In this episode of The Buzz, we unpack the latest manufacturing signals, leadership priorities, and the growing impact of AI—plus a candid look at corporate jargon and why clarity matters more than ever—welcome to The Buzz, powered by DOSS! Hosts Scott Luton and Billy Ray Taylor dive into March manufacturing data showing modest growth and improving job trends, while also highlighting ongoing cost pressures and global disruptions. From there, the conversation shifts to what’s really on the minds of business leaders today—uncertainty, decision-making challenges, and the widening gap between strategy and execution. This episode delivers practical, real-world perspectives on how organizations can move forward with confidence. Key Learnings & Takeaways: Manufacturing momentum is steady—but fragile with growth signals tempered by inflation and disruption Today’s labor market = “low hire, low fire” driven by uncertainty and hesitation AI isn’t transforming your business—it’s exposing it (data gaps, inefficiencies, misalignment) Execution beats strategy—most companies don’t fail from bad plans, but poor follow-through KPIs vs. KPAs—why actions (not just metrics) drive real performance Corporate jargon can damage performance by masking clarity and weakening decision-making Great leadership = clarity, standards, and accountability, not buzzwords Bottom line: In today’s complex environment, leaders who prioritize execution, clarity,…

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Kim Reuter welcome Bobby Holland, Vice President/Director of Freight Business Analytics at U.S. Bank, and Heather Shilt, Director, Global Logistics at Fortive, to unpack Q3 2025 findings from the U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index, one of the industry’s most referenced trucking indicators, informed by tens of billions in transactions. The panel explores why volumes are down even as costs rise, how tariffs and manufacturing softness are reshaping regional performance, and where rate pressure and capacity tightness are showing up first. Together, they dig into nine key takeaways from the national and regional views (West, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast): most significant sequential gains in the West in four years, persistent softness in the Southwest, and mixed signals elsewhere as consumer demand, housing starts, and labor dynamics tug the market in different directions. From shipper playbooks (carrier-mix depth, lane-level cost vigilance, and alternate modes) to practical watch-outs for Q4 and early 2026, this data-driven conversation equips operators to trend, plan, and pressure-test their assumptions in a volatile environment. This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Kim Reuter, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.   Additional Links…