The Supply Chainer

Warehouse and transportation operators generate more data than ever. Yet many still struggle to turn visibility into consistent execution at enterprise scale. The core dilemma is the persistent gap between knowing what is happening and acting effectively in real time on labor shifts, exceptions, inventory issues, and operational disruptions. Visibility Falls Short Amy Dean of SC Codeworks replied in writing to The Supply Chainer. SC Codeworks delivers warehouse management sys

Updated: June 11. Containers are reaching shore faster than many operators can move them inland. For years, supply chain disruption at ports was treated primarily as a visibility problem. Logistics operators invested heavily in tracking systems, shipment monitoring platforms, and real-time ETA tools designed to improve awareness around inbound freight. But as inland congestion pressures intensify, many operators are discovering that visibility alone does not prevent delays on

Amazon Inc. continues to deepen its logistics footprint in the United States. The company has expanded its Less-Than-Truckload services to all businesses. This allows palletized shipments to any US destination. The move immediately pressured shares of established LTL carriers. Operational Pressure on Incumbents Old Dominion, FedEx Freight and Saia experienced notable declines. Investors weighed the potential for new competition from Amazon's vast network of warehouses, trucks

Warehouse receiving delays and inventory search times continue to drive up detention charges and order fulfillment costs across distributor networks. Operators managing paper-based systems or fragmented legacy tools face mounting pressure from e-commerce growth and tighter labor availability. Execution Friction Builds at the Floor Level Four distributors recently detailed their shift from manual methods to a modern WMS. AFCO Distribution, LB Water, Sea to Summit and Tompkins

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

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

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

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

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