Above The Fold: Supply Chain Logistics News (January 16, 2026)
The most important supply chain & logistics news, including logistics management, transportation management, third-party logistics, supply chain software.
One of the blessings (if you can call it that) of having a fractured ankle is that you’re forced to walk through life a little slower.
For a fast walker like me, it’s a whole new experience. Frustrating at first, but I’m beginning to appreciate the slower pace, my inability to hurry up. I’ll get there when I get there — and wow, look at that spider’s web, I never noticed it before.
You also have to be more patient, and you have to take time to think before you act.
For example:
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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.
Latest Talking Logistics Episode:
Insights from Descartes’ 2025 Transportation Management Survey
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2026 Outlook: Spot Market strategies for shippers, carriers and brokers
Source: Trimble
Transportation in 2026: From experimentation to acceleration
Source: Trimble
2026 Oracle TM User Conference (OATUG)
Source: Descartes
Source: Descartes
3 trends driving speed, agility, and accuracy in CPG retail logistics
Source: Uber Freight
Source: Uber Freight
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Really insightful parallel between forced deceleration and the zombie invetory dilemma. Back in 2021-22 when I was managing procurement for a mid-sized distributor, we made the same shift to Just-in-Case and honestly the panic buying felt justified at the time. But the aftermath is what most people dunno about: we ended up with an entire warehouse bay of components that became obsolete when demnd patterns shifted. The "take time to think before you act" framing is spot on becuase the rush to hoard created more problems than the original shortages.