Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY Guest: Jackson Wood of Descartes on what war in the Middle East means for supply chains; Most warehouses lack needed agility; Is trucking ready for a recovery?
Mar 6, 2026
Jackson Wood, director of industry strategy in global trade intelligence at Descartes, explains how Middle East conflict reshapes oil routes, ocean shipping and global trade flows. He discusses which modes and businesses face acute disruption. The conversation also covers the persistent lack of agility in many warehouses and early signs that trucking may be heading toward a recovery.
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Descartes Connects Global Trade Through Data
- Descartes builds the digital and data architecture that connects about 30,000 global companies across logistics use cases.
- Their network supports fleet management, TMS, warehouse optimization, and global trade compliance, enabling visibility and compliant transactions.
Current Conflict Is One More Layer In Post-COVID Volatility
- Recent Middle East conflict is another shock layered onto six years of pandemic-era volatility in global trade.
- Jackson Wood frames the period as pre- and post-COVID with cascading shocks like tariffs and Russia–Ukraine causing persistent uncertainty.
Effects Vary By Sector With Energy Facing Acute Risk
- Impacts from the Iran conflict will vary by business: crude transport through the Strait of Hormuz faces acute challenges while other sectors see rate and capacity fluctuations.
- Expect availability, short-term cost spikes, and scramble for warehouse space in affected lanes.