Trade Policy, Shopping Malls, and 9B+ Amazon Deliveries

Freight costs are rising – but most shippers aren’t capturing the savings hiding in their own data. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton and Kimberly Reuter talk with Shannon Vaillancourt, President of RateLinx, about how companies can uncover 5–15% in transportation savings in weeks, not months, without running a full RFP. They discuss common overspending traps, the power of clean, unified data, optimizing carrier mix, and making smarter, data-driven decisions to reduce costs while improving operational efficiency.

Join us for this week’s episode of The Buzz, as we dive deep into the recent developments in labor negotiations affecting U.S. ports, specifically the tentative agreement between the ILA and USMX, which has temporarily averted a significant strike. Hosts Scott Luton and Billy Ray Taylor welcome special guest Jon Gold, VP, Supply Chain and Customs Policy for the National Retail Federation (NRF) to the show, and discuss the implications of this agreement, including a 62% wage increase over six years and the critical topic of automation that could become a sticking point in future negotiations. Listen in as the conversation continues and covers: The need for continuous learning to retain talent and adapt to changes in the manufacturing workforce Cybersecurity Awareness Month, highlighting the critical importance of protecting supply chains from increasing cyber threats The upcoming NRF 2025 conference and key themes like AI’s role in supply chain management and strategies for diversifying operations outside of China that will be focused on The significance of engaging younger generations in manufacturing through educational tours and programs to foster interest in the industry Join us for this episode, and gain insights into current market dynamics and the strategies that can help…