Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

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 & Logistics
• State of Supply Chain Sustainability Report (2023)
• Women truckers take their case to Washington
• Estes to open wave of new freight terminals acquired from bankrupt Yellow Corp.
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics

Other links

• About DC VELOCITY
• Subscribe to DC VELOCITY
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• Advertise with DC VELOCITY
• Top 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:

• MHI
• Manufacturers could see job shortage as growth accelerates
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics

Other links

• About DC VELOCITY
• Subscribe to DC VELOCITY
• Sign up for our FREE newsletters
• Advertise with DC VELOCITY
• Top 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:

• FourKites
• The logistics economy expanded in March
• KPMG and Google Cloud expand efforts to roll out GenAI
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics

Other links

• About DC VELOCITY
• Subscribe to DC VELOCITY
• Sign up for our FREE newsletters
• Advertise with DC VELOCITY
• Top 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 Robotics
• Baltimore port closure could trigger freight rate hikes and delays
• Port of Baltimore closure could clog nearby ports as freight is diverted
• Cargo drones tackle the middle mile
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

• About DC VELOCITY
• Subscribe to DC VELOCITY
• Sign up for our FREE newsletters
• Advertise with DC VELOCITY
• Top 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 website
• Uber Freight
• Construction starts slow down dramatically for industrial real estate
• Report pegs cost of electrifying US commercial truck fleet at $1-trillion
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

• About DC VELOCITY
• Subscribe to DC VELOCITY
• Sign up for our FREE newsletters
• Advertise with DC VELOCITY
• Top 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 delivery
• Logistics service provider to the rescue
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

• About DC VELOCITY
• Subscribe to DC VELOCITY
• Sign up for our FREE newsletters
• Advertise with DC VELOCITY
• Top 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:

• project44
• Report: Retailers say same-day delivery drives higher revenue. 
• Nordstrom juggles multiple goals to give shoppers an emotional experience
• Walmart highlights its multi-capability assets
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

• About DC VELOCITY
• Subscribe to DC VELOCITY
• Sign up for our FREE newsletters
• Advertise with DC VELOCITY
• Top 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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:

• A. Duie Pyle 
• Retailers have finally right-sized inventory levels
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

• About DC VELOCITY
• Subscribe to DC VELOCITY
• Sign up for our FREE newsletters
• Advertise with DC VELOCITY
• Top 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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:

• Eagle Protect
• BlueGrace opens first Mexican logistics center
• Arrive Logistics opens Guadalajara office as nearshoring boom continues
• Report: Retailers likely to take a hit from Suez and Panama disruptions
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

• About DC VELOCITY
• Subscribe to DC VELOCITY
• Sign up for our FREE newsletters
• Advertise with DC VELOCITY
• Top 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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:

• CrimsonLogic
• Study finds lack of data analytics and AI utilization in logistics
• CH Robinson says appointment scheduling tech saves 74 hours per load
• Uber Freight rolls out pilot version of freight scheduling API
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean

Other links

• About DC VELOCITY
• Subscribe to DC VELOCITY
• Sign up for our FREE newsletters
• Advertise with DC VELOCITY
• Top 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts