Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

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: Newcastle SystemsUPS to buy Mexican express delivery firmTCA names for-hire carrier as its first Mexican memberSchneider says intermodal deal with CPKC eases US-Mexico freight surgeGenerative AI for procurement moves beyond hypeGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: FortnaWalmart opens perishable foods DC in TexasSeeing is believingReport: AI-enabled vision systems making headway in the warehouseGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: University of Tennessee's Haslam School of Business – Supply Chain Management programCalifornia Air Resources Board (CARB)Texas deals with impact of Hurricane BerylAmerican Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) CSCMP's State of Logistics ReportGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: e2openLegislation and the environment top trucking industry concernsUPS sells off Coyote brokerage arm to RXO for $1.025 billionGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: C.H. RobinsonPort of Savannah adds ocean freight connections with IndiaGEP report shows manufacturing activity jumped in MayUPS executive identifies three supply chain megatrendsAutoStore opens U.S. headquarters in Southern New HampshireGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: OptilogicDemand for automated forklifts to grow as warehouse labor issues persistMicrosoft and Arvato to design self-managing warehouse of the futureGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: Industrial Truck Association - National Forklift Safety DayWERC releases 21st annual DC Measures reportFlexport continues to invest in Convoy freight-matching technologyToyota Material Handling to build $100 million factory for electric forkliftsGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: AccuWeatherReport shows manufacturers prioritize a resilient yet efficient supply chainPropane group criticizes California plan to ban internal combustion forkliftsToyota Material Handling to build $100 million factory for electric forkliftsGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: KearneyGartner unveils 20th annual global supply chain Top 25Get episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: TravelersTrade groups criticize White House tariffs on Chinese goodsClean energy companies advance bio-fuel production for fleetsGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: e2openRevved up and ready to sortPoll: sentiment improves among owner-operators and small fleetsACT Research: trucking sector upturn likely within a couple of monthsGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: Association for Advancing Automation (A3)Supply chain AI investment applications are on the riseWalmart opens third consolidation center in its US networkGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: Moody's supplier risk managementMSC improves lithium battery shipping safety through deal with GSBNNew projects call for more forkliftsGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Transportation & LogisticsState of Supply Chain Sustainability Report (2023)Women truckers take their case to WashingtonEstes to open wave of new freight terminals acquired from bankrupt Yellow Corp.Get episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: MHIManufacturers could see job shortage as growth acceleratesGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: FourKitesThe logistics economy expanded in MarchKPMG and Google Cloud expand efforts to roll out GenAIGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: Plus One RoboticsBaltimore port closure could trigger freight rate hikes and delaysPort of Baltimore closure could clog nearby ports as freight is divertedCargo drones tackle the middle mileGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Aptean Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: Sisters of the Road websiteUber FreightConstruction starts slow down dramatically for industrial real estateReport pegs cost of electrifying US commercial truck fleet at $1-trillionGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Aptean Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: Orbis, Corp.NYC launches battery swapping plan for e-biles used in last mile deliveryLogistics service provider to the rescueGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Aptean Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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: project44Report: Retailers say same-day delivery drives higher revenue. Nordstrom juggles multiple goals to give shoppers an emotional experienceWalmart highlights its multi-capability assetsGet episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastpodcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Aptean Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts