Above The Fold: Supply Chain Logistics News (January, 9 2026)

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

Jan 09, 2026

Happy 2026!

I hope you had a fun and relaxing holiday, and that the new year is off to a great start for you.

As for me, I’m beginning 2026 with a boot and crutches. While I was up in Vermont with my family last week, a snow leopard appeared out of nowhere. I wrestled with it to protect my wife and kids, who were able to run back inside the house, but in the tussle with the leopard, I broke my fibula at the ankle.

(Rumors that I actually broke my left ankle when I slipped on the icy driveway are just not true. Also, no snow leopards were harmed in writing the previous paragraph).

So, I’ll be hobbling along for another 5 weeks. No cycling, no dancing, no going for long walks outside. Going through the simple motions of the day — like going upstairs to the bedroom, or getting my cup of coffee from the kitchen to the dining room while on crutches — is challenging enough.

Okay, enough about my fractured fibula. Let’s move on to the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week.

How Big is the “Zombie Inventory” Problem?

For years, companies shifted from Just-in-Time to Just-in-Case, stocking up to survive disruption. Now demand has leveled off, but many warehouses are still packed with slow-moving, no-longer-needed items. This “Zombie Inventory” ties up space, working capital, and attention. This survey sought to understand how big this problem is across the industry.

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