Our guest on this week's episode is Rebecca Brewster, President & COO, American Transportation Research Institute. The trucking industry has recently faced several rocky years, from an ongoing freight recession to the huge surge in diesel prices resulting from the war against Iran. As we close this year, we look to an expert to offer a recap and a look at the future. Brewster speaks with Senior Editor Victoria Kickham about rising costs, workforce changes, liability, legal issues, driver training and recruitment, and more that affect the trucking industry.

This coming Tuesday is Election Day. These midterm elections could change the makeup of Congress and ultimately how important government projects affecting supply chains are approved and funded. Senior News Editor Ben Ames reports on some recent infrastructure projects and how funding of such projects might be affected in the future depending on the makeup of the new Congress.

Corporate commitment to sustainability has reached a record high, but oversight is lagging and external disruptions are keeping companies from delivering transformational results. This is according to the 2026 State of Supply Chain Sustainability report from MIT— specifically, from the school’s Sustainable Supply Chain Lab at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (MIT CTL). Victoria Kickham shares details from this research on how the supply chain industry is addressing sustainability.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• American Transportation Research Institute
• DOT awards $498 million for port improvement projects in 19 states
• 3PLs could feel the impact of mid-term elections
• MIT Report: corporate commitment to sustainability soars but roadblocks to execution remain
• Visit DC Velocity
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com

This podcast episode is sponsored by: Storage Solutions

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.

Freight transportation is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gases. Fortunately, it’s really not rocket science to solve this problem; there are effective solutions to reducing emissions, like using electric vehicles or alternative fuels.
However, a survey we saw this week showed that the more difficult part of the puzzle is how to use those options and still make a profit. We share details on that survey and what it means for creating greener fleets.

The move to reduce emissions not only occurs on our nation’s roads, it is also found on the high seas. A new report shows that more than 500 dual-fuel containerships and vehicle carriers are operating around the world, with the total investment in dual-fuel ships both delivered and on order surpassing $200 billion. That’s according to data from the World Shipping Council, released this week; it’s from the group’s Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard. We share more statistics and what is being done with reducing the emissions of maritime fleets.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Piston
• Road freight operators try to cut emissions but customers won’t pay.
• Dual fuel fleet tops 500
• Visit DC Velocity
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com

This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label

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 brightest and most successful companies when it comes to managing supply chains is also America’s largest retailer - Walmart. The company has just opened its fifth “next-generation fulfillment center” - a 900,000-square-foot facility in Stockton California that it said will expand the retailer’s ability to provide faster shipping and delivery to customers across California and the West Coast.

There are many factors and forces out there that are helping to reshape supply chains heading into 2027—and many of them will come from outside the industry. This is according to a 2027 Freight Market Outlook Report from freight broker and logistics service provider C.H. Robinson. The report was released this week. It examines five areas shaping supply chains in the year ahead, and points to their collective potential to increase operating costs and alter global sourcing and procurement strategies.

Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Durham Exchange Club Industries
• Walmart opens its 5th Next-Generation fulfillment center
• External forces to reshape supply chains in 2027
• Visit DC Velocity
• Visit Supply Chain Xchange
• Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.com

This podcast episode is sponsored by: ID Label