Supply Chain Now

Soft freight demand would normally suggest plenty of available trucking capacity. Q2 2026 told a different story.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton is joined by Karin Bursa, Bobby Holland, Director of Freight Business Analytics at U.S. Bank, and Dr. Jason Miller, Eli Broad Endowed Professor of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University, to unpack the latest U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index. They examine why shipments remained subdued while shipper spending climbed sharply, including a nearly 28% year-over-year national increase in spending.

The conversation covers regional freight conditions, tightening capacity, housing weakness, import activity, fuel costs, and the surge in physical infrastructure supporting AI and data centers. Bobby and Jason also share what supply chain leaders should watch as the market moves through the second half of 2026.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(09:29) How the Freight Payment Index works

(11:29) National freight market outlook

(16:40) West region: Strongest annual growth

(20:49) Southwest: The largest volume-spending disconnect

(23:59) Midwest: Data centers offset softer freight demand

(27:18) Housing market headwinds

(30:10) Northeast: Flat volume and rising spending

(33:41) Southeast: Data centers drive freight growth

(37:14) AI’s rapidly expanding physical supply chain

(44:42) Freight market predictions for the months ahead

(48:55) Where to find the Freight Payment Index

(50:34) Karin’s biggest takeaway for supply chain leaders

Additional Links & Resources:

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Karin Bursa and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/analysis-q2-2026-us-bank-freight-payment-index-1627

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.

For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]

© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

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AI adoption in supply chain is moving from curiosity to business-critical execution. The companies pulling ahead are not chasing shiny tools. They are finding root causes, cleaning up messy data, and using technology to reduce wasted time across procurement, planning, inventory, and fulfillment.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton and Karin Bursa speak with Wiley Jones, co-founder and CEO of DOSS, about the Enterprise Unleashed series and what leaders should take from the first several conversations. Wiley shares why culture, clarity, and leadership ownership are central to successful AI programs.

The conversation also covers touchless procurement, master data, decision support, workflow redesign, and why the best companies are willing to question how work gets done.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(03:52) Favorite outdoor adventures

(06:36) How the enterprise landscape is changing

(09:54) From AI curiosity to AI of consequence

(11:51) Solve root causes, not symptoms

(15:16) Major AI developments in supply chain

(20:39) Lessons from Enterprise Unleashed

(21:44) Putting people and culture first

(25:16) Leadership’s role in transformation

(28:28) Defining success and increasing decision velocity

(32:07) What to do when leadership doesn’t embrace AI

(34:14) What the most innovative companies do differently

(37:48) Challenging legacy processes and assumptions

(40:56) Doss and the impact of touchless procurement

(44:39) Using AI to drive growth

(46:00) The future of the AI-native enterprise

Additional Links & Resources:

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/enterprise-unleashed-biggest-lessons-2026-1626

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.

For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]

© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Buzz, powered by Toyota Automated Logistics, is back with another timely look at the news and trends shaping global supply chain. In this episode, host Scott Luton is joined by Paul J. Noble and special guest Lora Cecere, founder of Supply Chain Insights, for a wide-ranging conversation on agentic AI, supply chain fraud, manufacturing, forecasting, lead times, and why decades of technology investment still haven’t delivered better results for many organizations.

From the growing role of AI agents in commerce to the increasing sophistication of supply chain fraud, this episode tackles some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing supply chain leaders today. Scott, Paul, and Lora explore why trust and data verification will become even more critical in an agentic world, what current manufacturing data really tells us about the economy, and why organizations need to rethink long-standing approaches to forecasting and inventory management.

Lora also challenges the industry to move beyond so-called “best practices” that may actually be outdated historical practices. The conversation digs into the importance of dynamic lead-time data, predictive analytics, balanced scorecards, and cross-functional decision-making and asks a critical question: If supply chain technology has advanced so dramatically, why are so many supply chains still underperforming?

Additional Links & Resources:

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Paul Noble, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated episode page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-fixing-supply-chain-performance-ai-era-1625

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.

For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]

© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How will AI reshape supply chain teams, technology investments, and the future workforce?

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton is joined by Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, for another conversation in the Supply Chain Today and Tomorrow series.

Mike shares his perspective on AI strategy, supply chain technology, inventory management, and the decisions leaders must consider as business expectations continue to change.

The conversation explores why organizations should be careful about replacing entry-level roles with AI, how supply chain teams can balance technology with human expertise, and what future leaders need to learn about data, decision-making, and operational excellence.

Listeners will learn how to think differently about AI adoption, why high-tech companies offer valuable lessons for supply chain teams, and what skills may define supply chain leadership in the years ahead. 

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Introduction

(08:36) Why more data does not always create better decisions

(09:48) The future of just-in-time inventory strategies

(11:31) Building alignment across business, supply chain, and AI strategy

(15:36) Supply chain technologies worth investing in

(18:31) Mike’s supply chain hot take on AI and workforce changes

(24:44) What supply chain can learn from high-tech companies

(28:10) The moments that shape supply chain transformation

(31:31) What future supply chain leaders will study in 2050

(33:34) How supply chain education programs need to evolve

Additional Links & Resources:

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/lightning-round-returns-9-key-questions-1624

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.

For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]

© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How is the consulting industry changing as technology, AI, and new buyer expectations reshape the market?

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton speaks with Amber Salley, Founder and Managing Director of the Amber Salley Advisory Group, about the changing consulting landscape and what supply chain leaders should consider when hiring outside expertise.

With experience as a practitioner at IBM, consultant at Booz & Company and Accenture, Gartner analyst, and vendor executive, Amber shares her perspective on why traditional consulting models are under pressure, how AI is accelerating existing changes, and why specialization matters more than ever.

Listeners will learn why companies are moving toward smaller technology investments, faster results, and decision-focused advisory support. Amber also discusses how consulting firms must adapt, the future of outcomes-based pricing, and why organizations should evaluate partners based on their ability to deliver measurable value quickly.

(00:00) Intro

Additional Links & Resources:

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/how-choose-right-supply-chain-consultant-1623

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.

For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]

© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From shifting commodity markets and explosive data center growth to drone delivery and AI-enabled workplaces, supply chain leaders are navigating change from every direction.

In this episode of The Buzz, powered by Toyota Automated Logistics, Scott Luton and Dr. Rod Thomas are joined by Hans Kremer, partner and co-founder of Inchange, to unpack the latest supply chain headlines and explore what professionals and organizations need to thrive in a rapidly evolving business environment.

The discussion shifts to professional development, where Hans shares why companies need to stop training in silos and create more cross-functional learning experiences. The group also explores lifelong learning, the value of hands-on operational experience, and why AI should be viewed as a capability multiplier, not simply a tool for cutting costs or increasing efficiency. They close with powerful insights on leadership, trust, empathy, and creating environments where people can succeed.

Key Takeaways:

This episode brings together timely supply chain news with practical lessons on leadership, learning, technology, and organizational performance. Whether you’re preparing your workforce for AI, navigating major market shifts, developing the next generation of supply chain talent, or simply trying to become a stronger leader, Hans, Rod, and Scott offer actionable perspectives you can put to work right away.

Additional Links and Resources:

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Rod Thomas, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-ai-copper-drone-delivery-future-supply-chain-leadership-1622 

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.

For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]

© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A missed delivery in a public health supply chain is never just a logistics problem. It can mean a child misses a vaccine, a patient goes without treatment, or an entire community loses trust in its healthcare system.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton welcomes Don Hicks, CEO of Optilogic, and Taylor Wilkerson, Executive Director of Design for Life, for a powerful conversation about using supply chain design to help more people access essential medicines. Don and Taylor explain why many public health supply chains face the same complexity as the world’s largest commercial networks, but must operate with far fewer resources, limited infrastructure, and consequences measured in human lives rather than profit. Taylor shares how outdated systems, manual processes, and limited visibility can prevent medicine from reaching the communities that need it most, while Don explains why managing the existing network is not enough. Meaningful progress requires redesigning the system itself.

The conversation explores why resilient supply chains must be built before a crisis hits. Taylor explains how better data, flexible networks, and stronger design can help healthcare systems respond to outbreaks and demand surges. He also shows how a single stockout can lead to missed care, greater health risks, and lost trust. The medicine may cost pennies. The real challenge is getting it to the right people at the right time.

Don and Taylor also talk about how AI can make advanced supply chain tools more accessible. Local health leaders could ask questions in plain language, test scenarios, and make faster decisions without relying on outside consultants. By putting planning and optimization tools in the hands of the people closest to the problem, Design for Life aims to improve healthcare access and save lives.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(02:31) Meet Don Hicks and Taylor Wilkerson

(07:25) Taylor’s path into public health supply chains

(09:27) Don’s experience with global healthcare delivery

(13:06) The mission behind Design for Life

(17:57) Why resilient supply chains must come before crisis

(20:04) How public healthcare networks really operate

(22:02) Why managing the current system is not enough

(24:23) Turning supply chain studies into action

(27:48) Two forces reshaping global health supply chains

(30:17) How AI can democratize supply chain design

(33:15) The human cost of medicine stockouts

(37:46) Making advanced planning tools easier to use

(40:38) Why the best user interface may be none

(44:40) Empowering local experts to make decisions

(48:42) How to support Design for Life

(51:13) Finding purpose through supply chain work

Additional Links & Resources:

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/public-health-supply-chain-redesign-bigger-band-aids-will-not-work-1621

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.

For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]

© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most apparel companies don't have a demand problem. They have a lead time problem.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott W. Luton and Scot Case welcome Maithili Shenoy, Founder and CEO of La Naia Collective, for a frank, frameworks-forward look at why the global apparel operating model is cracking under its own weight and what it would actually take to rebuild it. From the Multifiber Agreement's unraveling in 2005 to the speed at which TikTok now dictates what sells, Maithili draws a clear line between the world the industry was built for and the one it's operating in today. She breaks down why long lead times convert forecast error into stranded inventory, how the markdown machine erodes billions in gross margin dollars annually, and why the financial damage runs deeper than most balance sheets reveal. Scot adds a sustainability lens that sharpens the conversation, connecting the landfills of Ghana's Kantamanto Market to the same structural misalignments driving poor financial returns.

The conversation builds into Maithili's 4S architecture: Strategize, Segment, Structure, Sustain, and the regenerative loop that ties them together. Real-world examples ground every layer: Inditex running 57.8% gross margins with inventory costs half the industry average, Abercrombie & Fitch going from 1% to 15% operating margins by abandoning markdown dependency, and why companies still anchored to gross margin rate alone are running out of runway. If you're trying to understand why so many smart people keep making decisions that produce irrational collective outcomes and what a better model actually looks like, this conversation earns its time.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(02:19) Meet Maithili Shenoy

(03:47) From classical dance to global supply chains

(06:28) Career experiences that shaped her perspective

(09:23) The hidden cost of apparel overproduction

(13:06) Why today's apparel operating model is broken

(14:23) How globalization changed fashion supply chains

(19:56) Why costs keep rising across the industry

(21:30) The biggest flaws in the current operating model

(23:55) Four ways the current model destroys value

(29:14) Introducing the 4S architecture

(30:10) Strategize with the right business metrics

(33:09) Segment products by demand and speed

(37:50) Align incentives with business outcomes

(40:41) Building a model that can adapt over time

(45:02) The metrics every apparel leader should track

(49:57) What Zara, Abercrombie, and Ralph Lauren do differently

(55:47) Why apparel returns are becoming more expensive

(01:01:06) Predictions for the future of apparel retail

Additional Links & Resources:

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Scot Case, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/appareal-pandl-broken-tariffs-just-exposed-what-already-failing-1620

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.

For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]

© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From rising diesel prices and geopolitical instability to new defense sourcing requirements and rapid advances in artificial intelligence, procurement and supply chain leaders are navigating a business environment where the traditional playbook no longer works.

In this episode of The Buzz, powered by Toyota Automated Logistics, hosts Scott Luton and Allison Giddens welcome James Meads, founder of Entrepreneurial Procurement, for a timely discussion on the forces reshaping procurement and global supply chains. The conversation explores major investments in domestic manufacturing, the growing tension between lean inventory and supply chain resilience, and the ripple effects of diesel shortages and commodity inflation.

The panel also examines new Pentagon sourcing and traceability policies, including the challenges of reducing dependence on critical materials from countries such as China and Russia. James explains why procurement teams must move beyond a process-driven, support-function mindset and begin operating more like entrepreneurial business partners. He also shares practical AI applications that can eliminate repetitive work, improve research, and help procurement professionals focus on higher-value decisions without automating broken processes or relying on poor data.

Key Takeaways:

Procurement is no longer simply about controlling costs or processing transactions. It has become a critical source of resilience, innovation, risk management, and competitive advantage. Tune in to hear practical guidance on building stronger supplier strategies, selecting technology that solves real problems, and preparing your organization for a more uncertain and fast-moving global business environment.

Additional Links & Resources: 

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Allison Giddens, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated episode page at: https://supplychainnow.com/thebuzz-procurement-mindset-shift-modern-businesses-need-1619

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.

For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]

© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The annual release of a major industry index always sparks intense debate, but the true value lies in the core strategies driving the world’s top performers.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton is joined by regular co-host Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, and special guest Laura Rainier, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, to break down the defining macro trends from the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2026.

The panel explores how leading organizations navigate global volatility by moving past tech experimentation to deliver true enterprise value. They dive into the realities of the autonomous workforce era, detailing how top-tier supply chains prioritize human-machine collaboration and systems thinking over simple digital literacy. Highlighting standout examples like Unilever’s shared forecasting and Schneider Electric’s disciplined process optimization, the discussion illustrates what it takes to build a resilient, network-centric operation. Laura Rainier also addresses critics directly, explaining why qualitative community opinion remains the ultimate "secret sauce" for capturing true excellence, while Mike Griswold wraps up by challenging leaders to leverage the supply chain as a primary engine for strategic growth. 

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:44) Gartner's 2026 Top 25 preview

(02:23) Meet Gartner analyst Laura Rainier

(04:46) Laura's future supply chain research

(07:28) Three supply chain macro trends

(11:26) Network-centric strategies and orchestration

(15:46) Top 25 companies leading change

(21:41) Fix processes before deploying AI

(24:30) What defines a Supply Chain Master

(26:49) Why leaders invest in people

(27:34) How Supply Chain Masters stay ahead

(29:07) New and returning Top 25 companies

(31:09) How companies earn their return

(34:03) Why Schneider Electric ranks first

(40:34) Walmart's rise and retail momentum

(42:41) Why community opinion matters

(47:38) 2027 ESG methodology changes

(48:25) Gartner events and upcoming summits

Additional Links & Resources:

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/macro-trends-micro-moves-inside-gartner-supply-chain-top-25-1618

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.

For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]

© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.