that can result in an accident, injury, or even death. But there are technologies available that incorporate artificial intelligence to help assure safety on our roadways.  Our guest shares how these new technologies alert commercial drivers to unsafe conditions before they happen.

We have seen the rise of manufacturing here in the U.S. as many companies are bringing their production back from Asia to North America.  New research this week reveals how manufacturers are feeling about the current conditions for reshoring. 

The newest DC Measures study is out. Produced by WERC in conjunction with DC Velocity, the research tracks the latest developments in distribution strategies and operational metrics. This allows companies to benchmark the performance of their warehouses as well as to track industry trends.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC: The Propane Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13027645 Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1317 Supply chain, logistics, Stefan Heck, Nauto, sustainability, PERC, propane, reshoring, WERC, employment, manufacturing, ESG 4 23 full false Guest: Brian Feehan of the Industrial Truck Association discusses forklift safety; More labor issues at West Coast ports; The logistics industry turns into uncharted territory Guest: Brian Feehan of the Industrial Truck Association discusses forklift safety; More labor issues at West Coast ports; The logistics industry turns into uncharted territory Our guest on this week's episode is Brian Feehan, president of the Industrial Truck Association, the trade group of the forklift industry. This coming Tuesday marks the 10th anniversary of National Forklift Safety Day, the forklift industry's annual recognition of the need for ongoing operator training for forklifts. Feehan shares about the work of the industry to promote safety in and around forklifts and how listeners can participate in this week's safety-focused events.

This past week has seen additional labor disruptions at West Coast ports. The dockworkers at the ports have been without a contract for nearly a year now. The workers staged some slowdowns and stoppages at the ports, which could delay imports as retailers and others ramp up for the back-to-school and holiday seasons. Is there any end in sight to the labor troubles?

The Logistics Managers' Index report is out and it shows the logistics industry entering unprecedented territory. Growth is down, so how healthy is the industry overall? What has been the cause of the downturn and when can we expect to return to growth mode?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech launched this week. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC: The Propane Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Brian Feehan, president of the Industrial Truck Association, the trade group of the forklift industry. This coming Tuesday marks the 10th anniversary of National Forklift Safety Day, the forklift industry's annual recognition of the need for ongoing operator training for forklifts. Feehan shares about the work of the industry to promote safety in and around forklifts and how listeners can participate in this week's safety-focused events.

This past week has seen additional labor disruptions at West Coast ports. The dockworkers at the ports have been without a contract for nearly a year now. The workers staged some slowdowns and stoppages at the ports, which could delay imports as retailers and others ramp up for the back-to-school and holiday seasons. Is there any end in sight to the labor troubles?

The Logistics Managers' Index report is out and it shows the logistics industry entering unprecedented territory. Growth is down, so how healthy is the industry overall? What has been the cause of the downturn and when can we expect to return to growth mode?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech launched this week. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC: The Propane Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-13009539 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1128 supply chain, logistics, Industrial Truck Association, maritime, ports, labor, National Forklift Safety Day, Brian Feehan, Zac Rogers, Logistics Managers' Index, Propane Education Research Council 4 22 full false Guest: Craig Malloy of Vecna Robotics on overcoming barriers to automation; Mezzanines are on the rise; Trends in nearshoring Guest: Craig Malloy of Vecna Robotics on overcoming barriers to automation; Mezzanines are on the rise; Trends in nearshoring Our guest on this week's episode is Craig Malloy, CEO of Vecna Robotics. With the current shortage of labor, many companies are rushing to fill the gaps in their distribution operations with automated systems. But, how do they get started and what are the barriers to achieving their goals? Our guest today has some insights.

Mezzanines and work platforms are used in warehouses and distribution centers to primarily hold either equipment or people and serve as a way to maximize space in a facility.  While not much has changed with them in the past 10 or 20 years, they nevertheless remain a warehouse  staple. It turns out that as distribution operations become more automated, demand is on the rise for steel support structures like these that can be integrated with the latest material handling technologies.

A new report highlights the growing shift to move many manufacturing operations from China and other Asian countries closer to home, particularly to Mexico. We share the details from the report and what types of logistics companies might benefit from manufacturing that is being nearshored.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech launches this Tuesday. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC: The Propane Research Council

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Craig Malloy, CEO of Vecna Robotics. With the current shortage of labor, many companies are rushing to fill the gaps in their distribution operations with automated systems. But, how do they get started and what are the barriers to achieving their goals? Our guest today has some insights.

Mezzanines and work platforms are used in warehouses and distribution centers to primarily hold either equipment or people and serve as a way to maximize space in a facility.  While not much has changed with them in the past 10 or 20 years, they nevertheless remain a warehouse  staple. It turns out that as distribution operations become more automated, demand is on the rise for steel support structures like these that can be integrated with the latest material handling technologies.

A new report highlights the growing shift to move many manufacturing operations from China and other Asian countries closer to home, particularly to Mexico. We share the details from the report and what types of logistics companies might benefit from manufacturing that is being nearshored.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech launches this Tuesday. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC: The Propane Research Council

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12967655 Fri, 02 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1327 supply chain, logistics, PERC, Propane Education Research Council, Vecna Robotics, Craig Malloy, robotics, automated forklifts, automation, mezzanines, nearshoring, FourKites 4 21 full false Guest: Max Farrell of WorkHound on truckers' concerns; Rail workers press for better working conditions; Key trends driving our supply chains Guest: Max Farrell of WorkHound on truckers' concerns; Rail workers press for better working conditions; Key trends driving our supply chains Our guest on this week's episode is Max Farrell, cofounder and CEO of WorkHound. 2023 has not been so rosy for trucking. Volumes are down, and the capacity built up during the pandemic is more than what is needed currently. What is causing the current problems for trucking and what might conditions be like for truckers during the second half of the year? Our guest shares some insights from research his company conducted on how truck drivers view their jobs and what concerns them most.

Several labor agreements were reached this past week with our nation's railroads. Rail workers were primarily looking for better working conditions in these agreements. We discuss what was accomplished and what it will mean to have labor peace on the rails.

Continued high inflation, interest rate increases, and a general slowing of the economy are affecting businesses and consumers alike as 2023 marches on. These sentiments were echoed in an industry report released this spring that showed new trends in consumer buying habits. We share what is happening with these “conflicted consumers.”

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Max Farrell, cofounder and CEO of WorkHound. 2023 has not been so rosy for trucking. Volumes are down, and the capacity built up during the pandemic is more than what is needed currently. What is causing the current problems for trucking and what might conditions be like for truckers during the second half of the year? Our guest shares some insights from research his company conducted on how truck drivers view their jobs and what concerns them most.

Several labor agreements were reached this past week with our nation's railroads. Rail workers were primarily looking for better working conditions in these agreements. We discuss what was accomplished and what it will mean to have labor peace on the rails.

Continued high inflation, interest rate increases, and a general slowing of the economy are affecting businesses and consumers alike as 2023 marches on. These sentiments were echoed in an industry report released this spring that showed new trends in consumer buying habits. We share what is happening with these “conflicted consumers.”

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12926295 Fri, 26 May 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1329 supply chain, logistics, WorkHound, Max Farrell, Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, unions, labor, Asendia, consumers, Rite-Hite 4 20 full false Guest: Eduardo Lopez-Soriano of UPS Capital on creating a personalized e-commerce shipping experience; Spending slows for warehouse tech; AI may help logistics companies with labor shortages Guest: Eduardo Lopez-Soriano of UPS Capital on creating a personalized e-commerce shipping experience; Spending slows for warehouse tech; AI may help logistics companies with labor shortages Our guest on this week's episode is Eduardo Lopez-Soriano, vice president of marketing for UPS Capital - the shipping insurance division of UPS.  Consumers want more than just speed in e-commerce delivery. They also want features like accurate parcel tracking and time-definite delivery windows. But, can shippers provide those profitably? Our guest discusses ways to personalize the e-commerce consumer experience.

As cost pressures increase, investment in warehouse tech is declining. Orders for warehouse automation technology are expected to fall this year as companies re-evaluate investment plans and prioritize cost-efficiency, a new report shows.

How do companies find enough workers, with the right training, and hire them at the right pay, to make it all work out? New technologies, and specifically artificial intelligence, could help out with that problem.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Eduardo Lopez-Soriano, vice president of marketing for UPS Capital - the shipping insurance division of UPS.  Consumers want more than just speed in e-commerce delivery. They also want features like accurate parcel tracking and time-definite delivery windows. But, can shippers provide those profitably? Our guest discusses ways to personalize the e-commerce consumer experience.

As cost pressures increase, investment in warehouse tech is declining. Orders for warehouse automation technology are expected to fall this year as companies re-evaluate investment plans and prioritize cost-efficiency, a new report shows.

How do companies find enough workers, with the right training, and hire them at the right pay, to make it all work out? New technologies, and specifically artificial intelligence, could help out with that problem.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12881162 Fri, 19 May 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1113 supply chain, logistics, UPS Capital, Eduardo Lopez-Soriano, Rite Hite, shipping, e-commerce, Interact Analysis, automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, SAP, Microsoft, Instawork 4 19 full false Guest: Spencer Shute of Proxima on artificial intelligence uses in logistics; The logistics behind Mother's Day; The top business challenges for the rest of 2023 Guest: Spencer Shute of Proxima on artificial intelligence uses in logistics; The logistics behind Mother's Day; The top business challenges for the rest of 2023 Our guest on this week's episode is Spencer Shute, principal consultant at Proxima. We hear talk of artificial intelligence just about everywhere these days. These new technologies hold the promise of making life better in a number of ways. But how can artificial intelligence be applied to the logistics industry? Our guest has some ideas.

The logistics industry has been preparing for Mother's Day–which is this weekend. Consumers expect to spend nearly $36 billion for Mother's Day this year.  Much of that will be spent on flowers that enter the United States from Latin America via Miami International Airport. In this segment, we look at how logistics makes Mothers' Day celebrations possible.

A recent survey shows what concerns freight business CEOs the most as we head to the midpoint of the year. A possible recession and operating costs are high on the list, but it might surprise you to learn what ranked near the bottom of what keeps business executives up at night.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Spencer Shute, principal consultant at Proxima. We hear talk of artificial intelligence just about everywhere these days. These new technologies hold the promise of making life better in a number of ways. But how can artificial intelligence be applied to the logistics industry? Our guest has some ideas.

The logistics industry has been preparing for Mother's Day–which is this weekend. Consumers expect to spend nearly $36 billion for Mother's Day this year.  Much of that will be spent on flowers that enter the United States from Latin America via Miami International Airport. In this segment, we look at how logistics makes Mothers' Day celebrations possible.

A recent survey shows what concerns freight business CEOs the most as we head to the midpoint of the year. A possible recession and operating costs are high on the list, but it might surprise you to learn what ranked near the bottom of what keeps business executives up at night.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12837463 Fri, 12 May 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1091 supply chain, logistics, Rite-Hite, Proxima, Spencer Shute, flowers, Miami International Airport, Statista.com, National Retail Federation, Mothers' Day, FedEx Express, Contain xChange 4 18 full false Guest: Ron Greene of Overhaul discusses cargo theft prevention: A bumpy road for freight markets; The overall health of logistics is growing, but just slightly Guest: Ron Greene of Overhaul discusses cargo theft prevention: A bumpy road for freight markets; The overall health of logistics is growing, but just slightly Our guest on this week's episode is Ron Greene, SVP Intel and Fusion Center at Overhaul, a global logistics risk-management software company. Cargo theft continues to plague the industry, as millions of dollars worth of products are stolen each year from facilities as well as from trailers in transit. How serious is the problem of theft, and what can be done to prevent it? We discuss how technology can play a role in stopping thefts and aid in recovery of goods if thefts do happen.

The trucking freight business is changing, as freight volumes decline overall. Yet new patterns are emerging and volumes are being pushed to different regions of the country. We explain what is happening and why.

The latest Logistics Managers' Index report is out, showing the health of the overall logistics industry. It appears there is still growth, but just barely. The numbers are certainly down from the huge growth avalanches of the past two years. But is this slowing just more of a return to normalcy?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ron Greene, SVP Intel and Fusion Center at Overhaul, a global logistics risk-management software company. Cargo theft continues to plague the industry, as millions of dollars worth of products are stolen each year from facilities as well as from trailers in transit. How serious is the problem of theft, and what can be done to prevent it? We discuss how technology can play a role in stopping thefts and aid in recovery of goods if thefts do happen.

The trucking freight business is changing, as freight volumes decline overall. Yet new patterns are emerging and volumes are being pushed to different regions of the country. We explain what is happening and why.

The latest Logistics Managers' Index report is out, showing the health of the overall logistics industry. It appears there is still growth, but just barely. The numbers are certainly down from the huge growth avalanches of the past two years. But is this slowing just more of a return to normalcy?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12787717 Fri, 05 May 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1243 supply chain, logistics, trucking, freight, Overhaul, Ron Greene, Logistics Managers' Index, ATA, US Bank 4 17 full false Guest: Dustin Burke of Boston Consulting Group on current business conditions and supply chains; Labor shortages drive more tech adoption; More U.S. firms moving operations from Asia to Mexico Guest: Dustin Burke of Boston Consulting Group on current business conditions and supply chains; Labor shortages drive more tech adoption; More U.S. firms moving operations from Asia to Mexico Our guest on this week's episode is Dustin Burke, a managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group. Recently BCG conducted research on how C-suite leaders feel about current business conditions. The research also looked at their attitudes toward their supply chains. Burke shares the results and how viewpoints differ depending on where respondents are in the world.

Many companies continue to have difficulty finding good workers. With unemployment still at near-record lows, it does not look like the situation will improve any time soon. As a result, more companies are turning to technology to fill the gaps and create new efficiencies.

The Covid pandemic taught us that many of our supply chains are simply too long. One hiccup along the way can result in delays and shortages. While many of the products that we use every day are still sourced and manufactured in Asia, Mexico is becoming an increasingly popular place to locate manufacturing facilities for North American consumption.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dustin Burke, a managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group. Recently BCG conducted research on how C-suite leaders feel about current business conditions. The research also looked at their attitudes toward their supply chains. Burke shares the results and how viewpoints differ depending on where respondents are in the world.

Many companies continue to have difficulty finding good workers. With unemployment still at near-record lows, it does not look like the situation will improve any time soon. As a result, more companies are turning to technology to fill the gaps and create new efficiencies.

The Covid pandemic taught us that many of our supply chains are simply too long. One hiccup along the way can result in delays and shortages. While many of the products that we use every day are still sourced and manufactured in Asia, Mexico is becoming an increasingly popular place to locate manufacturing facilities for North American consumption.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12738244 Fri, 28 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1253 supply chain, logistics, transportation, Boston Consulting group, Dustin Burke, labor, technology, Wavelink, Redwood Logistics, BlueGrace Logistics, Mexico 4 16 full false Guest: Martin Buena-Franco of Raymond Corp on where to start with automation; The latest from the trucking industry; Defending supply chains from cyberattacks Guest: Martin Buena-Franco of Raymond Corp on where to start with automation; The latest from the trucking industry; Defending supply chains from cyberattacks Our guest on this week's episode is Martin Buena-Franco, automation products marketing manager for The Raymond Corporation. We have all seen the impacts that automation technologies are making in our distribution operations. But with so much new automation out there, how does a warehouse operator know where to start on the automation journey? Our guest provides some insights. 

The trucking business is cyclical. The latest statistics definitely show this to be a down time for the industry. We discuss a couple of recent reports describing where we are in trucking and how long it might take before we see a rebound.

No company, no matter the size, should consider itself immune from cyberattacks. Supply chains are attractive targets for criminals, mostly because we depend on them so much that there are opportunities for data theft and ransomware. We discuss new research on the top supply chain cyber risks.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Martin Buena-Franco, automation products marketing manager for The Raymond Corporation. We have all seen the impacts that automation technologies are making in our distribution operations. But with so much new automation out there, how does a warehouse operator know where to start on the automation journey? Our guest provides some insights. 

The trucking business is cyclical. The latest statistics definitely show this to be a down time for the industry. We discuss a couple of recent reports describing where we are in trucking and how long it might take before we see a rebound.

No company, no matter the size, should consider itself immune from cyberattacks. Supply chains are attractive targets for criminals, mostly because we depend on them so much that there are opportunities for data theft and ransomware. We discuss new research on the top supply chain cyber risks.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12693609 Fri, 21 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1421 supply chain, logistics, Hyster, Raymond Corp., Martin Buena-Franco, cyberattacks, risk, trucking, FTR, ATA 4 15 full true Guest: Paul Brashier of ITS Logistics on West Coast ports labor strife; The chemical industry is still plagued by supply chain issues; Amazon fights fraudulent products Guest: Paul Brashier of ITS Logistics on West Coast ports labor strife; The chemical industry is still plagued by supply chain issues; Amazon fights fraudulent products Our guest on this week's episode is Paul Brashier, vice president of drayage and intermodal for ITS Logistics. Longshoremen still don’t have a contract agreement with West Coast ports – and last week they staged a temporary work stoppage. Is this a sign of more to come, and should shippers trust their goods moving through these ports? Our guest explains the current situation and what shippers can do to minimize their risks.

Supply chain problems continue to plague the chemical industry. More than 90% of chemical industry leaders say supply chain and freight transportation disruptions are affecting their U.S. manufacturing business, a new ACC report shows. We look at what is causing the problems and what can be done to resolve them.

Online fraud continues to be a problem for e-commerce retailers. This week Amazon released its Brand Protection Report about how it is addressing the sale of fraudulent products sold on its marketplace. We report on some of the products most susceptible to counterfeiting.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Paul Brashier, vice president of drayage and intermodal for ITS Logistics. Longshoremen still don’t have a contract agreement with West Coast ports – and last week they staged a temporary work stoppage. Is this a sign of more to come, and should shippers trust their goods moving through these ports? Our guest explains the current situation and what shippers can do to minimize their risks.

Supply chain problems continue to plague the chemical industry. More than 90% of chemical industry leaders say supply chain and freight transportation disruptions are affecting their U.S. manufacturing business, a new ACC report shows. We look at what is causing the problems and what can be done to resolve them.

Online fraud continues to be a problem for e-commerce retailers. This week Amazon released its Brand Protection Report about how it is addressing the sale of fraudulent products sold on its marketplace. We report on some of the products most susceptible to counterfeiting.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12651015 Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:00:00 -0400 1265 supply chain, logistics, distribution, ITS Logistics, ports, maritime, ocean shipping, Paul Brashier, chemical shipping, Amazon, counterfeits 4 14 full false Guest: Carrie Wilkie of GS1 US on the 50th anniversary of the bar code; The latest Logistics Managers' Index; FedEx reorganizes Guest: Carrie Wilkie of GS1 US on the 50th anniversary of the bar code; The latest Logistics Managers' Index; FedEx reorganizes Our guest on this week's episode is Carrie Wilkie, senior vice president, standards and technology, at GS1 US. The humble barcode is 50 years old this month. Since the technology was created in 1973, it has revolutionized the speed of buying the products we use every day. Additionally, it has made many tasks in logistics and warehousing more efficient and accurate. Wilkie also discusses how 2D barcodes are finding new applications to collect and carry even more information than traditional barcodes.

The latest Logistics Managers' Index has been released. This monthly snapshot of the state of the industry shows a general slowing in growth and even more uncertainty in the months ahead.

FedEx is restructuring its corporate organization. The large logistics company will be combining several companies that have worked independently into one business unit, including FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Supply Chain Services. We discuss  why this reorganization was undertaken and what it may mean for shippers.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Carrie Wilkie, senior vice president, standards and technology, at GS1 US. The humble barcode is 50 years old this month. Since the technology was created in 1973, it has revolutionized the speed of buying the products we use every day. Additionally, it has made many tasks in logistics and warehousing more efficient and accurate. Wilkie also discusses how 2D barcodes are finding new applications to collect and carry even more information than traditional barcodes.

The latest Logistics Managers' Index has been released. This monthly snapshot of the state of the industry shows a general slowing in growth and even more uncertainty in the months ahead.

FedEx is restructuring its corporate organization. The large logistics company will be combining several companies that have worked independently into one business unit, including FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Supply Chain Services. We discuss  why this reorganization was undertaken and what it may mean for shippers.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12605443 Fri, 07 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1224 supply chain, logistics, Logistics Matters, Logistics Managers' Index, LMI, GS1 US, Carrie Wilkie, FedEx 4 13 full false Guest: Ken Ramoutar of Lucas Systems on the workforce of the future; Trends in the 3PL sector; New tech for unloading trailers Guest: Ken Ramoutar of Lucas Systems on the workforce of the future; Trends in the 3PL sector; New tech for unloading trailers Our guest on this week's episode is Ken Ramoutar, chief marketing officer at Lucas Systems. With advancements in technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence, we all know that work will be different in the future. Most of our future workforce will come from Generation Z, many of whom have different attitudes, values, and motivations when it comes to work compared to previous generations. Recently, Lucas Systems embarked on a study about tomorrow’s workers and ways employers will need to compete for them. 

Global supply chain shocks and ongoing economic uncertainty have stressed many companies in recent years. This week we saw a report from the consulting firm Armstrong & Associates that found that many shippers have managed those hurdles by forging tighter relationships with their third-party logistics providers (3PLs).

One of the most challenging tasks in logistics is unloading trailers and containers.  Robotics companies have been working on automating this for a long time, and now solutions are available to anyone who runs a warehouse. A few companies were demonstrating these new systems during ProMat last week in Chicago.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Yale

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ken Ramoutar, chief marketing officer at Lucas Systems. With advancements in technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence, we all know that work will be different in the future. Most of our future workforce will come from Generation Z, many of whom have different attitudes, values, and motivations when it comes to work compared to previous generations. Recently, Lucas Systems embarked on a study about tomorrow’s workers and ways employers will need to compete for them. 

Global supply chain shocks and ongoing economic uncertainty have stressed many companies in recent years. This week we saw a report from the consulting firm Armstrong & Associates that found that many shippers have managed those hurdles by forging tighter relationships with their third-party logistics providers (3PLs).

One of the most challenging tasks in logistics is unloading trailers and containers.  Robotics companies have been working on automating this for a long time, and now solutions are available to anyone who runs a warehouse. A few companies were demonstrating these new systems during ProMat last week in Chicago.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Yale

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12556981 Fri, 31 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0400 1152 supply chain, logistics, material handling, robotics, trailer unloading, docks, Gen Z, labor, Lucas Systems, Ken Ramaotar, Yale Lift Truck Technologies, 3PLs, Armstrong & Associates, Majin, Pickle Robotics, Boston Dynamics 4 12 full false Guest: Steve Smith of Airlink on delivering emergency relief to world hotspots; Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern get the go-ahead; Warehouse technologies work in combination for greater productivity Guest: Steve Smith of Airlink on delivering emergency relief to world hotspots; Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern get the go-ahead; Warehouse technologies work in combination for greater productivity Our guest on this week's episode is Steve Smith. He is the president and CEO of Airlink, a non-profit organization that provides logistics coordination for relief organizations reaching the world's trouble spots. Airlink is offering ongoing assistance to war-torn Ukraine as well as recently coordinated transportation of people and supplies to aid victims of the last month's earthquake along the Turkey-Syria border.

It has been a long time in coming, but the U.S. Surface Transportation Board has finally given the green light for the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Railroads. But there are a few conditions that the STB demands for its blessings. We discuss those conditions and how the newly combined rail network will benefit shippers.

Designing a warehouse can be very complex, with so many technology options available today. There is beauty, however, in seeing a design where these different systems can work together to be even more productive than they could be on their own.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Yale

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Steve Smith. He is the president and CEO of Airlink, a non-profit organization that provides logistics coordination for relief organizations reaching the world's trouble spots. Airlink is offering ongoing assistance to war-torn Ukraine as well as recently coordinated transportation of people and supplies to aid victims of the last month's earthquake along the Turkey-Syria border.

It has been a long time in coming, but the U.S. Surface Transportation Board has finally given the green light for the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Railroads. But there are a few conditions that the STB demands for its blessings. We discuss those conditions and how the newly combined rail network will benefit shippers.

Designing a warehouse can be very complex, with so many technology options available today. There is beauty, however, in seeing a design where these different systems can work together to be even more productive than they could be on their own.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Yale

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12456219 Fri, 17 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0400 1404 supply chain, logistics, relief supplies, Airlink, Steve Smith, Canadian Pacific, railroads, Kansas City Southern, robotics, automation, distribution centers, picking, AutoStore, Picavi 4 11 full true Guest: Tania Seary of Procurious on women in supply chains; The rise of electric trucks for last-mile deliveries; The latest numbers from the Logistics Managers' Index Guest: Tania Seary of Procurious on women in supply chains; The rise of electric trucks for last-mile deliveries; The latest numbers from the Logistics Managers' Index Our guest on this week's episode is Tania Seary, founder of Procurious. Procurious is an international network for procurement and supply chain professionals with more than 42,000 members. Earlier this week the world recognized International Women’s Day. Historically, supply chain management positions have been rather heavily male-dominated. But like many professions, we are seeing some steady change. How do women fare today in supply chain positions? 

While many believe electric trucks will make a huge impact on moving goods in the future, widespread adoption still seems years away. However, there is one area where the use of smaller electric trucks is rising, and that is in last-mile delivery. We report on some recent deals to increase electric truck use in some large fleet companies.

The latest numbers are out for the Logistics Managers' Index. February shows slow, but steady growth in the logistics industry. We look into what's behind the numbers and what they may mean as we move further into 2023.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Yale

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Tania Seary, founder of Procurious. Procurious is an international network for procurement and supply chain professionals with more than 42,000 members. Earlier this week the world recognized International Women’s Day. Historically, supply chain management positions have been rather heavily male-dominated. But like many professions, we are seeing some steady change. How do women fare today in supply chain positions? 

While many believe electric trucks will make a huge impact on moving goods in the future, widespread adoption still seems years away. However, there is one area where the use of smaller electric trucks is rising, and that is in last-mile delivery. We report on some recent deals to increase electric truck use in some large fleet companies.

The latest numbers are out for the Logistics Managers' Index. February shows slow, but steady growth in the logistics industry. We look into what's behind the numbers and what they may mean as we move further into 2023.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Yale

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12414700 Fri, 10 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0500 1109 supply chain, logistics, Logistics Managers' Index, Procurious, Tania Seary, Yale Materials Handling, electric fleets, Purolator, 4 10 full false Guest: Ray Haight of JLE Industries on pending legislation to support truckers; A new supply chain research center is established; Best Buy's supply chain innovations Guest: Ray Haight of JLE Industries on pending legislation to support truckers; A new supply chain research center is established; Best Buy's supply chain innovations Our guest on this week's episode is Ray Haight, executive performance impact coach at JLE Industries. He talks about the problems recruiting and retaining truck drivers and two new pieces of proposed legislation in Washington that will make life on the road better and possibly make driving a truck more attractive to prospective drivers. They include a bill requiring facilities to open restrooms to drivers and also a bill to create more safe places for truckers to park overnight.

We all know that supply Chains have been challenged the past two years and now the federal government is offering support and funding for new research into making them better. As part of a multi-University project, a new Center for Freight Transportation for Efficient and Resilient Supply Chain has been established within the University of Tennessee’s Center for Transportation Research. We report on what it hopes to accomplish.

Like all retailers, Best Buy was forced to pivot normal operations when the pandemic began. At last week's RILA Link conference in Orlando, two Best Buy executives shared what worked and what didn't as the company experimented with new models to reach and service customers. Some of those changes have improved their supply chains in ways that may not have happened if they were not forced to  innovate during the pandemic.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Yale

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ray Haight, executive performance impact coach at JLE Industries. He talks about the problems recruiting and retaining truck drivers and two new pieces of proposed legislation in Washington that will make life on the road better and possibly make driving a truck more attractive to prospective drivers. They include a bill requiring facilities to open restrooms to drivers and also a bill to create more safe places for truckers to park overnight.

We all know that supply Chains have been challenged the past two years and now the federal government is offering support and funding for new research into making them better. As part of a multi-University project, a new Center for Freight Transportation for Efficient and Resilient Supply Chain has been established within the University of Tennessee’s Center for Transportation Research. We report on what it hopes to accomplish.

Like all retailers, Best Buy was forced to pivot normal operations when the pandemic began. At last week's RILA Link conference in Orlando, two Best Buy executives shared what worked and what didn't as the company experimented with new models to reach and service customers. Some of those changes have improved their supply chains in ways that may not have happened if they were not forced to  innovate during the pandemic.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Yale

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12368877 Fri, 03 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0500 1174 supply chain, logistics, JLE Industries, Ray Haight, trucking, truck drivers, University of Tennessee, Best Buy 4 9 full false Guest: Ramesh Murthy of Bob's Discount Furniture on creating a work culture of diversity; Robots are coming to a facility near you; Truck sales are on the rise Guest: Ramesh Murthy of Bob's Discount Furniture on creating a work culture of diversity; Robots are coming to a facility near you; Truck sales are on the rise Our guest on this week's episode is Ramesh Murthy, chief supply chain officer and executive vice president at Bob's Discount Furniture. Finding drivers for private fleets is extremely difficult. One way Bob's Discount Furniture is filling the ranks of its fleet is by reaching out to women drivers. In order to do this, the company had to create a culture where diversity is prioritized. It's worked for Bob's, as its retention rate is extremely high.

More companies have been investing in robotics and automation to speed and improve their labor-intensive processes. We take a look at some projects that could serve as examples to the broader industry — especially for those who are just beginning to investigate making these kinds of investments.

Sales and manufacturing trends for Class 8 trucks are currently quite healthy, thanks to pent-up vehicle demand and elevated carrier profits during the recent pandemic rush. We take a look at the truck manufacturing market and what the prospects are for the truck industry for the remainder of the year, despite the economic headwinds the general economy may face.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  TGW

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ramesh Murthy, chief supply chain officer and executive vice president at Bob's Discount Furniture. Finding drivers for private fleets is extremely difficult. One way Bob's Discount Furniture is filling the ranks of its fleet is by reaching out to women drivers. In order to do this, the company had to create a culture where diversity is prioritized. It's worked for Bob's, as its retention rate is extremely high.

More companies have been investing in robotics and automation to speed and improve their labor-intensive processes. We take a look at some projects that could serve as examples to the broader industry — especially for those who are just beginning to investigate making these kinds of investments.

Sales and manufacturing trends for Class 8 trucks are currently quite healthy, thanks to pent-up vehicle demand and elevated carrier profits during the recent pandemic rush. We take a look at the truck manufacturing market and what the prospects are for the truck industry for the remainder of the year, despite the economic headwinds the general economy may face.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  TGW

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12279589 Fri, 24 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0500 1166 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, robotics, automation, truck sales, trucking, fulfillment, Ramesh Murthy, Bob's Discount Furniture, International Federation of Robotics, ACT Research 4 8 full false Guest: Alex Saric of Ivalua on pending climate risk disclosure rules; The USPS fights fraud; A growth spurt for the industrial racking market Guest: Alex Saric of Ivalua on pending climate risk disclosure rules; The USPS fights fraud; A growth spurt for the industrial racking market Our guest on this week's episode is Alex Saric, chief marketing officer for Ivalua. Many may not be aware, but new SEC-directed climate risk disclosure rules may go into effect soon that could have some significant impacts on supply chains. The proposed rules will require publicly traded companies to report on their climate impacts as well as the impacts of their suppliers and partners further upstream within their supply chains. How is the industry reacting to these potential new requirements?

The United States Postal Service has had it with people and companies mailing packages using counterfeit postage. The service has announced plans to fight back by treating the parcels as abandoned. We explain why this step is taking place and what the implications may be to consumers ordering products online.

The future looks bright for the industrial racking industry. A new report shows growth in racking through 2029, attributed to the constantly expanding warehouse space and the need for racking that works with robotics and automated systems. We look at the numbers and what they mean.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  TGW

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Alex Saric, chief marketing officer for Ivalua. Many may not be aware, but new SEC-directed climate risk disclosure rules may go into effect soon that could have some significant impacts on supply chains. The proposed rules will require publicly traded companies to report on their climate impacts as well as the impacts of their suppliers and partners further upstream within their supply chains. How is the industry reacting to these potential new requirements?

The United States Postal Service has had it with people and companies mailing packages using counterfeit postage. The service has announced plans to fight back by treating the parcels as abandoned. We explain why this step is taking place and what the implications may be to consumers ordering products online.

The future looks bright for the industrial racking industry. A new report shows growth in racking through 2029, attributed to the constantly expanding warehouse space and the need for racking that works with robotics and automated systems. We look at the numbers and what they mean.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  TGW

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12276221 Fri, 17 Feb 2023 17:00:00 -0500 986 supply chain, logistics, USPS, postal service, fraud, SEC regulations, climate risk, Ivalua, Alex Saric, racking, warehousing 4 7 full false Guest: Jenny Vander Zanden of Breakthrough on the challenges that shippers face; More turbulence in air freight; Meeting sustainability goals Guest: Jenny Vander Zanden of Breakthrough on the challenges that shippers face; More turbulence in air freight; Meeting sustainability goals Our guest on this week's episode is Jenny Vander Zanden, chief operating officer of Breakthrough. Shippers are facing many challenges today. There is the world’s political situation for one. Another is inflation and the need to diversify. Our guest today offers some insights into the challenges of shippers and what they can be doing to mitigate their risks.

The air cargo sector was one of the supply chain transport modes that was the most disturbed by the pandemic. While most of that chaotic period is hopefully behind us, the air freight market continues to see a turbulent path forward. We report on some of the latest numbers and what they mean for the remainder of the year.

A recent survey found that most companies remain committed to investing in their environmental sustainability goals, despite economic challenges like inflation and a potential recession in 2023. We look deeper into the research to find out what business leaders are thinking and whether current economic conditions will affect their future commitments to sustainability.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  TGW

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jenny Vander Zanden, chief operating officer of Breakthrough. Shippers are facing many challenges today. There is the world’s political situation for one. Another is inflation and the need to diversify. Our guest today offers some insights into the challenges of shippers and what they can be doing to mitigate their risks.

The air cargo sector was one of the supply chain transport modes that was the most disturbed by the pandemic. While most of that chaotic period is hopefully behind us, the air freight market continues to see a turbulent path forward. We report on some of the latest numbers and what they mean for the remainder of the year.

A recent survey found that most companies remain committed to investing in their environmental sustainability goals, despite economic challenges like inflation and a potential recession in 2023. We look deeper into the research to find out what business leaders are thinking and whether current economic conditions will affect their future commitments to sustainability.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  TGW

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12226745 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 13:00:00 -0500 1248 supply chain, logistics, Logistics Matters, Breakthrough, Jenny Vander Zanden, sustainability, air cargo, air freight, transportation, IATA, Honeywell 4 6 full false Guest: Aaron Smith on filling the driver gap; New tech for truck cabs; Highlights from NAW Guest: Aaron Smith on filling the driver gap; New tech for truck cabs; Highlights from NAW Our guest on this week's episode is Aaron Smith. It’s been difficult for many years to find supply chain workers – and in particular, the many drivers needed for our nation’s over-the-road trucks. Smith is helping formerly incarcerated individuals and others forge careers in trucking and logistics through his organization called Escaping the Odds.

New trucks are hitting the market, and many of them are coming with the latest in-cab tech to keep truckers safe. They include active speed intervention, side guard alerts, active brake assist with pedestrian detection, brake hold mode, adaptive cruise control, active lane-keeping assist, and electronic steering assist. We discuss the advantages of these new safety technologies.

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors held its annual Executive Summit this week in Washington, D.C. Among the speakers was former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. We report on some of the key issues facing American businesses as we head further into this new year.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  TGW

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Aaron Smith. It’s been difficult for many years to find supply chain workers – and in particular, the many drivers needed for our nation’s over-the-road trucks. Smith is helping formerly incarcerated individuals and others forge careers in trucking and logistics through his organization called Escaping the Odds.

New trucks are hitting the market, and many of them are coming with the latest in-cab tech to keep truckers safe. They include active speed intervention, side guard alerts, active brake assist with pedestrian detection, brake hold mode, adaptive cruise control, active lane-keeping assist, and electronic steering assist. We discuss the advantages of these new safety technologies.

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors held its annual Executive Summit this week in Washington, D.C. Among the speakers was former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. We report on some of the key issues facing American businesses as we head further into this new year.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  TGW

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12174101 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500 1136 supply chain, logistics, warehouse, distribution, trucking, TGW, Aaron Smith, Escaping The Odds, Bettaway, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, Mike Pompeo 4 5 full false Guest: Dwight Klappich of Gartner on new research into warehouse robotics; Taking stock of tech investments; Last-mile delivery trends Guest: Dwight Klappich of Gartner on new research into warehouse robotics; Taking stock of tech investments; Last-mile delivery trends Our guest on this week's episode is Dwight Klappich, research vice president and Gartner Fellow in Gartner's Logistics and Customer Fulfillment team. He shares new research that Gartner has conducted into how robotics will be used in distribution centers. Within the next few years, distributors will deploy a number of different categories of robots for various warehouse tasks. These systems will need a collaborative platform to work together. He shares details on how Gartner views the future of this crucial and expanding market.

The SMC3 JumpStart conference was held in Atlanta this week and featured a number of speakers sharing their thoughts around a weaker freight environment, tech investments that should be made, and how companies should take stock of their operations and priorities during the current economic slowdown.

New research into last-mile deliveries shows that the final mile has grown more complex, expensive, inefficient, and unsustainable. As a result, the majority of retailers have outsourced their delivery networks. This has lowered costs, but has reduced their control, making some rethink whether speed or reliability is more important to their customers.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Beckoff

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dwight Klappich, research vice president and Gartner Fellow in Gartner's Logistics and Customer Fulfillment team. He shares new research that Gartner has conducted into how robotics will be used in distribution centers. Within the next few years, distributors will deploy a number of different categories of robots for various warehouse tasks. These systems will need a collaborative platform to work together. He shares details on how Gartner views the future of this crucial and expanding market.

The SMC3 JumpStart conference was held in Atlanta this week and featured a number of speakers sharing their thoughts around a weaker freight environment, tech investments that should be made, and how companies should take stock of their operations and priorities during the current economic slowdown.

New research into last-mile deliveries shows that the final mile has grown more complex, expensive, inefficient, and unsustainable. As a result, the majority of retailers have outsourced their delivery networks. This has lowered costs, but has reduced their control, making some rethink whether speed or reliability is more important to their customers.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Beckoff

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12131794 Fri, 27 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0500 1442 Dwight Klappich, Gartner, supply chain, logistics, distribution, robotics, robots, warehouse, collaboration, FarEye, SMC3, American Trucking Associations, Transflo, 4 4 full false Guest: Brett Williams, retired Air Force Major General and head of U.S. Cyber command, on cybersecurity; Demand for shipping remains sluggish; Retailers discover new tech at the National Retail Federation show Guest: Brett Williams, retired Air Force Major General and head of U.S. Cyber command, on cybersecurity; Demand for shipping remains sluggish; Retailers discover new tech at the National Retail Federation show Our guest on this week's episode is Brett Williams, a retired Major General from the United States Air Force and one of the nation's leading consultants and experts on cybersecurity. Williams is the former director of operations at the United States Cyber Command, where he led a team of 400 people responsible for the global operations and protection of all Department Of Defense computer networks. After retiring from a 33-year military career, General Williams co-founded a business called IronNet Security. He discusses the threats our computer systems face, why supply chains are critical to our national defense, and what supply chain managers can do to better safeguard their data.

A slowing economy continues to affect the trucking sector. We’ve seen falling demand for services since the end of last year, driven by inflation, concerns of a recession, and a general sense of uncertainty in the economy. An industry report out this week shows that carriers will continue to compete for limited demand–at least through the first quarter.

The latest tech was on display this week at the National Retail Federation show in New York. We'll tell you about some of the newest technology designed for retail fulfillment and in-store sales.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Beckoff

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Brett Williams, a retired Major General from the United States Air Force and one of the nation's leading consultants and experts on cybersecurity. Williams is the former director of operations at the United States Cyber Command, where he led a team of 400 people responsible for the global operations and protection of all Department Of Defense computer networks. After retiring from a 33-year military career, General Williams co-founded a business called IronNet Security. He discusses the threats our computer systems face, why supply chains are critical to our national defense, and what supply chain managers can do to better safeguard their data.

A slowing economy continues to affect the trucking sector. We’ve seen falling demand for services since the end of last year, driven by inflation, concerns of a recession, and a general sense of uncertainty in the economy. An industry report out this week shows that carriers will continue to compete for limited demand–at least through the first quarter.

The latest tech was on display this week at the National Retail Federation show in New York. We'll tell you about some of the newest technology designed for retail fulfillment and in-store sales.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Beckoff

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12085876 Fri, 20 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0500 1503 supply chain, logistics, cybersecurity, Brett Williams, IronNet, U.S. Cyber Command, Department of Defense, WalMart, Honeywell, ProGlove, Zebra, Scandit, National Retail Federation, Container XChange, AFS 4 3 full false Guest: Brandon Isner of CBRE on holiday returns; The Biden administration releases a blueprint for decarbonizing transportation; Tech trends for 2023 Guest: Brandon Isner of CBRE on holiday returns; The Biden administration releases a blueprint for decarbonizing transportation; Tech trends for 2023 Our guest on this week's episode is Brandon Isner, Americans head of retail research at CBRE, the large commercial real estate firm. While the holidays are now over and most of us have taken down the tree and put the decorations away, a lot of holiday work still needs to be done for retailers. They have to deal with the $135 billion in expected returns this year. Estimates are that 13 percent of all online orders are being returned. That is a lot to process for any company. Isner discusses how the massive amounts of returns are being handled.

The Biden Administration took a step closer to its emissions reduction goals
this week with the release of an interagency “blueprint” to decarbonize the nation’s transportation sector. The plan addresses all passenger and freight travel modes and fuels to reach goals to secure a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.  How is the industry reacting to this plan?

The supply chain industry is continuously looking  for solutions to move goods faster with less costs. As we begin 2023, what are the hot tech devices and trends that will make an impact and what are also those technologies that are just too far ahead their time?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Beckoff

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Brandon Isner, Americans head of retail research at CBRE, the large commercial real estate firm. While the holidays are now over and most of us have taken down the tree and put the decorations away, a lot of holiday work still needs to be done for retailers. They have to deal with the $135 billion in expected returns this year. Estimates are that 13 percent of all online orders are being returned. That is a lot to process for any company. Isner discusses how the massive amounts of returns are being handled.

The Biden Administration took a step closer to its emissions reduction goals
this week with the release of an interagency “blueprint” to decarbonize the nation’s transportation sector. The plan addresses all passenger and freight travel modes and fuels to reach goals to secure a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.  How is the industry reacting to this plan?

The supply chain industry is continuously looking  for solutions to move goods faster with less costs. As we begin 2023, what are the hot tech devices and trends that will make an impact and what are also those technologies that are just too far ahead their time?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Beckoff

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-12037601 Fri, 13 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0500 1329 supply chain, logistics, Logistics Matters, CBRE, Beckoff, Brandon Isner, returns, reverse logistics, technology, sustainability, transportation 4 2 full false Guest: Zac Rogers of Colorado State University on supply chain predictions for 2023; Will the semiconductor chip shortages continue in the new year?; More expansion and acquisitions for material handling suppliers. Guest: Zac Rogers of Colorado State University on supply chain predictions for 2023; Will the semiconductor chip shortages continue in the new year?; More expansion and acquisitions for material handling suppliers. Our guest on this week's episode is Zac Rogers, assistant professor of supply chain at Colorado State University. Rogers is one of the writers of the monthly Logistics Managers' Index. He shares about how supply chains performed during 2022 and predicts what will be ahead as the new year unfolds.

Some of the successes and challenges that supply chains will experience in 2023 may be related to whether the industry can solve the many product shortages we had during the past two years. Today we discuss semiconductor chips and the prospects for seeing better ongoing supplies of these vital components.

As distributors continue to face shortages of available labor and other challenges, the material handling industry is responding with new automation solutions. As a result, we expect to see new mergers and acquisitions and more expansion within the material handling industry.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Beckoff

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Zac Rogers, assistant professor of supply chain at Colorado State University. Rogers is one of the writers of the monthly Logistics Managers' Index. He shares about how supply chains performed during 2022 and predicts what will be ahead as the new year unfolds.

Some of the successes and challenges that supply chains will experience in 2023 may be related to whether the industry can solve the many product shortages we had during the past two years. Today we discuss semiconductor chips and the prospects for seeing better ongoing supplies of these vital components.

As distributors continue to face shortages of available labor and other challenges, the material handling industry is responding with new automation solutions. As a result, we expect to see new mergers and acquisitions and more expansion within the material handling industry.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Beckoff

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11993069 Fri, 06 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0500 1367 supply chain, logistics, Logistics Managers' Index, Zac Rogers, acquisitions, material handling, semiconductors, product shortages, labor 4 1 full false ICYMI: Todd Skiles of Ryder System on transitioning military veterans into the workforce; What kind of services are e-commerce customers willing to pay to receive? Companies struggle to find seasonal workers. ICYMI: Todd Skiles of Ryder System on transitioning military veterans into the workforce; What kind of services are e-commerce customers willing to pay to receive? Companies struggle to find seasonal workers. Today we're repeating our Nov. 11 episode on attracting and hiring military veterans for those who might have missed it. We'll be back next week with a new episode.

------------------------------

Our guest on this week's episode is  Todd Skiles, senior vice president of global sales and supply chain solutions at Ryder System. Today in the United States we honor military veterans for their service to our nation. Once their time in the armed forces has concluded, veterans must transition back to civilian life, including finding suitable employment. Skiles, a veteran himself, shares what Ryder does to help other veterans make a leap into supply chain careers.

After years of experience with ordering products online at Amazon and other vendors, most consumers have come to expect free shipping on their e-commerce purchases – but is that a sustainable model? At the same time, there are other services that are important enough to consumers that they may be willing to pay to receive them.

Black Friday is just around the corner, meaning that we are facing peak season for most retailers and many other companies. Employers note that it has been difficult this year to find the usual army of seasonal workers that they rely on to get them through most peak times. For those workers who are available, what will convince them to on-board with a particular company?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast produced by:  DC Velocity

Other links

]]> Today we're repeating our Nov. 11 episode on attracting and hiring military veterans for those who might have missed it. We'll be back next week with a new episode.

------------------------------

Our guest on this week's episode is  Todd Skiles, senior vice president of global sales and supply chain solutions at Ryder System. Today in the United States we honor military veterans for their service to our nation. Once their time in the armed forces has concluded, veterans must transition back to civilian life, including finding suitable employment. Skiles, a veteran himself, shares what Ryder does to help other veterans make a leap into supply chain careers.

After years of experience with ordering products online at Amazon and other vendors, most consumers have come to expect free shipping on their e-commerce purchases – but is that a sustainable model? At the same time, there are other services that are important enough to consumers that they may be willing to pay to receive them.

Black Friday is just around the corner, meaning that we are facing peak season for most retailers and many other companies. Employers note that it has been difficult this year to find the usual army of seasonal workers that they rely on to get them through most peak times. For those workers who are available, what will convince them to on-board with a particular company?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast produced by:  DC Velocity

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11953426 Fri, 30 Dec 2022 13:00:00 -0500 1241 supply chain, logistics, peak season, deliveries, Todd Skiles, Ryder System, veterans, military, hiring, shipping, e-commerce, employment 3 full false Guest: Melinda McLaughlin of Prologis on warehouse real estate markets in 2023; New emissions standards are released for heavy duty trucks; The USPS increases its goals for new electric delivery vehicles Guest: Melinda McLaughlin of Prologis on warehouse real estate markets in 2023; New emissions standards are released for heavy duty trucks; The USPS increases its goals for new electric delivery vehicles Our guest on this week's episode is Melinda McLaughlin, senior vice president and global head of research with industrial real estate company Prologis. 2022 marked a year of tight warehouse capacity, as distribution facilities were stacked to the rafters with inventory. Much of that inventory is now gone, but there are other factors that will limit available space. McLaughlin shares predictions for the industrial real estate market for 2023, including hot locations for new construction and other factors that may limit overall growth.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its strongest-ever clean air standards for heavy-duty trucks this week. It is a move that essentially takes us a bit closer to a zero-emissions future, which is something government and transportation industry leaders have been working on for years. We discuss the new requirements and when they will go into effect, as well as industry reactions.

The United States Postal Service has announced its intent to accelerate its drive to a mostly-electric delivery future. Earlier in the year, the USPS revealed its desire to replace its aging delivery fleet with new vehicles, many of which would be electrical. With new funding, it is now able to increase the number of electric vehicles it intends to deploy by 2028 to 66,000 trucks. That represents more than half of its new vehicle purchases. We discuss the deal and its possible impact on operations.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Melinda McLaughlin, senior vice president and global head of research with industrial real estate company Prologis. 2022 marked a year of tight warehouse capacity, as distribution facilities were stacked to the rafters with inventory. Much of that inventory is now gone, but there are other factors that will limit available space. McLaughlin shares predictions for the industrial real estate market for 2023, including hot locations for new construction and other factors that may limit overall growth.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its strongest-ever clean air standards for heavy-duty trucks this week. It is a move that essentially takes us a bit closer to a zero-emissions future, which is something government and transportation industry leaders have been working on for years. We discuss the new requirements and when they will go into effect, as well as industry reactions.

The United States Postal Service has announced its intent to accelerate its drive to a mostly-electric delivery future. Earlier in the year, the USPS revealed its desire to replace its aging delivery fleet with new vehicles, many of which would be electrical. With new funding, it is now able to increase the number of electric vehicles it intends to deploy by 2028 to 66,000 trucks. That represents more than half of its new vehicle purchases. We discuss the deal and its possible impact on operations.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11919186 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0500 1185 supply chain, logistics, warehouse, distribution, USPS, Prologis, industrial real estate, Melinda McLaughlin, EPA, environment, trucking, OOIDA, ATA 3 47 full false Guest: Justin Bailie of Rose Rocket on finding drivers; Supply chain managers work to lessen material supply risks; Proposed "relief" for truckers Guest: Justin Bailie of Rose Rocket on finding drivers; Supply chain managers work to lessen material supply risks; Proposed "relief" for truckers Our guest on this week's episode is Justin Bailie, co-founder of TMS provider Rose Rocket. Good workers are always hard to find, but this year it has been difficult to find the labor needed to run our supply chains, and truck drivers in particular. What can be done to put more drivers on our nations’ roads? 

Supply chain executives are focusing on reducing their material supply risks and avoiding unplanned delays and shortages in the year ahead – not surprising, after what we’ve experienced in the past couple of years. New research  shows what these materials managers plan to do to lower costs and eliminate material shortages.

A new bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress to assure that truck drivers have access to restroom facilities at their pick-up and drop-off locations. Currently, drivers are often forbidden to use restrooms at their stops, which often means that the drivers are greatly inconvenienced and must find alternative facilities.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Justin Bailie, co-founder of TMS provider Rose Rocket. Good workers are always hard to find, but this year it has been difficult to find the labor needed to run our supply chains, and truck drivers in particular. What can be done to put more drivers on our nations’ roads? 

Supply chain executives are focusing on reducing their material supply risks and avoiding unplanned delays and shortages in the year ahead – not surprising, after what we’ve experienced in the past couple of years. New research  shows what these materials managers plan to do to lower costs and eliminate material shortages.

A new bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress to assure that truck drivers have access to restroom facilities at their pick-up and drop-off locations. Currently, drivers are often forbidden to use restrooms at their stops, which often means that the drivers are greatly inconvenienced and must find alternative facilities.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11884950 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1182 supply chain, logistics, trucking, drivers, supply shortages, Aptean Rose Rocket, Justin Bailie, materials management, hiring and retention 3 46 full false Guest: Dan Gilmore from Softeon discusses how distributors feel about automation; New numbers reflect the current health of the industry; The freight rates outlook for 2023 Guest: Dan Gilmore from Softeon discusses how distributors feel about automation; New numbers reflect the current health of the industry; The freight rates outlook for 2023 Our guest on this week's episode is Dan Gilmore, chief marketing officer at Softeon. Increased demand and fewer available workers during the past couple of years have combined to accelerate the adoption of automation in distribution centers- and material handling companies have responded with a wide range of systems. But what do the end-users of today’s automation think about the available technologies? 

The latest numbers from the Logistics Managers' Index are in. The report reflecting November activity shows growth, but at a much slower pace. What's behind the numbers and what do they reveal about possible growth in 2023?

Freight rates were incredibly high the past two years, but have been steadily dropping since Spring. New research shows what is happening in the freight markets and where shippers can expect to see rates for various modes of transit in 2023.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dan Gilmore, chief marketing officer at Softeon. Increased demand and fewer available workers during the past couple of years have combined to accelerate the adoption of automation in distribution centers- and material handling companies have responded with a wide range of systems. But what do the end-users of today’s automation think about the available technologies? 

The latest numbers from the Logistics Managers' Index are in. The report reflecting November activity shows growth, but at a much slower pace. What's behind the numbers and what do they reveal about possible growth in 2023?

Freight rates were incredibly high the past two years, but have been steadily dropping since Spring. New research shows what is happening in the freight markets and where shippers can expect to see rates for various modes of transit in 2023.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11843736 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1182 supply chain, distribution, transportation, freight, spot market, trucking, air freight, ocean freight, automation, Dan Gilmore, Softeon, Logistics Managers' Index 3 45 full false Guest: Elie Katz of National Retail Solutions on helping mom-and-pop grocers survive; Congress takes action to avert a rail strike; What motivates companies to be more sustainable? Guest: Elie Katz of National Retail Solutions on helping mom-and-pop grocers survive; Congress takes action to avert a rail strike; What motivates companies to be more sustainable? Our guest on this week's episode is Elie Katz, president & CEO of National Retail Solutions. The pandemic was especially hard on small  mom-and-pop grocers - the bodegas and small independent stores found on many street corners of America. Some closed for good, while others adopted new technologies to help them compete with  the bigger grocers on diverse inventory and home deliveries. We discussed how these grocers can not just compete, but thrive.

Yesterday, Congress took action to impose a contract on railroad labor unions. It is not often that Congress dictates union contracts, but in this case it was felt necessary to avert a rail strike that could have crippled the economy. We discuss what was behind the decision and what effect it may have going forward for rail transportation.

Sustainability is one of the biggest buzzwords in the economy right now, and that’s true for logistics companies as much as any other sector. But making supply chains more sustainable is a difficult job, and we all know that companies don’t like to spend money unless they can get a return on that investment. So that leaves the question of why exactly are companies trying to get more sustainable?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Elie Katz, president & CEO of National Retail Solutions. The pandemic was especially hard on small  mom-and-pop grocers - the bodegas and small independent stores found on many street corners of America. Some closed for good, while others adopted new technologies to help them compete with  the bigger grocers on diverse inventory and home deliveries. We discussed how these grocers can not just compete, but thrive.

Yesterday, Congress took action to impose a contract on railroad labor unions. It is not often that Congress dictates union contracts, but in this case it was felt necessary to avert a rail strike that could have crippled the economy. We discuss what was behind the decision and what effect it may have going forward for rail transportation.

Sustainability is one of the biggest buzzwords in the economy right now, and that’s true for logistics companies as much as any other sector. But making supply chains more sustainable is a difficult job, and we all know that companies don’t like to spend money unless they can get a return on that investment. So that leaves the question of why exactly are companies trying to get more sustainable?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast is sponsored by:  Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11802689 Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1124 supply chain, logistics, electric vehicles, trucking, National Retail Solutions, grocery, Elie Katz, sustainability, rail, labor, Congress 3 44 full false Guest: Gregg Healy from Savills discusses the holiday peak season; Greater focus on last mile logistics; More commitments to transition to zero-emission vehicles Guest: Gregg Healy from Savills discusses the holiday peak season; Greater focus on last mile logistics; More commitments to transition to zero-emission vehicles Our guest on this week's episode is Gregg Healy, the head of Industrial Service for North America with the commercial real estate firm Savills. Most retailers admit that this will not be the typical holiday peak season. They have lots of inventory and we are now seeing peak season stretching out well ahead of the traditional Black Friday start. What has changed this year and why? 

More companies are focusing on the importance of last-mile delivery to their overall business– a factor that is giving logistics a seat at the table in the C-suite and the boardroom. We look at current trends that will define last-mile delivery in 2023 and beyond.

Yesterday, we saw a big step toward a greener future when the Biden Administration joined other nations in endorsing a global plan to move toward zero-emissions trucks and buses for all new vehicles sold starting in 2040. This international group agreement was signed at the COP27 diplomatic meeting in Egypt. What is the reaction from the logistics industry towards this new national goal?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast produced by:  DC Velocity

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Gregg Healy, the head of Industrial Service for North America with the commercial real estate firm Savills. Most retailers admit that this will not be the typical holiday peak season. They have lots of inventory and we are now seeing peak season stretching out well ahead of the traditional Black Friday start. What has changed this year and why? 

More companies are focusing on the importance of last-mile delivery to their overall business– a factor that is giving logistics a seat at the table in the C-suite and the boardroom. We look at current trends that will define last-mile delivery in 2023 and beyond.

Yesterday, we saw a big step toward a greener future when the Biden Administration joined other nations in endorsing a global plan to move toward zero-emissions trucks and buses for all new vehicles sold starting in 2040. This international group agreement was signed at the COP27 diplomatic meeting in Egypt. What is the reaction from the logistics industry towards this new national goal?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast produced by:  DC Velocity

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11721985 Fri, 18 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1342 supply chain, logistics, peak season, deliveries, e-commerce, Gregg Healy, Savills, last mile, Prologis, DispatchTrack, CALSTART, environment, zero-emission vehicles, DHL Performance Team, Maersk, Proxima 3 43 full true Guest: Todd Skiles of Ryder System on transitioning military veterans into the workforce; What kind of services are e-commerce customers willing to pay to receive? Companies struggle to find seasonal workers. Guest: Todd Skiles of Ryder System on transitioning military veterans into the workforce; What kind of services are e-commerce customers willing to pay to receive? Companies struggle to find seasonal workers. Our guest on this week's episode is  Todd Skiles, senior vice president of global sales and supply chain solutions at Ryder System. Today in the United States we honor military veterans for their service to our nation. Once their time in the armed forces has concluded, veterans must transition back to civilian life, including finding suitable employment. Skiles, a veteran himself, shares what Ryder does to help other veterans make a leap into supply chain careers.

After years of experience with ordering products online at Amazon and other vendors, most consumers have come to expect free shipping on their e-commerce purchases – but is that a sustainable model? At the same time, there are other services that are important enough to consumers that they may be willing to pay to receive them.

Black Friday is just around the corner, meaning that we are facing peak season for most retailers and many other companies. Employers note that it has been difficult this year to find the usual army of seasonal workers that they rely on to get them through most peak times. For those workers who are available, what will convince them to on-board with a particular company?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast produced by:  DC Velocity

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Todd Skiles, senior vice president of global sales and supply chain solutions at Ryder System. Today in the United States we honor military veterans for their service to our nation. Once their time in the armed forces has concluded, veterans must transition back to civilian life, including finding suitable employment. Skiles, a veteran himself, shares what Ryder does to help other veterans make a leap into supply chain careers.

After years of experience with ordering products online at Amazon and other vendors, most consumers have come to expect free shipping on their e-commerce purchases – but is that a sustainable model? At the same time, there are other services that are important enough to consumers that they may be willing to pay to receive them.

Black Friday is just around the corner, meaning that we are facing peak season for most retailers and many other companies. Employers note that it has been difficult this year to find the usual army of seasonal workers that they rely on to get them through most peak times. For those workers who are available, what will convince them to on-board with a particular company?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast produced by:  DC Velocity

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11673102 Fri, 11 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0500 1241 supply chain, logistics, peak season, deliveries, Todd Skiles, Ryder System, veterans, military, hiring, shipping, e-commerce, employment 3 42 full false Guest: Paul Lord of Gartner discusses how inflation affects supply chains; Freight markets are facing radical changes; News about autonomous vehicles Guest: Paul Lord of Gartner discusses how inflation affects supply chains; Freight markets are facing radical changes; News about autonomous vehicles Our guest on this week's episode is  Paul Lord, senior director, supply chain research at consultancy Gartner. Inflation has hit everyone, and the supply chain problems we have experienced the past two years are contributing factors. Higher costs for materials, fuel, transportation, and distribution not only increase prices of the products we buy, but they also lead to higher costs to deliver those goods. How has inflation affected supply chains and what can managers and supply chain planners do to mitigate the pain?

Self-driving vehicles have been in the news this week. One well-known company has shut down, another faces lawsuits, and still another is making progress on developing their autonomous technology. We sort out the negatives from the positives as these promising technologies may still make small inroads before seeing full adoption.

Change is coming to transportation and freight markets. The pandemic has revealed many bottlenecks and inefficiencies in current transportation networks. New research shows how managers are responding by redrawing how those networks are designed, including re-shoring and near-shoring operations to reduce risk and improve speed to market.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast produced by:  DC Velocity

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Paul Lord, senior director, supply chain research at consultancy Gartner. Inflation has hit everyone, and the supply chain problems we have experienced the past two years are contributing factors. Higher costs for materials, fuel, transportation, and distribution not only increase prices of the products we buy, but they also lead to higher costs to deliver those goods. How has inflation affected supply chains and what can managers and supply chain planners do to mitigate the pain?

Self-driving vehicles have been in the news this week. One well-known company has shut down, another faces lawsuits, and still another is making progress on developing their autonomous technology. We sort out the negatives from the positives as these promising technologies may still make small inroads before seeing full adoption.

Change is coming to transportation and freight markets. The pandemic has revealed many bottlenecks and inefficiencies in current transportation networks. New research shows how managers are responding by redrawing how those networks are designed, including re-shoring and near-shoring operations to reduce risk and improve speed to market.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast produced by:  DC Velocity

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11631397 Fri, 04 Nov 2022 13:00:00 -0400 1249 Gartner, supply chain, logistics, Paul Lord, freight, trucking, autonomous vehicles, self-driving trucks, inflation, recession, economy 3 41 full false Guest: Shawn McCloud of Coyote Logistics on expectations for peak shipping season; 3PLs continue strong growth; Market trends for Q4 and through 2023. Guest: Shawn McCloud of Coyote Logistics on expectations for peak shipping season; 3PLs continue strong growth; Market trends for Q4 and through 2023. Our guest on this week's episode is  Shawn McCloud, senior vice president of operations at Coyote Logistics. While peak holiday shopping season is just getting underway for most consumers, peak season for shippers has already been going on for a couple of months. How is this peak season progressing compared to last year and what are the expectations for shippers and carriers for the time between now and the end of the year? 

Supply chains have endured a lot in 2022. We still face many challenges, including capacity and product shortages. What are the prospects for meeting those challenges through the end of 2022 and what are the forecasts for 2023?

Third party logistics providers, better known as 3PLs, continue their strong growth and performance this year. What are some of the things they are doing right to grow their volumes and profitability?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Signode

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Shawn McCloud, senior vice president of operations at Coyote Logistics. While peak holiday shopping season is just getting underway for most consumers, peak season for shippers has already been going on for a couple of months. How is this peak season progressing compared to last year and what are the expectations for shippers and carriers for the time between now and the end of the year? 

Supply chains have endured a lot in 2022. We still face many challenges, including capacity and product shortages. What are the prospects for meeting those challenges through the end of 2022 and what are the forecasts for 2023?

Third party logistics providers, better known as 3PLs, continue their strong growth and performance this year. What are some of the things they are doing right to grow their volumes and profitability?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Signode

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11587373 Fri, 28 Oct 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1464 supply chain, logistics, peak season, 3PL, third party logistics provider, holiday shopping, shipping, carriers, Coyote Logistics, Shawn McCloud, supply chain challenges 3 40 full false Guest: Dannie Lynn Fountain on hiring a diverse workforce; Retailers prepare for peak season; A volume swing at U.S. ports Guest: Dannie Lynn Fountain on hiring a diverse workforce; Retailers prepare for peak season; A volume swing at U.S. ports Our guest on this week's episode is  Dannie Lynn Fountain. She is the author of the new book End Checkbox Diversity: Rewriting the Story of Performative Allyship in Corporate America. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. She shares how hiring people with disabilities can enhance a workforce and bring new skills that might often be overlooked.

Retailers are preparing for peak season and trying to guess how consumers will respond. New research shows that consumers are concerned about rising prices and the overall economy, but they also want to continue with many of the conveniences and retail services they learned to enjoy over the past two-plus years of the pandemic.

While imports overall are slowing, our nation's ports continue to be busy. Volumes, however, seem to be shifting from West Coast ports to those in the East and Gulf regions. What is causing the shifts and which ports are winners and which are seeing declining volumes?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes delivered each Tuesday. The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Signode

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Dannie Lynn Fountain. She is the author of the new book End Checkbox Diversity: Rewriting the Story of Performative Allyship in Corporate America. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. She shares how hiring people with disabilities can enhance a workforce and bring new skills that might often be overlooked.

Retailers are preparing for peak season and trying to guess how consumers will respond. New research shows that consumers are concerned about rising prices and the overall economy, but they also want to continue with many of the conveniences and retail services they learned to enjoy over the past two-plus years of the pandemic.

While imports overall are slowing, our nation's ports continue to be busy. Volumes, however, seem to be shifting from West Coast ports to those in the East and Gulf regions. What is causing the shifts and which ports are winners and which are seeing declining volumes?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). The third season of eight episodes has launched with new episodes delivered each Tuesday. The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Signode

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11542964 Fri, 21 Oct 2022 11:00:00 -0400 1237 supply chain, logistics, DC Velocity, ports, maritime, cargo, Dannie Lynn Fountain, diversity, disabilities, hiring, employment, retail, peak season, shipping 3 39 full false Guest: Dan Pellathy on new research on supply chain agility; The Labor Department proposes new rules governing independent contractors; Distribution centers go multilevel Guest: Dan Pellathy on new research on supply chain agility; The Labor Department proposes new rules governing independent contractors; Distribution centers go multilevel Our guest on this week's episode is  Dan Pellathy, an  assistant professor at Grand Valley State University. The past two years of pandemic and economic uncertainly revealed many weaknesses in our supply chains and pointed to the need for greater agility. But while everyone seeks supply chain agility, what is the reality in the market and are companies as diversified and resilient with their supply chains as they should be?  Pellathy and a team of supply chain researchers have studied the ROI of supply chain agility and have released their findings in an industry white paper (see the notes below to access the white paper).

The Labor Department has proposed new rules for classifying contract workers. The new rules will probably reclassify many current independent contractors as employees of the companies for which they perform work. This could have a tremendous impact on independent truck drivers and gig workers who do last mile deliveries.

For years, warehouses and distribution centers in countries where land is scarce, such as in Europe and Japan, have been built as multi-story facilities to better utilize the footprint of the available land. As companies in the U.S. move distribution closer to urban areas, they are looking to copy the multi-floor designs to better serve these urban markets with faster deliveries.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes launched this past Tuesday with a new episode each week. The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Signode

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Dan Pellathy, an  assistant professor at Grand Valley State University. The past two years of pandemic and economic uncertainly revealed many weaknesses in our supply chains and pointed to the need for greater agility. But while everyone seeks supply chain agility, what is the reality in the market and are companies as diversified and resilient with their supply chains as they should be?  Pellathy and a team of supply chain researchers have studied the ROI of supply chain agility and have released their findings in an industry white paper (see the notes below to access the white paper).

The Labor Department has proposed new rules for classifying contract workers. The new rules will probably reclassify many current independent contractors as employees of the companies for which they perform work. This could have a tremendous impact on independent truck drivers and gig workers who do last mile deliveries.

For years, warehouses and distribution centers in countries where land is scarce, such as in Europe and Japan, have been built as multi-story facilities to better utilize the footprint of the available land. As companies in the U.S. move distribution closer to urban areas, they are looking to copy the multi-floor designs to better serve these urban markets with faster deliveries.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes launched this past Tuesday with a new episode each week. The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Signode

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11500920 Fri, 14 Oct 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1564 full false Guest: Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network on recovery efforts for Florida; Walmart buys a robotics company; The latest report on the health of our supply chains Guest: Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network on recovery efforts for Florida; Walmart buys a robotics company; The latest report on the health of our supply chains Our guest on this week's episode is  Kathy Fulton, executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). Hurricane Ian has brought tremendous devastation to Florida and the Southeast region. It is times like these that the logistics community can rally together to provide logistical services to assist in the recovery. Spearheading those efforts is ALAN. Fulton shares what is being done and how you can help. 

Walmart has just bought Alert Innovation, a robotic shuttle company it has been using to support its e-commerce and grocery pick-up orders. This is just the latest in acquisitions and consolidations we are seeing with automation companies. We report on what this move by Walmart may signal to the industry and what other consolidation may be coming.

The latest Logistics Managers' Index is out and it shows that while growth is continuing in the industry, it is not the surge we saw over the past two years. We look behind the numbers to see what they mean for our supply chains and what the outlook might be for the coming year.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes is launching this Tuesday and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Signode

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Kathy Fulton, executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). Hurricane Ian has brought tremendous devastation to Florida and the Southeast region. It is times like these that the logistics community can rally together to provide logistical services to assist in the recovery. Spearheading those efforts is ALAN. Fulton shares what is being done and how you can help. 

Walmart has just bought Alert Innovation, a robotic shuttle company it has been using to support its e-commerce and grocery pick-up orders. This is just the latest in acquisitions and consolidations we are seeing with automation companies. We report on what this move by Walmart may signal to the industry and what other consolidation may be coming.

The latest Logistics Managers' Index is out and it shows that while growth is continuing in the industry, it is not the surge we saw over the past two years. We look behind the numbers to see what they mean for our supply chains and what the outlook might be for the coming year.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes is launching this Tuesday and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Signode

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11458166 Fri, 07 Oct 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1360 supply chain, logistics, ALAN, American Logistics Aid Network, hurricane relief, Hurricane Ian, Kathy Fulton, Signode, Logistics Managers' Index, Walmart, Alert Innovation, Teradyne, consolidation 3 37 full false Guest: Troy Basso of Quantix on adding electric trucks to a fleet; Technology pushes the industry ahead; A new administrator for the FMCSA and how the industry is reacting to the appointment. Guest: Troy Basso of Quantix on adding electric trucks to a fleet; Technology pushes the industry ahead; A new administrator for the FMCSA and how the industry is reacting to the appointment. Our guest on this week's episode is  Troy Basso, VP, Fleet Maintenance at Quantix.  We have witnessed the spike in diesel fuel prices over the past year, and those prices and a desire to turn to more environmentally-friendly fuels have led some companies to move to electric vehicles for their fleets. What does it take to transition from diesel to electric power for a fleet’s trucks? Our guest shares what his company has done to add its first electric trucks to its current fleet.

Companies continue to  embrace new technologies to counter some of the supply chain stressors they are feeling. Supply chain professionals are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to navigate those challenges and “future-proof” their companies’ supply chains. This is according to a recent IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) survey of more than 1,500 chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) and chief operating officers (COOs).  We discuss some of the interesting details from the report.

Last week the Senate approved a new administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA. We will hear what her priorities might be for the agency and how the industry is reacting to this new appointment.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season of eight episodes is fully available and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Troy Basso, VP, Fleet Maintenance at Quantix.  We have witnessed the spike in diesel fuel prices over the past year, and those prices and a desire to turn to more environmentally-friendly fuels have led some companies to move to electric vehicles for their fleets. What does it take to transition from diesel to electric power for a fleet’s trucks? Our guest shares what his company has done to add its first electric trucks to its current fleet.

Companies continue to  embrace new technologies to counter some of the supply chain stressors they are feeling. Supply chain professionals are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to navigate those challenges and “future-proof” their companies’ supply chains. This is according to a recent IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) survey of more than 1,500 chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) and chief operating officers (COOs).  We discuss some of the interesting details from the report.

Last week the Senate approved a new administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA. We will hear what her priorities might be for the agency and how the industry is reacting to this new appointment.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season of eight episodes is fully available and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11414614 Fri, 30 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0400 1221 Robin Hutcheson, logistics, FMCSA, trucking, supply chain, Troy Basso, Quantix, electric trucks, Peterbilt, AI, artificial intelligence, technology 3 36 full false Guest: Mark Dancer of Network for Business Innovation on how supply chains are being reborn; The rail strike is averted; New efforts to move the backlog of containers at ocean ports Guest: Mark Dancer of Network for Business Innovation on how supply chains are being reborn; The rail strike is averted; New efforts to move the backlog of containers at ocean ports Our guest on this week's episode is  Mark Dancer, CEO of the Network for Business Innovation. He is a speaker for two sessions at next week's CSCMP EDGE conference in Nashville. He shares some of his insights and previews his presentations, including his view that supply chains are not really broken, but are being reborn. He also discusses the need for resilient, responsive, and regenerative supply chains and what they will look like in the future.

An important labor agreement was tentatively reached this week between America's railroads and labor unions. A threatened strike has been averted. While not yet final, the agreements assure that products continue to ride the rails for now. A strike would have devastated supply chains and further hurt the economy. We will tell you what is involved in the agreement and what it means for the industry to have labor peace.

While supply chains are beginning to get back to normal, there are still thousands of containers stranded at our nation's ports. We will tell of some new efforts being made to get those containers moving again, which should soften supply chain disruptions. The problem is that partners are not sharing data properly to meet the new federal regulations in the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which is designed to avoid the container congestion.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season of eight episodes is fully available and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Mark Dancer, CEO of the Network for Business Innovation. He is a speaker for two sessions at next week's CSCMP EDGE conference in Nashville. He shares some of his insights and previews his presentations, including his view that supply chains are not really broken, but are being reborn. He also discusses the need for resilient, responsive, and regenerative supply chains and what they will look like in the future.

An important labor agreement was tentatively reached this week between America's railroads and labor unions. A threatened strike has been averted. While not yet final, the agreements assure that products continue to ride the rails for now. A strike would have devastated supply chains and further hurt the economy. We will tell you what is involved in the agreement and what it means for the industry to have labor peace.

While supply chains are beginning to get back to normal, there are still thousands of containers stranded at our nation's ports. We will tell of some new efforts being made to get those containers moving again, which should soften supply chain disruptions. The problem is that partners are not sharing data properly to meet the new federal regulations in the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which is designed to avoid the container congestion.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season of eight episodes is fully available and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11331813 Fri, 16 Sep 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1208 supply chain, logistics, rail, unions, Mark Dancer, Network for Business Innovation, containers, ocean freight, Hyster 3 35 full false Guest: Melissa Williams, a trucking owner/operator; A new report on peak retail season; What the latest Logistics Managers' Index numbers tell us about our supply chains Guest: Melissa Williams, a trucking owner/operator; A new report on peak retail season; What the latest Logistics Managers' Index numbers tell us about our supply chains Our guest on this week's episode is  Melissa Williams. She is an independent owner-operator truck driver. She shares why she was interested in becoming a trucker and what life on the road is like for a woman driver who owns her own rig.

Peak retail season is fast approaching and retailers are trying to figure out whether shoppers will be returning to stores after two years of heavy pandemic-induced online shopping. A new survey of consumers shows that growth in both areas might lead to a  successful holiday season for retailers. We break down the numbers from the survey and what they may mean.

The latest figures from the Logistics Managers' Index are in and they show that the supply chain industry continues to grow, but at a slower pace than earlier in the year. We explain what is in the latest report and predictions for the near-term future.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season of eight episodes is fully available and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Melissa Williams. She is an independent owner-operator truck driver. She shares why she was interested in becoming a trucker and what life on the road is like for a woman driver who owns her own rig.

Peak retail season is fast approaching and retailers are trying to figure out whether shoppers will be returning to stores after two years of heavy pandemic-induced online shopping. A new survey of consumers shows that growth in both areas might lead to a  successful holiday season for retailers. We break down the numbers from the survey and what they may mean.

The latest figures from the Logistics Managers' Index are in and they show that the supply chain industry continues to grow, but at a slower pace than earlier in the year. We explain what is in the latest report and predictions for the near-term future.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season of eight episodes is fully available and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11289980 Fri, 09 Sep 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1183 supply chain, logistics, Logistics Managers' Index, Melissa Williams, trucking, women truckers, Hyster, owner-operators, retail, peak season, Vorto 3 34 full false Guest: Simon Geale of Proxima on China's heat wave and supply chain problems; A lack of skilled workers in U.S. labor force; A generational gap in our warehouses Guest: Simon Geale of Proxima on China's heat wave and supply chain problems; A lack of skilled workers in U.S. labor force; A generational gap in our warehouses Our guest on this week's episode is  Simon Geale, chief procurement officer at supply chain consultancy firm Proxima. China has been suffering under a severe heat wave and drought, with daily temperatures in many regions above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The heat has shut down factories on top of the Covid-related shutdowns that are part of China's zero-tolerance Covid  policy. How will this latest blow  affect  production out of China and what are the short and long-term implications to our supply chains?

The latest employment figures are out and show more jobs have been created, but other reports add that the United States is lacking skilled workers. How does this affect logistics and what can be done to help fill the ranks?

Shifting demographics are having an impact on supply chains, and it appears to be causing acute problems in our warehouses and distribution centers. Among the issues are generational differences in employment preferences, with younger workers shunning warehouse jobs.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season of eight episodes is fully available and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Simon Geale, chief procurement officer at supply chain consultancy firm Proxima. China has been suffering under a severe heat wave and drought, with daily temperatures in many regions above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The heat has shut down factories on top of the Covid-related shutdowns that are part of China's zero-tolerance Covid  policy. How will this latest blow  affect  production out of China and what are the short and long-term implications to our supply chains?

The latest employment figures are out and show more jobs have been created, but other reports add that the United States is lacking skilled workers. How does this affect logistics and what can be done to help fill the ranks?

Shifting demographics are having an impact on supply chains, and it appears to be causing acute problems in our warehouses and distribution centers. Among the issues are generational differences in employment preferences, with younger workers shunning warehouse jobs.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season of eight episodes is fully available and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11250176 Fri, 02 Sep 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1275 supply chain, logistics, Covid-19, China, drought, Proxima, labor, generational gap, talent, skills, hiring, distribution, warehouse 3 33 full false Guest: Mark Ford of BlueGrace Logistics on small fleet volatility; Google invests in African logistics; New tech for the financial side of trucking Guest: Mark Ford of BlueGrace Logistics on small fleet volatility; Google invests in African logistics; New tech for the financial side of trucking Our guest on this week's episode is  Mark Ford, chief capacity officer at BlueGrace Logistics. As the trucking industry continues to ride out the uncertain economy, it puts pressures on small fleet carriers to steer carefully to adjust to the volatility. He discusses the current status of the trucking sector and the effects on small fleets and owner operators.  What steps can they take to assure that they survive?

Google has recently made some significant investments in logistics on the continent of Africa. It's designed to help promote the industry in Africa and encourage greater investments in overall infrastructure. Find out what the global tech giant hopes to accomplish.

Other large investments are going into companies that help trucking companies deal with the financial side of the business. Such new tech can help speed up business processes and assure more timely payments. We discuss what firms are getting large investment funding and what services they provide to the industry.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Schneider

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Mark Ford, chief capacity officer at BlueGrace Logistics. As the trucking industry continues to ride out the uncertain economy, it puts pressures on small fleet carriers to steer carefully to adjust to the volatility. He discusses the current status of the trucking sector and the effects on small fleets and owner operators.  What steps can they take to assure that they survive?

Google has recently made some significant investments in logistics on the continent of Africa. It's designed to help promote the industry in Africa and encourage greater investments in overall infrastructure. Find out what the global tech giant hopes to accomplish.

Other large investments are going into companies that help trucking companies deal with the financial side of the business. Such new tech can help speed up business processes and assure more timely payments. We discuss what firms are getting large investment funding and what services they provide to the industry.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Schneider

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11208956 Fri, 26 Aug 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1317 supply chain, logistics, trucking, owner-operator, small fleets, Mark Ford, BlueGrace Logistics, freight payments, trucking technology, Google, African logistics, Schneider, Lori Systems, AtoB, BasicBlock, Relay Payments, CloudTrucks 3 32 full false Guest: Daniel MacGregor of Nexxiot on supply chain challenges heading into peak; New regulations on food shipments; West Coast ports report mixed results Guest: Daniel MacGregor of Nexxiot on supply chain challenges heading into peak; New regulations on food shipments; West Coast ports report mixed results Our guest on this week's episode is  Dan MacGregor, co-founder of Nexxiot, a global digitalization and IoT company. As supply chains are about to enter into peak season, we ask: Are they ready for the busiest time of the year? MacGregor talks about the current state of supply chains and what technology can do to streamline operations.

The FDA has announced new regulations on shipping certain categories of food. The regs will take effect  in January and will require tracking and recording of every moment of those foods from the point of origin to the point of sale.

West Coast ports reported mixed results for their operations in July. Demand for port services remains strong, and the ports have done a better job of clearing backlogs. Oakland struggled in some areas due to trucker protests over AB5 legislation. How are they prepared for the busy fall season to come?


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Schneider

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Dan MacGregor, co-founder of Nexxiot, a global digitalization and IoT company. As supply chains are about to enter into peak season, we ask: Are they ready for the busiest time of the year? MacGregor talks about the current state of supply chains and what technology can do to streamline operations.

The FDA has announced new regulations on shipping certain categories of food. The regs will take effect  in January and will require tracking and recording of every moment of those foods from the point of origin to the point of sale.

West Coast ports reported mixed results for their operations in July. Demand for port services remains strong, and the ports have done a better job of clearing backlogs. Oakland struggled in some areas due to trucker protests over AB5 legislation. How are they prepared for the busy fall season to come?


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Schneider

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11166677 Fri, 19 Aug 2022 13:00:00 -0400 1485 supply chain, logistics, AB5, California, West Coast ports, Port of LA, Port of Long Beach, Port of Oakland, Nexxiot, Daniel MacGregor, digitalization, IoT, FDA, food safety 3 31 full false Guest: Tom Nightingale of AFS Logistics on freight markets in Q3; Changes at the Postal Service; Inflation continues to nag at supply chains Guest: Tom Nightingale of AFS Logistics on freight markets in Q3; Changes at the Postal Service; Inflation continues to nag at supply chains Our guest on this week's episode is  Tom Nightingale, CEO at AFS Logistics. He addresses how inflation, fuel surcharges, and other economic pressures are affecting freight markets. He offers perspective on Q3 performance and what to expect for freight as we head into peak season.

The recent changes at the U.S. Postal Service are reflected in its latest earnings report. One of the new changes just announced this week is a new rate increase. What do the numbers show and how do they reflect the overall economy?

Inflation continues to irritate our supply chains. It is the number one concern of procurement professionals. What strategies are they using to deal with higher costs?


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Schneider

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Tom Nightingale, CEO at AFS Logistics. He addresses how inflation, fuel surcharges, and other economic pressures are affecting freight markets. He offers perspective on Q3 performance and what to expect for freight as we head into peak season.

The recent changes at the U.S. Postal Service are reflected in its latest earnings report. One of the new changes just announced this week is a new rate increase. What do the numbers show and how do they reflect the overall economy?

Inflation continues to irritate our supply chains. It is the number one concern of procurement professionals. What strategies are they using to deal with higher costs?


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Schneider

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11128159 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1268 supply chain, inflation, logistics, AFS Logistics, procurement, U.S.P.S., postal service, economy, freight markets full false Guest: Kenny Vieth of ACT Research on the looming recession and freight markets; 5G gets a boost with logistics; New research on ERP implementations Guest: Kenny Vieth of ACT Research on the looming recession and freight markets; 5G gets a boost with logistics; New research on ERP implementations Our guest on this week's episode is  Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at Americas Commercial Transportation Research Company - better known as ACT Research. He discusses his company's predictions of an economic recession in the first half of 2023 and how the trucking industry is already teetering on recession. What does this mean for freight markets, and what can companies do to survive and then prepare to thrive once the recession ends?

Logistics firms are adopting 5G technology, but in a different way than consumers. Instead, they are  implementing private 5G networks that cover only their facility or port area. These secure networks provide fast data processing throughout the property.

New research reveals how many companies are looking at their ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems and what they want and expect from ERP vendors. Findings show it is very important to find a strategic long-term partner to help with implementation and ongoing support.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Schneider

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at Americas Commercial Transportation Research Company - better known as ACT Research. He discusses his company's predictions of an economic recession in the first half of 2023 and how the trucking industry is already teetering on recession. What does this mean for freight markets, and what can companies do to survive and then prepare to thrive once the recession ends?

Logistics firms are adopting 5G technology, but in a different way than consumers. Instead, they are  implementing private 5G networks that cover only their facility or port area. These secure networks provide fast data processing throughout the property.

New research reveals how many companies are looking at their ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems and what they want and expect from ERP vendors. Findings show it is very important to find a strategic long-term partner to help with implementation and ongoing support.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by:  Schneider

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11065726 Fri, 05 Aug 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1242 recession, ACT Research, Kenny Vieth, supply chain, logistics, distribution, trucking, freight, 5G, ERP 3 29 full false Guest: Chris Shimoda of the California Trucking Association on AB5; The FRA rules on train crew size; Supply chain disruptions might have been worse than we thought Guest: Chris Shimoda of the California Trucking Association on AB5; The FRA rules on train crew size; Supply chain disruptions might have been worse than we thought Our guest on this week's episode is  Chris Shimoda, vice president of government affairs for the California Trucking Association. He is here to discuss California's Assembly Bill #5, better known as AB5. Until just a couple of weeks ago, the law had been tied up in appeals since it was passed in 2019, but it could soon go into enforcement. Essentially, it redefines contract workers' status in California. The problem for supply chains is that it forces many independent drivers to be considered employees of the companies they service - whether they want to be or not. Most of the opposition in the industry has been from owner-operators who want to remain independent to run their own trucks. Shimoda also discusses the potential impacts of proposed environmental regulations in California that would force  trucks with  internal combustion engines off the state's roads as early as 2024.  He speaks with Senior Editor Victoria Kickham.

The Federal Railroad Administration has proposed a regulation to require a minimum of two operators in each railroad locomotive cab. It's a controversial regulation, as with today's safety systems many railroad operators feel it is redundant to have a second operator in the cab. The government says it is intended to further secure safety on the rails.

This past year was marked by supply chain disruptions. A new study now shows that those disruptions, year over year, may have actually been worse than we thought. The study examined 400 different types of disruptions across more than 100 million sources of information. It revealed a huge increase in disruptions during the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. We reveal what types of disruptions were most common.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Chris Shimoda, vice president of government affairs for the California Trucking Association. He is here to discuss California's Assembly Bill #5, better known as AB5. Until just a couple of weeks ago, the law had been tied up in appeals since it was passed in 2019, but it could soon go into enforcement. Essentially, it redefines contract workers' status in California. The problem for supply chains is that it forces many independent drivers to be considered employees of the companies they service - whether they want to be or not. Most of the opposition in the industry has been from owner-operators who want to remain independent to run their own trucks. Shimoda also discusses the potential impacts of proposed environmental regulations in California that would force  trucks with  internal combustion engines off the state's roads as early as 2024.  He speaks with Senior Editor Victoria Kickham.

The Federal Railroad Administration has proposed a regulation to require a minimum of two operators in each railroad locomotive cab. It's a controversial regulation, as with today's safety systems many railroad operators feel it is redundant to have a second operator in the cab. The government says it is intended to further secure safety on the rails.

This past year was marked by supply chain disruptions. A new study now shows that those disruptions, year over year, may have actually been worse than we thought. The study examined 400 different types of disruptions across more than 100 million sources of information. It revealed a huge increase in disruptions during the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. We reveal what types of disruptions were most common.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11046222 Fri, 29 Jul 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1567 supply chain, logistics, AB5, California, California Trucking Association, Federal Railroad Administration, trucking, independent owner-operators, American Railroad Association, supply chain disruptions, Chris Shimoda, Resilinc 3 28 full false Guest: Senthil Rajagopalan of Profit.co on the bullwhip effect of supply chains; Executive action taken to resolve rail labor disputes; Research shows good last-mile delivery builds customer loyalty Guest: Senthil Rajagopalan of Profit.co on the bullwhip effect of supply chains; Executive action taken to resolve rail labor disputes; Research shows good last-mile delivery builds customer loyalty Our guest on this week's episode is  Senthil Rajagopalan, president and COO of Profit.co.
When consumer demand goes up sharply, manufacturers ramp up production to meet that demand. But it does not all happen at once. Often, they produce more than is needed and not always with the right timing. That creates a bullwhip effect for our supply chains. Rajagopalan discusses the impacts of the bullwhip effect with Senior News Editor Ben Ames.

Supply chains bottlenecks have not only been created by supply shortages, labor situations have also caused major problems. This week, the Biden Administration took action to create a Presidential Emergency Board to help resolve labor disputes between freight railroads and rail labor organizations. We hear how industry groups are reacting. We also discuss other labor situations, including ongoing labor negotiations at  West Coast ports and the fallout from the AB5 labor ruling in California.

We all know that good  service produces loyal customers. New research points out just how much consumers care about how their last mile deliveries are made and how it those experiences influence their future purchasing behavior.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is  Senthil Rajagopalan, president and COO of Profit.co.
When consumer demand goes up sharply, manufacturers ramp up production to meet that demand. But it does not all happen at once. Often, they produce more than is needed and not always with the right timing. That creates a bullwhip effect for our supply chains. Rajagopalan discusses the impacts of the bullwhip effect with Senior News Editor Ben Ames.

Supply chains bottlenecks have not only been created by supply shortages, labor situations have also caused major problems. This week, the Biden Administration took action to create a Presidential Emergency Board to help resolve labor disputes between freight railroads and rail labor organizations. We hear how industry groups are reacting. We also discuss other labor situations, including ongoing labor negotiations at  West Coast ports and the fallout from the AB5 labor ruling in California.

We all know that good  service produces loyal customers. New research points out just how much consumers care about how their last mile deliveries are made and how it those experiences influence their future purchasing behavior.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-11005668 Fri, 22 Jul 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1514 supply chain, logistics, AB5, California, supply chain shortages, distribution, Profit.co, Senthil Rajagopalan, rail, labor, last mile, delivery, bullwhip effect 3 27 full false Guest: Ian Khan of the Futuracy Group on supply chain jobs of the future; Logistics has changed in Ukraine; East Coast ports report record business Guest: Ian Khan of the Futuracy Group on supply chain jobs of the future; Logistics has changed in Ukraine; East Coast ports report record business Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Khan, writer, futurist, and founder of The Futuracy Group consulting organization. He is also a CNN Technology Futurist, a contributor to Forbes, Business.com, Entrepreneur, and Accounting Web. The importance of supply chains has been shown during the past few months, and it really is the people behind them that make the difference. How will working in supply chains, and work in general, change to meet the challenges of technology and needs? What skills will be required for supply chain jobs of the future?

The Russian Invasion of Ukraine has certainly affected the movement of goods within Ukraine. Logistics Plus is one American company that is working in Ukraine to keep products flowing and also to transport much needed humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine. We find out what they are doing and the challenges this logistics organization faces in that war-torn nation.

With uncertainty over the labor situation at West Coast ports, many shippers are diverting cargo to East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. How have these other ports responded to the increasing demand?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Khan, writer, futurist, and founder of The Futuracy Group consulting organization. He is also a CNN Technology Futurist, a contributor to Forbes, Business.com, Entrepreneur, and Accounting Web. The importance of supply chains has been shown during the past few months, and it really is the people behind them that make the difference. How will working in supply chains, and work in general, change to meet the challenges of technology and needs? What skills will be required for supply chain jobs of the future?

The Russian Invasion of Ukraine has certainly affected the movement of goods within Ukraine. Logistics Plus is one American company that is working in Ukraine to keep products flowing and also to transport much needed humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine. We find out what they are doing and the challenges this logistics organization faces in that war-torn nation.

With uncertainty over the labor situation at West Coast ports, many shippers are diverting cargo to East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. How have these other ports responded to the increasing demand?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10967932 Fri, 15 Jul 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1300 supply chain, logistics, Ian Khan, Futuracy Group, labor, East Coast ports, Gulf Coast ports, maritime, Ukraine, Logistics Plus 3 26 full false Guest: Chris Tang of UCLA on product and supply shortages; LTL executives share business concerns; California's AB5 labor law may soon go into effect Guest: Chris Tang of UCLA on product and supply shortages; LTL executives share business concerns; California's AB5 labor law may soon go into effect Our guest on this week's episode is Christopher Tang, the UCLA distinguished professor and Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration and also the faculty director of UCLA's Center for Global Management. We have all seen product shortages this summer, including a well-publicized shortage of infant meal formula. Professor Tang discusses what is causing shortages, both from supply chain issues and domestic supply problems, and what steps companies can take to mitigate future risks to their product supplies.

Attendees at this week's SMC3 Connections conference in San Diego discussed many issues facing transportation companies. Executives of less-than-truckload (LTL) companies pointed out that inflation and labor issues are their biggest concerns. We find out what they had to say and what remedies might work and which probably will not work.

This week the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear a challenge to California's controversial AB5 law, which was approved in 2019 but has been stuck in appeals courts ever since. The law requires transportation and delivery companies (as well as Uber and Lyft) to treat drivers as employees instead of contract workers. This sets the stage for the law to now take effect. How will this affect trucking firms and will other states adopt similar legislation?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Christopher Tang, the UCLA distinguished professor and Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration and also the faculty director of UCLA's Center for Global Management. We have all seen product shortages this summer, including a well-publicized shortage of infant meal formula. Professor Tang discusses what is causing shortages, both from supply chain issues and domestic supply problems, and what steps companies can take to mitigate future risks to their product supplies.

Attendees at this week's SMC3 Connections conference in San Diego discussed many issues facing transportation companies. Executives of less-than-truckload (LTL) companies pointed out that inflation and labor issues are their biggest concerns. We find out what they had to say and what remedies might work and which probably will not work.

This week the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear a challenge to California's controversial AB5 law, which was approved in 2019 but has been stuck in appeals courts ever since. The law requires transportation and delivery companies (as well as Uber and Lyft) to treat drivers as employees instead of contract workers. This sets the stage for the law to now take effect. How will this affect trucking firms and will other states adopt similar legislation?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The second season has now launched and focuses on supply chain digitalization.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10890551 Fri, 01 Jul 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1481 supply chain, logistics, AB5, California, Supreme Court, SMC3, UCLA, Chris Tang, labor, inflation, LTL, less-than-truckload, trucking, transportation, fuel prices, visibility, infant formula, baby formula, supply shortages, product shortages 3 25 full false Guest: Dimitre Kirilov of Montway Auto Transport on driver retention; Amid rising costs shippers rethink their packaging; Walmart makes new investments in its trucking fleet. Guest: Dimitre Kirilov of Montway Auto Transport on driver retention; Amid rising costs shippers rethink their packaging; Walmart makes new investments in its trucking fleet. Our guest on this week's episode is Dimitre Kirilov, president of consumer services for Montway Auto Transport. A shortage of qualified drivers has been a reality for years in the trucking industry. With the low unemployment rate, it does not appear that the tight market for drivers will get any better. Our guest talks about what trucking firms need to do to attract new drivers and to retain the drivers they have.

With rising costs for packaging supplies and the lack of availability for many packaging products, many shippers are making changes. Some of the changes involve  diversifying their supplier base. Others involve changing the types of packaging they are using. A new survey report reveals the details.

Rising fuel prices and other increasing costs are placing pressure on companies to be more efficient in their transportation operations. Major retailers are increasingly using technology to help them to better manage their transportation, including technologies for their private fleets. We report on one such investment in technology that Walmart has recently made and what benefits this technology is expected to have on the retailer's operations.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, we next look at digitization of the supply chain. Subscribe to Supply Chain in the Fast Lane wherever you get your podcasts.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Dimitre Kirilov, president of consumer services for Montway Auto Transport. A shortage of qualified drivers has been a reality for years in the trucking industry. With the low unemployment rate, it does not appear that the tight market for drivers will get any better. Our guest talks about what trucking firms need to do to attract new drivers and to retain the drivers they have.

With rising costs for packaging supplies and the lack of availability for many packaging products, many shippers are making changes. Some of the changes involve  diversifying their supplier base. Others involve changing the types of packaging they are using. A new survey report reveals the details.

Rising fuel prices and other increasing costs are placing pressure on companies to be more efficient in their transportation operations. Major retailers are increasingly using technology to help them to better manage their transportation, including technologies for their private fleets. We report on one such investment in technology that Walmart has recently made and what benefits this technology is expected to have on the retailer's operations.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, we next look at digitization of the supply chain. Subscribe to Supply Chain in the Fast Lane wherever you get your podcasts.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10846041 Fri, 24 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1402 supply chain, logistics, trucking, Montway Trucking, fuel costs, inflation, shipping, packaging, RR Donnelley, Walmart 3 24 full false Guest: Glenn Richey of Auburn University on high fuel prices; Supply chain companies look to diversity; A centennial celebration Guest: Glenn Richey of Auburn University on high fuel prices; Supply chain companies look to diversity; A centennial celebration Our guest on this week's episode is Glenn Richey, the Raymond J. Harbert Eminent Scholar and chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management at Auburn University's Harbert College of Business. We have seen the huge spike in fuel prices over the past couple of months. Are these higher prices here to stay? What has caused the price surges and is there anything that can be done by government and industry to ease the pain at the pump for trucking companies  and the shippers that must pay higher fuel surcharges?

Greater diversity in workforces is gaining more attention as part of the social justice efforts of many companies. But beyond that, diversity expands a company's capabilities and can bring in fresh ideas and practices. Today we look at diversity efforts in supply chain firms and which type of companies are making an impact.

Lift truck manufacturer The Raymond Corporation marked its 100th anniversary this past week by holding a special centennial celebration at its headquarters in upstate New York. Beyond recognizing this corporate milestone, the company expressed the importance of supply chains and the work that material handling companies do to contribute to the betterment of our world.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Glenn Richey, the Raymond J. Harbert Eminent Scholar and chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management at Auburn University's Harbert College of Business. We have seen the huge spike in fuel prices over the past couple of months. Are these higher prices here to stay? What has caused the price surges and is there anything that can be done by government and industry to ease the pain at the pump for trucking companies  and the shippers that must pay higher fuel surcharges?

Greater diversity in workforces is gaining more attention as part of the social justice efforts of many companies. But beyond that, diversity expands a company's capabilities and can bring in fresh ideas and practices. Today we look at diversity efforts in supply chain firms and which type of companies are making an impact.

Lift truck manufacturer The Raymond Corporation marked its 100th anniversary this past week by holding a special centennial celebration at its headquarters in upstate New York. Beyond recognizing this corporate milestone, the company expressed the importance of supply chains and the work that material handling companies do to contribute to the betterment of our world.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10810308 Fri, 17 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1245 supply chain, logistics, Raymond Corp., lift trucks, forklifts, fuel prices, Auburn University, diesel, gasoline, diversity 3 23 full false Guest: Jonathan Dawley of Kion and the Industrial Truck Association on forklift safety; Gartner's latest rankings of top university supply chain programs; Warehouse applications for 5G technologies Guest: Jonathan Dawley of Kion and the Industrial Truck Association on forklift safety; Gartner's latest rankings of top university supply chain programs; Warehouse applications for 5G technologies Our guest on this week's episode is Jonathan Dawley, president and CEO of Kion North America, a leading manufacturer of forklifts and other material handling equipment. Dawley is also chair of this year's National Forklift Safety Day. Sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association (ITA), this is a day set aside each year to promote safe practices around forklift operations. ITA organization will be hosting a safety-focused program next Tuesday in Washington, D.C. that will also be live streamed. To register, check out this link.
In addition, programs will be held at various forklift dealers nationwide. Dawley will talk about these initiatives for safety as well as how the industry is focusing around training and creating a culture of safety within warehouses, distribution center, and manufacturing facilities.

Supply chains are getting more attention at the academic level, with many of North America's best universities offering outstanding programs in supply chain studies. Gartner's annual list of the Top 25 supply chain undergraduate programs is out. See who is tops the rankings and what makes them considered the best of the best.

We have all seen the TV commercials hyping 5G technologies. They are supposed to be faster at transferring huge amounts of data. While they have benefits when it comes to the cell phones we all carry in our pockets, are there good applications for distribution operations? The answer is Yes, as shown in a demo that AT&T has conducted at a military warehouse on a naval base in San Diego. Find out what operations can be improved with 5G technologies.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> Our guest on this week's episode is Jonathan Dawley, president and CEO of Kion North America, a leading manufacturer of forklifts and other material handling equipment. Dawley is also chair of this year's National Forklift Safety Day. Sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association (ITA), this is a day set aside each year to promote safe practices around forklift operations. ITA organization will be hosting a safety-focused program next Tuesday in Washington, D.C. that will also be live streamed. To register, check out this link.
In addition, programs will be held at various forklift dealers nationwide. Dawley will talk about these initiatives for safety as well as how the industry is focusing around training and creating a culture of safety within warehouses, distribution center, and manufacturing facilities.

Supply chains are getting more attention at the academic level, with many of North America's best universities offering outstanding programs in supply chain studies. Gartner's annual list of the Top 25 supply chain undergraduate programs is out. See who is tops the rankings and what makes them considered the best of the best.

We have all seen the TV commercials hyping 5G technologies. They are supposed to be faster at transferring huge amounts of data. While they have benefits when it comes to the cell phones we all carry in our pockets, are there good applications for distribution operations? The answer is Yes, as shown in a demo that AT&T has conducted at a military warehouse on a naval base in San Diego. Find out what operations can be improved with 5G technologies.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10771388 Fri, 10 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1489 supply chain, logistics, Kion, Industrial Truck Association, forklifts, safety, National Forklift Safety Day, forklift safety, 5G, AT&T, robotics, Gartner, University of Arkansas 3 22 full false Guest: Alex Saric of Ivalua on supplier collaboration; Gartner's Global Supply Chain Top 25 list is released; Drayage rates continue to climb Guest: Alex Saric of Ivalua on supplier collaboration; Gartner's Global Supply Chain Top 25 list is released; Drayage rates continue to climb Our guest in this week's episode is Alex Saric, chief marketing officer at Ivalua. He is here to share about new research that has just come out that shows how better collaboration with suppliers can help to minimize supply disruptions, improve sustainability efforts, and promote innovation. He shares details on these findings and more.

Gartner's annual list of the Global Supply Chain Top 25 is out. See who is tops the rankings and what other companies have highly respected supply chain operations. We also discuss the best practices that these companies have in common which makes them supply chain winners.
 
Drayage rates continue to rise, especially in connection with the nation's busiest ports. What is causing the latest increases and what's the outlook for rates for the rest of 2022?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Alex Saric, chief marketing officer at Ivalua. He is here to share about new research that has just come out that shows how better collaboration with suppliers can help to minimize supply disruptions, improve sustainability efforts, and promote innovation. He shares details on these findings and more.

Gartner's annual list of the Global Supply Chain Top 25 is out. See who is tops the rankings and what other companies have highly respected supply chain operations. We also discuss the best practices that these companies have in common which makes them supply chain winners.
 
Drayage rates continue to rise, especially in connection with the nation's busiest ports. What is causing the latest increases and what's the outlook for rates for the rest of 2022?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Rite-Hite

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10732185 Fri, 03 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1241 supply chain, logistics, drayage, ports, maritime, transportation, Gartner, Ivalua, Global Supply Chain Top 25, supplier collaboration, sustainability 3 21 full false Guest: Jim Carlisle of Thomas H. Lee Partners on supply chain investments; New research on women in supply chain leadership roles; Walmart makes a huge investment in robotics Guest: Jim Carlisle of Thomas H. Lee Partners on supply chain investments; New research on women in supply chain leadership roles; Walmart makes a huge investment in robotics Our guest in this week's episode is Jim Carlisle, the head of the technology and business solutions vertical and the automation fund at Thomas H. Lee Partners. T.H. Lee has recently acquired or been a major investor in some of the supply chain industry's biggest names, including AutoStore, Fortna, MHS, FourKites, and RightHand Robotics. He speaks to why supply chain companies are so attractive to the investment community. He describes the types of investments made into companies and what the investors hope will result from the input of their funds to grow these firms.

While supply chains have historically been very male-dominated fields, women have been steadily growing in numbers over the past few decades. The latest report from Gartner and AWESOME reveals how many women are in leadership positions and what are some of the issues that take women out of the industry.
 
Walmart has chosen a robotics partner to add a great deal of automation to its current distribution facilities. Partnered with Symbotic, the mega retailer hopes to speed its distribution operations to make store shelves easier to stock while saving costs. Find out just how much Walmart is counting on this technology.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Yale Materials Handling

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Jim Carlisle, the head of the technology and business solutions vertical and the automation fund at Thomas H. Lee Partners. T.H. Lee has recently acquired or been a major investor in some of the supply chain industry's biggest names, including AutoStore, Fortna, MHS, FourKites, and RightHand Robotics. He speaks to why supply chain companies are so attractive to the investment community. He describes the types of investments made into companies and what the investors hope will result from the input of their funds to grow these firms.

While supply chains have historically been very male-dominated fields, women have been steadily growing in numbers over the past few decades. The latest report from Gartner and AWESOME reveals how many women are in leadership positions and what are some of the issues that take women out of the industry.
 
Walmart has chosen a robotics partner to add a great deal of automation to its current distribution facilities. Partnered with Symbotic, the mega retailer hopes to speed its distribution operations to make store shelves easier to stock while saving costs. Find out just how much Walmart is counting on this technology.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Yale Materials Handling

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10692999 Fri, 27 May 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1122 Supply chain, logistics, Symbotic, Walmart, Gartner, TH Lee, Thomas H Lee, AutoStore, Fortna, MHS, FourKites, RightHand Robotics, robotics, automation, distribution, Gartner, AWESOME, women, leadership 3 20 full false Guest: Mike Bush of Next Trucking on training future robotics designers; A major maritime company expands into other areas; Prepare now for another chaotic peak shipping season. Guest: Mike Bush of Next Trucking on training future robotics designers; A major maritime company expands into other areas; Prepare now for another chaotic peak shipping season. Our guest in this week's episode is Mike Bush, head of communications and brand for Next Trucking, a digital freight broker. As automation and robotics continues to impact supply chains, the question remains: Where we will find the technicians and robotic engineers the industry needs to keep the technology running today and advancing to new capabilities tomorrow? Bush talks about his company's involvement with high school robotics competitions and how it helps to encourage the next generation of robotics designers and engineers.

As many supply chain companies are seeing record profits, some are investing their gains in other portions of the industry. An example is maritime carrier CMA CGM, which has bought or acquired interest in other freight and logistics firms. Its latest investment is a stake in Air France-KLM. Is this diversification by such a big player a trend others will follow?
 
Supply chain bottlenecks continue to take their toll on the industry, and now experts are predicting another chaotic peak shipping season ahead. What is causing these concerns and how can shippers prepare for the upcoming holiday season while mitigating their risks?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Yale Materials Handling

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Mike Bush, head of communications and brand for Next Trucking, a digital freight broker. As automation and robotics continues to impact supply chains, the question remains: Where we will find the technicians and robotic engineers the industry needs to keep the technology running today and advancing to new capabilities tomorrow? Bush talks about his company's involvement with high school robotics competitions and how it helps to encourage the next generation of robotics designers and engineers.

As many supply chain companies are seeing record profits, some are investing their gains in other portions of the industry. An example is maritime carrier CMA CGM, which has bought or acquired interest in other freight and logistics firms. Its latest investment is a stake in Air France-KLM. Is this diversification by such a big player a trend others will follow?
 
Supply chain bottlenecks continue to take their toll on the industry, and now experts are predicting another chaotic peak shipping season ahead. What is causing these concerns and how can shippers prepare for the upcoming holiday season while mitigating their risks?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Yale Materials Handling

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10653045 Fri, 20 May 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1128 supply chain, CMA CGM, logistics, transportation, freight, ocean, maritime, robotics, automation, Next Trucking, Mike Bush, peak shipping season, shippers, carriers, Air France-KLM 3 19 full false Guest: Zac Rogers of Colorado State on changes in the freight market; New plans to turn containers faster; Ocean freight continues to face rough seas Guest: Zac Rogers of Colorado State on changes in the freight market; New plans to turn containers faster; Ocean freight continues to face rough seas Our guest in this week's episode is Zac Rogers, assistant professor of supply chain management at Colorado State University. We are hearing conflicting reports of what is going on in freight markets.  Some carriers are struggling with high fuel costs and fewer shipments while others are enjoying record profits. Are we about to enter a collapse of freight markets as some analysts are predicting? Rogers shares his insights for the road ahead.

Empty containers continue to sit at docks and warehouses and that unused container inventory certainly is not helping companies ship their products, particularly those for export. New efforts are being made to turn containers faster by offering incentives to companies to return their containers in a timely manner. Will this new initiative help relieve backlogs?
 
Ocean carriers have had a banner year. They basically have chosen to cruise those lanes that have had the most profit. However, there are challenges ahead for the maritime industry. A new report shares the risks the market is facing.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Yale

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Zac Rogers, assistant professor of supply chain management at Colorado State University. We are hearing conflicting reports of what is going on in freight markets.  Some carriers are struggling with high fuel costs and fewer shipments while others are enjoying record profits. Are we about to enter a collapse of freight markets as some analysts are predicting? Rogers shares his insights for the road ahead.

Empty containers continue to sit at docks and warehouses and that unused container inventory certainly is not helping companies ship their products, particularly those for export. New efforts are being made to turn containers faster by offering incentives to companies to return their containers in a timely manner. Will this new initiative help relieve backlogs?
 
Ocean carriers have had a banner year. They basically have chosen to cruise those lanes that have had the most profit. However, there are challenges ahead for the maritime industry. A new report shares the risks the market is facing.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Yale

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10612937 Fri, 13 May 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1442 Zac Rogers, Colorado State University, shipping, logistics, supply chain, ocean freight, maritime, containers, freight, trucking 3 18 full false Guest: Nicole Glenn of Candor Expedite discusses current and future transportation segments; Logistics growth appears to be slowing; It isn't getting any easier to find available warehouse space Guest: Nicole Glenn of Candor Expedite discusses current and future transportation segments; Logistics growth appears to be slowing; It isn't getting any easier to find available warehouse space Our guest in this week's episode is Nicole Glenn, founder and CEO of Candor Expedite. She is the recent recipient of the 8th Annual Distinguished Women in Logistics Recognition  by The Women In Trucking Association (WIT), Truckstop.com, and Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). She joins us to talk about the current state of the transportation sector and where she believes the industry should be steering in the future.

The most recent Logistics Managers Index (LMI) report is out and it shows that while the logistics industry continues to grow, that rate of growth has begun to slow after its frantic pace of the past two years. We take a look at what's behind the numbers.
 
We also discuss another report on the tight market for warehouse space. This report on warehouse real estate shows warehouse vacancy rates have sunk to a 27-year low. How is the industry reacting and what can be done to create more warehouse capacity within the market?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Yale

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Nicole Glenn, founder and CEO of Candor Expedite. She is the recent recipient of the 8th Annual Distinguished Women in Logistics Recognition  by The Women In Trucking Association (WIT), Truckstop.com, and Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). She joins us to talk about the current state of the transportation sector and where she believes the industry should be steering in the future.

The most recent Logistics Managers Index (LMI) report is out and it shows that while the logistics industry continues to grow, that rate of growth has begun to slow after its frantic pace of the past two years. We take a look at what's behind the numbers.
 
We also discuss another report on the tight market for warehouse space. This report on warehouse real estate shows warehouse vacancy rates have sunk to a 27-year low. How is the industry reacting and what can be done to create more warehouse capacity within the market?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Yale

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10571038 Fri, 06 May 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1216 supply chain, logistics, transportation, trucking, brokerage, Candor Expedite, Nicole Glenn, LMI, Logistics Managers Index, industrial real estate, warehousing, warehouse capacity 3 17 full false Guest: Michael Mikitka of MHI and WERC on supply chain professional development; Infrastructure for the friendly skies; New research on supply chain leadership Guest: Michael Mikitka of MHI and WERC on supply chain professional development; Infrastructure for the friendly skies; New research on supply chain leadership This is the 100th episode of Logistics Matters. Our thanks to our guests, sponsors, and listeners for making this a successful podcast series.

Our guest in this week's episode is Michael Mikitka, executive vice president of the MHI Knowledge Center and the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC). He discusses the roles of both organizations in education and professional development. He also highlights the WERC annual conference being held next week in Louisville, a return to an in-person national event which is the first in two years due to the pandemic.

New investments are being made to update the U.S. air traffic control network. It is part of the Infrastructure Bill that provides a total of $5 billion for air infrastructure. The initial $1 billion is being invested immediately to upgrade control systems for both passenger and cargo flights.  We also highlight a new startup company that is designed to provide autonomous air cargo flights.
 
A new report from the University of Tennessee shares best practices for supply chain leadership. The research highlights the capabilities that leaders need to keep their organizations on the right track in the 2020s and beyond.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> This is the 100th episode of Logistics Matters. Our thanks to our guests, sponsors, and listeners for making this a successful podcast series.

Our guest in this week's episode is Michael Mikitka, executive vice president of the MHI Knowledge Center and the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC). He discusses the roles of both organizations in education and professional development. He also highlights the WERC annual conference being held next week in Louisville, a return to an in-person national event which is the first in two years due to the pandemic.

New investments are being made to update the U.S. air traffic control network. It is part of the Infrastructure Bill that provides a total of $5 billion for air infrastructure. The initial $1 billion is being invested immediately to upgrade control systems for both passenger and cargo flights.  We also highlight a new startup company that is designed to provide autonomous air cargo flights.
 
A new report from the University of Tennessee shares best practices for supply chain leadership. The research highlights the capabilities that leaders need to keep their organizations on the right track in the 2020s and beyond.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10527873 Fri, 29 Apr 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1217 WERC, Warehouse Education and Research Council, MHI, Michael Mikitka, infrastructure, air control, air freight, Pyka, University of Tennessee, supply chain, logistics, leadership 3 16 full false Guest: Susan Boylan of Gartner discusses Earth Day and supply chain sustainability; Fuel costs are being passed along to shippers; New rounds of investments in supply chain tech companies Guest: Susan Boylan of Gartner discusses Earth Day and supply chain sustainability; Fuel costs are being passed along to shippers; New rounds of investments in supply chain tech companies Our guest in this week's episode is Susan Boylan, senior research director in logistics and customer fulfillment at Gartner. Today is Earth Day, a day each year when we reflect on our planet and the impacts that we make on the environment. Transportation and supply chains are among the leading sources of greenhouse gasses. Is the industry making any progress on sustainability goals? What more needs to be done to reduce the environmental impact of our supply chains?

Fuels costs continue to rise and most of that added burden is being passed on to shippers in the form of fuel surcharges. New data reveals the latest trends in freight markets and offers some tips on how shippers can manage their freight spend in this tough environment.

More investments are flowing to logistics startup companies. Why are investors seeing opportunities in these companies and how does that influx of new cash influence innovation that may improve our supply chains?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Susan Boylan, senior research director in logistics and customer fulfillment at Gartner. Today is Earth Day, a day each year when we reflect on our planet and the impacts that we make on the environment. Transportation and supply chains are among the leading sources of greenhouse gasses. Is the industry making any progress on sustainability goals? What more needs to be done to reduce the environmental impact of our supply chains?

Fuels costs continue to rise and most of that added burden is being passed on to shippers in the form of fuel surcharges. New data reveals the latest trends in freight markets and offers some tips on how shippers can manage their freight spend in this tough environment.

More investments are flowing to logistics startup companies. Why are investors seeing opportunities in these companies and how does that influx of new cash influence innovation that may improve our supply chains?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10485756 Fri, 22 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0400 1429 Gartner, Susan Boylan, Convoy, freight, shipping, logistics, rates, fuel, costs, fuel surcharges, supply chain, AFS, Cohen 3 15 full false Guest: Dawn Tiura of SIG discusses the supply chain impacts of China's Covid lockdowns; New truck trailer orders increase; More investment in supply chain tech Guest: Dawn Tiura of SIG discusses the supply chain impacts of China's Covid lockdowns; New truck trailer orders increase; More investment in supply chain tech Our guest in this week's episode is Dawn Tiura, president and CEO of SIG (Sourcing Industry Group), a membership organization of companies involved in sourcing raw materials and finished goods. She discusses the impacts of China's Zero-Covid policy of locking down major cities to slow the spread of Covid. The latest example is Shanghai, China's most populous city. Unfortunately, the lockdowns are not really stopping Covid from spreading and they cause major disruptions to lives and supply chains. Tiura shares how her member companies and others are dealing with bottlenecks and disruptions caused by the shutdowns.

New orders for truck trailers are on the rise for the first time in quite a while. Because of supply chain problems, companies looking to replace aging trailers or make additions to their fleets have seen few trailer  manufacturers taking on new orders. Is this a sign that things are getting better for the industry?

It's a fact that supply chain technology can improve operations, and now companies are proving it with their latest investments. A new study shows a healthy increase in the numbers of companies making investments to digitalize their operations and reaping solid benefits as a result.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Dawn Tiura, president and CEO of SIG (Sourcing Industry Group), a membership organization of companies involved in sourcing raw materials and finished goods. She discusses the impacts of China's Zero-Covid policy of locking down major cities to slow the spread of Covid. The latest example is Shanghai, China's most populous city. Unfortunately, the lockdowns are not really stopping Covid from spreading and they cause major disruptions to lives and supply chains. Tiura shares how her member companies and others are dealing with bottlenecks and disruptions caused by the shutdowns.

New orders for truck trailers are on the rise for the first time in quite a while. Because of supply chain problems, companies looking to replace aging trailers or make additions to their fleets have seen few trailer  manufacturers taking on new orders. Is this a sign that things are getting better for the industry?

It's a fact that supply chain technology can improve operations, and now companies are proving it with their latest investments. A new study shows a healthy increase in the numbers of companies making investments to digitalize their operations and reaping solid benefits as a result.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10445259 Fri, 15 Apr 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1229 Shutdowns, Shanghai, China, Zero-Covid, Dawn Tiura, SIG, sourcing, supply chain, logistics, truck trailers, supply chain tech 3 14 full false Guest: Kathy Fulton of ALAN on Ukraine relief; With prices rising, business curtail their climate change initiatives; What will it take to get global trade back on track? Guest: Kathy Fulton of ALAN on Ukraine relief; With prices rising, business curtail their climate change initiatives; What will it take to get global trade back on track? Our guest in this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director of ALAN, the American Logistics Aid Network. Logistics companies are stepping up to make a difference in Ukraine. She talks about ALAN's role in trying to bring together those logistics companies that have resources available, such as transportation, to help relief efforts in Ukraine and neighboring nations where refugees have fled.

As costs continue to rise, many businesses are being forced to cut programs, including their climate change initiatives. What are the impacts of these cuts and are their alternative ways to be sustainable during inflationary times?

World trade has certainly taken a hit this past year, as supply chain bottlenecks, Covid closures in China, the war in Ukraine, and other disruptions have made trade more volatile. What will it take to regain some sense of normalcy?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director of ALAN, the American Logistics Aid Network. Logistics companies are stepping up to make a difference in Ukraine. She talks about ALAN's role in trying to bring together those logistics companies that have resources available, such as transportation, to help relief efforts in Ukraine and neighboring nations where refugees have fled.

As costs continue to rise, many businesses are being forced to cut programs, including their climate change initiatives. What are the impacts of these cuts and are their alternative ways to be sustainable during inflationary times?

World trade has certainly taken a hit this past year, as supply chain bottlenecks, Covid closures in China, the war in Ukraine, and other disruptions have made trade more volatile. What will it take to regain some sense of normalcy?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10403840 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0400 1502 supply chain, logistics, fuel costs, bottlenecks, ALAN, American Logistics Aid Network, Ukraine, wheat harvest, world trade, sustainability, climate change, Kathy Fulton 3 13 full false ICYMI: Kevin Yoder of Keep US Posted on the passage of postal reform legislation; The White House moves to improve supply chains with a new FLOW initiative; Commercial real estate bounces back from pandemic lows. ICYMI: Kevin Yoder of Keep US Posted on the passage of postal reform legislation; The White House moves to improve supply chains with a new FLOW initiative; Commercial real estate bounces back from pandemic lows. Today we're repeating our March 18 episode on postal reform for those who might have missed it. We'll be back next week with a new episode. We'll talk about relief efforts for Ukraine and the many refugees that are crossing into Poland and other nations with Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network.

------------------------------

Our guest in this week's episode is former Kansas congressman Kevin Yoder. He is the executive director of Keep US Posted, an organization that has been working to keep the United States Postal Service fiscally sound and operating efficiently. Last week Congress passed postal reform legislation designed to set a path for the postal service for years to come. What are the major provisions of this legislation, and how will it change postal operations in the United States?

The White House is working once again to improve supply chain bottlenecks. Its latest initiative is called FLOW (Freight Logistics Optimization Works) and partners with major retailers and logistics providers to better share supply chain data. What are the details, and will it help alleviate supply chain congestion?

Commercial real estate is bouncing back nicely from its pandemic lows. Warehousing is a strong segment, pushing overall numbers higher. Some regions are finding warehouse space difficult to locate. What are the new numbers, and will the trends continue?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new series of podcast called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this new series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Beckoff

Other links

]]> Today we're repeating our March 18 episode on postal reform for those who might have missed it. We'll be back next week with a new episode. We'll talk about relief efforts for Ukraine and the many refugees that are crossing into Poland and other nations with Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network.

------------------------------

Our guest in this week's episode is former Kansas congressman Kevin Yoder. He is the executive director of Keep US Posted, an organization that has been working to keep the United States Postal Service fiscally sound and operating efficiently. Last week Congress passed postal reform legislation designed to set a path for the postal service for years to come. What are the major provisions of this legislation, and how will it change postal operations in the United States?

The White House is working once again to improve supply chain bottlenecks. Its latest initiative is called FLOW (Freight Logistics Optimization Works) and partners with major retailers and logistics providers to better share supply chain data. What are the details, and will it help alleviate supply chain congestion?

Commercial real estate is bouncing back nicely from its pandemic lows. Warehousing is a strong segment, pushing overall numbers higher. Some regions are finding warehouse space difficult to locate. What are the new numbers, and will the trends continue?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new series of podcast called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this new series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Beckoff

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10360393 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 10:00:00 -0400 1498 supply chain, Keep US Posted, Kevin Yoder, postal reform, logistics, FLOW, White House, supply chain bottlenecks, congestion, commercial real estate, ProLogis, CBRE 3 full false Guest: Mary Murphy of BlueGrace Logsitics on rising fuel prices; Mitigating risk in food and beverage; Congress next sets eyes on maritime reform Guest: Mary Murphy of BlueGrace Logsitics on rising fuel prices; Mitigating risk in food and beverage; Congress next sets eyes on maritime reform Our guest in this week's episode is Mary Murphy, senior director of managed logistics strategy for BlueGrace Logistics. She discusses the rise in fuel prices caused by supply chain issues, inflation, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. How will these rising prices affect supply chains and is there any end in sight?

The food and beverage industry is especially susceptible to supply chain bottlenecks. Not only does it slow processes, but much food can spoil if delayed in transit. A new report looks at what the industry is doing to mitigate risks. It also discusses what food and beverage managers feel are their main supply chain concerns.

First we got the infrastructure bill and then postal reform. What's the next supply chain area that Congress will address? It looks like it will be maritime operations. The Ocean Reform Act just made it out of a Senate committee and will soon be presented to the full Senate after having passed the House earlier. What does it do and how will it help shippers?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new series of podcast called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this new series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Beckoff

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Mary Murphy, senior director of managed logistics strategy for BlueGrace Logistics. She discusses the rise in fuel prices caused by supply chain issues, inflation, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. How will these rising prices affect supply chains and is there any end in sight?

The food and beverage industry is especially susceptible to supply chain bottlenecks. Not only does it slow processes, but much food can spoil if delayed in transit. A new report looks at what the industry is doing to mitigate risks. It also discusses what food and beverage managers feel are their main supply chain concerns.

First we got the infrastructure bill and then postal reform. What's the next supply chain area that Congress will address? It looks like it will be maritime operations. The Ocean Reform Act just made it out of a Senate committee and will soon be presented to the full Senate after having passed the House earlier. What does it do and how will it help shippers?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new series of podcast called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this new series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Beckoff

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10313212 Fri, 25 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1108 supply chain, logistics, fuel costs, bottlenecks, trucking, BlueGrace Logistics, ocean shipping; Ocean Reform Act, food and beverage, risk mitigation 3 12 full false Guest: Kevin Yoder of Keep US Posted on the passage of postal reform legislation; The White House moves to improve supply chains with a new FLOW initiative; Commercial real estate bounces back from pandemic lows. Guest: Kevin Yoder of Keep US Posted on the passage of postal reform legislation; The White House moves to improve supply chains with a new FLOW initiative; Commercial real estate bounces back from pandemic lows. Our guest in this week's episode is former Kansas congressman Kevin Yoder. He is the executive director of Keep US Posted, an organization that has been working to keep the United States Postal Service fiscally sound and operating efficiently. Last week Congress passed postal reform legislation designed to set a path for the postal service for years to come. What are the major provisions of this legislation, and how will it change postal operations in the United States?

The White House is working once again to improve supply chain bottlenecks. Its latest initiative is called FLOW (Freight Logistics Optimization Works) and partners with major retailers and logistics providers to better share supply chain data. What are the details, and will it help alleviate supply chain congestion?

Commercial real estate is bouncing back nicely from its pandemic lows. Warehousing is a strong segment, pushing overall numbers higher. Some regions are finding warehouse space difficult to locate. What are the new numbers, and will the trends continue?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new series of podcast called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this new series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Beckoff

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is former Kansas congressman Kevin Yoder. He is the executive director of Keep US Posted, an organization that has been working to keep the United States Postal Service fiscally sound and operating efficiently. Last week Congress passed postal reform legislation designed to set a path for the postal service for years to come. What are the major provisions of this legislation, and how will it change postal operations in the United States?

The White House is working once again to improve supply chain bottlenecks. Its latest initiative is called FLOW (Freight Logistics Optimization Works) and partners with major retailers and logistics providers to better share supply chain data. What are the details, and will it help alleviate supply chain congestion?

Commercial real estate is bouncing back nicely from its pandemic lows. Warehousing is a strong segment, pushing overall numbers higher. Some regions are finding warehouse space difficult to locate. What are the new numbers, and will the trends continue?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new series of podcast called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this new series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Beckoff

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10274487 Fri, 18 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0400 1498 supply chain, Keep US Posted, Kevin Yoder, postal reform, logistics, FLOW, White House, supply chain bottlenecks, congestion, commercial real estate, ProLogis, CBRE, postal reform 3 11 full false Guest: Lindsey Trent of the Next Generation in Trucking Association on attracting new drivers to trucking; Postal reform moves forward; Advancements in autonomous trucking Guest: Lindsey Trent of the Next Generation in Trucking Association on attracting new drivers to trucking; Postal reform moves forward; Advancements in autonomous trucking Our guest in this week's episode is Lindsey Trent, president of the Next Generation in Trucking Association, an organization that works to attract young people to the trucking profession. Truck drivers are hard to find and many more are needed to drive our nation's trucks, as well as the maintenance people who make sure vehicles keep running well. Trent discusses what this industry association is doing to make the profession attractive to young people just about to enter the workforce.

Several trucking companies are implementing autonomous trucking systems and testing the benefits of the technologies. A driver is present, of course, but the autonomous systems operate the trucks along established routes. What are these companies saying about their experiences so far?

Postal reform legislation has passed Congress and is now awaiting President Biden's signature for the reforms to become law. Will the reforms put the USPS on the right financial footing to allow the agency to maintain current services while also  increasing parcel volume capabilities?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new series of podcast called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this new series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Beckoff

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Lindsey Trent, president of the Next Generation in Trucking Association, an organization that works to attract young people to the trucking profession. Truck drivers are hard to find and many more are needed to drive our nation's trucks, as well as the maintenance people who make sure vehicles keep running well. Trent discusses what this industry association is doing to make the profession attractive to young people just about to enter the workforce.

Several trucking companies are implementing autonomous trucking systems and testing the benefits of the technologies. A driver is present, of course, but the autonomous systems operate the trucks along established routes. What are these companies saying about their experiences so far?

Postal reform legislation has passed Congress and is now awaiting President Biden's signature for the reforms to become law. Will the reforms put the USPS on the right financial footing to allow the agency to maintain current services while also  increasing parcel volume capabilities?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new series of podcast called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this new series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Beckoff

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10233003 Fri, 11 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1185 supply chain, logistics, shipping, fuel costs, transportation, Logistics Managers, trucking, drivers, autonomous vehicles, Next Generation in Trucking Association, Ceva, Kodiak Robotics 3 10 full false Guest: Koray Köse of Gartner on supply chain impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war; Efforts to loosen tight freight markets; Logistics costs continue to rise. Guest: Koray Köse of Gartner on supply chain impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war; Efforts to loosen tight freight markets; Logistics costs continue to rise. Our guest in this week's episode is Koray Köse, senior director analyst at Gartner Supply Chain and Research Advisory. He shares the impact that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is having on supply chains. Those impacts include raw materials sourced from the region, rerouting transportation around the war zone, and impacts on the costs associated with fuel. How long will these impacts continue to affect the world's supply networks?

New efforts are underway to add additional capacity to the trucking market. They include a new apprenticeship program designed to bring more drivers into the industry.

With the Russian war affecting oil prices, supply chain costs continue to surge, according to this month's Logistics Managers Index. While prices remain high it does not seem to impact demand for supply chain services, as they continue to grow at historic rates.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new series of podcast called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this new series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Beckoff

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Koray Köse, senior director analyst at Gartner Supply Chain and Research Advisory. He shares the impact that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is having on supply chains. Those impacts include raw materials sourced from the region, rerouting transportation around the war zone, and impacts on the costs associated with fuel. How long will these impacts continue to affect the world's supply networks?

New efforts are underway to add additional capacity to the trucking market. They include a new apprenticeship program designed to bring more drivers into the industry.

With the Russian war affecting oil prices, supply chain costs continue to surge, according to this month's Logistics Managers Index. While prices remain high it does not seem to impact demand for supply chain services, as they continue to grow at historic rates.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a new series of podcast called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. Co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, this new series first focuses on an eight-part look at the State of Logistics. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Beckoff

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10188902 Fri, 04 Mar 2022 13:00:00 -0500 1321 supply chain, logistics, shipping, Gartner, Russia, Ukraine, war, fuel costs, transportation, Logistics Managers Index, trucking, drivers 3 9 full false Guest: Josie Blanco of Nuvocargo on cross border freight; Retailers advance sustainability goals; Cyberattacks are on the rise Guest: Josie Blanco of Nuvocargo on cross border freight; Retailers advance sustainability goals; Cyberattacks are on the rise Our guest in this week's episode is Josefina (Josie) Blanco, legal and compliance lead with Nuvocargo. She discusses current cross-border trade issues, including whether the recent protests against vaccine mandates at the Canadian border could spread to our Southern border with Mexico. She also shares her views on other compliance issues affecting trade and border crossings between the United States and Mexico.

Retailers are taking environmental and sustainability issues very seriously. We discuss some of these trends and other retail issues that were front and center this week at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) LINK conference held this past week in Texas.

Ransomware and other cyberattacks are on the rise. More than a third of organizations fear they could be vulnerable. How can logistics managers protect their supply chains from these threats?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  produced an 11-episode limited podcast series called Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Josefina (Josie) Blanco, legal and compliance lead with Nuvocargo. She discusses current cross-border trade issues, including whether the recent protests against vaccine mandates at the Canadian border could spread to our Southern border with Mexico. She also shares her views on other compliance issues affecting trade and border crossings between the United States and Mexico.

Retailers are taking environmental and sustainability issues very seriously. We discuss some of these trends and other retail issues that were front and center this week at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) LINK conference held this past week in Texas.

Ransomware and other cyberattacks are on the rise. More than a third of organizations fear they could be vulnerable. How can logistics managers protect their supply chains from these threats?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  produced an 11-episode limited podcast series called Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10142977 Fri, 25 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1184 supply chain, logistics, Nuvocargo, cross border, vaccine mandates, Mexico, Canada, trade, sustainability. RILA, Retail Industry Leaders Association, retail, cyberattacks, ransomware 3 8 full false Introducing "Supply Chain in the Fast Lane" Introducing "Supply Chain in the Fast Lane" The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and DC Velocity's sister publication, CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly , bring you a new podcast filled with deep industry discussions. The editors of Supply Chain Quarterly talk to today’s top thought innovators, spanning topics across the entire supply chain. Supply Chain in the Fast Lane fast tracks topics you need to know from leaders you want to know.

Links

]]> The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and DC Velocity's sister publication, CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly , bring you a new podcast filled with deep industry discussions. The editors of Supply Chain Quarterly talk to today’s top thought innovators, spanning topics across the entire supply chain. Supply Chain in the Fast Lane fast tracks topics you need to know from leaders you want to know.

Links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10126052 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 19:00:00 -0500 60 supply chain, supply chain management, business, thought leaders, thought leadership trailer false Guest: Kyle Rice from SAP NS2 on securing our supply chains; Clearing containers from West Coast ports; New research into autonomous truck technologies Guest: Kyle Rice from SAP NS2 on securing our supply chains; Clearing containers from West Coast ports; New research into autonomous truck technologies Our guest in this week's episode is Kyle Rice, chief technology officer at SAP NS2. He is an expert on cyber security and is here to discuss ways to assure supply chain security. He shares how bad actors and opposing governments are using vulnerabilities in our technologies to further disrupt our supply chains beyond those delays directly attributed to the pandemic. He also offers some best practices for making certain that our supply chains are less vulnerable to attack.

Containers continue to stack up at West Coast ports awaiting trucks to clear them. Now there are  new efforts to move the containers to temporary holding areas near the ports. The results are that some of the backlog has been cleared and room has been created to offload ships faster. Will these efforts affect the congestion long term, or are they just temporary measures?

New research is being conducted into autonomous truck technologies. Several partnerships between technology developers, trucking firms, and vehicle manufacturers are allowing self-driving technologies to be tested safely on roadways. What progress has been made, and what are the latest tests hoping to accomplish?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  produced an 11-episode limited podcast series called Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Kyle Rice, chief technology officer at SAP NS2. He is an expert on cyber security and is here to discuss ways to assure supply chain security. He shares how bad actors and opposing governments are using vulnerabilities in our technologies to further disrupt our supply chains beyond those delays directly attributed to the pandemic. He also offers some best practices for making certain that our supply chains are less vulnerable to attack.

Containers continue to stack up at West Coast ports awaiting trucks to clear them. Now there are  new efforts to move the containers to temporary holding areas near the ports. The results are that some of the backlog has been cleared and room has been created to offload ships faster. Will these efforts affect the congestion long term, or are they just temporary measures?

New research is being conducted into autonomous truck technologies. Several partnerships between technology developers, trucking firms, and vehicle manufacturers are allowing self-driving technologies to be tested safely on roadways. What progress has been made, and what are the latest tests hoping to accomplish?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  produced an 11-episode limited podcast series called Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10101091 Fri, 18 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1302 SAP NS2, supply chain, logistics, congestion, ports, maritime, containers, security, cyber, cyber security, autonomous trucks, CH Robinson, Waymo, Knight Swift, trucking 3 7 full false Guest: Udo Lange of FedEx Logistics on supply chain disruptions; Protests block cargo movements at U.S.-Canada border; Can Congress help to make the USPS profitable? Guest: Udo Lange of FedEx Logistics on supply chain disruptions; Protests block cargo movements at U.S.-Canada border; Can Congress help to make the USPS profitable? Our guest in this week's episode is Udo Lange, president and CEO of FedEx Logistics. Lange is a member of the White House Task Force on Supply Chain Disruptions. He shares about the work of the task force and what remains to be done to clear the bottlenecks and other disruptions that cause delays in supply chains. He also discusses what FedEx Logistics has been doing to cope with the worldwide supply chain congestion.

Protesters against vaccine mandates in Canada have blocked key arteries for goods flowing between Canada and the United States. Protesting truckers have blocked border bridges that are used to supply auto plants and other key industrial operations. Is there an end in sight to the standoffs, and what are supply chain managers doing to work around the congested and blocked areas?

It looks like Congress is about to act on legislation to enable the U.S. Postal Service to operate with fewer financial constraints. The goal is to make the service  able to better fund its operations without incurring the billions of dollars it has lost in recent years as it attempts to be more competitive in a changing mail and shipping environment.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  produced an 11-episode limited podcast series called Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Udo Lange, president and CEO of FedEx Logistics. Lange is a member of the White House Task Force on Supply Chain Disruptions. He shares about the work of the task force and what remains to be done to clear the bottlenecks and other disruptions that cause delays in supply chains. He also discusses what FedEx Logistics has been doing to cope with the worldwide supply chain congestion.

Protesters against vaccine mandates in Canada have blocked key arteries for goods flowing between Canada and the United States. Protesting truckers have blocked border bridges that are used to supply auto plants and other key industrial operations. Is there an end in sight to the standoffs, and what are supply chain managers doing to work around the congested and blocked areas?

It looks like Congress is about to act on legislation to enable the U.S. Postal Service to operate with fewer financial constraints. The goal is to make the service  able to better fund its operations without incurring the billions of dollars it has lost in recent years as it attempts to be more competitive in a changing mail and shipping environment.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  produced an 11-episode limited podcast series called Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10057121 Fri, 11 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1490 supply chain, logistic, Covid-19, mandates, consumers, shortages, shipping, border protests, Canada, FedEx Logistics, Supply Chain Task Force, congestion, bottlenecks, USPS, United States Postal Service, mail, parcel 3 6 full false Guest: Ron Greene of Overhaul on the rise of rail cargo thefts; New efforts to clear container backlogs at ports; The latest Logistics Managers Index numbers Guest: Ron Greene of Overhaul on the rise of rail cargo thefts; New efforts to clear container backlogs at ports; The latest Logistics Managers Index numbers Our guest in this week's episode is Ron Greene, vice president of business development at Overhaul. Cargo theft is on the rise as more goods are being shipped than ever before, making them vulnerable to thieves. Most of our reports in the past have covered goods being stolen from warehouses and parked trucks, but now there has been a rise in cargo being stolen from idle train cars. What can be done to secure goods on the rails?

New efforts are being made to help clear the bottlenecks at our nation's ports. Several ports have opened pop-up container yards to move the containers away from the immediate port areas to places where the cargo can be more easily handled, while relieving congestion at the main terminals. Will this approach work to cargo move faster?

The latest Logistics Managers Index report shows a surging supply chain industry, with strong demand for transportation services and warehouse space. The index has shown growth for many months. Is this a trend that will continue and what do these numbers show about the strength of our supply chains?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  produced an 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Ron Greene, vice president of business development at Overhaul. Cargo theft is on the rise as more goods are being shipped than ever before, making them vulnerable to thieves. Most of our reports in the past have covered goods being stolen from warehouses and parked trucks, but now there has been a rise in cargo being stolen from idle train cars. What can be done to secure goods on the rails?

New efforts are being made to help clear the bottlenecks at our nation's ports. Several ports have opened pop-up container yards to move the containers away from the immediate port areas to places where the cargo can be more easily handled, while relieving congestion at the main terminals. Will this approach work to cargo move faster?

The latest Logistics Managers Index report shows a surging supply chain industry, with strong demand for transportation services and warehouse space. The index has shown growth for many months. Is this a trend that will continue and what do these numbers show about the strength of our supply chains?

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  produced an 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Hyster

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-10013091 Fri, 04 Feb 2022 13:00:00 -0500 1246 3 5 full false Guest: Brian George of Petrageous Designs on how small companies are dealing with supply chain delays; Chinese New Year could cause more disruptions; Freight executives feel bullish about 2022 Guest: Brian George of Petrageous Designs on how small companies are dealing with supply chain delays; Chinese New Year could cause more disruptions; Freight executives feel bullish about 2022 Our guest in this week's episode is Brian George, the vice president of sales at Petrageous Designs. His company designs and sells pet clothing and feeding products, such as dog and cat bowls and water dishes. As a small company, Petrageous Designs does not have the big clout that large shippers may have in getting products through supply chain bottlenecks. George discusses the current freight situation and the various strategies his company uses to relieve some of the stress.

Chinese New Year starts next week. The holiday traditionally shuts down many factories and may further slow operations at Chinese ports. Will these disruptions make for even more problems for shippers trying to obtain products from China and other Asian countries? What can we expect in the weeks ahead?

While there remains a lot of uncertainty as we close out the first month of the year, many leaders of freight companies remain rather bullish on their prospects for success in 2022. Hear what they are saying and the reasons for their optimism.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Brian George, the vice president of sales at Petrageous Designs. His company designs and sells pet clothing and feeding products, such as dog and cat bowls and water dishes. As a small company, Petrageous Designs does not have the big clout that large shippers may have in getting products through supply chain bottlenecks. George discusses the current freight situation and the various strategies his company uses to relieve some of the stress.

Chinese New Year starts next week. The holiday traditionally shuts down many factories and may further slow operations at Chinese ports. Will these disruptions make for even more problems for shippers trying to obtain products from China and other Asian countries? What can we expect in the weeks ahead?

While there remains a lot of uncertainty as we close out the first month of the year, many leaders of freight companies remain rather bullish on their prospects for success in 2022. Hear what they are saying and the reasons for their optimism.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9963652 Fri, 28 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1249 supply chain, logistics, distribution, automation, labor, freight, shipping, ports, ocean, China, Petrageous Designs 3 4 full false Guest: Jason Haith of OEC Group Louisville on ocean cargo congestion; A new study on the LTL market and rates; 2D bar codes could see wider adoption Guest: Jason Haith of OEC Group Louisville on ocean cargo congestion; A new study on the LTL market and rates; 2D bar codes could see wider adoption Our guest in this week's episode is Jason Haith, branch manager for OEC Group Louisville. Import congestion continues, as ships are delayed and backed up at ports, waiting to unload their cargos. The situation could get even worse soon with the triple whammy of Chinese New Year, the Beijing Olympics, and more Omicron lockdowns all about to hit China at the same time. How do shippers prepare for what's on the horizon?

2021 was a difficult year for shippers relying on less-than-truckload (LTL) services. New research shows that things are not going to improve any time soon. Shippers should expect to see higher shipping volumes that result in  tight capacity and higher prices.

For five decades, supply chains have relied upon linear bar codes to manage shipments and track store inventories. While the basic bar code, such as UPC symbols, is not going away, there have been alternatives that provide more information and can improve service. These 2-D bar codes have been with us for years as well, but the industry has been slow to adopt them. A new push is now on to gain wider use for these improved bar codes.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Jason Haith, branch manager for OEC Group Louisville. Import congestion continues, as ships are delayed and backed up at ports, waiting to unload their cargos. The situation could get even worse soon with the triple whammy of Chinese New Year, the Beijing Olympics, and more Omicron lockdowns all about to hit China at the same time. How do shippers prepare for what's on the horizon?

2021 was a difficult year for shippers relying on less-than-truckload (LTL) services. New research shows that things are not going to improve any time soon. Shippers should expect to see higher shipping volumes that result in  tight capacity and higher prices.

For five decades, supply chains have relied upon linear bar codes to manage shipments and track store inventories. While the basic bar code, such as UPC symbols, is not going away, there have been alternatives that provide more information and can improve service. These 2-D bar codes have been with us for years as well, but the industry has been slow to adopt them. A new push is now on to gain wider use for these improved bar codes.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9927805 Fri, 21 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0500 1282 full false Guest: Phil Koopman of Carnegie Mellon University on autonomous vehicle technologies; Congestion continues to plague US ports; Air freight sees ups and downs. Guest: Phil Koopman of Carnegie Mellon University on autonomous vehicle technologies; Congestion continues to plague US ports; Air freight sees ups and downs. Our guest in this week's episode is Phil Koopman, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and an expert on autonomous vehicle technologies and safety. Koopman discusses the current state of autonomous technologies and how soon we might expect cars and trucks that can operate without a driver  on our nation's roads. He shares the limitations of the technologies and the important challenges that remain to be solved to fully automate vehicles.

Things don't look to improve any time soon at our nation's ports. Ships continue to back up and products remain in holding patterns along their journeys to consumers. It looks like more of the same, as the expectations are that supply chain bottlenecks and delays will extend well into this year. Is there any end in sight?

The air freight market has tried to absorb some of the capacity constraints caused by ocean delays, but there are limitations as to how effective those measures can be. We discuss the current state of air freight and whether conditions may improve in coming months.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Phil Koopman, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and an expert on autonomous vehicle technologies and safety. Koopman discusses the current state of autonomous technologies and how soon we might expect cars and trucks that can operate without a driver  on our nation's roads. He shares the limitations of the technologies and the important challenges that remain to be solved to fully automate vehicles.

Things don't look to improve any time soon at our nation's ports. Ships continue to back up and products remain in holding patterns along their journeys to consumers. It looks like more of the same, as the expectations are that supply chain bottlenecks and delays will extend well into this year. Is there any end in sight?

The air freight market has tried to absorb some of the capacity constraints caused by ocean delays, but there are limitations as to how effective those measures can be. We discuss the current state of air freight and whether conditions may improve in coming months.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9887030 Fri, 14 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1647 Carnegie Mellon, ocean freight, maritime, freight, air cargo, airlines, capacity, bottlenecks, imports, ports, autonomous vehicles, self-driving, trucking, driver shortage, truck drivers 3 2 full false Guest: Dan Johnston of WorkStep on truck driver shortages; Electric trucks are in our future; Companies focus on their sustainability goals Guest: Dan Johnston of WorkStep on truck driver shortages; Electric trucks are in our future; Companies focus on their sustainability goals Our guest in this week's episode is Dan Johnston, co-founder and CEO of WorkStep, a hiring and retention solution for the supply chain industry. We have heard about driver shortages for years, but the pandemic and the overall high employment levels have made it even more difficult to find qualified truckers. Johnston shares what can be done to attract and retain drivers in a very tight labor market.

Movement towards an electric vehicle future continues to roll forward. This week there were some new deals that reinforced the growth of the electric market. Will the momentum continue?

Even with the pandemic and other supply chain challenges, companies in our sector have not given up on their sustainability goals. In fact, they have increased them. What are the driving factors and how are companies meeting the challenge of lowering the environmental impacts of their supply chains?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Dan Johnston, co-founder and CEO of WorkStep, a hiring and retention solution for the supply chain industry. We have heard about driver shortages for years, but the pandemic and the overall high employment levels have made it even more difficult to find qualified truckers. Johnston shares what can be done to attract and retain drivers in a very tight labor market.

Movement towards an electric vehicle future continues to roll forward. This week there were some new deals that reinforced the growth of the electric market. Will the momentum continue?

Even with the pandemic and other supply chain challenges, companies in our sector have not given up on their sustainability goals. In fact, they have increased them. What are the driving factors and how are companies meeting the challenge of lowering the environmental impacts of their supply chains?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9847329 Fri, 07 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500 1324 supply chain, logistics, distribution, hiring, driver shortage, truck drivers, trucking, 3PL, WorkStep, environment, sustainability, carbon, EV, electric vehicles, Volta, DB Schenker, Here Technologies, Waev, Lufthansa Cargo, Nokia, GEM, Taylor Dunn, Pola 3 1 full false Guest: Nikki Baird of Aptos on what's in store for retail in 2022; Reaction to the Biden Trucking Action Plan; New technologies impacting parcel Guest: Nikki Baird of Aptos on what's in store for retail in 2022; Reaction to the Biden Trucking Action Plan; New technologies impacting parcel Our guest in this week's episode is Nikki Baird, vice president of retail innovation at Aptos.
2021 was a bit better for retailers following a very rough 2020, led mostly by consumer spending and surges in e-commerce orders. Are brick-and-mortar stores planning to rebound in the coming year and what will be the main things that retailers should focus on in 2022?

The Biden Administration released its plan to help the trucking industry deal with its logjams, tight capacities, and difficulties finding and retaining drivers. How is the industry reacting to the Trucking Action Plan and will it make a difference both short and long term?

The parcel technology sector continues to be an area of tremendous growth, as suppliers provide the tools that parcel shippers need to respond to increasing volumes and tight constraints. We look at Stamps.com as an example of a company that has expanded from its initial place in the market of selling postage, growing into a company now named Auctane that offers a much larger portfolio of services. Is this a growing trend for technology companies that serve the parcel market?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Nikki Baird, vice president of retail innovation at Aptos.
2021 was a bit better for retailers following a very rough 2020, led mostly by consumer spending and surges in e-commerce orders. Are brick-and-mortar stores planning to rebound in the coming year and what will be the main things that retailers should focus on in 2022?

The Biden Administration released its plan to help the trucking industry deal with its logjams, tight capacities, and difficulties finding and retaining drivers. How is the industry reacting to the Trucking Action Plan and will it make a difference both short and long term?

The parcel technology sector continues to be an area of tremendous growth, as suppliers provide the tools that parcel shippers need to respond to increasing volumes and tight constraints. We look at Stamps.com as an example of a company that has expanded from its initial place in the market of selling postage, growing into a company now named Auctane that offers a much larger portfolio of services. Is this a growing trend for technology companies that serve the parcel market?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9775553 Fri, 24 Dec 2021 01:00:00 -0500 1530 Aptos, Stamps.com, Auctane, parcel, trucking, logistics, supply chain, Trucking Action Plan, constraints, driver shortage, technology 2 49 full false Guest: Melissa O'Keefe of Ryder on Microfulfillment; Distributors look to increase capacities; Logistics jobs set to recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2022 Guest: Melissa O'Keefe of Ryder on Microfulfillment; Distributors look to increase capacities; Logistics jobs set to recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2022 Our guest in this week's episode is Melissa O'Keefe, group director, product and innovation e-commerce at Ryder. Companies are looking to move their distribution closer to their customers with the aim of shortening delivery times and meeting customer expectations. But moving into urban areas with limited available land can be tricky. That's where smaller Microfulfillment sites come into play. O'Keefe discusses the advantages of a Microfulfillment strategy and what Ryder is doing to reach customers faster.

We have all seen demand spike this year as the economy continues its forward direction. To meet that surging demand, distributors are looking to increase their capacities and capabilities. What is being done now and is this a growing trend in distribution?

The logistics and transportation sectors are poised to regain the jobs lost during the pandemic. Estimates show that will occur this coming year, but other industries may not see their pre-pandemic employment numbers return for some time to come.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Melissa O'Keefe, group director, product and innovation e-commerce at Ryder. Companies are looking to move their distribution closer to their customers with the aim of shortening delivery times and meeting customer expectations. But moving into urban areas with limited available land can be tricky. That's where smaller Microfulfillment sites come into play. O'Keefe discusses the advantages of a Microfulfillment strategy and what Ryder is doing to reach customers faster.

We have all seen demand spike this year as the economy continues its forward direction. To meet that surging demand, distributors are looking to increase their capacities and capabilities. What is being done now and is this a growing trend in distribution?

The logistics and transportation sectors are poised to regain the jobs lost during the pandemic. Estimates show that will occur this coming year, but other industries may not see their pre-pandemic employment numbers return for some time to come.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9740804 Fri, 17 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1159 logistics, supply chain, peak season, employment, labor, expansion, distribution, microfulfillment, Ryder, Melissa O'Keefe, Lineage Logistics, FedEx, Walmart 2 48 full false Guest: Glenn Richey of Auburn Univ. on product shortages; The House tackles problems at sea; Logistics continues strong upward growth. Guest: Glenn Richey of Auburn Univ. on product shortages; The House tackles problems at sea; Logistics continues strong upward growth. Our guest in this week's episode is Glenn Richey, the chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management at Auburn University. He discusses the product shortages and supply chain delays that most of us have experienced. Richey shares why these problems are occurring, how long it all might last, and what can be done short term to alleviate supply chain pressures.

The U.S. House of Representatives this week approved new legislation to further regulate maritime shipping as a way of dealing with supply chain delays. In particular the bill addresses some of the current practices of ocean carriers. The bill now moves on to the Senate. We discuss the merits of the legislation and the reaction from the supply chain community.

Logistics activity continued its growth surge in November, according to the latest Logistics Managers' Index report, or LMI. We take a look at the numbers and what they mean.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Glenn Richey, the chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management at Auburn University. He discusses the product shortages and supply chain delays that most of us have experienced. Richey shares why these problems are occurring, how long it all might last, and what can be done short term to alleviate supply chain pressures.

The U.S. House of Representatives this week approved new legislation to further regulate maritime shipping as a way of dealing with supply chain delays. In particular the bill addresses some of the current practices of ocean carriers. The bill now moves on to the Senate. We discuss the merits of the legislation and the reaction from the supply chain community.

Logistics activity continued its growth surge in November, according to the latest Logistics Managers' Index report, or LMI. We take a look at the numbers and what they mean.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9698760 Fri, 10 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1468 Glenn Richey, Auburn University, supply chain, shipping, delays, shortages, port congestion, maritime, logistics, Logistics Managers' Index 2 47 full false Guest: Mike Nervick of Sleek Technologies discusses what the infrastructure bill means for shippers and carriers; The latest holiday shopping trends; The drive for smaller logistics facilities Guest: Mike Nervick of Sleek Technologies discusses what the infrastructure bill means for shippers and carriers; The latest holiday shopping trends; The drive for smaller logistics facilities Our guest in this week's episode is Mike Nervick, founder and CEO of Sleek Technologies. The recent passage of the long-awaited infrastructure bill could impact transportation and the movement of goods for decades to come. Nervick discusses the importance of the bill and how it will affect shippers and carriers.

There has been a lot of coverage in the news about supply chain bottlenecks and how they could affect the holiday shopping season. Consumers have been shopping early to avoid being disappointed by not being able to get the gifts they want under their trees this year. That shift has profound implications for supply chains, and retailers in particular. We discuss how they are adapting to changing trends this peak season.

The growth of online shopping and omnichannel fulfillment has resulted in the demand for smaller distribution facilities located in urban areas. We share some interesting numbers just released to back this trend.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Listen on Supply Chain Quarterly's website or subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Mike Nervick, founder and CEO of Sleek Technologies. The recent passage of the long-awaited infrastructure bill could impact transportation and the movement of goods for decades to come. Nervick discusses the importance of the bill and how it will affect shippers and carriers.

There has been a lot of coverage in the news about supply chain bottlenecks and how they could affect the holiday shopping season. Consumers have been shopping early to avoid being disappointed by not being able to get the gifts they want under their trees this year. That shift has profound implications for supply chains, and retailers in particular. We discuss how they are adapting to changing trends this peak season.

The growth of online shopping and omnichannel fulfillment has resulted in the demand for smaller distribution facilities located in urban areas. We share some interesting numbers just released to back this trend.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Listen on Supply Chain Quarterly's website or subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9657716 Fri, 03 Dec 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1162 logistics, supply chain, peak season, holiday shopping, warehouse, transportation, Sleek Technologies, infrastructure, supply chain delays, real estate, urban logistics 2 46 full false Guest: Cristiano Facanha of CALSTART on climate change transportation initiatives; Consumers distrust pharmaceutical supply chains; Tight freight capacity will continue well into 2022 Guest: Cristiano Facanha of CALSTART on climate change transportation initiatives; Consumers distrust pharmaceutical supply chains; Tight freight capacity will continue well into 2022 Our guest in this week's episode is Dr. Cristiano Façanaha, global director at environmental advocacy group CALSTART. He is a transportation and environmental engineer and an expert at designing and evaluating sustainable transportation systems. The world just concluded the COP26 climate conference in Scotland. Out of that meeting came several international initiatives and commitments to reduce carbon emissions. A couple of these directly affect the trucking and transportation sectors. Our guest addresses what they are and what they mean for the industry.

Consumers don't trust pharmaceutical supply chains. They worry about counterfeit medicines sneaking into their medicine cabinets as well as possible damage and contamination of genuine medicines as they travel throughout the supply chain. What can the industry do to assure our medicines are safe and to restore public confidence in them?

We have experienced tight freight capacity throughout this year, and it looks like it will continue well into 2022. A shortage of trucks and drivers, along with surging demand from the holiday season, will mean that rates will stay high and available capacity will not improve for the foreseeable future.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Ryder

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Dr. Cristiano Façanaha, global director at environmental advocacy group CALSTART. He is a transportation and environmental engineer and an expert at designing and evaluating sustainable transportation systems. The world just concluded the COP26 climate conference in Scotland. Out of that meeting came several international initiatives and commitments to reduce carbon emissions. A couple of these directly affect the trucking and transportation sectors. Our guest addresses what they are and what they mean for the industry.

Consumers don't trust pharmaceutical supply chains. They worry about counterfeit medicines sneaking into their medicine cabinets as well as possible damage and contamination of genuine medicines as they travel throughout the supply chain. What can the industry do to assure our medicines are safe and to restore public confidence in them?

We have experienced tight freight capacity throughout this year, and it looks like it will continue well into 2022. A shortage of trucks and drivers, along with surging demand from the holiday season, will mean that rates will stay high and available capacity will not improve for the foreseeable future.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Ryder

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9578857 Fri, 19 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1342 CALSTART, environment, net-zero, carbon, climate change, global warming, trucking, transportation, logistics, pharmaceutical supply chain, medicines, freight capacity 2 45 full false Guest: Joe Ryan of Overhaul Group on the rise of cargo theft; The Postal Service reveals its latest financial report; New research on autonomous trucks Guest: Joe Ryan of Overhaul Group on the rise of cargo theft; The Postal Service reveals its latest financial report; New research on autonomous trucks Our guest in this week's episode is Joe Ryan, director of intelligence and response at Overhaul Group. Cargo theft is on the rise, with some fairly significant losses during the past year as more freight moves than ever before. Beyond the loss of the cargo, there are ripple effects which amount to many times the costs of the actual products that are stolen. Ryan provides some insight as to how freight is stolen and what can be done to prevent it.

The U.S. Postal Service released its latest financial report from the fiscal year that ended in September. To no one's surprise, the service lost money, as it has consistently done for years. However, this year's loss was less than the previous yearly loss. What is the Postal Service doing right, and what other changes are planned to further cut the annual losses?

New research offers a potential plan for how autonomous trucks may be deployed in the not-too-distant future. The plan shows how using driverless vehicles — mainly on highway segments — could provide significant savings on transportation costs.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly began  a new 11-episode limited podcast series last week, Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Ryder

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Joe Ryan, director of intelligence and response at Overhaul Group. Cargo theft is on the rise, with some fairly significant losses during the past year as more freight moves than ever before. Beyond the loss of the cargo, there are ripple effects which amount to many times the costs of the actual products that are stolen. Ryan provides some insight as to how freight is stolen and what can be done to prevent it.

The U.S. Postal Service released its latest financial report from the fiscal year that ended in September. To no one's surprise, the service lost money, as it has consistently done for years. However, this year's loss was less than the previous yearly loss. What is the Postal Service doing right, and what other changes are planned to further cut the annual losses?

New research offers a potential plan for how autonomous trucks may be deployed in the not-too-distant future. The plan shows how using driverless vehicles — mainly on highway segments — could provide significant savings on transportation costs.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly began  a new 11-episode limited podcast series last week, Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Ryder

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9538648 Fri, 12 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1421 supply chain, logistics, distribution, autonomous trucks, self-driving, Overhaul, cargo theft, pilfering, transportation, highways, U.S. Postal service, postal rates, Priority Mail 2 44 full false Guest: Sarah Watt of Gartner on building a sustainable future; Retailers invest in their own delivery networks; Demand for 3PL distribution rises Guest: Sarah Watt of Gartner on building a sustainable future; Retailers invest in their own delivery networks; Demand for 3PL distribution rises Our guest in this week's episode is Sarah Watt, a senior director analyst at consulting firm Gartner. With much of the attention this week focused on the COP26 climate summit in Scotland, we discuss how the supply chain industry can become more of the solution rather than the problem when it comes to climate change. Ms. Watt shares how companies can build sustainable futures that meet the goals set by the world leaders in Scotland.

With so much attention on the supply chain bottlenecks we have witnessed the past few months, some retailers are taking matters into their own hands. They are acquiring their own delivery networks rather than relying on transportation and delivery partners.

Third-party warehouse providers are seeing a huge jump in demand for their services. With inventories on the rise and peak season upon us, retailers and other distributors are turning more and more to 3PLs to help them keep their fulfillment promises.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly began  a new 11-episode limited podcast series last week, Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Ryder

Other links

]]> Our guest in this week's episode is Sarah Watt, a senior director analyst at consulting firm Gartner. With much of the attention this week focused on the COP26 climate summit in Scotland, we discuss how the supply chain industry can become more of the solution rather than the problem when it comes to climate change. Ms. Watt shares how companies can build sustainable futures that meet the goals set by the world leaders in Scotland.

With so much attention on the supply chain bottlenecks we have witnessed the past few months, some retailers are taking matters into their own hands. They are acquiring their own delivery networks rather than relying on transportation and delivery partners.

Third-party warehouse providers are seeing a huge jump in demand for their services. With inventories on the rise and peak season upon us, retailers and other distributors are turning more and more to 3PLs to help them keep their fulfillment promises.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly began  a new 11-episode limited podcast series last week, Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Ryder

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9498035 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1352 climate change, logistics, supply chain, green, carbon, Gartner, 3PL, warehousing, American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Quiet Logistics, fulfillment 2 43 full false Guest: Dr. Yossi Sheffi on Covid-19 vaccine development and distribution; Ports take measures to reduce container dwell times; Driver shortages reach all-time highs Guest: Dr. Yossi Sheffi on Covid-19 vaccine development and distribution; Ports take measures to reduce container dwell times; Driver shortages reach all-time highs In this episode, our guest is Dr. Yossi Sheffi, a professor of engineering systems  at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. Dr. Sheffi has written a new book called A Shot In the Arm: How Science, Engineering, and Supply Chains Converged to Vaccinate the World. He joins us to talk about the development of successful Covid-19 vaccines in record time — including the science behind them and the supply chains that enabled them.

Containers are stacking up at West Coast ports as bottlenecks continue amongst record levels of cargo passing through them. This week, several initiatives were unveiled to try to alleviate the congestion.

The shortage of truck drivers has reached an all-time high, according to a report released this week by the  American Trucking Associations (ATA). What can be done to reduce the shortage and attract new drivers to the industry?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly began  a new 11-episode limited podcast series this week, Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, following this week's introductory episode, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Zebra Technologies

Other links

]]> In this episode, our guest is Dr. Yossi Sheffi, a professor of engineering systems  at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. Dr. Sheffi has written a new book called A Shot In the Arm: How Science, Engineering, and Supply Chains Converged to Vaccinate the World. He joins us to talk about the development of successful Covid-19 vaccines in record time — including the science behind them and the supply chains that enabled them.

Containers are stacking up at West Coast ports as bottlenecks continue amongst record levels of cargo passing through them. This week, several initiatives were unveiled to try to alleviate the congestion.

The shortage of truck drivers has reached an all-time high, according to a report released this week by the  American Trucking Associations (ATA). What can be done to reduce the shortage and attract new drivers to the industry?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly began  a new 11-episode limited podcast series this week, Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, following this week's introductory episode, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Zebra Technologies

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9456271 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1595 2 42 full false Guest: Bryan Palma on what retailers can expect this peak season; The unicorns of supply chain; News from America's ports; Supply Chain Quarterly launches a new podcast on the Top 10 Threats to supply chains Guest: Bryan Palma on what retailers can expect this peak season; The unicorns of supply chain; News from America's ports; Supply Chain Quarterly launches a new podcast on the Top 10 Threats to supply chains In this episode, our guest is Bryan Palma of Kinaxis. Retailers are in for an uncertain holiday season, as inventories are out of whack and demand is difficult to satisfy. What should retailers and consumers expect from this year's peak season?

There are some new unicorns among supply chain startup companies. These are firms that have reached $1 billion in valuation. What makes them so attractive to investors?

Maritime ports have all reported near-record levels of cargo passing through, and there is little end in sight to the high volumes they must support. This week, some ports are reporting their latest statistics and offering some solutions to help with supply chain bottlenecks.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly is beginning  a new 11-episode limited podcast series, The Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, following an introductory episode, a different threat to our supply chains will be discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Zebra Technologies

Other links

]]> In this episode, our guest is Bryan Palma of Kinaxis. Retailers are in for an uncertain holiday season, as inventories are out of whack and demand is difficult to satisfy. What should retailers and consumers expect from this year's peak season?

There are some new unicorns among supply chain startup companies. These are firms that have reached $1 billion in valuation. What makes them so attractive to investors?

Maritime ports have all reported near-record levels of cargo passing through, and there is little end in sight to the high volumes they must support. This week, some ports are reporting their latest statistics and offering some solutions to help with supply chain bottlenecks.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly is beginning  a new 11-episode limited podcast series, The Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, following an introductory episode, a different threat to our supply chains will be discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Zebra Technologies

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9415928 Fri, 22 Oct 2021 13:00:00 -0400 1337 supply chain, logistics, CSCMP, threats, risks, risk mitigation. ports, maritime, Supply Chain Quarterly, unicorns, Kinaxis, retail, holiday, peak season, logistics 2 41 full false Introducing "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats" Introducing "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats" Our supply chains are broken. We face many obstacles that will be with us for the coming months, and possibly years. This month, our sister publication CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly will launch “Top 10 Supply Chain Threats,” a new 11-episode podcast that looks at the top 10 threats currently facing supply chains. 

Links

]]> Our supply chains are broken. We face many obstacles that will be with us for the coming months, and possibly years. This month, our sister publication CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly will launch “Top 10 Supply Chain Threats,” a new 11-episode podcast that looks at the top 10 threats currently facing supply chains. 

Links

]]> Supply Chain Media Buzzsprout-9398396 Tue, 19 Oct 2021 18:00:00 -0400 60 supply chain, risk, risk management, logistics, business trailer false Guest: Yatish Desai of KPMG on preparing for holiday peaks; The Biden administration tackles port congestion; Will freight rates stabilize in Q4? Guest: Yatish Desai of KPMG on preparing for holiday peaks; The Biden administration tackles port congestion; Will freight rates stabilize in Q4? In this episode, our guest is Yatish Desai, a principal at KPMG Supply Chain and Operations.
As the holiday season approaches, shippers and carriers both are preparing for a season of disruption building upon the current chaos within supply chains. Desai talks about how shippers can prepare for increased delays and how modeling and planning can smooth the rough parts of their supply chains.

This week the Biden administration met with representatives from the Ports of LA and Long Beach to try to deal with the historic backlog at those ports. The result is that they will now move to 24/7 operations. Will that clear the congestion and will it have any effects on stalled supply chains elsewhere?

Freight rates continue to rise with little end in sight. A new industry index has just been released to measure freight trends. What can it show us about  expectations for freight rates in Q4 of this year?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Zebra Technologies

Other links

]]> In this episode, our guest is Yatish Desai, a principal at KPMG Supply Chain and Operations.
As the holiday season approaches, shippers and carriers both are preparing for a season of disruption building upon the current chaos within supply chains. Desai talks about how shippers can prepare for increased delays and how modeling and planning can smooth the rough parts of their supply chains.

This week the Biden administration met with representatives from the Ports of LA and Long Beach to try to deal with the historic backlog at those ports. The result is that they will now move to 24/7 operations. Will that clear the congestion and will it have any effects on stalled supply chains elsewhere?

Freight rates continue to rise with little end in sight. A new industry index has just been released to measure freight trends. What can it show us about  expectations for freight rates in Q4 of this year?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Zebra Technologies

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9375004 Fri, 15 Oct 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1354 KPMG, freight, rates, Biden, Port of Long Beach, Port of LA, congestion, supply chain, logistics, holiday 2 40 full false Guest: Attorney Steve Bell discusses the legalities of vaccine mandates; Consumers show little patience for supply chain disruptions; A report from the MHI Annual Conference Guest: Attorney Steve Bell discusses the legalities of vaccine mandates; Consumers show little patience for supply chain disruptions; A report from the MHI Annual Conference In this episode, our guest is Steve Bell, an attorney for the law firm of Dorsey and Whitney LLC. Steve specializes in labor and employment practice and is here to discuss the ramifications of the Biden administration's new Covid-19 vaccination mandates for federal employees and companies with more the 100 workers. What are the requirements and when are they expected to go into effect? Will these mandates survive the many legal challenges they will face? Steve is here to give us his insights and experience into the laws surrounding employment practices.

While consumers certainly know there are supply chain problems that keep them separated from the goods they desire, they seem to have little patience when it comes to delays. A recent survey shows consumers hold the same expectations they have had during the past year or more. What should shippers expect from consumers as peak season approaches?

The MHI Annual Conference was held in Arizona this past week. A lot of the discussion surrounded the current state of our supply chains and how the industry is poised to meet the challenges we face. In this episode, we report on some key themes and sessions from the conference.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Zebra Technologies

Other links

]]> In this episode, our guest is Steve Bell, an attorney for the law firm of Dorsey and Whitney LLC. Steve specializes in labor and employment practice and is here to discuss the ramifications of the Biden administration's new Covid-19 vaccination mandates for federal employees and companies with more the 100 workers. What are the requirements and when are they expected to go into effect? Will these mandates survive the many legal challenges they will face? Steve is here to give us his insights and experience into the laws surrounding employment practices.

While consumers certainly know there are supply chain problems that keep them separated from the goods they desire, they seem to have little patience when it comes to delays. A recent survey shows consumers hold the same expectations they have had during the past year or more. What should shippers expect from consumers as peak season approaches?

The MHI Annual Conference was held in Arizona this past week. A lot of the discussion surrounded the current state of our supply chains and how the industry is poised to meet the challenges we face. In this episode, we report on some key themes and sessions from the conference.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Zebra Technologies

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9335098 Fri, 08 Oct 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1305 supply chain, logistic, Covid-19, mandates, Dorsey and Whitney, consumers, shortages, shipping, MHI, generation gaps, employment 2 39 full false Guest: Doug Schrier of Transflo on automating non-driving trucking tasks; Are supply chain disruptions here to stay?; Solutions for handling returns. Guest: Doug Schrier of Transflo on automating non-driving trucking tasks; Are supply chain disruptions here to stay?; Solutions for handling returns. In this episode, our guest is Doug Schrier, senior vice president of strategy at Transflo. While we know that automated trucks are coming someday, many may not be aware of the behind-the-scenes automation available today to keep the trucking industry moving forward. Artificial intelligence and machine learning help companies automate many of the industry's non-driving tasks.

Consumers are all too aware of the shortages and supply chain problems we have all experienced and many are feeling like things will never get back to normal. A new report shows how consumers are feeling about supply chain disruptions. Many shoppers are leaving brands that they feel are not doing a good job of being reliable on product deliveries.

Returns are messy for everyone. With the increases in online shopping, returns are becoming even messier. Some companies are doing better than others at handling returns and even rewarding their best shoppers. Their customers are noticing.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Zebra Technologies

Other links

]]> In this episode, our guest is Doug Schrier, senior vice president of strategy at Transflo. While we know that automated trucks are coming someday, many may not be aware of the behind-the-scenes automation available today to keep the trucking industry moving forward. Artificial intelligence and machine learning help companies automate many of the industry's non-driving tasks.

Consumers are all too aware of the shortages and supply chain problems we have all experienced and many are feeling like things will never get back to normal. A new report shows how consumers are feeling about supply chain disruptions. Many shoppers are leaving brands that they feel are not doing a good job of being reliable on product deliveries.

Returns are messy for everyone. With the increases in online shopping, returns are becoming even messier. Some companies are doing better than others at handling returns and even rewarding their best shoppers. Their customers are noticing.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Zebra Technologies

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9290891 Fri, 01 Oct 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1333 supply chain, logistics, Transflo, shortages, returns, bottlenecks, disruption, trucking, automation, machine learning, artificial intelligence 2 38 full false Guest: Ellen Voie of Women in Trucking discusses the roles of women in the trucking industry; Tight freight capacity will be with us for some time; More opportunities for women in supply chain positions Guest: Ellen Voie of Women in Trucking discusses the roles of women in the trucking industry; Tight freight capacity will be with us for some time; More opportunities for women in supply chain positions In this episode, our guest is Ellen Voie, President, CEO, and Founder of Women in Trucking. She discusses how her organization works to attract women into the trucking industry. She shares what barriers remain and how the industry can help to overcome them to open their truck doors to more women drivers.

As any shipper knows, tight capacity remains in the freight markets — and it looks like this situation will be with us for quite some time to come. What are some of the creative things carriers are doing to open capacity, and what can shippers do to make their freight more attractive to carriers and thus become shippers of choice?

Supply chain used to be a very male-dominated industry, but that has changed quite a bit over the past decade. There are more women in leadership roles than ever before. Today we look at what is being done to bring more women into the supply chain profession and what opportunities there are to keep women moving forward in their careers.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> In this episode, our guest is Ellen Voie, President, CEO, and Founder of Women in Trucking. She discusses how her organization works to attract women into the trucking industry. She shares what barriers remain and how the industry can help to overcome them to open their truck doors to more women drivers.

As any shipper knows, tight capacity remains in the freight markets — and it looks like this situation will be with us for quite some time to come. What are some of the creative things carriers are doing to open capacity, and what can shippers do to make their freight more attractive to carriers and thus become shippers of choice?

Supply chain used to be a very male-dominated industry, but that has changed quite a bit over the past decade. There are more women in leadership roles than ever before. Today we look at what is being done to bring more women into the supply chain profession and what opportunities there are to keep women moving forward in their careers.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9254035 Fri, 24 Sep 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1404 Women in Trucking, supply chain, logistics, trucking, employment, freight markets, capacity, trailers, chassis, trucks 2 37 full false Guest: Gary Master, DC Velocity publisher, on the current state of our supply chains; Seasonal peaks are coming without the labor needed to fill them; It's time to thank a trucker Guest: Gary Master, DC Velocity publisher, on the current state of our supply chains; Seasonal peaks are coming without the labor needed to fill them; It's time to thank a trucker In this episode, our guest is DC Velocity Publisher Gary Master. Supply chains everywhere are experiencing disruptions. It really is a mess out there. Gary talks about the current state of supply chains and identifies some of the trouble spots. He also discusses the CSCMP EDGE conference coming up this week in Atlanta which will provide professionals with a perfect opportunity to address many of these supply chain challenges.

Labor continues to be tight right now with many job openings going unfilled. We discuss the current labor statistics, which come at a time when many retailers and distributors are attempting to increase their staffing for peak holiday season. What are some of the initiatives that supply chain companies are doing to try to attract new workers?

It's time to thank a trucker. This week the industry celebrates Truck Driver Appreciation Week. We talk about some of the events that took place to recognize the important contributions that drivers make to our industry and the overall economy.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links


]]> In this episode, our guest is DC Velocity Publisher Gary Master. Supply chains everywhere are experiencing disruptions. It really is a mess out there. Gary talks about the current state of supply chains and identifies some of the trouble spots. He also discusses the CSCMP EDGE conference coming up this week in Atlanta which will provide professionals with a perfect opportunity to address many of these supply chain challenges.

Labor continues to be tight right now with many job openings going unfilled. We discuss the current labor statistics, which come at a time when many retailers and distributors are attempting to increase their staffing for peak holiday season. What are some of the initiatives that supply chain companies are doing to try to attract new workers?

It's time to thank a trucker. This week the industry celebrates Truck Driver Appreciation Week. We talk about some of the events that took place to recognize the important contributions that drivers make to our industry and the overall economy.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9213489 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400 1191 supply chain, distribution, labor, trucking, drivers, disruption, logistics 2 36 full false Guest: Steve Denton of Ware2Go on rising freight costs; The LMI index shows strong logistics sector growth; The continuing effects of Hurricane Ida Guest: Steve Denton of Ware2Go on rising freight costs; The LMI index shows strong logistics sector growth; The continuing effects of Hurricane Ida In this episode, our guest is Steve Denton, CEO of Ware2Go, a UPS company. All businesses have been affected by Covid-19 during the past year and a half, but merchants and retailers have experienced more ups and downs than many. One of the more challenging problems is the rising cost of transportation for their goods. With peak season approaching,  how will merchants be able to deliver products in a timely manner while meeting other demands and challenging  consumer expectations?

The latest Logistics Managers Index has been released. This monthly report gauges logistics activity and shows continued expansion in the sector. Is this a trend that will continue into next year?

Hurricane Ida caused widespread damage across much of the United States. While recovery efforts are ongoing, there are still logistics delays that are having ripple effects throughout the country. What is being done to help alleviate the stresses?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links


]]> In this episode, our guest is Steve Denton, CEO of Ware2Go, a UPS company. All businesses have been affected by Covid-19 during the past year and a half, but merchants and retailers have experienced more ups and downs than many. One of the more challenging problems is the rising cost of transportation for their goods. With peak season approaching,  how will merchants be able to deliver products in a timely manner while meeting other demands and challenging  consumer expectations?

The latest Logistics Managers Index has been released. This monthly report gauges logistics activity and shows continued expansion in the sector. Is this a trend that will continue into next year?

Hurricane Ida caused widespread damage across much of the United States. While recovery efforts are ongoing, there are still logistics delays that are having ripple effects throughout the country. What is being done to help alleviate the stresses?


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Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9172842 Fri, 10 Sep 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1254 Ware2Go, logistics, supply chain, Hurricane Ida, New Orleans, transportation, air freight, trucking, Logistics Managers Index, LMI, freight costs, inventory, peak season 2 35 full false Guest Brad Wright on warehouse space for smaller distributors; Commercial real estate is seeing rebound; Ports are digitalizing their operations Guest Brad Wright on warehouse space for smaller distributors; Commercial real estate is seeing rebound; Ports are digitalizing their operations In this episode, our guest is Brad Wright, CEO of Chunker. Many small to medium sized businesses feel that they are being squeezed out of available warehouse space by much larger players. Tight capacity in industrial space is to blame. What are the alternatives for these smaller distributors to find the warehouse space they need to move their businesses forward without huge financial risk or a long-term lease?

Keeping on the real estate theme, a new report out shows that commercial real estate has recovered to a point that is close to pre-pandemic levels. What does the report show for industrial real estate that includes warehouses, distribution centers,  and manufacturing facilities?

Facing record volumes, tight capacities, and lots of congestion,  many maritime ports are turning to digitalization of their operations. What is being done and how might it affect how these ports will function in the future?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links


]]> In this episode, our guest is Brad Wright, CEO of Chunker. Many small to medium sized businesses feel that they are being squeezed out of available warehouse space by much larger players. Tight capacity in industrial space is to blame. What are the alternatives for these smaller distributors to find the warehouse space they need to move their businesses forward without huge financial risk or a long-term lease?

Keeping on the real estate theme, a new report out shows that commercial real estate has recovered to a point that is close to pre-pandemic levels. What does the report show for industrial real estate that includes warehouses, distribution centers,  and manufacturing facilities?

Facing record volumes, tight capacities, and lots of congestion,  many maritime ports are turning to digitalization of their operations. What is being done and how might it affect how these ports will function in the future?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9135110 Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1136 Supply Chain, logistics, Chunker, commercial real estate, industrial facilities, manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, ports, maritime, digitalization, capacity 2 34 full false Guest: Dr. Emily Tucker on our vulnerable pharmaceutical supply chains; A new carbon-neutral cargo ship is unveiled; We discuss the current state of logistics. Guest: Dr. Emily Tucker on our vulnerable pharmaceutical supply chains; A new carbon-neutral cargo ship is unveiled; We discuss the current state of logistics. In this episode, our guest is Dr. Emily Tucker, assistant professor at Clemson University's Department of Industrial Engineering. Most of the medicines we rely on every day come from just two key trading partners overseas. That has created shortages and vulnerabilities in our medical supply chains and has limited our abilities to assure that we have medicines when we need them. Dr. Tucker explains why we have this problem and what can be done to solve it.

Ocean going vessels make up a significant portion of the carbon released into the atmosphere. This week we learned that Maersk, the huge container shipping company, is taking steps to decarbonize its operations. In an announcement Maersk says it has ordered a large16,000 TEU cargo vessel that will be carbon neutral. This new vessel will be powered by methanol. Is this a step in helping to alleviate climate change?

Susan Lacefield, the executive editor of CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly joins us to discuss the State of Logistics special issue. This issue of the Quarterly takes a deep dive into major aspects of logistics with specific articles on the status of freight, parcel, rail, air, ocean, inventory, and other market segments. How does the industry look now and how might that change in the near term?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Softeon

Other links

]]> In this episode, our guest is Dr. Emily Tucker, assistant professor at Clemson University's Department of Industrial Engineering. Most of the medicines we rely on every day come from just two key trading partners overseas. That has created shortages and vulnerabilities in our medical supply chains and has limited our abilities to assure that we have medicines when we need them. Dr. Tucker explains why we have this problem and what can be done to solve it.

Ocean going vessels make up a significant portion of the carbon released into the atmosphere. This week we learned that Maersk, the huge container shipping company, is taking steps to decarbonize its operations. In an announcement Maersk says it has ordered a large16,000 TEU cargo vessel that will be carbon neutral. This new vessel will be powered by methanol. Is this a step in helping to alleviate climate change?

Susan Lacefield, the executive editor of CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly joins us to discuss the State of Logistics special issue. This issue of the Quarterly takes a deep dive into major aspects of logistics with specific articles on the status of freight, parcel, rail, air, ocean, inventory, and other market segments. How does the industry look now and how might that change in the near term?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Softeon

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9097481 Fri, 27 Aug 2021 13:00:00 -0400 1647 Supply chain, logistics, Clemson University, pharmaceuticals, medicines, India, China, shortages, supply disruptions, State of Logistics, Supply Chain Quarterly, DC Velocity, Maersk, methanol 2 33 full false Guest: Scott Cornell of Travelers on cargo theft; Ports set record volumes in July; A new type of truck insurance Guest: Scott Cornell of Travelers on cargo theft; Ports set record volumes in July; A new type of truck insurance In this episode, our guest is Scott Cornell, transportation lead and crime and theft specialist at Travelers. Cargo theft is on the rise compared to pre-pandemic levels. Cornell talks about where cargo is stolen and what types of products are most desirable to thieves. He also discusses ways that supply chain professionals can better safeguard their cargo.

Because of strong consumer demand, U.S. ports have been setting records all year long. July was no different, as ports continued to see robust business on imports, but not so much on the export side of their business. What's behind the numbers, and do they show trends for the future?

Insurance is one of the largest expenses for any trucking fleet. This week we report on a new kind of insurance available in some states. What makes it unique and less costly?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Softeon

Other links

]]> In this episode, our guest is Scott Cornell, transportation lead and crime and theft specialist at Travelers. Cargo theft is on the rise compared to pre-pandemic levels. Cornell talks about where cargo is stolen and what types of products are most desirable to thieves. He also discusses ways that supply chain professionals can better safeguard their cargo.

Because of strong consumer demand, U.S. ports have been setting records all year long. July was no different, as ports continued to see robust business on imports, but not so much on the export side of their business. What's behind the numbers, and do they show trends for the future?

Insurance is one of the largest expenses for any trucking fleet. This week we report on a new kind of insurance available in some states. What makes it unique and less costly?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Softeon

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9060947 Fri, 20 Aug 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1219 supply chain, insurance, logistics, trucking, fleets, cargo theft, Travelers, ports, ocean 2 32 full false Guest: Kathy Fulton of ALAN on preparing for hurricane season; Reactions to the Senate vote on infrastructure; A new report on supply chain sustainability initiatives Guest: Kathy Fulton of ALAN on preparing for hurricane season; Reactions to the Senate vote on infrastructure; A new report on supply chain sustainability initiatives In this episode, our guest is Kathy Fulton, executive director of ALAN, the American Logistics Aid Network. Hurricanes can leave in their wake many supply chain disruptions, even for those not in the direct path of the storm. We are about to enter the heart of hurricane season. Kathy shares how companies can prepare their supply chains for when hurricanes impact the movement of goods and services. And what can be done to help others recover when a hurricane hits them directly?

The U.S. Senate this week passed an historic infrastructure bill. Supply chain professionals have been waiting for years for such legislation. It still has to be worked out with the House of Representatives before it is enacted into law, but it looks promising this time that something will finally get done. How is the supply chain and transportation industries reacting to the various projects and provisions within the bill and are their any groups disappointed with the legislation?

Sustainability is continuing to get attention from supply chain professionals. It seems the desires for even more environmentally-friendly practices and greater respect for human rights only seems to be increasing within the industry. A new report highlights these trends and priorities even during the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Softeon

Other links

]]> In this episode, our guest is Kathy Fulton, executive director of ALAN, the American Logistics Aid Network. Hurricanes can leave in their wake many supply chain disruptions, even for those not in the direct path of the storm. We are about to enter the heart of hurricane season. Kathy shares how companies can prepare their supply chains for when hurricanes impact the movement of goods and services. And what can be done to help others recover when a hurricane hits them directly?

The U.S. Senate this week passed an historic infrastructure bill. Supply chain professionals have been waiting for years for such legislation. It still has to be worked out with the House of Representatives before it is enacted into law, but it looks promising this time that something will finally get done. How is the supply chain and transportation industries reacting to the various projects and provisions within the bill and are their any groups disappointed with the legislation?

Sustainability is continuing to get attention from supply chain professionals. It seems the desires for even more environmentally-friendly practices and greater respect for human rights only seems to be increasing within the industry. A new report highlights these trends and priorities even during the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Softeon

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-9024771 Fri, 13 Aug 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1288 supply chain, logistics, sustainability, ALAN, American Logistics Aid Network, hurricanes, disaster relief, congestion, infrastructure, road repairs, MIT, CSCMP 2 31 full false Guest: Andrew Viteritti of the Economist Intelligence Unit on the likelihood of reshoring; Economic news shows continued growth in supply chains; Will companies require vaccinations for employees to return to offices? Guest: Andrew Viteritti of the Economist Intelligence Unit on the likelihood of reshoring; Economic news shows continued growth in supply chains; Will companies require vaccinations for employees to return to offices? In this episode, we discuss the whether reshoring will take hold as one way of mitigating the many supply chain disruptions we have experienced this year. Our guest, Andrew Viteritti, commerce and regulation lead at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), shares research on the likelihood that U.S. companies will bring production back to North America. Is it a feasible solution?

New economic news shows that logistics activity continues to be very strong, with solid projections moving forward. Find out what's behind the numbers in the latest Logistics Managers Index report.

Many companies want their employees to return to work in person, but the rise of the Delta variant of Covid-19 might hamper those efforts. In response, many employers may ask that employees either be vaccinated or face ongoing mask and social distancing measures. What are industry organizations saying about this growing trend among employers?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Softeon

Other links

]]> In this episode, we discuss the whether reshoring will take hold as one way of mitigating the many supply chain disruptions we have experienced this year. Our guest, Andrew Viteritti, commerce and regulation lead at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), shares research on the likelihood that U.S. companies will bring production back to North America. Is it a feasible solution?

New economic news shows that logistics activity continues to be very strong, with solid projections moving forward. Find out what's behind the numbers in the latest Logistics Managers Index report.

Many companies want their employees to return to work in person, but the rise of the Delta variant of Covid-19 might hamper those efforts. In response, many employers may ask that employees either be vaccinated or face ongoing mask and social distancing measures. What are industry organizations saying about this growing trend among employers?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Softeon

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8977703 Fri, 06 Aug 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1152 supply chain, logistics, Economist Intelligence Unit, reshoring, re-shoring, Softeon, vaccinations, Covid-19, Logistics Managers Index 2 30 full false Guest: Darren Epps of Ryder on electrifying fleets; Returning office workers want parcel lockers for e-com deliveries; The main priorities of chief supply chain officers Guest: Darren Epps of Ryder on electrifying fleets; Returning office workers want parcel lockers for e-com deliveries; The main priorities of chief supply chain officers In this episode, Darren Epps, senior director of advanced vehicle technology at Ryder, shares what it will take for freight companies to transition to electric fleets. It is more than just buying electric trucks. It involves decisions on infrastructure for charging them and determining which loads are best suited for currently available technologies.

Many workers spent the last year working remotely and ordering many, many things online. Now they are returning to offices. But what will they do about their e-com orders if they are not home to receive them? That's why some office complexes are considering installing electronic  parcel delivery lockers so that these workers can receive their e-commerce deliveries at work.

What keeps chief supply chain officers up at night? A new study reveals the priorities that will set their agendas moving forward.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> In this episode, Darren Epps, senior director of advanced vehicle technology at Ryder, shares what it will take for freight companies to transition to electric fleets. It is more than just buying electric trucks. It involves decisions on infrastructure for charging them and determining which loads are best suited for currently available technologies.

Many workers spent the last year working remotely and ordering many, many things online. Now they are returning to offices. But what will they do about their e-com orders if they are not home to receive them? That's why some office complexes are considering installing electronic  parcel delivery lockers so that these workers can receive their e-commerce deliveries at work.

What keeps chief supply chain officers up at night? A new study reveals the priorities that will set their agendas moving forward.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8945945 Fri, 30 Jul 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1203 supply chain, logistics, chief supply chain officers, parcel, delivery lockers, electric vehicles, batteries, Ryder, disruption, business continuity 2 29 full false Guest: Spencer Shute of Proxima discusses the impact Pres. Biden's executive order on competition will have on logistics; Uber's big acquisition of Transplace; Sustainability remains a priority with supply chain companies Guest: Spencer Shute of Proxima discusses the impact Pres. Biden's executive order on competition will have on logistics; Uber's big acquisition of Transplace; Sustainability remains a priority with supply chain companies In this episode, Spencer Shute, a consultant with the supply chain and procurement consulting firm Proxima, discusses the recent executive order from President Biden designed to encourage more competition between American companies. The goal is to increase competition to better serve consumers, but what impact will these orders have on the supply chains that we currently know and how will it affect freight markets in particular?

Merger and acquisitions continue throughout our industry, as investors view supply chain companies as worthy of their investment dollars. Yesterday, a large deal saw Uber Freight buying Transplace. What will the impact of the more then $2- billion deal have on the market and is it just another example of trends we have been following?

During the pandemic, many thought that sustainable and environmentally-friendly business activities might have been put on the back burner while companies merely focused on survival. Surprisingly, that has not been the case. Sustainability remains a major priority among supply chain companies.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> In this episode, Spencer Shute, a consultant with the supply chain and procurement consulting firm Proxima, discusses the recent executive order from President Biden designed to encourage more competition between American companies. The goal is to increase competition to better serve consumers, but what impact will these orders have on the supply chains that we currently know and how will it affect freight markets in particular?

Merger and acquisitions continue throughout our industry, as investors view supply chain companies as worthy of their investment dollars. Yesterday, a large deal saw Uber Freight buying Transplace. What will the impact of the more then $2- billion deal have on the market and is it just another example of trends we have been following?

During the pandemic, many thought that sustainable and environmentally-friendly business activities might have been put on the back burner while companies merely focused on survival. Surprisingly, that has not been the case. Sustainability remains a major priority among supply chain companies.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8912108 Fri, 23 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0400 1013 Proxima, supply chain, sustainability, logistics, Uber Freight, Transplace, competition, freight, maritime, ports, rail 2 28 full false Guest: Thomas Evans of Honeywell on automating for small businesses; How 5G will influence IoT adoption; Consumer pandemic shopping habits will continue Guest: Thomas Evans of Honeywell on automating for small businesses; How 5G will influence IoT adoption; Consumer pandemic shopping habits will continue In this episode, Dr. Thomas Evans, chief robotics technology officer at Honeywell, discusses how automation can help small to medium-sized distributors compete with the big guys on the block.

5G cell technology is rolling out across the nation, but it will take a while for the infrastructure to be  in fully in place to make an impact. How will it eventually affect the growth of devices using Internet of Things technology?

During the pandemic, consumers stopped shopping in person and turned to online shopping for the goods they needed. Now that the nation is re-emerging, it appears those shopping habits are here to stay.


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Podcast sponsored byAptean

Other links

]]> In this episode, Dr. Thomas Evans, chief robotics technology officer at Honeywell, discusses how automation can help small to medium-sized distributors compete with the big guys on the block.

5G cell technology is rolling out across the nation, but it will take a while for the infrastructure to be  in fully in place to make an impact. How will it eventually affect the growth of devices using Internet of Things technology?

During the pandemic, consumers stopped shopping in person and turned to online shopping for the goods they needed. Now that the nation is re-emerging, it appears those shopping habits are here to stay.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored byAptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8870426 Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1220 supply chain, logistics, IoT, Internet of Things, transportation, distribution, robotics, Honeywell 2 27 full false Guest: Gary Master, DC Velocity publisher, on "whack a mole" supply chains; Truckers are facing more unexpected breakdowns on our nation's roads; Freight capacity will remain tight for the rest of the year Guest: Gary Master, DC Velocity publisher, on "whack a mole" supply chains; Truckers are facing more unexpected breakdowns on our nation's roads; Freight capacity will remain tight for the rest of the year In this episode, Gary Master, president, COO, and group publisher at Agile Business Media, discusses the current state of supply chains. He explains that new challenges arise each day - almost like playing the arcade game Whac-A-Mole. Once one problem is addressed, another comes up to challenge supply chain managers. Product and component shortages, freight bottlenecks, labor issues, tight capacity, and growing complexities are just some of the major concerns we face each day in getting products to the people who need them.

Our nation's truckers are breaking down at a higher rate this year. This increase in the number of unexpected roadside events is due to a number of factors, including aging fleets, the lack of spare parts, decreased preventative maintenance, and the conditions of our highways.

Freight capacity continues to be very tight and there is no end in sight for the foreseeable future. A new report details just how difficult it is to find capacity within the logistics market.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored byAptean

Other links

]]> In this episode, Gary Master, president, COO, and group publisher at Agile Business Media, discusses the current state of supply chains. He explains that new challenges arise each day - almost like playing the arcade game Whac-A-Mole. Once one problem is addressed, another comes up to challenge supply chain managers. Product and component shortages, freight bottlenecks, labor issues, tight capacity, and growing complexities are just some of the major concerns we face each day in getting products to the people who need them.

Our nation's truckers are breaking down at a higher rate this year. This increase in the number of unexpected roadside events is due to a number of factors, including aging fleets, the lack of spare parts, decreased preventative maintenance, and the conditions of our highways.

Freight capacity continues to be very tight and there is no end in sight for the foreseeable future. A new report details just how difficult it is to find capacity within the logistics market.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored byAptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8837778 Fri, 09 Jul 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1113 supply chain, logistics, warehousing, transportation, trucking, roadside breakdowns, capacity, labor, automation, economy, economic constraints, supply shortages, bottlenecks, freight 2 26 full false Guest: Mark Manduca of GXO on the new XPO spinoff; Warehouse space is in critical demand; New investments in logistics companies underscore importance of supply chains Guest: Mark Manduca of GXO on the new XPO spinoff; Warehouse space is in critical demand; New investments in logistics companies underscore importance of supply chains In this episode, Mark Manduca, the newly appointed chief investment officer of GXO Logistics, discusses the new company and its role in the logistics industry. GXO is the result of a split in the logistics and warehousing segments of the large worldwide company, XPO Logistics. GXO has been created to assume the contract warehousing business. At its launch in a few weeks, it will become the second-largest firm of its kind in the world. Manduca shares about GXO's industry role and company vision as  a new player with a powerful heritage.

The demand for warehouse space just continues to grow. New data shows that capacity will still not meet the demand for new distribution space. A perfect storm has converged to keep warehouse capacity high, including less new construction during the pandemic and also the growth of e-commerce and consumer demand. Is there any letup in sight?

Financial firms are continuing to make significant investments in logistics and technology companies. What is driving confidence in this market and why are logistics firms so attractive for investment dollars?


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Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

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Rate and review our podcast.
We value your feedback and look forward to hearing from you.

  • Apple Podcasts: Scroll to the Customer Reviews section at the bottom and click “Write a Review.” 
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]]> In this episode, Mark Manduca, the newly appointed chief investment officer of GXO Logistics, discusses the new company and its role in the logistics industry. GXO is the result of a split in the logistics and warehousing segments of the large worldwide company, XPO Logistics. GXO has been created to assume the contract warehousing business. At its launch in a few weeks, it will become the second-largest firm of its kind in the world. Manduca shares about GXO's industry role and company vision as  a new player with a powerful heritage.

The demand for warehouse space just continues to grow. New data shows that capacity will still not meet the demand for new distribution space. A perfect storm has converged to keep warehouse capacity high, including less new construction during the pandemic and also the growth of e-commerce and consumer demand. Is there any letup in sight?

Financial firms are continuing to make significant investments in logistics and technology companies. What is driving confidence in this market and why are logistics firms so attractive for investment dollars?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

Rate and review our podcast.
We value your feedback and look forward to hearing from you.

  • Apple Podcasts: Scroll to the Customer Reviews section at the bottom and click “Write a Review.” 
  • Podchaser: Click the “Rate podcast” button.
]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8752259 Fri, 25 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1313 supply chain, logistics, GXO, XPO, contract warehousing, warehouse space, industrial real estate, Softbank, Forto, AutoStore, Boston Dynamics 2 25 full false Guest: Richard Sinkoff of the Port of Oakland on environmental initiatives; Women are increasing their roles and influence in supply chain jobs; B2B buying habits are accelerating digital transformation. Guest: Richard Sinkoff of the Port of Oakland on environmental initiatives; Women are increasing their roles and influence in supply chain jobs; B2B buying habits are accelerating digital transformation. In this episode, Richard Sinkoff, the director of environmental programs and planning at the Port of Oakland, is our guest. He discusses a new initiative to have California fund $2.25 billion improvements in ports and infrastructure to create a zero-emissions distribution network. The network would aim for zero-emissions handling, including trucks that come into and out of the state's ports. It also would provide electric charging stations along heavily traveled freight corridors to reduce the carbon footprint of cargo being transported throughout California.

The annual Gartner and AWESOME study on women employed in supply chain shows a steady increase in the number of women working in the industry. It's now at the highest point since the survey began in 2016. However, the report also reveals a lack of women represented at the highest company levels and cites a lack of opportunities and development programs for women executives.

Digital transformation continues to steamroll through supply chains. A new report shows that one of the driving factors accelerating digitization has to do with B2B buying habits. Procurement at manufacturers, consumer packaged goods firms, and financial services institutions show that more activity is being done online since the start of the pandemic. That is only expected to accelerate in the future as buyers seek better online purchasing experiences.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> In this episode, Richard Sinkoff, the director of environmental programs and planning at the Port of Oakland, is our guest. He discusses a new initiative to have California fund $2.25 billion improvements in ports and infrastructure to create a zero-emissions distribution network. The network would aim for zero-emissions handling, including trucks that come into and out of the state's ports. It also would provide electric charging stations along heavily traveled freight corridors to reduce the carbon footprint of cargo being transported throughout California.

The annual Gartner and AWESOME study on women employed in supply chain shows a steady increase in the number of women working in the industry. It's now at the highest point since the survey began in 2016. However, the report also reveals a lack of women represented at the highest company levels and cites a lack of opportunities and development programs for women executives.

Digital transformation continues to steamroll through supply chains. A new report shows that one of the driving factors accelerating digitization has to do with B2B buying habits. Procurement at manufacturers, consumer packaged goods firms, and financial services institutions show that more activity is being done online since the start of the pandemic. That is only expected to accelerate in the future as buyers seek better online purchasing experiences.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8722630 Fri, 18 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1052 supply chain, logistics, Port of Oakland, digitization, women, Gartner, AWESOME, ocean ports, green logistics 2 24 full false Guest: Dan Gilmore of Softeon on how WMS systems are ready for complex automation: The White House releases a report on America's supply chains; National Forklift Safety Day emphasizes safe forklift operations; Funding for Mississippi River transportation Guest: Dan Gilmore of Softeon on how WMS systems are ready for complex automation: The White House releases a report on America's supply chains; National Forklift Safety Day emphasizes safe forklift operations; Funding for Mississippi River transportation In this episode, guest Dan Gilmore, chief marketing officer at warehouse software company Softeon, discusses how today's warehouse management software systems are being developed to handle the huge surge in robotics and other warehouse automation systems. Today's WMS and WES systems must monitor and direct many warehouse functions in real time to keep products flowing. They also must be easy to integrate with all of the technology placed into DCs today. Are these software systems up to the challenge?

This week the White House released its anticipated report on our nation's supply chains, focusing on the four key areas of semiconductors, large-capacity batteries, critical materials and minerals, and pharmaceuticals and active ingredients. Will the suggestions in the report help to alleviate the bottlenecks in these critical supply chains, and will these actions affect the supply chains of other products?

This past Tuesday, the industry celebrated National Forklift Safety Day. Presented by the Industrial Truck Association, this annual day to recognize the importance of forklift safety was held virtually again this year due to the pandemic. Hear our report on the highlights and trends discussed.

There is new funding for what's being called a SmartPort and Resilience Center for managing transportation and port operations on the lower Mississippi River. The grant from the U.S. Commerce Department combines with funds from the state of Louisiana and other partners to create infrastructure and monitoring capabilities to improve traffic flow and forecasting on this important waterway.



Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Dan Gilmore, chief marketing officer at warehouse software company Softeon, discusses how today's warehouse management software systems are being developed to handle the huge surge in robotics and other warehouse automation systems. Today's WMS and WES systems must monitor and direct many warehouse functions in real time to keep products flowing. They also must be easy to integrate with all of the technology placed into DCs today. Are these software systems up to the challenge?

This week the White House released its anticipated report on our nation's supply chains, focusing on the four key areas of semiconductors, large-capacity batteries, critical materials and minerals, and pharmaceuticals and active ingredients. Will the suggestions in the report help to alleviate the bottlenecks in these critical supply chains, and will these actions affect the supply chains of other products?

This past Tuesday, the industry celebrated National Forklift Safety Day. Presented by the Industrial Truck Association, this annual day to recognize the importance of forklift safety was held virtually again this year due to the pandemic. Hear our report on the highlights and trends discussed.

There is new funding for what's being called a SmartPort and Resilience Center for managing transportation and port operations on the lower Mississippi River. The grant from the U.S. Commerce Department combines with funds from the state of Louisiana and other partners to create infrastructure and monitoring capabilities to improve traffic flow and forecasting on this important waterway.



Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8685869 Fri, 11 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400 1630 supply chain, White House, National Forklift Safety Day, Industrial Truck Association, warehouse, distribution, logistics, warehouse management systems, automation, warehouse execution systems, Mississippi River, SmartPort 2 23 full false Guest: Mark Stanton of PowerFleet on preparing supply chains for hurricane season; A major player changes hiring policies for warehouse workers; Logistics continues to see strong growth Guest: Mark Stanton of PowerFleet on preparing supply chains for hurricane season; A major player changes hiring policies for warehouse workers; Logistics continues to see strong growth In this episode, guest Mark Stanton, general manager for PowerFleet for Supply Chain,  discusses the upcoming hurricane season and how we can prepare our supply chains to better handle disruptions. We all know that hurricanes are likely to happen; we just don't know where or when they will occur. But, companies can prepare their supply chains now using technology tools and collaboration to monitor their assets and direct products and people away from areas of disruption.

Amazon is changing its hiring practices and some of its work rules to find more workers in a very tight labor market. You may be surprised to hear what the company has chosen to eliminate as part of potential new employee screening.

As the economy emerges from the pandemic, logistics continues to be one of the most important contributors to getting our lives back to normal. This month's Logistics Managers' Index reflects growth that continues to move along like a freight train. But with that surging growth come high costs and tight capacity.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Mark Stanton, general manager for PowerFleet for Supply Chain,  discusses the upcoming hurricane season and how we can prepare our supply chains to better handle disruptions. We all know that hurricanes are likely to happen; we just don't know where or when they will occur. But, companies can prepare their supply chains now using technology tools and collaboration to monitor their assets and direct products and people away from areas of disruption.

Amazon is changing its hiring practices and some of its work rules to find more workers in a very tight labor market. You may be surprised to hear what the company has chosen to eliminate as part of potential new employee screening.

As the economy emerges from the pandemic, logistics continues to be one of the most important contributors to getting our lives back to normal. This month's Logistics Managers' Index reflects growth that continues to move along like a freight train. But with that surging growth come high costs and tight capacity.

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8645088 Fri, 04 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1163 logistics, supply chain, PowerFleet, hurricane, preparation, LMI, Logistics Managers Index, Amazon, hiring, jobs, distribution, 2 22 full false Guest: Alex Wakefield of Longbow Advantage on supply chain visibility; New research initiatives for the trucking industry; Top supply chain priorities Guest: Alex Wakefield of Longbow Advantage on supply chain visibility; New research initiatives for the trucking industry; Top supply chain priorities In this episode, guest Alex Wakefield, CEO of supply chain technology firm Longbow Advantage, discusses the need for better supply chain visibility. He suggests that improvements in visibility for warehouse operations can actually provide better insights into bottlenecks and challenges in the transportation of goods to and from facilities.

The American Transportation Research Institute, better known as ATRI, has released a report on the most important issues facing the trucking sector. Labor, of course, is a top concern. The report details some of the research that will be conducted to help trucking firms deal with driver shortages as well as the impact of electric trucks coming to the market.

New technologies continue to impact the supply chain industry daily. But what are the top priorities for logistics executives in wading through all of the offerings that suppliers provide? A new report lists the key technology trends that executives plan to address this year.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Softeon

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Alex Wakefield, CEO of supply chain technology firm Longbow Advantage, discusses the need for better supply chain visibility. He suggests that improvements in visibility for warehouse operations can actually provide better insights into bottlenecks and challenges in the transportation of goods to and from facilities.

The American Transportation Research Institute, better known as ATRI, has released a report on the most important issues facing the trucking sector. Labor, of course, is a top concern. The report details some of the research that will be conducted to help trucking firms deal with driver shortages as well as the impact of electric trucks coming to the market.

New technologies continue to impact the supply chain industry daily. But what are the top priorities for logistics executives in wading through all of the offerings that suppliers provide? A new report lists the key technology trends that executives plan to address this year.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Softeon

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8605410 Fri, 28 May 2021 11:00:00 -0400 1335 Longbow Advantage, supply chain, logistics, DC Velocity, visibility, labor, AI, artificial intelligence, drivers, trucking, machine learning 2 21 full false Guest: Mike Klage of TOC Logistics on ocean shipping conditions; Retailers look for new carriers and capacity; Investors eye supply chain companies for new acquisitions Guest: Mike Klage of TOC Logistics on ocean shipping conditions; Retailers look for new carriers and capacity; Investors eye supply chain companies for new acquisitions In this episode, guest Mike Klage, solutions director at TOC Logistics International, shares what's happening out on the water. Ports continue to be overwhelmed with cargo and backlogs are becoming the new normal for ocean shipping. Some shippers are looking at alternative ports, such as those on the East Coast and and in the Gulf region, but will that solve their problems if capacity is scarce everywhere? We discuss the current state of ocean shipping and whether things might get back to pre-pandemic normal any time soon.

In order to satisfy customer demand, retailers search for new carriers to assure their shipments arrive on time. This includes last-mile investments and expanded networks. Will this search for capacity and performance continue as we head toward the back-to-school and holiday seasons?

Private equity investment firms continue to view supply chain as a good risk. A number of companies in our space have been snatched up recently by investors, and there is a growing trend to combine smaller firms together to create a one-stop shop for supply chain services. How will this trend play out in the market?


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Podcast sponsored by Softeon

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]]> In this episode, guest Mike Klage, solutions director at TOC Logistics International, shares what's happening out on the water. Ports continue to be overwhelmed with cargo and backlogs are becoming the new normal for ocean shipping. Some shippers are looking at alternative ports, such as those on the East Coast and and in the Gulf region, but will that solve their problems if capacity is scarce everywhere? We discuss the current state of ocean shipping and whether things might get back to pre-pandemic normal any time soon.

In order to satisfy customer demand, retailers search for new carriers to assure their shipments arrive on time. This includes last-mile investments and expanded networks. Will this search for capacity and performance continue as we head toward the back-to-school and holiday seasons?

Private equity investment firms continue to view supply chain as a good risk. A number of companies in our space have been snatched up recently by investors, and there is a growing trend to combine smaller firms together to create a one-stop shop for supply chain services. How will this trend play out in the market?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Softeon

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8563403 Fri, 21 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1477 logistics, supply chain, TOC Logistics, Peak-Ryzex, retail, ocean, maritime, ports, congestion, supply chain acquisitions 2 20 full false Guest: Jim Yarbrough of BSI on supply chain risks; The labor shortage hits supply chains hard; Lots of M&A action in rail Guest: Jim Yarbrough of BSI on supply chain risks; The labor shortage hits supply chains hard; Lots of M&A action in rail In this episode, guest Jim Yarbrough, global intelligence program manager at BSI, shares the major supply chain risks from around the world. BSI recently released its Supply Chain Risks Insights 2021 report. It analyzes and assesses risks to countries and businesses globally. These include product theft, fraud, labor exploitation, and political and regulatory changes. He also shares how to make supply chains more resilient in light of these threats.

As the world emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, economic growth brings more demand for goods and services. This means more labor is needed at a time when labor is in short supply. Supply chains have been particularly hard hit in finding workers to drive trucks and work in warehouses.

There continues to be further consolidation in the rail sector. While two large Canadian competitors fight over who gets to buy Kansas City Southern Railway, other rail mergers and acquisitions continue to change the landscape of rail in North America.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Softeon

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Jim Yarbrough, global intelligence program manager at BSI, shares the major supply chain risks from around the world. BSI recently released its Supply Chain Risks Insights 2021 report. It analyzes and assesses risks to countries and businesses globally. These include product theft, fraud, labor exploitation, and political and regulatory changes. He also shares how to make supply chains more resilient in light of these threats.

As the world emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, economic growth brings more demand for goods and services. This means more labor is needed at a time when labor is in short supply. Supply chains have been particularly hard hit in finding workers to drive trucks and work in warehouses.

There continues to be further consolidation in the rail sector. While two large Canadian competitors fight over who gets to buy Kansas City Southern Railway, other rail mergers and acquisitions continue to change the landscape of rail in North America.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Softeon

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8520960 Fri, 14 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1399 supply chain, logistics. BSI, risk, railroad, CN, Canadian National, 2 19 full false Guest: Paul Beavers from PCS Software on why touchless transactions are here to stay; An important supply chain commodity is experiencing shortages; Tight capacity will be with us for the foreseeable future Guest: Paul Beavers from PCS Software on why touchless transactions are here to stay; An important supply chain commodity is experiencing shortages; Tight capacity will be with us for the foreseeable future In this episode, guest Paul Beavers, the chief technology officer at PCS Software, discusses why he thinks touchless transactions are here to stay. During the past year, as the Covid-19 pandemic raged, many companies turned to contactless electronic transactions as a way of promoting social distancing and reducing risks to drivers. It is just another adoption trend that the pandemic accelerated, and as with many of the changes we have undergone during the year, companies are seeing the advantages of touchless handoffs. There is good reason to think that most users who adopted these technologies will not revert back to paper-based processing.

The surge in economic growth and consumer demand has caused shortages in many commodities, including one that is essential in moving our goods within supply chains. That commodity is the basic pallet. Lumber prices and high demand are making for a shortage of new pallets within the market.

The latest LMI figures are in, and they show that tight capacity in supply chains will be with us for some time to come. What is driving these trends, and is there any hope that we will see better capacity as we move into the summer months?


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Podcast sponsored by Softeon

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Paul Beavers, the chief technology officer at PCS Software, discusses why he thinks touchless transactions are here to stay. During the past year, as the Covid-19 pandemic raged, many companies turned to contactless electronic transactions as a way of promoting social distancing and reducing risks to drivers. It is just another adoption trend that the pandemic accelerated, and as with many of the changes we have undergone during the year, companies are seeing the advantages of touchless handoffs. There is good reason to think that most users who adopted these technologies will not revert back to paper-based processing.

The surge in economic growth and consumer demand has caused shortages in many commodities, including one that is essential in moving our goods within supply chains. That commodity is the basic pallet. Lumber prices and high demand are making for a shortage of new pallets within the market.

The latest LMI figures are in, and they show that tight capacity in supply chains will be with us for some time to come. What is driving these trends, and is there any hope that we will see better capacity as we move into the summer months?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Softeon

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8478254 Fri, 07 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1095 Softeon, 48forty, Relogisitics Services, logistics, supply chain, pallets, LMI, Logistics 2 18 full false Guest: Matt Castle of C.H. Robinson on tight air capacity; Supply chain managers weigh in on infrastructure; California legislation redefines how truck drivers are classified in the workforce Guest: Matt Castle of C.H. Robinson on tight air capacity; Supply chain managers weigh in on infrastructure; California legislation redefines how truck drivers are classified in the workforce In this episode, guest Matt Castle, vice president of air services at C.H. Robinson, discusses the tight air freight market. While passengers are starting to fly again  on commercial planes, that extra belly space for cargo has not really alleviated the capacity constraints on the air freight market. Is there any improvement in sight, or is this what to expect for the rest of the year? Are there good alternatives to routing freight by air?

Once again, our nation's infrastructure is being debated in Washington. However, this time there seems to be the political will to get something done where efforts have failed in the past. The two parties are highlighting different priorities in their proposals, but what do supply chain managers see as critical pieces that they wish to see in infrastructure improvements?

On Wednesday, an appeals court in California upheld Assembly Bill Five, better known as AB-5, which redefines how gig and independent contract workers are classified within the workforce. Its provisions have serious implications for truck drivers and the trucking industry, including that many contract drivers will now be required to receive full employment benefits.  It's a measure that could be adapted for legislation in other states.


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Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Matt Castle, vice president of air services at C.H. Robinson, discusses the tight air freight market. While passengers are starting to fly again  on commercial planes, that extra belly space for cargo has not really alleviated the capacity constraints on the air freight market. Is there any improvement in sight, or is this what to expect for the rest of the year? Are there good alternatives to routing freight by air?

Once again, our nation's infrastructure is being debated in Washington. However, this time there seems to be the political will to get something done where efforts have failed in the past. The two parties are highlighting different priorities in their proposals, but what do supply chain managers see as critical pieces that they wish to see in infrastructure improvements?

On Wednesday, an appeals court in California upheld Assembly Bill Five, better known as AB-5, which redefines how gig and independent contract workers are classified within the workforce. Its provisions have serious implications for truck drivers and the trucking industry, including that many contract drivers will now be required to receive full employment benefits.  It's a measure that could be adapted for legislation in other states.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8435487 Fri, 30 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1209 supply chain, C.H. Robinson, air freight, cargo, capacity, AB5, trucking, drivers, infrastructure, logistics 2 17 full false Guest: Aaron Hageman on last-mile deliveries; Imports continue to surge; Supply chain companies celebrate Earth Day by sharing their sustainable initiatives. Guest: Aaron Hageman on last-mile deliveries; Imports continue to surge; Supply chain companies celebrate Earth Day by sharing their sustainable initiatives. In this episode, guest Aaron Hageman, CEO of Delivery Drivers Inc. (DDI), discusses trends in last-mile logistics. The supply chain industry calls that final delivery to a person's home or business "the last mile" of the shipment chain. It is usually the most expensive part of logistics, as each package must be handled separately, in contrast to the aggregate handling of previous steps. Hageman discusses how drivers are found to make such deliveries and what is being done by shippers to assure timely delivery of our orders.

The Covid-19 pandemic is driving a huge surge in imported products, and that is affecting the real estate markets for warehouses in seaport areas. It is also creating huge demand for certain imported products.

This past Thursday was Earth Day, a day the world reflects on our environment and what we can do to be more friendly to the planet we all live on. Many logistics and supply chain companies took time this week to celebrate their own green initiatives and to commit to new sustainable practices.


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Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

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]]> In this episode, guest Aaron Hageman, CEO of Delivery Drivers Inc. (DDI), discusses trends in last-mile logistics. The supply chain industry calls that final delivery to a person's home or business "the last mile" of the shipment chain. It is usually the most expensive part of logistics, as each package must be handled separately, in contrast to the aggregate handling of previous steps. Hageman discusses how drivers are found to make such deliveries and what is being done by shippers to assure timely delivery of our orders.

The Covid-19 pandemic is driving a huge surge in imported products, and that is affecting the real estate markets for warehouses in seaport areas. It is also creating huge demand for certain imported products.

This past Thursday was Earth Day, a day the world reflects on our environment and what we can do to be more friendly to the planet we all live on. Many logistics and supply chain companies took time this week to celebrate their own green initiatives and to commit to new sustainable practices.


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Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8391418 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0400 993 supply chain, DDI, Delivery Drivers Inc., last mile, deliveries, logistics, import, Crown Battery, CBRE, Earth Day, batteries, Honeywell Intelligrated 2 16 full false Guest: Brandon Coats of MHS counters misconceptions about artificial intelligence; Highlights from ProMatDX 2021, looking at new technologies and trends in material handling and supply chain Guest: Brandon Coats of MHS counters misconceptions about artificial intelligence; Highlights from ProMatDX 2021, looking at new technologies and trends in material handling and supply chain In this episode, guest Brandon Coats, global product manager for robotics and vision at Material Handling Systems (MHS), discusses artificial intelligence. We have all heard of AI and its potential for improving our lives. Coats talks about some of the misconceptions about artificial intelligence and offers some practical applications where AI can improve distribution operations.

We also look at this week's ProMatDX 2021. This virtual experience of North America's largest material handling show did not disappoint. We discuss the 8th Annual Industry Report and what it says about the health of the industry and how supply chain leaders are boosting their technology spending to build resilience in their operations. We look at the products awarded as most innovative at the show. We discuss how automation may or may not be the right fit, depending on your products, market, and a number of other factors. And we examine how one company scaled automation within their distribution facility in less than 90 days.

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Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Brandon Coats, global product manager for robotics and vision at Material Handling Systems (MHS), discusses artificial intelligence. We have all heard of AI and its potential for improving our lives. Coats talks about some of the misconceptions about artificial intelligence and offers some practical applications where AI can improve distribution operations.

We also look at this week's ProMatDX 2021. This virtual experience of North America's largest material handling show did not disappoint. We discuss the 8th Annual Industry Report and what it says about the health of the industry and how supply chain leaders are boosting their technology spending to build resilience in their operations. We look at the products awarded as most innovative at the show. We discuss how automation may or may not be the right fit, depending on your products, market, and a number of other factors. And we examine how one company scaled automation within their distribution facility in less than 90 days.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8347630 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1523 supply chain, MHI, ProMatDX 2021, resilience, automation, robotics, AI, artificial intelligence, MHS, Honeywell Intelligrated, Crocs, innovation, S2E15 2 15 full false Guest: Chris Jones of Decartes on supply chain vulnerabilities; Five risks businesses should avoid as they bounce back; Consumers are more aware of supply chain pain points than ever before Guest: Chris Jones of Decartes on supply chain vulnerabilities; Five risks businesses should avoid as they bounce back; Consumers are more aware of supply chain pain points than ever before In this episode, guest Chris Jones, executive vice president at Decartes, discusses supply chain vulnerabilities. The Covid-19 pandemic changed everything in our lives, including the way goods are delivered to us. But the pandemic also exposed weak areas of our supply chains and revealed vulnerabilities for sourcing many critical goods, such as PPE, pharmaceuticals, batteries, and electronic components. How can we assure that suppliers address these vulnerabilities as we begin to recover?

As businesses begin the process of restoring their operations to pre-pandemic levels, they need to be aware of the many threats that still loom. A recent report highlights five risks for businesses to track as they recover their operations in 2021 and beyond.

Before the onslaught of Covid-19, most consumers did not have a clue as to what was meant by "the supply chain" and how supply chains actually operated. Now, they have a greater awareness of them, mostly due to shortages they have experienced during the past year. How should manufacturers, retailers, and e-commerce providers react to both the real and perceived conceptions that consumers have about the supply chains upon which they depend?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Chris Jones, executive vice president at Decartes, discusses supply chain vulnerabilities. The Covid-19 pandemic changed everything in our lives, including the way goods are delivered to us. But the pandemic also exposed weak areas of our supply chains and revealed vulnerabilities for sourcing many critical goods, such as PPE, pharmaceuticals, batteries, and electronic components. How can we assure that suppliers address these vulnerabilities as we begin to recover?

As businesses begin the process of restoring their operations to pre-pandemic levels, they need to be aware of the many threats that still loom. A recent report highlights five risks for businesses to track as they recover their operations in 2021 and beyond.

Before the onslaught of Covid-19, most consumers did not have a clue as to what was meant by "the supply chain" and how supply chains actually operated. Now, they have a greater awareness of them, mostly due to shortages they have experienced during the past year. How should manufacturers, retailers, and e-commerce providers react to both the real and perceived conceptions that consumers have about the supply chains upon which they depend?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8304306 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1466 supply chain, vulnerabilities, risk, mitigation, consumers, recovery, Covid-19, shortages, goods, S2E14 2 14 full false Guest: Johnathan Foster of Proxima on disruptions from Suez Canal shutdown; How microfulfillment can create greener last miles; Finding drivers to meet post-pandemic demand Guest: Johnathan Foster of Proxima on disruptions from Suez Canal shutdown; How microfulfillment can create greener last miles; Finding drivers to meet post-pandemic demand In this episode, guest Johnathan Foster, principal consultant at Proxima, discusses the ripple effects of that huge container ship, The Ever Given, that was stuck for a week in the Suez Canal. The ship has been re-floated and the canal is open again, but it has caused supply chain backlogs all over the world. This is on top of already congested ports. What will the overall impacts be to the movement of the world's goods?

The huge spike in e-commerce brings with it enormous surges in home deliveries. Logistics professionals call that final leg of the delivery process "the last mile." Placing smaller microfulfillment distribution centers closer to these customers  can reduce the environmental impact of making those last-mile deliveries. What steps are being done to be kinder to the earth when we get goods delivered to our doorsteps?

As the nation begins to emerge from the pandemic, are there enough truck drivers to handle demands of a resurgent economy? We look at what is being done to address the driver shortage and to make certain trucks can keep rolling.

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Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Johnathan Foster, principal consultant at Proxima, discusses the ripple effects of that huge container ship, The Ever Given, that was stuck for a week in the Suez Canal. The ship has been re-floated and the canal is open again, but it has caused supply chain backlogs all over the world. This is on top of already congested ports. What will the overall impacts be to the movement of the world's goods?

The huge spike in e-commerce brings with it enormous surges in home deliveries. Logistics professionals call that final leg of the delivery process "the last mile." Placing smaller microfulfillment distribution centers closer to these customers  can reduce the environmental impact of making those last-mile deliveries. What steps are being done to be kinder to the earth when we get goods delivered to our doorsteps?

As the nation begins to emerge from the pandemic, are there enough truck drivers to handle demands of a resurgent economy? We look at what is being done to address the driver shortage and to make certain trucks can keep rolling.

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Podcast sponsored by Honeywell Intelligrated

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8261473 Fri, 02 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1330 supply chain, logistics, Logistics Matters, Proxima, ATA, ports, Suez, Ever Given, ocean, maritime, trucking, drivers, last mile, microfulfillment, environment, green, S2E13 2 13 full false Guest Hanko Kiessner on sustainable packaging; The USPS charts a new course to keep it financially afloat; Demand is not going away for warehouse and DC space Guest Hanko Kiessner on sustainable packaging; The USPS charts a new course to keep it financially afloat; Demand is not going away for warehouse and DC space In this episode, guest Hanko Kiessner, CEO of Packsize, discusses sustainable packaging. Sustainable packaging means more than just choosing materials that can be easily recycled. It also includes shipping products in the right-sized box best suited for them. Sustainable packaging can have ripple effects throughout our supply chains that not only are good for the earth, but bring savings to shippers' bottom lines.

We all know that the United States Postal Service has struggled for years financially. Customer habits have changed in the internet age, which puts pressure on a model developed around daily first-class mail service. This week, the USPS announced a 10-year plan aimed at solving some of its financial woes. Can it achieve the needed changes and successfully pivot to better compete on package deliveries?

The utilization of warehouse and distribution center space has grown tremendously over the span of the pandemic, as shoppers continue to order more of their goods through e-commerce. What is the outlook for the foreseeable future, and is there enough capacity in the industrial real estate market to meet surging demand?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by MHS

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Hanko Kiessner, CEO of Packsize, discusses sustainable packaging. Sustainable packaging means more than just choosing materials that can be easily recycled. It also includes shipping products in the right-sized box best suited for them. Sustainable packaging can have ripple effects throughout our supply chains that not only are good for the earth, but bring savings to shippers' bottom lines.

We all know that the United States Postal Service has struggled for years financially. Customer habits have changed in the internet age, which puts pressure on a model developed around daily first-class mail service. This week, the USPS announced a 10-year plan aimed at solving some of its financial woes. Can it achieve the needed changes and successfully pivot to better compete on package deliveries?

The utilization of warehouse and distribution center space has grown tremendously over the span of the pandemic, as shoppers continue to order more of their goods through e-commerce. What is the outlook for the foreseeable future, and is there enough capacity in the industrial real estate market to meet surging demand?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by MHS

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8217166 Fri, 26 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0400 1436 Packsize, sustainability, packaging, sustainable packaging, USPS, postal service, e-commerce, warehouse, distribution, logistics, distribution centers, fulfillment, S2E12 2 12 full false Guest: Peter Friedmann of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition on how the shortage of containers is creating a crisis for agriculture products exporters; Will a new infrastructure bill get done in Washington? How devastating were last month's storms? Guest: Peter Friedmann of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition on how the shortage of containers is creating a crisis for agriculture products exporters; Will a new infrastructure bill get done in Washington? How devastating were last month's storms? In this episode, guest Peter Friedmann, executive director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, joins us to discuss how the shortage of ocean containers is having a devastating effect on the export of agricultural products. Farmers and other producers can't get the containers they need to export their goods. That's because ocean carriers find they can make more money returning in-demand empty containers more quickly to Asia, rather than sending them to the Midwest to be filled with agricultural products.

Washington is talking again about infrastructure, and the Biden administration has promised to deliver a workable bill to repair our nation's crumbling roads, bridges, tunnels, ports, and more. Is there the political will to finally pass a bill, and how will it be funded? Are there alternatives to the federal gas tax to pay for repairs?

Last month's winter storms caused chaos and destruction in the South, especially in Texas. Beyond the human suffering in that part of the country, the storms also disrupted our nation's supply chains. New figures show just how bad it was.

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Podcast sponsored by MHS

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]]> In this episode, guest Peter Friedmann, executive director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, joins us to discuss how the shortage of ocean containers is having a devastating effect on the export of agricultural products. Farmers and other producers can't get the containers they need to export their goods. That's because ocean carriers find they can make more money returning in-demand empty containers more quickly to Asia, rather than sending them to the Midwest to be filled with agricultural products.

Washington is talking again about infrastructure, and the Biden administration has promised to deliver a workable bill to repair our nation's crumbling roads, bridges, tunnels, ports, and more. Is there the political will to finally pass a bill, and how will it be funded? Are there alternatives to the federal gas tax to pay for repairs?

Last month's winter storms caused chaos and destruction in the South, especially in Texas. Beyond the human suffering in that part of the country, the storms also disrupted our nation's supply chains. New figures show just how bad it was.

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Podcast sponsored by MHS

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8172996 Fri, 19 Mar 2021 13:00:00 -0400 1471 Agriculture Transportation Coalition, agriculture, exports, maritime, ocean carriers, containers, imports, infrastructure, gas tax, VMT, Texas, storms, on-time delivery, S2E11 2 11 full false Guest: Bindiya Vakil discusses President Biden's plan to fix America's broken supply chains; Freight continues to take a bumpy ride; Ocean ports continue to see congestion worldwide Guest: Bindiya Vakil discusses President Biden's plan to fix America's broken supply chains; Freight continues to take a bumpy ride; Ocean ports continue to see congestion worldwide In this episode, guest Bindiya Vakil, CEO of Resilinc, discusses vulnerabilities within our worldwide supply chains. Many U.S. manufacturers have experienced shortages in critical goods needed to keep production moving. President Biden is proposing plans to fix broken supply chains for critical goods, such as semiconductors and PPE. Vakil talks about our complex supply chains and the difficulties of simply decoupling from foreign markets.

Freight has taken a bumpy ride over the past year, mainly due to the ongoing pandemic. It's been more of a roller coaster ride than a consistent level of goods movement. How is the industry coping with such highs and lows in capacity and demand?

We have continuously reported on problems of congestion at America's ocean ports. But congestion is not a problem facing just U.S. ports; it is a concern elsewhere in the world, slowing down the movement of goods and causing supply chain delays.

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Podcast sponsored by MHS

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Bindiya Vakil, CEO of Resilinc, discusses vulnerabilities within our worldwide supply chains. Many U.S. manufacturers have experienced shortages in critical goods needed to keep production moving. President Biden is proposing plans to fix broken supply chains for critical goods, such as semiconductors and PPE. Vakil talks about our complex supply chains and the difficulties of simply decoupling from foreign markets.

Freight has taken a bumpy ride over the past year, mainly due to the ongoing pandemic. It's been more of a roller coaster ride than a consistent level of goods movement. How is the industry coping with such highs and lows in capacity and demand?

We have continuously reported on problems of congestion at America's ocean ports. But congestion is not a problem facing just U.S. ports; it is a concern elsewhere in the world, slowing down the movement of goods and causing supply chain delays.

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Podcast sponsored by MHS

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8128714 Fri, 12 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0500 1196 supply chain, Resilinc, port congestion, freight, transportation, logistics, ocean carriers, semiconductors, PPE, S2E10 2 10 full false Guest: Bill Brooks of Capgemini on bottlenecks for Covid-19 vaccine distribution; Logistics continues an economic expansion; Supply chain vendors make huge investments to meet consumer demands Guest: Bill Brooks of Capgemini on bottlenecks for Covid-19 vaccine distribution; Logistics continues an economic expansion; Supply chain vendors make huge investments to meet consumer demands In this episode, guest Bill Brooks, vice president of North America Transportation Portfolio at Capgemini, discusses the current state of the Covid-19 vaccine programs. Logistics plays a major role in getting people vaccinated. Where are the bottlenecks, and can anything be done to assure that vaccines are distributed more quickly to both urban and rural areas?

The logistics industry continued its expansion in February, as the pandemic-induced growth of e-commerce stresses existing supply chains. Capacity is limited and prices are continuing to increase due to rising demand. What is the outlook for logistics for the foreseeable future?

Investments are growing at supply chain vendor companies. Two in particular made major investments this week to better serve demand for new systems and material handling equipment.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by MHS

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Bill Brooks, vice president of North America Transportation Portfolio at Capgemini, discusses the current state of the Covid-19 vaccine programs. Logistics plays a major role in getting people vaccinated. Where are the bottlenecks, and can anything be done to assure that vaccines are distributed more quickly to both urban and rural areas?

The logistics industry continued its expansion in February, as the pandemic-induced growth of e-commerce stresses existing supply chains. Capacity is limited and prices are continuing to increase due to rising demand. What is the outlook for logistics for the foreseeable future?

Investments are growing at supply chain vendor companies. Two in particular made major investments this week to better serve demand for new systems and material handling equipment.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by MHS

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8083252 Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1228 supply chain, logistics, Project44, Capgemini, Hytrol, conveyors, ocean freight, LMI, vaccines, Covid, Covid-19, S2E9 2 9 full false Guest: Craig Hoskins from IFDA on pandemic challenges with food service distribution; Predictions for new technologies for trucking; Cargo theft shifts during the pandemic. Guest: Craig Hoskins from IFDA on pandemic challenges with food service distribution; Predictions for new technologies for trucking; Cargo theft shifts during the pandemic. In this episode, guest Craig Hoskins, chair of the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) discusses the challenges that the food delivery industry has endured during restaurant, schools, and institutional facility closures  during the Covid-19 pandemic. What will it take to get back to normal? He also suggests ways to address the truck driver shortages that affect food deliveries and the need for greater support for our restaurants.

New research from IBM looks at digitalization and how it will affect the trucking industry. New technologies are coming to our nation's trucks. How long will it take before these become standards in the industry?

And the logistics industry has seen its share of cargo thefts during the pandemic , But where and how those thefts are occurring has shifted from previous years and it varies by commodity and region of the world.

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Podcast sponsored byAptean

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]]> In this episode, guest Craig Hoskins, chair of the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) discusses the challenges that the food delivery industry has endured during restaurant, schools, and institutional facility closures  during the Covid-19 pandemic. What will it take to get back to normal? He also suggests ways to address the truck driver shortages that affect food deliveries and the need for greater support for our restaurants.

New research from IBM looks at digitalization and how it will affect the trucking industry. New technologies are coming to our nation's trucks. How long will it take before these become standards in the industry?

And the logistics industry has seen its share of cargo thefts during the pandemic , But where and how those thefts are occurring has shifted from previous years and it varies by commodity and region of the world.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored byAptean

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-8036410 Fri, 26 Feb 2021 15:00:00 -0500 1218 International Foodservice Distributors Association, IFDA, restaurants, Restaurants Act, driver shortage, trucking, cargo, cargo theft, logistics, transportation, warehousing, distribution, IBM 2 8 full false Guest: Shawn Winter of Descartes discusses handling Super Peaks; Driver shortages create challenges for food distributors; Planning e-commerce supply chains for a post-pandemic world. Guest: Shawn Winter of Descartes discusses handling Super Peaks; Driver shortages create challenges for food distributors; Planning e-commerce supply chains for a post-pandemic world. In this episode, guest Shawn Winter, vice president of Mobility Solutions at Descartes, talks about the concept of the Super Peak Season and how shippers can prepare for it. With the growth of online shopping, shippers and carriers find that there are times when they struggle to keep up with demand, such as the recent holiday season. Winter discusses some strategies for thriving during peak demand challenges.

The food service industry was especially hard hit at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. With restaurants, schools, and other institutions closed or locked down, business fell off the cliff, forcing many food distributors to lay off drivers. Now that demand volumes are returning, they are having trouble finding enough drivers to fill routes. What can be done to assure their deliveries?

And DHL shares some strategies for dealing with a post-pandemic world. How should businesses plan now for the challenges that will occur this year and next?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Aptean

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]]> In this episode, guest Shawn Winter, vice president of Mobility Solutions at Descartes, talks about the concept of the Super Peak Season and how shippers can prepare for it. With the growth of online shopping, shippers and carriers find that there are times when they struggle to keep up with demand, such as the recent holiday season. Winter discusses some strategies for thriving during peak demand challenges.

The food service industry was especially hard hit at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. With restaurants, schools, and other institutions closed or locked down, business fell off the cliff, forcing many food distributors to lay off drivers. Now that demand volumes are returning, they are having trouble finding enough drivers to fill routes. What can be done to assure their deliveries?

And DHL shares some strategies for dealing with a post-pandemic world. How should businesses plan now for the challenges that will occur this year and next?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Aptean

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-7965634 Fri, 19 Feb 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1389 Descarte, software, Logistics Matters, logistics, supply chain, peak, super peak, DHL, e-commerce, dark stores, driver shortage, transportation, distribution,S2E7 2 7 full false Guest: Dwight Klappich of Gartner on robotic goods-to-person systems; How do business plan to spend their money this year? And new earnings reports show some reasons for optimism. Guest: Dwight Klappich of Gartner on robotic goods-to-person systems; How do business plan to spend their money this year? And new earnings reports show some reasons for optimism. In this episode, guest Dwight Klappich, research vice president at Gartner, discusses the growing interest in robotic goods-to-person systems. Robots are hot right now. What makes them the cool technology to have for distribution operations, and in what ways are they being deployed? Klappich shares the latest research Gartner has done into these fascinating and quickly-evolving technologies.
 
Many companies held on to their cash during the pandemic, and now there is more incentive to move forward on projects that have been kept on hold for the past year. New research predicts how companies will spend their money during the remainder of this year.

And earnings reports came out this past week for the fourth quarter of 2020. Two organizations in particular give us reason to hope that there are better days ahead for the supply chain industry and the overall economy. The United States Postal Service and XPO both showed profits in that quarter, but the challenges for getting back to normal are still enormous.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Aptean

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]]> In this episode, guest Dwight Klappich, research vice president at Gartner, discusses the growing interest in robotic goods-to-person systems. Robots are hot right now. What makes them the cool technology to have for distribution operations, and in what ways are they being deployed? Klappich shares the latest research Gartner has done into these fascinating and quickly-evolving technologies.
 
Many companies held on to their cash during the pandemic, and now there is more incentive to move forward on projects that have been kept on hold for the past year. New research predicts how companies will spend their money during the remainder of this year.

And earnings reports came out this past week for the fourth quarter of 2020. Two organizations in particular give us reason to hope that there are better days ahead for the supply chain industry and the overall economy. The United States Postal Service and XPO both showed profits in that quarter, but the challenges for getting back to normal are still enormous.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Aptean

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-7831006 Fri, 12 Feb 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1629 supply chain, Gartner, XPO, USPS, United States Postal Service, logistics, spending, recovery, pandemic, parcel, shipping, robotics, goods-to-person, S2E6 2 6 full false Guest: Tim Pajak of CSCMP on inspiring young people about supply chain; The pandemic's lasting effects on retail; New figures on warehouse availability Guest: Tim Pajak of CSCMP on inspiring young people about supply chain; The pandemic's lasting effects on retail; New figures on warehouse availability In this episode, guest Tim Pajak discusses a new initiative from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). Pajak serves as the organization's member engagement manager and shares about the new worldwide partnership between CSCMP and Junior Achievement to bring information to young people about the role of supply chains in our lives. One primary goal is to encourage these young people to consider supply chain careers.

The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly disrupted the retail sector and new reports show that many of the changes in shopping habits are here to stay. We talk about the lasting impacts and how some retailers are adapting operations to keep up with changing consumer demands.

And new figures show just how tight warehouse availability is. The rise of e-commerce and a push for faster deliveries in urban areas are expected to keep warehouse capacity tight for the foreseeable future.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored byAptean

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Tim Pajak discusses a new initiative from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). Pajak serves as the organization's member engagement manager and shares about the new worldwide partnership between CSCMP and Junior Achievement to bring information to young people about the role of supply chains in our lives. One primary goal is to encourage these young people to consider supply chain careers.

The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly disrupted the retail sector and new reports show that many of the changes in shopping habits are here to stay. We talk about the lasting impacts and how some retailers are adapting operations to keep up with changing consumer demands.

And new figures show just how tight warehouse availability is. The rise of e-commerce and a push for faster deliveries in urban areas are expected to keep warehouse capacity tight for the foreseeable future.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored byAptean

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-7697125 Fri, 05 Feb 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1243 supply chain, logistics, Covid-19, Aptean, CSCMP, retail, Casey's, e-commerce, Prologis, JLL, S2E5 2 5 full false Guest: Melinda McLaughlin of Prologis on the industrial real estate market; Walmart commits to building microfulfillment centers inside its stores; Study shows increasing demand for good-to-person technologies Guest: Melinda McLaughlin of Prologis on the industrial real estate market; Walmart commits to building microfulfillment centers inside its stores; Study shows increasing demand for good-to-person technologies In this episode, guest Melinda McLaughlin, vice president, global head of research for Prologis, discusses the market for industrial real estate. The lack of new construction last year, especially during the early phases of the pandemic, has left capacity very tight and rental costs high. What is the outlook for 2021, and how are trends such as e-commerce and urban fulfillment designs affecting the  real estate market for warehousing?

Walmart is partnering with three industrial suppliers to build automated microfulfillment centers within many of its stores. The automation will allow it to more quickly process online orders for pickup or delivery. Will this type of concept be able to expand the reach of brick-and-mortar retailers and allow them to better compete with large online retailers like Amazon?

Demand for goods-to-person technologies, where robots or automation systems bring products directly to workers, are growing in popularity. What are the factors driving this demand, and is this the future of distribution center design?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> In this episode, guest Melinda McLaughlin, vice president, global head of research for Prologis, discusses the market for industrial real estate. The lack of new construction last year, especially during the early phases of the pandemic, has left capacity very tight and rental costs high. What is the outlook for 2021, and how are trends such as e-commerce and urban fulfillment designs affecting the  real estate market for warehousing?

Walmart is partnering with three industrial suppliers to build automated microfulfillment centers within many of its stores. The automation will allow it to more quickly process online orders for pickup or delivery. Will this type of concept be able to expand the reach of brick-and-mortar retailers and allow them to better compete with large online retailers like Amazon?

Demand for goods-to-person technologies, where robots or automation systems bring products directly to workers, are growing in popularity. What are the factors driving this demand, and is this the future of distribution center design?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-7560697 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1011 Prologis, Walmart, microfullment, urban logistics, logistics, supply chain, Dematic, Fabric, Alert Innovation, goods-to-person, technology, distribution, warehousing, S2E4 2 4 full false Guest: Joe Ruddy of the Port of Virginia on maritime issues; Will trade wars with China bring manufacturing home?; Truckload capacity expected to remain tight. Guest: Joe Ruddy of the Port of Virginia on maritime issues; Will trade wars with China bring manufacturing home?; Truckload capacity expected to remain tight. In this episode, guest Joe Ruddy, chief innovation officer at the Port of Virginia, discusses how the maritime industry survived the rough seas of 2020 trade. Demand was light even before the pandemic, then fell off the cliff when Covid-19 struck, only to return with a vengeance in the latter part of the year. How did our nation's ports handle those changes, and what infrastructure is in place to keep goods flowing well in 2021 and beyond?

The trade war with China is not expected to go away under a new administration in Washington. Many importers are looking at diversifying their manufacturing, and even bringing some of it home or to nearby neighbors. But that is not going to be easy to accomplish.

And truckload capacity is tight and looks to remain that way for the foreseeable future. What are the factors driving that tight capacity, and is there anything shippers can do to hold down rates?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> In this episode, guest Joe Ruddy, chief innovation officer at the Port of Virginia, discusses how the maritime industry survived the rough seas of 2020 trade. Demand was light even before the pandemic, then fell off the cliff when Covid-19 struck, only to return with a vengeance in the latter part of the year. How did our nation's ports handle those changes, and what infrastructure is in place to keep goods flowing well in 2021 and beyond?

The trade war with China is not expected to go away under a new administration in Washington. Many importers are looking at diversifying their manufacturing, and even bringing some of it home or to nearby neighbors. But that is not going to be easy to accomplish.

And truckload capacity is tight and looks to remain that way for the foreseeable future. What are the factors driving that tight capacity, and is there anything shippers can do to hold down rates?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-7431886 Fri, 22 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1156 truckload, China, Port of Virginia, capacity, trucking, ports, maritime, trade, logistics, supply chain, S2E3 2 3 full false Guest: Tony Sciarrotta of the Reverse Logistics Association on handling returns; How to compete with industry disruptors; Changing the retail experience Guest: Tony Sciarrotta of the Reverse Logistics Association on handling returns; How to compete with industry disruptors; Changing the retail experience In this episode, guest Tony Sciarrotta, executive director of the Reverse Logistics Association, shares how retailers are handling the deluge of holiday returns.  Because of the ongoing pandemic, many purchases were made online instead of in-store during the holidays, so now retailers are faced with a deluge of returns this month. What are some of the strategies that are being used to process them and how can retailers reduce the number of returns they receive in the future?

New Gartner research discusses how companies can compete with major disruptors who changed the landscape.

And can smartphones be used better by retailers to not only process orders but also help customers have a better shopping experience? This and some other news from this week's National Retail Federation conference.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> In this episode, guest Tony Sciarrotta, executive director of the Reverse Logistics Association, shares how retailers are handling the deluge of holiday returns.  Because of the ongoing pandemic, many purchases were made online instead of in-store during the holidays, so now retailers are faced with a deluge of returns this month. What are some of the strategies that are being used to process them and how can retailers reduce the number of returns they receive in the future?

New Gartner research discusses how companies can compete with major disruptors who changed the landscape.

And can smartphones be used better by retailers to not only process orders but also help customers have a better shopping experience? This and some other news from this week's National Retail Federation conference.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-7310203 Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1357 supply chain, reverse logistics, Reverse Logistics Association, Tony Sciarrotta, Amazon, Alibaba, National Retail Federation, returns, BOPIS, S2E2 2 2 full false Guest: Zac Rogers on logistics conditions in early 2021; Capacity remains tight for shippers; Assuring safety for container cargo Guest: Zac Rogers on logistics conditions in early 2021; Capacity remains tight for shippers; Assuring safety for container cargo In this episode, guest Zac Rogers, assistant professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management at Colorado State University, discusses the current state of logistics, including capacity and pricing for transportation and warehousing. He also shares the latest Logistics Managers' Index figures and how they relate to what is happening in the market.

Capacity remains tight in all aspects of transportation, including air, ocean, and trucking. What is driving this tight capacity and how are shippers and carriers reacting to it?

Most fires and other disasters that carriers suffer are due to poorly packed shipping containers. What can shippers do to assure that the containers that they submit to carriers are packed properly to assure safety in transit?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> In this episode, guest Zac Rogers, assistant professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management at Colorado State University, discusses the current state of logistics, including capacity and pricing for transportation and warehousing. He also shares the latest Logistics Managers' Index figures and how they relate to what is happening in the market.

Capacity remains tight in all aspects of transportation, including air, ocean, and trucking. What is driving this tight capacity and how are shippers and carriers reacting to it?

Most fires and other disasters that carriers suffer are due to poorly packed shipping containers. What can shippers do to assure that the containers that they submit to carriers are packed properly to assure safety in transit?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-7194937 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0500 1231 logistics, Logistics Managers Index, Zac Rogers, Amazon, capacity, shipping, warehousing, cargo security, S2E1 2 1 full false Guest: Kristi Montgomery of Kenco on the importance of innovation; Problems with our cold chains; New roads ahead for transportation. Guest: Kristi Montgomery of Kenco on the importance of innovation; Problems with our cold chains; New roads ahead for transportation. In this episode, guest Kristi Montgomery, vice president of Innovation, Research & Development at Kenco, discusses the need for innovation. She heads up the Kenco Innovation Labs, an internal think tank and testing center that develops new technologies and methodologies to help solve customer problems within the supply chain. She discusses why innovation is so critical to a company's future.

While vaccines are being rolled out, we learn about new research that shows how inefficiencies and lack of good data are causing major problems for companies using our nation's cold chains.  What's causing these issues and what are the consequences for not having reliable tracking and data for the pharmaceuticals and food that move through cold chains?

Also, two transportation-related stories: What challenges does incoming Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg face, and will infrastructure be on the top of the list for attention under the Biden administration? And a new research center in The Netherlands will test ways to make last-mile deliveries more efficient, especially in urban areas.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Yale Materials Handling

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]]> In this episode, guest Kristi Montgomery, vice president of Innovation, Research & Development at Kenco, discusses the need for innovation. She heads up the Kenco Innovation Labs, an internal think tank and testing center that develops new technologies and methodologies to help solve customer problems within the supply chain. She discusses why innovation is so critical to a company's future.

While vaccines are being rolled out, we learn about new research that shows how inefficiencies and lack of good data are causing major problems for companies using our nation's cold chains.  What's causing these issues and what are the consequences for not having reliable tracking and data for the pharmaceuticals and food that move through cold chains?

Also, two transportation-related stories: What challenges does incoming Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg face, and will infrastructure be on the top of the list for attention under the Biden administration? And a new research center in The Netherlands will test ways to make last-mile deliveries more efficient, especially in urban areas.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Yale Materials Handling

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-6912353 Fri, 18 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500 1141 1 36 full false Guest: Kevin Paramore from Yale on technologies for social distancing in facilities; Carriers reach their capacity breaking points; What emerging technologies will have a lasting impact in years to come? Guest: Kevin Paramore from Yale on technologies for social distancing in facilities; Carriers reach their capacity breaking points; What emerging technologies will have a lasting impact in years to come? In this episode, guest Kevin Paramore, emerging technology commercialization manager at Yale Materials Handling Corp., shares new technologies that promote social distancing within facilities. As we continue through the pandemic, it is important to safeguard our workers while still remaining productive. These new technologies alert workers whenever they get within six feet of distance with another co-worker. They also provide data for contact tracing.

We knew that shipping volumes would be extremely high this holiday season, but they have reached levels higher than expected. Carriers are hitting their capacity limits and beginning to turn away business. What does this mean for the industry in  assuring on-time deliveries, and are ther- any good alternatives left in the short window of time available until Christmas?

Technologies continue to impact our lives daily. What are some of the emerging technologies that will make a lasting impact on our supply chains in coming years? How soon will they become realities?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Yale Materials Handling

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]]> In this episode, guest Kevin Paramore, emerging technology commercialization manager at Yale Materials Handling Corp., shares new technologies that promote social distancing within facilities. As we continue through the pandemic, it is important to safeguard our workers while still remaining productive. These new technologies alert workers whenever they get within six feet of distance with another co-worker. They also provide data for contact tracing.

We knew that shipping volumes would be extremely high this holiday season, but they have reached levels higher than expected. Carriers are hitting their capacity limits and beginning to turn away business. What does this mean for the industry in  assuring on-time deliveries, and are ther- any good alternatives left in the short window of time available until Christmas?

Technologies continue to impact our lives daily. What are some of the emerging technologies that will make a lasting impact on our supply chains in coming years? How soon will they become realities?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Yale Materials Handling

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-6802975 Fri, 11 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500 1260 technology, Yale Materials Handling Corp., carriers, shippers, holiday peak, UPS, USPS, FedEx, social distancing, capacity, S1E35 1 35 full false Guest: Phil Rich of Sweetwater on his company's holiday season preparations; Transportation continues to be a volatile sector; and shippers prepare for the Brexit deadline. Guest: Phil Rich of Sweetwater on his company's holiday season preparations; Transportation continues to be a volatile sector; and shippers prepare for the Brexit deadline. In this episode, guest Phil Rich, chief supply chain officer and senior VP of Sweetwater, talks about being an online retailer during a very different holiday season. Sweetwater is the nation's largest e-tailer for musical instruments and audio equipment. Increasing inventories and gaining better visibility with suppliers were key steps the company has taken. He also is preparing for a higher level of returns in January.

Transportation continues to be a very volatile sector of the supply chain. There is a huge demand for logistics services at a time when it is difficult to even find available containers. On top of that, some parcel carriers are refusing additional volumes. We also discuss key company moves this week, such as  XPO's decision to split its operations into two companies and new acquisitions from some major transportation players that further shake up the market.

Is the world ready for Brexit? The deadline for the United Kingdom to sever economic ties with the European Union looms large at the end of the month. How can American companies prepare for new ways of trading in the UK and the EU?  We discuss how many are taking a two-pronged approach to reach European customers.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Yale Materials Handling

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]]> In this episode, guest Phil Rich, chief supply chain officer and senior VP of Sweetwater, talks about being an online retailer during a very different holiday season. Sweetwater is the nation's largest e-tailer for musical instruments and audio equipment. Increasing inventories and gaining better visibility with suppliers were key steps the company has taken. He also is preparing for a higher level of returns in January.

Transportation continues to be a very volatile sector of the supply chain. There is a huge demand for logistics services at a time when it is difficult to even find available containers. On top of that, some parcel carriers are refusing additional volumes. We also discuss key company moves this week, such as  XPO's decision to split its operations into two companies and new acquisitions from some major transportation players that further shake up the market.

Is the world ready for Brexit? The deadline for the United Kingdom to sever economic ties with the European Union looms large at the end of the month. How can American companies prepare for new ways of trading in the UK and the EU?  We discuss how many are taking a two-pronged approach to reach European customers.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Yale Materials Handling

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-6692546 Fri, 04 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500 1162 supply chain, logistics, Sweetwater, XPO, Penske Logistics, CSX, Brexit, peak season, returns, Black Horse Carriers, Pan Am Railways, containers, JB Hunt, Mass Movement, S1E34 1 34 full false Guest: Kevin Doucette of C.H. Robinson on Global Trade; Automation is spurring industrial real estate; Volatility continues in the truckload freight sector. Guest: Kevin Doucette of C.H. Robinson on Global Trade; Automation is spurring industrial real estate; Volatility continues in the truckload freight sector. In this episode, guest Kevin Doucette, North American Director of Trade Policy and Compliance for C.H. Robinson, discusses global trade in light of tariffs, the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. presidential election, and the stagnant worldwide economy. What areas should supply chain managers focus on when looking at global markets?

Industrial real estate continues to be in demand, especially in urban markets, as companies look to move their supply chains closer to end customers. Automation is making some of that possible. We explore this trend and what types of automation companies are looking to add.

The truckload freight sector continues its roller coaster ride as we experience the heavier volumes of peak season. What happens to that market sector once peak is over?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Yale Materials Handling

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Kevin Doucette, North American Director of Trade Policy and Compliance for C.H. Robinson, discusses global trade in light of tariffs, the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. presidential election, and the stagnant worldwide economy. What areas should supply chain managers focus on when looking at global markets?

Industrial real estate continues to be in demand, especially in urban markets, as companies look to move their supply chains closer to end customers. Automation is making some of that possible. We explore this trend and what types of automation companies are looking to add.

The truckload freight sector continues its roller coaster ride as we experience the heavier volumes of peak season. What happens to that market sector once peak is over?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Yale Materials Handling

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-6474112 Fri, 20 Nov 2020 12:00:00 -0500 1249 supply chain, truckload, freight, global trade, C.H. Robinson, industrial real estate, warehousing, automation, trucking, freight, S1E33 1 33 full false Guest: Colin Yankee of Tractor Supply on how his company has excelled during the pandemic; Some challenges await Covid-19 vaccine distribution; A new building boom for logistics facilities. Guest: Colin Yankee of Tractor Supply on how his company has excelled during the pandemic; Some challenges await Covid-19 vaccine distribution; A new building boom for logistics facilities. In this episode, guest Colin Yankee, chief supply chain officer at Tractor Supply, shares how his company has been able to thrive in the midst of the pandemic. As an essential business, this retailer offers the goods that people need. But beyond that, the company made some strategic changes in its supply chains to meet changing customer requirements and the different ways goods are sold and distributed today.

There is a lot looming for the new Biden administration once the president-elect takes office. A key part of that will be distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine when it is ready. However, there are significant logistical challenges that still have to be worked out. We also discuss tariffs and infrastructure and how those areas will be affected by the new administration.

And there is a building boom with the new  logistics facilities. What is driving the increased activity in a down economy, and will it be sustainable through 2021?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

Other links

]]> In this episode, guest Colin Yankee, chief supply chain officer at Tractor Supply, shares how his company has been able to thrive in the midst of the pandemic. As an essential business, this retailer offers the goods that people need. But beyond that, the company made some strategic changes in its supply chains to meet changing customer requirements and the different ways goods are sold and distributed today.

There is a lot looming for the new Biden administration once the president-elect takes office. A key part of that will be distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine when it is ready. However, there are significant logistical challenges that still have to be worked out. We also discuss tariffs and infrastructure and how those areas will be affected by the new administration.

And there is a building boom with the new  logistics facilities. What is driving the increased activity in a down economy, and will it be sustainable through 2021?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-6360436 Fri, 13 Nov 2020 12:00:00 -0500 1727 supply chain, logistics, Covid-19 vaccine, distribution, Tractor Supply, infrastructure, tariffs, construction, S1E32 1 32 full false Guest: Rebecca Brewster of ATRI on what worries the trucking industry; Prop 22 passes in California and may impact gig deliveries; New logistics numbers show a surge in economic recovery Guest: Rebecca Brewster of ATRI on what worries the trucking industry; Prop 22 passes in California and may impact gig deliveries; New logistics numbers show a surge in economic recovery In this episode, guest Rebecca Brewster, president and COO of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), shares the findings of her organization's recent study, the 16th Top Industry Issues Report. This report from the trucking industry's research association shows that executives are concerned about driver shortages, insurance rates, parking availability, and more. Listen to find out what issues impact the industry the most.

Prop 22 passed in California on Tuesday. It defines the role of gig drivers, such as those who use their own vehicles to provide rides for Lyft and Uber. But will this also have an impact on gig delivery drivers of parcels and meals?

And new logistics numbers just out show a steady resurgence of transportation in most sectors. What do the latest numbers mean?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

Other links


]]> In this episode, guest Rebecca Brewster, president and COO of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), shares the findings of her organization's recent study, the 16th Top Industry Issues Report. This report from the trucking industry's research association shows that executives are concerned about driver shortages, insurance rates, parking availability, and more. Listen to find out what issues impact the industry the most.

Prop 22 passed in California on Tuesday. It defines the role of gig drivers, such as those who use their own vehicles to provide rides for Lyft and Uber. But will this also have an impact on gig delivery drivers of parcels and meals?

And new logistics numbers just out show a steady resurgence of transportation in most sectors. What do the latest numbers mean?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

Other links


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-6253942 Fri, 06 Nov 2020 13:00:00 -0500 1266 air freight, logistics, supply chain, ATRI, trucking, insurance, tort reform, driver shortage, driver retention, American Transportation Research Institute, gig economy, Proposition 22, Prop 22, S1E31 1 31 full false Guest: Steven Horwitz of Ball State University on a holiday retail season like no other; Warehouse availability tightens; Logistics firms invest in venture capital markets Guest: Steven Horwitz of Ball State University on a holiday retail season like no other; Warehouse availability tightens; Logistics firms invest in venture capital markets In this episode, guest Steven Horwitz, an economics professor and director of the Institute for the Study of Political Economy at Ball State University, joins us to discuss the upcoming holiday shopping season. We already know it will be a season like no other in history, due to the pandemic. But how will this affect supply chains, and will the community mall survive?

We also look at recent reports on warehouse utilization and the tightening of the market for available warehouse space. Will there be enough facilities  to accommodate expected growth?

And we look at how logistics companies are making investment into venture capital markets.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> In this episode, guest Steven Horwitz, an economics professor and director of the Institute for the Study of Political Economy at Ball State University, joins us to discuss the upcoming holiday shopping season. We already know it will be a season like no other in history, due to the pandemic. But how will this affect supply chains, and will the community mall survive?

We also look at recent reports on warehouse utilization and the tightening of the market for available warehouse space. Will there be enough facilities  to accommodate expected growth?

And we look at how logistics companies are making investment into venture capital markets.

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-6144520 Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1136 supply chain, warehouse utilization, Ball State University, retail, holiday shopping, inventories, venture capital, Rand McNally, Ryder, mergers, acquisitions, CSCMP, S1E30 1 30 full false Guest: Drew McElroy of Transfix on last-mile freight; Retailers prepare for peak; New options to handle returns Guest: Drew McElroy of Transfix on last-mile freight; Retailers prepare for peak; New options to handle returns In this episode, guest Drew McElroy, chairman and co-founder of Transfix, a digital freight matching system, discusses freight markets and the challenges of last-mile deliveries.

We are already entering the peak holiday shopping season, and it will be a year like no other, with omnichannel sales dominating in ways never before seen. How are retailers preparing their supply chains to handle the surge?

And with more online shopping, retailers expect an avalanche of returned merchandise. We look at some new, innovative solutions to help with the messy problem of handling returns.

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]]> In this episode, guest Drew McElroy, chairman and co-founder of Transfix, a digital freight matching system, discusses freight markets and the challenges of last-mile deliveries.

We are already entering the peak holiday shopping season, and it will be a year like no other, with omnichannel sales dominating in ways never before seen. How are retailers preparing their supply chains to handle the surge?

And with more online shopping, retailers expect an avalanche of returned merchandise. We look at some new, innovative solutions to help with the messy problem of handling returns.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-6031462 Fri, 23 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1143 supply chain, Transfix, retail, returns, freight, last mile, logistics, peak season, FedEx, Happy Returns, FloorFound, S1E29 1 29 full false Guest: Dr. Yossi Sheffi of MIT discusses The New (Ab)Normal; The growing demand for warehouse automation; Who will work in our supply chains in the future? Guest: Dr. Yossi Sheffi of MIT discusses The New (Ab)Normal; The growing demand for warehouse automation; Who will work in our supply chains in the future? In this episode, guest Dr. Yossi Sheffi, a professor of engineering and director of the Center for Transportation and Logistics at MIT, discusses his new book, The New (Ab)Normal.  Dr. Sheffi looks at which companies have been successful during the pandemic and which have failed, as well as what the future holds for our supply chains.

We also examine the growing demand for warehouse automation. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated automation projects. What's driving the demand and how are distributors responding?

And we discuss the latest iteration of MHI's Roadmap series. A panel at the MHI virtual conference shared details of the Roadmap 3.0, Transformation Age: Shaping Your Future  report and shared how robotics and augmented reality will be commonplace by 2030 and what the workforce of the future will look like.

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]]> In this episode, guest Dr. Yossi Sheffi, a professor of engineering and director of the Center for Transportation and Logistics at MIT, discusses his new book, The New (Ab)Normal.  Dr. Sheffi looks at which companies have been successful during the pandemic and which have failed, as well as what the future holds for our supply chains.

We also examine the growing demand for warehouse automation. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated automation projects. What's driving the demand and how are distributors responding?

And we discuss the latest iteration of MHI's Roadmap series. A panel at the MHI virtual conference shared details of the Roadmap 3.0, Transformation Age: Shaping Your Future  report and shared how robotics and augmented reality will be commonplace by 2030 and what the workforce of the future will look like.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-5926192 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400 1668 MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yossi Sheffi, automation, Covid-19, supply chain, robotics, MHI, S1E28 1 28 full false Guest: Gillan Hawkes on robotics for distribution; A surge in logistics activities; How retailers use marketplaces to reach customers Guest: Gillan Hawkes on robotics for distribution; A surge in logistics activities; How retailers use marketplaces to reach customers In this episode, guest Gillan Hawkes, VP of product management and analytics at 6 River Systems, discusses how autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) help distributors meet surging demand, while offering other benefits during the pandemic and beyond.

The new Logistics Managers' Index is out, and it shows a huge spike in logistics growth. Does it foretell a busy and possibly chaotic holiday peak season this year?

And we look at how retailers are relying on marketplaces to handle their online sales due to a lack of their own e-commerce capabilities. Is this a sustainable model for these retailers?

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]]> In this episode, guest Gillan Hawkes, VP of product management and analytics at 6 River Systems, discusses how autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) help distributors meet surging demand, while offering other benefits during the pandemic and beyond.

The new Logistics Managers' Index is out, and it shows a huge spike in logistics growth. Does it foretell a busy and possibly chaotic holiday peak season this year?

And we look at how retailers are relying on marketplaces to handle their online sales due to a lack of their own e-commerce capabilities. Is this a sustainable model for these retailers?

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-5819215 Fri, 09 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1292 6 River Systems, marketplace, Autonomous Mobile Robots, AMR, Logistics Managers Index, peak season, logistics, distribution, Target, inventory, automation, S1E27 1 27 full false Guest: Ron Dutt on lithium-ion battery technology; How Amazon's Prime Day may affect shippers; Moving toward sustainable supply chains Guest: Ron Dutt on lithium-ion battery technology; How Amazon's Prime Day may affect shippers; Moving toward sustainable supply chains In this episode, guest Ron Dutt, CEO of Flux Power, discusses lithium-ion battery technology, which is growing in use as a power source in fork lifts and other industrial trucks.

Amazon's Prime Day is just around the corner. Why was it postponed from its normal summer schedule and what will it mean for shippers and customers?

And environmental sustainability is becoming a greater focus of supply chain managers. What is driving all of the attention?

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]]> In this episode, guest Ron Dutt, CEO of Flux Power, discusses lithium-ion battery technology, which is growing in use as a power source in fork lifts and other industrial trucks.

Amazon's Prime Day is just around the corner. Why was it postponed from its normal summer schedule and what will it mean for shippers and customers?

And environmental sustainability is becoming a greater focus of supply chain managers. What is driving all of the attention?

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-5703499 Fri, 02 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1279 Amazon, sustainability, Prime Day, Flux Power; Lithium-Ion, Lift trucks, industrial batteries, S1E26 1 26 full false Editors' roundtable discussion on CSCMP EDGE; Social Responsibility and Diversity in the supply chain; Creating a more resilient supply chain; How Target became a major e-commerce player; Shippers find creative ways to get around a capacity crunch Editors' roundtable discussion on CSCMP EDGE; Social Responsibility and Diversity in the supply chain; Creating a more resilient supply chain; How Target became a major e-commerce player; Shippers find creative ways to get around a capacity crunch In this episode, editors from DC Velocity and CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly share their experiences at CSCMP EDGE, which was held this past week. This year's conference was completely virtual and marked the largest such virtual event ever held in our industry. We discuss the format and environment used to present more than 100 educational sessions, keynote addresses, and a virtual trade show known as The Supply Chain Exchange.

Our editors also discuss some of the major topics and themes addressed during the conference:

  • How to build a more effective and resilient supply chain, especially during times of so much uncertainty
  • How to assure social responsibility and diversity in our supply chains
  • How Target transformed itself into a major e-commerce player
  • And how shippers are getting creative in finding capacity in a very tight market

Register for CSCMP EDGE
All content will be accessible for 90 days after the show ends.

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]]> In this episode, editors from DC Velocity and CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly share their experiences at CSCMP EDGE, which was held this past week. This year's conference was completely virtual and marked the largest such virtual event ever held in our industry. We discuss the format and environment used to present more than 100 educational sessions, keynote addresses, and a virtual trade show known as The Supply Chain Exchange.

Our editors also discuss some of the major topics and themes addressed during the conference:

  • How to build a more effective and resilient supply chain, especially during times of so much uncertainty
  • How to assure social responsibility and diversity in our supply chains
  • How Target transformed itself into a major e-commerce player
  • And how shippers are getting creative in finding capacity in a very tight market

Register for CSCMP EDGE
All content will be accessible for 90 days after the show ends.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

Other links


]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-5596003 Fri, 25 Sep 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1177 CSCMP EDGE, Supply Chain Quarterly, diversity, social responsibility, shipments, capacity, resiliency, Target, e-commerce, S1E25 1 25 full false Guest: Randy Guillot of ATA on National Truck Driver Appreciation Week; E-commerce shopping continues to surge; The nation's ocean ports see a solid rebound. Guest: Randy Guillot of ATA on National Truck Driver Appreciation Week; E-commerce shopping continues to surge; The nation's ocean ports see a solid rebound. This is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in the United States. In this episode, guest Randy Guillot, chairman of ATA (American Trucking Associations) shares about the vital role truck drivers play in keeping goods moving during trying times.

Everyone knows that e-commerce shopping continues to surge, but now we have the numbers to prove just how much growth this sector has experienced with in-home shopping.

And our nation's ports have made a nice rebound following a couple of very dismal months. What's driving the current activity and will the growth be maintained?

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]]> This is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in the United States. In this episode, guest Randy Guillot, chairman of ATA (American Trucking Associations) shares about the vital role truck drivers play in keeping goods moving during trying times.

Everyone knows that e-commerce shopping continues to surge, but now we have the numbers to prove just how much growth this sector has experienced with in-home shopping.

And our nation's ports have made a nice rebound following a couple of very dismal months. What's driving the current activity and will the growth be maintained?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-5500357 Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1054 ATA, American Trucking Associations, trucking, drivers, Covid-19 pandemic, ports, Port of Charleston, Port of Los Angeles, Port of Oakland, Shopify, e-commerce, 6 Rivers Systems, S1E24 1 24 full false Guest: Chris Wolfe of PowerFleet on new sustainability standards; Risk mitigation gets a fresh look during the pandemic; Supply chains begin to brace for a vaccine rollout Guest: Chris Wolfe of PowerFleet on new sustainability standards; Risk mitigation gets a fresh look during the pandemic; Supply chains begin to brace for a vaccine rollout In this episode, guest Chris Wolfe, CEO of PowerFleet, discusses how we have seen new sustainability initiatives during the pandemic that have created efficiencies and may become standards in a post-pandemic world.

We also discuss how executives are reassessing their risk mitigation strategies in light of a pandemic that no one was prepared to meet. How good was their planning, and what should they do in the future?

And we look at the challenges that the logistics industry will face in distributing Covid-19 vaccines to the world's more than 7 billion people. What preparations are being done, and will the logistics industry be ready when the vaccines are ready?

Episode web page with transcript.

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]]> In this episode, guest Chris Wolfe, CEO of PowerFleet, discusses how we have seen new sustainability initiatives during the pandemic that have created efficiencies and may become standards in a post-pandemic world.

We also discuss how executives are reassessing their risk mitigation strategies in light of a pandemic that no one was prepared to meet. How good was their planning, and what should they do in the future?

And we look at the challenges that the logistics industry will face in distributing Covid-19 vaccines to the world's more than 7 billion people. What preparations are being done, and will the logistics industry be ready when the vaccines are ready?

Episode web page with transcript.

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Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-5397370 Fri, 11 Sep 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1058 supply chain, PowerFleet, risk mitigation, Covid-19, sustainability, vaccine, logistics, pharmaceutical, S1E23 1 21 full false Guest: Brian Thompson of SMC³ on the LTL market; Capacity remains tight; CSCMP EDGE goes virtual Guest: Brian Thompson of SMC³ on the LTL market; Capacity remains tight; CSCMP EDGE goes virtual In this episode, guest Brian Thompson, the chief commercial officer at SMC³, discusses what the transportation markets may look like through the end of the year, and in particular how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the LTL (less-than-truckload) segment.

Capacity for both trucking and air freight remains very tight as we navigate the pandemic. How long will it be before we see more capacity entering the market for shippers?

And CSCMP EDGE is going virtual this year. Diane Rand, managing editor of CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly, joins us to talk about this year's conference and how you can navigate your way in the virtual environment.

Episode web page with transcript

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Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> In this episode, guest Brian Thompson, the chief commercial officer at SMC³, discusses what the transportation markets may look like through the end of the year, and in particular how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the LTL (less-than-truckload) segment.

Capacity for both trucking and air freight remains very tight as we navigate the pandemic. How long will it be before we see more capacity entering the market for shippers?

And CSCMP EDGE is going virtual this year. Diane Rand, managing editor of CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly, joins us to talk about this year's conference and how you can navigate your way in the virtual environment.

Episode web page with transcript

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-5298262 Fri, 04 Sep 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1176 SMC3, LTL market, freight capacity, air transport, CSCMP, S1E22 1 22 full false Guest: Phil Evers of the University of Maryland discusses the difficulties facing the USPS; Hurricane Laura left destruction in its wake affecting supply chains; Interest in TMS is on the rise during the pandemic Guest: Phil Evers of the University of Maryland discusses the difficulties facing the USPS; Hurricane Laura left destruction in its wake affecting supply chains; Interest in TMS is on the rise during the pandemic In this episode, guest Phil Evers, a logistics professor at the University of Maryland, shares why the United States Postal Service is facing financial difficulties and what can be done to fix it. How might this affect the agency's parcel services?

We also talk about how supply chains will be affected by Hurricane Laura. Some changes in anticipated landfall and other disruptions are expected in the devastation that Laura left behind.

And shippers are taking a fresh look at transportation management systems (TMS) during the pandemic, as they recognize the benefits of these systems to manage their transportation needs in a very volatile market.

Episode web page with transcript.

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]]> In this episode, guest Phil Evers, a logistics professor at the University of Maryland, shares why the United States Postal Service is facing financial difficulties and what can be done to fix it. How might this affect the agency's parcel services?

We also talk about how supply chains will be affected by Hurricane Laura. Some changes in anticipated landfall and other disruptions are expected in the devastation that Laura left behind.

And shippers are taking a fresh look at transportation management systems (TMS) during the pandemic, as they recognize the benefits of these systems to manage their transportation needs in a very volatile market.

Episode web page with transcript.

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Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-5189176 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 13:00:00 -0400 1176 Supply Chain, USPS, United States Postal Service, University of Maryland, Hurricane Laura, TMS, American Logistics Aid Network, S1E21 1 21 full false Guest: Patrick Penfield of Syracuse University on Amazon moving into vacant mall space; Some shippers move toward smaller regional parcel carriers; New training initiatives assure a steady pipeline for frontline logistics workers Guest: Patrick Penfield of Syracuse University on Amazon moving into vacant mall space; Some shippers move toward smaller regional parcel carriers; New training initiatives assure a steady pipeline for frontline logistics workers In this episode, guest Patrick Penfield, an assistant professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management, discusses how Amazon will be moving into vacant mall spaces to create mini distribution centers.

We also examine a growing trend of some shippers moving away from the major parcel carriers and toward smaller, regional carriers.

And despite high unemployment numbers in the general workforce, the logistics industry still finds it difficult to find skilled workers for warehouses and transportation. We look at new initiatives to assure a steady pipeline of workers into the industry.

Episode web page with transcript.

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Connect with us on social media

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]]> In this episode, guest Patrick Penfield, an assistant professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management, discusses how Amazon will be moving into vacant mall spaces to create mini distribution centers.

We also examine a growing trend of some shippers moving away from the major parcel carriers and toward smaller, regional carriers.

And despite high unemployment numbers in the general workforce, the logistics industry still finds it difficult to find skilled workers for warehouses and transportation. We look at new initiatives to assure a steady pipeline of workers into the industry.

Episode web page with transcript.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

Connect with us on social media

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-5091929 Fri, 21 Aug 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1045 Amazon, malls, distribution, logistics training, parcel carriers, Syracuse University, Convey, UPS, FedEx, USPS, Fetch Package, Prologis, S1E20 1 20 full false Guest: Dr. Tom Goldsby of the University of Tennessee on why PPE supply chains are still failing; Trucking rebounds in June and July; New solutions to aid social distancing within warehouses Guest: Dr. Tom Goldsby of the University of Tennessee on why PPE supply chains are still failing; Trucking rebounds in June and July; New solutions to aid social distancing within warehouses In this episode, guest Dr. Tom Goldsby of the University of Tennessee discusses why we still have so much trouble equipping our essential healthcare workers and others with the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to assure their safety during the pandemic.

New trucking numbers are in for the June and July time periods. Has trucking turned the corner after several very difficult months?

And we look at new solutions that help to promote social distancing within our nation's warehouses and distribution centers. How are they applied to better protect workers?


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]]> In this episode, guest Dr. Tom Goldsby of the University of Tennessee discusses why we still have so much trouble equipping our essential healthcare workers and others with the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to assure their safety during the pandemic.

New trucking numbers are in for the June and July time periods. Has trucking turned the corner after several very difficult months?

And we look at new solutions that help to promote social distancing within our nation's warehouses and distribution centers. How are they applied to better protect workers?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-4998650 Fri, 14 Aug 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1295 S1, S1E19, supply chain, University of Tennessee, automated guided vehicles, AGVs, batteries, trucking, Covid-19 1 19 full false Guest: Zac Rogers of Colorado State University shares what the Logistics Managers' Index measures; Lift truck firms turn to robotics partnerships to collaborate on new designs; Can supply chain investments save the commercial real estate market? Guest: Zac Rogers of Colorado State University shares what the Logistics Managers' Index measures; Lift truck firms turn to robotics partnerships to collaborate on new designs; Can supply chain investments save the commercial real estate market? In this episode, guest Zac Rogers of Colorado State University shares about the Logistics Managers' Index (LMI). He discusses how this measurement tool is a snapshot of the current state of the logistics industry and how supply chain professionals should apply its monthly findings.

We also look at how several new collaborations between lift truck companies and robotics firms may spur the development of more autonomous forklifts and other warehouse-based vehicles.

And the commercial real estate market has been hit extremely hard during the Covid-19 pandemic, with much of our nation's workforce still working from home. The one bright spot is a huge uptick in the demand for warehouse space due to e-commerce growth. Can this channel save the commercial real estate market?


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]]> In this episode, guest Zac Rogers of Colorado State University shares about the Logistics Managers' Index (LMI). He discusses how this measurement tool is a snapshot of the current state of the logistics industry and how supply chain professionals should apply its monthly findings.

We also look at how several new collaborations between lift truck companies and robotics firms may spur the development of more autonomous forklifts and other warehouse-based vehicles.

And the commercial real estate market has been hit extremely hard during the Covid-19 pandemic, with much of our nation's workforce still working from home. The one bright spot is a huge uptick in the demand for warehouse space due to e-commerce growth. Can this channel save the commercial real estate market?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-4899080 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1341 S1, S1E18, supply chain, Logistics Managers Index, warehouse space, commercial real estate, forklifts, robotics, Covid-19 1 18 full false Guest: Dana Stiffler of Gartner on women in executive supply chain positions; Consumers love curbside pickup - retailers, not so much; A bumpy road ahead for the transportation industry. Guest: Dana Stiffler of Gartner on women in executive supply chain positions; Consumers love curbside pickup - retailers, not so much; A bumpy road ahead for the transportation industry. In this episode, Dana Stiffler of Gartner discusses new research that the organization has conducted on women in supply chain executive positions. Are they making gains? And what can supply chain companies do to enhance diversity in their C-Suites?

Consumers have come to love curbside pickup during the pandemic, but it puts a strain on operations for retailers. What can retailers do to ease the burden, and will curbside be a service that will survive long after the pandemic has ended?

While transportation has kept goods on the move during the Covid-19 pandemic, the virus has greatly affected the industry. How long will it take before transportation is back to pre-virus levels?


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]]> In this episode, Dana Stiffler of Gartner discusses new research that the organization has conducted on women in supply chain executive positions. Are they making gains? And what can supply chain companies do to enhance diversity in their C-Suites?

Consumers have come to love curbside pickup during the pandemic, but it puts a strain on operations for retailers. What can retailers do to ease the burden, and will curbside be a service that will survive long after the pandemic has ended?

While transportation has kept goods on the move during the Covid-19 pandemic, the virus has greatly affected the industry. How long will it take before transportation is back to pre-virus levels?


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Podcast sponsored by Fortna

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-4797299 Fri, 31 Jul 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1249 S1, S1E17, supply chain, transportation, women executives, curbside pickup, retail, Covid-19 1 17 full false Guest: Bill Van Amburg of CALSTART on the clean air initiative from U.S. states; Retailers convert stores to distribution hubs; Congress looks to help commercial food distributors affected by the pandemic. Guest: Bill Van Amburg of CALSTART on the clean air initiative from U.S. states; Retailers convert stores to distribution hubs; Congress looks to help commercial food distributors affected by the pandemic. Bill Van Amburg, the executive vice president of CALSTART, a national transportation accelerator organization, discusses the recent memorandum of understanding agreement from 15 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to advance zero-emission vehicle technology on our nation's roads.

We also look at the growing number of retailers either running fulfillment out of the back room of their stores or converting their retail sites to a last-mile hubs entirely.

And we discuss proposed legislation in Congress to provide tax credits to food and beverage distributors serving commercial customers, such as restaurants, bars, and institutions, that have been unable to pay their bills due to the pandemic.


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]]> Bill Van Amburg, the executive vice president of CALSTART, a national transportation accelerator organization, discusses the recent memorandum of understanding agreement from 15 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to advance zero-emission vehicle technology on our nation's roads.

We also look at the growing number of retailers either running fulfillment out of the back room of their stores or converting their retail sites to a last-mile hubs entirely.

And we discuss proposed legislation in Congress to provide tax credits to food and beverage distributors serving commercial customers, such as restaurants, bars, and institutions, that have been unable to pay their bills due to the pandemic.


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Podcast sponsored by Fortna

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-4701299 Fri, 24 Jul 2020 13:00:00 -0400 1309 green logistics, zero-emission trucks, retail, last-mile, food and beverage, distributors, PLUS Act, Calstart, Bill Van Amburg, S1, S1E16 1 16 full false Guest: Michael Zimmerman discusses the State of Logistics; Ports see declining volumes; Auburn University builds an autonomous vehicle research center Guest: Michael Zimmerman discusses the State of Logistics; Ports see declining volumes; Auburn University builds an autonomous vehicle research center In this episode, guest Michael Zimmerman discusses what the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ annual “State of Logistics Report” reveals how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the logistics industry. Zimmerman, a partner at Kearney, was the lead author of the report and heads up the consulting company’s Analytics Practice for the Americas Region.

Many of America's ports ended their fiscal years on June 30 and released reports on their volumes and productivity. How did the pandemic affect them?

And Auburn University announces plans to build a research center for autonomous vehicles next to its existing test track. Will this spur further development of these technologies?


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]]> In this episode, guest Michael Zimmerman discusses what the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ annual “State of Logistics Report” reveals how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the logistics industry. Zimmerman, a partner at Kearney, was the lead author of the report and heads up the consulting company’s Analytics Practice for the Americas Region.

Many of America's ports ended their fiscal years on June 30 and released reports on their volumes and productivity. How did the pandemic affect them?

And Auburn University announces plans to build a research center for autonomous vehicles next to its existing test track. Will this spur further development of these technologies?


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-4608179 Fri, 17 Jul 2020 12:00:00 -0400 983 logistics, supply chain, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, CSCMP, State of Logistics Report, risk management, disaster preparedness, Kearney, ports, cargo volumes, Auburn University, autonomous vehicles, trucks, S1, S1E15 1 15 full false Guest: Rob McKeel, CEO of Fortna, on how retailers and other distributors are adjusting to the "new normal"; Freight companies change their business strategies in response to the pandemic; A surge in logistics activity Guest: Rob McKeel, CEO of Fortna, on how retailers and other distributors are adjusting to the "new normal"; Freight companies change their business strategies in response to the pandemic; A surge in logistics activity In this episode, Rob McKeel, CEO of Fortna, discusses how retailers and other distributors are adjusting to the new normal during the midst of the pandemic. He addresses how network and facility design may change, how retailers must adapt, and what technologies will be key going forward. We also look at how freight companies are adjusting their business strategies to cope with changing business requirements brought on by the pandemic. And we share how last month saw a surge in logistics activity.


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]]> In this episode, Rob McKeel, CEO of Fortna, discusses how retailers and other distributors are adjusting to the new normal during the midst of the pandemic. He addresses how network and facility design may change, how retailers must adapt, and what technologies will be key going forward. We also look at how freight companies are adjusting their business strategies to cope with changing business requirements brought on by the pandemic. And we share how last month saw a surge in logistics activity.


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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-4517297 Fri, 10 Jul 2020 12:00:00 -0400 916 logistics, material handling, supply chain, e-commerce, omnichannel, WES, AS/RS, distribution networks, freight, Covid-19, logistics managers index, S1, S1E14 1 14 full false Guest: David Henry of GlobalTranz on the impact of USMCA; What it takes to be a Rainmaker; Sustainability in packaging Guest: David Henry of GlobalTranz on the impact of USMCA; What it takes to be a Rainmaker; Sustainability in packaging In this episode, David Henry, the regional manager for Mexico at transportation broker and logistics provider GlobalTranz, talks about the impact of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that went into effect July 1. Based in Monterrey, Mexico, he has his pulse on what the new agreement means for cross-border transactions and what shippers should know. We also look at our annual class of DC Velocity Rainmakers and how these folks have what it takes to impact the supply chain industry. Additionally, we discuss how sustainability is impacting DC operations--in particular packing areas--with earth-friendly products and designs.

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]]> In this episode, David Henry, the regional manager for Mexico at transportation broker and logistics provider GlobalTranz, talks about the impact of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that went into effect July 1. Based in Monterrey, Mexico, he has his pulse on what the new agreement means for cross-border transactions and what shippers should know. We also look at our annual class of DC Velocity Rainmakers and how these folks have what it takes to impact the supply chain industry. Additionally, we discuss how sustainability is impacting DC operations--in particular packing areas--with earth-friendly products and designs.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-4319408 Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:00:00 -0400 1128 S1, S1E13, supply chain, logistics, material handling, warehousing, USMCA, Rainmakers, green logistics, packaging 1 13 full false Guest: Ken Raycroft on keeping warehouse equipment safe for multiple users; Manufacturers leave China; Distributors without automation may find added stress this holiday season. Guest: Ken Raycroft on keeping warehouse equipment safe for multiple users; Manufacturers leave China; Distributors without automation may find added stress this holiday season. In this episode, we talk to Ken Raycroft of Briggs Equipment in Dallas, Texas. He shares how he is working with customers on sanitation best practices with a program from Hyster-Yale that assures lift truck equipment is safe between shifts and multiple users.
Our news team discusses how many manufacturers are moving their sourcing and production from China, looking for more resiliency and to avoid tariffs. We also share how distributors without much automation may find their systems stressed this holiday season, as consumers avoid stores and move to e-commerce shopping.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

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]]> In this episode, we talk to Ken Raycroft of Briggs Equipment in Dallas, Texas. He shares how he is working with customers on sanitation best practices with a program from Hyster-Yale that assures lift truck equipment is safe between shifts and multiple users.
Our news team discusses how many manufacturers are moving their sourcing and production from China, looking for more resiliency and to avoid tariffs. We also share how distributors without much automation may find their systems stressed this holiday season, as consumers avoid stores and move to e-commerce shopping.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-4330664 Fri, 26 Jun 2020 13:00:00 -0400 1033 S1, S1E12, supply chain, logistics, material handling, lift trucks, forklifts, Covid-19, coronavirus, China trade, global distribution, peak season 1 12 full false Guest: Dr. Terry Esper on racism faced by Black delivery drivers; USMCA; Investment firms love logistics Guest: Dr. Terry Esper on racism faced by Black delivery drivers; USMCA; Investment firms love logistics In this episode, we talk to Dr. Terry Esper, associate professor of logistics at The Ohio State University, who talks about the problems that Black drivers face when making deliveries.

Our news team discusses the upcoming United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement that goes into effect July 1 and replaces NAFTA. We also look at some major recent investments that have been made in logistics tech companies and startups despite the pandemic and recession.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

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]]> In this episode, we talk to Dr. Terry Esper, associate professor of logistics at The Ohio State University, who talks about the problems that Black drivers face when making deliveries.

Our news team discusses the upcoming United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement that goes into effect July 1 and replaces NAFTA. We also look at some major recent investments that have been made in logistics tech companies and startups despite the pandemic and recession.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-4240712 Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1189 supply chain, logistics, package delivery, racial profiling, USMCA, global trade, material handling, warehousing, robotics, S1, S1E11 1 11 full false Guest: Brian Feehan of the Industrial Truck Association on National Forklift Safety Day; Logistics workers honor George Floyd and the need for equality; Covid-19 reveals problems in IT infrastructure Guest: Brian Feehan of the Industrial Truck Association on National Forklift Safety Day; Logistics workers honor George Floyd and the need for equality; Covid-19 reveals problems in IT infrastructure In this episode, we talk to Brian Feehan, President of the Industrial Truck Association, who shares about National Forklift Safety Day, a virtual event held this past Tuesday to promote a culture of safety around forklift operations.

Our news team discusses how logistics workers have honored the memory of George Floyd while bringing attention to racism and police violence. We also look at how the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed problems in the IT infrastructure of many companies, which are scrambling now to maintain operations with some employees working in their facilities and others working at home.
 
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> In this episode, we talk to Brian Feehan, President of the Industrial Truck Association, who shares about National Forklift Safety Day, a virtual event held this past Tuesday to promote a culture of safety around forklift operations.

Our news team discusses how logistics workers have honored the memory of George Floyd while bringing attention to racism and police violence. We also look at how the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed problems in the IT infrastructure of many companies, which are scrambling now to maintain operations with some employees working in their facilities and others working at home.
 
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-4136339 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 09:00:00 -0400 1260 material handling, lift trucks, forklifts, workplace safety, National Forklift Safety Day, George Floyd, racism, Covid-19, IT infrastructure, S1, S1E10 1 10 full false Guest: Mike Griswold of Gartner on companies with top supply chains; Amazon adds to its air capabilities; New Logistics Managers Index numbers show supply chains are beginning to normalize; Tools for social distancing in warehouses Guest: Mike Griswold of Gartner on companies with top supply chains; Amazon adds to its air capabilities; New Logistics Managers Index numbers show supply chains are beginning to normalize; Tools for social distancing in warehouses In this episode, we talk to Mike Griswold of Gartner about the recently released list of companies with top supply chains and what goes into making those rankings.

Our news team discusses this month's Logistics Managers Index numbers and how it reflects the current state of the supply chain.

We look at Amazon's latest additions to its air fleet and what it means to competitors.
And we share some of the latest tools available to perform distribution in the age of social distancing within warehouses, including proximity sensors and contract tracing systems.
 
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> In this episode, we talk to Mike Griswold of Gartner about the recently released list of companies with top supply chains and what goes into making those rankings.

Our news team discusses this month's Logistics Managers Index numbers and how it reflects the current state of the supply chain.

We look at Amazon's latest additions to its air fleet and what it means to competitors.
And we share some of the latest tools available to perform distribution in the age of social distancing within warehouses, including proximity sensors and contract tracing systems.
 
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-4056062 Fri, 05 Jun 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1096 supply chain, 2020 Supply Chain Top 25, Gartner, Logistics Managers' Index, Amazon, air freight, S1, S1E9 1 9 full false Combilift's Martin McVicar on modifying a facility for social distancing and reaching customers during a pandemic; layoffs in the logistics sector; truckers earn higher pay Combilift's Martin McVicar on modifying a facility for social distancing and reaching customers during a pandemic; layoffs in the logistics sector; truckers earn higher pay In this episode, we talk to Martin McVicar of Combilift to see how his manufacturing operations have been adjusted in light of social distancing and proactive safety measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also discusses meeting with customers at a time when face-to-face meetings are not possible, and how his company developed a ventilator splitter device to help the medical community deal with the coronavirus.

Our news team discusses how layoffs are affecting the logistics sector disproportionately and how truck drivers are being shown a little love in the form of higher pay.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> In this episode, we talk to Martin McVicar of Combilift to see how his manufacturing operations have been adjusted in light of social distancing and proactive safety measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also discusses meeting with customers at a time when face-to-face meetings are not possible, and how his company developed a ventilator splitter device to help the medical community deal with the coronavirus.

Our news team discusses how layoffs are affecting the logistics sector disproportionately and how truck drivers are being shown a little love in the form of higher pay.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-3965552 Fri, 29 May 2020 13:00:00 -0400 1317 material handling, logistics, lift trucks, forklifts, Covid-19, ventilators, workplace safety, truck drivers, trucking, S1, S1E8 1 8 full false Creating a culture of safety; new truck and trailer sales are way down; monitoring the food supply chain Creating a culture of safety; new truck and trailer sales are way down; monitoring the food supply chain With National Forklift Safety Day coming up on June 9, DC VELOCITY Contributing Editor Toby Gooley joins us to discuss her recent article on how companies can create a culture of safety around the use of forklifts.

We also discuss the bumpy road of new truck and trailer sales and how Purdue University and Microsoft are teaming up to monitor the nation's food supply chain.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> With National Forklift Safety Day coming up on June 9, DC VELOCITY Contributing Editor Toby Gooley joins us to discuss her recent article on how companies can create a culture of safety around the use of forklifts.

We also discuss the bumpy road of new truck and trailer sales and how Purdue University and Microsoft are teaming up to monitor the nation's food supply chain.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-3875102 Fri, 22 May 2020 13:00:00 -0400 1041 workplace safety, forklifts, lift trucks, industrial trucks, workplace safety, National Forklift Safety Day, Class 8 trucks, trailers, food supply chain, Microsoft, S1, S1E7 1 7 full false Interview with Jim Berlin of Logistics+ in Erie, PA: drones help in the virus fight: Retailers get creative with Dark Stores Interview with Jim Berlin of Logistics+ in Erie, PA: drones help in the virus fight: Retailers get creative with Dark Stores In this episode, we talk to Jim Berlin of Logistics+, a third-party logistics provider, who shares how his company has operated during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing distributors and first responders with badly needed PPE equipment.

We also discuss how drones are helping in the fight against Covid-19 by providing tracing and delivery, and we talk about how retailers are turning their outlets into "Dark Stores."

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

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]]> In this episode, we talk to Jim Berlin of Logistics+, a third-party logistics provider, who shares how his company has operated during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing distributors and first responders with badly needed PPE equipment.

We also discuss how drones are helping in the fight against Covid-19 by providing tracing and delivery, and we talk about how retailers are turning their outlets into "Dark Stores."

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-3774077 Fri, 15 May 2020 12:00:00 -0400 828 logistics, supply chain, 3PLs, distribution, Covid-19, PPE, drones, retail business, e-commerce, dark stores, JD Logistics, UPS, S1, S1E6 1 6 full false Covid-19 and the food supply chain; Logistics Manager's Index; new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Covid-19 and the food supply chain; Logistics Manager's Index; new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy In this episode, we talk to Jayson Lusk, distinguished professor and head of the Agricultural Economics department at Purdue University. He explains why farmers are throwing away food even as we see shortages at the grocery store and discusses other issues affecting the food supply chain.

We also discuss the latest Logistics Manager's Index, which measures logistics-industry business activity, and President Trump's pick for Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> In this episode, we talk to Jayson Lusk, distinguished professor and head of the Agricultural Economics department at Purdue University. He explains why farmers are throwing away food even as we see shortages at the grocery store and discusses other issues affecting the food supply chain.

We also discuss the latest Logistics Manager's Index, which measures logistics-industry business activity, and President Trump's pick for Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-3674956 Fri, 08 May 2020 12:00:00 -0400 1106 food supply chain, food shortages, Logistics Managers' Index, business activity, U.S. Postal Service, Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, Covid-19, S1, S1E5 1 5 full false May preview: Salary survey, National Forklift Safety Day, and more; consumers OK with longer delivery times; ramping up after lockdown May preview: Salary survey, National Forklift Safety Day, and more; consumers OK with longer delivery times; ramping up after lockdown In this episode, we preview some of the stories in our May issue, including: 

Also: 

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Resources mentioned in this episode

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]]> In this episode, we preview some of the stories in our May issue, including: 

Also: 

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Resources mentioned in this episode

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-3581719 Fri, 01 May 2020 12:00:00 -0400 827 logistics, supply chain, salaries, pay, Impossible Foods, distribution, trucking, freight transportation, private fleets, women and careers, S1, S1E4 1 4 full false Interview with the American Logistics Aid Network's Kathy Fulton; virus impacts suppliers worldwide; freight-matching platforms aim to help with Covid-related capacity issues Interview with the American Logistics Aid Network's Kathy Fulton; virus impacts suppliers worldwide; freight-matching platforms aim to help with Covid-related capacity issues Kathy Fulton, executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), fills us in on how logistics and supply chain companies are helping out during the Covid-19 crisis. She also talks about resources available to logistics businesses to help deal with issues caused by the coronavirus.

Also: 

  • The virus' impact on suppliers worldwide
  •  Digital freight-matching platforms launch special efforts help shippers find carriers in the current market

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Stories and resources mentioned in this episode

Other links

]]> Kathy Fulton, executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), fills us in on how logistics and supply chain companies are helping out during the Covid-19 crisis. She also talks about resources available to logistics businesses to help deal with issues caused by the coronavirus.

Also: 

  • The virus' impact on suppliers worldwide
  •  Digital freight-matching platforms launch special efforts help shippers find carriers in the current market

Podcast sponsored by Fortna

Stories and resources mentioned in this episode

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-3490996 Fri, 24 Apr 2020 13:00:00 -0400 877 supply chain, logistics, Covid-19, pandemic, disaster response, suppliers, cyber security, trucking, freight transportation, S1, S1E3 1 3 full false Interview with new Fortna CEO Rob McKeel; high demand for cold storage; top Covid-19 stories Interview with new Fortna CEO Rob McKeel; high demand for cold storage; top Covid-19 stories Robert McKeel, the new CEO of automation, engineering services, and software company Fortna, talks about how customers' priorities are shifting during the Covid-19 crisis, and which changes he thinks will stay around after the pandemic ends. 

Also: 

  • An update on demand for cold storage, which has been accelerated by the coronavirus.
  • A roundup of logistics companies' efforts to help out during the crisis.

Stories and resources mentioned in this episode

Other links

]]> Robert McKeel, the new CEO of automation, engineering services, and software company Fortna, talks about how customers' priorities are shifting during the Covid-19 crisis, and which changes he thinks will stay around after the pandemic ends. 

Also: 

  • An update on demand for cold storage, which has been accelerated by the coronavirus.
  • A roundup of logistics companies' efforts to help out during the crisis.

Stories and resources mentioned in this episode

Other links

]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-3398296 Fri, 17 Apr 2020 11:00:00 -0400 1015 supply chain software, logistics, Covid-19, cold storage, warehousing, cold chain, S1, S1E2 1 2 full true Effects of Covid-19: Workforce challenges, deaths in the industry, emerging companies, cargo volumes, resources Effects of Covid-19: Workforce challenges, deaths in the industry, emerging companies, cargo volumes, resources In this episode, we discuss the challenges of helping employees feel safe coming to work during the coronavirus crisis; Covid-19 deaths in the logistics industry; new companies that are emerging to serve the at-home workforce; how the virus is affecting cargo volumes; and Covid-19 resources for supply chain professionals.

Stories and resources mentioned in this episode


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]]> In this episode, we discuss the challenges of helping employees feel safe coming to work during the coronavirus crisis; Covid-19 deaths in the logistics industry; new companies that are emerging to serve the at-home workforce; how the virus is affecting cargo volumes; and Covid-19 resources for supply chain professionals.

Stories and resources mentioned in this episode


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]]> AGiLE Business Media Buzzsprout-3345346 Mon, 13 Apr 2020 12:00:00 -0400 504 covid-19, coronavirus, supply chain, logistics, labor, salaries, pay, cargo volumes, last-mile, S1, S1E1 1 1 full false Introducing Logistics Matters Introducing Logistics Matters April 2020 will mark the launch of “Logistics Matters,” a new weekly podcast from the editors of DC VELOCITY magazine, the trusted source for news about distribution centers and the supply chain.

Each episode will feature DC VELOCITY reporters discussing top stories and developing trends for the week. The podcast will be quick-hitting, fun, and informative.

Links

]]> April 2020 will mark the launch of “Logistics Matters,” a new weekly podcast from the editors of DC VELOCITY magazine, the trusted source for news about distribution centers and the supply chain.

Each episode will feature DC VELOCITY reporters discussing top stories and developing trends for the week. The podcast will be quick-hitting, fun, and informative.

Links

]]> Agile Business Media Buzzsprout-3070459 Fri, 20 Mar 2020 18:00:00 -0400 38 supply chain, logistics trailer false