Supply Chain Now

Freight costs are climbing, capacity is tightening, and demand isn’t keeping pace. What’s driving today’s transportation market?
In this episode, Scott Luton and co-host Karin Bursa welcome Jeff Pape, Senior Vice President, Head of Product & Marketing Global Transportation at U.S. Bank, and Eric Olson, Support Operations Director, Partnership and Business Development at Total Quality Logistics (TQL), for a live discussion on the Q3 2026 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index. Drawing on nearly $46 billion in freight transactions, Jeff reveals how shipper spending increased by more than 30% despite marginal shipment growth, signaling a market driven by capacity constraints rather than demand.
They also explore regional freight trends, from data center construction fueling activity in the Southeast to shifting import strategies nationwide. Eric shares his outlook on tightening truckload capacity, rising transportation rates, and a potentially sharper peak season. The panel emphasizes the importance of data-driven planning, proactive communication, and stronger shipper-carrier relationships to help supply chain leaders navigate uncertainty and prepare for continued volatility.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(01:17) Why freight market volatility is increasing
(01:58) Inside the Q3 2026 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index
(03:48) Meet the freight market experts
(07:24) Why capacity is driving the freight market
(09:15) How supply chain leaders use freight data
(11:56) Why freight spending is outpacing shipment growth
(15:25) Regional freight trends and economic drivers
(19:11) What to expect from Q4 peak season
(22:08) How data centers and tariffs impact transportation
(27:46) Freight market outlook and rising rates
(30:24) Navigating capacity constraints through stronger partnerships
(33:41) How to become a shipper of choice
(39:33) Why data and relationships drive better decisions

Additional Links & Resources:
Connect with Eric Olson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-olson-a9a0a1b/
Learn more about Total Quality Logistics: https://www.tql.com/
Connect with Jeff Pape: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-pape-105a759/
Learn more about U.S. Bank: https://www.usbank.com/index.html
Learn more about U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index: https://www.usbank.com/corporate-and-commercial-banking/industry-expertise/transportation/freight-payment-insights.html
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Upcoming Live Programming: https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/
Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
Learn more about Blue Yonder Cognitive Solutions: http://blueyonder.com/cognitive
Learn more about MFG.inc’s Frontline Leadership Certificate: MFG.inc/training
WEBINAR- Detect, decide, deliver: improving disruption response across the supply chain: https://bit.ly/4rXhmiI
WEBINAR- Planning Your 2027 AI Strategy: 5 Research-Backed Best Practices: https://bit.ly/4z1LM5r
WEBINAR- Merck Animal Health's Journey to Rewiring Planning for Reliability, Agility and Trust: https://bit.ly/4B6Iq3f

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Karin Bursa, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/sneak-preview-q3-2026-us-bank-freight-payment-index-1656

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The shipping landscape is shifting in ways that demand attention from every supply chain leader. Shrinking carrier capacity, rising surcharges, and a freight recession stretching three years have created a market where old assumptions no longer hold and rate floors are moving in ways many shippers haven't accounted for.
In this inaugural episode of The Problem Store on Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton speaks with Jack Mowreader, a veteran CFO who has served in the role five times and spent six years in Amazon operations finance, LeAnne Coulter, former executive at Penske Logistics and Schneider Logistics who now leads Blue Wave Supply Chain, and Nate Skiver, founder of LPF Spend Management. They structure the conversation across four segments covering the macros, the setup, the operation, and the enablers, exploring how capacity constraints, parcel surcharge complexity, network design, relationships between shippers and carriers, and the accelerating pace of change are reshaping what shippers need to be doing right now.
Jack, LeAnne, and Nate also weigh in on where AI can genuinely improve shipping decisions, from invoice auditing and scenario simulation to compressing the time from analysis to action. They challenge shippers to walk their own processes, question legacy carrier strategies, form carrier councils, invest in the driver experience, and treat transportation strategy as supply chain strategy rather than an afterthought.

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Introduction
(03:30) Meet Jack Mowreader, LeAnne Coulter, and Nate Skiver
(05:48) The biggest problems in shipping: capacity, risk, and the pace of change
(07:39) Labor pressures, fuel costs, and what shippers can't control
(20:15) Network design and avoiding single points of failure
(27:01) Shipper of choice and building carrier relationships that last
(35:16) The operation: resourcing, process design, and trade offs
(42:33) The three legged stool: balancing cost, service, and resilience
(52:23) AI in shipping: where it helps and where human judgment stays essential
(58:34) The Billy Bob hypothetical and how to connect with the panel

Additional Links & Resources:
Connect with Jack Mowreader: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmowreader/
Connect with Nate Skiver: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levelplayingfield/
Connect with LeAnne Coulter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannecoulter/
Upcoming Live Programming: https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/
Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
Learn more about Blue Yonder Cognitive Solutions: http://blueyonder.com/cognitive
Learn more about M.F.G.inc’s Frontline Leadership Certificate: MFG.inc/training
WEBINAR- Detect, decide, deliver: improving disruption response across the supply chain: https://bit.ly/4rXhmiI
WEBINAR- Planning Your 2027 AI Strategy: 5 Research-Backed Best Practices: https://bit.ly/4z1LM5r
WEBINAR- Merck Animal Health's Journey to Rewiring Planning for Reliability, Agility and Trust: https://bit.ly/4B6Iq3f

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/problem-store-shipping-sherpas-1655



The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From the chocolate in your Halloween candy to the critical minerals powering electric vehicles, Africa plays an essential role in global supply chains. But as new technologies, infrastructure investments, and manufacturing opportunities emerge, the continent is moving beyond supplying raw materials to creating greater value and driving innovation.
In this episode of The Buzz, powered by Altium, Yaseen Ahmid and Michael J. Olivier bring a South African perspective to some of the biggest developments shaping global supply chains. They explore why Africa matters to businesses worldwide, from fluctuating cocoa prices in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire to the rise of lab-grown chocolate and its potential impact on African farmers. The conversation also examines Zipline's expanding medical drone delivery network, Morocco's growing automotive manufacturing industry, and investments in the Lobito Corridor connecting Central Africa's critical minerals to global markets. Along the way, Yaseen and Michael discuss AI adoption, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and the importance of building infrastructure and industries that allow African economies to capture more value from their resources and innovations.
Key Takeaways:
Africa's strategic importance: Discover why the continent's critical minerals, agricultural exports, growing population, and entrepreneurial talent make it increasingly important to global supply chains.
Cocoa prices and supply chain challenges: Understand how production disruptions, commodity price fluctuations, and purchasing contracts influence chocolate prices, even when raw material costs decline.
Innovation in healthcare logistics: Explore how Zipline's drone delivery network is expanding access to medical supplies in Côte d'Ivoire and demonstrating new approaches to last-mile delivery.
Morocco's automotive manufacturing growth: Learn how proximity to Europe, infrastructure development, and nearshoring opportunities are positioning Morocco as a major automotive production hub.
Critical minerals and transportation infrastructure: Examine how investments in the Lobito Corridor could improve the movement of copper and cobalt while strengthening regional trade.
Building Africa's innovation ecosystem: Hear why financing, talent development, AI governance, entrepreneurship, and local value creation are essential to the continent's economic future.
Africa's influence on global supply chains extends far beyond its natural resources. For supply chain leaders, manufacturers, investors, and innovators, understanding the continent's evolving role is becoming increasingly important. Tune in for a fresh perspective on the opportunities, challenges, and innovations shaping Africa's future and what they mean for global trade, resilience, and economic growth.
Additional Links & Resources:
Altium Develop: https://bit.ly/Try-Altium-Develop
With That Said: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ready-change-supply-chain-now-kwkve
The New Scarcity Economy: An African Lens on UNGA 81: https://www.undp.org/africa/blog/new-scarcity-economy-african-lens-unga-81
Cocoa Crashed This Year. So Why Is Your Halloween Candy Still This Pricey? https://www.benzinga.com/Opinion/26/09/61631494/cocoa-crashed-this-year-so-why-is-your-halloween-candy-still-this-pricey
Zipline inks Côte d’Ivoire deal to expand drone delivery: https://www.semafor.com/article/09/22/2026/zipline-inks-eight-year-cte-divoire-deal-to-expand-drone-delivery
Why WhatsApp Is the Operating System of African Businesses: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-whatsapp-operating-system-african-businesses-khamisi-hamisi-sxsyf/
Morocco’s Automotive Exports Rise 14.5% to MAD 116 Billion by August: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/10/340562/moroccos-automotive-exports-rise-14-5-to-mad-116-billion-by-august/
Lobito corridor to double minerals cargo after $300 million draw: https://www.mining.com/web/lobito-corridor-to-double-minerals-cargo-after-300-million-draw
Mombasa Port Exports Hit New Monthly Record: https://kenyanwallstreet.com/mombasa-port-july-2026
Aliko Dangote's refinery lifts Nigeria's petrol exports sixfold to $750 million: https://www.billionaires.africa/2026/09/25/aliko-dangotes-refinery-lifts-nigerias-petrol-exports-sixfold-to-750-million/
Ethiopia Coffee Exports Hit Record US$3bn as Government Targets US$6bn by 2031: https://furtherafrica.com/2026/07/01/ethiopia-coffee-exports-hit-record-us3bn-as-government-targets-us6bn-by-2031/
A hidden pipeline brings Amazon and Walmart to African shoppers: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/hidden-pipeline-brings-amazon-walmart-african-shoppers-2026-07-14/
Connect with Yaseen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaseen-ahmid/
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljolivier/
Altium Agile Teams: https://www.altium.com/agile/teams
Upcoming Live Programming: https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/
Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
Learn more about Blue Yonder Cognitive Solutions: http://blueyonder.com/cognitive
Learn more about M.F.G.inc’s Frontline Leadership Certificate: MFG.inc/training
WEBINAR- Detect, decide, deliver: improving disruption response across the supply chain: https://bit.ly/4rXhmiI
WEBINAR- Planning Your 2027 AI Strategy: 5 Research-Backed Best Practices: https://bit.ly/4z1LM5r
WEBINAR- Merck Animal Health's Journey to Rewiring Planning for Reliability, Agility and Trust: https://bit.ly/4B6Iq3f
This episode was hosted by Yaseen Ahmid and Michael Olivier, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated episode page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-africa-growing-supply-chain-influence-1654



The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is AI really saving supply chain teams time, or are we overlooking the human expertise needed to make it work?

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton sits down with Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, to discuss the evolving role of AI in supply chain planning, the importance of workforce development, and how leading companies are rethinking their supply chain strategies.

Mike brings his expertise in supply chain planning and Gartner research to a wide-ranging conversation about the challenges organizations face as they adopt new technologies, manage growing complexity, and prepare their teams for the future.

The conversation covers why AI may not deliver the productivity gains many organizations expect, how skills gaps and change management affect technology adoption, and why human expertise remains essential to effective supply chain planning. Scott and Mike also examine General Mills' ambitious supply chain transformation, McDonald's investment in AI-powered operations, and how supply chain education must evolve to prepare the next generation of leaders.

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(01:13) Halloween candy inflation and the candy supply chain
(04:20) The three biggest barriers holding supply chain planners back
(05:35) Why cutting entry-level roles kills your AI ROI
(11:18) Why AI saves slivers of time, not redeployable chunks
(13:23) Why change management is the most requested Gartner strategy session
(16:00) General Mills and why supply chain should mean more than cost-cutting
(19:30) Cereal proliferation as a lesson in SKU complexity and demand planning
(26:07) McDonald's Archie AI and the danger of equating tech with people
(33:28) What supply chain undergraduate programs must fix to stay relevant
(38:04) Why the Gartner Planning Summit keeps getting bigger

Additional Links & Resources:
Connect with Mike Griswold: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-griswold-6a68922/
Learn more about Gartner: https://www.gartner.com/en
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Upcoming Live Programming: https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/
Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
Learn more about Blue Yonder Cognitive Solutions: http://blueyonder.com/cognitive
Learn more about M.F.G.inc’s Frontline Leadership Certificate: MFG.inc/training
WEBINAR- Rethinking the Supply Chain Management Classroom: https://bit.ly/4xJIkM2
WEBINAR- Detect, decide, deliver: improving disruption response across the supply chain: https://bit.ly/4rXhmiI
WEBINAR- Planning Your 2027 AI Strategy: 5 Research-Backed Best Practices: https://bit.ly/4z1LM5r
WEBINAR- Merck Animal Health's Journey to Rewiring Planning for Reliability, Agility and Trust: https://bit.ly/4B6Iq3f

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/when-yesterdays-supply-chain-playbook-stops-working-1653


The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when your supply chain is performing exactly as designed, yet your business is still losing money and frustrating customers?

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton speaks with Mahesh Rajasekharan, President and CEO of Cleo, about the performance paradox behind new industry research and what it takes to orchestrate a supply chain rather than merely integrate one.

Mahesh brings a PhD in industrial engineering from Texas A&M and an MBA from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, where he graduated first in his class, along with prior experience as COO of SumTotal Systems, to his role leading Cleo into a high growth, AI native supply chain orchestration company serving over 5,000 customers.

The conversation covers why 63% of companies say their supply chains perform as designed while 73% lose revenue, how automation increases complexity when coordination stays manual, and why the planning and execution gap persists. Mahesh and Scott also explore the shift from systems of record to systems of action, how context turns raw AI into useful decisions, and controlled delegation toward autonomous orchestration.

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(03:55) Flying taxis and what they teach about orchestration
(06:10) What Cleo does beyond integration
(09:20) Why human judgment stays nonnegotiable
(14:58) Why visibility is passé and orchestration is the real prize
(18:45) From systems of record to systems of action
(21:46) How context turns raw signals into intelligence
(26:58) Why the gap between planning and execution persists
(33:16) Why pilot fatigue keeps AI from delivering value
(38:59) From reactive firefighting to proactive problem solving

Additional Links & Resources:
Connect with Mahesh Rajasekharan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maheshrajasekharan/
Learn more about Cleo: https://www.cleo.com/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Upcoming Live Programming: https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/
Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
Learn more about Blue Yonder Cognitive Solutions: http://blueyonder.com/cognitive
Learn more about M.F.G.inc’s Frontline Leadership Certificate: MFG.inc/training
WEBINAR- Supply Chain Planning Reimagined: Agentic AI for Decision-Centric Planning: https://bit.ly/3VD1Nka
WEBINAR- Rethinking the Supply Chain Management Classroom: https://bit.ly/4xJIkM2
WEBINAR- Detect, decide, deliver: improving disruption response across the supply chain: https://bit.ly/4rXhmiI
WEBINAR- Merck Animal Health's Journey to Rewiring Planning for Reliability, Agility and Trust: https://bit.ly/4B6Iq3f
This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/performance-paradox-why-your-supply-chain-works-still-loses-money-1652



The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.