Topic: Columns

The logistics industry enters 2026 feeling a strong sense of déjà vu, as shifting tariffs, uneven freight markets, and persistent uncertainty left many managers reliving the same disruptions throughout 2025. Yet amid the volatility, technology—especially AI—offers a path forward, and those willing to adapt, rethink partnerships, and invest in smarter tools will be best positioned to navigate the chaos ahead.

Companies worldwide are accelerating their adoption of advanced logistics technologies—from cloud platforms and control towers to generative and agentic AI—as they push toward higher levels of automation, autonomy, and real-time decision-making. Yet with markets, industries, and regulatory environments maturing at different speeds, success hinges on strong data foundations, selective tech investment, and a phased roadmap that builds from analytics and automation toward predictive and fully autonomous logistics capabilities.

As rail and intermodal rebound from years of underinvestment, new technology and AI-driven analytics are helping to modernize networks, improve service levels, and restore shipper confidence. With visibility, safety, and fluidity on the rise, industry leaders say rail’s digital transformation is finally catching up—setting the stage for a new era of intelligent, data-driven logistics.

A Transportation Management System (TMS) empowers logistics managers to optimize freight costs, improve visibility, and standardize processes while enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency. By leveraging automation, carrier management, reporting analytics, and sustainability tracking, a TMS helps companies scale, reduce costs, and gain actionable insights for smarter, data-driven transportation decisions.

The October cover story highlights rail and intermodal transportation, showing how technology and emerging AI are improving network efficiency, service levels, and visibility for long-haul, high-volume shipments. The column also previews the 2025 Supply Chain Outlook Virtual Summit, where MIT’s Matthias Winkenbach will explain how AI is transforming logistics decision-making and creating smarter, more resilient supply chains.

The 34th Annual Study of Logistics and Transportation Trends reveals a growing disconnect in the industry, as logistics professionals recognize challenges from AI adoption, workforce shortages, and tariff disruptions but struggle to take effective action. This year’s findings highlight gaps in technology implementation, workforce development, and operational strategies, offering critical insights for shippers aiming to bridge the knowing-doing gap.

Brad Barry tackles common misconceptions in supply chain design, offering strategies for creating a more resilient and optimized network. From debunking the myth that the cheapest design is always the best to emphasizing the need for continuous review, Barry provides actionable insights for businesses.

It’s expected that the USPS will broaden its revenue base with new services, and that will offset the steady decline in first class mail volumes. It’s also expected that USPS will raise its competitive profile by delivering mail and other services to businesses and consumers.

The reading for the report’s key indicator—the Services PMI (formerly the Non-Manufacturing PMI)—came in at 62.7 (a reading of 50 or higher indicates growth is occurring) in April. This marks a 1.0% decline from March’s 63.7, which was the highest reading since October 2018’s 60.9, and marks the eleventh consecutive month of services sector growth, at a slower rate. Services sector growth has seen gains in 133 of the last 135 months.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB), an independent adjudicatory and economic-regulatory agency charged by Congress with resolving railroad rate and service disputes and reviewing proposed railroad mergers, received some good news, when the United States Senate confirmed Michelle A. Schultz and Robert Primus to serve as STB Board members.

Make the business case for transportation management.

Transportation is a critical component of the supply chain, and digitalization is emerging as a valuable means to improve visibility and cost. But how do you know where to invest to see the maximum return?

One tradition that will continue this year regardless of the pandemic is the release of the “Annual Study of Logistics and Transportation Trends,” a study that Logistics Management refers to as “The Masters of Logistics.”

We’ll begin to see a new postal service that balances its current dedication to delivery everywhere, every day with a level of efficiency that makes it sustainable without an annual labor cost supplement.

Fast and free delivery is a race to the top. And it’s one that retailers and parcel delivery organizations must join—now.

We began 2020 with an unemployment rate of only 3.5%, and our nation’s logistics, warehouse and distribution center operations—as well as our carrier partners—were experiencing one of the tightest labor markets in a generation.

The Port of Oakland – which stages its “6th Annual State of the Port” address on January 29 – reports that its 2019 container volume decreased 1.8 percent from 2018, Maritime division spokesmen attributed this dip to fewer empty containers, but noted that loaded import and export containers were at a record high.

For the next 6 months, Lakefront Future expects that a large percentage of the bidding/trading activity will occur off-exchange and therefore the on-exchange electronic bidding & trading activity is not indicative of the market’s interest in trucking freight futures.

This month we roll out the findings of Logistics Management’s 35th Annual Salary Survey, a research project conducted by Peerless Research Group (PRG) that serves as the foundation of our best-read editorial feature of our publishing year. And it’s no surprise that the full study is also the most downloaded PRG report.

Exclusive column by Peter Moore discussing the LTL and Airfreight markets.