People on the Move by Cargomatic

June is Pride Month, making it the perfect time to catch up with the state of the LGBTQ community in the trucking industry. People on the Move’s Tyler Kern caught up with Shelle Lichti, the Founder and Executive Director of LGBT Truckers, Inc., for an enlightening discussion on the industry’s past, present, and future regarding LGBTQ issues.

As a female truck driver, Lichti knows discrimination against women and underrepresented populations haunts the trucking industry. Lichti founded LGBT Truckers to fight stereotypes and pave new paths in an industry dominated by men. For trucking to evolve, it needs to become an industry of acceptance. “The culture of the industry has slowly shifted,” Lichti said. “Do we still have room for growth? Yes. In all diversity inclusion levels, there is still a big need.”

Lichti recognized that certain behaviors and attitudes in the trucking industry would not be tolerated or accepted in any other mainstream workforce, so there are still barriers to conquer. “Not vilifying individuals within your workforce or demeaning their value, and what they’re saying,” Lichti said, "are critical components in promoting the well-being of truckers in the LGBTQ community. And companies must not minimize situations occurring with drivers. Apologies without action and remedy quickly become lip service."

June is Pride Month, making it the perfect time to catch up with the state of the LGBTQ community in the trucking industry. People on the Move’s Tyler Kern caught up with Shelle Lichti, the Founder and Executive Director of LGBT Truckers, Inc., for an enlightening discussion on the industry’s past, present, and future regarding LGBTQ issues.

As a female truck driver, Lichti knows discrimination against women and underrepresented populations haunts the trucking industry. Lichti founded LGBT Truckers to fight stereotypes and pave new paths in an industry dominated by men. For trucking to evolve, it needs to become an industry of acceptance. “The culture of the industry has slowly shifted,” Lichti said. “Do we still have room for growth? Yes. In all diversity inclusion levels, there is still a big need.”

Lichti recognized that certain behaviors and attitudes in the trucking industry would not be tolerated or accepted in any other mainstream workforce, so there are still barriers to conquer. “Not vilifying individuals within your workforce or demeaning their value, and what they’re saying,” Lichti said, "are critical components in promoting the well-being of truckers in the LGBTQ community. And companies must not minimize situations occurring with drivers. Apologies without action and remedy quickly become lip service."

The rise of women within previously male-dominated industries continues to grow. People on the Move podcast host Michelle Mooney met with Mahsa Pan, Senior Civil Engineer and Construction Manager for the Port of Los Angeles, and WTS Vice President of Professional Development and Student Outreach to discuss her career path and how she helps women break down the barriers to success within engineering.

Pan works for the City of Los Angeles Harbor Department, which oversees the waterfront areas of San Pedro and Wilmington, also known as the Port of LA. In her role, she manages multiple expansion projects including the development of Wilmington waterfront park and promenade.

The rise of women within previously male-dominated industries continues to grow. People on the Move podcast host Michelle Mooney met with Mahsa Pan, Senior Civil Engineer and Construction Manager for the Port of Los Angeles, and WTS Vice President of Professional Development and Student Outreach to discuss her career path and how she helps women break down the barriers to success within engineering.

Pan works for the City of Los Angeles Harbor Department, which oversees the waterfront areas of San Pedro and Wilmington, also known as the Port of LA. In her role, she manages multiple expansion projects including the development of Wilmington waterfront park and promenade.

March is Women’s History Month. To honor the women who make an impact in business every day, People on the Move host Daniel Litwin spoke to one of Cargomatic’s newest leaders, Stacey Bonetti. Bonetti is Cargomatic’s Head of Account Management. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Bonetti spoke about how she sees women shaping the future of the industry.

Bonetti possesses a long career within the shipping and logistics industry. “I started as a management trainee at Maersk Line,” Bonetti said. “That gave me the opportunity to meet with global trainees across the world. It really opened my eyes to the global supply chain.”

Different economic circumstances impact global logistics daily on a micro and macro level. While these types of challenges might not be for everyone, Bonetti said she thrives on them. The shipping and logistics industry provided opportunities for Bonetti to work in various parts of the world where she could take what she learned and apply it in new ways. “There’s a lot of cross-referencing and learning that we can find from other countries,” she said.

February 4th marks World Cancer Day. To recognize this day, John Elliott of Carevive joined host Tyler Kern on the latest episode of People on the Move to discuss the cancer risks that exist for truck drivers. While not a clinician, through his role at Carvive, Elliott professional career revolves around oncology and knows the unique problems that affect the truck driver population.

Among the risks drivers face includes skin cancer. “They’re on the road, windows down, windows up, you’re still receiving a lot of sunlight,” Elliott said.

Elliott noted that there is a direct correlation between the side of the vehicle a driver is sitting on and where they might develop skin cancer. Another potential risk is lung cancer, considering the level of fumes drivers encounter.

One of the most important elements for mitigating cancer risk is early detection, which means developing regularity with a primary care physician. “Early detection… leads to more treatment plans, higher survival rate, better quality of life while in treatment,” Elliott explained. “Think of that primary care provider… as more of a home base. They can help you in many ways and have a significant impact on the outcome if you [are] diagnosed.”

A recent development that has helped truck drivers is telehealth. Telehealth popularity rose throughout the pandemic and has made it easier for consultations to be made regardless of where a driver might be on the road.

Even during treatment, there is remote technology that can assist with monitoring the severity of symptoms. “[It’s] really filling the gaps between those consults,” said Elliott, “that could also [mean] through telemedicine that the outcome is substantially better.”

Speaking to World Cancer Day, Elliott provided parting advice for listeners. “Align with the preventions protocols, align with screening and, in the worst case for treatment, remain connected.”

The supply chain story of 2021 was, unfortunately, a sequel to 2020. The weaknesses linger, but the future can be different by applying data and modernizing the framework. Offering the year in review, Weston LaBar, Head of Strategy at Cargomatic, joined Host Tyler Kern on Careers on the Move.

Labar explained, “The supply chain is only built for a certain amount of volume. When it increases, there’s a disruption. In the past, these were brief and there was time to dig out.”

However, since the pandemic, the supply chain hasn’t been able to catch up. LaBar pointed to two reasons:

1.Consumer spending increased.

2.E-commerce dominated consumption.

These compounding trends moved into uncharted territory as demand stayed high while supply was low. It also changed how people received goods, so delivery was to thousands of homes, not one store.

Naturally, disrupted supply chains lead to disrupted economies. “It’s the backbone of the global economy. Modern manufacturing is supply chain-focused with sourcing, importing, assembly and exporting,” LaBar explained.

To make the supply chain more efficient and robust, LaBar noted it’s critical to focus on wide-spread benefits via technology and data. However, there are still hurdles to overcome, including local policy and legacy mindsets.

Additionally, LaBar explained the complexity of the shortages. “It’s not black or white. Is it really a shortage or inefficiency and capacity constraint? Looking at data can reveal if resources aren’t used effectively,” said LaBar.

Similarly, shortages of workers is another issue that deserves some rework: “We need a reframe to talk about how these jobs contribute to people, the economy and the country.”

The supply chain story of 2021 was, unfortunately, a sequel to 2020. The weaknesses linger, but the future can be different by applying data and modernizing the framework. Offering the year in review, Weston LaBar, Head of Strategy at Cargomatic, joined Host Tyler Kern on Careers on the Move.

Labar explained, “The supply chain is only built for a certain amount of volume. When it increases, there’s a disruption. In the past, these were brief and there was time to dig out.”

However, since the pandemic, the supply chain hasn’t been able to catch up. LaBar pointed to two reasons:

1.Consumer spending increased.

2.E-commerce dominated consumption.

These compounding trends moved into uncharted territory as demand stayed high while supply was low. It also changed how people received goods, so delivery was to thousands of homes, not one store.

Naturally, disrupted supply chains lead to disrupted economies. “It’s the backbone of the global economy. Modern manufacturing is supply chain-focused with sourcing, importing, assembly and exporting,” LaBar explained.

To make the supply chain more efficient and robust, LaBar noted it’s critical to focus on wide-spread benefits via technology and data. However, there are still hurdles to overcome, including local policy and legacy mindsets.

Additionally, LaBar explained the complexity of the shortages. “It’s not black or white. Is it really a shortage or inefficiency and capacity constraint? Looking at data can reveal if resources aren’t used effectively,” said LaBar.

Similarly, shortages of workers is another issue that deserves some rework: “We need a reframe to talk about how these jobs contribute to people, the economy and the country.”

While the supply chain is featured daily in the media now, it’s not something most people thought about before. That’s not the case for the latest guest on Careers on the Move. Jon Gold, Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy for the NRF (National Retail Federation), lives and breathes it every day and has for decades. He offered insights into his role at NRF and why supply chain policy is critical to the retail world.

Gold never expected to become a lobbyist, studying international business in college. He interned for a trade association. After graduation, he began his career. “It was on the ground floor of a retail trade association. The real intersection of supply chain and trade happened post-9/11 with port security.”

After spending several years in lobbying positions, Gold worked for the Customers and Border Protection on implementing the SAFE Port Act. He then joined NRF in 2007. “What I enjoy is bringing folks together to work collaboratively on solutions, including our members and partners like Cargomatic. I’m passionate about trade and advising members on its impact and then relaying their messages to the right people in government.”

Gold noted that while the private sector runs the supply chain, the government is part of the ecosystem. “Government sets regulations at the national and local level. That can involve everything from creating better technology to environmental restrictions.”

Several bills are making their way through the legislature, impacting the retail supply chain. Gold mentioned the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, just passed by the House, and the new FCC (Federal Communications Commission) working group focusing on data and the supply chain. According to Gold, more policy changes to mitigate supply chain disruption are likely forthcoming.