The Chain Podcast

In this episode of The Chain, we’re joined by Leah Shaver, President and CEO of the National Transportation Institute (NTI) and one of the most trusted voices in trucking workforce and compensation data.

 
Leah breaks down what supply chain leaders often misunderstand about the so‑called driver shortage — and why the real challenge is more complex than headcount alone. Drawing on decades of data and experience, she explains how outdated pay models, misaligned job promises, generational gaps, and lack of compensation transparency continue to drive churn across the industry.
 
You'll learn:

What competitive driver pay actually looks like today

Why turnover remains high even at top‑paying fleets

How private fleets differ from for‑hire carriers in both structure and outcomes

Where automation and AI can truly help — or hurt — the driver experience

What leaders must unlearn to build a resilient, future‑ready driver pipeline.

Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 

For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast

Advance your logistics career with an APICS CLTD -- the certification that can help you learn and earn more.

Explore driverwages.com for more information about NTI

In this episode of The Chain Podcast, we sit down with Mike Bunge, Vice President of Global Supply Chain Operations at Hamilton Beach Brands, explores how SCOR®-based maturity assessments can help supply chain leaders take control of trade, customs, and global logistics.

Bunge shares how Hamilton Beach used a SCOR assessment to move beyond reactive decision-making and identify where trade costs, risks, and inefficiencies were truly coming from. Rather than treating tariffs and trade policy as uncontrollable external forces, the assessment created a shared, data-driven view across supply chain, finance, legal, and IT — allowing the organization to prioritize improvements and align on outcomes.

The conversation highlights how SCOR enables leaders to diagnose root causes, balance lean operations with resilience, and connect trade strategy to enterprise performance metrics like cost, agility, and asset efficiency. Mike also explains why cross-functional ownership and disciplined analysis are critical for turning assessment insights into measurable business impact.

For supply chain leaders navigating constant disruption, this episode offers practical insight into how SCOR maturity assessments provide clarity, focus, and a roadmap for action—especially in complex areas like global trade and logistics.

 

Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 

For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast

We're joined by Nashay Naeve, President of the Engineered Plastic Components Business Unit at Tsubaki Nakashima, to explore what it takes to lead manufacturing organizations in an era of constant disruption.

Nashay shares how global experience — from living and working in China to leading teams across Europe and the U.S. — has shaped her leadership philosophy.

Together, we discuss how:

Manufacturers can move from reactive decision-making to proactive, data-driven operations.

Why upskilling frontline teams is just as critical as investing in digital transformation.

How sustainability can become a true competitive differentiator.

The conversation also covers career advice for early professionals, mentorship for women in supply chain leadership, and how organizations can plan long-term while staying agile in the face of today’s volatility.

 

Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 

For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast

Founder and Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, Rosemary Coates, joins us to unpack what’s truly happening beyond reshoring.

You’ll hear why much of the work described as “coming back” to the U.S. was never here to begin with, where nearshoring to Mexico fits, how friend‑shoring actually plays out and why automation and skills will define the next decade.

We dig into China “decoupling” realities, tariff whiplash, the rise of C‑suite supply chain strategy and what leaders, policymakers and the next generation of professionals must do now.

You’ll learn:

Clear definitions: reshoring vs. nearshoring vs. friend‑shoring

Why automation, data and AI change the talent equation

The hard parts of leaving China: contracts, IP risk and regulatory permissions. 

Practical steps executives can take now to build a resilient supply chain

Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 

For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast

In this episode of The Chain, Guy Yehiav, President of SmartSense by Digi, joins us to explore how IoT, AI and real‑time sensing are reshaping the cold chain.
 
From preventing foodborne illness and reducing waste to improving healthcare safety and unlocking full supply chain visibility, Guy shares how data-driven monitoring and predictive analytics are helping organizations build resilience, consistency, and customer trust across every link of the supply chain.
 

Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 

For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast