Editor’s Note: Today’s “From the Archives” post was originally published in April 2024. It highlights research conducted with members of our Indago supply chain community -- along with select members of JBF Consulting’s customer community -- exploring, among other topics, how satisfied companies are with their Transportation Management System (TMS) investments. After reading, share your perspective in the comments: Do you believe satisfaction levels increased, decreased, or remained the same over the past two years?

The global transportation management systems (TMS) market size is estimated to be around $16-17 billion. But how satisfied are companies with their investments in Transportation Management Systems (TMS)? How do they measure/quantify satisfaction? As logistics software providers promote their Generative AI and Machine Learning capabilities, how satisfied are companies with the progress vendors are making in these areas?

We asked members of our Indago supply chain research community — who are all supply chain and logistics executives from manufacturing, retail, and distribution companies — as well as select members of JBF Consulting’s customer community, those questions in a recent survey.

Almost three quarters of the survey respondents (71%) are using a TMS, either deployed internally (50%) or provided by their 3PL (21%). Of the respondents using a TMS, half (50%) are either “Satisfied” (42%) or “Very Satisfied” (8%) with their solution. However, 29% said they were either “Dissatisfied” (25%) or “Very Dissatisfied” (4%) with their TMS.

So, what do these results tell us?

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Rising Diesel Prices: How Are Shippers Responding?

Diesel prices are rising again — and quickly. As reported in the Wall Street Journal: “Diesel prices for U.S. truckers rose a record 96 cents a gallon this past week [25% increase], an ominous sign for retailers and manufacturers juggling tariffs and bracing for higher shipping costs following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.”

If elevated prices persist through the rest of 2026, how will shippers respond?

This survey explored the expected impact on transportation spend, the actions companies are most likely to take, how fuel surcharge programs are structured, and the biggest challenges in managing fuel price volatility.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Import Tariffs: A Top-Tier Enforcement Priority in the U.S.

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Subscribe to Podcast

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New from Sponsor Blogs

• Descartes Acquires Idelic

  Source: Descartes

• Supply Chain Leader’s Guide to Cross-Border Freight Solutions

  Source: Werner

• Strategic Intermodal Solutions for U.S.-Mexico Logistics

  Source: Werner

• Companies are getting tariff refunds. Will you see lower prices?

  Source: Descartes

• Finding hidden value: What a multi-shipper network analysis reveals

  Source: Uber Freight

• Beyond the pump: 7 Levers shippers can pull when fuel prices jump

  Source: Uber Freight

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

I spent six days on a technology detox in Madrid and Seville.

My wife, oldest daughter, and I traveled to Spain to visit our youngest son, who is studying abroad there. But I also took the opportunity to take a vacation from my computer and smartphone.

I didn’t even pack my laptop — I left it powered down on my office desk. And although I had my iPhone with me, I didn’t open any social media apps or check work email the entire time I was in Spain.

The detox actually began a few days before we left. I made a decision to improve my mental health: I need to feel comfortable being bored again — just being present in the moment.

For example, I don’t need to check email or social media on my phone:

• While waiting at a red light or crosswalk

• In between sets at the gym

• In the checkout line at the supermarket

• During conversation lulls at the dinner table

• While waiting to get through airport security

• Whenever I hit writer’s block or want to procrastinate

• In the bathroom (yeah, I know — but you probably do it too)

I have to admit, being “bored” in Spain was very difficult. We landed in Madrid last Friday at 5:30 am and were on the go almost nonstop through Wednesday — visiting museums, parks, palaces, cafés, and more. Most days we walked more than 20,000 steps — and in Seville, we walked 23 miles in just two days.

By pure chance, we arrived in Seville at the start of its Feria de Abril…

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Charter Sponsors

Rising Diesel Prices: How Are Shippers Responding?

Diesel prices are rising again — and quickly. As reported in the Wall Street Journal: “Diesel prices for U.S. truckers rose a record 96 cents a gallon this past week [25% increase], an ominous sign for retailers and manufacturers juggling tariffs and bracing for higher shipping costs following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.”

If elevated prices persist through the rest of 2026, how will shippers respond?

This survey explored the expected impact on transportation spend, the actions companies are most likely to take, how fuel surcharge programs are structured, and the biggest challenges in managing fuel price volatility.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Import Tariffs: A Top-Tier Enforcement Priority in the U.S.

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• Descartes Acquires Idelic

  Source: Descartes

• Supply Chain Leader’s Guide to Cross-Border Freight Solutions

  Source: Werner

• Strategic Intermodal Solutions for U.S.-Mexico Logistics

  Source: Werner

• Companies are getting tariff refunds. Will you see lower prices?

  Source: Descartes

• Finding hidden value: What a multi-shipper network analysis reveals

  Source: Uber Freight

• Beyond the pump: 7 Levers shippers can pull when fuel prices jump

  Source: Uber Freight

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

This past January, we asked members of our Indago supply chain research community, “How would you describe the level of uncertainty facing your supply chain today compared to three years ago?”

Most respondents (57%) said uncertainty is either slightly or significantly higher than it was three years ago. If we were to repeat the survey today, I’d bet the percentage would be even higher, considering what has transpired in just the past few weeks — including the U.S. Supreme Court invalidating the IEEPA tariffs, war breaking out in the Middle East (triggering a significant increase in diesel fuel prices), and the ongoing innovations, debates, and concerns surrounding AI.

Will the rest of the year bring more uncertainty or less?

Time will tell, but the safe bet is more. Case in point: talks to renew the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement have begun — at least between the U.S. and Mexico — and there is considerable uncertainty about what will happen in the weeks ahead leading up to July 1, 2026, when the three governments must decide whether to extend the agreement for another 16 years (see “While Everyone Watches Oil and Tariffs, USMCA Looms”).

Looking at the top Talking Logistics posts this quarter, a clear narrative emerges: supply chain leaders are operating in a world of constant, multi-dimensional uncertainty — driven by tariffs, cost volatility, regulatory pressures, and rising cyber risks. Execution excellence, therefore, is no longer sufficient on its own; leaders also need stronger decision intelligence, enabled by connected data — aggregated from disparate sources and put into context — along with the metrics and tools required to make faster, smarter decisions.

Where are you on the decision intelligence maturity curve?

A question worth discussing with your team at your next meeting.

And with that, here are some Talking Logistics and Indago highlights for Q1 2026.

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Rising Diesel Prices: How Are Shippers Responding?

Diesel prices are rising again — and quickly. As reported in the Wall Street Journal: “Diesel prices for U.S. truckers rose a record 96 cents a gallon this past week [25% increase], an ominous sign for retailers and manufacturers juggling tariffs and bracing for higher shipping costs following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.”

If elevated prices persist through the rest of 2026, how will shippers respond?

This survey explored the expected impact on transportation spend, the actions companies are most likely to take, how fuel surcharge programs are structured, and the biggest challenges in managing fuel price volatility.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Import Tariffs: A Top-Tier Enforcement Priority in the U.S.

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• Descartes Expands AI Innovation on the Global Logistics Network with Fleet Data Intelligence Platform

  Source: Descartes

• Netværk for Lager & Logistik april 2026

  Source: Descartes

• Finding hidden value: What a multi-shipper network analysis reveals

  Source: Uber Freight

• El Papel Evolutivo del Transporte Intermodal en la Logística Moderna

  Source: Werner

• Beyond the pump: 7 Levers shippers can pull when fuel prices jump

  Source: Uber Freight

• Fuel Volatility: Navigating the Surge in Diesel Costs

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

I woke up to snowflakes in the air this past Tuesday — the big, puffy kind, like bits of cotton candy floating down from the sky.

It’s April, isn’t it?

I watched the snow falling through the kitchen window, waiting for my coffee to brew. Slowly, the lawn was turning white.

A squirrel, waiting for his morning nut, stood upright beneath the oak tree in my yard.

He watched the snow falling too, and then, maybe sensing me at the kitchen window, he turned his head and looked right at me. I recognized the look on his face because it was the same look I had on mine — you know the look, the one that says, “WTF.”

We both shook our heads and went about our day.

That’s April in New England for ya.

—

Moving on, here’s the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week:

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Rising Diesel Prices: How Are Shippers Responding?

Diesel prices are rising again — and quickly. As reported in the Wall Street Journal: “Diesel prices for U.S. truckers rose a record 96 cents a gallon this past week [25% increase], an ominous sign for retailers and manufacturers juggling tariffs and bracing for higher shipping costs following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.”

If elevated prices persist through the rest of 2026, how will shippers respond?

This survey explored the expected impact on transportation spend, the actions companies are most likely to take, how fuel surcharge programs are structured, and the biggest challenges in managing fuel price volatility.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Import Tariffs: A Top-Tier Enforcement Priority in the U.S.

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• El Papel Evolutivo del Transporte Intermodal en la Logística Moderna

  Source: Werner

• 2026 OTM User Conference

  Source: Descartes

• 2026 NAFTZ Spring Seminar

  Source: Descartes

• Beyond the pump: 7 Levers shippers can pull when fuel prices jump

  Source: Uber Freight

• Moving from good to great: Growing into the next stage of transportation maturity

  Source: Uber Freight

• Fuel Volatility: Navigating the Surge in Diesel Costs

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

Do you remember, say 20 years ago, when we thought of supply chains as a linear process — receive parts or raw materials from suppliers, manufacture or assemble a product, then ship it via a carrier to customers?

While the basic principles still apply, we all know supply chains really operate as networks that more closely resemble spider webs. Inputs from an array of suppliers — often working with multiple tiers of suppliers themselves — feed complex manufacturing, assembly, and packaging operations that then distribute through multiple logistics service providers, carriers, and customers. All of these partners can be connected via a network platform, or what I call a Supply Chain Operating Network.

The benefit of this network approach is that trading partners can actively collaborate to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and create more scalable operations.

To explore the value proposition of Supply Chain Operating Networks for transportation, I moderated a webinar conversation with Rachelle Yeingst, Senior Director of Product Management at e2open, and Alex Mihailenco, VP, Carrier Network & Customer Operations at Shippeo.

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Rising Diesel Prices: How Are Shippers Responding?

Diesel prices are rising again — and quickly. As reported in the Wall Street Journal: “Diesel prices for U.S. truckers rose a record 96 cents a gallon this past week [25% increase], an ominous sign for retailers and manufacturers juggling tariffs and bracing for higher shipping costs following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.”

If elevated prices persist through the rest of 2026, how will shippers respond?

This survey explored the expected impact on transportation spend, the actions companies are most likely to take, how fuel surcharge programs are structured, and the biggest challenges in managing fuel price volatility.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Import Tariffs: A Top-Tier Enforcement Priority in the U.S.

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• El Papel Evolutivo del Transporte Intermodal en la Logística Moderna

  Source: Werner

• 2026 OTM User Conference

  Source: Descartes

• 2026 NAFTZ Spring Seminar

  Source: Descartes

• Beyond the pump: 7 Levers shippers can pull when fuel prices jump

  Source: Uber Freight

• Moving from good to great: Growing into the next stage of transportation maturity

  Source: Uber Freight

• Fuel Volatility: Navigating the Surge in Diesel Costs

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

The war with Iran — and its impact on fuel prices and supply chains — is dominating the headlines. There are also ongoing developments on the tariffs front. The Trump administration, for example, is imposing new tariffs on branded drugs from pharmaceutical companies, and it’s changing how tariffs on imported steel, aluminum, and copper are assessed.

But outside the spotlight (for now) is another trade-related development that could have equally significant supply chain implications: USMCA negotiations.

Talks to renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement have begun — at least between the U.S. and Mexico — and there’s considerable uncertainty about what will happen in the weeks ahead leading up to July 1, 2026.

What’s so important about that date?

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Rising Diesel Prices: How Are Shippers Responding?

Diesel prices are rising again — and quickly. As reported in the Wall Street Journal: “Diesel prices for U.S. truckers rose a record 96 cents a gallon this past week [25% increase], an ominous sign for retailers and manufacturers juggling tariffs and bracing for higher shipping costs following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.”

If elevated prices persist through the rest of 2026, how will shippers respond?

This survey explored the expected impact on transportation spend, the actions companies are most likely to take, how fuel surcharge programs are structured, and the biggest challenges in managing fuel price volatility.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Import Tariffs: A Top-Tier Enforcement Priority in the U.S.

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• El Papel Evolutivo del Transporte Intermodal en la Logística Moderna

  Source: Werner

• 2026 OTM User Conference

  Source: Descartes

• 2026 NAFTZ Spring Seminar

  Source: Descartes

• Beyond the pump: 7 Levers shippers can pull when fuel prices jump

  Source: Uber Freight

• Moving from good to great: Growing into the next stage of transportation maturity

  Source: Uber Freight

• Fuel Volatility: Navigating the Surge in Diesel Costs

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

Did you fall victim to an April Fools’ joke this year?

Maybe it’s a sign of the times, but I didn’t see many jokes online, especially ones related to supply chain. Even I, who has written several April Fools’ posts over the years, skipped it this time.

I did have a physical therapy appointment on April 1 (I’m still working on getting my fractured ankle back to 100%), and they had three April Fools’ riddles written on a whiteboard:

• What did April Fools say when it received a gift?

• Why was the frog late to work on April Fools’ Day?

• Why shouldn’t you tell duck jokes on April Fools’ Day?

I went 0-for-3 trying to guess the answers — but I’ve never been great at riddles. Curious what they are? I’ll share them at the end.

In the meantime, here’s the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week:

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Rising Diesel Prices: How Are Shippers Responding?

Diesel prices are rising again — and quickly. As reported in the Wall Street Journal: “Diesel prices for U.S. truckers rose a record 96 cents a gallon this past week [25% increase], an ominous sign for retailers and manufacturers juggling tariffs and bracing for higher shipping costs following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.”

If elevated prices persist through the rest of 2026, how will shippers respond?

This survey explored the expected impact on transportation spend, the actions companies are most likely to take, how fuel surcharge programs are structured, and the biggest challenges in managing fuel price volatility.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Import Tariffs: A Top-Tier Enforcement Priority in the U.S.

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• 2026 OTM User Conference

  Source: Descartes

• 2026 NAFTZ Spring Seminar

  Source: Descartes

• Beyond the pump: 7 Levers shippers can pull when fuel prices jump

  Source: Uber Freight

• Moving from good to great: Growing into the next stage of transportation maturity

  Source: Uber Freight

• Fuel Volatility: Navigating the Surge in Diesel Costs

  Source: Werner

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

If you operate a delivery fleet, the question is always the same: how do you deliver orders on time, undamaged, and at the lowest possible cost — with the fewest vehicles, miles driven, and drivers?

It’s a complex optimization problem with a lot of moving parts, which is why most leading fleet operators rely on route planning and optimization solutions. But as the operating environment continues to get more challenging, technology is also getting smarter. Advances in AI and machine learning are enabling companies to better understand the gap between what was planned and what actually happens in the field — unlocking hidden capacity and savings in the process.

So what does that look like in practice? I explored that question and its implications with Cyndi Brandt, VP, Fleet Solutions at Descartes, on a recent episode of Talking Logistics.

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Rising Diesel Prices: How Are Shippers Responding?

Diesel prices are rising again — and quickly. As reported in the Wall Street Journal: “Diesel prices for U.S. truckers rose a record 96 cents a gallon this past week [25% increase], an ominous sign for retailers and manufacturers juggling tariffs and bracing for higher shipping costs following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.”

If elevated prices persist through the rest of 2026, how will shippers respond?

This survey explored the expected impact on transportation spend, the actions companies are most likely to take, how fuel surcharge programs are structured, and the biggest challenges in managing fuel price volatility.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• NAW MDM Webinar: Where 400+ Distribution Leaders Are Investing in AI

  Source: Descartes

• Webinar - The AI Exchange: Inside the Last Mile

  Source: Descartes

• Moving from good to great: Growing into the next stage of transportation maturity

  Source: Uber Freight

• Why leading shippers are tapping into network scale to cut transportation costs and improve service

  Source: Uber Freight

• Fuel Volatility: Navigating the Surge in Diesel Costs

  Source: Werner

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

Yes, you read that correctly. As reported by The Associated Press this past weekend, “Swiss food giant Nestlé says about 12 tons, or 413,793 candy bars, of its KitKat chocolate brand were stolen after leaving its production site in Italy earlier this week for Poland.”

(I don’t think this is what Nestlé had in mind with its “Have a break, have a KitKat” ad campaign.)

“Whilst we appreciate the criminals’ exceptional taste, the fact remains that cargo theft is an escalating issue for businesses of all sizes,” Nestlé said in a statement, according to the article.

Freight fraud is no longer an occasional problem — it’s becoming systemic. Just last week, we published a guest commentary by Andrew Wimer from Descartes on this very topic (“Freight Fraud: Combatting The Growing Threat To Supply Chain Integrity”). Here are other posts we have published in the past 2 years that shine a spotlight on freight fraud:

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Rising Diesel Prices: How Are Shippers Responding?

Diesel prices are rising again — and quickly. As reported in the Wall Street Journal: “Diesel prices for U.S. truckers rose a record 96 cents a gallon this past week [25% increase], an ominous sign for retailers and manufacturers juggling tariffs and bracing for higher shipping costs following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.”

If elevated prices persist through the rest of 2026, how will shippers respond?

This survey explored the expected impact on transportation spend, the actions companies are most likely to take, how fuel surcharge programs are structured, and the biggest challenges in managing fuel price volatility.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• NAW MDM Webinar: Where 400+ Distribution Leaders Are Investing in AI

  Source: Descartes

• Webinar - The AI Exchange: Inside the Last Mile

  Source: Descartes

• Why leading shippers are tapping into network scale to cut transportation costs and improve service

  Source: Uber Freight

• Fuel Volatility: Navigating the Surge in Diesel Costs

  Source: Werner

• Q1 2026 freight market update: What shippers should be watching now

  Source: Uber Freight

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

I was in the kitchen making my morning coffee this past Sunday when I heard my wife call from the basement: “Adrian, can you come down here? I think we have a problem.”

Not a great way to start the day.

It got worse when I went downstairs and saw a puddle of water around our water heater.

I called the plumber who installed it — less than six years ago — and left a message. Then I called again on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. No response. This is a plumber we’ve used many times before, which is why I kept giving him the benefit of the doubt.

But eventually I got the message: either he doesn’t need my business, or he doesn’t value me as a returning customer.

Either way, I don’t understand why he couldn’t spare a minute to call me back.

It’s a pet peeve of mine — a lack of basic professionalism in returning a call or email, especially from someone you already have a relationship with.

A different plumber — recommended by a friend — is coming this morning to replace the water heater. And just like that, the small tax refund I received is gone.

I need more coffee.

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Will You Vibe Code Your Next Supply Chain Application?

Advances in generative AI and no/low-code platforms now make it possible to “vibe code” applications — describing what you want in natural language and having AI generate working software with minimal traditional coding. This survey explored whether supply chain leaders are likely to vibe code applications in the next 1–3 years, what would drive that decision, what barriers stand in the way, and what they would build if they could.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• NAW MDM Webinar: Where 400+ Distribution Leaders Are Investing in AI

  Source: Descartes

• Webinar - The AI Exchange: Inside the Last Mile

  Source: Descartes

• Why leading shippers are tapping into network scale to cut transportation costs and improve service

  Source: Uber Freight

• Fuel Volatility: Navigating the Surge in Diesel Costs

  Source: Werner

• Q1 2026 freight market update: What shippers should be watching now

  Source: Uber Freight

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

Freight fraud is no longer a niche problem or an occasional disruption — it has become a systemic risk impacting supply chains across North America. What was once largely opportunistic cargo theft has evolved into a sophisticated, technology-enabled ecosystem of fraud that is costing the industry billions of dollars annually and challenging the way companies think about risk, trust, and execution.

The scale of the problem is striking. Recent industry data shows that cargo theft and fraud incidents continue to rise sharply year-over-year. In January 2026, Verisk CargoNet reported that estimated cargo theft losses surged 60% in 2025 to nearly $725 million, a sign that organized criminal groups are becoming more selective and targeting higher value freight. While incidents are increasing and costs are climbing, the real story for shippers, freight brokers, and carriers alike lies in how freight fraud is changing.

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Will You Vibe Code Your Next Supply Chain Application?

Advances in generative AI and no/low-code platforms now make it possible to “vibe code” applications — describing what you want in natural language and having AI generate working software with minimal traditional coding. This survey explored whether supply chain leaders are likely to vibe code applications in the next 1–3 years, what would drive that decision, what barriers stand in the way, and what they would build if they could.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• Why leading shippers are tapping into network scale to cut transportation costs and improve service

  Source: Uber Freight

• Fuel Volatility: Navigating the Surge in Diesel Costs

  Source: Werner

• Eastern Energy Expo

  Source: Descartes

• Home Delivery World

  Source: Descartes

• Q1 2026 freight market update: What shippers should be watching now

  Source: Uber Freight

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, spring 2026 begins with the vernal equinox today (March 20) at 10:46 a.m. EDT.

Considering it was 24F yesterday morning, it’s not exactly shorts and t-shirt weather yet, but our journey around the sun promises us warmer days ahead, nonetheless.

We’re almost a quarter of the way through 2026 already. How did that happen?

The Russia-Ukraine war goes on, and another war has broken out in the Middle East, but are we in a better or worse place than in March 2020, when the world effectively shut down due to the Covid pandemic?

To quote a-ha, “I used to be confused, but now I just don’t know.”

Alright, enough deep thoughts. It’s Friday, spring is about to arrive, and for now, there’s a blue sky above.

Here’s the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week:

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Will You Vibe Code Your Next Supply Chain Application?

Advances in generative AI and no/low-code platforms now make it possible to “vibe code” applications — describing what you want in natural language and having AI generate working software with minimal traditional coding. This survey explored whether supply chain leaders are likely to vibe code applications in the next 1–3 years, what would drive that decision, what barriers stand in the way, and what they would build if they could.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• Web Seminar: Trade Compliance in the Middle East and Africa Is Changing, Are You Prepared?

  Source: Descartes

• Q1 2026 freight market update: What shippers should be watching now

  Source: Uber Freight

• Descartes Announces Fiscal 2026 Fourth Quarter and Annual Financial Results

  Source: Descartes

• From paper to payment: How AI is automating Uber Freight’s core payment and auditing operations

  Source: Uber Freight

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• The 2026 Grocery Crunch: Why Dedicated Capacity is the Secret Ingredient for Growth

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Pick” series where we highlight posts published by our sponsors that provide practical knowledge and advice on timely and important supply chain and logistics topics. This recent Freight Perspectives post highlights how the war with Iran is affecting diesel prices across Europe and how different countries are responding.

Two weeks ago, we warned that the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could shatter the balance of the European diesel market, and unfortunately, the “prolonged blockade” scenario we modeled is becoming our new reality. The sudden loss of a significant share of global oil supply has pushed crude prices past the $ 100-per-barrel threshold, triggering historic, asymmetric retail diesel price spikes across Europe.

The effects of this macroeconomic shock have hit European pumps with unprecedented velocity, heavily assisted by multiplying factors of national excise and tax structures. Below is a breakdown of the relative and absolute commercial diesel price changes across key European markets between Weeks 9 and 11.

The reason for large variance in diesel price developments across the major European countries partially lies in differences in local policies.

Germany, France, Denmark, and Sweden have rejected immediate fuel-price shields or direct tank rebates, prioritizing budget conservation and instead relying on antitrust authorities to monitor retail price hikes. The Spanish, Italian, and Austrian governments have expressed a more cautious approach and are considering tax-cut measures, but have implemented none yet.

Read More at Freight Perspectives

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Will You Vibe Code Your Next Supply Chain Application?

Advances in generative AI and no/low-code platforms now make it possible to “vibe code” applications — describing what you want in natural language and having AI generate working software with minimal traditional coding. This survey explored whether supply chain leaders are likely to vibe code applications in the next 1–3 years, what would drive that decision, what barriers stand in the way, and what they would build if they could.

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Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

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New from Sponsor Blogs

• Web Seminar: Trade Compliance in the Middle East and Africa Is Changing, Are You Prepared?

  Source: Descartes

• Q1 2026 freight market update: What shippers should be watching now

  Source: Uber Freight

• Descartes Announces Fiscal 2026 Fourth Quarter and Annual Financial Results

  Source: Descartes

• From paper to payment: How AI is automating Uber Freight’s core payment and auditing operations

  Source: Uber Freight

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• The 2026 Grocery Crunch: Why Dedicated Capacity is the Secret Ingredient for Growth

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

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In case you missed it last week amid all the headlines about the war with Iran and how it’s impacting supply chains — as well as the ongoing drama with tariffs — there was an article in the Wall Street Journal that caught my attention. Its title: “We Got Hooked on Fast, Free Shipping. Now Retailers Are Taking It Away.”

“After years of priming us to expect speedy deliveries, the ever-growing e-commerce economy is weaning us off them — and no one seems to mind,” Esther Fung writes. Here are some additional excerpts from the article:

For years, online retailers were willing to eat the cost of fast shipping in the battle for customers. But shipping costs have increased sharply — especially for home deliveries — and offering near-instant gratification for online orders is no longer a sound business strategy for many.

[Parcel shipping costs] have climbed dramatically in recent years. Since 2020, the two leading package carriers [UPS and FedEx] have raised their base rates by 4.9% to 6.9% annually. In addition, they have increased their ancillary fees, including fuel surcharges, address-correction fees and an added charge for delivering to residences. They’ve also imposed stricter rules on package sizes, so that dimensions get rounded up.

It’s about time.

Read More

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The Role of 3PLs in Shipper Decision-Making

In a previous Indago survey, we explored how supply chain leaders are strengthening decision-making amid ongoing uncertainty. In this follow-up survey, we turned the lens outward to examine the role Third-Party Logistics providers (3PLs) play in supporting — or limiting — better decision-making within shipper organizations.

Download Report

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Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

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Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• Web Seminar: Trade Compliance in the Middle East and Africa Is Changing, Are You Prepared?

  Source: Descartes

• Q1 2026 freight market update: What shippers should be watching now

  Source: Uber Freight

• Descartes Announces Fiscal 2026 Fourth Quarter and Annual Financial Results

  Source: Descartes

• From paper to payment: How AI is automating Uber Freight’s core payment and auditing operations

  Source: Uber Freight

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• The 2026 Grocery Crunch: Why Dedicated Capacity is the Secret Ingredient for Growth

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

Want to see why there’s still so much confusion about what’s real and what’s hype with AI in supply chain management? Check out these two headlines from our friends at SupplyChain247:

• AI Use in Supply Chain Operations Jumps 18 Points in One Year

• Despite the AI Hype, Only 10% of Supply Chain Companies Use It

Each article references a different study, one from Factiv and the other from Sage. So, what is the true state of AI in supply chain management? It depends on whom you ask and who’s asking.

Speaking of confusion, I’ve been on the road again this week. As I waited to get off the plane — I fly coach, so I’m usually near the back — a question popped into my head:

Read More

Charter Sponsors

The Role of 3PLs in Shipper Decision-Making

In a previous Indago survey, we explored how supply chain leaders are strengthening decision-making amid ongoing uncertainty. In this follow-up survey, we turned the lens outward to examine the role Third-Party Logistics providers (3PLs) play in supporting — or limiting — better decision-making within shipper organizations.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• Descartes Announces Fiscal 2026 Fourth Quarter and Annual Financial Results

  Source: Descartes

• From paper to payment: How AI is automating Uber Freight’s core payment and auditing operations

  Source: Uber Freight

• Flexibility, faster cost-out, and the new logistics playbook for 2026

  Source: Uber Freight

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• The 2026 Grocery Crunch: Why Dedicated Capacity is the Secret Ingredient for Growth

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

Look what’s back in the headlines: diesel prices!

“Diesel prices for U.S. truckers rose a record 96 cents a gallon this past week, an ominous sign for retailers and manufacturers juggling tariffs and bracing for higher shipping costs following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran,” reported Paul Berger in the Wall Street Journal yesterday.

According to the article:

The average on-highway price for diesel increased 25% for the week ended March 9 to $4.859, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Avery Vise, a trucking analyst at FTR Transportation Intelligence, said the rise was the largest ever weekly increase in both price a gallon and percentage terms since the government started tracking diesel prices in 1994.

Let’s roll the film back four years, when on-highway diesel fuel prices were $5.134 per gallon on March 22, 2022 — up $1.940 from the previous year.

At the time, since fuel costs ultimately get passed on to shippers via fuel surcharges, we asked members of our Indago supply chain research community — supply chain and logistics executives from manufacturing, retail, and distribution companies — the following question:

Read More

Charter Sponsors

The Role of 3PLs in Shipper Decision-Making

In a previous Indago survey, we explored how supply chain leaders are strengthening decision-making amid ongoing uncertainty. In this follow-up survey, we turned the lens outward to examine the role Third-Party Logistics providers (3PLs) play in supporting — or limiting — better decision-making within shipper organizations.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• Descartes Announces Fiscal 2026 Fourth Quarter and Annual Financial Results

  Source: Descartes

• From paper to payment: How AI is automating Uber Freight’s core payment and auditing operations

  Source: Uber Freight

• Flexibility, faster cost-out, and the new logistics playbook for 2026

  Source: Uber Freight

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• The 2026 Grocery Crunch: Why Dedicated Capacity is the Secret Ingredient for Growth

  Source: Werner

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

When you’ve been an industry analyst for 27 years, not much really surprises you anymore, mostly because history has a habit of repeating itself. Or at least rhyming, as Mark Twain supposedly said.

“Oil Hits New Record; Is $200 a Barrel Coming?” ABC News reported in May 2008. A few months later, the global financial crisis hit and oil prices crashed to below $50 per barrel.

“Sky is the limit: Analysts warn oil prices could surge further” is the CNBC headline this morning. How high can oil prices go in the days and weeks ahead? The honest answer is that nobody knows. It’s also possible that prices could come back down quickly.

Remember all the “peak oil” predictions for both oil supply and demand? People are still making them, and they keep changing. See, for example, “Peak Oil Supply Is Back! (And Just As Wrong)” and “What now for peak oil? Unpacking a surprise twist in the fossil fuel feud.”

Nonetheless, oil prices do impact supply chains. So what are executives to do?

Read More

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Digital Twins in Supply Chain Operations

PepsiCo announced an industry-first collaboration with Siemens and NVIDIA to apply AI-enabled digital twin technology across manufacturing and supply chain operations. The initiative is focused on simulating, optimizing, and validating production and logistics decisions before making physical or capital changes. Against this backdrop, this survey explored how supply chain and logistics executives are viewing the strategic importance, readiness, and potential value of AI-enabled digital twins within their own organizations.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

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Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• Descartes Expands AI Innovation on Global Logistics Network with AI Agents for Freight Visibility

  Source: Descartes

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• The 2026 Grocery Crunch: Why Dedicated Capacity is the Secret Ingredient for Growth

  Source: Werner

• LTL is changing fast: Here’s how shippers can stay ahead

  Source: Uber Freight

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Ask the experts: 2026 Predictions and priorities for supply chain professionals

  Source: Uber Freight

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

One of my first decisions of the day yesterday was whether to go to the hotel gym at 5:00 a.m. Apparently, I was the only one who made that decision -- I had the place to myself for almost the entire workout!

It was a great way to kick off the 13th APL Logistics North American Symposium, where later that afternoon I delivered a keynote presentation titled “Supply Chain Leaders: Making Decisions in an Age of Uncertainty.”

Decision-making -- and decision science more broadly -- is a hot topic right now. In my presentation, I shared insights from academics and other researchers studying how people and organizations make decisions, along with results from a survey we conducted with members of our Indago supply chain research community.

The survey explored how supply chain leaders are navigating this age of uncertainty — with a focus on how decisions are made, what has changed in recent years, and where leaders see the biggest challenges ahead. I’ll share some key takeaways in a future post.

The rest of the symposium was equally insightful, with presentations by Thad Bedard from APL Logistics, Erik Lundh from The Conference Board, a customer case study, and a panel discussion on “Navigating Volatility and Building Resilience” featuring executives from the Port of LA, Union Pacific, and PriceSmart.

Then later in the day, I faced another big decision: Should I have a donut? And if so, which one?

---

Moving on, here’s the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week:

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Digital Twins in Supply Chain Operations

PepsiCo announced an industry-first collaboration with Siemens and NVIDIA to apply AI-enabled digital twin technology across manufacturing and supply chain operations. The initiative is focused on simulating, optimizing, and validating production and logistics decisions before making physical or capital changes. Against this backdrop, this survey explored how supply chain and logistics executives are viewing the strategic importance, readiness, and potential value of AI-enabled digital twins within their own organizations.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• Descartes Expands AI Innovation on Global Logistics Network with AI Agents for Freight Visibility

  Source: Descartes

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• The 2026 Grocery Crunch: Why Dedicated Capacity is the Secret Ingredient for Growth

  Source: Werner

• LTL is changing fast: Here’s how shippers can stay ahead

  Source: Uber Freight

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Ask the experts: 2026 Predictions and priorities for supply chain professionals

  Source: Uber Freight

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

Will AI disrupt the software industry — maybe even destroy it?

That question has been rattling investors over the past few weeks. Consider the panic that followed when little-known Algorhythm issued a press release that sent the stock prices of C.H. Robinson, Landstar System, Ryder, J.B. Hunt, and other logistics providers tumbling.

The fear is simple: If AI can generate code at near-zero cost, what happens to companies built on selling software?

There is a related discussion going on too about whether companies will “vibe code” their own applications instead of buying solutions from established vendors. I chimed in on this topic recently in “Should You Really Vibe Code A TMS?”

Not surprising, the software industry is going on defense and challenging this narrative.

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Digital Twins in Supply Chain Operations

PepsiCo announced an industry-first collaboration with Siemens and NVIDIA to apply AI-enabled digital twin technology across manufacturing and supply chain operations. The initiative is focused on simulating, optimizing, and validating production and logistics decisions before making physical or capital changes. Against this backdrop, this survey explored how supply chain and logistics executives are viewing the strategic importance, readiness, and potential value of AI-enabled digital twins within their own organizations.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• The 2026 Grocery Crunch: Why Dedicated Capacity is the Secret Ingredient for Growth

  Source: Werner

• Sanctions and Export Compliance in the UK Conference

  Source: Descartes

• Customs Compliance in Europe Conference

  Source: Descartes

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

• 3 trends driving speed, agility, and accuracy in CPG retail logistics

  Source: Uber Freight

• Scaling Autonomy: Uber Freight and Volvo Autonomous Solutions Set a New Standard for Driverless Trucking

  Source: Uber Freight

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors

There is no 29th day of February this year, so I will mark the 2-year anniversary of my thyroidectomy — and the removal of lymph nodes from the neck — tomorrow instead.

How’s life been without a thyroid?

Other than having to take a little pink pill every morning to keep me healthy and alive, life’s been good.

After meeting with my endocrinologist last month, she said, “I think we can push out our appointments to once a year now” — down from every 3 months the first year, and every six months last year.

You can barely see the surgical scar on my neck, and while it’s still there, the dark cloud of cancer over my head has lost its menacing shadow.

I don’t know where February 29th goes in the in-between years, but I’m still here, turning the calendar pages, each numbered day

a blessing.

—

And now, the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week:

Read More

Charter Sponsors

Digital Twins in Supply Chain Operations

PepsiCo announced an industry-first collaboration with Siemens and NVIDIA to apply AI-enabled digital twin technology across manufacturing and supply chain operations. The initiative is focused on simulating, optimizing, and validating production and logistics decisions before making physical or capital changes. Against this backdrop, this survey explored how supply chain and logistics executives are viewing the strategic importance, readiness, and potential value of AI-enabled digital twins within their own organizations.

Download Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter

Latest Talking Logistics Episode:

Leading Through the Five Stages of Grief in Supply Chain Management

Watch More Episodes

Subscribe to Podcast

Platinum Sponsors

New from Sponsor Blogs

• Find Your Perfect Partner on the Road: Werner’s Team Driver Matching Program

  Source: Werner

• The 2026 Grocery Crunch: Why Dedicated Capacity is the Secret Ingredient for Growth

  Source: Werner

• Sanctions and Export Compliance in the UK Conference

  Source: Descartes

• Customs Compliance in Europe Conference

  Source: Descartes

• 2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers

  Source: Trimble

• Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration

  Source: Trimble

• 3 trends driving speed, agility, and accuracy in CPG retail logistics

  Source: Uber Freight

• Scaling Autonomy: Uber Freight and Volvo Autonomous Solutions Set a New Standard for Driverless Trucking

  Source: Uber Freight

Read Guest Commentaries

Gold Sponsors