In the second session of SMC³’s LTL 204 Hybrid Series, “Navigating Change in LTL,” industry analyst Adrian Gonzalez (president of Adelante SCM and founder and host of Talking Logistics) joined moderator Joe Tillman and co-moderator Dr. Karl Manrodt to explore how uncertainty, risk and rapid change are reshaping LTL.

In our recent LTL 203 Session 3 “Reduce Invoice Surprises” discussion with Karl Manrodt, CLTL Instructor, and Scooter Sayers, director business development at Cubiscan, we unpacked the practical reasons these surprises persist—and, more importantly, how to eliminate them. Today’s post distills that conversation into four action‑oriented lessons you can apply before your next shipment leaves the dock.

Q&A with Brian Thompson, Chief Communication Officer, SMC³ Q: From your unique perspective, what do you see as the biggest challenges facing logistics andsupply chain professionals as we move into 2025? A: A significant challenge confronting the industry is the likelihood of shifting freight trends due to the relocation of production and manufacturing facilities worldwide, […]

At its best, the carrier-shipper relationship is a close collaboration, with both parties working to build shared priorities around getting freight delivered on time and in one piece. But this ideal is not always realized, and carriers and shippers often remain at odds with one another. How can carriers strategically approach relationship-building with their customers? What does true collaboration look like in LTL?

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) sought to improve margins through optimized transportation spend. With BatchMark® XL from SMC3, they streamlined pricing analysis, leading to significant cost savings and improved carrier relationships. Enriqueta Polonus, Senior Business Analyst at ITW, credits the tool for enhancing data integrity and enabling smoother analysis processes. BatchMark XL is pivotal in ITW’s journey towards efficient and informed transportation decisions, impacting their bottom line positively.

The sheer amount of industry knowledge being passed around at Jump Start 2024 has been astounding to behold. From evergreen tips on leadership to concrete strategies for managing volatility, our attendees are leaving with a fuller picture of where the logistics industry stands. On the third and final day, it’s natural to ask: What’s next?