Logistics Business Conversations

Cross-border trade has become more complex, more volatile and potentially more expensive — but are businesses making it harder than it needs to be?In this episode of Logistics Business Conversations, Paul Hamblin speaks with Patrick Frith of Avalara, a global trade and customs compliance expert with more than 20 years of experience.They explore the hidden costs behind international trade, why HS classification can make or break a shipment, how rapidly changing tariffs are reshaping global trade lanes, and the four pieces of the compliance puzzle businesses need to get right.Patrick also explains why he believes customs delays can be completely avoidable, how automation and AI are changing trade compliance, and why geopolitics could make international logistics even more complicated in the years ahead.For businesses involved in cross-border logistics, customs, global trade, tariffs, supply chains, imports or exports, this episode reveals where the biggest risks really lie — and how technology could help remove them.

What really happens when a forklift strikes warehouse racking or a structural column – and why isn’t harder impact protection always safer?In this episode of Logistics Business Conversations, Peter MacLeod speaks with James Ryan, founder of Sentry Protection Products, to explore the science and engineering behind warehouse impact protection and how the right approach can protect people, infrastructure and productivity.James explains the physics of forklift impacts, why effective protection needs to absorb and dissipate energy, and how warehouse operators can reduce the hidden costs associated with damaged racking, columns, vehicles and operational downtime. They also discuss the development of adjustable column protection, collision avoidance technology for blind corners, and why simple, easily implemented safety solutions could prove just as important as automation in the warehouses of the future.The conversation also looks ahead to increasingly automated warehouses and asks how businesses can maintain warehouse safety as forklifts, autonomous vehicles and people continue to operate alongside one another.Topics include: warehouse safety, forklift safety, impact protection, pallet racking protection, warehouse racking, column protection, collision avoidance, materials handling, intralogistics, warehouse automation, workplace safety and distribution centre productivity.🎧 Listen now to discover why smarter warehouse protection isn't simply about making barriers stronger – it's about understanding the energy behind an impact.

In this episode of Logistics Business Conversations, host Peter MacLeod speaks with Oana Jinga, Chief Commercial and Product Officer at Dexory, about why the future of warehouse AI starts with something much more fundamental: accurate, trustworthy physical data.As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in logistics and warehousing, Oana explains why poor inventory and operational data can undermine even the most sophisticated AI systems. They explore the growing role of Physical AI, how real-time warehouse data can improve decision-making, and why inventory accuracy is the foundation for greater productivity, customer service and profitability.The conversation also looks at how warehouses could become increasingly autonomous, whether AI can ever replicate the knowledge and intuition of experienced warehouse managers, and why businesses should focus on the operational problem they need to solve before investing in new technology.Topics include warehouse AI, Physical AI, inventory accuracy, warehouse automation, robotics, WMS data, real-time warehouse visibility, intralogistics, supply chain technology, inventory management, warehouse efficiency, AI-powered decision-making and the future of warehousing.🎧 Listen now to discover why better AI may ultimately depend on better knowledge of what is really happening on the warehouse floor.

Cargo theft and freight fraud are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with organised criminals using digital tools and AI to exploit vulnerabilities across the supply chain.In this episode of Logistics Business Conversations, Peter MacLeod is joined by Ewa Węgorkiewicz from Trans.eu to explore how freight crime is evolving and what the industry can do to stay ahead.They discuss corporate identity hijacking, fraudulent carriers and the growing role of AI on both sides of the fight against cargo theft. Ewa also explains why continuous digital verification is becoming essential and how Trans.eu's partnership with TAPA (Transported Asset Protection Association) is helping create trusted networks for high-value freight.The conversation explores TAPA's security standards, the launch of a dedicated Trusted Carrier Exchange, and why security and verified trust could become a genuine competitive advantage for carriers.Listen now to discover how technology is changing the fight against freight crime – and what secure freight networks could look like in the years ahead.

DX may be best known for its express parcel deliveries, but the business is evolving into a much broader logistics provider.In this episode of Logistics Business Conversations, host Peter MacLeod speaks with DX Logistics CEO Ian Truesdale about his first year in the role and the strategy shaping the company's next phase of growth.They discuss the shift towards integrated logistics services, DX's expansion into warehousing, fulfilment, dedicated transport and same-day delivery, and how investment in digital technology, AI and acquisitions is supporting that transformation.The conversation also explores changing customer expectations, sustainability, collaboration across the supply chain, and what the future of logistics looks like in an increasingly complex world.

The race to decarbonise logistics is gathering pace—but can ports become one of the industry's biggest catalysts for change?In this episode of Logistics Business Conversations, we speak with John Trenchard, Vice President of Sustainable International Supply Chains Europe at DP World, to explore how innovative port incentives, carbon inset programmes and low-carbon transport initiatives are helping reduce emissions across the supply chain.From shifting freight from road to rail and rewarding cleaner transport choices, to trialling electric trucks, HVO fuel and carbon accounting for Scope 3 emissions, John explains how practical incentives are encouraging businesses to embrace more sustainable logistics without compromising efficiency.We also discuss why collaboration across ports, carriers and cargo owners is essential, how carbon inset credits are changing the way companies measure supply chain emissions, and why progress—not perfection—is the key to achieving meaningful decarbonisation.If you're interested in sustainable logistics, freight transport, carbon reduction or the future of greener supply chains, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Most companies overlook a simple but powerful way to slash their emissions in refrigerated transport—and it’s not just about switching to electric. Jon Jerrad-Din, Rental Sales Manager at ThermoKing, exposes how rental solutions are quietly transforming the industry, making sustainability achievable without massive capital costs. If your fleet is feeling the squeeze of rising operational costs and tightening environmental regulations, this episode unlocks a game-changing approach that blends flexibility, economy, and eco-conscious innovation.

Most companies overlook a critical mistake in warehouse design—assuming “more” is always “more efficient.” Prologis’s James Henstock and Danny Bostock reveal how forward-thinking infrastructure, like solar-ready roofs and future-proof connectivity, is revolutionising logistics.This episode uncovers how innovation, sustainability, and agility are reshaping the warehouse landscape. You’ll discover the strategic design principles that enable warehouses to adapt over 20 years, integrating automation, energy resilience, and talent attraction—all while reducing costs and environmental impact.This episode of Logistics Business Conversations is brought to you by Prologis. AD

In this eye-opening conversation, Greg Braun from C3 Solutions reveals surprising survey data: 72% of operators revert to manual systems during peak times, often wasting fuel, increasing emissions, and creating bottlenecks that ripple through your entire supply chain. He exposes the dangerous “silver bullet syndrome,” where companies desperately want a magical solution but hesitate to invest properly. The result? Millions lost in hidden costs, from damaged perishables to missed delivery windows.