Mary O'Connell

Former pricing analyst, supply chain planner, and broker/dispatcher turned creator of the newsletter and podcast Check Call. Which gives insights into the world around 3PLs and Freight brokers. She will talk your ear off about anything and everything if you let her. Expertise in operations, LTL pricing and procurement, flatbed operations, dry van, tracking and tracing, reality tv shows and how to turn a stranger into your new best friend.
Jul - 2025 -
08 July
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Tariffs pushed again

In this edition: breaking down the new deadline for tariffs and expansion into Mexico.

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03 July
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Port Laredo becomes a cold chain powerhouse

In this edition: Breaking down top cold chain hubs, developments in the autoimmune drugs, and ramen comes to the frozen aisle.

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01 July
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: What a shipper wants, what a shipper needs 

In this edition: Breaking down Denim’s Shipper Pulse report and Carrier Source’s weekly shipper report.

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Jun - 2025 -
27 June
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: World Refrigeration Day brings about the future of cold chain

In this edition: World Refrigeration Day, The rising demand for cold chain in the Middle East and North Africa, and cultivated meat makes headway.

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Mary O'Connell

Cold chain market in Middle East and North Africa expected to hit $41.1 billion by 2030

BCC Research recently released the “Cold Chain Regional Analysis Market: Middle East and North Africa(MENA)” market analysis.

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25 June
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: It’s about giving more than receiving 

In this edition: The Go-Giver book review and cyberattacks hit again.

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20 June
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Europe’s Cold Storage Sector Is Heating Up

In this edition: Breaking down the OC&C strategy report, Roadtex gets an expansion, and P.F. Changs expand their presence in the freezer aisle

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17 June
Mary O'Connell

Check Call:  Shippers and 3PLs not seeing eye to eye

In this edition: Breaking down the annual NTT Data study and Mexico becomes top trading partner again.

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13 June
Mary O'Connell

 Running on Ice: The U.S. and Netherlands see biologics and self-administered therapies growth 

In this edition: Tjoapack Announces Packaging, Cold Chain Expansions in US and Netherlands, Great Point Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Eutecma, and Conagra Brands Introduces More Than 50 New Frozen Foods

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10 June
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: The 2025 supply chain roller coaster

In this edition: Key findings from the CSCMP State of Logistics report, and a new cross-border load board hits the scene.

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06 June
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Walk-in cold storage market grows its footprint

In this edition: Breaking down the new Polar King report, the pharmaceutical alliance that’s shaking up the industry and Kodiak brings sandwiches to the freezer aisle.

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03 June
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Fight against freight fraud gets help in the Senate

In this edition: Senate considers 2 bills to combat freight fraud; Zillow for warehousing.

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May - 2025 -
30 May
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Lufthansa beefs up temperature-sensitive options

In this edition: Lufthansa’s new options, Agile Cold Storage’s new facility and Dolly Parton’s freezer aisle debut.

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27 May
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: ‘Uncommon Carriers’ brings the freight – and the history

In this edition: Book chronicles author’s journey with range of carriers; the latest tech sale

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23 May
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Heart transplants get a second life

All thawed out There has been some new research around organ donors. Researchers have discovered a molecular process that occurs when donor hearts are preserved in cold storage, which contributes to failure after transplant, a study in both humans and animals shows. The team, a collaboration between Michigan Medicine and Mayo Clinic, also found a […]

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20 May
16 May
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Dry ice replacement and the future of cold chain

In this edition: Artyc PBC announces a dry ice-less device, Surfact gets a new partnership and DiGiorno brings a new crust to the pizza aisle.

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13 May
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: TIA’s annual fraud report spotlights surge in incidents

In this edition: Breaking down the TIA fraud report, and tariffs between the U.S. and China take a break.

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09 May
Mary O'Connell

DHL seeks to transform life science and health care logistics through AI

DHL views the role of AI in innovation as crucial to long-term success and development in life science and health care logistics.

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Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Americold earnings show the cold chain shake-up

In this edition: Breaking down Americold earnings, Maersk upgrades IoT devices and frozen food marketing takes a social turn.

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06 May
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ – 89 years later

In this edition: A look at an update to the original management and leadership book, and CVSA’s Roadcheck comes next week.

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02 May
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Air cargo upgrades at JFK include cold storage

In this edition: JFK gets upgrades for air cargo, DHL makes headway with health services investments, and Tillamook rolls out new ice cream flavors.

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Apr - 2025 -
29 April
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Using bonded warehouses to help shippers

In this edition: Getting into the benefits of a bonded warehouse, and cross-border doesn’t seem to slow down.

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28 April
Mary O'Connell

How do bonded warehouses work?

Tariffs can take a toll on the bottom line. Bonded warehouses help combat that.

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25 April
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: UPS makes another play in the health care space

In this edition: UPS has another health care acquisition, FreezePak grows again and frozen pizza as an economic indicator. 

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24 April
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Breaking down the state of cold chain

In this edition: Breaking down the “Chain Reaction 2024” report; a new facility for Grip; and a GLP-1-friendly ice cream makes its debut.

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22 April
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Big changes coming to e-commerce imports

In this edition: Changes coming for low-value shipments, and Hispanic brands see massive market upswing.

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Mary O'Connell

Combating freight fraud with certificates of insurance 

Key strategies for combating fraud involve certificates of insurance for supply chain partners. 

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15 April
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: New legislation targets freight fraud

In this edition: The fight against freight fraud steps up and why a water fight can affect the supply chain.

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11 April
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Health care logistics gets huge investments

In this edition: Health care sector sees massive investment from small-parcel carriers, a new cold storage acquisition and a disruption in the ice pop space. 

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08 April
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: LTL stocks brace for tariff impact

In this edition: Breaking down what to expect for earnings season and APM Terminals makes big moves at the Panama Canal.

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04 April
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Pharmaceutical supply chain sidesteps tariffs, for now

In this edition: Pharma world catches a short-term break, and frozen pizza combos get a trend forecast.

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01 April
Mary O'Connell

Fresh food gets faster with Grupo Mas and Cimcorp partnership

Consumers want fresh fruits and vegetables year-round. Grupo Mas and Cimcorp are seeking to address the challenges that demand places on the supply chain.

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Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Tariff watch Round 3, the big one 

In this edition: Planning for possibly significant supply chain disruption with tariffs on 15 countries, and manufacturers are getting creative with ways to mitigate the impacts of tariffs.

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Mar - 2025 -
27 March
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Mr. Cold Chain goes to Washington

In this edition: The Fridge Act debuts in Congress, a hockey puck aims to tackle cargo theft, and peanut butter cones at your fingertips.

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26 March
Mary O'Connell

SFOO Summit: 30 years of carrier improvement and development with Truckstop

Trust between carriers and freight brokers is paramount. Truckstop is on the front lines helping to enhance these relationships.

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25 March
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: ‘Sell With a Story’ review and LTL spinoffs

In this edition: A book review for “Sell With a Story,” and FedEx freight moves spinoff forward

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21 March
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Pharmaceutical supply chain headed for $5.3B valuation

In this edition: Pharmaceutical supply chains set for growth, building reliability for vaccines in developing areas and the return of a favorite ice cream bar

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18 March
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: DHL looks at the global freight market

In this edition: What the “DHL Trade Atlas 2025” report forecasts, and the unofficial start to produce season has arrived.

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14 March
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: The cold chain gets an acquisition, a warehouse and new sorbets

In this edition: Lineage acquires a new cold storage company; Foley, Alabama, gets a new cold storage warehouse and Häagen-Dazs brings new sorbet to the freezer aisle. 

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11 March
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Broker transparency heads to court

In this edition: A new lawsuit over broker transparency and warehousing space comes at a premium.

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07 March
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Tariffs may bode ill for already rising pharmaceutical costs

In this edition: Health care and pharmaceutical supply chains face upheaval with tariffs on Chinese goods, a new rapid thaw unit hits the market, and the frozen french fry section gets tastier.

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04 March
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Tariffs finally arrive in US supply chains

In this edition: Breaking down the impact of tariffs on U.S. supply chains and a new project44 and SONAR partnership.

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Feb - 2025 -
28 February
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Pharma shipping containers get an upgrade

In this edition: Envirotainer enhances pharma supply chains, Wabash boosts trailers and DiGiorno heads to the ranch. 

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26 February
Mary O'Connell

3PL Summit: The art of scheduling appointments for supply chain success

Appointments are the most commonly overlooked component of the supply chain but are crucial to keeping operations running smoothly.

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Mary O'Connell

3PL Summit: Retaining top talent for operational excellence

AI is moving in but transportation is inherently a people business. How do we make sure the human touch is there while having AI as a support system?

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Mary O'Connell

3PL Summitt: What does visibility actually mean?

Visibility was set to be the be-all, end-all solution in logistics. Did it deliver what it promised?

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Mary O'Connell

3PL Summit: Managing your inbox with AI technology

Freight can be made or broken by response time on rate quotes. Front has the AI assistant that helps brokers work faster to get responses out.

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Mary O'Connell

3PL Summit: Addressing fraud in the industry

Fraud has been a constant in the 3PL industry, but it’s gotten more sophisticated as criminals get smarter, says Transportation Intermediaries Association President Chris Burroughs.

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25 February
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Business deals through the eyes of a hostage negotiator

In this edition: Reviewing ‘Never Split the Difference’ and Amazon maybe tries to break into the LTL game.

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21 February
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Last-mile ice cream solutions and Dolly Parton in the freezer

In this edition: Unilever unveils ice cream solutions, Mucinex maker boasts resiliency and Dolly Parton strums into the freezer aisle.

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18 February
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Broker transparency rule gets second comment period

In this edition: The FMCSA’s proposed broker transparency rule gets an extra comment period, and The Playbook arrives at FreightWaves.

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14 February
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Big Tech comes to the cold chain

In this edition: New telematics, new shipping labels and new pizza choices hit the cold chain.

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11 February
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: 2024 quarterly earnings miss the mark on Wall Street

In this edition: Quarterly earnings echo the pain everyone feels, and metal tariffs hit.

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07 February
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Chinese tariffs’ impact on the pharmaceutical supply chain

In this edition: Impacts of tariffs on the pharmaceutical industry, cutting-edge container monitoring and the sheer number of chicken wings consumed for the Super Bowl. 

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04 February
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: 3PLs’ role in preparing for tariffs

In this edition: Helping shippers prepare for impending tariffs and some restored service post-Hurricane Helene

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Jan - 2025 -
31 January
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: New cold storage facilities and a new take on sundaes

In this edition: Vertical Cold Storage grows at the Port of Savannah, Americold expands in Canada, and Ben & Jerry’s brings sundaes to the grocery store.

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29 January
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Global supply chains hurry up and wait on possible tariffs

In this edition: Still waiting on possible tariff implications, and Lunar New Year creates delays.

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24 January
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: New drug formulas could mean less cold chain involvement

In this edition: A new formulation for medicine that does not need cold chain support, new air cargo friendly ultra-cold storage, and the FDA steps in to reduce food-borne illnesses in berries. 

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21 January
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: The ‘No Rules Rules’ review 

In this edition: The book review of ‘No Rules Rules’ and the final day for the broker transparency rule.

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17 January
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: FreezPak warms to Western expansion

In this edition: FreezPak goes West, Lineage faces layoffs and GLP-1 drugs tank grocery store spending.

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14 January
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Small and medium-size businesses have strong feelings about 2025

In this edition: Breaking down the DHL Express survey, and the broker liability battle stays in the lower courts

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10 January
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Cold chain gets a new option for IoT devices 

In this edition: The debut of SmartSense Voyage; A multistory cold storage warehouse; and changes to the freezer aisle.

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08 January
Mary O'Connell

UPS broadens network with double health care acquisition

UPS makes acquisitions to bolster the health care segment of its business.

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07 January
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Broker transparency rule gets heated as comment period ends

In this edition: The FMCSA broker transparency rule comment period is almost up, and Mexico gets bushels of corn.

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03 January
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Carrier wants reefer containers out of ports ASAP

In this edition: Maersk wants reefer containers picked up pronto, a new cold warehouse in Maine, and frozen food continues to rise in ranks. 

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Dec - 2024 -
30 December
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: The 2025 crystal ball

In this edition: Predictions for 2025, and import fees rise for Asia in Mexico.

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27 December
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: A few partnerships to end the year

In this edition: SeaCube and GreenSee end the year with a collaboration, and the NX group and Tive partner for tracking. 

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23 December
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: To everything, there is a returns season

In this edition: Returns season is around the corner and the logistics of Christmas trees.

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20 December
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: The one with all the trees

In this edition: The logistics behind Christmas trees, changes to import inspections, and the frozen food competition heats up. 

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17 December
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Rating 2024 supply chain predictions

In this edition: Looking back at the 2023 predictions for 2024, and freight broker tries for the Supreme Court again.

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16 December
Mary O'Connell

Telematics on the rise in trucking insurance underwriting

Telematics is leading the way in efforts to gain control over trucking insurance premiums.

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13 December
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Getting into the AIM Act 

In this edition: Breaking down the components of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, and big mozzarella comes to the freezer section. 

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10 December
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: The B2B marketing book review edition

In this edition: “The Revenue Engine” gets a once-over, and the East and Gulf Coast port worker strike may rise again.

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09 December
06 December
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Acquisitions and frozen ravioli desserts

In this edition: Two acquisitions hit the cold chain space, and a chocolate ravioli startup makes headway. 

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03 December
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: It’s time for the coolest tree in town to make a scene

In this edition: the logistics behind the Rockefeller Center tree lighting, and consumer predictions for peak season are locked in.

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Mary O'Connell

There’s no substitute for the right cross-border insurance

Insurance varies among countries, so knowing where a policy should be underwritten is key.

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Nov - 2024 -
26 November
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: A new set of rules for freight brokers

In this edition: breaking down the FMCSA’s proposed rule on broker transparency and changes again at Roadrunner.

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25 November
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: The Thanksgiving edition

In this edition: Taking a dive into the turkey supply chain, Port of Oakland sees some volumes and Tyson nuggets for Cowboys fans. 

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22 November
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Drones cozy up to cold warehousing 

In this edition: Gather AI makes big cold moves, Grip expands its footprint, and Nestle expands operations in the South. 

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19 November
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Q3 data promises more cargo theft issues in the future 

In this edition: Overhaul published Q3 cargo numbers, and layoffs come for the logistics sector.

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15 November
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Ultra-low temps become ultra-cool 

In this edition: A new ultra-low-temperature freezer drops, Maersk makes a big refrigerant swap, and Uncrustables set quite the future.

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12 November
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: The end of a bad freight market era

In this edition: The end of the freight recession has come, and the U.S./Mexico border gets busier.

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08 November
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Reducing pharma waste with ‘coolers on steroids’

In this edition: A new solution to supply chain waste in pharma, Lineage’s first earnings post-IPO and the NFL’s favorite treat.

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06 November
Mary O'Connell

What is cargo insurance and why does it matter?

Cargo insurance is one of the top expenses for carriers, but what does it really do and why is it so important?

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05 November
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: The election special

In this edition: Breaking down the biggest day every four years, and another strike has it feeling like Groundhog Day.

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01 November
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Lineage grows and Thanksgiving food gets weird

In this edition: Lineage adds a new facility to the lineup, another cold storage acquisition and Thanksgiving-inspired frozen food gets an italian and dairy makeover. 

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Oct - 2024 -
29 October
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: The Halloween supply chain

In this edition: Breaking down how scary freight makes its way to consumers, and the Savannah port rises to the top.

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25 October
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Organ transportation goes subzero

In this edition: The first subzero organ transportation’s raging success, an acquisition between friends and it’s butter season.

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Mary O'Connell

What impacts insurance rates?

Hurricanes, cargo theft, double brokering, and accidents all can negatively impact insurance rates.

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22 October
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: The future of talent in the supply chain

In this edition: Breaking down talent research findings, and the Port of LA looks to set a new record.

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18 October
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Hurricane Helene came for the medical supply chain in a bad way

In this edition: Long-lasting implications for the medical supply chain following the hurricanes, DeltaTrak gives solutions to the masses and Butterball gets the turkey ready.

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15 October
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Freight fraud gets long-overdue attention

In this edition: The first-ever Freight Fraud Awareness Day is here, and women are major players in the supply chain.

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11 October
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Big things coming in smaller pharma packages

In this edition: The pharmaceutical supply chain improves packaging, Hurricane Milton disrupts the perishable supply chain and caffeine comes in frozen form.

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09 October
Mary O'Connell

Winter weather safety measures to take now

Dangerous winter road conditions are on the way. Drivers need to prepare ahead of time to stay safe.

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08 October
Mary O'Connell

Check Call: Freight fraud has many faces, none of them pretty

In this edition: TIA releases its ‘State of Fraud’ report and Forward Air remains chaotic.

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04 October
Mary O'Connell

Running on Ice: Volume of temperature-sensitive goods lost to strike unclear

In this edition: The port strike ends and goods can flow, a chilly acquisition and new nuggies hit the freezer aisle.

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