Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

Our guest on this week's episode is Rebecca Brewster, President & COO, American Transportation Research Institute. The trucking industry has recently faced several rocky years, from an ongoing freight recession to the huge surge in diesel prices resulting from the war against Iran. As we close this year, we look to an expert to offer a recap and a look at the future. Brewster speaks with...

Our guest on this week's episode is Vikram Sekhon, CEO and co-founder of Piston. Diesel fuel costs have nearly doubled this year, largely driven by the impacts of the war with Iran. Whenever costs get more expensive, people are tempted to lessen the pain by stealing fuel. It’s done in a number of ways, but mostly comes from fraudulent use of corporate fuel cards. Our guest runs his own fleet...

Our guest on this week's episode is Chrissy Sailstad, CEO, Durham Exchange Club Industries. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This annual event was begun in 1945 by the U.S. Department of Labor to recognize the positive impacts that people with disabilities make in the American workforce. The theme this year is “Celebrating Value and Talent.” Senior Editor Victoria Ki...

Our guest on this week's episode is Sasko Cuklev, head of On-Road Solutions at Volvo Autonomous Solutions (V.A.S.). We know they are coming – it’s just a matter of time. We’re talking here about autonomous trucks. These driverless vehicles have already logged many thousands of miles on select highways around the country. But how soon before they come to a road near you – and what will be thei...

Our guest on this week's episode is Claire Li, vice president of Credit Strategy at Moody's Ratings . Critical minerals and rare earth minerals are needed in most electronics and tech devices, yet the United States does not produce many of these components domestically. China is the leading producer and its rare earth dominance threatens U.S. supply chains. How does the U.S. assure the m...

Our guest on this week's episode is Peter Larsen is a Vice President at Amazon, where he leads Amazon Supply Chain Services. Amazon may have started in 1994 as an online book seller, but today they are arguably the most successful of all online retailers. None of this would be possible if not for the extensive distribution and transportation networks that Amazon has built. And now they are op...

Our guest on this week's episode is Tommy Slaymaker, Director of Fleet Services at The Pete Store (one of the largest Peterbilt dealer groups in North America). Diesel fuel is the driving force behind our supply chains, powering everything from railroad locomotives to long-haul trucks. Prices have now risen to historic highs, due to the shortages brought on by the war with Iran. What impacts...

Our guest on this week's episode is Roberto Canevari, executive vice president, chief value chain officer at international beauty suppler Estée Lauder. Managing an international supply chain is not an easy job in this age of global disruptions. Our guest today does it every day in leading a global supply chain team of more than 10,000 people at Estee Lauder. That includes 44 factories worldwi...

Our guest on this week's episode is Mark Burstein, senior vice president of Americas at Inspectorio. Canada and the United States are battling again over tariffs following the announcement that the U.S. would be placing tariffs of as much as 50% on certain Canadian goods. Canada, of course, countered by applying tariffs of its own on American goods. So, what all does this tariff squabble mean...

Our guest on this week's episode is Tucker Perkins, President and CEO of the Propane Education & Reseach Council (PERC). Propane has been used for decades as a consistent source of powering industrial trucks, such as the forklifts and other equipment used in distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, ports, transportation yards, and other places in the logistics world. DC Velocity Gr...

Our guest on this week's episode is Marc Held, CEO of Hoptek. While it appears that the freight recession that the industry has endured the past couple of years might be ending, yet other challenges remain in a very competitive market with still lots of uncertainty. How do shippers, carriers, and logistics service providers meet today’s biggest freight challenges? Senior Editor Victoria Kickh...

Our guest on this week's episode is Abdil Tunca, a Senior Principal Analyst in the Logistics and Customer Fulfillment team in Gartner's Supply Chain practice. The U.S. government through the FCC recently issued new restrictions on robots imported from other countries. This includes the kinds of robots widely used in warehouses and distribution centers. But what are the intentions behind...

Our guest on this week's episode is Jo Marini, CEO of Mothership Materials.  Many companies have struggled with how to produce products that are well-made and also friendly to our environment. That is where a company like Mothership Materials comes in. This company takes agricultural waste and turns it into fibers and materials for manufacturing new products. Susan Lacefield of Supply Chain X...

Our guest on this week's episode is Maxime Darmet, senior economist at Allianz Trade.  One week ago here in the U.S., we saw former trade tariffs expiring and a host of new tariffs being slapped on most of our trading partners. These new tariffs are attempting to tie these countries to not doing enough to prevent forced labor in the production of their products, though those allegations are e...

Our guest on this week's episode is Zach Tomkinson, chief commercial officer at Standard Bots.  The U.S. government has been wrestling with a developing a national strategy for artificial intelligence – but another area that could use a similar strategy is in the area of robotics. Could such a strategy promote domestic robot manufacturing and help the U.S. win the automation race? To find out...

Our guest on this week's episode is Curtis Spencer, CEO of Bloodhound Tracking Device and also CEO of ISM Worldwide. We have been reporting for a couple of years now about the ongoing problem of cargo theft in our supply chains. But now we find that criminals are using artificial intelligence to make their fraudulent schemes even more believable than ever. Our guest talks with Group Editorial...

Our guest on this week's episode is Victor Thomas, VP of Health, Safety, Security, and Environment at Odyssey Logistics. For some time now, companies have measured the environmental impacts of their operations. Soon, new requirements will kick in that will also require them to report not only on their own environmental impacts but also those of their supply chain partners. Senior News Editor...

Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director at the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). It is officially the beginning of hurricane season – a period where these storms, as well as tornados and other natural disasters, such as this week’s earthquakes in Venezuela, leave behind considerable damage to towns in their wakes. It is during these times that the logistics i...

Our guest on this week's episode is Eric Fullerton, Vice President of Data Insights and Product Marketing at project44. There is now an agreement in place to end the fighting between the United States and Iran – and we hope it will be a lasting peace. But it will be a while before the world gets back to normal and we can recover from the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. And that includes not...

Our guest on this week's episode is Andrei Quinn-Barabanov, supply chain practice lead at Moody’s . New inflation reports came out this week showing that last month we reached the highest inflation rates of the past three years. Inflation is even higher when it comes to transportation cost increases. To help us understand how such inflation affects our supply chains, our guest joins DC Veloci...

Our guest on this week's episode is Jim Mozer, Senior Vice President at Crown Equipment Corporation . He is representing the Industrial Truck Association, the industry association for the lift truck industry. This coming Tuesday, the supply chain industry hosts National Forklift Safety Day. Now in its 13th year, this day is set aside annually to remind us of the importance of safe practices w...

Our guest on this week's episode is Matt Lekstutis, director at Efficio, a supply chain and consulting firm. Two weeks ago, President Trump had an historic meeting with China’s President Xi. It was a highly anticipated gathering, as there was a lot to talk about, including the war against Iran and the ongoing oil constraints. Our guest this week talks with DC Velocity Group Editorial Director...

Our guest on this week's episode is Hannah Hurckes, Founder and CEO, Boss Lady Logistics.  Last week the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously on a case that could end up changing the freight industry as we know it, especially the brokerage part of freight movement. Hurckes shares the details and the impacts of this landmark ruling with DC Velocity Senior Editor Victoria Kickham. The buzzword...

Our guest on this week's episode is Patrick Van den Bossche, partner at Kearney , a global management consulting firm. There has been a huge effort in recent years to return manufacturing to the United States, as much of this production has been outsourced to overseas factories for decades. But have these attempts been successful? Van den Bossche is the lead author of new research called the...

Our guest on this week's episode is Omar Qari, CEO of Logicbroker. Every industry has had to adjust to the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty – the Iran war, high fuel prices, volatile tariff policy – the list goes on. So, how are retailers and brands making the needed adjustments to deal with these shifting trade conditions and uncertain supply availability? Our guest offers his insights with...