Maggie Barnett discusses the recent turmoil surrounding tariffs, especially the unpredictable changes affecting Canada, Mexico, and China. She offers insights on how supply chains can adapt in this fluctuating environment. The logistics sector is experiencing notable growth, driven by rising inventory and economic activity. Meanwhile, the adoption of generative AI is on the rise, yet companies face challenges in achieving significant productivity gains. The conversation highlights the need for better AI integration and the evolving role of third-party logistics providers.

Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, the executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). We have all seen the unprecedented damage caused by the wildfires near Los Angeles. It is at times like this that the supply chain industry can mobilize resources to make sure supplies get to those who need help. Kathy Fulton shares what the emergency needs are, what is being done, and what more can be done. She also gives her take on the role of FEMA in disaster response.We saw some encouraging signs this week of manufacturing projects here in the U.S. Of course, manufacturing brings the promise of new jobs, and also of material handling, warehousing, trucking, and all the logistics that’s needed to make a factory work. We discuss two new projects - the construction of a $1.2 billion plant in Oklahoma for producing materials for batteries and GE Vernova plans to invest $600 million in its U.S. factories over the next two years to support its energy businesses.  The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, or NMFTA, published proposed changes to its National Motor Freight Classification system this week. The NMFC is a freight classification tool that businesses throughout the less-than-truckload industry use to classify and establish prices for moving freight. When they take effect later this year, shippers may see changes in the LTL prices they pay to move freight.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 series of ten episodes is now available 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:American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) GE Vernova to invest $600 million in U.S. manufacturing sitesLithium Refinery to build $1.2 billion factory in Oklahoma NMFTA to release proposed freight classification changes this weekInformation on NMFC changes at NMFC websiteVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025Other linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply <

Our guest on this week's episode is Kristen Purvis, product manager at ePost Global. Retailers have just completed a very successful holiday shopping season. But now those same retailers are dealing with many unwanted gifts in the form of returns. Are there ways they can successfully managing them? Our guest has some insights into ways to cut costs, be more sustainable in reverse logistics operations, and incorporate artificial intelligence into returns processes.Technology is vital to any business operation, but a recent study shows that logistics leaders view it as fundamental to managing growth in an increasingly complex global trade environment. The study, which was released this week by logistics technology vendor Descartes Systems Group, found that 74% of supply chain and logistics leaders view technology as fundamental or highly important to their organization’s growth strategy in the face of rising global trade challenges. It’s been a busy week in Washington DC as the new administration has officially started the process of appointing directors to top posts, including those that oversee and regulate our supply chains. We talk about the new nomination for Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, as well as important appointments to head the Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Maritime Commission. 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 series of ten episodes is now available 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:ePost GlobalSupply chain leaders say technology is key to business growth as global trade complexities riseDuffy wins Senate committee approval as Transportation nomineeTrump names new heads of federal transportation panelsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025Other linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply <

In this episode, Zac Rogers, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at Colorado State University, offers a deep dive into the logistics landscape as we head into 2025. He discusses the vital role of the Logistics Managers' Index in understanding supply chain health. Zac highlights the eight-point wish list from the American Association of Port Authorities, addressing urgent policy needs. He also reveals alarming trends in workplace safety, where workers are pressured to cut corners, jeopardizing compliance and safety. The talk balances challenges with optimism for future improvements through technology.

Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Wilson, Senior Analyst with Intelligence Solutions at Everstream Analytics. At what seems like the 11th hour, dockworkers and ports on the East and Gulf Coasts agreed to a new contract. What will labor peace mean for shippers using those ports? Our guest has some insights. He also talks about whether there will be possible impacts for shippers on the West Coast due to the out-of-control wildfires raging around Los Angeles.In a report in the MIT Sloan Management Review, researchers Tom Davenport and Randy Bean wrote about five trends in AI and data science that all businesses should be paying attention to this year. AI has become a very hot topic in logistics circles in the past couple of years, so any research that sheds light on how this technology is affecting business and commerce is something we want to pay attention to. The five trends range from the promise of agentic AI to the struggle over which C-suite role should oversee data and AI responsibilities.We’re in a part of the business cycle where it can be pretty difficult to find enough warehouse space to rent or lease, whether you’re a manufacturer, retailer, or a 3PL. This information comes from a quarterly measurement from the commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. The report said the overall national industrial real estate vacancy rate edged higher in the fourth quarter. More vacancy means it’s easier to find a place to rent—although vacancy still remains well below pre-pandemic levels. We discuss the report's outlook for available space in the new year. 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 series of ten episodes is now available 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:Everstream AnalyticsFive trends in AI and data science for 2025Demand for warehouse space cooled off slightly in fourth quarterVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025Other linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply <

In this discussion, Jason Schenker, President of Prestige Economics and a leading economist, provides his insights on the U.S. economic landscape and predictions for 2025. He analyzes labor pool challenges in logistics, emphasizing the quest for qualified workers and automation trends. Schenker also tackles the implications of tariffs and geopolitical risks on supply chains. As the peak shipping season transitions into the return season, he highlights innovative approaches retailers are adopting to streamline reverse logistics.

Our guest on this week's episode is Lee Ambrose, vice president at Remote Security Solutions. We hear regularly about securing our supply chains from threats, such as products being stolen while they are in transit. But security is more than just theft - it is also securing and protecting facilities and the people who work in them. Our guest discusses the possible threats that face our supply chains and how to keep both workers and products safe from harm. California this week got federal approval to move ahead to the final stages of approval for its 2022 plan to gradually scale back the sale of gas-powered cars within the state. They needed federal approval to have a standard different from broader U.S. rules, and the EPA has now allowed what’s called the Advanced Clean Cars II rule. This means that by 2035, all new cars sold in California will have to be zero-emissions models, which includes battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid cars. Congestion on U.S. highways is costing the trucking industry big, according to research from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), which was released this week. The group found that traffic congestion on U.S. roadways added $108.8 billion in costs to the trucking industry in 2022—the latest data available. This is a record high. We look at states with the highest amount of traffic congestion. 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 series of ten episodes is now available 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:Remote Security SolutionsCalifornia moves a step closer to requiring EV sales only by 2035Trucking industry experiences record high congestion costsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium ServicesOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply <

Dwight Klappich, a research vice president and Gartner Fellow specializing in supply chain analysis, joins to discuss critical trends in logistics. He explains the 'hype cycle' of warehouse robots and drones, helping listeners determine when to adopt these technologies. Klappich highlights disappointing global forklift sales forecasts and the factors behind the stagnation. He also sheds light on common mistakes leaders make in reorganizing supply chains, advocating for tailored solutions that prioritize balance, strength, and speed.

Our guest on this week's episode is Paul Caron, a cyber Intelligence expert whose title is Head of Cyber Security, Americas at global intelligence and cybersecurity consultancy S-RM. Last week we learned of a major ransomware attack at Blue Yonder that put many supply chains in a somewhat perilous situation just as we went into Black Friday. So, how secure are our supply chains and should this latest attack be something of a wake-up call? Our guest offers some insights into such attacks and how supply chain companies can build security and resilience into their systems.Economic activity in the logistics industry expanded in November, continuing a steady growth pattern that began earlier this year and signaling a return to seasonality after several years of fluctuating conditions. That’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index report (LMI), which was released this week. We look at the numbers behind the index and what they mean for the health of the logistics industry.We are smack in between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and knee-deep in the middle of the winter-peak shopping season. And that means we’re also in the middle of the peak-shipping season, when e-commerce retailers are handling a huge surge of orders for holiday gifts. Most shoppers are demanding to receive their goods in two days or less. We share a report card on how they are doing at getting these shipments to their destinations on time.  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 series of ten episodes is now available 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:S-RMThe logistics economy continues on solid footingRetailers produce fastest delivery times since Covid-19Get episode transcriptsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium ServicesOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply <

Chris Jamroz, CEO of Roadrunner, shares valuable insights on the challenges facing the less-than-truckload (LTL) market, including economic pressures and overcapacity. He highlights cautious optimism among businesses in anticipating a boost during the holiday shopping season, despite ongoing supply chain hurdles. Additionally, Jamroz discusses potential disruptions expected in early 2025, like those from Chinese New Year and upcoming tariffs, recommending proactive strategies to navigate these challenges.