🚆 Episode 28: The Tracks Ahead — Rail, Resilience & Rising Voices

In this episode of Logistics at a Crossroads, Gia explores the next wave of logistics evolution—where innovation meets real-world grit.

From the rapid rise of rail as a tech-driven powerhouse to the shipping industry’s struggle to navigate global disruptions and climate mandates, this episode unpacks the challenges—and the hope—driving 2025. Gia also dives into the vital role women are playing in logistics, especially through digital platforms that amplify leadership, transparency, and transformation.

🔍 Topics covered:

• How GPS, automation, and predictive analytics are modernizing rail
• Why shipping must adapt quickly to meet emission goals and digital demands
• The continued underrepresentation of women in logistics—and how social media is changing that
• A personal reflection from Gia on 20+ years in the industry and where we go from here

Whether you're on the warehouse floor, behind the dispatch screen, or steering the strategy at a global port, this one’s for you.

🎧 Join us at the intersection of logistics and life—and see where the tracks ahead might take us.

Transcript

Intro talks about the reason for the length- grief. It shows up in a million ways...

Gia (Host): Welcome back to Logistics at a Crossroads. I’m Gia—and today, we’re diving into three powerful forces reshaping our industry: faster rail, more resilient shipping, and the rising voices of women leading the way, often through tools that didn’t even exist when many of us got our start.

Let’s take a ride—along the tracks, across the sea, and into the digital spaces where logistics is being redefined every day.

Segment 1: Rail Reimagined

Over the last five years, rail has transformed from “legacy freight” into a tech-driven powerhouse. So far in 2025, North American rail traffic reached 7.27 million carloads and intermodal units, up 2.5% year‑over‑year. In October 2024 alone, volume rose 3.5% YoY. Globally, the freight rail logistics market hit US$416.8billion in 2024, with a projected CAGR of 5.4% through 2034.

What’s driving this?

·         Technology: high-speed freight corridors—like China’s 350 km/h trains moving goods 1,300 km in about 10 hours—and the UK's Varamis Rail reaching 100mph on select routes. Add in intermodal integration with trucks and ships, and rail is becoming a backbone of just-in-time delivery for industries that demand precision.

·         Smart infrastructure: advanced GPS, IoT, AI flow-control, and yard automation. Automation in rail yards is shaving hours off loading and sorting. And dedicated freight corridors are giving cargo its own lanes—eliminating delays caused by passenger traffic.

·         Green edge: per-ton-mile GHG emissions remain significantly lower than trucks. And with large-volume capacity, it’s cost-effective too. In this economy, that balance matters.

 Challenges like aging infrastructure and political delays persist. But with AI-optimized traffic and intermodal integration, rail isn’t just catching up—it’s pulling ahead.

As someone who started in logistics at 18, I never imagined I’d see rail make a comeback like this. But here we are. And I can’t help but wonder where it’ll take us in the next five years.

Segment 2: Shipping in Stormy Seas

If rail is finding a new rhythm, shipping is learning to sail through the storm.

Maritime shipping still transports over 80% of global goods. The shipping industry—still responsible for more than 80% of global trade—is facing headwinds: pandemic aftershocks, port congestion, climate pressure, and rising regulatory scrutiny. We've had to rethink how—and why—we move the goods we do.

The COVID pandemic exposed cracks in the global logistics chain. From container shortages to erratic freight rates, we saw just how fragile “business as usual” can be. Now we’re building smarter: more regional sourcing, stronger contingency plans, and better forecasting tools.

Sustainability is no longer optional. The IMO's goals to slash emissions by 50% by 2050 have pushed shipping into new waters—literally. LNG, methanol, hydrogen—they’re all on the table. Ships are being redesigned. Ports are modernizing. But change comes at a cost, and the smaller players often feel that cost the hardest.

Digital tools—AI route optimization and blockchain across supply chains—are now mainstream. Larger carriers lead, while smaller firms strive to catch up.

The era of resilience is here: with more regional sourcing, stronger contingency plans, and sharper forecasting, agility isn’t just preferred—it’s essential.

The lesson? Agility matters. Innovation matters. And in uncertain waters, the ability to steer, shift, and stay afloat is everything.

Segment 3: Women in Motion

Now, let’s talk about something personal.  Women have been quietly driving logistics forward—for decades. And now? The narrative is changing.

Representation stats:
Women currently hold about 29.5% of board seats and 28% of C-suite roles in logistics and supply chain. In trucking, only 9.5% of drivers are women—but their visibility and advocacy are growing.

High-profile trailblazers:

• Barbara Melvin, President and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority, made history as the first woman to lead a top 10 U.S. container port. Under her leadership, SC Ports has pushed forward on infrastructure expansion, intermodal integration, and sustainability. Melvin’s rise—from operations to the executive suite—is a powerful signal that women can shape the future of global trade from every level.
• Sue Lawless, recently appointed as Acting Deputy Administrator of the FMCSA, is bringing a renewed focus on safety, workforce equity, and enforcement accountability. With a deep background in compliance and policy development, she’s helping shape regulations that affect every mile traveled in our logistics network—especially for drivers and carriers adapting to a changing freight economy.
• Carol Tomé, CEO of UPS since 2020, has led the company through remarkable growth and modernization.
• Cheryl Sunshine and Joy Young at Ryder, along with Olivia Raymond and Jamie Sheffield at XPO, were recently honored among the "Top Women to Watch in Transportation."

Here’s the gist: We’re not waiting to be invited to the table—we’re building our own

We’re finding new platforms to lead. Social media, particularly LinkedIn, has become a place where women in logistics can build visibility, share expertise, and shape the conversation.

Through digital communities, mentorship circles, and content sharing, women are transforming how logistics looks—and sounds. From captains at sea to planners in the back office, the message is clear: we belong here. We’re ready. And we’re already doing the work.

·         This shift isn’t just about representation, it’s about innovation. Diverse voices create stronger solutions. And in an industry facing constant change, we can’t afford to ignore that.

From mentoring and sustainability to running billion-dollar operations, the message is clear: We belong here. We’re ready. And we’ve already been doing the work.

Final Reflection

The future of logistics doesn’t live in one place. The future of logistics doesn’t live in one place. It runs on tracks, sails across oceans, and connects through digital networks. It’s fast. It’s complex. It’s full of opportunity—and full of responsibility.

And it’s led by people like you—people willing to adapt, learn, and lead with integrity.

And as we head into the second half of 2025, I hope we keep investing in technology without losing the human element. I hope we keep fighting for inclusion, sustainability, and transparency. I hope you keep showing up—because the industry is better when your voice is in it.  and remember I’ll be here every step of the way, navigating the crossroads right alongside you