Zac Rogers, CSU and Dale Rogers, ASU | 10 Years of the Logistics Manager’s Index

<p>The Logistics Manager’s Index has spent the last 10 years offering an early read on where the economy may be headed. In this episode, Chris Caplice is joined by Professors Zac Rogers of Colorado State University and Dale Rogers of Arizona State University to look at what the LMI is signaling now.</p><p></p><p>The LMI tracks eight components across transportation, warehousing and inventory, using input from senior logistics leaders to measure whether each area is expanding or contracting. Recent readings point to a freight market where transportation capacity is tightening, prices are rising sharply and businesses are taking very different approaches to inventory.</p><p></p><p>In this conversation, they cover:</p><p>🚛 Why transportation prices recently reached some of the highest levels in the LMI’s history</p><p>📦 How retailers are keeping inventories lean while manufacturers stockpile critical components</p><p>🌎 What tariffs, regulation and geopolitical uncertainty are doing to transportation capacity</p><p>🏗️ Why warehousing demand is picking back up, including the impact of data center construction<br />🔮 What the LMI suggests about freight costs, capacity and economic growth through the rest of 2026</p><p></p><p>If you work in shipping, transportation or supply chain planning, this episode offers a useful look at the signals shaping the second half of the year.</p><p></p><p>Interview recorded on August 12, 2026</p><p></p><p>Freightvine Market Update recorded on August 17, 2026</p><p></p><p>Catch previous episodes 👉 <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://dat.com/podcast/freightvine" target="_blank">dat.com/podcast/freightvine</a></p><p></p><p>Chapters:</p><p>00:09 Introduction to the Logistics Managers Index</p><p>01:29 Divergence in Inventory Management Strategies</p><p>01:56 Impact of Data Center Construction on Economic Growth</p><p>02:07 Introduction to the LMI and Its Founding</p><p>04:13 Understanding the Logistics Manager's Index (LMI)</p><p>07:23 The Role of Surveys in LMI Data Collection</p><p>10:20 Survey Response Rates and Participant Engagement</p><p>13:28 Recent Trends in Inventory Management</p><p>22:41 Transportation Trends and Their Impact on the Economy</p><p>23:18 Understanding Price Increases and Policy Impact</p><p>24:34 The Freight Recession and Capacity Challenges</p><p>28:36 Labor Market Dynamics and Capacity Decisions</p><p>33:01 Warehousing Trends and Data Center Influence</p><p>37:02 Economic Predictions and Uncertainty Factors</p><p>50:00 Freightvine Market Update</p><p></p>