Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

Our guest on this week's episode is Chirag Modi, corporate VP of industry strategy at Blue Yonder. Last week the Biden administration unveiled more plans to strengthen our domestic supply chains, with the goals of making them more resilient.  Our guest shares some details on these initiatives and how they may impact our supply chains.Economic activity in the logistics industry fell in November following three months of steady increases; that’s according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index report (LMI), which was released this past Tuesday. We look behind the numbers at what they mean for the economy and the supply chain industry.We keep hearing of the promise of self-driving truck and cars, but it has been a tough year for autonomous vehicle companies. A few have hit major speed bumps in developing their technologies. Yet, there are a few bright spots as these technologies are tested and advanced. We look at what it may take before we see deployment in large numbers of autonomous vehicles.CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Blue YonderLogistics economy contracted in NovemberTorc to use data from Uber Freight to develop autonomous trucking networkGet episode transcriptsVisit 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.comPodcast is sponsored by: PERCOther 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 Matthew Hart, founder and CEO of Soter Analytics. This is the season of gift giving. And many of those gifts are online retail orders that have to be delivered by parcel carriers. Along with increasing volumes comes the risk of more injuries to delivery workers, especially among part-time or seasonal workers not used to increased physical activity. How can these potential injuries be prevented? Our guest offers some insight on protecting workers while keeping them even more productive.From the warehouse to the road, logistics operations are ripe for technology solutions that make it easier for shippers and carriers to get orders where they need to go. New entrants to the market are answering the call. In a December article, Victoria Kickham takes a close look at three companies are providing specific solutions for transportation, warehousing, and labor-related challenges. There is a new king of last-mile deliveries. Ben Ames discusses how one major retailer has surpassed both UPS and FedEx in the number of parcels it delivers and what it means to the industry.CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Soter AnalyticsRising tech firms target logistics challengesAmazon's parcel delivery growth puts pressure on retailers, Veho saysGet episode transcriptsVisit 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.comPodcast is sponsored by: PERCOther 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 Liz Richards, the soon-to-be retiring CEO of MHEDA, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association - an organization that helps distributors and their customers in finding the right material handling solutions for meeting today’s distribution challenges. She has led MHEDA for nearly 29 years and will retire at the end of the year. We talk about the changes she has seen in the industry and what the future may hold for MHEDA.It has been a challenging year for both shippers and their logistics providers, but these two groups working in transporting goods should not have relationships that are in opposition to each other nor have competing goals. We discuss a new report from McKinsey that talks about both can find a win-win if they coordinate and complement each other’s capabilities. We discuss the DHL's new Americas Region Hub in Atlanta. The facility is being considered a model of high-tech material handling systems and green energy solutions—and it’s pushing the company closer to net zero. What makes this facility stand out as the model for the future?CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:MHEDAMcKinsey: Shippers and logistics providers share common pain pointsAutomation meets sustainability in AtlantaGet episode transcriptsVisit 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.comPodcast is sponsored by: HysterOther 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 Duane Duhamel, Director of Health, Safety and Environment at ISN, a provider of contractor and supplier management solutions.  OSHA recently released its list of top 10 safety violations. Of course, the violations mean that some things are not being done safely in the workplace – and many of the most common violations occur in transportation and warehouses. We look at what those violations are, why they happen, and what can be done to better assure safety within supply chain operations.One hangover from the pandemic that has really caused problems is a lingering shortage of computer chips. This is a problem because those chips are a crucial part of so many products in our connected world. The shortage affects production of electronics, but also things like trucks and other vehicles. This week we learned about how some engineering companies are coping with that problem.There seems to be no shortage of industry products and projects designed to create more environmentally friendly supply chains, and we heard about a new one this week. This is a partnership between industry and academia, specifically Lucas Systems and Carnegie Mellon University. It is designed to address the problem of excess packaging in distribution centers. We share details on the project and how it will be implemented.CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:ISNA new survey of engineers shows IT component shortages have eased since 2022A partnership between Lucas Systems and Carnegie Mellon University tackles sustainable logisticsGet episode transcriptsVisit 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.comPodcast is sponsored by: HysterOther 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 Evan Dexter, vice president, rental product management at Ryder System, Inc. Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day, a day we remember our military families and the important work they do to safeguard all of us. One of the ways our industry helps to support our troops is through programs designed to transition veterans into logistics jobs. We hear how Dexter made that transition himself and how his company works to bring other vets into the logistics industry. New laws in California will require that about half the trucks sold in California must be all-electric by 2035. As a step toward this goal, we report on an effort by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to award $60 million in vouchers for the purchase of new electric trucks for drayage operations within the ports.Facing a host of economic and labor challenges, manufacturers are sharpening their focus on frontline workers as a way to differentiate and propel their organizations forward. That’s according to recent research from consultancy PwC and the Manufacturing Institute, which is the workforce and development arm of the National Association of Manufacturers.  We report on details from this research.CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Ryder SystemCalifornia offers $60 million in vouchers for zero-emission drayage trucksManufacturers sharpen their focus on the front lineGet episode transcriptsVisit 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.comPodcast is sponsored by: HysterOther 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 Art Eldred, vice president and growth officer at Vargo, a systems integrator. Automation is increasingly an answer for distribution facilities that need to fulfill a growing number of orders, but can’t find enough workers. Automated storage and retrieval systems are one of the tried and true technologies that are finding more applications in today’s warehouses. We discuss their benefits and use cases.The National Retail Federation has released is annual projections of holiday shopping.  The NRF says that despite higher prices, inflation, and the uncertain economy, shoppers are expected to open their wallets even more than they did last year - with a return to pre-pandemic holiday spending.The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is launching its 17th annual Truckers for Troops campaign next week. This is a two-week fundraising effort that supports U.S. military personnel overseas and veterans here at home. We discuss the campaign and how you can participate.CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:VargoNRF holiday spending growth will return to pre-pandemic levelsOOIDA launches its 17th annual Truckers for Troops CampaignGet episode transcriptsVisit 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.comPodcast is sponsored by: HysterOther 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 Chris Grossman, chief commercial officer of Spectaire. It is often said that as California goes, so goes the nation, as other states tend to follow the regulations that the Golden State adopts. Recently there was a new agreement between the state and original equipment manufacturers on California emissions programs  that may affect transportation nationwide. The difficult thing is that there seems to be a gap between measuring emissions and calculating emissions. We explain the differences and what can be done to comply with the regulations.Demand for third-party logistics services – or 3PL services – is on the rise, due to a range of factors including e-commerce and technology adoption. This is according to recent market research from  Fact.MR. They released data this week showing that the 3PL market size is expected to grow by a nearly 8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next several years, reaching more than $2.1 billion by 2032. Consulting firm Forrester Research has a set of predictions for 2024 about how various factors will affect the way  “smart manufacturing” firms will deploy different technologies in the new year. These include the industrial metaverse, generative AI, re-shoring, and autonomous vehicles. We explain what they are and how they might influence technology adoptions for manufacturing. CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:SpectaireThe 3PL market is poised for growthForrester Research says smart manufacturing firms will slow tech rollouts in 2024Get episode transcriptsVisit 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.comPodcast is sponsored by: nVision GlobalOther 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 Sunderesh S. Heragu, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University. The world is still in shock over the ongoing devastation happening in Israel and Gaza. In addition to the human tragedies, there are also economic and supply chain impacts to the ongoing conflict. Our guest shares his expertise on how supply chains in the region are being affected.New federal funding for reducing carbon emissions from transportation and logistics has been introduced to promote the use of hydrogen as a fuel. The $7 billion in funding comes from the Department of Energy and the bipartisan infrastructure bill. The money is intended to launch seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs located throughout the country and are designed to  advance the use of hydrogen fuel for moving goods. A conference at MIT this week highlighted supply chain innovation. The event brought together academics from MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics and practitioners from retail, manufacturing, transportation, and high-tech to talk about how technology is being put to work to improve logistics and transportation operations.CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University Logistics and manufacturing hubs cheer federal funding wave for hydrogen-marketGet episode transcriptsVisit 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.comPodcast is sponsored by: nVision GlobalOther 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 Tracey Bellamy, chief engineering officer at Telgian Engineering and Consulting, a firm that specializes in fire prevention. October is fire prevention month. Most supply chain companies have facilities that they must protect from potential fires and other hazards. But fire codes vary widely from city to city and the codes have not kept up with newer material handling technologies as well as new stored products made from plastic compounds that have been introduced since the codes were established. How can supply chain managers best protect their facilities? Peak season will soon be upon us. Given the current state of the economy, especially  high inflation and rising energy prices, what should retailers except from shoppers this season?  It seems that despite those challenges, a recent survey shows that most small- and mid-sized businesses are optimistic about the holiday shopping season this year. Global situations continue to have ripple effects on our supply chains. This week we saw the Hamas attacks against Israel and the prospects of another prolonged conflict in the Middle East region. Domestically, Congress is at a standstill with the vacancy in the House leadership, leaving in limbo some significant legislation that could affect supply chains. What will the overall  impacts to the movement of the goods we rely upon daily?CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Telgian Engineering and ConsultingSMEs are upbeat about the 2023 holiday peakMiddle East violence triggers regional freight delaysNMFTA tracks trucking bills frozen in Congress since McCarthy outedGet episode transcriptsVisit 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.comPodcast is sponsored by: nVision GlobalOther 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 Jeannie Carpenter, senior director of global logistics at Jabil. Most supply chain managers aim to design their networks to be efficient at the lowest possible cost. But they also want to make good decisions that will help reduce their supply chain’s impact on the environment. Today's guest explains that those objectives don’t have to be mutually exclusive. New research is out that shows how company culture affects employee performance. A company's culture can drive productivity, innovation, and service, with three-quartersof employees surveyed saying that workplace culture affects their ability to do theirbest work. But what are the attributes these employees say defines a good company culture?Global supply chain disruptions in the last three years have made it more difficult to source, manufacture, and assemble goods overseas and then ship them around the world for sale. For the American market, it makes business sense to make products domestically in the U.S., or at least closer to our neighborhood. But does our nation have the capacity and cost effectiveness to bring manufacturing back home?CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  The current series features Transportation Tech. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:JabilU.S. manufacturing resurgence faces headwindsGet episode transcriptsVisit 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.comPodcast is sponsored by: nVision GlobalOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts