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Can Emerging Technologies Redefine Railway Safety?

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Can Emerging Technologies Redefine Railway Safety?

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Much technological adoption in heavy industries today revolves around efficiency and cost improvements. As beneficial as such changes are, there’s another crucial factor to consider in railway operations — safety. Derailments, crashes and maintenance-related injuries can have devastating consequences, so rail companies must do all they can to prevent them.

Read also: 9 Cutting-Edge Technologies Revolutionizing Railway Infrastructure

While trains are relatively safe, especially compared to previous decades, there’s still significant room for improvement. Could emerging technologies be the solution?

The State of Railway Safety Today

Railway safety standards have generally improved over time with new technology and safer working practices. However, there has been a worrying trend in train operations in the past few years. While accidents are less common than they were decades ago, derailments have increased between 2020 and 2022, as have related fatalities.

Since that report came out, the unfortunate uptick in safety incidents has persisted. There were 6,513 railroad-related injuries in 2022 and 6,705 in 2023. Deaths followed a similar pattern — they increased from 908 in 2022 to 995 in 2023.

Some rise is to be expected from the lows in 2020, as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic likely played a part. However, the continued increase since then is worrying, even if figures are still below historical highs.

How Can New Technologies Help?

Previous reports have noted that much of the recent uptick may stem from issues with aging rail infrastructure, maintenance and human error. Thankfully, new technologies can address all three of these challenges to make railroad operations safer.

Automation

Innovations like the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) enable substantial safety improvements through automation. These technologies can reduce human error, as well as detect and respond to potential hazards before workers notice them.

One recent study developed an AI model that can identify track conditions with 97% accuracy by monitoring real-time IoT data. As a result, it can spot abnormalities as soon as they arise. Immediately alerting crews of any issues gives them time to respond and stop or redirect the train to prevent an accident.

Automated control systems have similar benefits. AI can respond faster to incoming hazards than what’s humanly possible, and it’s impossible for machines to get tired or distracted. Consequently, a robot conductor is less likely to make dangerous mistakes.

Proactive Maintenance

AI and IoT also enable more timely repair practices to keep train cars and tracks in optimal condition. Predictive maintenance (PdM) can detect issues before they cause failures and alert technicians of the problems before they’re outwardly noticeable. 

In addition to preventing crashes, PdM’s efficiency ensures equipment lasts longer. Longer life spans mean less downtime and costs, giving rail operators more time and money to invest in other safety improvements.

Some rail systems have already begun implementing PdM, and the results have been impressive. One system in Australia can predict rail distortions up to three days ahead of time by analyzing temperature shifts and related conditions. This insight lets crews fix rails before warping could endanger a train.

Infrastructure Upgrades

Long-term rail maintenance and upgrades can see similar benefits from technology. The freight rail industry currently faces a $45.2 billion repair backlog, making planning difficult. 

Deciding which investments will yield the most needed improvements is crucial to make the most of the situation. However, doing so manually is challenging. AI and data analytics help by providing more information and making that insight more interpretable.

IoT data can provide up-to-date insight into different rail sections’ state of repair. Machine learning can then analyze this information to tell operators which upgrades are most needed, helping them allocate resources efficiently. By finding and fixing the biggest problems first, organizations can prevent the largest number of infrastructure-related accidents.

Employee Health and Wellness

The impact of emerging technologies on worker health and well-being is also worth noting. While train crashes may be the most obvious source of injuries in this industry, less dramatic causes deserve attention, too.

Maintaining railroads is physically demanding work, which can lead to repetitive strain injuries or overexertion. Robotic exoskeletons can reduce these hazards by taking much of the load off workers’ joints and muscles as they lift, squat and hold things overhead. One study found that exoskeletons can reduce muscle activation by up to 39% in some tasks, significantly lowering the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Automated train operational technologies can also help. Conductors and other onboard staff with lower workloads, thanks to automation, can go through the workday with less exhaustion or distractions. As a result, their focus and mental well-being improve, making them more likely to respond quickly and appropriately to any unexpected hazards, preventing accidents.

Technology Provides a Safer Way Forward

In light of all these use cases, the potential for emerging technologies in railway safety is too big to ignore. While tech is unlikely to eliminate accidents altogether, it could offer the efficiency, insight and workload reduction railroad operations need to reverse the current trend. Even one injury or fatality is too many, so rail freight businesses cannot overlook this opportunity.

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3pls, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, News

Prioritizing Driver Risk Mitigation to Enhance Supply Chain Safety

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Today’s logistics and supply chain professionals must oversee and influence various factors to ensure goods reach their destinations on time. Vehicle operator safety is an essential aspect, especially with many roads in poor condition and routes full of other risks that people must know how to handle. How should leaders coach and prepare drivers to reduce risks and emphasize safety?

Read also: Descartes Study: 74% of Supply Chain Leaders See Technology as Key to Growth Amid Rising Global Trade Complexities 

Urge Extra Caution in Rural Areas 

Although both rural and urban areas have different risks, statistics indicate crash risks are higher in rural areas. Drivers face numerous threats, including narrower roads, tight curves and an increased likelihood of encountering large wildlife attempting to cross the road. These realities mean people must expect and accommodate various potential dangers. 

Federal statistics also indicate that road fatalities are up to 10 times higher in rural areas than in urban ones. A contributing factor is that seat belt usage is lower in these locations, and law enforcement for not wearing them sometimes only occurs if the police stop a driver for another reason.

Supply chain managers who oversee drivers should review the overall risks with their teams and explain the particular dangers of rural areas. Additionally, parties who assign routes through rural locations should allow drivers more time to complete them, especially during inclement weather or other challenges that could negatively impact safety. 

A 2024 report about rural road conditions also highlighted why supply chain professionals should consider urging policymakers to make necessary improvements, including by increasing investments. The study indicated the United States has a $198 billion funding backlog for repairing and improving rural infrastructure. 

Additionally, its data found the 2022 fatality rate on rural roads was nearly twice that of urban areas. However, it revealed how rural Americans rely more on infrastructure quality than their city-dwelling counterparts, and vehicle travel is 50% higher in their communities than urban ones. Some rural residents may especially need the goods brought by last-mile delivery drivers, too. If someone lives at least a half-hour drive from the nearest store, they may decide it is much more convenient to have essentials brought to their doorstep. 

Ensure Drivers Know How to Report Road Hazards

Many of the nation’s truck drivers work through the night to ensure their cargo reaches distribution centers, customers’ homes and other destinations on time. That means they often use the roads at less popular times and may notice dangers that others will not report until later.

Supply chain managers should coach drivers to remain observant and report issues that may seem inconsequential. For example, the minor displacement of a retaining wall can become a major issue if not addressed. The underlying soil can contract or expand due to its moisture content, exacerbating existing instability. Infrastructure officials must monitor at-risk areas, including those subject to frost heave. Additionally, proactive inspections could reveal impending failures before they show obvious symptoms. 

Since drivers may notice problems between those official checks, they may become the first line of information that tells authorities to take urgent action. One simple but effective way to equip drivers is to ensure they can easily access the correct channel for reporting road hazards. 

Some cases may be so severe that the only practical response is to dial 911. Otherwise, states, cities and counties have dedicated hotlines to alert the proper parties about nonurgent road hazards. Although many are still telephone-based, some exist as smartphone apps. 

Whichever method drivers choose, they should practice confirming the location of detected hazards since those operating the reporting mechanisms will always need that detail. Providing sufficient specificity and accuracy increases the chance of a prompt, appropriate response. 

Urge Vehicle Operators to Limit Distracted Driving

Distracted driving occurs when people let other activities interfere with their focus on the road. It can happen momentarily, such as if someone reaches into the glove compartment for a document or turns the radio tuner to a different station. However, it can also be more severe, like someone getting wrapped up in content on their phone or the vehicle’s interactive dashboard. These distractions can have fatal consequences, regardless of their source. 

A 2024 report found that 34% of drivers had used their phones the minute before a crash. Moreover, drivers who had accidents in 2023 were 62% more likely to interact with their phones while driving. People who frequently used hands-free phone features — including audiobook or navigation apps — were also likelier to crash than those who didn’t. That point underscores how any distraction can increase the probability of wrecks. 

Managers must also realize that being tired, hungry, stressed or uncomfortable can distract drivers. Scheduling sufficient rest breaks and encouraging vehicle operators to get mental health support if needed are proactive ways to reduce the chances of accidents while raising satisfaction. 

Road Safety Supports the Supply Chain

Preparing drivers to respond safely to hazards is essential to keeping supply chains operating smoothly. Accidents cause costly delays and risk the lives of vehicle operators and others on the road. Although advocating for infrastructural improvements is a worthy activity for concerned parties, those enhancements can take a while. Training well-equipped drivers is a more immediate and actionable priority to pursue while urging authorities to repair and maintain the nation’s roads.

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Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Uncategorized

Resilience Through Adversity: How Recent Turmoil Has Strengthened Supply Chains

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It’s no secret that supply chains have had a challenging couple of years. The COVID-19 pandemic limited material supplies in virtually every manufacturing sector before conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East further drove up costs or worsened scarcity. None of that includes the extreme weather, labor strikes and maritime accidents organizations have had to deal with, either.

Read also: Global Shipping Faces Turbulence: Chokepoint Disruptions Threaten Trade and Supply Chains

Amid these repeated waves of disruption, global supply chains are showcasing surprising strength. Prices have come down from record highs, lead times are normalizing, manufacturing capacity is growing and the economy has seemingly avoided severe inflationary pressures. 

At first, such a positive outcome seems counterintuitive. However, a closer inspection reveals that supply chains have not strengthened despite recent challenges but because of them. More precisely, businesses’ reactions to adversity have yielded a stronger global supply chain.

A Rush of Tech Investments

Much of the added resilience organizations have fostered comes through technology adoption. Starting with the COVID pandemic, it became clear that companies needed to modernize their operations to survive in an increasingly challenging environment. Many jumped on the opportunity, driving impressive results.

One survey found that 67% of supply chain leaders had implemented digital solutions for end-to-end visibility in the wake of pandemic-era volatility. Those that did were twice as likely not to encounter any challenges from disruptions in 2022. The same applied to the 37% that embraced scenario planning, and the 53% that improved their data quality saw similar effects.

The most impactful solutions fall into a few common categories. The first is tech to provide information and visibility — things like the IoT, warehouse management systems (WMS) and cloud computing. Systems to interpret and act on this data — such as artificial intelligence (AI) — are another. Finally, businesses have seen advancement through efficiency-driving tech like robotics and software automation.

The potential of these technology categories has always been present. However, organizations often shied away from them, largely out of economic concerns. Even today, costs are the most-cited barrier to tech adoption, with 26% of global businesses saying it hinders them. However, when the pandemic rendered other options unavailable, it forced companies to bet on technology, and now that they have, it’s become a key driver of long-term resilience.

Growing Collaboration

The disruptions of the 2020s have also driven supply chains to evolve on a managerial level. One of the most notable trends to come out of this field is a growing emphasis on collaboration between once-siloed partners and third parties.

Many of the largest recent challenges have revealed a need for greater transparency. They’ve also highlighted how an issue at a single facility or business can affect the entire supply chain. As a result, it’s become clear that organizations need to work together and share information to ensure things work out for everyone involved.

The sector’s tech trends further encourage collaboration. Sharing data leads to more accurate forecasts for companies using predictive analytics and similar tools. Cloud management platforms are most helpful when they can connect to IoT data from a wider variety of sources. As more businesses have embraced these technologies, they’ve recognized the need to work closely with those they rely on.

Of the 69% of chief procurement officers who say developing a resilient supply chain is their top priority, 61% say increasing supplier collaboration is their best strategy to do so. One manufacturer who embraced this approach saw 10% reductions in transportation costs and 13% improvements in delivery performance. As additional success stories pop up, the impetus to collaborate will keep growing.

Abandoning Lean

It’s difficult to discuss changes in supply chain management philosophies without mentioning the move away from lean. COVID-era disruptions would’ve been severe no matter what, but it quickly became evident that they’d have been less so had the industry not relied on lean principles. The pursuit of efficiency above all else may have lowered costs in the short term, but it left companies vulnerable to massive shocks.

This shift is most evident in businesses’ stance on inventories and sourcing. As early as 2020, 19.6% of U.S. organizations said they would start to hold more inventory. A staggering 57.2% said they would diversify their suppliers, with many emphasizing reshoring or near-shoring.

Local sourcing and having multiple suppliers for a product look wasteful through a lean lens. However, it ensures the supply chain can keep operating when a single facility or region encounters difficulties. Similarly, while inventory is technically unused value, it lets companies prevent stock-outs and lengthy delays amid supplier-side disruptions.

The move away from lean principles still shows strong growth today. A 2022 survey indicated that 24% of supply chain leaders aim to diversify and segment their suppliers in the coming years. Philosophies like a commitment to continuous improvement and eliminating waste won’t likely fade entirely, but it’s clear that speed has taken a back seat to long-term resilience.

Supply Chains Will Emerge Stronger After Recent Disruption

Supply chains still have a long way to go before global economies can rest easy. However, things haven’t panned out as dire as they once seemed they would. By and large, organizations have responded as they should to disruption.

While it’s impossible to prevent disruption entirely, it seems businesses have learned from recent history and are embracing new tools and techniques to help them minimize the impact of future extremes.

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Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily

The Importance of Proper Protective Packaging for Sensitive Goods

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Packaging is more important than it may seem at first. In addition to grabbing consumers’ attention, providing information about the contents and enabling accurate delivery, it must protect the goods inside. When dealing with sensitive products like electronics, food or medical items, such protection has far-reaching consequences.

Read also: Rigid Packaging Enhancing Brand Identity and Sustainability

Maintaining Customer Loyalty

The most obvious of these effects is that failing to protect products in transit results in a tarnished reputation. As many as 58% of consumers today won’t purchase from a business again if they receive a damaged order.

Even if a company offers free returns or full refunds, it’s hard to fight the impact of defective packaging. Shipping damage communicates — however subconsciously — that the brand does not care about the customer experience, only their money. Such feelings exist in the B2B space, too. Retailers are likely to partner with a 3PL with a reputation for care, as it shows they respect the other’s clientele.

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance

While no business wants to lose loyal customers, some industries face even more severe consequences from improper packaging. Heavily regulated items like food or medical products pose health and safety risks in the event of in-transit damage or spoilage. Consequently, such incidents can incur regulatory penalties.

The FDA requires food transport to use methods that do not negatively affect the food. While many of these are a matter of transportation — like using refrigerated trailers — protective packaging plays a role, too. Containers failing to prevent oxidation or humidity, for example, may cause products to expire early.

Similarly, electronics packaging must prevent battery-related hazards like shocks and fires. Anti-static bags and proper insulation for lithium-ion batteries fall under requirements like this.

Minimizing Costs

These regulatory and consumer concerns have a common secondary impact — financial losses. Noncompliance typically results in fines. Loss of customer loyalty leads to lost sales. The monetary consequences of poor packaging don’t end there, either.

Customer churn aside, returns cost U.S. retailers $743 billion in 2023. Even if a company can sell the same product again, they’ve wasted spending on at least two shipments — one to get it to the buyer and one to get it back. In many cases, a damaged product must go to scrap, meaning it also represents a waste of materials and manufacturing-related energy.

Unique Considerations for Sensitive Goods

In light of the expenses, it makes financial sense to spend money upfront on better packaging. Particularly sensitive goods often benefit from custom packaging to meet their unique needs. Made-to-order packages can be ready in as little as two to three days, providing additional protection without impacting shipping times too heavily.

What “protection” means will vary between items, so companies should consider what poses the biggest threats to each product. Insulating against physical shocks is crucial for anything fragile, but airtight packaging to prevent humidity and thermal insulation are more important for food. Electronics require anti-static bags and a separate compartment for lithium-ion batteries.

As businesses review these concerns, they should also apply laws or shipping rules from their 3PL. In many cases, tightly regulated products require certain labels to ensure safe shipping. Remember that such requirements can vary between locations and services. For example, the International Air Travel Association says lithium batteries must have a 30% charge at most to ship, whereas other bodies don’t share the same restrictions.

Since sensitive goods typically require a lot of material, organizations should consider sustainable alternatives to conventional packaging insulation. These include recycled corrugated cardboard, bioplastics, cornstarch and cellulose.

Businesses Must Use the Right Packaging for Their Products

A company must protect whatever items it sells. That means choosing the best packaging for the goods in question. Overlooking such concerns is a costly mistake. It can result in lost customers, regulatory issues and high expenses, so it’s best to prevent damage in the first place. The time and money it takes to ensure protective packaging will be worth it in the long run.

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Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily

Safety Protocols for Autonomous Crane Systems

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Cranes are an essential part of any loading operation. As common as they are, though, these machines can pose significant safety risks. While that may not be surprising — they involve extreme heights and heavy loads, after all — it still deserves attention.

Read also: Top Markets and Trending Segments for Truck-Mounted Cranes

New technologies offer a solution to these hazards. Autonomous cranes are becoming an increasingly common sight, although they’re still relatively new. Despite this novelty, robotic lifters could significantly improve shipyards and warehouses.

Autonomous Cranes in Logistics Today

The transportation and logistics sector has not embraced automation as readily as other sectors, but that’s changing. While just 18% of warehouses used some form of automated technology in 2021, experts predict one-quarter of them will by 2027.

Material handling systems account for much of the industry’s automation. Autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) take a lot of the spotlight in this area, but robotic cranes have emerged as a promising alternative. Manual cranes are already common throughout the industry — especially in shipyards — so businesses wouldn’t need to adapt much to use automated versions. AGVs also can’t carry heavy loads or freight containers like cranes can, so many organizations may need to use both.

As this technology has become more accessible, it’s starting to pop up more in logistics operations. Railroad company Union Pacific deployed five autonomous cranes in 2021 to move freight onto and off of rail cars. Ports in Australia, China and the Netherlands have invested in these systems since as early as 2014, resulting in higher capacity and lower costs.

Autonomous Cranes Could Improve Safety

The primary advantage of automated cranes in logistics is they distance employees from the most dangerous parts of the job. Operators account for over half of all crane-related deaths in the transportation sector. Removing the need for a human controller instantly eliminates those fatalities — injuries from being in the equipment are impossible when no one is in the cab.

Of course, lifting equipment can still endanger nearby dock and warehouse workers. Autonomous technology addresses these concerns, too. While robotic cranes may not remove falling object or collision hazards entirely, they reduce them by minimizing mistakes.

Studies suggest between 80% and 90% of all workplace accidents stem from human error. Automation may not be perfect, but it is less likely to make the same mistakes. It operates based on consistent, real-time data and cannot get tired or distracted.

Most autonomous lifting equipment today still requires employees to oversee its operations, especially in busy ports, where risks are higher. However, minimizing the human element reduces error-related hazards. Combining the reliability of automation with people’s intuition and nuance could offer the best of both worlds. Expert operators would make up for robots’ occasional lapses and vice versa.

Autonomous Crane Risks

At the same time, autonomous cranes are not without risk. In some cases, they may introduce new safety concerns. Businesses must pay attention to these hazards to take full advantage of this technology.

The biggest concern with automated material handling is teams could become complacent. Operators may assume — even subconsciously — that robotic lifters are more reliable than they are. As a result, they may pay less attention to their surroundings, making injuries more likely if something goes wrong in the automated system. The logistics sector’s already strained workforce may exacerbate these risks.

There are also technical glitches and limitations to consider. Automation’s precision benefits only apply when the sensors it relies on work properly. That’s not an issue for cranes in warehouse environments but may pose problems on outdoor docks or loading bays. High winds — which are increasing at a rate of 2.58% per decade — are particularly concerning. Sensors failing to account for sudden gusts could lead to dangerous situations.

Using Autonomous Cranes Safely

In light of these potential downsides, businesses should take several precautions when implementing autonomous machinery. Like with any lift, teams should plan automated crane operations ahead of time. 3D simulation software can help here, as it automatically recalculates load capacities each time users change other data points. This precision makes it easier to ensure a safe lift.

Regular equipment inspections are likewise essential, as they are the second most frequently cited crane-related OSHA violations. Employees should check cranes for signs of wear and calibrate their sensors before every job to verify the machinery will work properly. Maintenance sensors can streamline this process by alerting operators of emerging issues as soon as they arise.

Even though automation minimizes human involvement, staff-centric steps are still necessary. Operators overseeing autonomous workflows need thorough training and regular re-certification to ensure their continued awareness. Similarly, brands should communicate any new workflow considerations or hazards automation may introduce to help everyone remain vigilant.

No automated system should be able to work without human supervision. Consequently, teams must follow strict lockout-tagout procedures after running autonomous lifting equipment. These steps must include lowering lift arms or otherwise moving large parts out of the way to minimize hazards.

As organizations use autonomous cranes more often, they may discover new, unique risks. As a result, safety protocols may need to adjust over time. Regular reviews and workplace accident audits will reveal when such adaption is necessary.

New Technology Is Changing the Future of Workplace Safety

Autonomous cranes could revolutionize workplace safety. However, they’re not entirely risk-free. Enterprises must pay attention to both sides to capitalize on technology safely.

Learning how new tech can help or hinder worker safety is the first step to becoming a safer, more efficient industry. The sector as a whole will become a better place to work if enough companies take a calculated, careful approach to automation.

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Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Technology

Securing the Digital Frontier: Cybersecurity in Trade and Logistics Infrastructure 

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Headlines litter online landscapes, detailing the rising threat of cyberattacks on supply chains. Logistics and trade work forces must combat criminal outfits with revolutionary defense tactics. Critical societal systems will fall without preparation, damaging economies and corporate stability. Everyone — from exporters to manufacturers — has a long list of techniques to employ for protection.

Read also: Chinese Crane Manufacturer Denies Cybersecurity Concerns Raised by US Officials

Encryption of Data in Transit and at Rest

Many understand data as a constantly mobile concept. However, logistics and supply chain experts know a lot of it remains at rest or inactive in hard drives or cloud storage until it has utility. Encrypting moving and at-rest information within immutable storage adds defensive layers to critical infrastructure.

Smart ports and trade hubs are becoming the norm, so information is on the move every second. This is why a massive Japanese port suffered a ransomware attack in 2023, shutting down operations.

The strategy prevents unwanted access without a decryption key, increasing the sector’s compliance adherence. While it safeguards information, it makes cybersecurity analysts’ lives easier. Reduced access means it is easier to identify who or what is potentially responsible for a breach. A short list of authorized individuals makes risk assessment more straightforward.

Regular Vulnerability Assessments and Penetration Testing

Countless supply chains use code assembly-based software. This implies the program has prebuilt assets, saving developers time to create what they need, even if it is proprietary. However, many third-party codes and open-source libraries contain oversights receiving infrequent patches.

Issues like this hit companies like SolarWinds in 2023, leading to cyberattacks in poorly managed software. Penetration testers and vulnerability assessments find concerns like this and many more with a little help.

These service professionals dig into the infrastructure of a supply chain to note the most prominent concerns and what high-value tools companies can implement to increase protection. The tests discover:

  • Misconfigurations
  • Unsupported software
  • Weak passwords
  • Unprotected servers and networks
  • API failures
  • Data center oversights

Adopting Blockchain Technology for Secure Transactions

The blockchain is one of the most promising cybersecurity tools of Industry 5.0. It keeps logistical communications, procurement transactions and more in a protected digital ledger. It is tamper-proof, requiring verifiable authentication with hashes or digital fingerprints. Every exchange is transparent and traceable, validating the trustworthiness of each contract.

Supply chain professionals need infrastructure like the blockchain to give stakeholders peace of mind. Proving security and streamlining trading deals has never been safer. A case study proved its usefulness in the food industry with the strawberry supply chain. The blockchain improved the efficiency and security of customer shipping notifications and vendor interactions.

Secure Remote Access Protocols

Supply chains have a seemingly unending list of people who contribute to operations. There are vendors, internal staff, contractors and more. Too many individuals may have credentials to access critical logistics systems, and this habit expands the surface area for cyberattacks.

This includes on-site and remote access, which expanded as more people shifted to hybrid schedules. It also applies to logistics equipment and machinery like security cameras, servers and vehicles.

Digital transformation has encouraged supply chains to adopt assets like intelligent transportation and remote power management systems to expand oversight and improve safety response times. Virtual private networks and secure employee devices are several pieces of this puzzle.

Incident Response Planning and Regular Drills

Wholesalers, exporters, retailers and every sector in-between must construct a cybersecurity plan. Incident response is vital to business continuity, and corporations must issue regular drills to make sure it is effective. Doing so will reduce the adverse impacts of a cybersecurity incident on supply chain infrastructure because every moving part knows how to respond. These are some of the details logistics workers need to know if an attack occurs in the systems:

  • Emergency contacts
  • Government bodies to send reports for investigation
  • Personal safety protocol
  • What not to do during an attack
  • Guidance for IT professionals and analysts to detect, contain and eradicate the source
  • Recovery strategies 
  • Post-incident analysis tools

Follow the guidelines of notable cybersecurity compliance frameworks like NIST to discover curated solutions for supply chains. Frequent reviews will increase the confidence of all workers and partners if the response plan needs to be used.

Continuous Monitoring and Threat Intelligence Sharing

No factory load dock or smart city is safe without regulators and logistics professionals monitoring digital activity. Many leverage tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning to delegate and expand responsibilities.

Every insight must not remain a trade secret. Threat intelligence sharing is critical, as it could protect others in trade and logistics infrastructure from a destructive incident.

Enter the Digital Age With Secure Supply Chains

Supply chain infrastructure is crucial to a balanced society, and threat actors are getting more clever annually. Instilling it with more robust digital walls is the key to staying operational. Doing so is an industry-wide effort where collaboration and knowledge-sharing are necessary to overcome breaches and hackers.

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3pls, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily

Adapting to Climate Change Challenges in the Cold Chain

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Climate change is a multifaceted challenge, forcing businesses to adapt to a new reality governed by rising global temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns. Cold chains are particularly vulnerable to these disruptions, underscoring the importance of adopting resilient strategies capable of withstanding the impact shocks. 

Managing Supply Chains is More Challenging Than Ever

It’s no secret that maintaining sustainable supply chains is becoming increasingly difficult. Increasing freight prices, labor shortages and port congestions are just some of the mainstay challenges suppliers have to deal with in 2024. For instance, freight rates from China to the West Coast jumped by over $2,300 between January and February.

The escalating impacts of climate change — rising sea levels, soaring temperatures and depleted waterways — increasingly threaten the production and delivery of goods. Extreme weather events cause significant damage to critical infrastructure like ports, warehouses and roads, leading to increased downtime.

Because of the interconnected nature of global supply chains, disruptions in one region can have a ripple effect on the entire logistics network of another area. The drought affecting the Panama Canal is a stark reminder of the disruptive power of climate change.

Maintaining Cold Chain Integrity

The effects of climate change are decidedly more pronounced across the cold chain. For instance, heat waves can affect the efficiency of warehousing and transportation. Floods and wildfires make roads inaccessible, leading to delivery delays and heightening the risk of item degradation while in transit. Shipping temperature-sensitive items like food and vaccines securely is crucial to tackling food scarcity, preventing waste, and supporting agricultural livelihoods worldwide.

However, each step of the chain — refrigerators, industrial chillers and transportation — considerably contributes to climate change. For example, cold storage facilities must maintain temperatures as cold as -122˚ Fahrenheit to preserve the integrity of certain pharmaceuticals. It takes significant energy to achieve and sustain such conditions, which eventually take a toll on the environment. 

Climate Risk Management for Resilient Cold Chains 

Supply chains are responsible for around 60% of all carbon emissions globally, further prompting the need for decisive action toward mitigation and adaptation. Managing climate risk begins with identifying exposure.

Companies and stakeholders at each touch point across cold chains must account for inherent risk factors in daily operations. For instance, refrigerated warehouses in flood-prone areas could prompt businesses to change existing processes or relocate certain operations entirely.

Exploring options such as shortening the value chain or adopting newer technologies could also help minimize climate-driven impacts. Recent research shows cooling systems account for 44.1% of energy consumption in cold storage facilities, but simple measures like multiple compressor systems and capacity grading can lead to over 30% savings.

Larger suppliers and shipping firms can facilitate sustainable cold chain practices by maintaining climate-friendly criteria and requiring partners to do the same. This approach can create a trickle-down effect, gradually reforming the supply chain. Obviously, additional costs will be associated with such changes, but once the bigger players start to do it, their competitors will have no choice but to follow suit.

Adopting innovations like AI and IoT sensors can also help brands and transporters manage climate risks. For example, AI can help with route optimization by aggregating weather pattern data and suggesting the best journey times for deliveries to minimize disruptions. Additionally, real-time tracking and monitoring provide increased visibility into supply chains, enabling shipping enterprises to respond promptly to climate-related interruptions. 

Nature-Focused Planning 

Resilient cold chains require coordination on a local and global scale. Businesses must be mindful of the importance of nature in supporting supply chains and safeguarding environmental wellbeing.

Renewable energy sources, electric vehicles and eco-friendly packaging are critical to reducing the sector’s carbon footprint, facilitating more sustainable logistics operations in the long run. These considerations will likely be among the biggest drivers of capital allocation decisions in the coming years. 

Public Sector Reforms 

Regulations surrounding sustainability efforts will be critical in supporting a climate-resilient cold chain. Everything has to work in sync, with policymakers providing the right incentives to motivate change and companies doubling down on their eco-conscious practices.

There also needs to be improved levels of scrutiny around compliance with climate regulations to foster increased corporate accountability, especially concerning environmental impact reporting. Only 36% of companies disclosed their Scope 3 emissions — indirect emissions occurring in their respective value chains. With stringent disclosure requirements, governments can proactively address climate risks in supply chains and curb the menace of greenwashing.

Building More Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chains 

The data is undeniable — extreme weather, depleted waterways and rising temperatures are disrupting global cold chains to their very foundations. The frequency and severity of these events make resilience and adaptability paramount considerations for the industry’s future. By investing in climate-friendly infrastructure, adopting energy-saving technologies and fostering nature-driven collaborations, the logistics sector can build a robust foundation for sustainability and resilience across the value chain.

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Technology

Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience Through Proactive Fleet Safety Management

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Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chains largely targeted efficiency above all else. After a series of widespread and lasting disruptions, that’s no longer the case. Supply chains must be resilient enough to withstand dramatic changes, but achieving that can be challenging.

It’s not always clear what changes to enact or which technologies are most worth it to invest in. Realistically, resiliency is not the product of a single best practice but the combination of many. Fleet safety management is an important one but an easy one to miss.

How Fleet Safety Impacts Supply Chain Resilience

While broader supply chain shifts like reshoring and supplier diversification are important, logistics processes deserve attention, too. In addition to being fast, transportation must be reliable, which is where fleet safety comes in.

Police-reported traffic accidents involved an estimated 523,796 large trucks in 2021 alone. That equals roughly 1,435 trucks getting into crashes every day, each with potential supply chain consequences. These incidents delay shipments by a few hours in a best-case scenario. In worse cases, they may result in injuries, high repair costs or damaged goods.

Fleet safety can impact supply chain operations outside of impacts, too. Safe drivers may pull over when they notice something unusual with their vehicles’ performance. Stopping and reporting these events is less disruptive than a crash but can still cause delays or require re-routing. By contrast, a safer fleet will make more on-time shipments and encounter fewer unexpected bumps in the road. That consistency in performance, timelines and costs echoes through supply chains.

How to Optimize Fleet Safety Management

In light of these considerations, logistics providers must be proactive about fleet safety management. That means capitalizing on the following best practices.

Implement Connected Technologies

The most important step in proactive fleet safety management is to track safety metrics through connected technologies. Vehicle operations are often able to get ahead of schedule by addressing maintenance needs before they become larger problems. The best way to do that is to track them through the Internet of Things (IoT).

IoT sensors and telematics systems can monitor vehicle health factors in real time and alert workers when issues arise. While these technologies incur higher upfront investments, those notifications let fleets respond to potential problems as quickly as possible.

Quick, technology-driven responses have two primary benefits for supply chain resilience. First, they prevent accidents that may cause injuries or larger disruptions. Secondly, they minimize repair expenses and related downtime by addressing these issues while they’re still small and removing the need to check things manually.

Predict Future Maintenance Needs

IoT-based safety tracking opens the door to another, more powerful strategy — predictive maintenance. With enough vehicle operations data, machine learning algorithms can predict when signs point toward needing repair soon. Then, fleets can get alerts to schedule repairs before declining conditions may even be noticeable to humans.

Predictive maintenance enables even earlier and more effective fixes than thorough preventive maintenance. As a result, it can extend asset life spans by up to 40% and reduce downtime by up to 50%. On top of keeping employees and other drivers safe, those savings mean fewer supply chain disruptions and lower costs.

Conventional preventive maintenance is preferable to reactive methods, but it wastes more time than many organizations realize. Roughly 30% of all preventive repair activities don’t add any value. Vehicles don’t degrade along a consistent schedule, so schedule-based repairs are insufficient. Opting for data-driven, predictive alternatives eliminates these unnecessary steps.

Secure Fleet IoT Systems

As supply chains implement these technologies, they must consider the unique risks they may produce. Most notably, greater IoT adoption corresponds to broader attack surfaces. More connected devices mean more potential entry points for hackers, so cybersecurity is essential.

Bridging the gap between IT and operational technology like vehicles has many benefits. Unfortunately, it also means trucks and other equipment become vulnerable to data breaches. As a result, supply chains have become popular targets, with supply chain cyberattacks affecting millions of people annually.

Thorough cybersecurity measures are necessary to ensure proactive fleet safety tools don’t jeopardize safety in other areas. Segmenting networks to keep IoT devices separate from other endpoints and data is a crucial first step. Enterprises must also encrypt all IoT traffic, use strong access methods and monitor network traffic in real time with AI.

Fleet Maintenance Is Key to Supply Chain Resilience

Optimizing fleet maintenance can be a tricky undertaking, but it’s essential for modern supply chains. When fleets become more proactive about their repairs, they reduce traffic accidents and related safety issues. These improvements, in turn, make logistics processes more reliable, enabling larger-scale supply chain resilience efforts.

Businesses must capitalize on new technologies to enable more resilience through fleet safety measures. That means implementing devices like IoT and telematics systems, and learning how to secure them. Industry 4.0 initiatives require careful attention, but if companies can do that, they can transform their fleet operations for the better.

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Warehousing

The Future of Warehouse Safety: Harnessing Technology to Protect Workers in Automated Facilities 

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Warehouses can be hazardous, but they’re getting safer. Much of that improvement stems from new technologies, with automation leading the charge. 

Automated facilities are far safer than conventional operations in many ways. At the same time, robots introduce unique hazards that warehouses must contend with. In both cases, technological innovation is the answer to better safety.

Automation as a Safety Measure

Warehouse automation has historically trailed behind other heavy industries like manufacturing, but that’s starting to change. Over 70% of logistics businesses use some form of mobile robot today. This shift improves safety along two major lines — automating dangerous tasks and minimizing errors.

Automating Dangerous Tasks

Automation’s most significant safety advantage is that it removes workers from the most hazardous parts of the job. When human employees don’t need to carry the heaviest loads or reach the highest shelves, it has the same impact as if these hazards didn’t exist.

Automation can’t perform every job a human can, but the most dangerous work is often easily automated. Carrying heavy loads or picking items from high shelves are straightforward, predictable tasks — just the kind automation excels at.

Automated tasks don’t have to be dangerous to improve workplace safety. Overexertion accounts for 23% of all workplace injuries and often stems from repetitive motion. Warehouses that automate material-handling workflows minimize this motion, preventing one of the most common causes of injury.

Error Reduction

Automated warehouses are also safer because they minimize human error-related risks. Mistakes play a role in almost all workplace safety incidents, so companies that reduce errors will also reduce injuries.

Autonomous alternatives to manually operated machines make some of the biggest impacts in this area. For example, conventional forklifts pose severe threats because driver errors are likely, as humans are easily distracted. Robot forklifts, by contrast, don’t get preoccupied or bored, so they’re less likely to make errors that endanger nearby workers.

It’s also worth noting that automation reduces the workload in labor-strained warehouses. Workers can feel less stressed when there’s less to do, letting them focus on what they’re doing, further preventing dangerous errors.

Keeping Workers Safe From Robots

Of course, automation itself can introduce new workplace hazards. The answer to these risks is not to avoid automation but to implement new technologies that make it safer.

Reliable Navigation

One of the most important steps in improving robot-related safety is ensuring they can navigate reliably. Moving equipment like forklifts is responsible for many injuries and OSHA violations, and mobile robots pose several of the same risks. An automated guided vehicle (AGV) that can’t identify obstacles and pedestrians quickly and accurately could cause harmful collisions.

Cameras and machine vision software are improving, which makes mobile robots safer by default. Besides these improvements, warehouses can capitalize on the Internet of Things (IoT) to enable better navigation. Robots that communicate with real-time sensors throughout the facility can move through it more effectively.

Edge computing takes these benefits further, as it spreads complex compute tasks between nearby devices, enabling faster responses. 5G networks can also provide more bandwidth and higher speeds to support these processes.

Adaptable Cobots

Collaborative robots (cobots) are another important technology that makes automated warehouses safer. These robots are designed to work alongside humans instead of replacing them. As such, they’re less likely to run into workers or cause disruptions that may lead to injury.

Adaptability is a key feature here. Cobots can respond to real-time data, often through IoT connectivity. As a result, they can adjust their workflow as necessary as conditions change to prevent mistakes that may endanger workers or keep out of people’s way even when they don’t follow predictable paths.

Amazon has implemented cobots extensively to impressive results. One of its solutions, Sequoia, combines multiple robotic systems to organize and move inventory throughout the warehouse. Combining separate systems lets it adapt as needed, and the design emphasizes making things easier for human workers. As a result, recordable incident rates dropped by 15% between 2021 and 2022.

Artificial Intelligence

It’s impossible to talk about disruptive technologies and not mention artificial intelligence (AI). AI can improve robot safety in warehouses in several ways, and its potential will likely grow as this technology advances.

AI-guided robots are more adaptable than classical alternatives, making them safer. Machine learning models can identify and respond to hazards in a fraction of a second, making them ideal for guided mobile robots to prevent collisions. Similarly, AI can help robots interpret situations to determine the best course of action to remain productive and keep human co-workers safe.

AI can also analyze data from across a warehouse to identify where the most accidents happen. Some models can go further and suggest possible improvements, making it easier to effectively reduce workplace injuries over time.

New Tech Is Transforming Warehouse Safety

Technology is one of warehouses’ greatest assets when addressing worker safety. The logistics and supply chain industries will become safer as more facilities embrace automation and complementary technologies.

Tech adoption isn’t a panacea to all workplace safety issues, but it offers substantial improvements. Warehouse managers must integrate these solutions into existing safety programs and combine them with other steps to become as safe as possible.

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Rail

What Can We Learn From the Recent Surge in Railway Accidents?

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The past few years have seen a worrying surge in railway accidents, particularly those involving hazardous materials. By analyzing the leading causes behind these accidents, transportation and logistics leaders can take action to improve rail safety. How serious is the increase in rail transportation accidents, and what are the main takeaways?

You can also Read 8 Reasons for Trucking Accidents & How to Avoid Them

Are Railway Accidents Really Increasing?

The past several years have seen headlines about several severe railway accidents, particularly train derailments. For instance, in 2023, 50 cars were derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, 20 of which contained hazardous materials. The derailment resulted in soil, water and air pollution, forcing over 1,000 people to evacuate the area. While train derailments are fairly common, incidents on this scale are not. However, they seem to be a growing risk.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows that train accidents have decreased significantly over the past 20 years. There were less than 2,000 total rail accidents in 2022, down from over 3,000 per year in 2004.

Injuries and fatalities due to rail accidents have decreased, as well. In 2017, there were 8,892 total reported injuries and 817 deaths. In 2022, there were 6,252 injuries and 954 deaths. However, it is worth noting that more injuries were reported in 2022 than in 2021 or 2020. 2022 had the highest rail accident injury rate since 2019.

There are a few important takeaways from this data. Overall, railway accidents are generally less common than 10 or 20 years ago. Recent data shows that accidents and injuries may be on the rise again, though. For instance, there were more rail accident deaths in 2022 than in 2017.

This trend applies to train derailments, as well. Derailments have fallen sharply over the past few decades. There were 2,639 derailments in 2004, while there were only 1,259 in 2022. However, there were more derailments in 2022 than in 2021 or 2020. Derailments make up 71% of all train accidents.

The Role of Infrastructure, Maintenance and Workers

The increase in railway accidents is certainly concerning, but analyzing the cause of this trend may help reverse it. Rail accidents are on the rise due to a combination of factors, mainly infrastructure, maintenance and worker-related issues.

Infrastructure

One of the leading underlying causes of rail accidents today is aging infrastructure. Derailments are often the result of malfunctions or mechanical failures with the tracks or roadbeds, the structures that form the base of the tracks. Like any infrastructure, railways can degrade over time and lose structural integrity, especially if they aren’t getting adequate maintenance.

The issue of train length is also a factor here. Freight train length has steadily increased over recent years, with some trains reaching nearly 3 miles long. The longer a train gets, the harder it becomes to control. Poor control can have serious consequences for safety, operations and rail infrastructure since longer trains put more physical strain on the tracks.

The takeaway here is clear — railway infrastructure needs more attention. In some cases, this simply means better track maintenance. However, in other areas, it may require large-scale updates to aging, unsafe infrastructure.

Updates may be more critical in the states with the most rail traffic and the most rail accidents. As of 2022, Illinois and Texas are nearly tied for most derailments, both with over 13,000 on record since 1975. The two second-place states, Pennsylvania and California, have roughly half that many recorded derailments. These high accident rates can point analysts toward the states needing rail infrastructure updates most.

Maintenance

The way railways and trains are cared for has a major impact on safety. If rail operators cut corners or fail to provide enough time for maintenance, the likelihood of an accident increases.

Countless details go into ensuring rail safety. Something as simple as a malfunctioning bearing can trigger a serious accident. The high accident rates in the rail industry today indicate that rail companies need to allow more time for their employees to inspect and repair trains and railways adequately.

Maintenance is especially critical in hazardous materials transport. Sadly, many serious rail accidents in recent years have involved hazardous materials, including the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and an explosion at a rail yard in Omaha, Nebraska.

Hazardous materials already have strict regulations for storage and transportation safety. For instance, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires containers for hazardous materials to meet safety and design regulations to minimize the risk of a spill. Considering the extreme damage from train derailments involving hazardous materials, rail companies may need to adopt even higher standards for their freight cars.

Technology may also help address maintenance problems. Automation can help cover employment gaps and reduce the likelihood of mechanical issues going unnoticed. Rail companies could use technologies like sensors connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) and predictive maintenance equipment to improve train car monitoring and prevent accidents. 

Rail Workers

Human error is one of the leading causes behind rail accidents, but that may not entirely be rail workers’ fault. The number of people working in rail transportation in the U.S. fell 73% between 1980 and 2020, from 539,700 workers to 144,500. Between November 2018 and December 2020, the industry lost over 40,000 jobs.

At the same time, rail traffic has remained relatively steady. Since significantly fewer people work in rail yards and on trains than there used to be, smaller teams have to support a workload designed for far more people.

This shift means it’s much more difficult for rail employees to keep up with the demands of their jobs. The increased stress is a major cause of high workplace accident and injury rates. Stress also means rail employees are more likely to make mistakes on the job, contributing to the increasing rates of rail accidents.

Understaffing is a particularly big issue in maintenance. Many rail accidents are entirely preventable but happen anyway because a mechanical failure goes unnoticed. This fact indicates that rail employees may need more time to conduct thorough inspections. Allowing more time and resources could prevent hundreds of accidents.

Improving Railway Safety

The past few years have seen a sharp increase in railway accidents, particularly those involving hazardous materials. A few main factors are driving the uptick in rail accidents, including poor infrastructure, inadequate maintenance and staffing cuts. By addressing the leading causes behind recent rail accidents, transportation and logistics leaders can take action to improve rail safety for everyone.