Why Yard Automation Is Harder Than Autonomous Trucking

Send me a messageMost supply chains talk about AI and automation. Meanwhile, many yards are still running on pen, paper, radio calls, and chaos.In this episode of the Resilient Supply Chain Podcast, I’m joined by Adam Newsome, CEO of Lazer Logistics, Blaine Dirker, CTO at Lazer and leader of Yard Nexus, and Pini Usha, CEO of Buffers AI, to unpack one of the most overlooked bottlenecks in modern logistics: the yard.And this matters far more than most companies realise.We explore why yard operations have become a critical pressure point for supply chain resilience, visibility, labour efficiency, and operational performance. You’ll hear how fragmented data, disconnected systems, and poor forecasting ripple across transport, warehousing, inventory, and customer service. We also break down why yard automation may actually be harder than autonomous trucking because of the sheer number of constantly changing variables happening simultaneously in confined spaces.You might be surprised to learn how many facilities still rely heavily on clipboards, spreadsheets, and manual processes despite massive investment in digital transformation elsewhere in the supply chain. Kismet: Lazer manages more than 30 million trailer moves annually across North America, so the operational realities discussed here are happening at enormous scale, not in theory.If you care about supply chain resilience, logistics visibility, operational risk, AI, automation, labour challenges, or execution under pressure, this episode connects the dots in a very practical way.🎙️ Listen now to hear how Lazer Logistics, Yard Nexus, and Buffers AI are rethinking supply chain visibility and execution where the physical world meets operational reality.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.