Guest: Mike Klage of TOC Logistics on ocean shipping conditions; Retailers look for new carriers and capacity; Investors eye supply chain companies for new acquisitions

In this episode, guest Mike Klage, solutions director at TOC Logistics International, shares what's happening out on the water. Ports continue to be overwhelmed with cargo and backlogs are becoming the new normal for ocean shipping. Some shippers are looking at alternative ports, such as those on the East Coast and and in the Gulf region, but will that solve their problems if capacity is scarce everywhere? We discuss the current state of ocean shipping and whether things might get back to pre-pandemic normal any time soon.In order to satisfy customer demand, retailers search for new carriers to assure their shipments arrive on time. This includes last-mile investments and expanded networks. Will this search for capacity and performance continue as we head toward the back-to-school and holiday seasons?Private equity investment firms continue to view supply chain as a good risk. A number of companies in our space have been snatched up recently by investors, and there is a growing trend to combine smaller firms together to create a one-stop shop for supply chain services. How will this trend play out in the market?Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:TOC Logistics InternationalRetailers ramp up last mile investments, expand carrier networksPeak-Ryzex buys fellow data collection provider Bar Code DirectPrivate equity firm buys GPS Insight to build fleet management software shopDC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverageVisit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Send feedback about this podcast to [email protected] sponsored by SofteonOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts