Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

Our guest on this week's episode is Jason Haith, branch manager of OEC Group's Louisville office. Anyone who has followed freight markets over the past year is well aware that they have undergone drastic changes.  These changes make it harder for both shippers and carriers to decide what is fair pricing as they move to sign new contracts and to find carriage on the spot markets. As a seasoned analyst of logistics markets, Haith provides insights on what to expect for the remainder of the year and what early next year may look like in freight offerings.

The State of California has created a rule that would require switch, industrial, and passenger locomotives built in 2030 or after to operate in zero-emissions mode while in California, and in 2035 or after for freight line haul. It would also set a 30-minute idling limit for locomotives in the state and would require railroads to set aside funds to upgrade to cleaner locomotive technologies. Railroad groups are suing the state over these new regulations, saying the technology that California requires isn't really even available yet. We discuss the requirements and their implications for the rail industry.

With low unemployment rates continuing, operators of warehouses and distribution centers are finding it harder than ever to find good workers. New research is showing what it may take to attract new workers while retaining current staff.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• OEC Group
• Rail industry groups go to court against clean locomotive rule in California
• Finding common ground in today’s labor market
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news 
• 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: The Propane Research Council

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. Stefan Heck, CEO and founder of Nauto, a technology company that improves safety for fleet drivers. June is National Safety Month. Drivers on our nation’s roads have less than two seconds to react to most situations that can result in an accident, injury, or even death. But there are technologies available that incorporate artificial intelligence to help assure safety on our roadways.  Our guest shares how these new technologies alert commercial drivers to unsafe conditions before they happen.

We have seen the rise of manufacturing here in the U.S. as many companies are bringing their production back from Asia to North America.  New research this week reveals how manufacturers are feeling about the current conditions for reshoring. 

The newest DC Measures study is out. Produced by WERC in conjunction with DC Velocity, the research tracks the latest developments in distribution strategies and operational metrics. This allows companies to benchmark the performance of their warehouses as well as to track industry trends.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech has launched. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Nauto
• Manufacturing firms complain about interest rates, economic conditions, and the talent shortage
• WERC releases the 2023 DC Measures report
• Infographic: For warehouses, it’s all (or mostly) about the service
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news 
• 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: The Propane Research Council

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 Brian Feehan, president of the Industrial Truck Association, the trade group of the forklift industry. This coming Tuesday marks the 10th anniversary of National Forklift Safety Day, the forklift industry's annual recognition of the need for ongoing operator training for forklifts. Feehan shares about the work of the industry to promote safety in and around forklifts and how listeners can participate in this week's safety-focused events.

This past week has seen additional labor disruptions at West Coast ports. The dockworkers at the ports have been without a contract for nearly a year now. The workers staged some slowdowns and stoppages at the ports, which could delay imports as retailers and others ramp up for the back-to-school and holiday seasons. Is there any end in sight to the labor troubles?

The Logistics Managers' Index report is out and it shows the logistics industry entering unprecedented territory. Growth is down, so how healthy is the industry overall? What has been the cause of the downturn and when can we expect to return to growth mode?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech launched this week. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Industrial Truck Association (ITA)
• Port of Los Angeles re-opens container terminals after work stoppages
• Retail groups renew call for White House to step in to labor talks at West Coast ports
• West Coast ports close suddenly in repeat of April work stoppage
• Logistics Managers' Index contracts in May
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news 
• 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: The Propane Research Council

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 Craig Malloy, CEO of Vecna Robotics. With the current shortage of labor, many companies are rushing to fill the gaps in their distribution operations with automated systems. But, how do they get started and what are the barriers to achieving their goals? Our guest today has some insights.

Mezzanines and work platforms are used in warehouses and distribution centers to primarily hold either equipment or people and serve as a way to maximize space in a facility.  While not much has changed with them in the past 10 or 20 years, they nevertheless remain a warehouse  staple. It turns out that as distribution operations become more automated, demand is on the rise for steel support structures like these that can be integrated with the latest material handling technologies.

A new report highlights the growing shift to move many manufacturing operations from China and other Asian countries closer to home, particularly to Mexico. We share the details from the report and what types of logistics companies might benefit from manufacturing that is being nearshored.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  A new eight-part series on Transportation Tech launches this Tuesday. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Vecna Robotics
• Mezzanines make the difference
• Nearshoring trend shifts trade lanes from China to Mexico.
• Global trade seeks safer shores in "friendshoring" trend
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news 
• 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: The Propane Research Council

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 Max Farrell, cofounder and CEO of WorkHound. 2023 has not been so rosy for trucking. Volumes are down, and the capacity built up during the pandemic is more than what is needed currently. What is causing the current problems for trucking and what might conditions be like for truckers during the second half of the year? Our guest shares some insights from research his company conducted on how truck drivers view their jobs and what concerns them most.

Several labor agreements were reached this past week with our nation's railroads. Rail workers were primarily looking for better working conditions in these agreements. We discuss what was accomplished and what it will mean to have labor peace on the rails.

Continued high inflation, interest rate increases, and a general slowing of the economy are affecting businesses and consumers alike as 2023 marches on. These sentiments were echoed in an industry report released this spring that showed new trends in consumer buying habits. We share what is happening with these “conflicted consumers.”

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• WorkHound
• Union Pacific agrees to provide more predictable schedules for union rail workers
• Asendia Report: How to sell direct in the age of the conflicted shopper
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• 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: Rite-Hite

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 Eduardo Lopez-Soriano, vice president of marketing for UPS Capital - the shipping insurance division of UPS.  Consumers want more than just speed in e-commerce delivery. They also want features like accurate parcel tracking and time-definite delivery windows. But, can shippers provide those profitably? Our guest discusses ways to personalize the e-commerce consumer experience.

As cost pressures increase, investment in warehouse tech is declining. Orders for warehouse automation technology are expected to fall this year as companies re-evaluate investment plans and prioritize cost-efficiency, a new report shows.

How do companies find enough workers, with the right training, and hire them at the right pay, to make it all work out? New technologies, and specifically artificial intelligence, could help out with that problem.


DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• UPS Capital
• As cost pressures grow, investment in warehouse tech declines
• Generative AI tools could help companies solve labor and talent shortages, SAP says
• Instawork raises $60-million for warehouse labor marketplace
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• 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: Rite-Hite

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 Spencer Shute, principal consultant at Proxima. We hear talk of artificial intelligence just about everywhere these days. These new technologies hold the promise of making life better in a number of ways. But how can artificial intelligence be applied to the logistics industry? Our guest has some ideas.

The logistics industry has been preparing for Mother's Day–which is this weekend. Consumers expect to spend nearly $36 billion for Mother's Day this year.  Much of that will be spent on flowers that enter the United States from Latin America via Miami International Airport. In this segment, we look at how logistics makes Mothers' Day celebrations possible.

A recent survey shows what concerns freight business CEOs the most as we head to the midpoint of the year. A possible recession and operating costs are high on the list, but it might surprise you to learn what ranked near the bottom of what keeps business executives up at night.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Proxima
• Logistics companies gear up for Mothers' Day
• Second half of 2023 holds challenges for freight forwarding industry
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• 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: Rite-Hite

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 Ron Greene, SVP Intel and Fusion Center at Overhaul, a global logistics risk-management software company. Cargo theft continues to plague the industry, as millions of dollars worth of products are stolen each year from facilities as well as from trailers in transit. How serious is the problem of theft, and what can be done to prevent it? We discuss how technology can play a role in stopping thefts and aid in recovery of goods if thefts do happen.

The trucking freight business is changing, as freight volumes decline overall. Yet new patterns are emerging and volumes are being pushed to different regions of the country. We explain what is happening and why.

The latest Logistics Managers' Index report is out, showing the health of the overall logistics industry. It appears there is still growth, but just barely. The numbers are certainly down from the huge growth avalanches of the past two years. But is this slowing just more of a return to normalcy?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Overhaul
• Truck freight volume continued to contract in Q1, US Bank says
• Logistics industry growth slowed in April
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• 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: Rite-Hite

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 Dustin Burke, a managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group. Recently BCG conducted research on how C-suite leaders feel about current business conditions. The research also looked at their attitudes toward their supply chains. Burke shares the results and how viewpoints differ depending on where respondents are in the world.

Many companies continue to have difficulty finding good workers. With unemployment still at near-record lows, it does not look like the situation will improve any time soon. As a result, more companies are turning to technology to fill the gaps and create new efficiencies.

The Covid pandemic taught us that many of our supply chains are simply too long. One hiccup along the way can result in delays and shortages. While many of the products that we use every day are still sourced and manufactured in Asia, Mexico is becoming an increasingly popular place to locate manufacturing facilities for North American consumption.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Boston Consulting Group
• Tech investments grow as labor problems persist
• Redwood Logistics expands Mexico footprint as nearshoring trend gains steam
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• 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 Company

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 Martin Buena-Franco, automation products marketing manager for The Raymond Corporation. We have all seen the impacts that automation technologies are making in our distribution operations. But with so much new automation out there, how does a warehouse operator know where to start on the automation journey? Our guest provides some insights. 

The trucking business is cyclical. The latest statistics definitely show this to be a down time for the industry. We discuss a couple of recent reports describing where we are in trucking and how long it might take before we see a rebound.

No company, no matter the size, should consider itself immune from cyberattacks. Supply chains are attractive targets for criminals, mostly because we depend on them so much that there are opportunities for data theft and ransomware. We discuss new research on the top supply chain cyber risks.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Raymond Corporation
• Trucking sector conditions sank sharply in February, FTR says
• March trucking tonnage tumbled to largest monthly drop since April, 2020
• Report identifies top supply chain  cyber risks
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• 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 Company

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