Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

inbound

No dog left behind: Animal rescuers respond to Hurricane Harvey

Trucks and planes deployed to shuttle lost dogs between kennels.

Convoys of trucks loaded with relief supplies have streamed toward Houston since Hurricane Harvey slammed the Texas coast on Aug. 17. But close observers might have noticed that at least one truck arrived in the city empty. Though it was also part of the relief effort, that particular truck had a different type of mission—hauling some sensitive cargo out of the storm-wracked zone.

In the aftermath of the flooding, drivers for the Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team (PAART) drove south from their base at Pennsylvania's Allegheny County Airport to pick up dozens of dogs that have been displaced or left unclaimed after the storm. They then hauled their canine cargo to a waiting animal shelter in San Antonio.


Though the rescue effort presented logistical challenges, "it's great to be able to help out," PAART Executive Director Mary Withrow said in an interview. "I've worked with a bunch of hurricanes. It's so emotional," she said. "Sometimes, you see [people] who find new shelter but they're not allowed to [bring] their pets. There's so much loss and sadness. But there can be happiness, too, when pets are reunited with their families."

PAART hauls displaced pets around the country using two small airplanes and a modified trailer that can hold up to 43 dogs in crates mounted along the walls, keeping the animals calm with soothing music, lavender oils, and running water. Meanwhile, their colleagues work the phones in a race to find space for the animals in nearby shelters, where they can be housed, photographed, and with luck, reunited with their owners.

That process of balancing supply and demand was "a mess" in the logistical vacuum following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Withrow said. But rescue groups now coordinate their efforts, so PAART, which operates seven local animal shelters in the Pittsburgh area, can supplement its resources through nationwide programs conducted by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Humane Society of the U.S.

The Latest

Artificial Intelligence

AI: Is it the real deal?

More Stories

Logistics economy picked up speed in January

Logistics Managers' Index

Logistics economy picked up speed in January

Economic activity in the logistics industry expanded in January, growing at its fastest clip in more than two years, according to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI) report, released this week.

The LMI jumped nearly five points from December to a reading of 62, reflecting continued steady growth in the U.S. economy along with faster-than-expected inventory growth across the sector as retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers attempted to manage the uncertainty of tariffs and a changing regulatory environment. The January reading represented the fastest rate of expansion since June 2022, the LMI researchers said.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

Disrupting the furniture supply chain: An interview with Jay Rogers

Disrupting the furniture supply chain: An interview with Jay Rogers

As commodities go, furniture presents its share of manufacturing and distribution challenges. For one thing, it's bulky. Second, its main components—wood and cloth—are easily damaged in transit. Third, much of it is manufactured overseas, making for some very long supply chains with all the associated risks. And finally, completed pieces can sit on the showroom floor for weeks or months, tying up inventory dollars and valuable retail space.

In other words, the furniture market is ripe for disruption. And John "Jay" Rogers wants to be the catalyst. In 2022, he cofounded a company that takes a whole new approach to furniture manufacturing—one that leverages the power of 3D printing and robotics. Rogers serves as CEO of that company, Haddy, which essentially aims to transform how furniture—and all elements of the "built environment"—are designed, manufactured, distributed, and, ultimately, recycled.

Keep ReadingShow less
chart of GenAI effect on workforce

Gartner: GenAI tools create anxiety among employees

Generative AI (GenAI) is being deployed by 72% of supply chain organizations, but most are experiencing just middling results for productivity and ROI, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc.

That’s because productivity gains from the use of GenAI for individual, desk-based workers are not translating to greater team-level productivity. Additionally, the deployment of GenAI tools is increasing anxiety among many employees, providing a dampening effect on their productivity, Gartner found.

Keep ReadingShow less
warehouse worker driving forklift between racks

German 3PL Arvato acquires two U.S. logistics firms

The German third party logistics provider (3PL) Arvato this week acquired the U.S.-headquartered companies Carbel LLC and United Customs Services, saying the move would grow its client base, particularly in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle segments.

According to Arvato, it made the move in order to better serve the U.S. e-commerce sector, which has experienced high growth rates in recent years and is expected to grow year-on-year by 5% within the next five years.

Keep ReadingShow less
photo collage of warehouse tech

Supply chain pros are wary of inflation and labor woes

The top worries that supply chain leaders hope to address with new innovations this year include inflationary concerns (68%) and labor shortages (50%), according to a survey on innovation from the third-party logistics provider (3PL) Kenco.

And many of them will have a budget to do it, since 51% of supply chain professionals with existing innovation budgets saw an increase earmarked for 2025, suggesting an even greater emphasis on investing in new technologies to meet rising demand, Kenco said in its “2025 Supply Chain Innovation” survey.

Keep ReadingShow less