The Supply Chain Economy with Fexingo: Logistics, Shipping, and Goods Movement

In this episode of The Supply Chain Economy, Lucas and Luna explore a quiet but radical shift in US logistics: the rise of round-the-clock warehouse operations serving as de facto manufacturing floors. With industrial production edging higher and capacity utilisation stuck below 77 percent, more companies are repurposing warehouses for light assembly, kitting, and final-mile customisation. Lucas walks through a real example — a Columbus, Ohio facility where a furniture retailer now does 40 percent of its assembly work after midnight. Luna flags the implications for labor, real estate, and the blurring line between 'making' and 'moving' goods. They also connect the trend to the latest trade deficit numbers — $55.9 billion in April — and what it says about the structural shift in US supply chains. A focused look at how the four walls of the warehouse are becoming a new kind of factory.

#WarehouseManufacturing #SupplyChain #Logistics #IndustrialProduction #USManufacturing #Warehousing #NightShift #FinalMile #Kitting #LightAssembly #CapacityUtilisation #TradeDeficit #ColumbusOhio #FurnitureSupplyChain #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #SupplyChainEconomy

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Episode 62 of The Supply Chain Economy with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna examine a surprising export success story: the United States has become one of the world's largest exporters of waste paper, scrap metal, and plastic scrap. With trade data showing exports of goods and services up to $3.53 trillion, the hosts drill into how recycling commodities are filling empty containers outbound from US ports. They discuss the $55.9 billion April trade deficit, the role of China's shifting policies, and why this secondary market matters for logistics efficiency. A look at what happens to that bale of cardboard you put on the curb.

#Recycling #WastePaper #ScrapMetal #TradeDeficit #ExportSqueeze #Logistics #Shipping #ContainerImbalance #CircularEconomy #Commodities #China #USManufacturing #IndustrialProduction #SupplyChain #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Economics #Export

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Episode 61 of The Supply Chain Economy dives into the hidden crisis of pallet shortages across US supply chains. Lucas and Luna explore why the humble wooden pallet—not containers or chassis—has become the latest bottleneck, costing shippers billions and delaying everything from food to electronics. They break down the numbers: a 20% shortfall in the US pallet pool, rising repair costs due to lumber inflation, and the surge in pallet theft. With the latest trade data showing imports outpacing exports, the hosts explain how the imbalance is leaving pallets stranded at ports. Plus, they discuss the rise of plastic pallets and whether the industry can scale fast enough to fill the gap. If you're in logistics, manufacturing, or retail, this episode is essential listening.

#SupplyChain #Logistics #PalletShortage #Shipping #GoodsMovement #Economics #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ContainerImbalance #WoodenPallets #PlasticPallets #LumberPrices #TradeDeficit #Intermodal #Warehousing #Freight #InventoryManagement

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In episode 60 of The Supply Chain Economy, Lucas and Luna dive into the quiet digital revolution happening at US ports. While headlines focus on trade deficits and tariffs, ports like Savannah and Long Beach are using AI-powered terminal operating systems, optical character recognition, and predictive analytics to slash container dwell times from four days to two. Lucas explains how digitization cuts costs for shippers and reduces congestion, while Luna questions why adoption isn't faster given the clear ROI. The hosts also connect to the latest trade balance data, showing how faster ports could help exporters. A must-listen for anyone in logistics or economics.

#PortDigitization #ContainerDwellTime #SupplyChain #Logistics #MaritimeShipping #PortOfSavannah #PortOfLongBeach #AI #OCR #TerminalOperatingSystem #TradeBalance #Economics #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #ShippingTechnology #USPorts #ExportLag #DigitalTransformation

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Lucas and Luna dig into a hidden crisis in the US supply chain: a shortage of wooden pallets. With capacity utilization at 76.2% and industrial production ticking up, demand for pallets is surging — but lumber prices and labor shortages have created a bottleneck. The hosts explain how a simple platform for moving goods is now costing shippers millions, and why the pallet pooling model is under strain. Specific numbers on pallet costs and availability, plus a look at how companies are adapting.

#Pallets #SupplyChain #Logistics #CapacityUtilization #IndustrialProduction #LumberPrices #PalletPooling #CHEP #Shipping #Economics #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LogisticsCrisis #Freight #Warehousing #Manufacturing #Trade

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The US trade deficit widened to $55.9 billion in April, driven by a surge in imports that outpaced export growth. Lucas and Luna drill into the structural factors behind the persistent gap—consumer demand, the strong dollar, and shifting global supply chains—and discuss what it means for manufacturers, logistics providers, and the broader economy. They reference the latest industrial production data and capacity utilization numbers to ground the conversation in real economic activity. Along the way, they explore whether near-shoring or industrial policy can meaningfully rebalance trade, or whether the deficit is simply a feature of a consumption-driven economy. A candid look at why the US buys more than it sells, and why that may not change anytime soon.

#TradeDeficit #USImports #USExports #SupplyChain #Logistics #Manufacturing #IndustrialProduction #CapacityUtilization #StrongDollar #ConsumerDemand #NearShoring #GlobalTrade #EconomicIndicators #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Economics #FederalReserve #TradePolicy

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Episode 57 of The Supply Chain Economy digs into the chassis shortage that's crippling US intermodal freight. Lucas and Luna break down how a shortage of the wheeled trailers that haul shipping containers between ports, rails, and warehouses is causing delays, raising costs, and widening the trade deficit. With new orders for manufactured goods up 4.8% in April 2026 and the trade deficit still at -$55.9 billion, they explore why the chassis pool hasn't kept pace with container volumes. They look at the structural issues — from deregulation in the 1980s that fragmented ownership, to the maintenance crisis that's sidelined 12% of the fleet. Listeners learn how a seemingly mundane piece of equipment became a bottleneck worth billions, and how new pooling models and digital tracking might finally unstick it. A focused, data-driven conversation about the hidden infrastructure that keeps goods moving.

#ChassisShortage #IntermodalShipping #SupplyChain #Logistics #Freight #PortCongestion #TradeDeficit #Manufacturing #ContainerShipping #RailFreight #Trucking #PoolingModel #EquipmentShortage #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna #SupplyChainEconomy

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Episode 56 of The Supply Chain Economy: Lucas and Luna unpack the hidden crisis in pallet pooling — the wooden platforms that underpin nearly every shipment in the US. With over 2 billion pallets in circulation and pooling companies like CHEP and PECO struggling with shortages and price hikes, the hosts explain why a seemingly mundane logistics tool is suddenly a strategic headache. They dive into the April 2026 manufacturers' orders data showing a 4.8 percent increase, the capacity utilization rate stuck at 76.2 percent, and how pallet scarcity is now creating friction in an already tight supply chain. Lucas traces the problem back to lumber volatility and consolidation in the pooling industry, while Luna connects it to the broader export-import imbalance. If you've ever wondered why your toilet paper got delayed or why forklifts are idling, this episode will change how you see the humble pallet.

#PalletPooling #SupplyChain #Logistics #CHEP #PECO #LumberPrices #Shipping #Manufacturing #CapacityUtilization #TradeImbalance #Economics #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #SupplyChainEconomy #IndustrialProduction #Warehousing #Freight

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Episode 55 of The Supply Chain Economy drills into the chassis shortage that's grinding intermodal shipping to a halt. Lucas and Luna break down why a seemingly mundane piece of equipment — the chassis that carries containers on trucks — has become the most constrained link in US logistics. They look at how the shortage started with the container imbalance, why railroads and truckers can't agree on a solution, and what it means for the broader economy as manufacturing orders rise but goods can't move. Specific data from April 2026 shows manufacturers' new orders up to $662.7 billion, but capacity utilization stuck at 76.2% — and the chassis gap is one reason why. This episode explains the bottleneck in plain language, with real numbers and no jargon.

#ChassisShortage #IntermodalShipping #USLogistics #SupplyChain #FreightRecession #ContainerImbalance #RailFreight #Trucking #Ports #Manufacturing #CapacityUtilization #TradeDeficit #Exports #Shipping #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Economics #LogisticsCrisis

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Lucas and Luna unpack a hidden bottleneck grinding US logistics: the chassis shortage at rail ramps and ports. With industrial production up to 102.6 and capacity at 76.2%, freight volumes are rising, but the pool of chassis — the wheeled frames that move containers from rail to truck — has actually shrunk. Lucas explains how the 2021-2023 chassis glut led to consolidation, how the two largest leasing companies now control 70% of the fleet, and why that concentration creates perverse incentives: leasing rates have doubled since 2024, yet new chassis production remains flat. Luna points to the ripple effect on intermodal rail, where dwell times at Memphis and Chicago ramps have stretched from 24 hours to nearly 72. The episode uses the April 2026 trade data — imports at $4.42 trillion, exports at $3.53 trillion — to frame why empty container repositioning and chassis availability are tied together. A concrete look at a piece of infrastructure most people never see, quietly shaping the cost of everything on store shelves.

#ChassisShortage #IntermodalShipping #USLogistics #SupplyChainBottleneck #RailFreight #PortInfrastructure #IndustrialProduction #TradeDeficit #ContainerShipping #FreightCosts #Memphis #Chicago #FexingoBusiness #Economics #Logistics #BusinessPodcast #SupplyChainEconomy #ShippingCrisis

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