Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

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:

• Descartes
• A year after East Palestine accident, rail industry regulations are largely unchanged
• Rail unions cheer whistleblower protection deal with Norfolk Southern
• The incredible versatile AMR
• 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

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• About DC VELOCITY
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• Top 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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:

• GS1 US
• Ryder and Kodiak open autonomous truck port in Houston
• Teamsters and police opposed South Dakota bill allowing autonomous vehicles
• Sluggish outlook prevails, freight leaders say
• 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 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:

• SafeDefend
• Interact Analysis says most western warehouse automation vendors fail in the Chinese Market
• Report: Game mechanics drive worker engagement in the warehouse
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly'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 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:

• Freightos
• Trucking app names top U.S. truck stops
• Logistics groups criticize White House move to define more workers as employees, not contractors
• California court says trucking fleets must provide drivers with full employment benefits
• 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 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:

• Prestige Economics
• Retailers chip away at online return rate, but fraud continues to grow
• Women In Trucking to honor drivers and logistics leaders
• Women In Trucking
• 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 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:

• Toys for Tots
• Prologis says global freight recession will reverse in 2024
• Report shows EV market for last mile delivery set for growth
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

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 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:

• project44
• Report shows that new employees are most vulnerable to workplace accidents
• Companies prepare for Canadian policy against forced and child labor
• Report reveals that hackers target third-party suppliers in automakers' supply chains
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

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 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:

• Blue Yonder
• Logistics economy contracted in November
• Torc to use data from Uber Freight to develop autonomous trucking network
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

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 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:

• Soter Analytics
• Rising tech firms target logistics challenges
• Amazon's parcel delivery growth puts pressure on retailers, Veho says
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: PERC

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 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:

• MHEDA
• McKinsey: Shippers and logistics providers share common pain points
• Automation meets sustainability in Atlanta
• Get episode transcripts
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected]

Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster

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