Cargo Shorts

Cargo Shorts tackles all things related to the transportation of goods. Each episode digs into a key issue facing North American surface transportation with expert insights from economics, automation, and logistics professionals. Learn more about the complexities in the supply chain you’re facing in your business.

Ep. 16: Boosting Supply Chain Efficiency Through Must Arrive By Dates with Greg Plemmons & Chris Kelley of OD 03/18/2025

Ep. 16: Boosting Supply Chain Efficiency Through Must Arrive By Dates with Greg Plemmons & Chris Kelley of OD Must Arrive By Date (MABD) shipping has become a cornerstone for retailers and supply chains alike. Born out of the need for efficiency and precision, MABD’s mandate that freight must be delivered within highly specific date and time windows. There are strict penalties for non-compliance, presenting challenges for shippers. Understanding and navigating these requirements is essential for those involved in the movement of goods. Host Samantha Jones of SJ Consulting, is joined by Greg Plemmons, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Chris Kelley, Senior Vice President of Operations at Old Dominion Freight Line to discuss best practices for shippers and carriers to ensure scorecard compliance. Key Takeaways: · What is Must Arrive By Date (MABD), and are requirements different from LTL shipments? [2:10] · How can carriers ensure external challenges do not inhibit MABD shipments? [11:05] · Scorecards and penalties prompt shippers to engage with trusted partners. [13:28] · Identifying which shipments require an MABD level of attention. [20:55] Shareables: · “Make digital connections with your carrier to streamline the flow of communication.” — Greg Plemmons, COO, ODFL · “As the economy picks back up, warehouse space at the DC’s will get more constrained and that will continue to push more MABD.” — Greg Plemmons, COO, ODFL · “We have conversations with customers every day about the improvement in their scorecards after signing on with our MABD program.” — Chris Kelley, Senior Vice President of Operations, ODFL · “It’s important for these retailers to be careful with what type of inventory they are holding, and how fast they are turning products.” — Samantha Jones, Host of Cargo Shorts Podcast, ODFL · “Communicate with your carrier early and often and we will do the same.” — Greg Plemmons, COO, ODFL · “It’s more critical than ever to get the product out there.” — Chris Kelley, Senior Vice President of Operations, ODFL Resources: · · · · · · Shippers can direct freight-related questions to . /episode/index/show/7933fab2-8ba4-4807-9f71-20fac819c442/id/35739825

Ep. 15: The Evolving Supply Chain with Greg Plemmons of OD & Dr. Thomas Goldsby of the University of Tennessee 09/09/2024

Ep. 14: Accurate Dimensions Affect the Bottom Line with Todd Polen of OD & Glenn Zalusky of Rice Lake Weighing Systems 07/03/2024

Ep. 13: Packaging Sciences: Exploring the Future with Clemson Univ.’s Dr. Greg Batt & Geoff Stephany of OD 06/04/2024

Ep. 12: Emerging Technologies, API Standardization, and the Future of LTL Shipping with OD’s Barry Craver and NMFTA’s Paul Dugent 03/24/2024

Ep. 11: How Can Shippers Use Data to Guide Their Decision-Making? With OD CEO Marty Freeman and Mastio’s Kevin Huntsman 01/08/2024

Ep. 11: How Can Shippers Use Data to Guide Their Decision-Making? With OD CEO Marty Freeman and Mastio’s Kevin Huntsman The findings from Mastio’s annual study of LTL carriers help shippers evaluate carriers based on many important attributes. Shippers need to choose the right partner when selecting a carrier. Shippers want to ensure that their freight will make it to their customers on time and damage-free. What tools are available to help shippers choose the right carrier for their business? How can collecting independent, third-party logistics data assist them with the decisions? Host Jonathan Betz speaks with Kevin Huntsman, the president of Mastio & Company, a market research consulting firm that conducts independent customer experience research across various industries. For over 20 years, Mastio & Company has been surveying shippers annually about their needs and what they look for in a carrier. On today's episode, Kevin shares insights on how Mastio & Company conducts the survey and what it means for the industry. Old Dominion was named the number one national LTL carrier for quality for the 14th consecutive year. Marty Freeman, president and CEO of Old Dominion Freight Line shares why this award means so much to the organization and how Old Dominion uses the data to continuously improve service for their customers. Key Takeaways: Who is Mastio & Company, how do they collect LTL survey data, and how is the data used in the logistics industry? [1:44] OD builds its company culture around the results of the Logistic Professional Survey. [4:30] The attributes shippers value are highly weighted when Mastio chooses the Logistics Professional Survey Award winner. [7:49] How OD uses the Conscious Differentiator attributes when setting annual objectives. [11:02] What is the Mastio value map and why is it important for shippers? [13:22] The Mastio independent third-party study offers shippers and carriers the important data needed to make informed business decisions. [17:22] Resources: Shippers can direct freight-related questions to /episode/index/show/7933fab2-8ba4-4807-9f71-20fac819c442/id/29392313

Ep. 10: Unpacking the Freight Classification System with Expert Erin Topper 11/27/2023

Ep. 09: Holiday Shipping Season Expectations with Rutgers Business School’s Dr. Tony Bell and OD’s Steve Hartsell 11/06/2023

Ep. 08: Navigating Retail Supply Chains with Former Walmart Executive Joe Metzger and OD’s Greg Plemmons 08/01/2023

Ep. 07: Digitization Brings Transparency, Efficiency, & Trust with Todd Polen and Scooter Sayers 06/27/2023

Ep. 07: Digitization Brings Transparency, Efficiency, & Trust with Todd Polen and Scooter Sayers There are many reasons for shippers and carriers to share information including better planning, better pricing, and cost savings. It benefits all parties to work together to improve transparency, efficiency, and trust. Business expectations are rapidly changing, therefore it is important to come together to talk about using digitalization in transportation and how it can lead to enhanced visibility and transparency. Joining host Jonathan Betz are Todd Polen, the VP of Pricing Services for Old Dominion Freight Line, and Scooter Sayers, President of Sayers Logistics, an LTL Consultancy. In this discussion, they address how clarity can lead to benefits such as improved planning, better communication or sharing of information, and most importantly increased trust between companies and customers. Key Takeaways: How digitization helps to improve transparency in business operations. [0:47] How will the NMFTA’s new single standard eBOL benefit the transportation industry, and how is Old Dominion responding? [6:08] How will digitization help control business costs in the transportation industry? [9:40] How should carriers help shippers digitize their operations? [11:00] What is missing in the relationship between shippers and carriers, and how can a “Shipper Scorecard” remedy the issue? [13:21] Where are the friction points for adopting new technologies in the transportation industry? [16:47] What is the future of transparency and pricing within the shipping industry? [21:30] Shareables: “When you have transparency, when you have visibility through digitization, that’s going to help you reduce errors. It’s going to help you get big data fast in the fields that you need to operate with. It turns events and exceptions into actionable data that you can actually work with and it promotes standardization.” — Scooter Sayers, President, Sayers Logistics & LTL Consultancy “If a carrier can reduce their cost by saving fuel, by not having to add labor as they grow, they can offer better pricing to their customers. So it’s a win-win for everybody.” — Scooter Sayers, President, Sayers Logistics & LTL Consultancy “We’ve actually adopted, I think we’ve got it with about 10 or 12 customers now, a digital scorecard. In other words, how well are they doing at integrating with us digitally? Are we getting a bill of lading digitally? If we are, what is the quality of the data that we get?” — Todd Polen, VP of Pricing Services, Old Dominion Freight Line “I think a great place to start is incentivizing everyone to pull out all of these exceptions, all of this friction, all of the sand in the gears and eliminate this administrative burden for everyone.” — Scooter Sayers, President, Sayers Logistics & LTL Consultancy Resources: /episode/index/show/7933fab2-8ba4-4807-9f71-20fac819c442/id/27302496

Ep. 06: Customer Loyalty Begins with Employee Loyalty with Greg Plemmons and Scott Deming 05/08/2023

Ep. 05: Maintaining Brand Value for Long Term Success with Chip Overbey and Thom Albrecht 05/08/2023

Ep. 04: How to Keep Domestic Supply Chains Operating During Disruption with Chip Overbey and Prof. Jeffrey Bergstrand 12/15/2022

Ep. 04: How to Keep Domestic Supply Chains Operating During Disruption with Chip Overbey and Prof. Jeffrey Bergstrand During 2022, the industry has continued to experience global supply chain challenges and the effect it has had on the American economy. The pandemic disrupted global supply chains and it tested the resilience and flexibility of supply chain leaders. While COVID-19 was not a typical risk event, it underscored the need for organizations to reexamine and manage their supply chains to ensure business continuity and growth for the future. Joining Host Jonathan Betz are two industry specialists to discuss future strategies on how companies can maintain supply chain resilience and the lessons they’ve learned to help companies avoid disruptions, Chip Overby, Sr. VP Strategic Development of Old Dominion Freight Line, and Professor Jeffrey Bergstrand, Professor of Finance in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. Key Takeaways: Chip highlights the potential bottlenecks and issues, including labor, inflation, and weather, that affect the supply chain. [1:05] Will companies reconsider their offshoring strategies and overseas manufacturing practices? Professor Bergstrand discusses the myriad of uncertainties that abound in the industry and Chip offers up some statistics that may shape the future. [3:46] Chip describes the three key requirements for keeping domestic supply chains operating efficiently. [11:29] Professor Bergstrand shares an example of the liability of having a limited number of suppliers and the additional risk smaller suppliers face. [14:03] Both Professor Bergstrand and Chip weigh in on the critical requirements of labor, network, equipment, and technology to provide reliable on-time service to customers. [16:47] Professor Bergstrand describes the semiconductor issue, e-commerce trends, and the need for diversification in the supply chain. [20:43] Chip shares the operational technologies and planning tools Old Dominion invests in to maintain superior customer service and on-time deliveries. [25:19] Chip and Professor Bergstrand remark on how technologies and innovation will assist business leaders in developing strategies for business resilience in the future. [26:59] /episode/index/show/7933fab2-8ba4-4807-9f71-20fac819c442/id/25343256

Ep. 03: The Future of Freight Payment and Race Towards Automation with Todd Polen and Curtis Garrett 12/15/2022

Ep. 02: The Total Cost of Transportation with Ed Garner and Lisa Anderson 12/15/2022

Ep. 02: The Total Cost of Transportation with Ed Garner and Lisa Anderson The rising cost of transportation bottlenecks and service delays have left logistics managers with much to manage. Calculating the total cost of these issues is difficult when only addressing a predetermined price per transaction. Strategic partnerships between shippers and carriers can mitigate pain points and lead to a better customer experience. But, how can logistics partners improve the supply chain and reduce cost in today’s operating environment and create resilience in logistic operations? Joining Host Jonathan Betz are two industry experts who share best practices for forging and nurturing long-term partnerships. Ed Garner is the Director of National Accounts at Old Dominion Freight Line and Lisa Anderson is the Founder and President of LMA Consulting Group. LMA Consulting provides expertise and advice on end-to-end supply chain strategy and business transformation. Key Takeaways: In 2022, the top three challenges shippers face have carried over from 2021. Ed shares the details. [:56] Lisa shares the strategies of shippers on how they manage their transportation costs as prices rise. [3:17] Ed explains the total cost of transportation and why carriers are the single most important link in the supply chain. [4:47] A precise and coordinated operational execution plan is necessary when two-thirds of every shipment handled requires an appointment. [7:21] Lisa comments on what it will take for carriers to excel in this on-demand economy. [8:47] Ed maintains that one of the best methods to forge and maintain a long-term partnership between carriers and shippers is for the relationship to be strategic, not transactional. [11:22] As many companies turn to the total cost of transportation, Old Dominion developed a value calculator which allows customers to see what the actual cost of moving a shipment is. [13:20] Best practices for the future of logistic partner relationships, building resiliency into supply chains, and providing superior customer service; both Lisa and Ed weigh in. [16:09] /episode/index/show/7933fab2-8ba4-4807-9f71-20fac819c442/id/25343181

Ep. 01: Just-in-Time — When Supply Chains are Backlogged with Greg Plemmons and Bob Costello 12/15/2022

Ep. 01: Just-in-Time — When Supply Chains are Backlogged with Greg Plemmons and Bob Costello For decades, companies have used a just-in-time inventory model to reduce excess supply and create a lean production process. But recently, we've seen firms take a more conservative approach with a just-in-case supply used to avoid running out of stock. The pandemic-induced devastation of supply chains put a spotlight on some of the challenges we face and exposed vulnerabilities in the just-in-time model. Does this mean the just-in-time process is no more? What lessons have we learned and what more needs to be done to ensure reliable on-time delivery of goods? To answer these questions and discuss future inventory management strategies, Host Jonathan Betz sits down with Greg Plemmons, Sr. VP of Sales for Old Dominion Freight Line, and Bob Costello, Chief Economist, and Sr. VP of International Trade Policy and cross-border operations for the American Trucking Associations. Key Takeaways: Greg describes the common disruptions in the current supply chain and the lessons shippers have learned over the last three years. [1:12] Bob shares the idea of a just-in-time-plus model and offers an optimistic outlook for keeping systems up and running during brief lags. [2:18] Greg highlights the benefits of a close relationship between shippers and their carriers. [3:52] Bob reflects on the e-commerce trends over the past three years and future-casts business shipping and inventory needs, based on personal consumption data. [5:18] Beyond a solid relationship with their carrier, Greg details the steps shippers can take to manage changes and mitigate risk. [8:31] Bob shares competitive data on the important role surface transportation plays in the shipping industry. [9:31] Greg and Bob weigh in on what will make the just-in-time method work for suppliers and the value of acknowledging drivers. [11:58] Bob and Greg discuss the challenges and changes of bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. in the near future. [15:22] /episode/index/show/7933fab2-8ba4-4807-9f71-20fac819c442/id/25343175

Trailer 12/07/2022

Cargo Shorts

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