Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

Our guest on this week's episode is Dwight Klappich, research vice president and Gartner Fellow in Gartner's Logistics and Customer Fulfillment team. He shares new research that Gartner has conducted into how robotics will be used in distribution centers. Within the next few years, distributors will deploy a number of different categories of robots for various warehouse tasks. These systems will need a collaborative platform to work together. He shares details on how Gartner views the future of this crucial and expanding market.

The SMC3 JumpStart conference was held in Atlanta this week and featured a number of speakers sharing their thoughts around a weaker freight environment, tech investments that should be made, and how companies should take stock of their operations and priorities during the current economic slowdown.

New research into last-mile deliveries shows that the final mile has grown more complex, expensive, inefficient, and unsustainable. As a result, the majority of retailers have outsourced their delivery networks. This has lowered costs, but has reduced their control, making some rethink whether speed or reliability is more important to their customers.

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:

• Gartner
• Economy and technology take center stage as SMC3 conference
• Retailers lose visibility as they outsource last mile delivery, FarEye says
• 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:  Beckoff

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 Brett Williams, a retired Major General from the United States Air Force and one of the nation's leading consultants and experts on cybersecurity. Williams is the former director of operations at the United States Cyber Command, where he led a team of 400 people responsible for the global operations and protection of all Department Of Defense computer networks. After retiring from a 33-year military career, General Williams co-founded a business called IronNet Security. He discusses the threats our computer systems face, why supply chains are critical to our national defense, and what supply chain managers can do to better safeguard their data.

A slowing economy continues to affect the trucking sector. We’ve seen falling demand for services since the end of last year, driven by inflation, concerns of a recession, and a general sense of uncertainty in the economy. An industry report out this week shows that carriers will continue to compete for limited demand–at least through the first quarter.

The latest tech was on display this week at the National Retail Federation show in New York. We'll tell you about some of the newest technology designed for retail fulfillment and in-store sales.

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:

• IronNet Security
• Carriers will continue to compete for limited demand
• Walmart boosts investment in GoLocal delivery as a service platform
• 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:  Beckoff

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 Brandon Isner, Americans head of retail research at CBRE, the large commercial real estate firm. While the holidays are now over and most of us have taken down the tree and put the decorations away, a lot of holiday work still needs to be done for retailers. They have to deal with the $135 billion in expected returns this year. Estimates are that 13 percent of all online orders are being returned. That is a lot to process for any company. Isner discusses how the massive amounts of returns are being handled.

The Biden Administration took a step closer to its emissions reduction goals
this week with the release of an interagency “blueprint” to decarbonize the nation’s transportation sector. The plan addresses all passenger and freight travel modes and fuels to reach goals to secure a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.  How is the industry reacting to this plan?

The supply chain industry is continuously looking  for solutions to move goods faster with less costs. As we begin 2023, what are the hot tech devices and trends that will make an impact and what are also those technologies that are just too far ahead their time?

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:

• CBRE
• Government agencies release blueprint for decarbonizing transportation
• Volatile markets could trip up buzzy new technologies in 2023
• 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:  Beckoff

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 Zac Rogers, assistant professor of supply chain at Colorado State University. Rogers is one of the writers of the monthly Logistics Managers' Index. He shares about how supply chains performed during 2022 and predicts what will be ahead as the new year unfolds.

Some of the successes and challenges that supply chains will experience in 2023 may be related to whether the industry can solve the many product shortages we had during the past two years. Today we discuss semiconductor chips and the prospects for seeing better ongoing supplies of these vital components.

As distributors continue to face shortages of available labor and other challenges, the material handling industry is responding with new automation solutions. As a result, we expect to see new mergers and acquisitions and more expansion within the material handling industry.

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:

• Colorado State University supply chain management program
• Survey shows that the top supply chain risk of 2023 is the semiconductor shortage
• Industry groups praise Senate passage of the CHIPS Act
• Trew to open tech center at Southwest Ohio headquarters
• Hy-Tek Intralogistics acquires Winchester Industrial Controls
• 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:  Beckoff

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

Today we're repeating our Nov. 11 episode on attracting and hiring military veterans for those who might have missed it. We'll be back next week with a new episode.

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Our guest on this week's episode is  Todd Skiles, senior vice president of global sales and supply chain solutions at Ryder System. Today in the United States we honor military veterans for their service to our nation. Once their time in the armed forces has concluded, veterans must transition back to civilian life, including finding suitable employment. Skiles, a veteran himself, shares what Ryder does to help other veterans make a leap into supply chain careers.

After years of experience with ordering products online at Amazon and other vendors, most consumers have come to expect free shipping on their e-commerce purchases – but is that a sustainable model? At the same time, there are other services that are important enough to consumers that they may be willing to pay to receive them.

Black Friday is just around the corner, meaning that we are facing peak season for most retailers and many other companies. Employers note that it has been difficult this year to find the usual army of seasonal workers that they rely on to get them through most peak times. For those workers who are available, what will convince them to on-board with a particular company?

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 launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ryder System
• Consumers turn to package tracking technology for e-commerce security
• Survey shows nearly half of online shoppers would choose a package delivery firm with electric vehicles.
• Report highlights holiday staffing struggles
• 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 produced by:  DC Velocity

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 Melinda McLaughlin, senior vice president and global head of research with industrial real estate company Prologis. 2022 marked a year of tight warehouse capacity, as distribution facilities were stacked to the rafters with inventory. Much of that inventory is now gone, but there are other factors that will limit available space. McLaughlin shares predictions for the industrial real estate market for 2023, including hot locations for new construction and other factors that may limit overall growth.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its strongest-ever clean air standards for heavy-duty trucks this week. It is a move that essentially takes us a bit closer to a zero-emissions future, which is something government and transportation industry leaders have been working on for years. We discuss the new requirements and when they will go into effect, as well as industry reactions.

The United States Postal Service has announced its intent to accelerate its drive to a mostly-electric delivery future. Earlier in the year, the USPS revealed its desire to replace its aging delivery fleet with new vehicles, many of which would be electrical. With new funding, it is now able to increase the number of electric vehicles it intends to deploy by 2028 to 66,000 trucks. That represents more than half of its new vehicle purchases. We discuss the deal and its possible impact on operations.

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:

• Prologis
• EPA sets new emission rule for heavy duty trucks
• USPS goes electric with revised fleet order
• 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:  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 Justin Bailie, co-founder of TMS provider Rose Rocket. Good workers are always hard to find, but this year it has been difficult to find the labor needed to run our supply chains, and truck drivers in particular. What can be done to put more drivers on our nations’ roads? 

Supply chain executives are focusing on reducing their material supply risks and avoiding unplanned delays and shortages in the year ahead – not surprising, after what we’ve experienced in the past couple of years. New research  shows what these materials managers plan to do to lower costs and eliminate material shortages.

A new bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress to assure that truck drivers have access to restroom facilities at their pick-up and drop-off locations. Currently, drivers are often forbidden to use restrooms at their stops, which often means that the drivers are greatly inconvenienced and must find alternative facilities.

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:

• Rose Rocket
• Companies set their sights on better materials management in 2023
• Truckers groups support bathroom access bill
• 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:  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 Dan Gilmore, chief marketing officer at Softeon. Increased demand and fewer available workers during the past couple of years have combined to accelerate the adoption of automation in distribution centers- and material handling companies have responded with a wide range of systems. But what do the end-users of today’s automation think about the available technologies? 

The latest numbers from the Logistics Managers' Index are in. The report reflecting November activity shows growth, but at a much slower pace. What's behind the numbers and what do they reveal about possible growth in 2023?

Freight rates were incredibly high the past two years, but have been steadily dropping since Spring. New research shows what is happening in the freight markets and where shippers can expect to see rates for various modes of transit in 2023.

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 launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Softeon
• November Logistics Managers' Index report
• Forecasts call for freight rate slumps in 2023
• 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:  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 Elie Katz, president & CEO of National Retail Solutions. The pandemic was especially hard on small  mom-and-pop grocers - the bodegas and small independent stores found on many street corners of America. Some closed for good, while others adopted new technologies to help them compete with  the bigger grocers on diverse inventory and home deliveries. We discussed how these grocers can not just compete, but thrive.

Yesterday, Congress took action to impose a contract on railroad labor unions. It is not often that Congress dictates union contracts, but in this case it was felt necessary to avert a rail strike that could have crippled the economy. We discuss what was behind the decision and what effect it may have going forward for rail transportation.

Sustainability is one of the biggest buzzwords in the economy right now, and that’s true for logistics companies as much as any other sector. But making supply chains more sustainable is a difficult job, and we all know that companies don’t like to spend money unless they can get a return on that investment. So that leaves the question of why exactly are companies trying to get more sustainable?

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 launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• National Retail Solutions
• Senate passes bill to avert a rail strike
• Survey: Companies see potential cost-savings in sustainability plans
• 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:  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 Gregg Healy, the head of Industrial Service for North America with the commercial real estate firm Savills. Most retailers admit that this will not be the typical holiday peak season. They have lots of inventory and we are now seeing peak season stretching out well ahead of the traditional Black Friday start. What has changed this year and why? 

More companies are focusing on the importance of last-mile delivery to their overall business– a factor that is giving logistics a seat at the table in the C-suite and the boardroom. We look at current trends that will define last-mile delivery in 2023 and beyond.

Yesterday, we saw a big step toward a greener future when the Biden Administration joined other nations in endorsing a global plan to move toward zero-emissions trucks and buses for all new vehicles sold starting in 2040. This international group agreement was signed at the COP27 diplomatic meeting in Egypt. What is the reaction from the logistics industry towards this new national goal?

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 launched with new episodes each Tuesday . The focus this season is on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Savills
• More companies to focus on last-mile logistics
• The White House endorses global push for renewable fuels in trucks and buses
• ProLogis unveils charging stations for 38 heavy duty trucks at California logistics sites
• 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 produced by:  DC Velocity

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