Above The Fold: Supply Chain Logistics News (August 14, 2026)

The most important supply chain & logistics news, including logistics management, transportation management, third-party logistics, supply chain software.

Aug 14, 2026

A year ago tomorrow, I rode my bicycle up Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.

It’s 7.6 miles to the summit — 4,678 feet of climbing, a 12% average grade, extended sections at 18%, and a crushing 22% over the final 50 yards. There are no flat sections to catch your breath. It’s been called “the toughest hill climb in the U.S., if not the world.”

When I crossed the finish line after two hours and twenty-five minutes of pedaling — with an average heart rate of 172 bpm from base to summit — I used just one word to describe it:

Brutal.

But it was also awesome and inspiring. I crossed the finish line wearing a jersey that read “No Thyroid, No Limits” — my way, as a cancer survivor, of giving cancer the middle finger.

If you’re wondering what it’s like to ride up Mt. Washington, you can experience it from the comfort of your home or office by watching this 16-minute video I put together. And if you just want to see me tackle “The Wall” at the end, skip ahead to the 11:05 mark.

I have to admit, as crazy as it sounds, watching the video again last night made me want to do it again. Could I make it up a little faster? I wondered. Then again, the weather was about as good as it gets on Mt. Washington last year — sunny, in the 60s, with almost no wind. In fact, it was actually too hot, especially when your heart is pounding for 2+ hours. The weather forecast for the summit tomorrow is more typical for Mt. Washington this time of year: temperatures in the upper 40s, with 30-45 mph winds gusting up to 55 mph.

I’m going to the beach tomorrow, which sounds a lot more pleasant. But I’ll be thinking of all the riders heading up the mountain, each doing it for their own reasons. I wish them all gusty tailwinds.

What I learned from my experience last year is that when you set a difficult goal for yourself, the road to achieving it will likely be difficult too. There will be countless opportunities to give up along the way, each one more tempting than the last. But if the reason you started is strong enough, you keep pedaling. And eventually, if you’re fortunate, you cross the finish line.

Brutal, yes. But exhilarating too.

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Before I kick off my vacation, here’s the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week:

The First Half of 2026: What’s Changed, What’s Worked, and What’s Next

The first half of 2026 has been anything but predictable. Tariffs, geopolitical tensions, AI advancements, changing transportation market conditions, and other developments have created new challenges — and new opportunities — for supply chain organizations. As we reach the midpoint of the year, we’d like to understand what has had the greatest impact on your organization, what has surprised you, where you’ve made the most progress, and what priorities will shape the months ahead.

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