Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

In this episode, guest Steven Horwitz, an economics professor and director of the Institute for the Study of Political Economy at Ball State University, joins us to discuss the upcoming holiday shopping season. We already know it will be a season like no other in history, due to the pandemic. But how will this affect supply chains, and will the community mall survive?

We also look at recent reports on warehouse utilization and the tightening of the market for available warehouse space. Will there be enough facilities  to accommodate expected growth?

And we look at how logistics companies are making investment into venture capital markets.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ball State University Miller College of Business
• Institute for the Study of Political Economy Facebook page
• Warehouse utilization returns to pre-pandemic levels
• Ryder launches $50-million venture capital fund to back supply chain tech startups
• Hectic merger activity in 3PL sector could return in 2021, CSCMP panel says
• Private equity firm buys Rand McNally, plans investments in products and acquisitions
• 9th Annual State of Retail Supply Chain Report
• DC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverage
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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• Top 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

In this episode, guest Drew McElroy, chairman and co-founder of Transfix, a digital freight matching system, discusses freight markets and the challenges of last-mile deliveries.

We are already entering the peak holiday shopping season, and it will be a year like no other, with omnichannel sales dominating in ways never before seen. How are retailers preparing their supply chains to handle the surge?

And with more online shopping, retailers expect an avalanche of returned merchandise. We look at some new, innovative solutions to help with the messy problem of handling returns.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Transfix website
• Peak season to test retooled supply chains
• Happy Returns quadruples product return sites with FedEx Office deal
• Rising e-commerce tide strands oversized goods at shoppers' homes when returns fall short
• 9th Annual State of Retail Supply Chain Report
• DC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverage
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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

In this episode, guest Dr. Yossi Sheffi, a professor of engineering and director of the Center for Transportation and Logistics at MIT, discusses his new book, The New (Ab)Normal.  Dr. Sheffi looks at which companies have been successful during the pandemic and which have failed, as well as what the future holds for our supply chains.

We also examine the growing demand for warehouse automation. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated automation projects. What's driving the demand and how are distributors responding?

And we discuss the latest iteration of MHI's Roadmap series. A panel at the MHI virtual conference shared details of the Roadmap 3.0, Transformation Age: Shaping Your Future  report and shared how robotics and augmented reality will be commonplace by 2030 and what the workforce of the future will look like.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics
• Warehouse automation market set for long-term gains
• Material handling sector starts to woo generations Z and Alpha
• Download the free State of the Retail Supply Chain report 
• DC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverage
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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

In this episode, guest Gillan Hawkes, VP of product management and analytics at 6 River Systems, discusses how autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) help distributors meet surging demand, while offering other benefits during the pandemic and beyond.

The new Logistics Managers' Index is out, and it shows a huge spike in logistics growth. Does it foretell a busy and possibly chaotic holiday peak season this year?

And we look at how retailers are relying on marketplaces to handle their online sales due to a lack of their own e-commerce capabilities. Is this a sustainable model for these retailers?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• 6 River Systems website
• September LMI reaches highest level in two years
• Online marketplaces seize growing revenue share during pandemic e-commerce boom
• DC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverage
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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

In this episode, guest Ron Dutt, CEO of Flux Power, discusses lithium-ion battery technology, which is growing in use as a power source in fork lifts and other industrial trucks.

Amazon's Prime Day is just around the corner. Why was it postponed from its normal summer schedule and what will it mean for shippers and customers?

And environmental sustainability is becoming a greater focus of supply chain managers. What is driving all of the attention?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Flux Power website
• Amazon sets delayed Prime Day sale on verge of holiday peak season
• Sustainability ranks high among shippers' priorities study shows
• DC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverage
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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

In this episode, editors from DC Velocity and CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly share their experiences at CSCMP EDGE, which was held this past week. This year's conference was completely virtual and marked the largest such virtual event ever held in our industry. We discuss the format and environment used to present more than 100 educational sessions, keynote addresses, and a virtual trade show known as The Supply Chain Exchange.

Our editors also discuss some of the major topics and themes addressed during the conference:

• How to build a more effective and resilient supply chain, especially during times of so much uncertainty
• How to assure social responsibility and diversity in our supply chains
• How Target transformed itself into a major e-commerce player
• And how shippers are getting creative in finding capacity in a very tight market

Register for CSCMP EDGE
All content will be accessible for 90 days after the show ends.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• CSCMP Website
• CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly website
• Four tips for creating a more resilient supply chain
• Target executive talks transformation at CSCMP EDGE 2020
• Shippers turn to creative solutions to seize capacity in a carriers' market.
• DC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverage
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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

This is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in the United States. In this episode, guest Randy Guillot, chairman of ATA (American Trucking Associations) shares about the vital role truck drivers play in keeping goods moving during trying times.

Everyone knows that e-commerce shopping continues to surge, but now we have the numbers to prove just how much growth this sector has experienced with in-home shopping.

And our nation's ports have made a nice rebound following a couple of very dismal months. What's driving the current activity and will the growth be maintained?

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• ATA website
• Collaborative warehouse bots are critical to e-commerce success Shopify exec says
• August cargo volumes improves at East and West Coast ports
• Imports up for a third straight month in Oakland
• DC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverage
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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

In this episode, guest Chris Wolfe, CEO of PowerFleet, discusses how we have seen new sustainability initiatives during the pandemic that have created efficiencies and may become standards in a post-pandemic world.

We also discuss how executives are reassessing their risk mitigation strategies in light of a pandemic that no one was prepared to meet. How good was their planning, and what should they do in the future?

And we look at the challenges that the logistics industry will face in distributing Covid-19 vaccines to the world's more than 7 billion people. What preparations are being done, and will the logistics industry be ready when the vaccines are ready?

Episode web page with transcript.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• PowerFleet website
• Supply chain execs are optimistic about recovery despite big disruptions
• Pharma supply chains start planning for Covid-19 vaccine surge
• DC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverage
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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

In this episode, guest Brian Thompson, the chief commercial officer at SMC³, discusses what the transportation markets may look like through the end of the year, and in particular how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the LTL (less-than-truckload) segment.

Capacity for both trucking and air freight remains very tight as we navigate the pandemic. How long will it be before we see more capacity entering the market for shippers?

And CSCMP EDGE is going virtual this year. Diane Rand, managing editor of CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly, joins us to talk about this year's conference and how you can navigate your way in the virtual environment.

Episode web page with transcript

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• SMC³ website
• GlobalTranz says pop-up fleet solution addresses tight capacity in freight markets
• Global air freight market sees tight capacity as travelers stay home
• CSCMP EDGE conference and registration information
• CSCMP website
• DC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverage
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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

In this episode, guest Phil Evers, a logistics professor at the University of Maryland, shares why the United States Postal Service is facing financial difficulties and what can be done to fix it. How might this affect the agency's parcel services?

We also talk about how supply chains will be affected by Hurricane Laura. Some changes in anticipated landfall and other disruptions are expected in the devastation that Laura left behind.

And shippers are taking a fresh look at transportation management systems (TMS) during the pandemic, as they recognize the benefits of these systems to manage their transportation needs in a very volatile market.

Episode web page with transcript.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• The University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business
• Congress can uses a tutorial (USPS)
• Pandemic peak in e-commerce flooded USPS with parcels in third quarter
• Technology promotes transparency in transportation shipping
• Truckload traffic jumps as shippers move freight away from Hurricane Laura
• Threat of Hurricane Laura shutters energy production from Houston to New Orleans
• American Logistics Aid Network
• DC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverage
• Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. 
• Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected].

Podcast sponsored by DCV-TV

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