By Larry Avila Economies of scale, specialized markets or survival may drive trucking mergers and acquisitions in 2026, industry experts suggest, although their predictions are mixed on how active dealmaking will be in the sector this year. Prolonged weak freight conditions and excess market capacity may sideline purchasing aspirations for some, as carriers look to reduce theirContinue reading “Trucking M&A outlook: Economy, technology and uncertainty may shape opportunistic deals”
Author Archives: sk3705a
Second-chance hiring continues to gain traction among major manufacturers
By Shefali Kapadia Drew Crowe had been incarcerated multiple times and was stuck in a vicious cycle, as he described it: getting “locked up,” lacking skills and having no idea how to craft a resume or secure a job. Crowe found a turning point when a manufacturing employer hired him to work as a third-shiftContinue reading “Second-chance hiring continues to gain traction among major manufacturers”
How Chicago’s outskirts rose to national intermodal dominance
By Shefali Kapadia A truck drives out of an Amazon fulfillment center in Joliet, Illinois. Another hauls an intermodal container into a nearby BNSF’s Logistics Park. And another pulls into a Lineage warehouse to pick up a refrigerated load. It wasn’t always like this in Joliet, located in Will County to the southwest of Chicago.Continue reading “How Chicago’s outskirts rose to national intermodal dominance”
Meet The World’s Top Companies For Women 2025
By Shefali Kapadia When Karin Hoeing first joined BAE Systems, a U.K.-based global defense, security and aerospace company, nearly eight years ago, she was the only woman on the executive committee. But that wasn’t the only thing that made her stand out: She is German, unlike her mostly British and American male peers at theContinue reading “Meet The World’s Top Companies For Women 2025”
AI commerce portends potential fraud
By Shefali Kapadia The idea of a robot automatically buying a consumer the perfect new pair of jeans is no longer a futuristic pipe dream. It’s a reality occurring now through the advent of agentic commerce, in which AI agents make purchases on consumers’ behalf. In fact, Mastercard cardholders will have agentic AI shopping access in time forContinue reading “AI commerce portends potential fraud”
AI is slowly transforming the cold chain, the supply chain that handles your ice cream and deli meat
By Shefali Kapadia When a shipment of refrigerated or frozen goods arrives at one of Lineage’s automated warehouses, machines spring into action. Computer-vision technology scans pallets and logs data on customers, product types, and item descriptions. AI-driven algorithms combine shipment data with historical information to predict when a truck will take the goods out of the warehouse.Continue reading “AI is slowly transforming the cold chain, the supply chain that handles your ice cream and deli meat”
Packaging suppliers respond to QSR diners hungry for a better experience
By Shefali Kapadia Packaging used to be an afterthought for quick-service restaurants. “They’d throw in your little package of salt, pepper, a terrible napkin, a spork,” said Jim Owen, senior analyst of packaging and logistics at RaboResearch food and agribusiness. But dining trends are changing. Convenience has become a top priority for consumers. More than 60% of GenContinue reading “Packaging suppliers respond to QSR diners hungry for a better experience”
How Bob’s, Ikea are bucking the trend of furniture retail stagnation
By Shefali Kapadia Around the Bob’s Discount Furniture office, corporate has a saying: “Value is always in vogue,” according to Ramesh Murthy, the retailer’s COO. That philosophy has enabled Bob’s to expand at a time when the overall home retail category is stagnating. Furniture and home furnishings store sales have fallen since their peak of $12.7Continue reading “How Bob’s, Ikea are bucking the trend of furniture retail stagnation”
Universities are tailoring supply chain courses to prepare students for the industry’s AI revolution
By Shefali Kapadia At The Ohio State University, students attend lectures on generative AI and predictive analytics for supply chain management. At Georgia Tech, supply chain leaders can take a “Generative AI Application for Supply Chain Professionals” course. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a summer immersive called AI in Supply Chain and Logistics Management.Continue reading “Universities are tailoring supply chain courses to prepare students for the industry’s AI revolution”
Companies’ biggest barrier to AI isn’t tech — it’s employee pushback. Here’s how to overcome it.
By Shefali Kapadia When leaders at Colgate-Palmolive were ready to roll out an AI Hub for employees this past summer, they knew exactly what they wanted to avoid: a small group of people implementing an AI strategy assuming they knew the best use cases for each department and pushing an AI system onto the restContinue reading “Companies’ biggest barrier to AI isn’t tech — it’s employee pushback. Here’s how to overcome it.”
SHEFALI KAPADIA 