Eric Kane 

What a week! Five episodes, four livestreams, and so much to listen to and watch! Did you catch all the episodes? If not, listen here! On Monday, we featured another great episode in This Week in Business History, where Scott looks back at some of the biggest historical events in business history for the week ahead. This week, he spoke about the business legacy of the Apollo missions.   Supply Chain Now · “This Week in Business History for July 20th: The Legacy of the Apollo Program”     Then on Tuesday, Chris Barnes proved that Supply Chain is in fact anything but boring with a cross-over episode of Supply Chain is Boring with Data & WMS Pioneer, special guest John Hill.   Supply Chain Now · “Data Collection is Boring: Data and WMS Pioneer John Hill on Supply Chain is Boring”     On Wednesday we published the Supply Chain Buzz, where Greg and Scott discussed the top supply chain news of the week, and were joined by special guest David Shillingford, Chairman of Resilience360.   Supply Chain Now · “The Supply Chain Buzz for July 20th Featuring David Shillingford with Resilience360”   On Thursday, we shared another great…

Blog Post written by Ohad Azgad, CEO of Cinch Logistics leaders must control costs while maintaining service quality, but hidden freight charges often erode profits due to poor visibility. Cinch analyzed over 7,000 line-item charges from 30+ freight forwarders, brokers, and carriers in FMCG and manufacturing, uncovering three major cost drivers: The Frequency-Impact Paradox Frequent charges like fuel surcharges appear in 14.4% of invoices but contribute just 4.2% of hidden costs. In contrast, customs duties—though present in only 5.8% of invoices—account for 52% of hidden costs. Identifying these patterns helps logistics teams focus on impactful cost reductions. Inconsistent Invoice Terminology Charge names like “Fuel Surcharge” vs. “Bunker Adjustment Factor” vary between carriers, reducing cost visibility and negotiation leverage. Standardizing terminology improves tracking, clarity, and vendor negotiations. Hidden Budget Risks: Customs, Duties & On-Carriage Fees Customs duties account for 46% of hidden costs, while on-carriage fees add 26%, despite appearing in only 4.3% of invoices. These charges are often underestimated during quoting, leading to budget overruns. Proactive management prevents unexpected expenses.   Strategies to Optimize Freight Costs Real-Time Data Analytics: Platforms like Cinch provide charge visibility during quoting, improving cost forecasting and negotiation leverage. Standardized Terminology: Consistent charge names enhance cost…