Why Freight Is the Blind Spot in Supply Chain Resilience

Send me a messageFreight is one of the biggest sources of supply chain emissions — so why is it still treated as an afterthought?In this episode of the Resilient Supply Chain Podcast, I’m joined by Jared Spude, Vice President of Enterprise Solutions at Breakthrough, to unpack why freight has become sustainability’s blind spot — and why that’s now a resilience risk no supply chain leader can ignore.Jared has spent over a decade working at the intersection of freight, fuel, and sustainability, helping shippers move beyond siloed decisions and into data-driven trade-offs between cost, service, and carbon. And the timing matters. Cost pressure is back. Regulation is shifting. Tariff volatility is creating decision paralysis. Yet freight remains one of the fastest ways to cut emissions without breaking the bank.In our conversation, you’ll hear how empty miles alone account for a startling share of freight emissions — and why fixing them is harder than it looks. We break down why rail and intermodal are still massively underused, even with up to 70% emissions reductions on the table. And you might be surprised to learn that many companies are already paying for cleaner freight today… they’re just not measuring it, or taking credit for it.We also dig into Scope 3, why ton-mile accounting can mislead growing businesses, and how the most resilient shippers are using data, visibility, and long-term carrier partnerships to make sustainability a business decision, not a side project. No silver bullets. Just stackable wins that add up.🎙️ Listen now to hear how Jared Spude and Breakthrough are reshaping freight sustainability — and what practical steps you can take tomorrow to build a more resilient, lower-carbon supply chain.Support the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers:Alicia FaragKieran OgnevGary LynchAnd remember you too can become a Resilient Supply Chain+ subscriber  - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to bonus episodes of topical, timely supply chain resilience analysis.🎤 Looking for a keynote speaker on supply chain resilience, AI, and sustainability?I help leaders understand the forces reshaping global supply chains, from geopolitical disruption and climate risk to AI and real-time decision-making. Download my Speaker Pack: https://tinyurl.com/spkrpckFinallyIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a message using this link.If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it. Thanks for listening.