562: Navigating Today's Transportation Landscape to Deliver in Peak Season, with Infios

Steve Blough of Infios talks about 2026 peak season - the state of the market, from challenges to rates; the capacity crunch; & the role of AI and new tech.    IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.33] Steve's career background, his key areas of focus in supply chain, and the challenges he currently hears from shippers and carriers. "Capacity is tight, rates are high, and shippers are taking a hard look at how they're moving freight." [06.41] The state of the market in 2026 and why capacity is a big challenge. "Capacity has contracted so much faster than anyone thought it would… So, when you look at the market, it's a demand story not a supply story." [08.41] What rates look like now, and where Steve expects them to go through the remainder of 2026. "Spot rates are climbing and as they climb… some of the carriers guaranteed capacity has evaporated." [13.49] 2026 peak season and why it's arriving earlier than usual, from tariff fear to changes on the Panama Canal. [16.47] How current challenges and technologies are changing the way shippers operate, communicate, and seek out partners. "That communication backbone, and the need to get data back and forth quickly, has become critical." [18.37] Why the capacity crunch is a network problem, not a rate problem, and an example of an Infios client leveraging the capacity in their network to move more goods at lower rates. "Everyone can win by looking broadly." [21.09] Why good data and communication between systems are critical. "As systems and solutions have got more modern, APIs have made those communications much easier.. So one of the things that excites me most about AI is the ability to improve data." [23.04] What network-level decision-making actually looks like in practice, compared to the lane-by-lane process most teams are still running. "It's not just looking at something and going: "I should put that in a truck." It's: "Should I do intermodal, truckload, parcel, zone-skipping… With all the different modes, what's the right thing to look at with the freight I have now?" [25.43] Consolidation, and the capacity hiding inside a shipper's own network that most companies aren't using. [28.42] Whether tighter capacity creates more business risk. [30.36] What AI can actually do for a shipper during peak season, and technology's role looking ahead. [34.28] How much autonomy we should give AI as organizations look to manage effective automation, risk, cost and people. [35.36] An overview of Infios, and what it means to deliver Intelligent Supply Chain Execution. [38.06] What shippers should focus on between now and the holiday peak.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Infios' website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Infios and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or YouTube, or you can connect with Steve on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Infios, check out: 544: How To Move Toward Intelligent, Connected Execution, with Infios 532: Turning Purposeful AI into Business Outcomes, with Infios 520: Enter the New Era of Supply Chain Management, with Infios Check out our other podcasts HERE.