Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

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

Fre...

Our guest on this week's episode is Chrissy Sailstad, CEO, Durham Exchange Club Industries. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This annual event was begun in 1945 by the U.S. Department of Labor to recognize the positive impacts that people with disabilities make in the American workforce. The theme this year is “Celebrating Value and Talent.” Senior Editor Victoria Kickham speaks with today’s guest to find out more about how workers with disabilities make a difference in our supply chains. 

We learn a lot from looking at the success of others. And one of the...

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

Logistics activity accelerated in September, driven by t...

Our guest on this week's episode is Claire Li, vice president of Credit Strategy at Moody's Ratings. Critical minerals and rare earth minerals are needed in most electronics and tech devices, yet the United States does not produce many of these components domestically. China is the leading producer and its rare earth dominance threatens U.S. supply chains. How does the U.S. assure the mineral supplies that are needed to produce consumer products and critical defense systems? Our guest explains the vulnerabilities and offers possible solutions.

Cargo theft is more sophisticated, and...

Our guest on this week's episode is Peter Larsen is a Vice President at Amazon, where he leads Amazon Supply Chain Services. Amazon may have started in 1994 as an online book seller, but today they are arguably the most successful of all online retailers. None of this would be possible if not for the extensive distribution and transportation networks that Amazon has built. And now they are opening those capabilities to others through a new entity known as Amazon Supply Chain Services. Larsen will also be a featured keynote speaker next month at CSCMP’s ED...

Our guest on this week's episode is Tommy Slaymaker, Director of Fleet Services at The Pete Store (one of the largest Peterbilt dealer groups in North America). Diesel fuel is the driving force behind our supply chains, powering everything from railroad locomotives to long-haul trucks. Prices have now risen to historic highs, due to the shortages brought on by the war with Iran. What impacts are these high prices having on supply chains and trucking in particular? Senior News Editor Ben Ames finds out as he speaks with today’s guest. 

Every business is grappling wit...

Our guest on this week's episode is Roberto Canevari, executive vice president, chief value chain officer at international beauty suppler Estée Lauder. Managing an international supply chain is not an easy job in this age of global disruptions. Our guest today does it every day in leading a global supply chain team of more than 10,000 people at Estee Lauder. That includes 44 factories worldwide and numerous distribution and transportation points. Canevari will be a featured keynote speaker next month at CSCMP’s EDGE conference in Nashville. He recently spoke with DC Velocity’s Diane Rand about how he ma...

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

Economic growth in logistics slowed for a second straight month in August, marked by...

Our guest on this week's episode is Tucker Perkins, President and CEO of the Propane Education & Reseach Council (PERC). Propane has been used for decades as a consistent source of powering industrial trucks, such as the forklifts and other equipment used in distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, ports, transportation yards, and other places in the logistics world. DC Velocity Group Editorial Director David Maloney talks with our guest about the many uses for propane for powering equipment. They also discuss how propane's dominance as a power source is being challenged by new battery technologies.

The consumer...

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

If you’ve ever received a home delivery package of an e-commerce order and pulled out a tiny little object from a large pile of styrofo...

Our guest on this week's episode is Abdil Tunca, a Senior Principal Analyst in the Logistics and Customer Fulfillment team in Gartner's Supply Chain practice. The U.S. government through the FCC recently issued new restrictions on robots imported from other countries. This includes the kinds of robots widely used in warehouses and distribution centers. But what are the intentions behind these new restrictions? To find out, Senior News Editor Ben Ames welcomes this week’s guest to discuss why it was done and the impacts of this decision on supply chains and future robotic deployments. 

M...

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

Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports that business activity in logistics s...

Our guest on this week's episode is Maxime Darmet, senior economist at Allianz Trade. One week ago here in the U.S., we saw former trade tariffs expiring and a host of new tariffs being slapped on most of our trading partners. These new tariffs are attempting to tie these countries to not doing enough to prevent forced labor in the production of their products, though those allegations are extremely hard to prove. Our guest shares about these new tariffs, their impacts to our supply chains, and he compares them to previous tariffs. We also look at h...

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

The U.S. war with Iran has now been running since February, which is nearly five months. And from a global supply...

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

The big story for supply chains this week c...

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

Senior Editor Victoria Kickham was on the road last week at the SMC3 Connections trucking event where she lead a cou...

Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director at the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). It is officially the beginning of hurricane season – a period where these storms, as well as tornados and other natural disasters, such as this week’s earthquakes in Venezuela, leave behind considerable damage to towns in their wakes. It is during these times that the logistics industry snaps into action to help those in affected areas, as today’s guest discusses with our DC Velocity senior editor, Victoria Kickham. 

Those of us who grew up in the Jetsons...

Our guest on this week's episode is Eric Fullerton, Vice President of Data Insights and Product Marketing at project44. There is now an agreement in place to end the fighting between the United States and Iran – and we hope it will be a lasting peace. But it will be a while before the world gets back to normal and we can recover from the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. And that includes not just the flow of oil, but also products made from petroleum, such as plastics. We may find some products delayed or scarce due to...

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

The market outlook for collaborative robots remains strong as the equipment advances to accommodate heavier duty use around the world. Senior Editor Victoria Kickham repo...

Our guest on this week's episode is Jim Mozer, Senior Vice President at Crown Equipment Corporation. He is representing the Industrial Truck Association, the industry association for the lift truck industry. This coming Tuesday, the supply chain industry hosts National Forklift Safety Day. Now in its 13th year, this day is set aside annually to remind us of the importance of safe practices when working on and around forklifts. National Forklift Safety Day is sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association. Our guest and DC Velocity Group Editorial Director David Maloney discuss what will take place at Tuesday’s...

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

Senior Editor Victoria Kickham reports that buyers of forklifts and...

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

The buzzword of the season in supply chain software right now is agentic AI. But that technology, and artificial intelligence overall really, is still so new that there are probably more q...

Our guest on this week's episode is Patrick Van den Bossche, partner at Kearney, a global management consulting firm. There has been a huge effort in recent years to return manufacturing to the United States, as much of this production has been outsourced to overseas factories for decades. But have these attempts been successful? Van den Bossche is the lead author of new research called the 2026 Reshoring Index Report and offers his insights and findings from the report on whether the current state of reshoring initiatives.. 

Artificial intelligence has so many up sides t...

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

Most warehouses have packages of some kind that they need to sort - either inbound cases that have to go to storage or processing areas or goods in o...

Our guest on this week's episode is Lisa Dyer, Executive Director of the GPS Innovation Alliance. Many of us rely on GPS satellite technology every day. But what we may not realize is that these important systems are vulnerable to criminals, hackers, and a range of other bad actors. Between jamming GPS signals and mimicking real signals, the potential for harm is real—unless we do something about it. Lisa Dyer of the GPS Innovation Alliance shares about these potential threats to our GPS systems and what can be done to secure them.

Ju...

Our guest on this week's episode is Helaine Rich, Vice President of Strategic Sales and Administration at ePost Global. As the war against Iran is in its seventh week, fuel prices continue to rise. And it is getting to the point where carriers can no longer just simply absorb those costs. So, how have those unexpected costs affected supply chain companies? Senior News Editor Ben Ames discusses with our guest how companies are coping and trying to adjust to these latest uncertainties. 

Each year, the number of women taking the wheel is rising. Right now, wo...

Our guest on this week's episode is Disney Petit – founder and CEO of LiquiDonate, a company that provides software for companies to donate unwanted returned items. As any retailer can tell you, returns can be the most difficult part of their work. Each return has to be evaluated to decide what to do with it. But what if there is a better idea for handling returns? With Earth Day approaching, we present a great way to find homes for returned items that cannot be resold. Rather than disposing of these items in landfills, LiquiDonate connects retailers and ot...

Our guest on this week's episode is Christelle Keefer, director of training and certifications at The Association for Advancing Automation (A3).  As labor becomes harder to find for our distribution and manufacturing facilities, companies are turning more and more to automation. This is National Robotics Week  - when the industry celebrates the impacts that these mechanical workers are making on our operations. Our guest speaks with Senior Editor Ben Ames about gaps that still remain when deploying robots to work with human workers.

New information from the International Federation of Robotics, or IFR, illustrates just ho...

Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Stefan Heck, CEO and Founder of Nauto. We have turned the calendar to April and many of our listeners may not be aware that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. From phones to radios to navigation systems, there are many things that can distract drivers as they move down our nation’s roadways. Even professional drivers can be distracted, putting themselves, their loads, and of course other drivers at risk. Senior Editor Victoria Kickham discusses with our guest how extensive the problem of distracted driving is...

Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Massey, Head of Corporate Intelligence, EMEA, S-RM. As the war against Iran continues, supply chains feel the effects – whether that is oil tankers stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, disruptions to air cargo flying through the Middle East, or many other impacts that conflicts of this time bring. Victoria Kickham talks with this week’s guest about these effects and potential risk scenarios.  

For years upon years, importers have rented warehouse space near ports, because of course, ships would bring freight to US shores, and they needed a conv...

Our guest on this week's episode is Mark Becker, CEO of G10 Fulfillment. We have all heard the stories about the fire risks of lithium-ion batteries – for instance, you can’t put them in your checked luggage on a flight or use portable power-bank batteries inside an airplane cabin. Of course, larger industrial batteries used in forklifts and mobile robotic systems are built to much better specifications than many consumer batteries, but how can we assure they are safe? Ben Ames talks with this week’s guest about best practices for shipping, storing, and fulfillment of lithium-ion batteries.

The...

Our guest on this week's episode is Mike Van Bree, director of product safety and engineering at Louisville Ladder Inc. and current president of the American Ladder Institute (ALI). This is Friday the 13th, and you have probably heard that old adage not to walk under ladders. That warning is probably not so much because it might bring you bad luck, but because it is an unsafe thing to do. And that brings us to our guest today: March is National Ladder Safety Month in the United States – a reminder to follow proper safety procedures while working at heights in...

Our guest on this week's episode is Jackson Wood, director of industry strategy, global trade intelligence at Descartes. The United States is now at war with Iran in military actions that have now spread throughout the Middle East. With that part of the world being in major disruption, what are the implications for global transportation, ships moving oil and gas, and just supply chains in general? In an interview with Ben Ames, our guest offers some insights.  

Having agility within our supply chains is a crucial way to prepare for unexpected events, whether that is a pandemic o...

Our guest on this week's episode is Per Hong, senior partner and global lead of Kearney Foresight. By now we have all heard that the emergency tariffs placed earlier in the year were ruled illegal last week by the Supreme Court, but now we have new tariffs – and the potential of war with Iran. There is lots going on right now that could have major impacts on our supply chains. Our guest helps us to unravel it all and offers advice on how supply chain leaders should prepare for whatever is next.

Have you ever heard of a...

Our guest on this week's episode is Fab Brasca, senior vice president of market strategy at Kinaxis. The use of artificial intelligence is growing and its potential impacts on supply chains might be practically limitless. But how fast should companies move on adopting these technologies – and who is way ahead of the pack in implementing AI? Ben Ames answers these questions with today’s guest.

Our supply chains are supposed to be in motion to be efficient, yet a lot of the time our freight is stuck in neutral due to road congestion. The American Transportation Research Inst...

Our guest on this week's episode is Lisa DeNight, managing director and head of North American Industrial Research for Newmark. Before a company can manufacture and distribute a product, they need the proper building designed to house their operations. That is where the industrial real estate market comes in. Like the home real estate market there are ebbs and flows depending on the economy and other factors. But there are signs for hope in the industrial real estate market in 2026, as our guest shares the latest industry trends and research.

This week The National Association of Manufacturers...

Our guest on this week's episode is Jake Heldenberg, director of sales engineering, Warehouse Solutions, North America at Vanderlande. We are only a bit more than a month into 2026 and it is hoped that automation companies will see a glimmer of hope after a somewhat uneven 2025. Our guest today offers insight into the automation market and he shares trends and predictions for the remainder of the year.

Finding and retaining warehouse talent is a challenge these days. However, this week, Gartner released research about what companies are doing to address that challenge—and they found that warehouse an...

Our guest on this week's episode is Suketu Gandhi, a partner and global chair in the Strategic Operations practice at management and consulting firm Kearney. The annual World Economic Forum was held last week in Davos, Switzerland. This year it was more politicized than normal, especially with more than 60 heads of state making appearances and lots of international intrigue. But while the politicians stole the spotlight, the primary purpose of the meeting each year is to bring business leaders together to talk about how to improve business operations.  This week’s podcast guest was one of the att...

Our guest on this week's episode is Ronak Amin - global product marketing lead for fleet, mobility, and transport solutions at Here Technologies. Bridges and trucks are two elements that do not mix well. Many would be surprised to learn that an over-the-road truck strikes a bridge or an underpass every 36 minutes. Of course these accidents risk lives besides disrupting traffic flow. What can be done to prevent bridge strikes? Our guest offers some insights.

One major container ship line recently decided to resume sailings in the Red Sea but has now backed out...

Our guest on this week's episode is Tony Bradley, president and CEO of the Arizona Trucking Association and the executive director of the Arizona Trucking Association Foundation. We have seen huge changes within the trucking industry during the past year based on two big issues – the licensing of non-domiciled drivers and the huge surges we see in freight fraud. Victoria Kickham finds out more about what is being done to address these issues in this week’s guest interview.  

One of the technology topics that has gotten a lot of buzz lately has been...