Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

AGiLE Business Media

The editors of DC VELOCITY magazine bring you weekly updates on logistics, material handling, and supply chain news.

  1. 3D AGO

    Guest: Amy Dean of SC Codeworks on tariffs and Foreign Trade Zones; Mixed job reports; Safety standards for humanoid robots

    Our guest on this week's episode is Amy Dean, VP of Operations at SC Codeworks. The shipping world is still waiting on the Supreme Court’s ruling on whether the administration can lawfully collect the tariffs that have been assessed on nearly every trading nation. In the meantime, there may be a strategy to mitigate some of those tariff impacts – and that is by using Foreign Trade Zones.  While employment trends show few new jobs, a new survey from resume platform company Resume.org found that most companies are planning to add more staff this year, and that a majority of those will do so quickly—by adding new hires in the first quarter. We look at what skills employers are looking for from new employees. One of the emerging supply chain technologies that’s been getting the most buzz in recent months is humanoid robots; these are two-legged, walking robots. However, this technology is new — and there are certain shortcomings. Humanoids collapse and fall down when power is cut. So that creates safety risk in the event of a fall. But according to a report from Interact Analysis, the industry is working on this problem. 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 is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  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: SC CodeworksHiring is on tap for 2026 but so are layoffsReport: Automation sector sets safety standards for humanoid robotsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com This podcast episode is sponsored by: Werner Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

    19 min

  2. 12/19/2025

    Guest: Jason Schenker of Prestige Economics with predictions for supply chains in 2026; Managing risks among shifting policies; Stabilizing your workforce

    Our guest on this week's episode is Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics and chairman of the Futurist Institute. In what has become an annual tradition, one of our nation’s leading economists joins us to review the economy of 2025 and preview economic trends for 2026. He also focuses on supply chains and the prospects for the material handling market in the year ahead. When it comes to managing risk in the new year, companies can expect much of the same as we’ve seen this year, according to a recent report from risk and claims administration company Sedgwick. Victoria Kickham shares how the report examines risks across industries and aims to help companies navigate evolving trends. The labor market is changing fast, whether we’re talking about the unemployment rate, job creation, turnover, a skilled labor shortage, or artificial intelligence. And this week Ben Ames reports on new research that lays out four major themes on what employers are going to have to do to keep themselves staffed up in 2026. But many workers are concerned that their employers won’t prepare them properly for the many changes they will face in their jobs.  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 is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  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: Prestige EconomicsReport: just 3% of executives say trade policies are positively affecting their businessRandstad points to growing skills gap as humans adopt AIVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

    34 min

  3. 12/12/2025

    Guest: Bill Catania of OneRail on holiday last mile delivery trends; Prospects for industrial real estate in 2026; Robots to the rescue.

    Our guest on this week's episode is Bill Catania, founder & CEO of OneRail. Christmas will be here before we know it – just a couple of weeks to go. For shippers, that means one final push to get all of those future presents where they need to be. What are the trends driving this year’s peak season? Our guest shares what he has seen from his base of retail customers.   Ben Ames shares about a new report from industrial  real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield that says that 2026 could be a little better, at least in terms of commercial real estate than it has been his past year. That category includes office, industrial, multifamily, and retail, so a broad area but it includes things like the warehouses and brick and mortar stores that we cover for the magazine. They said that after the “extraordinary macroeconomic uncertainty” of the past year, the U.S. commercial real estate (CRE) sector could enter 2026 with renewed momentum, clearer visibility, and growing optimism - and a lot of it has to do with the growth of AI data centers. One of Victoria Kickham's stories in the December issue of DC Velocity deals with automated truck loading and unloading. This is a topic that’s of growing interest across the industry; we see more and more robotics vendors tackling this physically demanding job – which many in the industry will tell you is probably the worst job in the warehouse. The story also digs into the rising cost of warehouse labor and how new approaches to robotics can help with that – specifically, the rise of robotics-as-a-service models and special leasing programs can help alleviate the capital expenses involved in purchasing robotics. 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 is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  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: OneRailAI investment boom rescues U.S. economy from extraordinary macroeconomic uncertaintyRobots to the rescueVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

    15 min

  4. 12/05/2025

    Guest: Marc Schaffer on the big rail merger; AI imbeds in the warehouse; The people behind the tech

    Our guest on this week's episode is Marc Schaffer, principal economist at Breakthrough Fuel. Sometime in the new year we will likely find out whether the huge mega-merger between two historic railroads will go through. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern aim to join forces to create a true transcontinental railroad. But it’s not without controversy. What will the effects be on our nation’s supply chains? This week's guest offers some insights.  Warehouses are getting smarter every day. A study released just after Thanksgiving shows that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are no longer just experimental tools but are becoming core drivers of productivity, accuracy, and workforce evolution in the warehouse. This is according to a study from Mecalux and the MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab at MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics.  This week we reported on a story about the people behind AI and other leading edge technologies. It wasn’t about the software coders who write the instructions for AI and large language models and other platforms. But rather it was about the electricians and manufacturing experts who keep all this stuff running. The reports came from Siemens USA, the American arm of the German industrial technology provider, and they announced a plan to train 200,000 electricians and manufacturing experts 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. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  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: Breakthrough FuelStudy: AI now imbedded in 60% of warehousesSiemens USA plans to hire 200,000 electricians and manufacturing experts by 2030Visit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

    24 min

  5. 11/21/2025

    Guest: Kraig Foreman of DHL Supply Chain on expectations for peak season; How transportation feels about AI; The joy of robots

    Our guest on this week's episode is Kraig Foreman, president of eCommerce at DHL Supply Chain. While stores are already showing the Christmas spirit with all of their beautiful decorations and being crammed with lots of inventory – peak season has not officially kicked off yet. But it will next week with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. After a tumultuous year for supply chains – are retailers prepared to handle the most wonderful time of the year? Our guest today joins Victoria Kickham with some insights.   While many industries are struggling to realize value from AI, transportation appears to be ahead of the curve, according to Breakthrough, which is a Wisconsin-based provider of transportation and supply chain solutions for shippers. That result came from the company’s “Peak Shipping Season Pulse,” a survey of 300 industry decision-makers. The report found that 49% of U.S. transportation leaders say artificial intelligence reshaped how they managed this year’s Q4 peak season rush. According to a survey of more than 400 U.S. warehouse associates, most view robotics and automation as a benefit to their careers and livelihoods. The survey was conducted by global warehouse robotics provider Exotec and is detailed in the company’s recent “Warehouse Workers Sentiment Report: Understanding the Impact of Automation on Retention and Satisfaction.” Company leaders said the survey reveals a “surprisingly strong embrace of robotics” on the warehouse floor, with a majority of respondents saying they are interested in working with robots.  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 is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  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: DHL Supply ChainHalf of U.S. transportation firms used artificial intelligence to manage Q4 peakReport: Warehouse automation pays offVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

    21 min

  6. 11/14/2025

    Alex Saric from Ivalua on what is holding back tech investments; Thinking small brings agility; The AI disconnect

    Our guest on this week's episode is Alex Saric, CMO at Ivalua. We have definitely seen a lot of uncertainty this year due to changing economic policies and the supply chain shifts that have resulted. It has placed a lot of companies on the sidelines trying to figure out what to do next with their technology investments. How do they get from just being in survival mode to thriving? Our guest today joins Ben Ames with some insights.   Working with small businesses can help strengthen supply chains and boost local economies; that’s according to a report from supplier intelligence platform Supplier.io, released earlier this week. The company analyzed data from more than 500 large enterprises for its 2025 Small Business Impact Report—to learn more about those companies’ small sourcing initiatives. We share some highlights from that report. A report from the supply chain software company Kinaxis reveals that there is a gap between AI ambition and AI implementation. The report found that at many organizations, business leaders tend to underestimate the new risks and complexities that AI may introduce. But on the other hand, their staffers are very well aware of those complexities, because they’re focused on the practical realities, such as the effort, change management, and technical challenges. The executives want a fast ROI from AI, but staffers see the hurdles. 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 is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  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: IvaluaSmall business spending fortifies supply chainsAI reality cap - C-Suite executives expect quick ROI but staff see hurdlesVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com This podcast episode is sponsored by:  Storage Solutions Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

    17 min

  7. 11/07/2025

    Guest: Noel Thomas of Darkwatch on human trafficking and slave labor within supply chains; Ryder raises awareness; Cargo thieves find clever ways to steal freight

    Our guest on this week's episode is Noel Thomas, founder and CEO of Dark Watch. Without even knowing it, many companies with extended supply chains may participating in human trafficking and forced labor. It exists around the world and even here in the United States where people are manipulated into modern forms of slavery. What can we do to protect our supply chains and company reputations, while more importantly helping these most vulnerable people?  Transportation and logistics provider Ryder System, Inc. is doing its part to address the issue of human trafficking in the supply chain. Ryder is hosting a mobile exhibit on the issue at its Fort Worth, Texas, Transportation Management Center today. The event is for Ryder employees, local law enforcement, and public officials and it features the Freedom Drivers Project (FDP); this is a national mobile exhibit developed by the nonprofit group Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), which is an alliance of trucking industry companies, law enforcement, and government agencies. We’ve heard a lot about cargo theft lately, and that’s not surprising, given that there is so much freight moving around the country on any given day. The latest report we saw from the theft prevention firm CargoNet shows that many thieves are focusing their efforts on only the highest value cargo shipments.  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 is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  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: Dark WatchRyder hosts event to raise awareness of human traffickingReport: Cargo thieves are targeting high-value goodsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com This podcast episode is sponsored by:  Storage Solutions Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

    23 min

  8. 10/31/2025

    Guest: Brodie Sutherland of Patriot Critical Minerals Corp. on securing a domestic supply of critical minerals; Supply chain digitalization becomes a priority; The market expands for self-driving trucks

    Our guest on this week's episode is Brodie Sutherland, CEO of Patriot Critical Minerals Corp. Just yesterday a major issue on the agenda for the meeting between President Trump and China’s President Xi’s was access to critical minerals, including rare earth minerals. It looks like the Chinese ban on exporting these crucial minerals will now be lifted, but that ban reminds us of how vulnerable our supply chains are to assuring that critical minerals are available for production of semiconductors, military equipment, and the electronics that run our everyday lives. Sutherland leads a company that is looking to begin mining of America’s largest deposit of tungsten, located in Nevada. He shares about the importance of assuring a domestic supply of critical minerals.  As technologies advance, companies are finding even greater need for digitalization of their supply chains. Nearly 40% of companies surveyed recently say they will allocate more than a quarter of their 2026 budgets to technology investments, according to information from logistics technology platform and solutions provider Ontegos Cloud. This week we’ve seen continued momentum in companies expanding their networks of self driving cars and trucks. Most of what we’re seeing falls into the category of carriers dipping their toe in the water, and trying out pilot projects or proof of concept trials. But the technology does seem to be getting more reliable and these week we see two more examples. We discuss what is being done and how human drivers are reacting to the potential of being replaced.  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 is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  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: Patriot Critical Minerals CorporationLogistics companies will prioritize digitalization in the year aheadSelf-driving freight tech vendor Aurora expands trucking service in TexasVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com This podcast episode is sponsored by:  Storage Solutions Other links About DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

    24 min
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About

The editors of DC VELOCITY magazine bring you weekly updates on logistics, material handling, and supply chain news.

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  • Creator
    AGiLE Business Media
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    284
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY
  • Show Website
    Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY