The Logistics Manager’s Index has spent the last 10 years offering an early read on where the economy may be headed. In this episode, Chris Caplice is joined by Professors Zac Rogers of Colorado State University and Dale Rogers of Arizona State University to look at what the LMI is signaling now.

The LMI tracks eight components across transportation, warehousing and inventory, using input from senior logistics leaders to measure whether each area is expanding or contracting. Recent readings point to a freight market where transportation capacity is tightening, prices are rising sharply and businesses are taking very different approaches to inventory.

In this conversation, they cover:

🚛 Why transportation prices recently reached some of the highest levels in the LMI’s history

📦 How retailers are keeping inventories lean while manufacturers stockpile critical components

🌎 What tariffs, regulation and geopolitical uncertainty are doing to transportation capacity

🏗️ Why warehousing demand is picking back up, including the impact of data center construction
🔮 What the LMI suggests about freight costs, capacity and economic growth through the rest of 2026

If you work in shipping, transportation or supply chain planning, this episode offers a useful look at the signals shaping the second half of the year.

Interview recorded on August 12, 2026

Freightvine Market Update recorded on August 17, 2026

Catch previous episodes 👉 dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Chapters:

00:09 Introduction to the Logistics Managers Index

01:29 Divergence in Inventory Management Strategies

01:56 Impact of Data Center Construction on Economic Growth

02:07 Introduction to the LMI and Its Founding

04:13 Understanding the Logistics Manager's Index (LMI)

07:23 The Role of Surveys in LMI Data Collection

10:20 Survey Response Rates and Participant Engagement

13:28 Recent Trends in Inventory Management

22:41 Transportation Trends and Their Impact on the Economy

23:18 Understanding Price Increases and Policy Impact

24:34 The Freight Recession and Capacity Challenges

28:36 Labor Market Dynamics and Capacity Decisions

33:01 Warehousing Trends and Data Center Influence

37:02 Economic Predictions and Uncertainty Factors

50:00 Freightvine Market Update

Intermodal is gaining ground, but the story looks very different depending on the type of freight and where it is moving.

This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Andrew Sibold, Director of Economics for the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), to discuss the forces reshaping the intermodal market.

In this conversation, they cover:

• Why domestic intermodal volume is growing as international volume declines
• How higher truck rates, softer imports, and data center construction are influencing demand
• What IANA’s new Intermodal Volume Index reveals about current conditions
• How machine learning and economic indicators support 12-month volume forecasts
• Why tariff-driven shifts toward East Coast and Gulf ports may be here to stay
• How intermodal security, autonomous trucks, and the trucking freight cycle fit into the bigger picture

If you work in shipping, trucking, rail, or freight planning, this episode offers a clear look at the economics behind today’s intermodal market.

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Chapters

• 00:00 Intro
• 03:20 Andrew's Career Path to IANA
• 04:32 The Rebound of Intermodal in 2026
• 07:25 Intermodal Volume Index
• 16:05 Intermodal Predictive Model
• 25:52 Forecasting and Data Analysis
• 29:07 Tariff Volatility and Intermodal
• 34:02 Driver Capacity and Drayage
• 36:36 Autonomous Vehicles and Intermodal
• 42:11 Artificial Intelligence in Freight
• 45:37 Intermodal Expo and Market Update

This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Andres Mendoza Pena, Partner at Kearney, to discuss the latest CSCMP State of Logistics Report, Forged in Disruption, and what it means for shippers navigating a more connected and unpredictable world.

In this conversation, they cover:

• Why traditional cost-first supply chain playbooks are becoming less effective
• How companies are building more flexibility across suppliers, countries, and transportation networks
• Where AI is producing real results in logistics workflows
• Why autonomous trucking may reshape transportation economics and network design
• How reactive decisions can create costly “network drift”
• Why scenario planning and “non-regret moves” can help companies prepare for multiple possible futures

If you’re responsible for supply chain strategy, transportation, or network planning, this episode offers a practical look at how to operate when disruption is no longer the exception.

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine 

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction 
• 04:41 Understanding Ongoing Volatility in Supply Chains
• 07:08 The Impact of Globalization and Interconnectedness
• 09:46 Shifts in Supply Chain Strategies
• 11:58 E-commerce Trends and Consumer Behavior
• 14:24 The Role of AI in Supply Chain Management
• 17:05 Governance and Implementation of AI Solutions
• 24:08 Exploring Autonomous Driving and Trucking Technology
• 28:56 Understanding Network Drift in Supply Chain Management
• 33:46 Navigating Tariff Policies and Global Supply Chains
• 38:23 Railway Mergers and Market Dynamics
• 42:24 Forecasting Future Trends in Freight Markets
• 44:32 Truckload Market Overview
• 47:23 Spot vs Contract Rates Analysis

This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Jim Filter, Schneider’s newly appointed President and CEO, to talk about what it means to step into that role during a period of major change for the freight industry.

Jim reflects on his nearly 30-year career at Schneider, the operational and international experiences that shaped his leadership, and how the company is adapting as customer needs, technology, and market conditions continue to shift.

In this conversation, they cover:

• What it means to lead Schneider as only the fifth CEO in the company’s history
• How dedicated transportation and brokerage have become bigger parts of Schneider’s strategy
• What regulatory enforcement and broker liability could mean for capacity
• How driver roles, tools, and career paths continue to evolve
• The future of electric and autonomous trucks
• How Schneider is using AI and technology across the business

If you work in shipping, brokerage, or carrier operations, this is a timely look at how one of the industry’s largest operators is thinking about the road ahead.

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:36 Career Path, Leadership Preparation and Developing Talent

07:29 Technological Advancements in Transportation

14:13 Customer Relations and Problem Solving

14:50 Current Market Dynamics and Capacity Challenges

16:35 Impact of Regulations on the Industry

23:17 Chameleon Carriers and Industry Challenges

28:21 CEO Priorities and Strategic Focus

31:18 Evolution of Dedicated Services

35:59 EVs and Avs

45:38 Legacy and Leadership in the Industry

48:06 Freightvine Truckload Market Update

48:11 Dry Van Market Update

49:04 Temp Control (Reefer) Market Update

49:37 Intermodal Market Update

50:09 Flatbed Market Update

50:56 Key Takeaways

This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Dr. Jason Miller, Professor of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business, for his fifth appearance on Freightvine.

Chris and Jason break down why they believe the current truckload cycle began in December 2025, why it took a few months to confirm the shift, and why this expansion looks different from past freight cycles.

In this conversation, they cover:

• Why this cycle appears to be supply-driven, not demand-driven
• What spot and contract rate spreads can tell us about market shifts
• How capacity exits, Class 8 orders, and routing guide failures are shaping the market
• Whether the AI boom can deliver real ROI or if the market is getting ahead of itself
• What Michigan’s logistics and supply chain work can tell us about manufacturing, food production, and trade

If you’re trying to understand where truckload pricing, capacity, and freight demand may be headed next, this is a timely conversation with one of the industry’s sharpest data-driven voices.

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:55 Identifying the Current Truckload Cycle
• 04:16 Market Signals and Transition Points
• 05:53 Comparing Cycles: 2017-2018 vs. 2025
• 09:00 Supply vs. Demand Driven Cycles
• 12:15 Routing Guide Compliance and Market Dynamics
• 16:15 Spot vs. Contract Rates: Current Trends
• 20:38 Economic Factors Influencing Freight Rates
• 22:47 AI and Memory Chip Demand: Future Implications
• 26:10 The Future of AI and Profitability
• 27:23 Electricity Infrastructure and AI's Role
• 29:03 The Cost of AI and Model Maintenance
• 31:28 AI's Impact on Labor and Employment
• 34:04 AI in Academia and Content Creation
• 38:04 The Economics of AI and Cost Structures
• 45:33 Logistics and Supply Chain in Michigan
• 51:09 Freightvine Market Update

The freight industry’s transition to alternative power is firmly in the “messy middle”

This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Mike Roeth, Executive Director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, to unpack what that actually means for carriers, shippers, and the broader supply chain.

Mike has been leading NACFE since its early days and brings insights from years of work plus the latest “Run on Less” demonstration and cost analysis on how fleets are navigating this evolving landscape.

In this conversation, they cover:

• Why diesel, BEV, hydrogen, natural gas, and biodiesel will continue to coexist
• Where battery electric vehicles are gaining traction first (regional + drayage)
• What NACFE’s latest “Run on Less” data reveals about real-world adoption
• Why there’s no single “winner” in the near-term transition
• How carriers and shippers can make practical decisions amid uncertainty

If you’re trying to make sense of where freight energy is headed next, this one’s worth a listen.

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine

A unanimous Supreme Court decision could have major implications for freight brokerages🚨

Chris Caplice is joined by Ken Adamo, Chief Strategy Officer at Ease Logistics, to break down the Montgomery case and what it means now that brokers can be held liable for negligent carrier hiring.

⚖️ Why this ruling could reshape broker liability
📈 The potential impact on insurance costs
🚛 How small and mid-sized brokers may be affected most
🔍 Why carrier vetting is now under a bigger spotlight
🛠️ The tools and practices brokers may need moving forward

If you work in brokerage, shipping, or carrier operations, this is a conversation worth paying attention to.

Find previous episodes 👉 https://bit.ly/42HyzRg

Chris Caplice sits down with Peter Swartz, CEO and co-founder of Altana, to talk about what it takes to navigate today’s fragmented global supply chain landscape.

🌎 Why multi-tier supply chain visibility matters more than ever
📑 Managing tariffs, trade regulations, and compliance at scale
🤖 How AI is helping businesses respond faster to disruption
📦 Understanding the full value chain from raw materials to finished goods

As global trade grows more complex, visibility is becoming a competitive advantage.

Find previous episodes 👉 https://bit.ly/42HyzRg

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