Penn State CSCR: Unpacked: Insights (formerly Penn State Supply Chain Podcast)
Building the Benchmark: IWLA & Penn State's 3PL Warehouse Impact Study
Why It Matters
Understanding the true economic impact and performance metrics of third‑party warehousing is critical for policymakers, investors, and supply‑chain leaders as the sector underpins the flow of goods across North America. The study’s benchmark data will help 3PL operators benchmark against peers, advocate more effectively, and improve safety and efficiency, making the episode especially relevant as the industry navigates post‑COVID volatility and rapid technology adoption.
Key Takeaways
- •IWLA partners Penn State for first 3PL warehouse impact study.
- •Study creates standardized benchmark data for North American 3PL warehouses.
- •Transparency, technology, and advocacy drive core industry transformations.
- •Member participation essential; survey covers diverse warehouse sizes, regions.
- •Warehouse Advocacy Fund finances research, legal actions, industry growth.
Pulse Analysis
The International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) has teamed with Penn State’s Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research to launch the inaugural 3PL Warehouse Impact Study. This collaboration bridges academic rigor with industry insight, aiming to capture the economic footprint of third‑party logistics providers across North America. By establishing a unified data set, the study promises to illuminate how 3PL warehouses contribute to GDP, employment, and product flow—information that has long been fragmented across NAICS categories and anecdotal reports.
Supply chain leaders face mounting pressure to demonstrate transparency, adopt advanced technology, and navigate volatile market conditions. The IWLA study addresses these challenges by delivering standardized benchmarks on facility size, labor productivity, safety performance, and revenue metrics. With consistent, comparable data, operators—from small regional hubs to global giants like DHL, UPS, and FedEx—can gauge their performance against peers, identify best practices, and make data‑driven investment decisions. The research also equips policymakers with concrete evidence of the sector’s critical role, strengthening advocacy efforts for infrastructure and regulatory support.
Success hinges on broad participation. IWLA encourages every 3PL warehouse, regardless of scale or geography, to complete the 15‑minute survey, designating an internal champion to ensure comprehensive input. The Warehouse Advocacy Fund underwrites this initiative, covering research costs and legal actions that protect industry interests. As more firms contribute, the resulting insights will refine benchmarking tools, inform future phases of the study, and ultimately elevate the competitiveness of North American warehousing on a global stage.
Episode Description
In this episode, Donna and Tom welcome Jay Strother, president & CEO of the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA), and J.C. Capron, director of strategic initiatives for IWLA, to discuss a groundbreaking research initiative that will quantify the economic and workforce impact of 3PL warehouses across North America. Jay and J.C. explain how IWLA serves its diverse membership, from household names like UPS and FedEx to multi-generational family-owned operations, through education, advocacy, and industry-leading resources like their popular podcast. The conversation centers on the ongoing 3PL Warehouse Impact Study, a collaborative effort with Penn State Smeal's Center for Supply Chain Research designed to provide credible, aggregate data that tells the industry's story with authority.
Takeaways:
IWLA's mission to support 3PL warehouse operators through education, advocacy, and research
The importance of the 3PL Warehouse Impact Study in benchmarking industry contributions
How the Warehouse Advocacy Fund supports critical industry initiatives
Why participation from companies of all sizes matters for credible, protected data
Stay connected with CSCR on LinkedIn (Center for Supply Chain Research) and Instagram (@pennstatesupplychain), and be sure to follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you are tuning into Unpacked: Insights hosted by the Penn State Smeal Center for Supply Chain Research™. Thank you for joining us!
Visit our website: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr
Guest Bios:
Jay Strother serves as president & CEO of the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA), a position he has held since 2023. Strother joined IWLA in 2011 as vice president and executive director of IWLA Canada before assuming his current role.
Strother brings decades of association management, communications, and marketing experience to the position. Prior to IWLA, Strother held senior roles at SmithBucklin and the Association of Legal Administrators, where he oversaw editorial, advertising, and design functions and helped shape the association's digital presence. He also served as director of communications at the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce early in his career.
He holds a bachelor's degree with honors in English and communications from the University of Tulsa.
Jay Capron (J.C.) serves as the director of strategic initiatives for the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) where he provides leadership in advocacy, marketing and communications, and strategic planning to advance the association’s growth initiatives.
Capron brings more than 20 years of experience as a professional broadcaster in the radio industry, along with extensive leadership experience in the manufacturing and nonprofit sectors.
Prior to joining IWLA, Capron served as director of communications and government affairs for ND Paper, the U.S. subsidiary of Nine Dragons, one of the world’s largest containerboard manufacturers. In this role, he developed and strengthened relationships with key government stakeholders while leading the execution of a comprehensive strategic communications program.
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