Ice Road Truckers: Logistics rock stars

Ice Road Truckers - need I say more? I downloaded a free preview version from iTunes last week and I was on the edge of my seat for the entire 45 minutes.


If you are not aware of the new show, it's on the History Channel at 10PM and it basically follows a group of insane truckers that are driving on ice, yes, ice to the remote parts of Northern Canada for diamond and coal mines. They only have 60-70 days to drive on the ice before it melts and roads are not an option, because they simply don't exist. Some of the loads topple 33,000 pounds as they across 350 miles of 16 inch ice. It's really incredible. Obviously, it's all about the payday. Most of them make enough in 60-70 days to equal an annual salary, unfortunately their lives are at risk.

If the supply chain were a music genre, these guys would be Led Zeppelin, because they are rock stars. The show details a few local logistics firms that work in the region that tweak the trucks for the extreme cold, -30 degrees, and who also schedule the deliveries as they need to keep a distance from each other or they could create under ice waves that could crack the entire surface. This is must see TV.

I'm off to warm Italy next week for vacation, but rest easy, I'll try to come back with some local supply chain news from the island of Capri.

Supply Chain Managment Association Opens in Second Life

Okay, so I admit it, Second Life is growing on me. What I thought was just a virtual world for introverts and other anti social freaks it is actually very practical. For example, IBM is hosting virtual team meetings and is even doing job recruiting. But what caught my eye today while I was flying around is that the Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA) at the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University has opened a Second Life office (see photo of my virtual me, Sac Racer, hanging out in the SCMA lobby)

On entrance into the virtual building visitors can pick up a business card with the following introduction:

"The Supply Chain Management Association is dedicated to helping consumers and businesses buy goods and services more effectively in Second Life.

From Electronic Reverse Auctions to consumer advocacy seminars, this organization will lead the way in making sure money in SL is well spend, and suppliers are kept honest.

If you share our consumer-oriented goals, please join our organization (it's free-of course). And if you're a business owner looking to better understand your supplier base, just have a look around our office and see if membership would be right for you.

After all, you work hard for your money... why waste it?"

While the location doesn't offer more functionality then a business card, perhaps this is why a press release hasn't been issued yet, I applaud the efforts of the SCMA for reaching out to new audiences. After all that is a charter goal of any association.

To visit the SCMA building click on this SLURL (you'll need to have Second Life installed) http://slurl.com/secondlife/Banshee/23/233/73