Above The Fold: Supply Chain Logistics News (October 17, 2025)

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

Oct 17, 2025

Greetings from Santa Barbara, California.

I flew out here with my bicycle to do the Santa Barbara 100 Ride tomorrow with my Logistics Leaders for T1D Cure teammate Ralph Cisneros. It’s the first time I’ve packed my bike in a case and taken it with me on a plane. I’m happy to report that despite my fears during the whole 6-hr flight, my bike did not get lost or break into pieces in transit. The worst thing that happened was me spilling tea all over myself early in the flight. Sitting in wet jeans for hours was not fun, but the plane landed safely, which is the ultimate definition of a good flight.

Tomorrow at this time, Ralph and I will be just starting the 100 mile ride. Halfway through the course, we will climb Gibraltar — a 6.1-mile mountain with an 8% grade, gaining 2,551 ft. of elevation (the total for the ride is over 9,400 feet). As always, we’re taking on this challenge to raise money for Breakthrough T1D, the leading non-profit organization dedicated to research and advocacy for type 1 diabetes. This is my final ride of the season and I’m so close to reaching my fundraising goal — just $1,207 to go!

To everyone who has donated already, thank you so much for your support! If you haven’t donated already and want to support the cause and help me reach my fundraising goal, you can make a donation here. No donation is too small; every dollar gets us closer to a cure.

Thank you for listening.

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

Using Robots to Load/Unload Trucks

A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted how “new advances in robotics are [enabling the automation of truck loading and unloading]. Improved sensors and algorithms, advancements in AI and faster image-processing technology are making these robots proficient players in tasks that are like a game of 3-D Tetris.” This survey sought to understand industry readiness, key challenges, and opportunities associated with using robots to load or unload trucks.

Download the Report

Subscribe to "Be Uncommon" Newsletter