TPM26 Talk
Photos by Caught in the Moment Photography
→“ In global commerce, we can’ t be off the global price by even one cent on our commodities going out. If transportation costs build up and put us over, we’ re out of the market.”
Peter Friedmann, executive director, Agriculture Transportation Coalition( AgTC)
←“ We’ ve already seen a demonstrable dip in the standard deviation associated with our cargo. Anytime you can remove that variability, you don’ t need that extra inventory.”
Chelsea Morris, vice president of global inbound transportation, Dollar General
←“ We really want to hear from the BCOs to find out where they want to go.”
Kenny Rocker, executive vice president of marketing and sales, Union Pacific( UP) →“ You’ re going to have less optionality. So, is it necessary to pay more to get something that could be accomplished without the premium?”
Jon Gabriel, group vice president of consumer products, BNSF Railway
←“ At the macro level, it’ s going to feel just tepid. But within each of the verticals and ports and everything else underneath it, it’ s going to be wildly different.”
Reed Kidd, CEO, EDRAY Collaborative Port Logistics
←“ I don’ t think we’ re going to have a huge shortage in the very near term of any driver.”
Brian Kobza, chief commercial officer, IMC Logistics ↑“ Despite all of these uncertainties, all of the risks... global trade is still very strong.”
Jens Drewes, CEO, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics
←“ Even if this is mainly a Middle East situation, the equipment issues will be felt on the other trade lanes.”
Trine Nielsen, Vice President of Ocean / Global, Flexport →“ The worst thing for us is that one week the transit time is 50 days, the next week it is 40, and then 60 days. These kinds of fluctuations cannot be built into our inventory management.”
David Smrkowsky, Global Head of Commodity Procurement, Logistics and Transportation, Kostal Group www. joc. com April 6, 2026 | Journal of Commerce 15