Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

Our guest on this week's episode is Carrie Wilkie, senior vice president, standards and technology, at GS1 US. The humble barcode is 50 years old this month. Since the technology was created in 1973, it has revolutionized the speed of buying the products we use every day. Additionally, it has made many tasks in logistics and warehousing more efficient and accurate. Wilkie also discusses how 2D barcodes are finding new applications to collect and carry even more information than traditional barcodes.The latest Logistics Managers' Index has been released. This monthly snapshot of the state of the industry shows a general slowing in growth and even more uncertainty in the months ahead.FedEx is restructuring its corporate organization. The large logistics company will be combining several companies that have worked independently into one business unit, including FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Supply Chain Services. We discuss  why this reorganization was undertaken and what it may mean for shippers.DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:GS1 USLogistics industry growth slowed in MarchFedEx to consolidate most operating units under single corporate umbrellaVisit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Visit Supply Chain QuarterlyListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastListen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.Podcast is sponsored by: Hyster CompanyOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

Our guest on this week's episode is Ken Ramoutar, chief marketing officer at Lucas Systems. With advancements in technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence, we all know that work will be different in the future. Most of our future workforce will come from Generation Z, many of whom have different attitudes, values, and motivations when it comes to work compared to previous generations. Recently, Lucas Systems embarked on a study about tomorrow’s workers and ways employers will need to compete for them. Global supply chain shocks and ongoing economic uncertainty have stressed many companies in recent years. This week we saw a report from the consulting firm Armstrong & Associates that found that many shippers have managed those hurdles by forging tighter relationships with their third-party logistics providers (3PLs).One of the most challenging tasks in logistics is unloading trailers and containers.  Robotics companies have been working on automating this for a long time, and now solutions are available to anyone who runs a warehouse. A few companies were demonstrating these new systems during ProMat last week in Chicago.DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Lucas Systems Insights: Voice of the Warehouse WorkerThe Global 3PL market revenue rose last year over 2021, Armstrong & Associates saysVisit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Visit Supply Chain QuarterlyListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastListen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.Podcast is sponsored by:  YaleOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

Our guest on this week's episode is Steve Smith. He is the president and CEO of Airlink, a non-profit organization that provides logistics coordination for relief organizations reaching the world's trouble spots. Airlink is offering ongoing assistance to war-torn Ukraine as well as recently coordinated transportation of people and supplies to aid victims of the last month's earthquake along the Turkey-Syria border.It has been a long time in coming, but the U.S. Surface Transportation Board has finally given the green light for the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Railroads. But there are a few conditions that the STB demands for its blessings. We discuss those conditions and how the newly combined rail network will benefit shippers.Designing a warehouse can be very complex, with so many technology options available today. There is beauty, however, in seeing a design where these different systems can work together to be even more productive than they could be on their own.DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:AirlinkU.S. regulators approve merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City SouthernFast DCs require layers of automationVisit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Visit Supply Chain QuarterlyListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastListen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.Podcast is sponsored by:  YaleOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

Our guest on this week's episode is Tania Seary, founder of Procurious. Procurious is an international network for procurement and supply chain professionals with more than 42,000 members. Earlier this week the world recognized International Women’s Day. Historically, supply chain management positions have been rather heavily male-dominated. But like many professions, we are seeing some steady change. How do women fare today in supply chain positions? While many believe electric trucks will make a huge impact on moving goods in the future, widespread adoption still seems years away. However, there is one area where the use of smaller electric trucks is rising, and that is in last-mile delivery. We report on some recent deals to increase electric truck use in some large fleet companies.The latest numbers are out for the Logistics Managers' Index. February shows slow, but steady growth in the logistics industry. We look into what's behind the numbers and what they may mean as we move further into 2023.DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:ProcuriousPurolator launches $1 billion plan to buy electric last-mile delivery vehiclesLogistics industry growth continued in FebruaryVisit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Visit Supply Chain QuarterlyListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastListen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.Podcast is sponsored by:  YaleOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

Our guest on this week's episode is Ray Haight, executive performance impact coach at JLE Industries. He talks about the problems recruiting and retaining truck drivers and two new pieces of proposed legislation in Washington that will make life on the road better and possibly make driving a truck more attractive to prospective drivers. They include a bill requiring facilities to open restrooms to drivers and also a bill to create more safe places for truckers to park overnight.We all know that supply Chains have been challenged the past two years and now the federal government is offering support and funding for new research into making them better. As part of a multi-University project, a new Center for Freight Transportation for Efficient and Resilient Supply Chain has been established within the University of Tennessee’s Center for Transportation Research. We report on what it hopes to accomplish.Like all retailers, Best Buy was forced to pivot normal operations when the pandemic began. At last week's RILA Link conference in Orlando, two Best Buy executives shared what worked and what didn't as the company experimented with new models to reach and service customers. Some of those changes have improved their supply chains in ways that may not have happened if they were not forced to  innovate during the pandemic.DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:JLE IndustriesUT Knoxville to lead multi-institutional research on freight transportation supply chains.RILA show: Best Buy learns from pandemic experimentsVisit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Visit Supply Chain QuarterlyListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastListen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.Podcast is sponsored by:  YaleOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

Our guest on this week's episode is Ramesh Murthy, chief supply chain officer and executive vice president at Bob's Discount Furniture. Finding drivers for private fleets is extremely difficult. One way Bob's Discount Furniture is filling the ranks of its fleet is by reaching out to women drivers. In order to do this, the company had to create a culture where diversity is prioritized. It's worked for Bob's, as its retention rate is extremely high.More companies have been investing in robotics and automation to speed and improve their labor-intensive processes. We take a look at some projects that could serve as examples to the broader industry — especially for those who are just beginning to investigate making these kinds of investments. Sales and manufacturing trends for Class 8 trucks are currently quite healthy, thanks to pent-up vehicle demand and elevated carrier profits during the recent pandemic rush. We take a look at the truck manufacturing market and what the prospects are for the truck industry for the remainder of the year, despite the economic headwinds the general economy may face. DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Bob's Discount FurnitureTruck builders enjoy healthy 2023 outlook despite economic headwindsPicking gets smartVisit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Visit Supply Chain QuarterlyListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastListen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.Podcast is sponsored by:  TGWOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

Our guest on this week's episode is Alex Saric, chief marketing officer for Ivalua. Many may not be aware, but new SEC-directed climate risk disclosure rules may go into effect soon that could have some significant impacts on supply chains. The proposed rules will require publicly traded companies to report on their climate impacts as well as the impacts of their suppliers and partners further upstream within their supply chains. How is the industry reacting to these potential new requirements?The United States Postal Service has had it with people and companies mailing packages using counterfeit postage. The service has announced plans to fight back by treating the parcels as abandoned. We explain why this step is taking place and what the implications may be to consumers ordering products online.The future looks bright for the industrial racking industry. A new report shows growth in racking through 2029, attributed to the constantly expanding warehouse space and the need for racking that works with robotics and automated systems. We look at the numbers and what they mean.DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:IvaluaPostal Service plans to seize items mailed with fake stampsStorage rack market to grow through 2029Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Visit Supply Chain QuarterlyListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastListen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.Podcast is sponsored by:  TGWOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

Our guest on this week's episode is Jenny Vander Zanden, chief operating officer of Breakthrough. Shippers are facing many challenges today. There is the world’s political situation for one. Another is inflation and the need to diversify. Our guest today offers some insights into the challenges of shippers and what they can be doing to mitigate their risks.The air cargo sector was one of the supply chain transport modes that was the most disturbed by the pandemic. While most of that chaotic period is hopefully behind us, the air freight market continues to see a turbulent path forward. We report on some of the latest numbers and what they mean for the remainder of the year. A recent survey found that most companies remain committed to investing in their environmental sustainability goals, despite economic challenges like inflation and a potential recession in 2023. We look deeper into the research to find out what business leaders are thinking and whether current economic conditions will affect their future commitments to sustainability. DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:BreakthroughAir cargo demand slumped in 2022 after extraordinary levels in 2021Companies to grow investments in energy-transition solutions and emissions reductionVisit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Visit Supply Chain QuarterlyListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastListen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.Podcast is sponsored by:  TGWOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

Our guest on this week's episode is Aaron Smith. It’s been difficult for many years to find supply chain workers – and in particular, the many drivers needed for our nation’s over-the-road trucks. Smith is helping formerly incarcerated individuals and others forge careers in trucking and logistics through his organization called Escaping the Odds.New trucks are hitting the market, and many of them are coming with the latest in-cab tech to keep truckers safe. They include active speed intervention, side guard alerts, active brake assist with pedestrian detection, brake hold mode, adaptive cruise control, active lane-keeping assist, and electronic steering assist. We discuss the advantages of these new safety technologies.The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors held its annual Executive Summit this week in Washington, D.C. Among the speakers was former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. We report on some of the key issues facing American businesses as we head further into this new year. DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Escaping the OddsNew Jersey truck fleet says Freightliner tractors will deliver safety was well as freightVisit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Visit Supply Chain QuarterlyListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastListen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.Podcast is sponsored by:  TGWOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

Our guest on this week's episode is Dwight Klappich, research vice president and Gartner Fellow in Gartner's Logistics and Customer Fulfillment team. He shares new research that Gartner has conducted into how robotics will be used in distribution centers. Within the next few years, distributors will deploy a number of different categories of robots for various warehouse tasks. These systems will need a collaborative platform to work together. He shares details on how Gartner views the future of this crucial and expanding market.The SMC3 JumpStart conference was held in Atlanta this week and featured a number of speakers sharing their thoughts around a weaker freight environment, tech investments that should be made, and how companies should take stock of their operations and priorities during the current economic slowdown.New research into last-mile deliveries shows that the final mile has grown more complex, expensive, inefficient, and unsustainable. As a result, the majority of retailers have outsourced their delivery networks. This has lowered costs, but has reduced their control, making some rethink whether speed or reliability is more important to their customers.DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched  and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:GartnerEconomy and technology take center stage as SMC3 conferenceRetailers lose visibility as they outsource last mile delivery, FarEye saysVisit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Visit Supply Chain QuarterlyListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastListen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.Podcast is sponsored by:  BeckoffOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts