PODCAST: Navigating the Evolving Logistics Landscape: A Conversation with Noël Perry

Welcome back to More Than a Broker.

In this episode of ‘More Than a Broker’, Spot Co-founder Andrew Elsener engages in an in-depth chat with Transport Futures Founder and Principal Noël Perry to explore the evolution of the logistics and trucking sectors.

The conversation covers the historical context of freight, the transformative effects of deregulation, the ongoing challenges of driver shortages, and the implications of political and regulatory changes on the freight market.

The discussion also examines the role of technology, market dynamics, and future trends in the industry, emphasizing the need for shippers to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape.

About Noël Perry

Noël Perry is a transportation economist and founder of Transport Futures, a North American heavy freight consulting firm. Since 2008, Perry has led Transport Futures with an explicit focus on the rapidly changing future of transportation and supply chain operations.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Perry attended Harvard University and served as the research assistant to the assistant dean at the Department of Economics, John Meyer, who is acknowledged as creating the discipline of transportation economics. That experience opened doors to government work and studying productivity in mass transit.

Born in 1946, the Summerville, New Jersey native already had transportation rolling through his DNA. His father and grandfather both were Pennsylvania Railroad employees, and his brother was a railman, all of which influenced his passion for transportation.

10 Reasons to Listen

• • The logistics industry has evolved significantly since deregulation.
  • Driver shortages are cyclical and often tied to hiring processes.
  • Regulatory changes can impact productivity and efficiency in trucking.
  • Market dynamics are influenced by both pricing and capacity.
  • Shippers need to be strategic in their contract pricing decisions.
  • Technology, especially load boards, has transformed the freight market.
  • The future of trucking will likely involve automation and significant changes in supply chains.
  • Geopolitical factors can create volatility in the freight market.
  • Understanding the historical context of freight can inform future strategies.
  • The trucking industry must adapt to survive in a rapidly changing environment.