The Logistics of Logistics

In "Why the FMC Exists and How It Protects American Supply Chains", Joe Lynch speaks with Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Laura DiBella, about how the agency regulates ocean shipping, resolves cargo disputes, and safeguards American importers, exporters, and consumers from supply chain disruptions.
About Laura DiBella
Laura DiBella serves as Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, having been nominated by President Trump in September 2025, confirmed by the Senate in December, sworn in as Commissioner on January 6, 2026, and designated Chairman later that month for a term through June 30, 2028. Before this role, she worked as a government affairs advisor for Adams and Reese LLP after serving as Florida's first female Secretary of Commerce, President and CEO of Enterprise Florida, and President of Business Development at the Florida Department of Commerce. Her maritime leadership career began in 2017 as temporary Port Director for the Port of Fernandina, later becoming the first full-time Executive Director of the Florida Harbor Pilots Association in 2019, where she spearheaded key infrastructure and policy initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and is an accomplished marathon runner.

About Federal Maritime Commission
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is an independent agency of the federal government whose mission is to ensure a competitive and reliable international ocean transportation supply system that supports the U.S. economy and protects the public from unfair and deceptive practices.
Key Takeaways: Why the FMC Exists and How It Protects American Supply Chains
In "Why the FMC Exists and How It Protects American Supply Chains", Joe Lynch speaks with Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Laura DiBella, about how the agency regulates ocean shipping, resolves cargo disputes, and safeguards American importers, exporters, and consumers from supply chain disruptions.
Federal Maritime Commission Purpose: The FMC is an independent federal agency dedicated to maintaining a competitive, reliable international ocean transportation system that protects American consumers and taxpayers from unfair and deceptive supply chain practices.
Support for U.S. Cargo & Economic Interests: The agency regulates ocean shipping to safeguard American importers and exporters, focusing on ensuring cargo fluidity, economic viability, and mitigating supply chain-driven inflation.
Broad Industry Regulation: The FMC oversees and regulates ocean common carriers, marine terminal operators (MTOs), and ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs).
Impact of OSRA 2022: The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 expanded the FMC's authority, enabling faster responses to U.S. shippers and establishing dedicated processes to address unfair detention and demurrage charges.
Accessible Dispute Resolution: Through its Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services, the agency provides mediation between shippers and carriers to resolve commercial conflicts cost-effectively without requiring formal litigation.
Licensing and Supply Chain Security: The FMC enforces licensing, bonding, and vetting for maritime entities to ensure reliable cargo delivery and protect against security threats and freight fraud.
Proactive Public Resource: Beyond serving as a regulatory body, the FMC actively engages with small shippers and industry stakeholders to offer guidance and solve logistics challenges before they disrupt operations.
Learn More About Why the FMC Exists and How It Protects American Supply Chains
Laura DiBella | Linkedin
Federal Maritime Commision (FMC) | Linkedin
Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
What's Going on With Shipping? - YouTube
Amazon.com: The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization (Audible Audiobook)
Big Changes at the Port with Lauren Beagen | Podcast
The Container Payment Portal and the Rise of AI in Freight with Jake Hoffman
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The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
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In "Why the Yard is Your Supply Chain's Biggest Bottleneck (And How to Fix It)", Joe Lynch speaks with CEO of Lazer Logistics, Adam Newsome, about how turning the yard from an unmanaged blind spot into an optimized, tech-enabled transition zone unlocks massive supply chain velocity and cost savings.
About Adam Newsome
Adam Newsome is CEO of Lazer Logistics, bringing 25 years of business experience to the company's strategic vision and growth. He leads with a focus on operational excellence, disciplined execution and a people-first culture. Raised in an entrepreneurial household, Adam helped launch Lazer alongside his father who co-founded it in 1996. That hands-on beginning shaped his leadership approach: respect for the work, humility and practical problem-solving. Adam has guided Lazer through major growth milestones, including a Williams-Sonoma partnership that doubled the business, its first private equity partnership in 2010 and acquisitions and technology integration beginning in 2019. He focuses on helping customers improve yard operations through technology, operational expertise and people, while sharing lessons on resilience, growth and solving real business challenges with fellow leaders.
About Lazer Logistics
Since 1996, Lazer Logistics has been a leading provider of outsourced yard management, including spotting, shuttling, trailer rentals, gate management, drayage and technology solutions that help customers improve safety and performance across their logistics networks. The company is powered by a 3-pronged approach to efficiency and effectiveness rooted in technology, operations and most importantly, people. With over 800+ locations across 43 states and Canada, Lazer helps 57 of the Fortune 500 unlock precision, uptime and measurable CO₂ savings. In 2026, Lazer Logistics surpassed 4 million zero-emission miles across its North American electric yard operations while delivering an average net energy cost reduction of 85% for participating enterprise customer sites. The company was recognized as a Top Dedicated Contract Carrier by Transport Topics and a Great Supply Chain Partner by SupplyChainBrain.
Key Takeaways: Why the Yard is Your Supply Chain's Biggest Bottleneck (And How to Fix It)
In "Why the Yard is Your Supply Chain's Biggest Bottleneck (And How to Fix It)", Joe Lynch speaks with CEO of Lazer Logistics, Adam Newsome, about how turning the yard from an unmanaged blind spot into an optimized, tech-enabled transition zone unlocks massive supply chain velocity and cost savings.
Automate Real-Time Yard Visibility with AI Vision: Traditional yard audits and manual YMS tracking leave critical asset blind spots. Utilizing AI-driven computer vision on yard trucks automatically updates trailer locations, loaded statuses, and geospatial data in real time without relying on human error.
Eliminate Dwell Time and Expensive Detention Fees: Gate bottlenecks, chaotic trailer shuffling, and slow turnarounds trigger severe penalty fees from carriers. Streamlining gate workflows, automating spotter moves, and syncing trailer positioning directly with warehouse schedules maximizes dock door throughput.
Outsource Specialized Spotter Operations to Mitigate Labor Strain: Recruiting, training, and maintaining in-house yard drivers and specialized equipment creates operational friction. Turnkey, safety-certified spotters handle rigorous backing protocols, peak seasonal surges, and strict compliance without risking site safety or high turnover.
Protect Cold Chain Integrity via Continuous Reefer Monitoring: A trailer running out of fuel or dropping temperature while waiting in the yard leads to scrapped product and compliance failures. Active reefer management—including scheduled fueling, proactive temperature logging, and automated out-of-range alerts—safeguards perishable cargo.
Transition Yard Operations to Electric Spotters for Cost-Neutral Decarbonization: Idling diesel yard tractors generate heavy emissions and high fuel overhead. EV yard tractors eliminate localized air pollution and diesel costs, offering an enterprise-ready, cost-neutral path toward net-zero supply chain mandates.
Optimize Fleet Efficiency by Target-Reducing Idle Time: Fuel burn from stationary spotters is a major hidden expense. Installing telematics directly on yard trucks allows operations to monitor engine usage, cap average idling below 15%, and significantly lower net fuel costs across distribution sites.
Reinforce Site Security to Combat Freight Theft and Fraud: Large distribution yards serve as primary attack vectors for cargo theft and unauthorized access. Implementing centralized gate access, automated digital check-ins, and strict driver vetting shields inventory against organized freight fraud.
Learn More About Why the Yard is Your Supply Chain's Biggest Bottleneck (And How to Fix It)
Adam Newsome | Linkedin
Lazer Logistics | LinkedIn
Lazer's website
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues.
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In "Why the Future of Freight Has No Driver's Cab", Joe Lynch speaks with Founder and CEO of Humble Robotics, Eyal Cohen, about how cabless, electric autonomous haulers are reimagining commercial logistics from the ground up.
About Eyal Cohen
Eyal Cohen is the Founder and CEO of Humble Robotics, an autonomous electric trucking company that recently closed a seed round and emerged from stealth with the Humble Hauler – a fully autonomous, cabless, electric Class 8 truck built from the ground up. Cohen spent his career at the frontier of autonomous vehicles and electrification: he was inside Apple's self-driving program in its early days, watched Uber move into commercial freight, executed the world's first autonomous freight delivery by semi-truck, and sold his previous company to John Deere.
About Humble Robotics
Humble Robotics is an autonomous vehicle technology company reimagining commercial freight transportation through physical AI and zero-emission heavy hauling. The company builds fully autonomous, electric Class 8 haulers purpose-built to handle complex logistics scenarios without a traditional driver cab or diesel tank. By blending vision-language-action (VLA) models with robust, lightweight hardware, Humble Robotics powers a universal platform supporting multiple vehicle configurations. Its cabless, vision-first design is 20% lighter than standard rigs, reaching up to a 200-mile range at 55 mph. Functioning as tractor, trailer, and driver combined, the Humble Hauler delivers a true dock-to-dock solution that lowers per-mile operating costs, eliminates fuel dependency, and streamlines global supply chain operations.
Key Takeaways: Why the Future of Freight Has No Driver's Cab
In "Why the Future of Freight Has No Driver's Cab", Joe Lynch speaks with Founder and CEO of Humble Robotics, Eyal Cohen, about how cabless, electric autonomous haulers are reimagining commercial logistics from the ground up.
Shedding the "Driver & Cab Tax": Traditional Class 8 trucks carry heavy operational overhead due to driver labor, sleeper cabs, and complex mechanical maintenance; eliminating cab infrastructure entirely with a purpose-built autonomous chassis lowers total cost-per-mile across equipment, labor, and maintenance.
Eliminating the 20% Deadweight Penalty: Standard semi-truck setups waste allowable weight limits hauling heavy engine cabs, fuel systems, and driver amenities. A streamlined, cabless universal platform is 20% lighter, letting shippers maximize payload weight per route.
Targeting High-Volume, Short-Haul Routes First: While industry focus often gravitates toward long-haul trucking, 87% of U.S. truck tonnage moves under 250 miles; focusing on high-frequency, short-haul moves (like drayage, port transfers, rail yards, and inter-facility shuttling) allows electrification and autonomy to succeed immediately.
Achieving True End-to-End "Dock-to-Dock" Autonomy: Highway-only autonomous systems leave complex yard maneuvers and loading dock connections to human drivers; an integrated tractor-trailer platform with a universal "lock & twist" interface can navigate yards, haul 40' international or 53' domestic containers, and dock without human intervention.
Deploying Explainable VLA AI Over Rigid HD Maps: Replacing expensive, brittle HD pre-mapping with Vision-Language-Action (VLA) foundation models and 360° sensor arrays (cameras, LiDAR, radar) enables vehicles to fine-tune to new facilities in days while generating plain-language, auditable logs for every maneuver.
Escaping Fuel Volatility and Carbon Costs: Operating an all-electric Class 8 powertrain with a 200-mile range protects fleets from volatile diesel pricing and rising engine maintenance while helping operators meet zero-emission mandates and secure state incentives.
Building a Purpose-Built Platform Instead of Retrofitting: Retrofitting legacy diesel rigs with autonomous kits retains structural inefficiency and legacy failure points; designing a clean-sheet autonomous EV from the ground up delivers the necessary system redundancy, field safety, and operational reliability required for commercial adoption.
Learn More About Why the Future of Freight Has No Driver's Cab
Eyal Cohen | Linkedin
Humble Robotics | Linkedin
Humble Robotics
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues.
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In "Scaling Logistics Innovation at Descartes Systems Group", Joe Lynch and Dan Cicerchi, the General Manager of Transportation Management Solutions at Descartes Systems Group, discuss the strategic integration of trustworthy AI to enhance existing core logistics technology and solve practical pain points across the global supply chain.
About Dan Cicerchi
Dan Cicerchi is the General Manager of Transportation Management Solutions at Descartes Systems Group, where he leads strategy and innovation for one of the industry's most widely adopted logistics technology platforms. A seasoned entrepreneur and logistics tech pioneer, Dan co-founded MacroPoint, a real-time freight visibility solution that transformed how brokers, shippers, and carriers track and manage loads. Following its acquisition by Descartes, he has continued to champion technology that drives efficiency, transparency, and resilience across global supply chains. With decades of experience spanning startup growth and enterprise leadership, Dan is passionate about applying practical AI and automation to solve the freight industry's most pressing challenges. He frequently shares insights on freight visibility, fraud prevention, and the future of transportation management.
About Descartes Systems Group
Descartes Systems Group is a global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions designed to improve the productivity, performance, and security of logistics-intensive businesses. Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, with offices and customers worldwide, Descartes helps shippers, carriers, freight forwarders, and logistics service providers connect, collaborate, and automate across the supply chain. Its portfolio includes transportation management, visibility, customs and regulatory compliance, and e-commerce logistics solutions. By combining deep industry expertise with innovative technology, Descartes enables organizations to streamline operations, reduce costs, and deliver superior customer experiences. Thousands of companies around the world rely on Descartes' logistics network and software to move goods more efficiently, mitigate risk, and stay ahead in an increasingly complex global marketplace.
Key Takeaways: Scaling Logistics Innovation at Descartes Systems Group
In "Scaling Logistics Innovation at Descartes Systems Group", Joe Lynch and Dan Cicerchi, the General Manager of Transportation Management Solutions at Descartes Systems Group, discuss the strategic integration of trustworthy AI to enhance existing core logistics technology and solve practical pain points across the global supply chain.
Trust First: AI adoption in logistics must be built on governance and trust, using frameworks like NIST to ensure data security and accountability.
AI Augments, Doesn't Replace: AI is a powerful enhancer for core systems (TMS, visibility), not a standalone replacement. Its primary role is to improve efficiency.
Focus on Practical Pain Points: Start AI implementation by targeting tedious manual tasks (e.g., check calls, data entry, carrier onboarding) for rapid, measurable ROI.
Stability Over Startups: Partnering with existing, integrated tech vendors (like Descartes) ensures greater stability, expertise, and roadmap alignment than relying on new AI-only startups.
Audit Your Current Tech: Before investing in new AI, ensure you are fully utilizing the latest features and integrations of your current mission-critical systems.
Build Trust with Staff: Overcome internal resistance by layering AI into current workflows and establishing clear performance baselines (ROI) before deployment.
Enhance What Works: The path to resilience is through strategically integrating AI into proven, existing workflows step-by-step, not by chasing every new technology trend.
Learn More About Scaling Logistics Innovation at Descartes Systems Group
Dan Cicerchi | Linkedin
Descartes Systems Group | Linkedin
Descartes Systems Group
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues.
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In "Scale or Fail: Navigating Trade Volatility for Emerging Brands", Joe Lynch speaks with President and CEO of the Americas region of GEODIS, Laura Ritchey, about how emerging brands can navigate trade volatility, manage inventory, and build scalable, resilient supply chains.
About Laura Ritchey
Laura Ritchey joined GEODIS in July 2025 as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Americas region. Laura is responsible for overseeing the region's freight forwarding, contract logistics and transportation business units along with engineering and technology, IT, ProVenture (U.S.-based subsidiary of GEODIS focusing on industrial real estate) and Material Handling Resources (one of the country's leading material handling distributors owned by GEODIS). In total, Laura oversees GEODIS Americas' expansive operations including nearly 20,000 employees and more than 230 sites across eight countries. Laura brings over 30 years of experience to GEODIS, with 15 focused on supply chain management in both retail and third-party logistics. Laura began her career in finance before transitioning to supply chain operations, including sourcing, distribution and strategic transformation. Prior to her current role, Laura was most recently CEO at Radial, Inc., a leader in e-commerce fulfillment solutions, where she drove revenue growth and profitability through operational excellence. At Radial, she led the North American P&L for a $1.4B e-commerce logistics division, responsible for relationships with over 170 clients across four service lines. Before joining Radial, she held leadership positions at L Brands, FullBeauty Brands and Centric Brands. Laura is on the Dean's Advisory Council at Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University and is an active board member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Nashville Branch. Additionally, she is actively involved with C200 whose mission is to inspire, educate, support and advance current and future women leaders. Laura earned her J.D., MBA and bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University. Additionally, Laura is accredited as a certified public accountant and admitted to the bar in Ohio.
About GEODIS
GEODIS is a leading global logistics provider acknowledged for its expertise across all aspects of the supply chain. As a growth partner to its clients, GEODIS specializes in four lines of business: Global Freight Forwarding, Global Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express Transport, and European Road Network. The Group operates a global network spanning nearly 170 countries and 48,000 employees. In 2025, GEODIS generated €10.6 billion in revenue. GEODIS is a company owned by SNCF group.
Key Takeaways: Scale or Fail: Navigating Trade Volatility for Emerging Brands
Beware the "10K Order Trap" During Rapid Growth: Scaling operations from 1,000 to 10,000 monthly orders often breaks a business before demand stalls. Emerging brands must build strong foundational supply chain building blocks early—such as maintaining clean master data (accurate dimensions and weights) and choosing a 3PL capable of global growth—to avoid costly operational failures when reaching inflection points.
Adopt a Hybrid Inventory Strategy to Balance JIT and JIC: Shifting strictly between "Just in Time" (JIT) and "Just in Case" (JIC) risks either stockouts or trapped working capital. A balanced, hybrid approach—keeping adequate stock of fast-moving core basics while tightly controlling slow-moving seasonal items—helps protect cash flow without sacrificing availability.
Re-evaluate the "Amazon Effect" and Recommerce to Protect Margins: High-speed, free shipping creates an illusion of necessity that drives up last-mile costs. Brands should focus on order delivery certainty over pure speed while implementing circular economy strategies (recommerce) to rehabilitate and resell returned apparel, which often recovers up to 95% of inventory value.
Mitigate Sourcing Risks Beyond Single-Factory Bets: Diversifying supply chains requires going all the way back to raw material inputs rather than simply relocating assembly plants. Navigating evolving global tariffs requires nearshoring flexibility, dual-sourcing critical SKUs, and re-orchestrating supply chain flows across regional hubs.
Understand True Landed Costs to Avoid Margin Shock: Delegating freight forwarding and customs clearance entirely to overseas manufacturers often leads to hidden markups and supply chain delays. Leveraging an end-to-end global provider with licensed customs brokerage capabilities ensures clear visibility into total landed costs and regulatory compliance.
Leverage Global Scale with Curated, End-to-End Execution: Supported by a global network spanning nearly 170 countries, over 48,000 employees, and €10.6 billion (USD $12.35 billion) in revenue (2025), GEODIS provides emerging and established brands with an agile, end-to-end "launchpad for global growth" across contract logistics, freight forwarding, and transportation.
Avoid the "Set It and Forget It" Supply Chain Mindset: Ongoing volatility, regulatory shifts, and geopolitical friction require continuous evaluation of supply chain networks. Taking a cautious, practical approach to emerging technologies like AI (for labor forecasting and route planning) ensures operational stability while safeguarding proprietary data.
Learn More About Scale or Fail: Navigating Trade Volatility for Emerging Brands
Laura Ritchey | Linkedin
GEODIS | Linkedin
GEODIS
The Logistics of Logistics Podcast
If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues.
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