Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

Our guest on this week's episode is Max Farrell, cofounder and CEO of WorkHound. 2023 has not been so rosy for trucking. Volumes are down, and the capacity built up during the pandemic is more than what is needed currently. What is causing the current problems for trucking and what might conditions be like for truckers during the second half of the year? Our guest shares some insights from research his company conducted on how truck drivers view their jobs and what concerns them most.Several labor agreements were reached this past week with our nation's railroads. Rail workers were primarily looking for better working conditions in these agreements. We discuss what was accomplished and what it will mean to have labor peace on the rails.Continued high inflation, interest rate increases, and a general slowing of the economy are affecting businesses and consumers alike as 2023 marches on. These sentiments were echoed in an industry report released this spring that showed new trends in consumer buying habits. We share what is happening with these “conflicted consumers.”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.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:WorkHoundUnion Pacific agrees to provide more predictable schedules for union rail workersAsendia Report: How to sell direct in the age of the conflicted shopperVisit 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: Rite-HiteOther 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 Eduardo Lopez-Soriano, vice president of marketing for UPS Capital - the shipping insurance division of UPS.  Consumers want more than just speed in e-commerce delivery. They also want features like accurate parcel tracking and time-definite delivery windows. But, can shippers provide those profitably? Our guest discusses ways to personalize the e-commerce consumer experience.As cost pressures increase, investment in warehouse tech is declining. Orders for warehouse automation technology are expected to fall this year as companies re-evaluate investment plans and prioritize cost-efficiency, a new report shows.How do companies find enough workers, with the right training, and hire them at the right pay, to make it all work out? New technologies, and specifically artificial intelligence, could help out with that problem. 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.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:UPS CapitalAs cost pressures grow, investment in warehouse tech declinesGenerative AI tools could help companies solve labor and talent shortages, SAP saysInstawork raises $60-million for warehouse labor marketplaceVisit 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: Rite-HiteOther 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 Spencer Shute, principal consultant at Proxima. We hear talk of artificial intelligence just about everywhere these days. These new technologies hold the promise of making life better in a number of ways. But how can artificial intelligence be applied to the logistics industry? Our guest has some ideas.The logistics industry has been preparing for Mother's Day–which is this weekend. Consumers expect to spend nearly $36 billion for Mother's Day this year.  Much of that will be spent on flowers that enter the United States from Latin America via Miami International Airport. In this segment, we look at how logistics makes Mothers' Day celebrations possible.A recent survey shows what concerns freight business CEOs the most as we head to the midpoint of the year. A possible recession and operating costs are high on the list, but it might surprise you to learn what ranked near the bottom of what keeps business executives up at night.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.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:ProximaLogistics companies gear up for Mothers' DaySecond half of 2023 holds challenges for freight forwarding industryVisit 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: Rite-HiteOther 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 Ron Greene, SVP Intel and Fusion Center at Overhaul, a global logistics risk-management software company. Cargo theft continues to plague the industry, as millions of dollars worth of products are stolen each year from facilities as well as from trailers in transit. How serious is the problem of theft, and what can be done to prevent it? We discuss how technology can play a role in stopping thefts and aid in recovery of goods if thefts do happen.The trucking freight business is changing, as freight volumes decline overall. Yet new patterns are emerging and volumes are being pushed to different regions of the country. We explain what is happening and why.The latest Logistics Managers' Index report is out, showing the health of the overall logistics industry. It appears there is still growth, but just barely. The numbers are certainly down from the huge growth avalanches of the past two years. But is this slowing just more of a return to normalcy?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.  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:OverhaulTruck freight volume continued to contract in Q1, US Bank saysLogistics industry growth slowed in AprilVisit 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: Rite-HiteOther 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 Dustin Burke, a managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group. Recently BCG conducted research on how C-suite leaders feel about current business conditions. The research also looked at their attitudes toward their supply chains. Burke shares the results and how viewpoints differ depending on where respondents are in the world.Many companies continue to have difficulty finding good workers. With unemployment still at near-record lows, it does not look like the situation will improve any time soon. As a result, more companies are turning to technology to fill the gaps and create new efficiencies.The Covid pandemic taught us that many of our supply chains are simply too long. One hiccup along the way can result in delays and shortages. While many of the products that we use every day are still sourced and manufactured in Asia, Mexico is becoming an increasingly popular place to locate manufacturing facilities for North American consumption.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:Boston Consulting GroupTech investments grow as labor problems persistRedwood Logistics expands Mexico footprint as nearshoring trend gains steamVisit 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 Martin Buena-Franco, automation products marketing manager for The Raymond Corporation. We have all seen the impacts that automation technologies are making in our distribution operations. But with so much new automation out there, how does a warehouse operator know where to start on the automation journey? Our guest provides some insights. The trucking business is cyclical. The latest statistics definitely show this to be a down time for the industry. We discuss a couple of recent reports describing where we are in trucking and how long it might take before we see a rebound.No company, no matter the size, should consider itself immune from cyberattacks. Supply chains are attractive targets for criminals, mostly because we depend on them so much that there are opportunities for data theft and ransomware. We discuss new research on the top supply chain cyber risks.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:The Raymond CorporationTrucking sector conditions sank sharply in February, FTR saysMarch trucking tonnage tumbled to largest monthly drop since April, 2020Report identifies top supply chain  cyber risksVisit 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 Paul Brashier, vice president of drayage and intermodal for ITS Logistics. Longshoremen still don’t have a contract agreement with West Coast ports – and last week they staged a temporary work stoppage. Is this a sign of more to come, and should shippers trust their goods moving through these ports? Our guest explains the current situation and what shippers can do to minimize their risks.Supply chain problems continue to plague the chemical industry. More than 90% of chemical industry leaders say supply chain and freight transportation disruptions are affecting their U.S. manufacturing business, a new ACC report shows. We look at what is causing the problems and what can be done to resolve them.Online fraud continues to be a problem for e-commerce retailers. This week Amazon released its Brand Protection Report about how it is addressing the sale of fraudulent products sold on its marketplace. We report on some of the products most susceptible to counterfeiting. 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:ITS LogisticsSupply chain problems continue to plague chemical industryAmazon spent $12-billion fighting fraudulent e-commerce products in 2022Visit 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 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