Timothy Dooner

At MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, the energy was unmistakable. With thousands of supply chain professionals gathered, one theme echoed across conversations: uncertainty is no longer episodic. It’s constant and seemingly endless. In a candid discussion with Scott Luton, Pete Blair, VP of Product & Marketing at Pickle Robot, unpacked how organizations are navigating volatility, workforce challenges, and the growing role of automation in keeping operations moving.   Navigating Tariffs and a Moving Target If there’s one word defining today’s global supply chain environment, it’s unpredictability. Blair points to tariffs as a prime example; and not just their presence, but their volatility. “The biggest thing we see… is the chaos of tariffs. It’s not so much that customers have to pay tariffs or not pay tariffs, it’s that they don’t know how to plan,” Blair explains. That lack of predictability is forcing organizations to rethink their networks in real time. Companies are shifting sourcing strategies, standing up temporary distribution centers in new geographies, and even making drastic decisions about whether importing goods makes financial sense at all. What’s particularly challenging isn’t the cost itself. But rather, it’s the inability to forecast. Supply chains, while resilient, aren’t designed for abrupt swings like…

  Another great week here at Supply Chain Now! Have you listened to all the episodes? If not, you can check them all out here:   On Monday, Scott and Greg chatted with Tim Dooner with FreightWaves, about working from home and how it will work going forward, brokers and owner-operators, and more!   Supply Chain Now · “What the Truck is Going On: Tim Dooner with FreightWaves”   On Tuesday we were overwhelmed by the passion for supply chain and the positivity of Jamin Alvidrez with Freight Tribe!   Supply Chain Now · “Meet Jamin: Supply Chain Vet Shows How to Unleash Positivity”   On Wednesday we welcomed Supply Chain Now vets Claudia Freed with EALgreen and Chuck Easley with the Georgia Tech Supply Chain and Logistics Institute back to the show to discuss education and the future of supply chain.   Supply Chain Now · “Supply Chain Lessons Learned from Pandemic: Claudia Freed & Chuck Easley”   Scott and Greg were joined by Cathy Morrow-Roberson with Logistics Trends and Insights for the Supply Chain Buzz, discussing the top news in supply chain for this week.   Supply Chain Now · “UPS Rate Changes & More: Supply Chain Buzz…