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  <title>554: Navigate Fuel Volatility and Disruption, with DeliverDirect</title>
  <description>Edward Burek of SmartKargo &amp;amp;amp; Marco Ferrara of DeliverDirect talk about issues impacting small parcel delivery; fuel price reality; &amp;amp;amp; keeping costs low &amp;amp;amp; simple.&amp;amp;nbsp; IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [02.04] An introduction to Edward and Marco, and their roles at SmartKargo and DeliverDirect. [03.07] An overview of DeliverDirect – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. [03.29] As the industry deals with ongoing fuel volatility, why Delta Airlines have a structural advantage other carriers don't have, and what it means in practice to have an airline like Delta running the middle mile for e-commerce shipments.  “Fuel is the biggest cost with an airline but, because our passenger aircraft are flying around anyway, a lot of that fuel cost is absorbed – we’re able to insulate and reduce what we’re charging our customers.”  [05.52] As shippers see fuel surcharges, accessorial fees, and pricing complexity hit unprecedented levels, have surcharges stopped being about fuel and started becoming part of a business model?  “There are a lot of carriers that are taking advantage of the market forces right now. A lot of businesses are built on surcharges... It’s become a mechanism to dial up your revenue.”  [08.20] How DeliverDirect are approaching pricing differently.  “It’s so easy to forecast – it’s a CFO’s dream!... We want it to be a win-win all the way through the supply chain.”  [10.50] How DeliverDirect pulls together what already exists in the ecosystem, and the role SmartKargo's platform plays in making those pieces work together as a single delivery experience. [12.42] How SmartKargo is using real-time data and automation to predict shipment issues and recommend corrective actions before DeliverDirect customers feel any disruption. [13.56] Why quality data is the real foundation behind successful AI in logistics.  “If you don’t have good data, you can’t put an AI engine over that.”  [14.39] From ocean backlogs to cross-border tariff complications, how big industry impacts are translating into challenges for businesses, and the impact of big e-commerce market growth. [16.42] Whether there are enough packages and profitable demand for everyone competing in a tough market, and how companies are differentiating themselves beyond just lowering prices. [19.17] The future for small parcel logistics.  “What if it becomes coop-etition?!”  RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to DeliverDirect’s&amp;amp;nbsp;website&amp;amp;nbsp;now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with DeliverDirect and keep up to date with the latest over on&amp;amp;nbsp;LinkedIn, or you can connect with Marco or Edward&amp;amp;nbsp;on&amp;amp;nbsp;LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from DeliverDirect, check out  538: Enjoy Ecommerce Delivery at the Speed of Flight, with DeliverDirect. Check out our other podcasts&amp;amp;nbsp;HERE. </description>
  <author_name>Let's Talk Supply Chain</author_name>
  <author_url>https://www.letstalksupplychain.com</author_url>
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