Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

Our guest in this week's episode is Brian George, the vice president of sales at Petrageous Designs. His company designs and sells pet clothing and feeding products, such as dog and cat bowls and water dishes. As a small company, Petrageous Designs does not have the big clout that large shippers may have in getting products through supply chain bottlenecks. George discusses the current freight situation and the various strategies his company uses to relieve some of the stress.

Chinese New Year starts next week. The holiday traditionally shuts down many factories and may further slow operations at Chinese ports. Will these disruptions make for even more problems for shippers trying to obtain products from China and other Asian countries? What can we expect in the weeks ahead?

While there remains a lot of uncertainty as we close out the first month of the year, many leaders of freight companies remain rather bullish on their prospects for success in 2022. Hear what they are saying and the reasons for their optimism.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Petrageous Designs
• Shippers wary of container shortages as China near Lunar New Year holiday
• Strong outlook ahead, transportation industry leaders say
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast 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 in this week's episode is Jason Haith, branch manager for OEC Group Louisville. Import congestion continues, as ships are delayed and backed up at ports, waiting to unload their cargos. The situation could get even worse soon with the triple whammy of Chinese New Year, the Beijing Olympics, and more Omicron lockdowns all about to hit China at the same time. How do shippers prepare for what's on the horizon?

2021 was a difficult year for shippers relying on less-than-truckload (LTL) services. New research shows that things are not going to improve any time soon. Shippers should expect to see higher shipping volumes that result in  tight capacity and higher prices.

For five decades, supply chains have relied upon linear bar codes to manage shipments and track store inventories. While the basic bar code, such as UPC symbols, is not going away, there have been alternatives that provide more information and can improve service. These 2-D bar codes have been with us for years as well, but the industry has been slow to adopt them. A new push is now on to gain wider use for these improved bar codes.

 DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• OEC Group
• Increased shipping volumes and higher LTL rates on tap for 2022
• 2D bar codes could share far more product data than UPC standard, GS1 says
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast 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 in this week's episode is Phil Koopman, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and an expert on autonomous vehicle technologies and safety. Koopman discusses the current state of autonomous technologies and how soon we might expect cars and trucks that can operate without a driver  on our nation's roads. He shares the limitations of the technologies and the important challenges that remain to be solved to fully automate vehicles.

Things don't look to improve any time soon at our nation's ports. Ships continue to back up and products remain in holding patterns along their journeys to consumers. It looks like more of the same, as the expectations are that supply chain bottlenecks and delays will extend well into this year. Is there any end in sight?

The air freight market has tried to absorb some of the capacity constraints caused by ocean delays, but there are limitations as to how effective those measures can be. We discuss the current state of air freight and whether conditions may improve in coming months.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Carnegie Mellon University's Electrical and Computing Engineering Department
• Ocean freight logistics faces volatile start to 2022
• Truck production could be slowed by pandemic labor shortages, ACT warns
• Expect continued volatility in air freight market, Flexport says
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast 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 in this week's episode is Dan Johnston, co-founder and CEO of WorkStep, a hiring and retention solution for the supply chain industry. We have heard about driver shortages for years, but the pandemic and the overall high employment levels have made it even more difficult to find qualified truckers. Johnston shares what can be done to attract and retain drivers in a very tight labor market.

Movement towards an electric vehicle future continues to roll forward. This week there were some new deals that reinforced the growth of the electric market. Will the momentum continue?

Even with the pandemic and other supply chain challenges, companies in our sector have not given up on their sustainability goals. In fact, they have increased them. What are the driving factors and how are companies meeting the challenge of lowering the environmental impacts of their supply chains?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• WorkStep
• Volta Trucks & Here Technologies partner to advance last mile EV Solutions
• Waev Inc. acquires GEM and Taylor Dunn brands from Polaris
• Study shows companies in carbon spotlight trim their environmental impacts
• Freight fleets continued clean vehicle rollouts despite pandemic, report shows
• DB Schenker, Lufthansa Cargo, and Nokia team up to reduce carbon emissions
• Carbon offsets help cancel out last-mile pollution
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast 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 in this week's episode is Nikki Baird, vice president of retail innovation at Aptos.
2021 was a bit better for retailers following a very rough 2020, led mostly by consumer spending and surges in e-commerce orders. Are brick-and-mortar stores planning to rebound in the coming year and what will be the main things that retailers should focus on in 2022?

The Biden Administration released its plan to help the trucking industry deal with its logjams, tight capacities, and difficulties finding and retaining drivers. How is the industry reacting to the Trucking Action Plan and will it make a difference both short and long term?

The parcel technology sector continues to be an area of tremendous growth, as suppliers provide the tools that parcel shippers need to respond to increasing volumes and tight constraints. We look at Stamps.com as an example of a company that has expanded from its initial place in the market of selling postage, growing into a company now named Auctane that offers a much larger portfolio of services. Is this a growing trend for technology companies that serve the parcel market?

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Aptos
• Industry weighs in on Biden's Trucking Action Plan
• Auctane adds Spanish parcel tech startup Packlink to its shipping stable
• Stamps.com rebrands as Auctane to meet broader e-commerce needs
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast 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 in this week's episode is Melissa O'Keefe, group director, product and innovation e-commerce at Ryder. Companies are looking to move their distribution closer to their customers with the aim of shortening delivery times and meeting customer expectations. But moving into urban areas with limited available land can be tricky. That's where smaller Microfulfillment sites come into play. O'Keefe discusses the advantages of a Microfulfillment strategy and what Ryder is doing to reach customers faster.

We have all seen demand spike this year as the economy continues its forward direction. To meet that surging demand, distributors are looking to increase their capacities and capabilities. What is being done now and is this a growing trend in distribution?

The logistics and transportation sectors are poised to regain the jobs lost during the pandemic. Estimates show that will occur this coming year, but other industries may not see their pre-pandemic employment numbers return for some time to come.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ryder
• Walmart to build e-commerce fulfillment centers in Utah and Tennessee
• FedEx Express completes expansion project at Miami International Airport
• Lineage Logistics expands near Port of Savannah
• Logistics and transportation sectors on pace to recover pandemic job losses by 2022
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast 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 in this week's episode is Glenn Richey, the chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management at Auburn University. He discusses the product shortages and supply chain delays that most of us have experienced. Richey shares why these problems are occurring, how long it all might last, and what can be done short term to alleviate supply chain pressures.

The U.S. House of Representatives this week approved new legislation to further regulate maritime shipping as a way of dealing with supply chain delays. In particular the bill addresses some of the current practices of ocean carriers. The bill now moves on to the Senate. We discuss the merits of the legislation and the reaction from the supply chain community.

Logistics activity continued its growth surge in November, according to the latest Logistics Managers' Index report, or LMI. We take a look at the numbers and what they mean.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Department of Supply Chain Management at Auburn University
• House passes ocean shipping regulation bill in bid to unravel supply chain delays
• Logistics industry growth continued in November
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast 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 in this week's episode is Mike Nervick, founder and CEO of Sleek Technologies. The recent passage of the long-awaited infrastructure bill could impact transportation and the movement of goods for decades to come. Nervick discusses the importance of the bill and how it will affect shippers and carriers.

There has been a lot of coverage in the news about supply chain bottlenecks and how they could affect the holiday shopping season. Consumers have been shopping early to avoid being disappointed by not being able to get the gifts they want under their trees this year. That shift has profound implications for supply chains, and retailers in particular. We discuss how they are adapting to changing trends this peak season.

The growth of online shopping and omnichannel fulfillment has resulted in the demand for smaller distribution facilities located in urban areas. We share some interesting numbers just released to back this trend.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Listen on Supply Chain Quarterly's website or subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Sleek Technologies
• Black Friday retail spending ticks up slightly as holiday peak spreads across the entire month
• Small to mid-size industrial real estate dominates leasing market
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast 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 in this week's episode is Dr. Cristiano Façanaha, global director at environmental advocacy group CALSTART. He is a transportation and environmental engineer and an expert at designing and evaluating sustainable transportation systems. The world just concluded the COP26 climate conference in Scotland. Out of that meeting came several international initiatives and commitments to reduce carbon emissions. A couple of these directly affect the trucking and transportation sectors. Our guest addresses what they are and what they mean for the industry.

Consumers don't trust pharmaceutical supply chains. They worry about counterfeit medicines sneaking into their medicine cabinets as well as possible damage and contamination of genuine medicines as they travel throughout the supply chain. What can the industry do to assure our medicines are safe and to restore public confidence in them?

We have experienced tight freight capacity throughout this year, and it looks like it will continue well into 2022. A shortage of trucks and drivers, along with surging demand from the holiday season, will mean that rates will stay high and available capacity will not improve for the foreseeable future.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly has  a new 11-episode limited podcast series called the Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• CALSTART's Global Drive to Zero
• Study highlights pharmaceutical supply chain problems
• FTR says trucking fleets will enjoy a strong market well into 2022
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by: Ryder

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 in this week's episode is Joe Ryan, director of intelligence and response at Overhaul Group. Cargo theft is on the rise, with some fairly significant losses during the past year as more freight moves than ever before. Beyond the loss of the cargo, there are ripple effects which amount to many times the costs of the actual products that are stolen. Ryan provides some insight as to how freight is stolen and what can be done to prevent it.

The U.S. Postal Service released its latest financial report from the fiscal year that ended in September. To no one's surprise, the service lost money, as it has consistently done for years. However, this year's loss was less than the previous yearly loss. What is the Postal Service doing right, and what other changes are planned to further cut the annual losses?

New research offers a potential plan for how autonomous trucks may be deployed in the not-too-distant future. The plan shows how using driverless vehicles — mainly on highway segments — could provide significant savings on transportation costs.

DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly began  a new 11-episode limited podcast series last week, Top 10 Supply Chain Threats. Each week, a different threat to our supply chains is discussed, including capacity constraints, labor shortages, inflation and economics, weather-related issues, component and product shortages, digitalization, automation, and much more. Subscribe at your favorite podcast platform. Search "Top 10 Supply Chain Threats."


Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Overhaul Group, Inc.
• Postal Service trims losses slightly as pandemic changes take root
• 3PL makes headway in autonomous trucking
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Visit Supply Chain Quarterly
• Listen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcast
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by: Ryder

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