Industry executives and supply chain leaders from over 150 companies across the country will attend the third annual FreightWaves Future of Supply Chain conference this spring. The conference will be held at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta June 4-5.
Programming will include a live rapid-fire demo competition for cutting-edge FreightTech, networking and business opportunities, exclusive parties, and keynotes from industry analysts and visionaries. Those interested in attending or sponsoring are asked to register on the official event page here.
Sessions on the conference agenda include:
- An industry keynote from J.B. Hunt’s Brad Hicks.
- A keynote presentation from Flexport founder and CEO Ryan Petersen.
- 10+ FreightWaves TV shows with several guests from across the trucking industry.
- Four breakout sessions covering logistics outlooks amid global turmoil, emerging AI capabilities in supply chains, and the critical role of customs compliance and trade law.
- Several fireside chats with a variety of industry experts.
- Rapid-fire demos where companies will race against the clock to present their products and services, followed by opportunities to stop by their booths in the exhibit hall.
- Additional presentations, market updates, Shipper of Choice Awards and much more.
Day One of the conference will conclude with the J.B. Hunt 360° Happy Hour with Horsepower afterparty at the nearby Porsche Experience Center Atlanta.
Montage Fulfillment
Excellent insights into the supply chain dynamics and market fluctuations. Mark’s analysis provides valuable historical context and future predictions. Thanks!
Mark Stephens
The Supply Chain Pendulum Swing
An observation by Mark Stephens
Volume capacity. Outbound tender volumes. Spot market rates. These are but a few terms used in the trucking industry within the United States supply chain.
As with any cost to profit business, supply and demand remains the critical constant by which one makes predictive analysis.
In a balanced market, freight movement compares nicely to trucking capacity. In today’s current market, we find ourselves in a conundrum as such. Where supply is abundant, so too are empty trailers whose movement depends on quick timing and flexible negotiated compromising techniques by planners and dispatchers.
Pre-pandemic figures categorize nicely into the predictive ebb and flow of the pendulum swing in the supply chain (the range of profit margins targeted and often surpassed within the supply chain)
The supply and demand formula was interrupted during this time due to unpredictable consumer buying phases. Production plants, distribution centers and off market third party logistic warehousing begin over ordering and quickly filling beyond maximum capacity. This exasperated increase to the normal pendulum swing was a primary effect of rate escalation.
As a retired history teacher, I do recall 19th century philosopher George Santayana’s century old adage, “by not knowing relative history, there’s an excellent chance of repeating similar failure.” Doomed or condemned I believe was the operative adjective used.
The trucking capacity grew at an alarming scale, yet the demand to move product remained the carrot to the thoroughbred. Rates were at their highest ever measured and the pendulum needle could not have reached any further than it did before the adverse effect began.
By the time carriers had received their pre-ordered trucks and trailers in 2023 the reflux of the pendulum began moving in favor of the shipper and receiver (customer) where it currently lies, albeit in a slow decline.
Trucking capacity is still extremely high in spite of some of the lowest rates offered and agreed upon. Add that to the rise in fuel cost in 2023, the supply chain industry saw a devastating rise in carrier and broker bankruptcies with thousands going out of business.
Many analysts predict a back to pre-pandemic normality this year. That’s “hopeful” thinking. Bizlytics predicts the spring of 2025 to measure closest to pre-pandemic volumes.
If an agreement was achieved to neutralize the influx of supply chain movement through supply and demand predictives and attainable profit margins would fall in a satisfactory target range the survival of all participants would become a reality; at least until the next pandemic.
Technology is moving along quite well. AI is becoming a more understood ally to the supply chain partnerships and those who exercise that technology will transcend to the top and to those who let’s say wing it, on their instincts, well let us not forget Dr. Santayana’s famous quote.
Mark Stephens
Founder & CEO
Bizlytics TGMS
~ a Solutions Software ~