THE BLOG
Ship Happens. We talk about it.
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Santa Runs the Best Supply Chain in the World - Be More Like Santa
Every December, most companies are deep in the trenches of peak season: scrambling through backorders, juggling last-minute changes, and praying their carriers don’t call in with weather delays. But somehow, one operation manages to deliver on time, with perfect accuracy, at a global scale. Every year.
Santa’s.
It might be whimsical, but if you strip away the magic and look at the structure, Santa runs the most efficient seasonal operation on the planet, and his planning principles are worth paying attention to.
Automation vs AI: How Logistics Keeps Mixing Them Up (and Why It Matters)
This entire blog started because of my inbox. Specifically: PR emails.
If you work in or around logistics media, you know exactly the ones I mean. The subject line “AI Powered”. The whole email is full of AI this and AI that. And yet somehow, after reading the email three or four times, I still can’t tell what the product actually does.
Is it AI?
Is it automation?
Is it a well-organized workflow with a buzzword glued on top?
Because honestly, how can every new tech and platform be AI?
The more pitches I saw, the more obvious the real issue became: as an industry, we’ve blurred the line between what’s simply a fast, reliable automated process and what is actually intelligent technology capable of learning, adapting, or predicting. And that distinction matters, not just for accuracy, but for budgets, expectations, and whether a team ends up with the right tool for the right job. So let’s talk about it properly, without the jargon-y nonsense.
The Trap of Being the ‘I’ll Handle It Myself’ Person
There’s a specific kind of person who ends up in logistics: the “don’t worry, I’ll handle it” type.
Every industry has them, but logistics seems to attract them in bulk. Maybe it’s the constant problem-solving, maybe it’s the adrenaline of fixing things minutes before they break, or maybe it’s just the culture we all grew up in, where being busy meant you were important. And it shows, logistics workers actually rank #1 for burnout risk of any industry, with 20% over-utilized, 15% at risk, and the longest average workday at 9 hours and 10 minutes.
But somewhere along the way, “handling it” quietly turns into “carrying the entire company on your back.” And most people don’t realize the cost of that until they’re already paying it.
The funny thing is, doing everything yourself feels efficient. It feels responsible. It feels faster at the moment — just answer the email, just update the file, just follow up on the truck, just redo the spreadsheet because the formatting is a disaster and you’re the only one who knows how it should look.
But the truth is this: every time you jump in to do it yourself, you reinforce a system where you are the system. And that’s where the real trouble starts.
Judgment Isn’t a Safety Strategy: How Bias Is Blinding Trucking to Its Real Problems
Every time a new story breaks about trucking fraud, unsafe carriers, or tragic accidents, the same narrative rolls out:
“It’s the foreign carriers.”
“It’s the non-domiciled drivers.”
“It’s these fly-by-night operations ruining the industry.”
It’s predictable, emotional, and completely unhelpful.
Because here’s the truth: the biggest threat to North American trucking isn’t who is behind the wheel. It’s how the system allows people to slip through cracks that we all know are there.
When we keep blaming people instead of processes, we’re not solving problems, we’re fuelling hate and perpetuating the root issues.
5 Food Myths That Actually Affect the Supply Chain
Everyone’s got opinions about food; local is better, fresh is best, labels tell the truth.
But most of what we believe about how food gets to us isn’t actually true.
And these myths don’t just affect what we buy, they shape how the entire supply chain operates, from how products are labeled to how much food gets wasted before it ever reaches a plate.
Here are five food myths that have real consequences for the people moving your groceries from farm to fork.
How Le Creuset Has Turned Overstock Into Obsession
If you’ve opened TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen it, the Le Creuset Mystery Box unboxings. People are filming themselves tearing into sealed boxes of colourful cookware like it’s Christmas morning. Screams, squeals, gasps over the colour they wanted or a pot they had been eyeing and somewhere, a logistics manager is quietly smiling.
Because this isn’t just a marketing stunt, it’s a supply-chain strategy wrapped in enamel and hype.
When Marketing Blindsides Logistics — For Better or Worse
In a perfect world, marketing and logistics work hand-in-hand. The hype machine drums up interest, and the supply chain quietly delivers the goods, literally.
In reality? Companies often operate in silos, and marketing regularly make moves that can take the logistics team completely by surprise. Sometimes that surprise is a PR disaster. Other times it’s a tidal wave of demand. Either way, if your operations are not informed, they won’t be ready, and then you’re in trouble.
Let’s look at two beauty industry examples: one where marketing is likely to hurt demand and one where it blew it through the roof.
Why Over-Engineered Tech Is Quietly Wrecking Your Supply Chain
In supply chain, just like in day to day life, tech is supposed to make life easier. Instead, a lot of companies are slowly drowning in all the “solutions” they have been sold.
Every year, a shiny new platform promises to revolutionize your operations or optimize scalability or maximize profits. A dashboard here, a tracking widget there, maybe a warehouse robot that looks like it rolled straight out of a sci-fi movie. And before you know it, your team has six logins, a 40-step procedure for booking a truck, and no one can agree which report has the “real” numbers.
If that sounds familiar then your tech stack isn’t helping you. It’s got you working for it.
Your Brand Is Only as Strong as Your Operations
There’s been an explosion of content in the logistics and supply chain world. LinkedIn is full of polished videos, witty hot takes, and carefully curated brand stories. People, and companies, are learning that building a voice, sharing values, and connecting through storytelling can drive engagement, loyalty, and even sales.
That’s a good thing. But let’s not get carried away.
Because in logistics, your story is only as strong as your execution and service. It doesn’t matter how clever your content is if the trucks don’t show up, the freight goes missing, or no one answers the phone or emails.
What Good Brokers Are Doing (That Maybe You’re Not)
Everyone loves to talk ship about bad brokers. The ghosters. The lowballers. The margin-chasers who disappear the second things go sideways.
But what about the ones who are trying, and still missing the mark?
Let’s be honest: a lot of people come into this industry and get handed a phone, a list of leads, and not much else. If they’re lucky, they get an afternoon shadowing Chad, who might be a top earner, but also happens to have a mountain of bad habits (and possibly a superiority complex).
How Shippers, Brokers, Carriers, and Drivers Can Fight Freight Fraud (And Why They Need To)
Transportation fraud isn’t just a nuisance, it’s a growing, multi-million-dollar problem in North American logistics. From double brokering to stolen loads and hijacked payments, fraudsters are getting bolder and smarter.
And no one is immune.
Whether you’re a shipper, broker, carrier, or driver, the only way to stay ahead is to stay informed, and be proactive. Below, we break down exactly what each party can do to reduce risk and keep freight flowing safely.
The Real Cost of Doing It All: A Hard Look at Cradle-to-Grave in Logistics
The cradle-to-grave model has been a staple business model in logistics brokerage for years. And with the rise of the agent model across North America, it’s seeing a bit of a glow-up.
Everywhere you turn, there’s another post selling the dream: Be your own boss. Work from anywhere. Build your own book. Keep more of your commission.
Sounds great, right? And to be fair, it can be, it’s how I started my entrepreneur journey. Cradle-to-grave can offer freedom, autonomy, and a chance to build something of your own. But let’s not romanticize it. Because when you’re the one selling the freight, booking the truck, tracking the shipment, handling the fallout, chasing paperwork, and invoicing the customer… that’s not freedom. That’s a one-person logistics department. And it burns people out.
After Delivery: The Dispatcher’s Post-Delivery Checklist
The freight’s delivered, the truck’s empty, and the driver’s already asking about their next load.
You’re done, right?
Not even close.
This is where a lot of dispatchers coast, but this stage can make or break your margin, customer relationships, and ability to get paid. It’s not glamorous, but post-delivery is where the smart teams pull ahead. Tie off the loose ends now, or deal with the fallout later (usually in the form of disputes, denied accessorials, or annoyed billing staff).
Here’s your checklist for after delivery.
While It’s Moving: In-Transit and Pre-Delivery Checks for Dispatchers
You’ve made it past the pickup, congrats. But now the load’s rolling, and the clock is ticking. This is the part where a lot of dispatchers mentally check out.
Don’t.
Because in-transit is when things can start to fall apart quietly, and if you’re not watching closely, you’ll only hear about it when it becomes a problem at delivery. Or worse, in a claim. Here’s what you need to be checking while the load is moving and before that trailer door gets cracked open on the other end.
How to Know If a Supply Chain Trend Is Worth Paying Attention To
We all know how much I hate hype when it comes to new businesses in logistics, unfortunately it can feel like there’s a shiny new “must-have” trend every week.
AI-powered TMS. Drones in warehouses. Blockchain for pallets. Digital freight marketplaces promising to “Uber-ize” trucking. Not to mention every LinkedIn guru yelling about “resilience,” “visibility,” or “hyper-automation” (whatever the F that means).
The FOMO is real, and so is the fatigue. Because when you're running a brokerage, managing a fleet, or trying to keep products moving smoothly through a supply chain, you don’t have time (or budget) to chase every trend that pops up.
Before You Book That Truck: Dispatcher Checklist for New Shippers
Booking a truck on a load from a brand-new customer? Take a breath. Before you hit confirm, run through this checklist, because nothing kills a day faster than realizing too late that you’re missing a crucial detail and you can’t back out now.
This isn’t just a CYA move (although yes, it's that too). It's about protecting your time, your team, your drivers, and your profit. Putting in extra effort on the front end helps you avoid the possibility of an absolute dumpster fire later on. Skipping these questions is how you end up with equipment mismatches, rejected freight, or worse safety violations.
Adapt to Connect: The Logistics Skill You Didn’t Know You Needed
If you’ve worked in logistics for longer than five minutes, you know this industry is all about relationships, and relationships are all about trust. Building that trust doesn’t always mean being the loudest, smartest, or most experienced person in the room. Sometimes, it means reading the room and meeting people where they are.
That doesn’t mean being fake. It means being flexible.
Adapting your communication style, your behavior, and yes, even your attire, is one of the most underrated skills in logistics. Whether you’re pitching a new client, troubleshooting a warehouse delay, or talking drivers through a reroute, success often comes down to your ability to connect. And connections start with how you show up.
Your Products Deserve Better: 8 Questions to Choose the Best Warehouse Partner
For small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), choosing the right warehousing partner isn’t just about finding a place to store your products, it’s about finding a reliable extension of your business. The wrong partner can cost you time, money, customer satisfaction, and frankly, your sanity. The right partner, on the other hand, can help you grow, scale, and operate smoothly.
Before signing any contracts or moving any inventory, here are 8 key questions SMEs should ask when deciding on potential warehousing partners.
A CEO’s Personal Brand Is Not The Company Brand
Every time I turn on industry news, scroll through LinkedIn, or attend a conference, it’s the same faces (typically white males ones). The same CEOs running from appearance to appearance spouting the same talking points, occasionally calling each other out.
Look, I get it. You’re the face of the company. But if you’re the only face, that’s a problem, not just for you, but for your business and the entire industry.
9 Soft Skills for a Standout Career in Supply Chain
Let’s be honest, most logistics and supply chain knowledge can be taught. Understanding different transportation modes, hours of service regulations, pricing structures, and operational processes are all things you can learn through training, documentation, and shadowing others on the job. Good companies have procedures in place, and most of the day-to-day work can be handled by almost anyone willing to learn.