InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast: Recent Episodes
InTek Freight & Logistics
Stay up to date on all things freight, logistics and supply chain, with news headlines, industry topics, expert interviews and more - plus a little fun along the way - on InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast.
Drayage is what makes or breaks most intermodal shipments. And as truckload conversions continue to mount, so does stress on short-haul trucking capacity. Drayage.com and Loadmatch President and Founder Jason Hilsenbeck checks in to The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to tell us what the numbers show in terms of drayage pressure points, driver availability and the outlook.
Jason discusses the markets that are handling increased volume smoothly and those that are struggling based on website data and how trucking regulations pushed many drivers out of the market, only to have elevated revenue opportunities lead to a bounceback that's already taking place. He also explains the differences between his two websites, why he founded them and how they've endured since their inception at the end of the 20th century.
Beyond drayage, Jason tells us about the shifting container marketplace, with more private and less railroad ownership becoming a trend. And we discuss his home of Chicago, what makes it a unique and vital intermodal market, and his leadership of the Intermodal Association of Chicago as well as what it does. Along the way, we get his thoughts on the proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger.
Finding Loadmatch and Drayage.com are pretty easy, just go to www.loadmatch.com and www.drayage.com. For more on the IAC, visit www.intermodalofchicago.org.
Oh, and by the way, it happens to be our 100th episode between InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast and The Intermodal Logistics Podcast. Celebrate our milestone by commenting, liking, subscribing, following, rating and/or reviewing. We appreciate your support, and we don't plan on going anywhere except forward!
Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
With rates consistently up in 2026, many consider a freight recovery well underway. But Michigan State University Professor of Logistics Dr. Jason Miller says freight volume is largely dependent on one thing - the AI boom (and the data center construction to support it).
On this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, Dr. Miller returns to discuss just how AI is helping shipping demand, and how long he sees that continuing. He goes over what else could fill the gap if AI slows down, with concerns about both the housing market and consumer spending picking up the slack.
With diesel elevated once again, Dr. Miller explains why the supply is in far worse shape than it was when prices initially jumped at the outset of the Iran attacks. And he tells us where he expects pricing to go moving forward, as well as levers countries like China and Canada have to pull related to energy.
On capacity, Jason tells us how the trucking market is responding to the higher rate environment with new equipment, and he shares why he's less concerned about the number of drivers out there to operate trucks going forward as others are. Regardless though, with capacity tight and truck rates (as well as diesel) high, Dr. Miller says the case for intermodal conversion is stronger than ever.
Get more of Dr. Miller's analysis on LinkedIn, where he routinely offers his thoughts on economic indicators and the freight market. And learn more about his program at MSU's Broad College of Business Department of Supply Chain Management.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
One factor that has many shippers shying away from using intermodal is a worry about protecting their cargo from damage. But proper blocking and bracing - along with packing - helps thousands of loads arrive intact every day. Kelsey Even, Manager - Closed Car Loading Rules with MxV Rail joins The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to go over the considerations for safely securing containerized freight: from the ocean, to the road and of course, the railroad.
Kelsey takes us through procedures her Damage Prevention & Loading Services team, the railroads and dunnage providers have developed and tested over the years to ensure damage-free transportation for a wide variety of cargo. She discusses how her team does testing to certify new methods, the different dunnage options out there and how they've evolved, and the resources available for shippers unsure of where to begin.
How is container securement different than loading a truck? Kelsey explains the key touchpoints containers routinely go through, from crane loading and unloading to the unique harmonic vibrations they encounter on the rail that causes shifting if blocking and bracing isn't done correctly. She talks about how packing the right way is also vital before that step even takes place, and why weight distribution matters.
Beyond the resources, we talk about the willingness of all involved in intermodal shipping to help get the process right - to get loads to their destination damage-free. Kelsey explains that while it may take a few extra days to get teams comfortable with securement procedures, once they do, they become a well-oiled intermodal shipping machine.
Learn more about MxV Rail and find free guidance on intermodal packing, blocking and bracing at aar.com/standards/IntermodalLoadingPublications.php.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
It's an interesting time to be a 3PL (third party logistics provider), and an interesting time to cover the industry. Marina Mayer, IronMarkets Content Director and Editor in Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazines joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to discuss how she came to cover the industry and how it's evolved - and take us through her recent series on The State of 3PLs.
Marina tells us how she put the series together, reaching out to past honorees of Food Logistics' Top 3PL and Cold Storage Providers award, and how she was impressed with the companies' positive attitude amidst some turmoil in the market. Specifically, she takes us through reactions to changes in FMCSA enforcement, new innovations in AI/automation/tracking, cost pressures from warehousing real estate ownership, and how 3PLs are handling the market turn overall.
Then, we get into the Women in Supply Chain award, which Marina founded about six years ago - and the related Women in Supply Chain Forum event (this year's is set for November in Charleston). She explains why she saw the need for the award and conference, how women's standing in supply chain careers has improved incrementally since she began in the industry, why bringing people together has helped built community & connections, and how this year's event is focusing on self advocacy (something many of both genders are sometimes too shy to do).
Catch up on Marina's State of 3PL series at Food Logistics www.foodlogistics.com/transportation/3pl-4pl/article/22967885/state-of-cold-chain-3pl-market and learn more about the Women in Supply Chain Forum at www.womeninsupplychainforum.com - registration is open!
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Ports are vital links in the global supply chain, but those responsible for running key U.S. trade hubs say they need an equipment upgrade.
National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE) President Carl Bentzel joins The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to discuss a survey of 25 port executives NAWE released in May. Carl tells us how those member executives agreed on a need for $6.7 billion in new equipment across the country over the next five years to help domestic ports keep up with demand - and global competition.
He explains how new cranes are a particular need to handle larger ships, while other upgraded gear will add to port efficiency and safety. But there are tariff concerns, and Carl points out cranes are a particular problem as virtually all production takes place in China - which faces hefty tariffs (though NAWE is hoping for exemptions). He additionally notes that port leadership is working with labor unions to ensure any upgrades would fit automation language in their current contracts.
While the executives have identified the issue, he tells us that paying for the investments will need to be a priority in the federal government. NAWE is hopeful for a Maritime Security Trust Fund (much like the existing Highway Trust Fund) to help with port infrastructure costs.
Beyond port investments, Carl discusses his extensive background, which includes a recent stint as a Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Commissioner across the Trump and Biden Administrations and his concurrent role as National Maritime Safety Association Executive Director. And he tells us how port awareness has grown since the pandemic, the current activity level, and why NAWE is concerned about the proposed Union Pacific - Norfolk Southern railroad merger.
For more on NAWE, visit www.nawe.us.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
The concept of autonomous vehicles has been around for years, but just as taxis are beginning to take off, a new entrant in trucking is ready to hit the ground running - the Humble Hauler. Humble Robotics Founder/CEO Eyal Cohen joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to discuss his young company and why, after several years in the space, he chose to focus on freight.
Eyal explains how the Humble Hauler can help with drayage capacity around ports and rail terminals with its ability to carry containers (currently 40 footers, and soon a 53 foot option). He discusses how he was inspired for its very unique cab-less, futuristic design by the Port of Long Beach's automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and how his team took that to the next level by making them worthy of public roads with a targeted range of 150 miles - all while keeping them lightweight (key for intermodal and freight in general).
We also talk about timing - with Waymo's footprint growing and a real need for added capacity in drayage as stringent regulations are causing drivers to leave the business. He tells us how Humble plans to handle charging these EVs and how they're addressing road safety, cargo security, tracking and traditionally human interactions. And we talk about what types of companies are showing interest, when these will go live, and what other plans Humble has coming soon.
Learn more about Humble Robotics at https://humblerobotics.ai/.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Robust homebuilding offers a tremendous lift to freight volumes, so on this episode, we put new home starts (and the general housing market) in focus with Kevin Oakley, Managing Partner with Do You Convert.
Kevin takes us through the positives and negatives of the marketplace, where public and private builders diverge in terms of inventory and flexibility, how much building is taking place now - and how much buyer interest exists (now and in the future), and how COVID still factors in to where the market stands today.
Plus, he explains the role of elevated mortgage rates in demand, how those rates are calculated beyond the Federal Reserve, and where they appear headed. We also discuss how tariffs and fuel prices are affecting builders, inflation, where intermodal is coming into play on those shipping expenses and how logistics generally is becoming a greater focus for some in efforts to control costs and maintain material supply.
Before all that, we talk about Kevin's background in homebuilding marketing, what Do You Convert does, and have a discussion on the role of AI in the industry (and beyond). Find more on Do You Convert at www.doyouconvert.com, where you can also get Kevin's podcasts including Market Proof Marketing. Follow him on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/kevinoakley) for more insights as well.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that may be true of the freight environment, which includes vast swathes of land, a wide variety of goods and commodities, the Gulf Coast, and the U.S.-Mexico border. But keeping it all moving isn't just reserved for big carriers, short-line railroads and shallow water ports like those operated by TNW Corporation also play a vital role.
TNW Director of Business Support & Development Joey Evans joins us to discuss it's key place in the Texas supply chain and the state's freight market today. Joey explains how short-line railroads differ from larger rail carriers (and why they're all important), his role as Texas Short Line & Regional Railroad Association President (and why upgrading infrastructure matters), and the areas of the state that TNW's four short-lines cover.
Plus, he goes over the importance of transloading, how short lines handle containers, TNW's Port of Victoria operations, and how the company is dealing with higher diesel prices. Joey also takes us through its cross-border role, what's moving the most through Texas these days, and why technology is a differentiator for short line railroads.
Learn more about TNW Corporation at www.tnwcorporation.com.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Just a couple of weeks after a gathering of industry pros at the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) Capital Ideas Conference, President & CEO Chris Burroughs joins us again on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to share a recap of the Phoenix gathering, the hot topics covered there (and still percolating), and the general mood he's seeing in the freight world today.
Atop the list is an issue TIA has long focused on, cargo theft, and Chris explains some concrete progress made by the FMCSA, the FBI and in Congress to combat this continually concerning problem. We touch on how awareness has risen and technology has evolved to help - but also how technology has helped thieves, too.
Chris also shares the definition of chameleon carriers - which have also gained in profile due to media coverage of late - and explains why they're dangerous when it comes to road safety. And he reacts to a recent CBS Sunday Morning report that he says unfairly singled out C.H. Robinson - pointing out the difficulty of safe carrier verification as an area that the government needs to assist with.
Chris goes over the big issue on the minds of many TIA members that was part of that report, the Supreme Court Montgomery case, which could have implications on broker liability for accidents caused by carriers they use - with the ruling pending. And finally, we hit on AI, and even the film Sideways.
Learn more about TIA at www.tianet.org, where you can also find their Cargo Theft Hotline, recently created in partnership with the FBI.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Plenty is happening in (and to) the trucking market of late, so we welcome back an old friend to The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to check on where it stands. ACT Research VP and Senior Analyst Tim Denoyer joins us as our first ever in-studio guest, to go over truck production and the state of the fleet, and what that signals for capacity and activity going forward.
Plus, we address FMCSA enforcement measures and their effects on the market, how high diesel prices from the Iran conflict are changing driving behaviors (and how they're affecting costs), and why the combination of elevated rates and fuel seem to setup an opportunity for intermodal.
Additionally, Tim takes us through his thoughts on the volume picture - with a look at manufacturing, the Federal Reserve (and interest rates), tariffs and whether AI data centers are making a dent.
For more from Tim and the ACT team, visit www.actresearch.net. And you can also check out the monthly Cass Transportation Index updates at www.cassinfo.com/freight-audit-payment/cass-transportation-indexes.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Whether it's domestic, import or export, shipping agricultural products involves unique challenges - challenges that the co-founder and Executive Director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) Peter Friedmann has been tackling on behalf of membership for many years.
Peter joins us on this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to offer an overview of the organization, what goods and products fall under the ag umbrella, how they ship and more. Included in the "and more" is a discussion of the vital role of intermodal, perhaps surprising to some who think of bulk grain shipping.
He explains how many different items require containers to move - and how intermodal and transloading (something we also discuss in this blog: www.inteklogistics.com/blog/the-third-option-bulk-and-agricultural-shippers-dont-know-about) helps them get where they're needed. Plus, he goes over the import, export and domestic scenarios involved - highlighting key locations like ports and rail terminals that make movement happen.
Additionally, Peter points out how cargo theft is affecting agriculture in multiple ways, both with targeted products like whey protein and beef, and with thieves simply breaking seals on containers then leaving the contents - making them no longer viable for use.
Learn more about AgTC at www.agtrans.org and get more detail on their Annual Meeting coming up May 18-21 (which Peter also discusses) at agtrans.org/events.
Subscribe or follow us now to catch new episodes of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
The spike in diesel prices is starting to show up in the trucking market - with implications for intermodal as well. That's according to DAT iQ Principal Analyst Dean Croke, our guest on this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Dean goes over how the sudden increase in fuel related to the Iran conflict has changed the equation for trucking carriers, essentially eliminating margin especially for smaller, independent contractors. He tells us how elevated diesel prices may keep capacity (already a bit tight) out of the market, lead to a greater pursuit of contract versus spot rates, and send shippers toward intermodal to keep shipping costs down.
Speaking of capacity, Dean explains how many have exited the market due to FMCSA enforcement activities - and why a driver safety focus is a good thing in relation to a large portion of suspect training facilities being shuttered.
He also takes us through produce season, which areas are hot and which are not so much, the issues at both the Canadian and Mexican borders, port activity and why the reefer market may be especially tight at times this year. Plus, Dean and Rick recap their time at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference in Washington.
Get more from Dean through the DAT Freight & Analytics YouTube channel youtube.com/@datfreight and website www.dat.com/blog/author/dean-croke. And learn more about DAT iQ at www.dat.com/iq.
Subscribe or follow us now to catch new episodes of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Less than three months into 2026, the ocean cargo outlook for the year has been thrown a major curveball with the U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran.
Xeneta Chief Analyst Peter Sand returns to The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to go over both what was expected and what's changed in the ocean freight space now and for the next several months because of the Iranian situation.
We go over the status of the Suez Canal and Red Sea shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz and oil, what adjustments carriers are making and the overall ocean rate picture.
Plus, we discuss Xeneta's 2026 Ocean Outlook (released a few months back), which expected a bit of a shipper's market, how U.S. (and China) tariffs were projected to impact behavior, how the Supreme Court's IEEPA ruling may make its own mark, and some sage advice for shipper and carrier relations during turbulent (and not so turbulent) times.
To learn more about Xeneta and see the outlook for yourself, visit www.xeneta.com, where Peter also offers regular industry updates via Xeneta's blog.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
When it comes to sustainability, there's long been a thought that in the corporate arena it was all for show. However, the 2026 State of Transportation Report by Breakthrough paints a different picture - at least when it comes to the freight industry.
On this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, Breakthrough COO Jenny Vander Zanden joins us to go over the report, which shows a strong majority of shippers and carriers report progress on sustainability goals, and more than two thirds expect to reduce emissions in the coming year.
We discuss how even with fewer outside incentives tied to sustainable behaviors, companies see their own benefits - like decreased fuel costs and greater supply chain agility - that keep them on a positive environmental track. We even learn the related term "greenhushing."
Jenny tells us how about a third of shippers explored (or are exploring) mode conversion - including using more intermodal - to realize emissions and fuel savings on top of rates. She also talks about her career path, which took her from intern to the C-suite, and how Breakthrough started with a fuel focus but now does much more. Learn more about Breakthrough and find the report at www.breakthroughfuel.com.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
While intermodal is our focus, it's important to remember how all forms of freight transportation around the globe tie together to make supply chains go. On this episode, we welcome Cathy Morrow Roberson, Founder and Head Analyst of Logistics Trends & Insights, to give us a fuller picture.
Cathy takes us through a number of major supply chain stories - touching on the railroad merger between UP and NS, trucking capacity and FMCSA (as well as state) rules enforcement, ocean freight volumes (and Red Sea status), tariffs & trade policy and air cargo activity. Speaking of air cargo, Cathy goes over the general relationship between air and ocean cargo as well.
Before getting into all those topics, though, we talk with Cathy about her background - moving from a librarian to a logistics career with UPS, to where she is now as a leading industry analyst.
She discusses the value of research and making connections with other people involved in freight, and she talks about how more women and minorities have gotten into logistics since her career began - with more work to do.
Learn more about Logistics Trends and Insights at logisticsti.com and find Cathy on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-morrow-roberson-lti), where you can also subscribe to her free weekly Freight Forward newsletter (www.linkedin.com/newsletters/freight-forward-6915791014746066944).
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Retail is the final link in supply chains getting finished products to consumers. So how did the industry do for the crown jewel period of the holiday season (and last year overall), and what are the expectations for 2026? For those answers and more, we welcome Jonathan Gold, Vice President, Supply Chain and Customs Policy with the National Retail Federation (NRF) to The Intermodal Logistics Podcast.
Jonathan tells us how consumer spending stayed strong through the holidays, appearing to meet lofty expectations even if there were some adjustments in spending patterns related to pricing concerns. He also goes over how retailers were able to ensure item availability unlike some instances in the past when there were shortages.
Looking at 2025 as a whole, we discuss the effects of tariffs on retailers and how many were able to shift supply chains to keep products flowing while minimizing costs. And on the flip side, we talk about how fluctuations in trade policy caused the inventory pull-forward phenomenon, with smaller retailers having a tougher time adjusting over the course of the year.
In 2026, Jonathan explains that NRF membership is especially hoping for more certainty and stability policy-wise, and he expresses optimism that consumer spending will stay strong throughout the year. Beyond those questions, we touch on credit card swipe fees, retail theft, the NRF Big Show and more.
Learn more about the NRF at www.nrf.com.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Just over a year after taking over as President and CEO of the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), Anne Reinke joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to both look back at her first 12 months on the job, and look forward to how IANA aims to tackle the biggest challenge facing intermodal - increasing market share.
Anne gives an overview of IANA's 2025, which included a focus on more policy advocacy and becoming even more of a go-to for industry data - along with the things that affected intermodal last year like tariffs, the Union Pacific - Norfolk Southern railroad merger announcement and the freight market as a whole.
But everything does come back to intermodal market share, and Anne discusses how much room it has for improvement as it currently sits at roughly 5% of domestic freight. She goes over IANA's survey of shippers who both use it already and don't use it at all to get a clear picture of what to address - while also recognizing that it's beyond raising awareness and changing minds: It's about getting shippers to take action and incorporate intermodal.
And as a tease for IANA's big annual conference, the Intermodal EXPO, Anne shares a special guest planned for September's event related to that aforementioned merger.
To learn more about IANA including educational resources, EXPO, and how to join, visit www.intermodal.org.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Truckload and intermodal rate and volume trends - along with market conditions - are shaping shipper and broker strategy for 2026. For the first episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast of the new year, we discuss all that and more as we offer our 2026 outlook.
InTek Logistics President Shelli Austin and InTek Logistics CEO Rick LaGore have you covered, looking at how transportation operations are going right now, how 2025 wrapped up, and the economic factors that led to last year's disappointment and will likely continue that direction this year.
Plus, they discuss how truckload rates have generally risen while intermodal has stayed lower (with fewer fluctuations), why companies continue to leave the market and impact capacity, why price plus service makes intermodal worth a try for first-timers and those who've used it in the past, and whether there is any volume catalyst coming to ignite the freight market this year.
Find Rick's deeper analysis of the coming year on the InTek Logistics blog https://www.inteklogistics.com/blog/2026-freight-market-forecast-2019-parallels and watch our freight forecast video https://youtu.be/NCH-wXfAI1A?si=y4CJnG7Em_oV3rZZ.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
While traditional forward logistics gets most of the attention, reverse logistics (in essence, returns) is a significant part of business as well. And our guest on this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast explains how doing it right means a circular approach.
Rich Bulger is the Founder of All Things Circular and author of "Going Circular: The Evolution of Reverse Logistics Into a Competitive Weapon." Rich explains how an early job at Verizon involving used phones got him into the reverse approach, and how experiences with Cisco and other companies - along with others in the industry - helped him triangulate the circular approach.
Rich tells us what goes into reverse logistics and how businesses can win with an approach that looks not only at the first, but the second customer. He also goes over how younger generations make purchases expecting to return or resell, how sustainability factors in, and how the Trump Administration's tariff policy actually encourages resale over new product purchases.
Find Rich on Linkedin at linkedin.com/in/rich-bulger-43b02112 and visit All Things Circular at allthingscircular.com, where you can find more about the company, Rich's podcast of the same name, and his book.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
On this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we cover a variety of bases with Port X Logistics Founder and CEO Brian Kempisty - joining us from his home in Montana.
We start by learning about his background and the founding of Port X in 2017, then we get into the company itself - the areas it covers and services it provides.
Next, we bounce around a few key issues, as Brian explains the situation with drayage (and trucking in general) in California - why regulatory enforcement has led to drivers leaving the profession (and how cargo theft ties in). He also points out how market conditions have forced out a number of smaller carriers.
Brian then takes us through his thoughts on the market this year and next, port activity, a surprisingly strong product of late, the housing market, and the advantages of transloading.
Learn more about Port X Logistics at www.portxlogistics.com.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Almost all the way through year one of the second Trump administration, it's possible to assess the effects of some major policies on freight. On this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we welcome Arizona State University Professor Dr. Dale Rogers to discuss three key initiatives that relate to supply chains:
- The English language requirement for truck drivers
- Ramped up immigration enforcement
- Tariffs
Dr. Rogers talks about how, particularly in areas like California and other states that border Mexico, a number of drivers may not be English-proficient. He tells us how the combination of the English policy - as well as worries about being targeted by immigration enforcement - are causing many to leave the field.
But he points out that the industry is already dealing with a shortage of new truck drivers (without a lot of signs that younger Americans are interested in trucking- much like other jobs immigrants traditionally take on), so such an exodus will slow freight activity in these areas.
We also pivot to tariff policy, and how this year's decisions on trade have reshaped global supply chains. Dr. Rogers and co-host, InTek Logistics CEO Rick LaGore, go over how this year and next year could shape up like 2018-19, when the previous Trump administration levied more targeted tariffs (they even go further back to Smoot-Hawley around 1930). But they share optimism that trade policy could evolve and lead to brighter days ahead for freight.
See the paper Dr. Rogers co-authored on tariffs just last year, providing valuable historical context: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1478409224000037. And find out more about ASU's Supply Chain program: https://wpcarey.asu.edu/supply-chain-management-degrees.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
With an undoubtedly changed international trade environment along with differing priorities on sustainability, two key freight factors went from somewhat predictable to up in the air this year. On the latest edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we explore two surveys commissioned by Sphera that take the pulse of those logistics decision-makers: one on the effects of new trade policy and the other on how much sustainability still matters to them when government incentives are pulled back.
Sphera VP of Product Development Scott Lehmann takes us through both surveys, laying out the background on each issue and what those polled said. A key finding from the trade survey was that nearly three quarters of businesses experienced supplier disruptions leading to revenue loss this year - and one quarter characterized those disruptions as "significant." Scott tells us how companies are adjusting, and how AI is coming into play as both a reactive and proactive tool.
On the sustainability front, Scott explains how respondents fall into three categories today: leaders still fully committed, compliant actors who prioritize it based on outside factors, and re-assessors who are using the period of lighter pressure to reconsider and align their strategies with business goals. In that case, he discusses how sustainability, service and cost-savings can all align when planned properly - especially in transportation.
Get the survey on trade: https://sphera.com/company/news/sphera-survey-nearly-three-quarters-of-companies-suffered-revenue-losses-from-supplier-disruptions-in-the-last-12-months, the survey on sustainability: https://sphera.com/resources/blog/sustainability-in-flux-why-regulatory-shifts-demand-smarter-strategy, and find out more about Sphera: https://sphera.com.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
As with any industry, transportation requires standards to operate at maximum efficiency. And the organization behind setting those standards for LTL, truckload and more, is the National Motor Freight Traffic Association or NMFTA. NMFTA VP of Operations Keith Peterson joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to discuss not only those standards, but an initiative that combines them with digitization known as the Digital Standards Development Council (DSDC).
Keith explains why the push for digitization alongside standardization is so important in freight, with positive side effects including streamlined operations and protection against fraud/theft. Plus, he discusses why NMFTA has focused on involving industry stakeholders including carriers, shippers, 3PLs and more in setting these processes to ensure broader adoption.
Speaking of adoption, we discuss how the use of a current transportation management system (TMS) helps make integrating with these standards through APIs simpler, even for non-tech savvy (or small-staffed) companies. And bouncing off the digitization conversation, we talk about cybersecurity, and why it's also a focus for NMFTA - Keith specifically emphasizes educating everyone in your organization to look for suspicious communications.
To learn more about NMFTA, visit www.nmfta.org. For information on the DSDC and how to get involved, go to dsdc.nmfta.org.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
With cargo theft taking a step further into the forefront of consciousness after the recent story on Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar's disappearing loads of Santo Tequila, the spotlight also goes on solutions to prevent it in the future. That's where Curtis Spencer, CEO of Bloodhound Tracking Device, comes in, as he joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast.
Curtis tells us how the origins of Bloodhound date to 9/11 as federal officials looked for better ways to track cargo throughout supply chains. He discusses developing the technology with former NASA engineers, and how addressing theft has become an even greater focus than looking for suspicious freight. Curtis outlines how Bloodhound tracks location, temperature, tampering and more, all with a super-long lasting battery - and without being easily detected.
And he goes over how one of his devices would've made the tequila theft a lot tougher. Plus, Curtis takes us through his other company, IMS Worldwide, and how setting up FTZs (or Foreign Trade Zones) has become an especially busy business during this year of tariffs and inventory pull-forward.
Learn more about Bloodhound at btdtracker.com, and find out more about IMS Worldwide at imsw.com.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Railroad is likely the first form of transportation that comes to mind when considering intermodal, but trucks play a vital role in getting freight delivered door-to-door. Drayage trucking takes the spotlight on the last of our episodes of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast recorded at IANA's Intermodal EXPO, as we welcome Kevin Lhotak, President of Reliable Transportation Specialists (RTSI).
Kevin tells us about his company's lengthy dray history, the areas of the country it covers and the key role of drayage in the intermodal journey to connect origin and destination - as well as points in between - to long-haul rail. He explains the importance of independent contractors to drive dray providers like his, how his company has adjusted to a shifting marketplace, and how valuable in-person interactions from events like EXPO are to doing business.
Learn more about RTSI at www.reliabletrans.com. And for more on the Intermodal Association of North America's EXPO event (and IANA itself), visit www.intermodal.org/intermodalexpo.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
While there are only a select few Class 1 Railroads in the U.S., there are hundreds of so-called short-line railroads. And our guest on this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast from IANA's Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach, California has worked with both.
Iowa Interstate Railroad Director of Intermodal Andy Bradfield explains the differences between smaller and larger railroads. He also outlines how his landlocked railroad is connected to ocean cargo and the East Coast in particular via intermodal and Chicago. Andy continues discussing IAIS's efforts to grow its intermodal footprint beyond international to domestic 53-foot containers as well.
He also offers his thoughts on creative solutions to convert truckload to intermodal and his perspective as a former Union Pacific employee about the implications of UP's planned merger with Norfolk Southern.
Learn more about Iowa Interstate Railroad at iaisrr.com or email Andy at abradfield@iaisrr.com. And for more on the Intermodal Association of North America's EXPO and IANA, visit www.intermodal.org/intermodalexpo.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Intermodal is not just a long-haul option. CSX Director Sales, Rail Assets Lauren Eskew joined The Intermodal Logistics Podcast from IANA's Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach, California to outline the class 1 railroad's Rail Plus program and their various shorter distance offerings east of the Mississippi.
Lauren points out the surprising speed of intermodal on these shorter lanes, debunking a common misconception brokers and shippers have. She discusses what Rail Plus is, and its advantages in helping freight providers seamlessly add intermodal to their portfolio. Plus (on top of the Rail Plus piece), Lauren tells us about the Highway to Rail (H2R) Optimizer and CSX's continued initiatives to make in roads (or rails) in Mexico.
Learn more about CSX at www.intermodal.com. And for more on the Intermodal Association of North America's EXPO and IANA, visit www.intermodal.org/intermodalexpo.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Following fluctuations in the truckload market tells you not only plenty about the state of freight, but the overall economy as well. And one of the leaders in the field, Tim Denoyer, VP & Senior Analyst with ACT Research, joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast on-site at IANA's Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach, California - following his participation on a panel there earlier in the day.
Tim tells us about his background in finance and how it led him to ACT, as well as how the company tracks the truckload market. He also gets into what's happening now as freight has continued to stay slow along with how the rise in use of private fleets has impacted the for-hire side of trucking.
Plus, Tim and InTek Logistics CEO Rick LaGore discuss how truckload and intermodal are connected in terms of indicators, and he spotlights the big upcoming event that he's watching that could potentially jumpstart both modes - the Supreme Court review of many of President Trump's tariffs.
To learn more about ACT Research, visit www.actresearch.net. For more about EXPO and IANA, visit www.intermodal.org/intermodalexpo.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
The Academic Challenge, also known as the Case Competition, is a highlight of the IANA Intermodal EXPO each year, and the 2025 iteration was no different. On this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast from on-site in Long Beach, California, we welcome this year's winners, the team from Mississippi State University made up of Sophie Perrigin, Emma Lovely-Gonzalez, Brad Sills and Elijah Davis along with their advisor, Dr. Chris Boone - MSU Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management.
We go over what the 12-school competition involved, how the group prepared - especially as a first-time participant, what the students learned from their participation not only in the challenge, but also from their overall visit to EXPO, and their future plans.
Plus, InTek Logistics President Shelli Austin shares her perspective as one of the judges of the competition and her optimism for the long-term health of intermodal based on the students' talent.
And Dr. Boone discusses Mississippi State's program, which values experiential learning to prepare students for careers in the industry - Starkville's cowbells get an honorable mention as well.
For more about EXPO and IANA, visit www.intermodal.org/intermodalexpo. To learn about MSU's College of Business, which includes supply chain programs, visit www.business.msstate.edu.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Kicking off our series of excellent interviews from IANA Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach, California this week, the Intermodal Logistics Podcast welcomes returning guest (and previous IANA Silver Kingpin Award honoree) Jeff Brashares of CMA CGM.
Jeff and InTek Logistics President Shelli Austin discuss the gathering of intermodal pros through the years, from how and why it started to what it's become- and why its current location makes so much sense. Plus, they stress the importance of the in-person interactions that EXPO offers, especially thrown into focus after COVID.
Then, we talk about ocean box repositioning, aka ocean container intermodal, and why using ocean containers to move freight via domestic intermodal makes sense for many shippers - as well as carriers.
To learn more about ocean box intermodal, visit our page at www.inteklogistics.com/ocean-container-intermodal or CMA CGM at www.cma-cgm.com/intermodal-solutions/north-america. And find out more about IANA, and how you can attend next year's EXPO at www.intermodal.org/intermodalexpo.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
About this time a year ago, many expected 2025 would be a prosperous year in transportation - the year of the freight recovery. More than eight months in though, it's clear that hasn't been the case. InTek Logistics President Shelli Austin - normally a co-host - is our guest on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast this time, and she shares her view on how the year has gone so far.
Shelli uses the word 'rollercoaster' to describe the fits and starts of the freight market as companies responded to tariff speculation, tariff pauses and actual tariffs. She discusses inventory pull forward and why this technical peak season isn't feeling too peak-ish.
We also discuss the railroad merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, and why getting the idea of transcontinental in the news has brought positive attention to the industry. And Shelli shares her excitement at the many collaborations and innovations taking place in rail/intermodal that will set it up well when freight volume is humming along at a good pace.
You can catch Shelli on a couple of September industry panels, at FTR in Indianapolis (more at www.ftrconference.com), and at IANA's Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach, California (more at www.intermodalexpo.com).
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
It's been an eventful summer for intermodal to say the least. To go over all the happenings (from the rail merger to the state of savings and service), we welcome a returning guest who's as plugged in to the industry as anyone, Ari Ashe with the Journal of Commerce.
We lead with the biggest story - the aforementioned rail merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Ari takes us through the timeline of the transaction moving forward, explaining why there's a ticking clock on approval, the bumps in the road other stakeholders will likely bring up, and how this all came together to begin with.
Plus, we talk about the implications for carload and intermodal service, and what the other class 1 railroads are likely to do in response. Speaking of intermodal service, Ari also gives us an update on his latest Intermodal Service Scorecard, which gives pretty high scores to the railroads as well as intermodal providers.
He then goes over his Intermodal Savings Index, which showed a bit of narrowing on savings vs truck on some lanes due to overcapacity. And he tells us volume - which had been trending somewhat positive - looks to be hitting a wall.
Finally, Ari promotes JOC's upcoming Inland Distribution Conference in Chicago next month, which just booked UP's Jim Vena as a featured guest among a packed program. Find Ari's latest reporting at www.joc.com, and learn more about Inland at inland.joc.com.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
In mid-September, Long Beach, California becomes the center of the intermodal universe as it hosts EXPO. On The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we preview this must-attend gathering put on by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), with IANA President and CEO Anne Reinke and VP of Member Services Hal Pollard.
Anne and Hal take us through the programming, which includes panels on the state of the industry (trade policy and rail mergers are likely to come up), cargo theft, drug trafficking, AI, business development, and more. They also highlight the Connie Awards, and EXPO's exhibit hall, which features a number of technology and equipment providers as well as activities worth checking out.
On the business side, our guests mention the many networking opportunities both officially included on the program and simply from having so many industry heavy hitters gathered in the same place (a place we'll be podcasting from as well!). We discuss both the opening event: the Academic Challenge (aka the Case Competition), which features student groups from 15 colleges, and the closing speaker, firefighter Royal Ramey who will share his unique story.
Intermodal EXPO takes place Sunday, Sept. 14 through Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Interested in attending? Hal shared a special discount code: Partner25, which takes $100 off registration. Learn more and sign up at www.intermodalexpo.com.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
AI continues to offer new solutions for a variety of scenarios, and agents have become one of the next big things for artificial intelligence. Transportation and logistics companies can benefit from using these agents under many circumstances - especially to automate tedious tasks. Peter Qian, CEO of Ventus AI, joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to discuss how companies like his can help do just that.
Peter takes us through a couple of use cases, including one with InTek Logistics, as well as explaining what agents do in general. He also tells us how he sees AI impacting jobs - with the idea being to allow employees to focus on customer interactions and service instead of repetitive, sometimes mundane responsibilities that AI can handle faster.
We also discuss how AI agents can scale for companies of various size and markets that can fluctuate like freight shipping. Learn more about Peter and Ventus at www.ventus.ai.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
As we pass the halfway point of 2025, we take stock with a new perspective on where intermodal stands now and going forward, thanks to Bridget Dean, Associate Editor with Progressive Railroading - on this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast.
Bridget talks about her recent cover story which takes a look back at the first six months of the year and perhaps surprising volume strength juxtaposed with uncertainty about fluctuating tariff policy from the Trump Administration and worries about continued softness in other areas of the industry. She tells us what experts expect as the year moves forward and why class 1 railroads are still moving forward with many long-term projects despite that "u" word from earlier. We also discuss how elections in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada are both shaping and being shaped by policies.
And Bridget shares how she got into covering rail and intermodal - something she's only done since last year, how helpful colleagues and sources have been in getting her acclimated, how she'd recommend the field (and other B to B reporting opportunities) to newer journalists, and how there is a focus on cultivating new pros by others in the industry.
Find Bridget's cover story here: www.progressiverailroading.com/intermodal/news/Class-Is-continue-to-maneuver-for-long-term-intermodal-growth-despite-short-term-uncertainties--74656, and get more from Progressive Railroading (including how to subscribe to its railPrime service) at www.progressiverailroading.com.
As for our podcast, subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Depending on the source, upwards of 90% of freight travels by ocean at some point, meaning sea shipping ties in with every freight mode, just about every shipper, and just about every customer - worldwide. On this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we focus on ocean cargo with Xeneta Chief Analyst Peter Sand.
We begin by going over what goes into container shipping rates, what Xeneta does to monitor, inform and connect shippers with carriers, and why knowledge is power in navigating the sea freight industry. Then, Peter offers his thoughts on the marketplace today, including the continuing impacts of Red Sea rerouting, why the East Coast and West Coast are so vastly different right now rate-wise, and which shippers should be jumping on contracts versus sticking with spot.
He also explains index-linked contracts and why they could be the way to go for many shippers - especially during volatile situations. And of course, we address the Trump Administration's tariff policies and how they're impacting supply chains - both directly and indirectly. Finally, Peter offers insights as to what may be ahead in the coming months and year.
Learn more about Xeneta - which covers international ocean and air freight - at www.xeneta.com. While there, you can not only find out how to work with them but also explore many free market monitoring resources and information.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
After hitting a high note nearly two decades ago, freight volume on railroads have stayed down - threatening the industry long-term. On this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, Trains.com writer Bill Stephens discusses the findings of a TD Cowen report he wrote about in a recent article (found here: www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/report-railroads-must-gain-volume-to-remain-relevant)
He tells us why volume dipped in the second part of the 2000s and has yet to bounce back, why investors tended not to care but do now, and how the report points to volume recovery as key to railroads' success. He goes over the prescription to get cargo back: the need for service improvements for product traveling exclusively by railcar (an issue intermodal has made greater strides on).
We also go over a potential outcome if things don't get better - the idea of mergers. Bill takes us through the policy history that makes such an outcome complicated to say the least, even with some in leadership open to the possibility.
Finally, we look to cross-border, where there's plenty of opportunity for railroads - and there are plenty initiatives to take advantage - but we discuss how (and why) that opportunity remains somewhat untapped.
Find more from Bill at Trains.com and by subscribing to the magazine www.trains.com/trn/subscription-plans. You can also follow him on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/bill-stephens-59692314.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Software and technology solutions abound today - touching just about every aspect of supply chains. But Smart Access, an application that focuses on distribution center operations, stands out because rather than removing the human element - it aims to personalize the retail DC floor and encourage interaction.
CEO and Founder Tim Regnier joins this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast to explain how he and his team arrived at the idea of the software and what exactly it does - combining standard operating procedures (SOPs) with employee observation, coaching and training to optimize operations. He also addresses what could be seen as a barrier - that floor staff may not want to look over their shoulder - with data indicating that not only does it improve productivity but also helps job retention.
We also discuss how some companies are better (or worse) than others in terms of developing and maintaining SOPs (and how Smart Access helps turn them into living documents), applications beyond what it does currently regarding ISO and carrier usage, and how clients both in the retail and 3PL space are handling the current tariff environment.
Learn more about Smart Access at www.smartaccess.io. And find Tim on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/tim-regnier.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Maintenance and repair are vital to keeping supply chains moving, but many are missing out on efficiencies that come with better technology. On this edition of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we talk about a software that's streamlining the M&R process for intermodal equipment (and truck carriers as well), REACH, with its CEO and co-founder Paul Burgoyne.
Paul tells us how REACH came about, the app-based simplicity of optimizing driver and technician time, the many companies that use the platform (including recent podcast subject DCLI and its RapidLink service), and how most don't - still dealing with spreadsheets and emails instead. He explains how it works for both planned and unplanned (i.e. roadside emergency) events, how it compares to non-freight apps like Uber and how it offers visibility into what had previously been an opaque area in transportation.
Learn more about REACH at www.reach24.net or contact Paul on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-burgoyne-1893a924.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
It's been an issue as long as trucks and their drivers have traversed the country with freight - where to safely park. Now, technology and innovation have converged to address the problem, with a simple app known as Truck Parking Club. Its CEO and co-Founder Evan Shelley joins us to discuss the genesis of the idea and the progress it's already made since launching in late 2022 - having just passed 1,900 locations across the U.S.
He tells us how simplicity is key, as drivers can book (and lot owners can list) much like AirBNB or Uber, complete with search filters to fit each unique situation and reviews to guide users to the best option. Evan also discusses how the data gathered through the app can help in other areas and his future goals for Truck Parking Club.
For more on Truck Parking Club, download the app on Apple or Android, and visit www.truckparkingclub.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Thousands of containers, and thus chassis and trucks, move across the country every day. And while an ideal world would have everything going perfectly each time, wear and tear happens, meaning there's an ongoing need for repairs and maintenance. On this episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, we discuss a (sort of) new nationwide solution - RapidLink Repairs - with RapidLink and DCLI VP of Sales Rob Finch.
Rob explains how RapidLink was borne from DCLI's already robust maintenance network now expanding to customers using other chassis. He tells us the wide variety of trailer and chassis (and beyond) repairs that can happen roadside or by appointment across the country, with an average three-hour call-to-roll time. We also go over the general state of chassis in the U.S., RapidLink's transparent pricing, the need for a national service such as this, and how to become a customer.
For more information on RapidLink, visit www.rapidlinkrepairs.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
RFID technology has been around for quite some time, but Eric Biel, Powercast's Director of Strategic Partnerships, shares how his company is elevating its use in freight, especially for temperature-monitoring and warehouse applications.
Eric discusses how both custom-designed and adapted RFID tags, known as RAIN RFID, provide detailed, real-time data on temperature, humidity, and more for products like food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals that need a stable cold chain.
He highlights how these compact sensors can accompany shipments and store significant data, whether they are powered or not, all with a simple scan. Eric also explains how powered tags with LED indicators simplify locating products in warehouses and distribution centers, and with this power, the scanner's range to detect a tag is extended.
Further, he describes how Powercast has innovated technology to power these tags without batteries, using ambient electricity to wirelessly charge them—a technology that has also been applied to TV remotes and other devices.
Discover more about Powercast at www.powercastco.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Quite a bit of the food Americans eat is grown on foreign soil, so it only gets here because of food importers. On the latest episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, guest Bob Bauer, President of the Association of Food Industries (AFI), discusses the food import process, some examples of products that the U.S. doesn't (and can't) produce on a large scale like nuts and olive oil, and the challenges importers face with evolving tariff policies. On the tariff issue, he explains what importers are doing to prepare and respond - and what they're not doing just yet.
Bob also tells us about AFI, its advocacy on behalf of its members, food standards it has helped enact (and why they're important) and its role in legislation like the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011. He goes over the steps a typical product takes to get to the U.S., how importers bear the risk and responsibility, and what freight modes are most common.
We also discuss AFI's upcoming Annual Convention, set for April 24-26 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which will feature more discussion on tariffs, the economy and the role of AI in the food industry. Learn more about AFI and the Convention at www.afius.org.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Choosing freight rail offers a wide array of benefits - but they're benefits many need reminders of. That's where GoRail comes in. To discuss more about what GoRail does, its now more than 20-year history and the evolution of the industry, State Director Brett Sebastian and AVP for Communications Betsy Cantwell join The Intermodal Logistics Podcast.
Betsy and Brett talk about GoRail's origins, its role at the Federal, state and local government levels - and why each is important - and the Rail Advocate and Rail Champion programs. Plus, they go over some of GoRail's legislative priorities, including the safe crossing grant program, the highway trust fund, and the 2026 reauthorization of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). We also highlight the GoRail Twenty report (including some key rail stats) and cross-border issues now arising.
For more on GoRail, including reports, the Rail Grant Hub and state-by-state info, visit www.gorail.org.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
As the first quarter of 2025 nears an end, check in on the state of freight as it stands now, as it compares to 2024, and as it relates to the future of the market.
InTek CEO Rick Lagore answers 5 questions (plus a few follow-ups) to offer a measure of the logistics landscape - discussing predictions of recovery made just a few months ago that already feel deferred, spot rates and volumes relating to intermodal, how the new administration is affecting freight, interest rates and inflation, and when we may see a freight recovery (with a couple of potential scenarios).
Compare this episode to our 2023 predictions https://youtu.be/hyOhnrqjx3k?si=kYNpq5eZrXU26njw and 2024 https://youtu.be/0fLRC-Wn3H0?si=WlRxwWtF4gGxH3Z3, and you may find things haven't changed as much as hoped for the market.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
Freight moves domestically and across borders every day using various combinations of road, rail, ship, etcetera, but one thing all that freight - and all the providers who have a stake in it - have in common is insurance. On the latest episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast, guest Mark Vickers, EVP of International Logistics for Reliance Partners, discusses cargo insurance - including what it is, why it's needed, why coverage depends on the situation and how it's influenced by outside factors.
He particularly spotlights Borderless Coverage, a product he initially came up with to cover valuable freight beyond the U.S. borders and into Mexico and Canada - all with one policy. Mark tells us about the security issues facing cross-border freight and the prior lack of coverage options. He also talks about over the top coverage options for specific scenarios like high value freight or cargo normally not shipped by a particular provider. And he explains why strong insurance can be a differentiator in winning business, even if it means a freight provider's bid is a bit higher.
We also discuss potential tariff impacts on the industry as well as inflation - which not only impacts everyone's bottom line but also makes a difference as to the type of cargo thieves target.
Learn more about Reliance Partners at https://reliancepartners.com/ and look up Mark on LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-vickers-a90a6710/ for more from him. Plus, find out about the upcoming 8th Annual Modernization of Cross Border Trade event in Texas here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/8th-annual-modernization-of-cross-border-trade-tickets-1112890809369?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more.
The new leader of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) already knows the lay of the land, so he's hit the ground running tackling membership priorities. President and CEO Chris Burroughs began leading TIA in November, after his predecessor Anne Reinke took the leadership spot with the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) - see and hear more from her on our previous episode of the Intermodal Logistics Podcast.
But unlike many new CEOs, Chris had already spent more than 13 years with his organization, and he tells us on this edition how that background - including the earlier days of TIA with fewer staff - helped him wear many hats and gave him a broad understanding of how things work. Since taking over leadership, Chris says TIA's continued focusing on a problem that's not going away - fraud, navigating the transition from the Biden to Trump administrations in the process.
He continues to see getting exposure in Washington D.C. as key to helping the association's priorities, which also include nuclear verdicts arising from accidents involving commercial trucks, owner-operator definitions and more. Plus, Chris tells us about TIA's focus on expanding its continuing education offerings - many of which are free to members.
And, we hear about the Capital Ideas Conference, with the 2025 edition taking place in San Antonio this April. Learn more about the TIA at its website, www.tianet.org, where you can also find registration information and more about the conference.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Taking over a new organization is always a challenge, but Anne Reinke is ready to face it head-on when it comes to running the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). Anne joins us on The Intermodal Logistics Podcast about a month into her tenure as IANA President and CEO following four years in the same role with the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA).
She tells us about her background, including how she got into the industry, her love of railroads that started with her time at CSX, and how that helped lead her to IANA. We discuss the challenge of replacing a longtime leader like Joni Casey, who headed up the association for about 27 years, and how she's worked to get the lay of the land by talking with just about all IANA's staff and board members in her first month.
Anne goes over the challenges facing intermodal as it looks to gain market share - with a big one being awareness. She talks about plans to increase marketing efforts as well as raising IANA's advocacy profile in Washington - to get the road and rail mode a seat at the table in transportation discussions.
For more on IANA, visit www.intermodal.org, where you can also register to become a member, access learning resources that are only expected to grow, and find out about the association's upcoming Business Meeting.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.inteklogistics.com to learn more about InTek.
It's the base of intermodal container movement and a necessity for dray trucks' ability to transport boxes to their final destination. It's the chassis, so consider this a chassis appreciation episode of the Intermodal Logistics Podcast.
To explain all it does and how the chassis system in the U.S. works, we welcome Abby Anderson, AVP of Marine Operations for DCLI. Abby tells us about DCLI's systems, how chassis movement has been streamlined in recent years, adjusting to supply and demand, and the different ways ports, railroads and drayage carriers rely on chassis for container transport.
She also tells us about improvements in chassis availability, how they determine when they're in good order, the difference between marine and domestic chassis programs, and how the recent agreement preventing a port strike on the east and Gulf coasts helps the freight industry.
To learn more about DCLI and what it does, visit dcli.com.
And as you may have noticed, this is the first episode of the Intermodal Logistics Podcast, renamed from InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast. We're still offering the excellent guests and industry insights you've come to expect, but with a name that better reflects our focus on intermodal transportation.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Intermodal logistics combines road and rail for valuable transportation solution in todays supply chain environment. So why not focus a podcast on this important freight mode? That's what the Intermodal Logistics Podcast is all about - welcoming key industry figures to provide the ins and outs of intermodal and how it fits into the shipping landscape.
With topics like market updates, ports, warehousing, railroads, dray trucking, sustainability, news headlines, cross-border, cargo types and much more, the Intermodal Logistics Podcast has your bases covered, touching not only intermodal, but the freight world in general.
And just as they did when it was called InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast, hosts Kevin Baxter, Shelli Austin and Rick LaGore are not above having some fun along the way as well. Subscribe or follow the Intermodal Logistics Podcast, on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
And visit https://www.intekfreight-logistics.com to stay up on all things freight, logistics, supply chain and more.
Freight touches a vast array of industries, and one of them touches freight in a variety of ways. Paper and packaging not only moves via traditional shipping modes across the world, it also ensures other goods move safely through supply chains. To take us through the industry, Rick and Kevin speak with Greg Lovensheimer, President of Millcraft Paper Company.
Greg explains the ins and outs of paper and packaging, the both expected and unexpected products that fall under its umbrella and how the industry has evolved over the years. He also explains paper production, starting from the forest - and why sustainability has always been a major part of it.
Plus, Greg tells us how the market is doing today, how it relates to freight, how AI is impacting paper and packaging, and what he thinks of The Office's take on his field.
Learn more about Millcraft at millcraft.com, and learn more about the industry through the National Paper Trade Association (for which Greg serves as Chair) at www.gonpta.com. And for still more on paper and packaging, visit the American Forest and Paper Association website here www.afandpa.org.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
As the year winds down, where does the intermodal market stand? And what should we expect heading into 2025, with a new administration and proposed tariff policies that could have a substantial effect on international trade? For those answers and more, we turn to the intermodalist himself, Larry Gross, President and Founder of Gross Transportation Consulting, for Episode 50 of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast.
Larry goes inside the numbers to tell us how intermodal is doing today, how it compares over time, its stance against truckload, and the difference between inland point intermodal (thriving with port activity) & purely domestic intermodal. Plus, he shares his thoughts on the election's potential effects on the market in 2025, and how tariffs would likely shift the balance of intermodal activity.
Additionally, we talk cross-border intermodal, where Larry notes, the numbers disagree with both the activity of many businesses and anecdotal evidence of growing strength between the U.S. and Mexico.
For more from Larry, visit intermodalindepth.com, where you can sign up for his excellent Intermodal In-Depth reports and find other services he offers. You can also check out his first time on our podcast, back on Episode 5, to learn more about his background https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKNoJwpPkYs.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
The Logistics Managers Index (LMI) tracks the freight market through thick and thin. Until recently, it's been thin, but head author Zac Rogers, Assistant Professor of Operations & Supply Chain Management at Colorado State University, tells us indications squarely point to a healthy recovery.
Zac tells us about his background, the origins of the Index, how it surveys logistics pros (and who they are), how it relates to the economy as a whole, what typically causes shifts and where it's heading now. Plus, we discuss how the election and incoming President Trump's suggested tariffs (and other policies) could influence the freight recovery.
And we talk a bit about teaching future supply chain pros along with the three pillars of sustainability to consider - beyond simply environmental benefits.
Find the Logistics Managers Index at www.the-lmi.com and check out our monthly summaries - including the latest from the October LMI blog.intekfreight-logistics.com/october-24-logistics-managers-index-lmi.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Drayage is a vital part of intermodal transportation, but many of its processes are stuck in the past. Enter ModalView, an app that marks a collaboration between Norfolk Southern and DrayNow aimed at modernizing and streamlining those first and final mile processes. To discuss, hosts Kevin and Shelli welcome Senior Director of Product Meghan Nesta, President and General Manager Mike Albert and former President of Triple Crown Services (and current consultant) Sam Niness.
The ModalView team talks about how the partnership materialized, and the many ways the app helps dray drivers, IMCs and by proxy, shippers with visibility, real-time tracking and real-time documentation.
To learn more about working with ModalView, visit modalview.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Intermodal is traditionally associated with long-haul shipping, but a few Sunshine State - and Mexico - solutions show it can shine with short-haul, too. On the latest InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast, Luis Hernandez, VP of Intermodal with Florida East Coast Railway (a member of Grupo Mexico - which also owns Ferromex) to discuss those Florida options, from intra-Miami to all the way up and down the coast.
Luis tells us how intermodal not only offers convenience for Florida freight, but also surprising speed - whether between ports or not. He talks about the relationship between FEC and the expanding Brightline passenger rail network - and how railroad crossings have changed for Floridians.
He also discusses the freight landscape in Mexico, how intermodal offers underused solutions for cross-border shipping, and how AMTI - the Mexican intermodal association - is working to make more inroads (or rails in this case).
Learn more about FEC at https://fecrwy.com, Ferromex at https://www.ferromex.com/index-eng.jsp and AMTI at https://www.amtimexico.com/en.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
It all starts at the ports - especially when moving intermodal across North America. And one of the busiest of those, is the Port of Long Beach in Southern California. Hosts Kevin Baxter and Shelli Austin are joined by POLB COO Dr. Noel Hacegaba as he discusses how the port operates, just how busy it is this year in terms of container shipping, how it handled the pandemic-related peak, port strike impacts, how it's prioritized infrastructure to improve service, and more.
We dive into sustainability, including measures the port has taken to reduce its environmental impact, the progress of electric trucks, the ability of on-dock rail to help with emissions and freight movement simultaneously, and how the port is tackling sea level rise. Additionally, we discuss the Intermodal Association of North America (whose board both Shelli and Noel serve on), the importance of creating an educational pipeline for future supply chain pros, and, a band called the TEUs - for which Noel and some fellow POLB employees play.
Learn more about the Port of Long Beach at www.polb.com, and find a performance by the TEUs in a video of the recent POLB State of the Port 2024.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Intermodal transportation offers a variety of benefits over other shipping modes, including lower rates, greater capacity, consistency of service, and a reduced environmental impact. But with the vast majority - nearly three-quarters in fact - of domestic freight traveling via truck, shippers may feel a barrier to entry to this combination of road for short-haul and rail for the long-haul.
On this episode, we play a home game with host Kevin Baxter joined by both his regular co-hosts, InTek Freight & Logistics President Shelli Austin and InTek CEO Rick LaGore, as they discuss the process of getting started with intermodal. We go over which freight works for the mode, the qualities of a good intermodal lane, the importance of research, finding the right intermodal marketing company and more.
Plus, they go over some misconceptions about intermodal, the need for reputable freight partners, unique fees (and how to avoid them), and the importance (and simplicity) of proper blocking and bracing.
Learn more about getting started with intermodal at www.intekfreight-logistics.com/intermodal.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
When one thinks of an international container port, it conjures the image of a city along the ocean. But Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock tells us why a Midwest state 500 miles away from the nearest one can still handle ocean cargo. On our latest episode, Jody explains the Indiana Container Initiative, which involves plans to make the Ports of Indiana a potential origin and destination for ocean containers directly over water between the U.S. and Europe.
He tells us the added value of adding containers to Indiana's ports (which include Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan, as well as Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon on the Ohio River), what the ports currently import and export - including agriculture and steel, the importance of access to multiple transportation modes, from ships to trucks to trains - and even river barges. Plus, he explains how sustainability and convenience factor in to using Indiana's ports. And he takes us through the route - and the lock system - that allow ocean vessels to make it deep into the U.S.
Learn more about the Ports of Indiana at www.portsofindiana.com and the Indiana Container Initiative at www.portsofindiana.com/containers.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Moving pharmaceutical cargo is a specialized process, requiring experienced, careful handling every step of the way. To learn more about what it takes to transport vital medicine across the cold chain, we welcome Joel Wayment, VP/GM at Cardinal Health Third-Party Logistics Services and Packaging Solutions to our latest edition of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast.
Under Joel - who's been in the industry for nearly 20 years - Cardinal's 3PL is noted for providing warehousing, distribution and order-to-cash services to emerging and established biopharma companies with products across a wide range of categories. He tells us about the unique nature of moving therapeutics and other pharmaceuticals, the company's Exclusive Pharmaceutical Transportation Network (EPTN), the challenges of maintaining temperatures even well below zero and the necessity of tracking these sensitive shipments every step of the way.
Joel also explains a variety of procedures Cardinal has to address cargo theft and its focus on sustainability - from recycling (and recycled) packaging materials to consolidation meant to cut down trucks on the road.
Learn more about Cardinal at www.cardinalhealth.com, and find Joel on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/joel-wayment.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Every career has its own unique story, and our guest on Episode 42 of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast, has had quite a journey to executive leadership. Nathan Sanders is a longtime logistics pro, beginning at the freight docks, then working up through warehousing and transportation, to where he is now, a recent CEO and private equity consultant.
Nathan tells us his story in his own words, how he's seen the logistics industry evolve over his 25-plus years in the space, and what he expects next from automation and artificial intelligence. He also discusses his time as CEO of Brook Furniture Rental and how he and his team transformed it to better equip the company for today's consumers.
He shares insights into the furniture industry gleaned from his time at Brook as well as Ashley Furniture (with a glance at the freight market as well). And we go over how the importance of logistics and shipping has changed among executive leadership over the years.
Find more from Nathan on his LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/sanders-nathan.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
On this episode, we take a deep dive into warehousing, with our guest John Bollman, Senior VP of Industrial Services with Cresa. John tells us about the warehouse and distribution center space complete with 3PL and logistics updates, how eCommerce has changed things, the continued evolution of automation and AI, and how the market is doing compared to freight overall.
Plus, he discusses how Cresa helps with warehouse real estate needs, its scoring system that includes factors like employee availability and power capabilities on top of traditional pricing, and where warehouses are being built today.
To learn more about Cresa, visit www.cresa.com and to reach John directly, you can find him on LinkedIn.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) is nearing its annual milestone event known as EXPO - taking place September 9-11 at the Long Beach Convention Center in California. To discuss what to expect from this year's edition - including attendee counts, programming, highlights, registration costs and more, we welcome longtime IANA President Joni Casey to this episode of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast.
Joni shares her favorite things from EXPO, IANA's recent announcement regarding its future location and more - plus she explains the annual case competition that puts aspiring intermodalists to the test.
She also tells us why this year's EXPO will likely feel a bit different for her and checks in on the challenges facing intermodal - especially of the legislative variety relating to owner-operators and independent contractor regulations.
On a brighter note, Joni goes over a couple of her favorite accomplishments in her 27 year tenure at the head of IANA, including her passion for its very successful scholarship program. And we discuss the sustainability advantages of intermodal as environmental impact of freight continues to be a hot-button issue.
To learn more about IANA and to join - or to register for EXPO - visit www.intermodal.org.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
It's long been the backbone of construction, but lumber goes beyond its practical uses. It also serves as a key market indicator and an important one for freight particularly. Joining us on the latest InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast to discuss its vital role is Kyle Little, COO of Sherwood Lumber.
Kyle shares why lumber reflects economic conditions, where its pricing stands today and the very familiar (for freight watchers) cycle it's been through over the past few years. He tells us how Sherwood moves its products and the importance of a functioning supply chain.
We discuss the connection between lumber and home building - and renovations - and he offers his thoughts on the Fed and how interest rates may affect things going forward. What's the outlook? Kyle sees some positive signs over the next several months but also sees pricing at a current low. Follow @lumberlittle on X/Twitter for more from Kyle, and visit www.sherwoodlumber.com for more on the business.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
As we reach the halfway point of 2024, the latest edition of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast welcomes an expert on the freight market and all the indicators that tell us about its health - or (spoiler alert) lack thereof as summer heats up. Dr. Jason Miller is a tenured Associate Professor of Logistics at the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University who teaches supply chain management and more.
In addition to his instruction though, Dr. Miller also tracks data that relate to how the freight market is doing and shares his analysis on a daily basis through LinkedIn posts that are understandable for those less versed in statistics.
On this episode, he talks about where the market stands today, what a number of key indicators - like manufacturing, the Fed, housing, inventory and more - tell us, and his outlook for when a recovery occurs. He also discusses intermodal versus truck this year, and overall, and where he sees AI and machine learning influencing supply chain managers into the future.
For more from Dr. Miller, follow him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-miller-32110325.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Shipping cross-border with Mexico involves considerations beyond moving freight within the U.S. - with customs being what many consider a primary obstacle. However, the right partner makes things much less daunting. Joining us on this episode of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast to discuss the customs process between or across the borders is Antonio Luna, Managing Director of Vitti Logistics.
Antonio tells us how ensuring the proper I's are dotted and T's crossed makes things smoother, which types of freight require special considerations, why some shipments get held while others don't and the growing advantages of intermodal both for smooth customs processes and more reliable capacity.
Learn more about Vitti Logistics at www.vittilog.com or by contacting us here at InTek -www.intekfreight-logistics.com/contact-us - as we partner with Antonio on a variety of crossborder solutions. And learn more about Mexico freight shipping at www.intekfreight-logistics.com/mexico-freight-shipping.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
The traditional vision of intermodal transportation involves what are known as intermodal containers - of the 53 foot variety. But another option is out there in the form of ocean containers. It's known as ocean container repositioning.
Joining us to discuss what the process involves and how its beneficial to carriers and shippers alike is returning guest Jeff Brashares, CMA CGM Director of Intermodal. Jeff talks about why ocean carriers prefer to have their empty containers filled when returning them to port, how many types of cargo - both traditional and non-traditional - are a fit, how blocking and bracing can be easier, and why it's good for the environment as well.
Speaking of other types of cargo, Jeff also discusses agriculture - cottonseed specifically - and steel as other loads that are beginning to use these international boxes. And on a completely unrelated note, he shares some roller coaster updates, including a new Snoopy coaster at Kings Island.
For more about CMA CGM, visit www.cma-cgm.com. To learn more about ocean container repositioning, visit intekfreight-logistics.com/ocean-intermodal-equipment-specs.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Machine learning - a subset of AI - is a tool that many in the supply chain management field already use for inventory forecasting. But using optimal machine learning - a technique developed by our guest Dr. Naren Agrawal and his co-authors - can unlock a whole new world of decision-making ability for businesses.
Dr. Agrawal, the Benjamin and Mae Swig Professor of OMIS at Santa Clara University, shares what OML is, how it improves upon other uses of machine learning that focus only on the forecast and why getting to the decision is often the problem for companies that feature teams with competing perspectives, data & interests.
He talks us through two different types of companies with before and after scenarios for each, the need for agility and resilience in supply chain planning, and more. Plus, we discuss a commonality successful businesses he's worked with share, and his outlook for students and future supply chain managers.
Read How Machine Learning Will Transform Supply Chain Management via the Harvard Business Review, and find more from Dr. Agrawal here: www.scu.edu/execed/custom/universitypartnerships/faculty/naren-agrawal-phd.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Olives can be a popular snack, drink garnish and ingredient, but as with any product, there's plenty of work that goes into getting them on store shelves and eventually into kitchens. On this edition of the podcast, we explore the process from farm to plate (or glass) with Musco Family Olive Company Senior Director of Supply Chain Michael Lin. California-based Musco is the U.S. leader in providing table olives, behind brands like Pearl and Early California.
Michael takes us through the olive supply chain, the value of using intermodal, why he turns to a third party logistics provider (3PL) to help manage their freight operation, the importance of relationships in the industry, and how the company has navigated the peaks and valleys of the logistics industry in recent years. He also shares his favorite recipes, and there's a lot of talk about bleu cheese stuffed olives and their role in dirty martinis.
For more on Musco, visit www.olives.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Supply chain pros come in many forms, with career opportunities spanning just about any skill one can think of. But how does one get started in a freight or logistics job? And has the situation improved for women and diverse populations? For those answers - and more - we welcome Michelle Livingstone, a decorated supply chain leader who has worked in high-level positions with Home Depot, Kraft, JC Penney and more.
Michelle tells us about her career and her passion for cultivating more diverse leaders in the industry. She shares tips and discusses organizations to help folks at various levels, from those just starting out to mid-career professionals and leadership. We talk about the University of Denver's Transportation and Supply Chain Institute, where she teaches and serves on the board, Indiana University's Transportation Board and degree opportunities, AWESOME (https://awesomeleaders.org), WISE (https://walton.uark.edu/departments/supplychain/wise.php), the new WISE-Beyond and more.
Hear more from Michelle on Transportation Talks interview series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa2zXYrUWOA) on which she speaks to other industry leaders. Or find her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelledlivingstone).
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
With shipping between the U.S. and Mexico continuing to be a hot topic, we turn to an authority on how to move freight via rail between the two countries - Union Pacific. On this episode of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast, we're joined by Beto Vargas, UP Vice President of Sales & Marketing - Mexico.
He discusses Union Pacific's 30-year history in Mexico, its flagship Falcon and Eagle cross-border solutions - the latter of which also connects to Canada, and his outlook on the coming nearshoring boom. He also talks about the value of having experienced, bilingual partners to deal with customs and the speed of intermodal versus over the road solutions when it comes to cross-border shipping. Spoiler alert: it can be faster than truck in many scenarios.
Learn more about Union Pacific and its crossborder solutions www.up.com/customers/mexico. For additional information about intermodal between the two countries using UP and other partnerships, visit www.intekfreight-logistics.com/mexico-freight-shipping.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Intermodal transportation offers a consistent advantage in savings over its over-the-road trucking counterpart mode, but a lingering question for many shippers is intermodal service. As in, how consistent is both the rail service and the service a company can expect from an IMC - intermodal marketing company?
Ari Ashe with the Journal of Commerce joins us to discuss how he tracks both the savings and service pieces of the equation, through the quarterly Intermodal Savings Index (ISI) and the newer addition to JOC's portfolio, the Intermodal Service Scorecard. He talks about what goes into each report, how he tracks the data, just how much intermodal typically saves versus truck, and which (and which types of) IMCs shippers prefer.
He also recaps last week's TPM24 conference, which focuses on international ocean container shipping but brings together key players from throughout supply chains, sharing the mood of those in attendance and the effects of the Red Sea crisis so far.
Access to the ISI and Service Scorecard requires a JOC Gold Subscription, which is available here: www.joc.com/subscription/choose-plan. Learn more about TPM and September's Inland Conference (also discussed on the podcast) at www.joc.com/events.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
A TMS - transportation management system - is a key part of modern logistics operations, and the right one can help a business succeed. On this episode, we talk with Rexing Companies Director of Operations Rachel Johnson about their TMS, and how it has streamlined and optimized many of PFL Logistics' (a Rexing Company) shipping and coordination processes.
Rachel shares how PFL chose the MercuryGate TMS about four years ago, why working with a partner like InTek has helped with implementation and support, the advantages of a cloud-based software system, and how well it handles integrations customized to their needs. Also, hear how PFL has continued to grow in recent years, and listen close for a Lost reference!
For more information about PFL Logistics, visit pfllogisticsusa.com. For more on Rexing Companies, visit rexingcompanies.com. And to learn more about InTek's MercuryGate partnership, visit www.intekfreight-logistics.com/tms.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Artificial intelligence - better known and faster said as AI - is a tool that has applications across every day life. And one area that both already uses it and can use it more is the supply chain space. Joining us to discuss AI in supply chain & logistics is supply chain expert and strategic advisor Bart De Muynck.
We discuss Bart's recent article for Forbes, appropriately titled "The True Role of AI in Logistics" (https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/08/17/the-true-role-of-ai-in-logistics), in which he notes warehouse and yard automation, predictive analytics, data analysis among others as areas in which AI fits into freight operations.
He notes that the best TMS (transportation management systems) and WMS (warehouse management systems) already incorporate many AI elements, and of course many warehouses already use automation both with robotics and software. Additionally, those hesitant to use it may be surprised that their smartphones (Apple and Android) and many other items use it extensively already. And Bart predicts this year will be a big one for those holding out on AI implementation, with the hesitations many have being replaced by worries of getting left behind.
Learn more about Bart at https://www.bartdemuynck.com and find more of his work at https://www.bettersupplychains.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
As the year begins, join us in first looking back at how the freight market behaved in 2023, then offering a freight outlook for 2024. Kevin and Rick discuss a variety of areas, including the recovery that wasn't last year, why this year probably won't be gangbusters either, where the supply and demand balance stands in shipping, and when a bounceback becomes more realistic. Plus, they talk diesel prices and other potential factors that could influence the market like the Red Sea crisis, labor issues at the ports and more.
For a 2024 freight outlook in written form, read our Logistics and Supply Chain Trends.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
California's AB5 (Assembly Bill 5) has been in effect for some time now, but appeals persist and enforcement continues to be cloudy. That cloud is hanging over independent truck drivers and the freight industry as a whole. Joining us to discuss the law, its implications both in California and across the country, and the latest on the legal appeals process is Paul Torlina, Government Affairs Counsel for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).
Paul discusses what happened at the latest hearing in U.S. District Court, how the Commerce and Equal Protection clauses factor into arguments against AB5, and whether there's reason for optimism this go-around. He also shares his likely timeline for what happens next - a timeline that's hardly quick. Plus, Paul tells us about OOIDA, its mission, and how interested truckers can become members.
Learn more about AB5 with our latest blog article blog.intekfreight-logistics.com/latest-california-ab5-law and find out more about OOIDA at fightingfortruckers.com and www.ooida.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
When it comes to intermodal and rail in general, the more things change, the more things stay the same. Analyst Tony Hatch - co-founder of the RailTrends conference, past president of the Motor Carrier Analysts Association, 2019 North American Rail Shippers Association Person of the Year and independent consultant - tells us many of the issues facing the industry are similar to those he encountered in the early stages of his 30-plus year career, but things are moving in the right direction in terms of service and managing through freight cycles.
Tony shares more on his background, what got him into the rail and intermodal specialization, his thoughts on the market today, how Mexico is positioned domestically and cross-border, and why he's generally optimistic about rail moving forward.
Plus, hear the thoughts of the Dodgers' fan on signing Ohtani - a few days before the deal was finalized.
Find Tony at www.abhatchconsulting.com or email him at abh18@mindspring.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Sustainability is - or at least should be - a focus of modern businesses, and a new technology platform called The Eighth Notch aims at reducing the carbon footprint of final-mile delivery by reducing stops without reducing products reaching homes.
Mike Robinson, Head of Retail Solutions and Founding Member of The Eighth Notch joins us to discuss the solution, how the pandemic-related ecommerce boom helped bring it about, and how it can help reduce the carbon footprint of retailers and carriers by synchronizing shipments to make final-mile delivery more efficient. We also talk carbon offsets and consumer attitudes toward sustainability.
As a retail expert as well, Mike tells us about how the holiday shopping season feels from the inside, and why Black Friday the day being less of a thing in 2023 is really a good thing.
Learn more about The Eighth Notch at t8notch.com and email Mike at mrobinson@t8notch.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
A week away from Black Friday, holiday shopping season is in full swing, with retailers offering sales throughout November (and even prior) to entice consumers to buy gifts for loved ones - and occasionally themselves. But what is the holiday shopping outlook? Jon Gold, Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy with the National Retail Federation joins us to discuss the NRF's projections, which show spending hitting a new record level in spite of some economic headwinds.
Jon also talks about the continued rise of eCommerce, how inventory is looking this year and how the pandemic not only affected consumer behavior but also retailers' supply chain strategies.
For more on the NRF projections, visit nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/2023-holiday-reach-record-spending-levels.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
There is plenty of action in the Mexican freight market, and plenty of uncertainty - particularly in trucking thanks to driver shortages and, relatedly, security concerns. Meanwhile, intermodal is gaining a foothold in Mexico, with steadier capacity, safer freight movement and smoother border crossings via rail to the U.S. To learn more, we welcome Diego Anchustegui, Chief Commercial and Operating Officer with leading intermodal provider Transportès EASO and President of the Mexican Intermodal Association (AMTI).
Diego shares a variety of updates on all things intermodal and freight in Mexico, explains why there are concerns about capacity and infrastructure ahead of the approaching nearshoring boom and tells us about his half of the "New Border" solution shared in our previous episode by Spearpoint Logistics CEO Richard Miller. Plus, Diego discusses AMTI, why EASO got into intermodal after decades as a trucking company and his membership on the University of Denver Transportation and Supply Chain Institute Board.
Learn more about EASO (also known as ZigZag Logistics) at easo.com and AMTI at www.amti.org.mx.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Freight transportation between the U.S. and Mexico continues to grow - with potentially explosive growth in the near future thanks to a nearshoring boom. But there are challenges for shippers, challenges that the New Border solution is potentially well-positioned to address. Joining us to discuss is Richard Miller, CEO of Spearpoint Logistics - the U.S.-based side of the New Border partnership which counts Transportes EASO as its Mexican counterpart.
Richard shares the ins and outs of the primarily intermodal solution that uses a hub and spoke approach with a Dallas-area warehouse and specialization for overweight containers to streamline crossborder shipping. Beyond the "New Border," Richard also tells us about the Mexican freight market, how it's grown consistently for several years, the timing and projections related to the nearshoring boom, intermodal opportunities and more.
To learn about the New Border, visit www.spearpointlogistics.com or reach out to Richard directly at rmiller@spearpointlogistics.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
With Halloween fast approaching, candy in many forms is top of mind for kids and adults alike. So we choose to focus on the treats - not tricks - of trick or treating as well, with Carly Schildhaus, Director of Public Affairs and Communications for the National Confectioners Association.
Carly discusses the excitement around Halloween in 2023, candy favorites and how confections are shipped. She also shares reassurances about Halloween candy availability relating to some sugar supply chain issues. You'll even learn there are multiple ways to eat candy corn.
For more from the National Confectioners Association on Halloween, visit alwaysatreat.com/halloween.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Ransomware and other cyber attacks are a danger for any business, and those in the freight & logistics industry are no exception. Joining us this Cybersecurity Awareness Month to discuss what's out there in the cyber threat landscape, and how to prepare your company, is SonicWall Senior Solutions Engineer Jeremiah Vanderneut.
Jeremiah offers examples of costly cyber attacks affecting logistics and other companies, explains how ransomware can cripple business operations, and tells us why cybersecurity starts with trained employees. Plus, we go over the dangers of unsecured IoT (Internet of Things) devices - let's just say, remember your fish tank - and why the freight industry may be more vulnerable than others to cyberattack (including the supply chain variety).
Learn more about SonicWall and its Boundless Cybersecurity (and find its free 2023 Cyber Threat Report Mid-Year Update) at https://www.sonicwall.com/.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Cross border shipping between the U.S. and Mexico is clearly a growth opportunity of late, with nearshoring a buzzword along with more transportation options including truckload and intermodal. But some American companies are still hesitant due to different customs requirements, the language barrier and other questions they may have.
Joining us to discuss how to navigate the crossborder freight landscape is Eduardo Morales, Managing Director of Mexico-based Tenon Solutions. Eduardo takes us through the current freight market in Mexico, the outlook moving forward, the most common mistakes companies make when shipping cross-border, and the rise of intermodal as a complement to truckload shipping.
To reach Eduardo with any questions of your own, email him at eduardo@trytenon.com. For more about cross border transportation between Mexico and the U.S., visit www.intekfreight-logistics.com/mexico-freight-shipping.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
The word - and job - of coach is generally associated with sports. And with football season getting going, coaching gets plenty of spotlight. But Business Coach Tim Campsall with TBC ActionCOACH joins us to extoll the virtues of private coaching in an office setting, primarily for leadership positions.
Tim discusses the value of a coach for a variety of companies - but especially entrepreneurs. He also shares a few coaching tips that can work for just about anybody. If you're interested in working with Tim, go to https://www.tbcactioncoach.com/ and catch his podcast, called Self Made Is a Myth here https://www.tbcactioncoach.com/resources/self-made-podcast or wherever you listen.
In the news, Rick and Kevin go over a story on the freight recession and the trucking situation in particular: https://www.businessinsider.com/freight-recession-outlook-economy-pandemic-distortions-trucking-jobs-labor-demand-2023-8, also talking through what this means for the freight market cycle.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
The month of September brings two major events on the transportation calendar: IANA's Intermodal EXPO and the Journal of Commerce (JOC) Inland Distribution Conference. On this episode, we learn about each of these gatherings, with IANA Chief Operating Officer Rob Cannizzaro taking us through the programming at the Intermodal EXPO in Long Beach and JOC Senior Editor Ari Ashe returning to the show to discuss Inland - taking place in Chicago.
Both events offer valuable networking opportunities, education and programming with speakers & panels making them well worth attending - including a panel at Inland with our own President Shelli Austin called How Domestic Intermodal Is Addressing Service for the Next Surge and one at EXPO with our CEO Rick LaGore (and past podcast guest Kristy Knichel) titled IMCs: A Primer.
Intermodal EXPO runs from Sept. 11-13 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Learn more and register at https://intermodal.org/intermodalexpo.
The JOC Inland Distribution Conference takes place Sept. 25-27 at the Westin Chicago River North. Learn more and register at https://events.joc.com/inland.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Earlier this year, a merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railways formed the Class I railroad now known as CPKC. Of particular note about this combined company is a first that it's created: single line service connecting all of North America - as in, Canada, the United States and Mexico. CPKC Director of Business Development for Domestic Intermodal Melanie Kunz joins us to discuss what this service means and how it's especially changing the game for produce and protein transport.
She also shares advantages intermodal and rail transport provide particularly in border crossing scenarios, including not only security but also speed. And we go over CPKC's testing of hydrogen fuel cell locomotives as part of their efforts to further reduce the climate impact of freight.
To learn more about CPKC, visit www.cpkcr.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Just past the mid-point of 2023, we have a better read on how the freight market has progressed - and how it will likely continue to go. On this episode, InTek President Shelli Austin and CEO Rick LaGore take part in a roundtable market update. They go over both the numbers - think trucking and intermodal rates and volume (plus inflation, interest rates and the economy overall) - and how things are going on the ground from the perspective of logistics providers, shippers and carriers.
Plus, Shelli and Rick share advice for handling this market downswing, what catalyst or catalysts (happy or otherwise) could jumpstart shipping, and the timeline for when they expect the market to recover. As a bonus, listen for two oft-repeated words describing 2023 in freight - chaos and unprecedented.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
With the need to decrease emissions to help combat climate change growing more apparent by the day, freight railroads are stepping up to the plate. We discuss freight railroads and climate change on this episode with Association of American Railroads (AAR) Assistant VP for Government Affairs Jordan Stone and Assistant VP: Environment, Hazardous Materials and Climate Change Devin Sprinkle.
Jordan and Devin go over how freight rail is already the most fuel-efficient shipping mode over land and how railroads are working to make it even better with the potential for electric or hydrogen powered locomotives, improvements at railyards, cleaner fuel and many other initiatives - along with how partnerships help speed progress.
For more on what freight railroads are doing to combat climate change - and to access the recent report "Freight Railroads & Climate Change: Reducing Emissions, Enhancing Resiliency" - visit www.aar.org/climatechange.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Staying up on the latest legal issues affecting transportation and logistics is vital to businesses and organizations involved in the industry - and there are plenty of laws and rules to track. Marc Blubaugh, Partner at the award-winning Benesch Law Firm, joins us to go over a few key items that should be front of mind for freight pros today, including:
- The FMCSA's updated definitions of brokers, bona fide agents and dispatchers
- Broker fraud, double-brokering and the like
- Miller vs. C.H. Robinson and broker liability
- FMC rulemaking on detention and demurrage disputes
Marc also tells us a bit about his background and how he came to focus his legal career on transportation and logistics issues.
Learn more about Marc's practice at https://www.beneschlaw.com/, where you can also subscribe to the firm's newsletter for regular industry legal updates.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Freight has its own set of seasons, and the one that's most tied to summer is produce season, when fruits and vegetable harvests are especially strong and those fresh items must find their way quickly to supermarket shelves. SpartanNash Senior VP of Transportation and Logistics David Frizzell has handled produce shipping for the food solutions provider for a number of years, and he joins us to share what makes shipping fruits and vegetables unique along with the challenges they bring. He also offers an update on how the current season is going compared to the last few - including during the pandemic - and peels back the process of banana shipping.
Learn more about SpartanNash at www.spartannash.com and David's Transportation and Logistics operation there at snlogistics.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Data can help inform decision-making in a variety of ways, and the trucking industry is no exception when it comes to data's many uses. Dean Croke, Principal Analyst with DAT iQ, joins us to share some data analysis, starting with a deep-dive into the science of sleep as it applies to truckers, and why it's such a passion for him. He also shares how an Australian farm boy got into the trucking industry and then looking at the numbers behind it in the U.S.
We then shift gears into market analysis, reviewing various data to get a read on where things stand in freight just past the halfway point of 2023. Dean shares his favorite indicators, and what the numbers are saying about how the year's gone so far, and when (and how strongly) he expects the market to turn.
Get more from Dean here: https://www.dat.com/blog/author/dean-croke and on the weekly DAT iQ live, available here: https://www.youtube.com/@DATLoadBoards.
You can also get a question to the DAT iQ team by emailing askiQ@dat.com.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
The UIIA - Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement - is a key cornerstone in intermodal freight, but many in the industry have questions about what it does and how it works. Debbie Sasko, VP of Information Services with the Intermodal Association of North America - IANA - oversees the program, and she joins us to offer a deep dive into how it came about, how it has streamlined interactions between drayage trucking companies and equipment providers, its ubiquity, its insurance requirements and much more.
To learn more about UIIA and to register, visit www.uiia.org.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
With graduation season firmly upon us, we're joined by Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) VP of Member Services Hal Pollard to discuss what could be next for those considering an intermodal career. We discuss the various backgrounds that can come together in the freight industry, what to expect in a freight career (especially an intermodal one) and the many educational opportunities available both for recent graduates and for career changers.
Plus, Hal tells us about IANA scholarship schools, the case competition, and Intermodal Expo - where it takes place.
Find more educational and career opportunities - and register for the Expo - at intermodal.org.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
The freight industry has an unquestionably large impact on the environment, but many companies are trying to mitigate it, including the more than 4,000 EPA SmartWay partners. To discuss what the Environmental Protection Agency's program, which turns 20 next year, is, along with how it's helping to cut emissions (and costs) and lead to better freight sustainability, we welcome EPA Environmental Protection Specialist for Region 5 Tony Maietta. In addition to SmartWay, Tony discusses electrification including where electric stands for trucks, trains and ports. Plus, he goes over clean air rules and grants available to improve on the sustainability of fleets.
For more information on the EPA SmartWay program and to sign up - whether you're a shipper, carrier or logistics company - visit https://www.epa.gov/smartway.
To learn more about what a SmartWay partnership involves, read https://blog.intekfreight-logistics.com/what-is-smartway-certified.
Also on this episode, catch our MercuryGate Minute in which we share a few contract basics relating to the TMS platform.
To learn more about InTek's MercuryGate partnership, visit https://www.intekfreight-logistics.com/tms.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Fraudulent double brokering - also known as freight broker fraud - is an illegal practice that's unfortunately on the rise. And it's potentially costing the industry hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is on the frontlines of the battle against this criminal behavior, and TIA President & CEO Anne Reinke joins us to discuss what members are seeing and what they're doing to fight back.
Anne explains exactly what double brokering is, ways the crime is perpetuated, why fraudulent brokers aren't going to jail and offers tips for shippers and logistics pros to avoid becoming a victim when booking their next load. Plus, she offers an update on the proposed Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act, which would provide some relief at the federal level. And Anne and InTek President Shelli Austin recap the recent TIA conference.
Learn more about the TIA https://www.tianet.org/.
And for more on double brokering (and legal co-brokering), read our recent blog article https://blog.intekfreight-logistics.com/understanding-double-brokering-co-brokering.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Ari Ashe covers a variety of freight and transportation topics as a journalist with the Journal of Commerce. He joins us to discuss his background that took him from politics, to sports, to general assignment news, and onto his position as one of the foremost reporters in the industry. Ari provides insights into the motivation behind his journalism career, how he became adept at crunching the numbers in the intermodal and overall freight marketplace, and why talking to those on the ground is important as well. Our second straight guest who identifies as a Mets fan, Ari also takes us through his time as an intern and call screener at WFAN sports radio in New York before sharing some thoughts on the current state of the freight market.
See Ari's work at https://www.joc.com/ and follow him on Twitter @arijashe.
In the news, Rick and Kevin discuss a multilayered situation involving California ports and trucks https://blog.intekfreight-logistics.com/california-truck-port-labor-update.
And in our MercuryGate Minute, Traci tells us about DocMosis. Learn more about InTek's MercuryGate partnership at https://www.intekfreight-logistics.com/tms.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Larry Gross knows intermodal transportation and freight markets, and we welcome him onto the podcast to get some of that knowledge, but also to learn more about him. Larry tells us how a childhood fascination with trains helped lead him into a 40-plus year freight career, how his education helped him along the way and what those considering a career in transportation should be doing. Plus, he shares the story of the RoadRailer and the only place to find this piece of intermodal equipment today. Then, he discusses his passion for photography, his baseball fandom and analytics. And we can't let him go without an update on the state of intermodal and freight today.
For more about Larry and to subscribe to his Intermodal In-Depth analytical reports, visit https://intermodalindepth.com/.
To get his free pictures of the day in your email inbox, visit https://intermodalindepth.com/pictures-of-the-day/.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Women in logistics are slowly but surely becoming more common, but in what is traditionally a male-dominated industry, leadership positions still have quite a gender gap. Kristy Knichel is one of the leading ladies of logistics, as the owner of Knichel Logistics and a noted voice in the intermodal and 3PL spaces - and supply chain overall. Kristy joins hosts Kevin Baxter and InTek President Shelli Austin as we close out Women's History Month to talk about her unique background, the growth of her woman-owned business, her experience as a woman in logistics, the importance of mentorship, the evolution of the industry and the state of supply chains today. Learn more about Kristy and Knichel Logistics at https://www.knichellogistics.com/.
On our MercuryGate Minute, Traci discusses Carma - with a C. Learn more about InTek's MercuryGate TMS partnership at https://www.intekfreight-logistics.com/tms.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast as soon as they're out, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Basketball is on the minds of many this month, and InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast is no exception. As we’re based in Indiana and we deal in logistics, what better way to celebrate NCAA tournament time than an interview about both, with Indiana University legend Chuck Crabb. Chuck, who retired last year, is probably best known as the public address announcer for Hoosier basketball for more than four decades, but he also worked a day job as IU's senior assistant athletic director for facilities. And in that role, he handled plenty of logistical challenges in March and beyond. We go over a couple in particular, a 1978 Final Four hardwood emergency in St. Louis (https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/news-publications/inside-supply-management-magazine/october-2017-issue/managing-the-madness/), and, much more recently, the 2021 NCAA “bubble“ Tournament (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_NCAA_Division_I_men%27s_basketball_tournament), which saw all games played in Indiana due to the pandemic – arenas included IU’s Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse, Purdue’s Mackey Arena, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium host the entirety of the bracket, from the first four to the final four. Chuck talks with Rick and Kevin about what went into both of these unusual circumstances, the importance of team effort, shares a few anecdotes about longtime Hoosiers Coach Bob Knight, and even drops a sample of his signature announcing style. Plus, get an update on what he’s up to now – hint, he’s not sitting still.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast every week, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
As March rolls in, we’re beyond looking back at the past, instead, it’s important to assess where the market is now, and where it’s going. On our latest InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast, co-host Kevin asks InTek CEO (and co-host) Rick LaGore 5 questions about the state of the freight market for the next 9 months of 2023 regarding pricing, volume, capacity and more, and how inflation, gas prices, the pandemic and more factor in.
Then, we move into a discussion of freight and logistics news headlines, with more on inflation and supply chains, a Girl Scout cookie shortage and infrastructure spending in Georgia to support freight volume.
Story 1:
Supply Chains Have Healed Yet Their Mark on Inflation to Endure
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-26/supply-chains-have-healed-yet-their-mark-on-inflation-to-endure
Story 2:
The worst supply chain related shortage? Your favorite Girl Scout cookie
https://www.marketwatch.com/amp/story/the-worst-supply-chain-related-shortage-your-favorite-girl-scout-cookie-5c3eb163
Story 3:
Georgia could spend millions to keep freight moving
https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgia-state-legislature/georgia-could-spend-billions-to-keep-freight-moving/IXSLVZXGKNB4RGOK353RLL4ZSU/
And in our MercuryGate Minute, our expert Traci tells us about the feature of this TMS platform. Learn more about our MercuryGate TMS partnership at https://www.intekfreight-logistics.com/tms.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast every week, and please do rate and review us. Have a question? Contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
Ever wondered what intermodal transportation is or how intermodal shipping has evolved? On the debut episode of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast, we talk intermodal in depth with Jeff Brashares, Director of Domestic Intermodal Sales at CMA CGM. Jeff has been involved in the industry for more than half a century and has plenty of stories to tell, having been honored as the 2021 Silver Kingpin Award Winner by the Intermodal Association of North America. Jeff talks with host Kevin Baxter and InTek President Shelli Austin about his career and intermodal as a whole. He even shares a few tips about a hobby of his – theme parks and roller coasters. Plus, be sure to catch a nugget about Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas.
Then, Kevin and co-host, InTek CEO Rick LaGore, go over some news about warehousing – where the most growth occurred last year and where it’s expected to go from here.
See the story https://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/megawarehouse_demand_hits_record_highs_in_2022_reports_cbre.
And in our MercuryGate Minute, our expert Traci takes us through the Control Tower feature of this TMS platform. Learn more about our MercuryGate TMS partnership at https://www.intekfreight-logistics.com/tms.
Subscribe or follow now to catch new episodes of InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast every week, and please do rate and review us. Have a question, contact us at podcast@inteklogistics.com. And visit our website, www.intekfreight-logistics.com to learn more about InTek.
We hear the basics from the news every day, but what’s the story behind the headlines of supply chains, trucking, intermodal railroad and shipping overall? Join us for InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast, as we take a deeper look at what’s happening now, explore the origins of the industry and how it’s evolved, and look forward to what’s ahead.
Along the way, we’ll offer tips and solutions to pave the way for shipping success – with a dash or two of fun mixed in. Join hosts Kevin Baxter and Rick LaGore weekly for InTek Freight & Logistics: The Podcast, on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
And visit https://www.intekfreight-logistics.com to stay up on all things freight, logistics, supply chain and more.