Our guest on this week's episode is Dana Stiffler, distinguished VP analyst at Gartner, an industry research and consulting firm. Women continue to be leaders in our industry throughout the world and their impacts are immeasurable. Recently Gartner teamed with the women's supply chain organization AWESOME to complete the ninth annual Women in Supply Chain survey that looks at the work of the female gender in supply chains. Our guest shares the results of the survey and offers insights into growing the number of women in leadership positions.
Many supply chain managers are keeping a careful eye on the ongoing negotiations with dock workers at the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports – and we are getting much closer now to the September 30th deadline. We have the latest on the negotiations and what supply chain executives are doing to prepare for potential shutdowns at those key ports.
Truck drivers nationwide have a mixed outlook on the future of the trucking industry, according to a survey by freight marketplace Truckstop. The study was released this week in conjunction with National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, which runs through this Saturday, September 21. Truckstop surveyed 850 of its carrier customers to learn more about their lives and experiences on the road. We share highlights of their findings.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more. All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Gartner
- Gartner webinar on Women in Supply Chain survey
- Ports see import rush as dockworker strike looms
- Survey reveals mixed outlook on future of trucking
- National Truck Driver Appreciation Week information
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2024
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Andrew Billings, vice president and supply chain capability lead at North Highland. The retail world has already survived this year’s Prime Day and now we are heading into the peak holiday shopping season. Are retailers prepared and are there any clues as to what consumers will be snapping up this year? Our guest has some insights.
With an eye on assuring it has the raw materials it needs, lift truck manufacturing company Raymond Corp. has opened a new production plant in Binghamton, New York to manufacture batteries to power its line of electric forklifts. The new facility expands on and replaces a former operation by its assembly plant.
While electric vehicles are gaining popularity, the transition to EVs is not happening as fast as earlier market predictions. J.D. Power, the automotive industry analyst firm, says it is cutting back on earlier forecasts for EV market share as sales of battery-powered cars cool off. They cited drivers’ concerns about finding enough public charging ports and also the rising popularity of hybrid cars such as plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)—which combine battery power with gasoline engines.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more. All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- North Highland
- Raymond Corp. boosts energy solutions with new battery plant
- Sales of battery-powered EVs sputtered in first half of 2024
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2024
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Michael Sadowski, a researcher and author who just completed a study on sustainability in the apparel industry. Released by the Apparel Impact Institute, the study looks at the apparel industry's use of available resources. Of course, there are the fabrics that are grown and harvested or man-made materials that consume water and power. Most of our clothing is also made overseas, so the industry also needs to be aware of its carbon footprint to deliver all of those new goods to our closets and dresser drawers.
This week we saw a report about truck driver salaries. This came from a survey done every other year by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), and they found that truckload drivers in the U.S. earned a median annual amount of $76,420 in 2023, posting an increase of 10% over the survey done two years ago. We break down which modes of trucking earn the best salaries.
Data from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) show that a quarter of all industrial accidents happen at loading docks. That makes this vital, high-activity area within a distribution center a place for vigilant attention to detail. We look at how technologies and better awareness are making a difference to reduce injuries around the docks.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more. All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Apparel Impact Institute
- Taking Stock of Progress Against the Roadmap to Net Zero - 2024 report
- ATA Survey: Truckload drivers earn median salary of $74,420
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2024
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Dawn Andre, chief product officer at Jaggaer. New supply chain talent is on the way, as college programs continue to mold new entrants for the industry. But what are some of the best ways to make use of these new recruits? Our guest has some ideas.
Victoria Kickham is off this week, so filling her seat is Susan Lacefield, the executive editor of Supply Chain Xchange. Susan shares about the newly released issue of Supply Chain Xchange that features articles on the latest in supply chain technologies. We also preview the upcoming CSCMP EDGE conference starting at the end of September in Nashville.
We cover a lot about self-driving vehicles in the magazine, but now autonomous transport is taking to the skies. We report on testing by the U.S. Air Force earlier this month of new autonomous cargo planes. The planes use smaller commercially-available Cessna planes equipped with tech that will allow them to take off, fly, and land without a pilot. These airplanes are much cheaper to operate than traditional military cargo planes.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes has dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more. All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Jaggaer
- How digital twins can transform trucking operations
- How 3D prototyping can compress new product development
- Building trust in touchless planning
- Why AI will transform procurement and how it is already doing so
- Air Force runs military exercise with autonomous cargo planes
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Jim Bunsey, director of commercial business development at the Propane Education & Research Council, better known in the industry as PERC. With the goal of reducing carbon footprints and clearing the air, supply chain managers are seeking cleaner technologies to power their operations. Our guest shares that the full energy cycle should be considered when choosing power for material handling equipment and transportation vehicles, including the carbon footprint of the energy creation, such as power produced by fossil-burning power plants.
The big news in North American supply chains this week has been the Canadian rail stoppage. This has been a real whirlwind of huge potential damage to retail and manufacturing operations at a time when supply chains were already in somewhat vulnerable positions. Yesterday, the railroads were locked down over a labor dispute. But last night, the Canadian government stepped in to order workers to report and to resolve their labor issues with binding arbitration. How fast can the railroads get back on track and what does this mean for supply chains?
Companies running large warehouses are looking for ways to improve performance and increase efficiency, all while dealing with persistent market pressures like labor shortages and space constraints. For many companies, warehouse automation is the answer to those problems. We look at two examples where automation is making a difference in warehouse operations.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more. All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Propane Education and Research Council
- Canadian rail strike sends tremors through supply chains
- Designed for efficiency
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Scott Walker, vice president of Supply Chain Product Management for Powerfleet. Last month the U.S. Department of Labor issued a proposed rule to regulate how employers manage and protect workers in extreme heat conditions – both for indoor work, such as in factories and warehouses, and outdoor work, like in trucking, docks and in yards. The proposals would require each employer with more than 10 workers to have a program in place to address heat-related issues with measures to reduce the chance of heat-related stress and illnesses in the workplace. Our guest explains some of the details of the proposed rules and how employers can prepare now to promote safer workplaces.
The total cost of ownership for battery-electric versions of cargo-handling equipment used in our world's maritime ports is about 1.3 times higher than that of diesel-powered equipment, according to industry estimates, Until those costs come down, battery-electric container handling equipment is likely to remain a small portion of the equipment operating at ports around the world. However, research and testing are underway. We look at two examples of where electric systems are being piloted for port operations.
The adoption of electric vehicles in the United States has been slowed by the lack of a sufficient public charging infrastructure, but that shortcoming is showing small signs of improvement. A survey of almost 10,000 EV drivers found that satisfaction in the nation’s EV charging network increased for a second consecutive quarter. We discuss what is hindering more EV adoptions and the difficulty in finding suitable places to charge them.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more. All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Powerfleet
- In pursuit of sustainable ports
- Survey shows small rise in satisfaction with EV charging networks
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). This week Hurricane Debby made landfall on the East Coast, bringing with it lots of rain, flooding, and damage to Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. It is now making its way up the coast. What are the effects on supply chains and how is the industry responding to help those in need?
It is always good for us to track the health of the supply chain industry. This week the latest data show that economic activity in the logistics industry expanded in July, marking the eighth straight month of moderate growth across warehousing and transportation markets; that’s according to the latest monthly Logistics Managers Index (LMI) report, which was released this week.
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is calling on the Biden administration to engage the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) which represents dock workers, and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents port operators to come to a new labor agreement to avoid a possible strike at East Coast and Gulf Coasts ports. The two sides are far apart on a new agreement as the current pact is set to expire on September 30. A strike could have widespread impacts on the flow of goods during peak season.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A brand new series of ten episodes just dropped on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more. All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN)
- Report: Logistics industry expanded in July
- Retailers grow nervous about East and Gulf Coast port strike
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster Company
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Tom Behnke, vice president of sales and marketing at distribution 3PL Boxzooka. With the turning of the calendar pages to August, it's back-to-school season for most American families. While stores have been stocked for some time with the latest in shoes, clothing, and school supplies, parents are now shopping in earnest to prepare their young learners for a good school year. What does it take for distributors and retailers to succeed in this second-biggest peak shopping season of the year, and will they experience any hiccups?
Lineage Logistics, a cold storage warehouse and transportation company, has now gone public on the NASDAQ stock exchange. They raised $4.4 billion in shares sold in their initial public offer, which translates to an overall valuation of the company at $18 billion. So, what do you do with $4.4 billion? When the IPO happened last week, they shared some pretty typical plans: mostly paying down debt from all the borrowing they had done to grow so large. But this week, we learned about some new plans, which involve sharing some of that windfall profit with employees.
The global outlook for investments in warehouse automation was revised down this week, mainly due to challenging economic conditions in some other parts of the world. That’s according to research from British consulting firm Interact Analysis, which released a mid-year report Tuesday updating its global warehouse automation forecast from last fall. Conditions look better in the Americas. Warehouse-automation revenue forecast projections for the United States have increased compared the fall forecast, mainly as a result of higher consumer spending, improved sentiment toward the economy, and Amazon starting to invest again, according to the report.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Boxzooka
- Lineage shares IPO windfall with its workers
- Report calls for slower growth in warehouse automation
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Kevin Ledversis, vice president of sales at Newcastle Systems. Labor continues to be in short supply, which means that it is important for distributors and warehouse operators to hold on to the labor that they do have by keeping warehouse employees engaged and happy. Our guest shares ways to foster an environment of employee contentment.
Mexico recently passed China to become the U.S.’s largest trading partner. We’ve seen Mexico rise very quickly in the business landscape due to tariffs on imports from China to the U.S. as well as global disruptions, such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. As a result, there has been a swift shift toward Mexico as a new manufacturing hub. To move all the freight now being generated south of the border, there has been a rush from leading logistics companies to build supply chain links between the U.S. and Mexico.
The adoption of generative artificial intelligence—or GenAI—for sourcing and procurement is gaining steam, and recent research from Gartner shows that its mainstream application may be just two years away. Gartner said this week that GenAI for procurement is at the “peak of inflated expectations.” Essentially, the data show that use cases are growing and AI capabilities are improving, making GenAI for sourcing and procurement a fast-moving technology within supply chains.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Newcastle Systems
- UPS to buy Mexican express delivery firm
- TCA names for-hire carrier as its first Mexican member
- Schneider says intermodal deal with CPKC eases US-Mexico freight surge
- Generative AI for procurement moves beyond hype
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Dennis Mullahy. He is the former chief supply chain officer for Macy’s and he has also worked in the supply chain operations for several other large retailers, including Ulta, Michaels, and Meijer. These days, Mullahy is an independent consultant working with a number of supply chain startups. He is also a senior advisor to Fortna. He talks to us about supply chains post-pandemic, facility designs, and maintaining supply chain continuity.
This week we learned some new details about how Walmart, the nation’s largest grocery retailer, is rolling out a “supply chain transformation” that relies on new investments in data, intelligent software, and automation. Walmart week opened a 730,000 square-foot perishable distribution center (PDC) in Texas, which is designed to keep its more than 4,600 stores stocked with fresh and frozen merchandise. The new facility receives and processes fresh produce, eggs, dairy, flowers, and frozen goods for delivery to Walmart stores. It does that by leveraging technology to process more than double the volume of a traditional DC, getting items onto store shelves faster than ever before.
Some recent research shows that by 2027, half of companies with warehouse operations will leverage artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled vision systems to replace traditional scanning-based cycle-counting processes. This information comes from Gartner, and was presented at their Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo in Barcelona in June. AI-enabled vision systems are novel, hyper-automation solutions that combine industrial 3D cameras, computer vision software, and advanced AI pattern recognition technologies, as well as machine learning. Gartner says the technology can “radically change” the way many manually dependent processes are performed.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Fortna
- Walmart opens perishable foods DC in Texas
- Seeing is believing
- Report: AI-enabled vision systems making headway in the warehouse
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Alex Scott, an associate professor of supply chain management at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Many of our regular listeners are familiar with CARB, the California Air Resources Board, and their attempts to reduce air pollution in the Golden State. However, recently, new regulations have hit supply chain companies hard in California. We reported a few weeks ago on new regulations for phasing out internal combustion engines in forklifts. And now CARB is going after train locomotives by proposing regulations that will require technology that currently does not really exist. Is this too far too soon? Dr. Scott has extensively studied this issue and offers some interesting perspectives.
One of the biggest logistics stories this week was Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall in Texas on Monday, battering the Gulf Coast and leaving millions of homes and business in the region without power and disrupting supply chains. We share the latest on how logistics companies are helping with the cleanup, partly through the efforts of the American Logistics Aid Network. ALAN is hard at work coordinating logistics and supply chain services for humanitarian organizations that are trying to get support to the affected areas.
Over at DC Velocity’s sister publication, Supply Chain Xchange, we have been working on a series of podcasts on the current State of Logistics. The podcast uses the Annual State of Logistics Report from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals or CSCMP as a jumping off point while also incorporating in some other voices that share in detail what is currently happening in the logistics sector with specific episodes focused on trucking, rail, ocean, inventory, and more.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- University of Tennessee's Haslam School of Business – Supply Chain Management program
- California Air Resources Board (CARB)
- Texas deals with impact of Hurricane Beryl
- American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN)
- CSCMP's State of Logistics Report
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Storage Solutions
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is John Lash, group vice president of product strategy at e2open. Good supply chains allow companies to remain competitive. But sometimes they need a bit of government help, especially when their competitors receive assistance from their own governments. That’s one reason why the Biden administration has launched the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience. Our guest shares why this latest task force was created and what it is intended to address.
Government regulations are always a big topic at trucking-industry events, and that was certainly the case this week at the SMC3 Connections conference in Colorado Springs. Connections is an annual educational event sponsored by SMC3. We share some of the highlights from the conference, including proposed government regulations that freight companies see as concerns due to their their implementation timelines.
This week UPS sold its Coyote Logistics division to RXO. UPS had acquired Coyote for $1.8 billion in 2015, when it was a hot startup in the freight brokerage sector. Since that time, conditions have gotten really tough in the truckload freight business, which has been in a freight recession for about two years now. The sale reflects that downturn, as Coyote was sold for just over $1 billion. We look at the deal and discuss how both RXO and UPS will benefit from it moving forward.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- e2open
- Legislation and the environment top trucking industry concerns
- UPS sells off Coyote brokerage arm to RXO for $1.025 billion
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Arun Rajan, chief strategy and innovation officer at transportation provider C.H. Robinson. Artificial intelligence is beginning to make inroads into logistics operations. But beyond all the hype, are there ways that generative AI can benefit transportation companies now?
We’ve all heard about the decline of imports from China and how other countries are benefiting from that decline. Today we learn about one exporting country that is on the rise. It's India.
Norwegian warehouse automation company AutoStore opened its new U.S. headquarters this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Located in Salem, New Hampshire, the building replaces the company’s previous U.S. headquarters, which officials said they had outgrown. The new facility is twice the size of the old building and is just about 10 miles away. It features a complete AutoStore automated storage system in-house as a way to demonstrate the technology.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- C.H. Robinson
- Port of Savannah adds ocean freight connections with India
- GEP report shows manufacturing activity jumped in May
- UPS executive identifies three supply chain megatrends
- AutoStore opens U.S. headquarters in Southern New Hampshire
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Don Hicks, CEO of Optilogic. We saw during the pandemic how badly our ports were jammed with all of the many imported goods we needed and wanted to keep us happy while stuck in our homes. The congestion had eased a bit in the past year or so, but now things are beginning to jam up again. What’s causing that congestion? Our guest has some answers as well as advice on how to deal with these new problems.
Software giant Microsoft Corp. and the German supply chain management and e-commerce solution provider Arvato plan to team up to develop plans for what they call a “self-managing warehouse of the future.” They call this the “Moonshot” research project, and say it will be powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and cloud computing.
Shipments of autonomous industrial lift trucks are expected to double from 2024 to 2025 in North America and Europe, driven by a declining industrial workforce and related demand for automated and tech-connected equipment. That’s according to data from global technology research firm ABI Research, which was released earlier this month. We discuss their projections and what's behind trend.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Optilogic
- Demand for automated forklifts to grow as warehouse labor issues persist
- Microsoft and Arvato to design self-managing warehouse of the future
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Brett Wood, president and CEO of Toyota Material Handing North America. He also serves as the current chair of the Industrial Truck Association. Each year, the forklift industry sets apart a special day, known as National Forklift Safety Day, to recognize the importance of driver training and safe practices when operating industrial trucks. It's sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association. This year, National Forklift Safety Day will be held this coming Tuesday in Washington D.C. We talk with Wood about the event that is planned and how listeners can participate.
The Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) held its 47thAnnual Conference in Dallas this week. The event drew about 500 attendees and was chock full of educational sessions covering technology, labor issues, and case studies about facility and operations improvement projects. There was also update on the major trends and issues shaping the industry, including the release of the annual DC Metrics study.
In 2023, Flexport bought the digital technology of bankrupt Convoy, a digital freight matching company. Now we learn how Flexport intends to market that technology to help small carriers in managing their businesses.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Industrial Truck Association - National Forklift Safety Day
- WERC releases 21st annual DC Measures report
- Flexport continues to invest in Convoy freight-matching technology
- Toyota Material Handling to build $100 million factory for electric forklifts
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Equipment Depot
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Alex DaSilva, Lead Hurricane Forecaster at AccuWeather. Last year the Atlantic hurricane season was the fourth-most active hurricane season on record. There with 20 named storms. And the forecasts for this year’s hurricane season are even worse. How will that affect our supply chains and what can we do to prepare for possible disruptions? Our guest shares what this year's storm season may be like and why we may see such a surge in major hurricanes this summer.
Priorities may be shifting when it comes to supply chain preparedness. A recent study from Deloitte – released this past week -- examines the factors causing companies to expand and enhance their supply chains following several years of focus on resilience. The report is titled “Restructuring the Supply Base: Prioritizing a Resilient, Yet Efficient Supply Chain.” And it found that companies are trying to strike a better balance between performance and cost by reevaluating and restructuring their supply base.
There is ongoing debate over California’s controversial regulations that will eventually phase out most non-electric forklifts . Why is this such a hot button issue in the Golden State?
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- AccuWeather
- Report shows manufacturers prioritize a resilient yet efficient supply chain
- Propane group criticizes California plan to ban internal combustion forklifts
- Toyota Material Handling to build $100 million factory for electric forklifts
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Omar Troncoso. He is a partner at consulting firm Kearney and heads their Mexico City office. In the wake of pandemic disruptions, we all learned that our complex supply chains were just too complex. On top of that, we have seen more tariffs for Chinese goods and other world events that have encouraged companies to bring their manufacturing much closer to U.S. soil. Each year, Kearney has researched reshoring trends. They just recently published those results in a study called Made in America for America. Our guest is the co-author of the report and shares what trends they uncovered.
One of the stories that our readers look forward to every year is the list from consulting firm Gartner of its “Global Supply Chain Top 25.” This year was actually the 20th year the firm has released that ranking. Schneider Electric is tops again this year. We find out other high-ranking firms and the criteria that makes their supply chains successful.
We often hear about how tough warehouse work can be and how that can be a contributing factor to the industry’s labor problems. Even in good times it can be hard to find workers for warehouse and distribution center jobs. It’s physically demanding work that can lead to injuries. As a result, more and more managers and company leaders are focused on introducing ergonomic solutions designed to ease the stress and strain of warehouse jobs. We preview a story in our June issue highlighting new ergonomic technologies, including exosuits.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Kearney
- Gartner unveils 20th annual global supply chain Top 25
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Hayes, assistant vice president, risk control, at insurer Travelers. There are a lot of things that distract drivers as they travel down our nation's roads. From cell phones to radios to things they may see along the way – just about anything could distract a driver at the wrong moment. Our guest shares the latest research from Travelers into the problems of distracted driving, how it can affect commercial and transportation fleets, and what can be done to limit distractions.
The Biden Administration this week unveiled a new round of tariffs directed at Chinese goods that the government feels gives Chinese companies an unfair competitive advantage. Some of the tariffs involve products used in our supply chains, and not every importer is happy to see these new tariffs. We look at what tariffs are being levied and explain why there is some opposition to them.
This week, two clean energy companies – renewable natural gas (or RNG) provider Clean Energy Fuels and RNG producer Maas Energy Works – announced plans to build nine bio-fuel RNG production facilities at dairy farms in seven states. Maas Energy will build the facilities, and the RNG produced will feed Clean Energy’s nationwide network of RNG stations, which provide fuel for heavy- and medium-duty trucks, buses, and other fleets of equipment. The project involves collecting manure from the dairy farms and capturing the methane emissions to produce RNG that involves “dairy digester” technology.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Travelers
- Trade groups criticize White House tariffs on Chinese goods
- Clean energy companies advance bio-fuel production for fleets
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is John Lash, group vice president of product strategy at global supply chain platform e2open. The EU has agreed to new environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rules within The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D). This requires companies to act if their supply chains cause environmental damages such as toxic air, packaging, and packaging waste or violate forced labor laws. But what will this updated call to action mean for corporate accountability?
Everything seems to be getting more “high tech” these days. In our current issue, we take a look at how this trend is affecting sorters—which, of course, are keys to keeping warehouse and distribution center processes running smoothly and efficiently.
Both shippers and carriers throughout North America know all too well that the truckload industry has been in the low cycle of a freight recession for nearly two years. There are basically too many trucks and not enough cargo moving to fill them all. However, we’ve lately gotten some indication that things are finally getting ready to turn around.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- e2open
- Revved up and ready to sort
- Poll: sentiment improves among owner-operators and small fleets
- ACT Research: trucking sector upturn likely within a couple of months
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the world’s largest trade group for robotics & automation companies. Robotics have impacted supply chains in ways few other technologies ever have. From filling orders in warehouses to loading and unloading trucks, robotics and automation are making our supply chains run more efficiently and accurately. And while the use of robotics has seen steady growth in the industry, what is the near-term outlook?
Supply chain leaders are bullish on generative AI, with most saying they expect to reap returns on their investments in the technology this year and that they plan to invest even more in the future. This is according to an Accenture survey of C-Suite executives worldwide, released this week
Walmart is famous for making its supply chain as efficient as possible. This week we learned about another way they squeeze cost out of the system. The company opened a high-tech consolidation center in Illinois. This is a 490,000-square foot facility that uses automation to flow three times more volume of goods through the building than a manual version. They have about 10 total of these consolidation centers, but most of those are manual; this is actually the third one of these high-tech ones they operate, following the first one which opened in California in 2019.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
- Supply chain AI investment applications are on the rise
- Walmart opens third consolidation center in its US network
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Yale Lift Truck Technologies
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is John Donigian, senior director of strategy - supply chain for risk assessment firm Moody’s. We have been reporting for more than a year on just what a difficult time the logistics industry has experienced. Costs remain high and lead times have increased. Our guest provides an overview of what is causing logistics to be stuck in the doldrums.
Scientists are looking at ways to make better batteries, but for some time now lithium ion has just been the best way to pack a lot of power into a small space. This week we heard about one way to move toward a safer way to transporting lithium ion batteries - and it has to do with blockchain.
Demand for forklifts, aisle trucks, container handlers, and similar equipment is on the rise, thanks to planned infrastructure development projects around the world. This is according to data from Chicago-based research firm MarketsandMarkets, released earlier this month. The researchers say demand for industrial vehicles for material handling and transportation is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 5% by 2030.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Moody's supplier risk management
- MSC improves lithium battery shipping safety through deal with GSBN
- New projects call for more forklifts
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is David Correll, a research scientist with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Transportation and Logistics. This coming Monday, April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. Begun in 1970, this is a worldwide event designed to recognize the importance of preserving our environment. Due to their basic role of moving goods worldwide, our supply chains are among the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases. While we can’t totally eliminate our environmental footprints, there are things we can do to lessen their impacts on the environment. Each year, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics produce a State of Supply Chain Sustainability report. Correll is the project lead for this ambitious research. He shares about the progress being made toward sustainability within supply chains.
Members of the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) Women in Motion (WIM) group met with federal government leaders in Washington this week to advocate for policies that support women drivers and that will encourage recruitment and retention of more women in the industry. We look at the specific legislation they are promoting to improve the lives of women truckers.
Freight company Yellow Corp. went out of business last year. It was one of the largest trucking companies to declare bankruptcy in history. Yellow blames its demise on contract negotiations with the Teamsters, while the union says the company spent more than it could afford to acquire other companies and expand. Regardless, the bankruptcy court has been selling off the company's remaining assets. We look at those assets and what other trucking firms have been buying them in order to expand their own operations at bargain prices.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Transportation & Logistics
- State of Supply Chain Sustainability Report (2023)
- Women truckers take their case to Washington
- Estes to open wave of new freight terminals acquired from bankrupt Yellow Corp.
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is John Paxton, CEO of MHI. Supply chain professionals gathered just a few weeks ago in Atlanta for MODEX 2024. It is one of the most exciting stops on a professional’s calendar, as there were three large halls filled with the latest in supply chain technologies to explore. MHI is the industry trade group responsible for organizing and presenting MODEX. Paxton shares key takeaways from the show as well as discusses in detail some of the important findings from the MHI Annual Industry Report. Released during MODEX, this research gives a snapshot of the current state of the industry.
Transportation industry leaders have shifted their priorities in 2024, with cost concerns taking a back seat to climate issues that can cause major supply chain disruptions. This is according to the 2024 State of Transportation Report from transportation management technology provider Breakthrough. Respondents said extreme weather events—such as the months-long Panama Canal drought—are their number one transportation challenge this year. They also said such issues are pushing environmental sustainability initiatives to the top of their companies’ agendas.
The U.S. manufacturing sector has emerged from the pandemic on a strong growth trajectory, and continued growth is expected over the next 10 years. That’s according to a report from the National Association of Manufacturers and Deloitte, the consulting firm. The report says the sector is growing in response to three trends, as companies work to meet evolving customer demands, de-risk their supply chains, and leverage government incentives and policies
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- MHI
- Manufacturers could see job shortage as growth accelerates
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Stephen Dyke, principal solution advisor at FourKites. It has been more than a week since the cargo ship Dalia struck and brought down Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. Supply chain managers are working hard to adjust to limited operations at the Port of Baltimore, and shippers are shifting cargo to other ports and road networks. Our guest shares the latest from Baltimore and the current impacts to supply chains.
Economic activity in the logistics industry grew for the fourth straight month in March and marked a continued return to more “healthy and normal” growth levels. That’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index (or LMI) report, which was released this week.
Ever since ChatGPT came out a little more than a year ago, people have been playing around with these chatbots that are powered by generative artificial intelligence, better known as GenAI. But while these tools can definitely do some impressive things in terms of holding natural language text conversations with humans and instantly researching the internet to provide unique answers, how that can actually help us get our work done better and faster is a harder question to answer . We got a little more information this week with the news that KPMG is expanding its relationship with Google Cloud, with the goal to apply GenAI in practical ways in business.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- FourKites
- The logistics economy expanded in March
- KPMG and Google Cloud expand efforts to roll out GenAI
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Travero Logistics
Other links
Our guest on this week's episode is Crystal Parrott, chief operating officer at Plus One Robotics. Retailers have always had to deal with seasonal peak periods. However, those fluctuating volumes make it difficult on distribution operations. But now, there are technologies that make it easier to smooth out the peaks. Our guest shares how those technologies can bring huge benefits for retail distribution.
The major story we’ve been covering this week has been the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor when it was struck by a container ship leaving Maryland on its way to Sri Lanka. Investigators and rescue workers are still trying to figure out how that tragedy happened, and it could take years to ultimately rebuild the bridge, which carried traffic on I-695. In the meantime, the closure of the Port of Baltimore has forced supply chains managers to adapt. We look at how ships and trucks are being rerouted to other ports and roads and what overall effects this disaster may add to supply chain disruptions and complexity.
We take a sneak peek at a story in the April issue of DC Velocity that looks at how drones are impacting middle-mile freight movement. There is a European company that is very close to making commercial delivery operations with larger drones a reality. Dronamics has developed a Cessna-sized aircraft called the Black Swan. It’s a middle-mile drone that can deliver 770 pounds of cargo up to about 1,500 miles.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Plus One Robotics
- Baltimore port closure could trigger freight rate hikes and delays
- Port of Baltimore closure could clog nearby ports as freight is diverted
- Cargo drones tackle the middle mile
- Get episode transcripts
- Visit Supply Chain Xchange
- Listen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcast
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com
Podcast is sponsored by: Aptean
Other links
Guest: Dana Stiffler of Gartner on their Women in Supply Chain survey; Dock workers threaten to strike; New research into the future of trucking
23:49
Guest: Andrew Billings of North Highland on the upcoming peak retail season; Raymond establishes a battery manufacturing plant; Sales of EVs slump
21:36
Guest: Michael Sadowski on sustainability in the apparel industry; Truck drivers' salaries; Safety in dock areas
22:01
Guest: Dawn Andre of Jaggaer on absorbing new supply chain grads; The latest supply chain tech; The U.S. Air Force tests autonomous cargo planes
20:20
Guest: Jim Bunsey of PERC on the advantages of propane power; Labor turmoil on Canadian railroads; Automating repetitive warehouse tasks
20:56
Guest: Scott Walker of Powerfleet on new proposed rules to address heat-related illnesses in workplaces: Ports look at green tech; Electric vehicle transition is stuck in the slow lane
19:21
Guest: Kathy Fulton of the American Logistics Aid Network on recovery efforts from Hurricane Debby; The latest numbers from the Logistics Managers Index; Will we face a labor strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports?
18:44
Guest: Tom Behnke of Boxzooka on back-to-school season distribution and retailing; Sharing rewards with the workforce; Predicted slowing of growth in automation projects
19:55
Guest: Kevin Ledversis of Newcastle Systems on employee satisfaction and retention; Logistics companies respond to Mexico's manufacturing boom; Generative AI in sourcing and procurement
20:47
Guest: Dennis Mullahy on supply chain continuity; Walmart invests in grocery DCs; Computer vision systems see new warehouse applications
22:25
Guest: Dr. Alex Scott of the University of Tennessee on California CARB's new regulations for railroads; The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl; The State of Logistics
21:21
Guest: John Lash of e2open on the new White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience; Regulations top trucking concerns; A shakeup in freight brokerage
24:23
Guest: Arun Rajan of C.H. Robinson on Generative AI in transportation; Is India the next big manufacturing hub? An industry ribbon-cutting
21:32
Guest: Don Hicks of Optilogic on new port congestion; The self-managed warehouse of the future; Autonomous forklift shipments are on the rise
20:43
Guest: Brett Wood of ITA on National Forklift Safety Day; What's measured in DCs; New life for Convoy's business intelligence
20:40
Guest: Alex DaSilva of AccuWeather on a super-charged upcoming hurricane season; Resilient and efficient manufacturing supply chains; Pushback on CARB forklift regulations
23:27
Guest: Omar Troncoso, a partner at Kearney, on nearshoring research; Rankings of top global supply chains; Warehouse ergonomics
23:08
Guest: Chris Hayes of Travelers on risks of distracted driving; New tariffs on Chinese imports; Cows fuel fleets
16:24
Guest: John Lash of e2open on new European ESG regulations; Sortation that is revved up and ready; Is the freight recession about to shift into reverse?
20:45
Guest: Jeff Burnstein of A3 on the state of the robotics market; A rise in supply chain AI investments; Walmart squeezes more costs from its distribution operations
15:55
Guest: John Donigian of Moody's on supply chain risks; A safer way to ship lithium batteries; The rising demand for industrial trucks
20:15
Guest: David Correll of MIT on supply chain sustainability; Women truckers head to Washington; What happened to Yellow Corp.?
27:32
Guest: John Paxton of MHI on MODEX 2024 and the MHI's Annual Industry Report; The shifting priorities of transportation; A forecast for growth in manufacturing
19:54
Guest: Stephen Dyke of FourKites on how shippers are adjusting after the Key Bridge collapse; New stats show the health of logistics; Applying Gen AI to business practices
19:48
Guest: Crystal Parrott of Plus One Robotics on how automation can help retailers handle peaks; Supply chain impacts of the Baltimore bridge disaster; Drones show potential for middle-mile deliveries
20:21