The Supply Chainer

Yard operations sit at the center of supply chain execution pressures. Persistent labor shortages, throughput demands and rising fraud risks turn what was once a tactical function into a strategic vulnerability for shippers and 3PLs. Companies that professionalize yard work, stabilize operations through disciplined people practices and close verification gaps gain measurable advantages in reliability, safety and cost control. This convergence matters now because electrificati

Operational variation across distribution networks continues to erode network agility for large retailers, manufacturers and 3PLs. Even after years of substantial WMS investments, many organizations still grapple with accumulated local workarounds, legacy processes and site-specific exceptions that block true scalability. These hidden differences – from customized receiving protocols to unique exception-handling rules – create ongoing friction in drayage coordination, yard ma

Vessels facing prolonged anchorage in the Gulf prior to transiting the Strait of Hormuz encounter accelerated biofouling buildup, directly impacting operational performance and supply chain costs. Extended stationary time in warm saline waters promotes rapid organism settlement on hulls, increasing hydrodynamic drag, fuel consumption, and overall voyage expenses. Dr. Mario N. Tamburri of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and Director of the Maritime

Aviation maintenance facilities and high-volume distribution centers are operating under tightening execution tolerances where internal material flows and outbound transit packaging directly determine downtime and compliance exposure. In aircraft engine service bays, non-standard loads and precision positioning create persistent bottlenecks that standard equipment cannot resolve without repeated reconfiguration. On the distribution side, variable order profiles, volumetric sh

Episode 126 of the Resilient Supply Chain Podcast, hosted by Tom Raftery, examines why returns and resale can no longer be treated as peripheral retail processes. The guest is Terry Boyle, CEO of Trove, a company focused on returns manageme...

Container shipping operators face renewed pressure on capacity and pricing as front-loading ahead of the traditional peak season combines with ongoing Red Sea diversions to tighten available space on key east-west trades. Spot rates have climbed rapidly in recent weeks. According to Drewry data, the World Container Index rose 23% in early June 2026 to $3,433 per FEU. Xeneta reported that Far East to US West Coast spot rates were set to reach around $5,170 per FEU by early Jun

We analyzed traffic data across sources since the start of the year: Tariff Volatility, AI Demand Forecasting, Network Resilience, Talent Upskilling, End-to-End Visibility, Cost Optimization, ESG Compliance. These 7 issues generated the strongest engagement among senior decision-makers. 1. Tariff Volatility Frequent tariff changes create major disruptions in planning, procurement, and margins especially for small and midsize importers, leading to high operational uncertai

The diesel yard truck is being retired across North American logistics hubs, not because operators have gone green, but because the economics of keeping it are getting harder to defend. As energy costs remain volatile, maintenance complexity compounds, and sustainability reporting requirements tighten across supply chains, the electric yard truck has moved from innovation to expectation — at least for operators large enough to absorb the upfront investment. For the rest, the

Yard management continues to expose one of the most persistent operational bottlenecks in modern logistics. Despite heavy investments in transportation management systems, warehouse automation, and advanced forecasting tools, many facilities still rely on fragmented visibility and manual processes at the physical point where inbound trailers, outbound loads, dock scheduling, labor, and inventory converge. Execution gaps here quickly cascade into broader network disruptions, a

The Ocean Foundation watches the Strait of Hormuz the way the energy desks do — but our attention is below the waterline. As the world’s community foundation for the ocean, we see the current crisis in the Strait through two lenses that the freight and commodity markets tend to miss: the transfer of invasive species and the climate and pollution costs of a global fleet now operating under abnormal conditions. Both are converging into a supply chain risk that will not remain s

Amazon has unveiled the next-generation Proteus robot, an autonomous mobile unit enhanced with conversational AI capabilities. The announcement, made at the "Delivering the Future" event in London, positions Proteus as a more versatile tool for material movement in fulfillment centers. Unlike previous versions limited to dock areas, the upgraded robot can operate across larger warehouse spaces and respond to natural language commands from workers. Amazon plans to deploy the n

Containers cross oceans daily carrying everything from electronics to apparel. Yet occasionally, these steel boxes deliver more than ordered cargo. Live stowaways—animals that survive long voyages—highlight biosecurity risks, operational disruptions, and the need for robust protocols in international logistics. Real Incidents from Around the World Real-world incidents reported in the media illustrate the phenomenon. In Minnesota, U.S., distribution center workers opened a c