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For years, just-in-time supply chain practices were the name of the game for many companies. But in the aftermath of the pandemic and subsequent supply chain tangles, building up and keeping heavier inventories has come to the forefront as a core strategy. While there’s merit to both approaches, companies need to be prepared and take some action on unintended consequences of the new sea change.

Over the past few years, we have learned that the more we can do remotely, the more we can potentially mitigate disruptions to business. Across supply chains, a cloud-based transportation management system can help companies facilitate remote operations, allowing businesses — even small ones — to make smarter choices, reduce costs and be more competitive.

A question to ask the decision-makers in Washington: If the goal is to get more cleaner, greener trucks on the road, why does the federal government keep the 12% federal excise tax on the sale of a new truck?

Quantum computing might be a new frontier in easing logistics management.

Many technologies exist to help fleets monitor cargo in their trailers, but carriers must be mindful of how the cargo itself — including what it’s made of — might impact the effectiveness of their tracking systems, especially if they look to make a change. Better trailer management can also improve drivers’ job satisfaction by mitigating issues they sometimes face in detention time and finding empty trailers.

Truck parking is a major pain point for the industry, and needs more investment from the government. It’s time to get creative about urging that investment, and potentially look to an unconventional source to find it: states’ climate budgets.

Multiple factors coming together can be a perfect storm, and the imminent 3G cellular network shutdown in 2022 certainly qualifies.

Automated truck companies make for popular industry conversation, but with great automated truck power comes great trailer responsibility. When exploring automated solutions, fleets must ensure their trailers get technological attention as well.

The valuable assets that trucking, freight and logistics companies must protect from theft and damage require more than a one-size-fits-all solution, but creative opportunities exist for companies that integrate physical security with new technologies.

Congress and President Joe Biden are currently focused on improving America’s infrastructure, with a key sticking point being how to pay for the improvements. This debate presents an opportunity for Congress to finally resolve funding for the insolvent Highway Trust Fund by replacing antiquated funding mechanisms — such as the federal excise tax on heavy-duty trucks and trailers — with solutions that are more reflective of today’s transportation landscape.