62 - Space oddity

BY DAVID BOWIE

“Houston, we have a problem.” That was Apollo 11.
“Hard rockers, we have a solution.” That’s ROCKCAST 62. 

Tune in and explore how digital twin technology took off in in space and is now set to rock your ready-mix and aggregate logistics right here on Earth.

60 - Go Your Own Way

BY FLEETWOOD MAC

In North America, truckers prefer long-nose rigs that look like they just rolled out of a Hollywood action movie. Elsewhere, truckers have embraced the flat-faced, cab-over-engine style.

What are the pros and cons of each model? Tune in as we put these two truck styles head-to-head.

59 - Looking out My Backdoor

BY CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL

People love roads, bridges, buildings - and ROCKAST. But when it comes to having a quarry in their backyard? That’s a different story.

Tune in as we’re tackling NIMBY – Not In My Backyard. Why is it so hard to get community support for quarry operations, even when they provide the essential materials we all depend on?

58 - Bring Me Some Water

BY MELISSA ETHERIDGE

Maintaining ready-mix consistency, whether in transit or on-site, is a critical challenge. Adding water? No, your mix doesn’t need a drink, it needs strength. Adding algorithms? Now that’s a solid strategy for a smarter transport plan.

Tune is as we explore how AI improves on-time performance and ultimately supports better concrete consistency. 

57 - Rock The NIght

BY EUROPE

Why does Sweden keep producing game-changers like Spotify and IKEA? We don’t know their secret, but in this episode, Paul and Dirk are joined by Håkan Holmgren, CEO of CheckProof, from Sweden.

Expect a high-energy mix of Swedish hard rock beats and game-changing insights that will shake up the way you think about maintenance and HSEQ management.

56 - While My Guitar Gently Weeps

BY THE BEATLES

In 1969, The Beatles recorded Abbey Road. Yesterday, ROCKCAST’s Fab Two recorded episode 56. 

It may not be legendary (yet), but it crosses into carbon fiber reinforced concrete -the next big hit in durability, sustainability, and future-ready construction.

55 - In The Year 2525

BY ZAGER & EVANS

In the year 2525, will ROCKCAST still be alive? We don’t know. Ask us again in 500 years. But in the year 2025, ROCKCAST is alive and kicking. Need a prove?

Tune in and learn more about the past, the present, and the future of AI in building materials logistics. 

54 - Light My Fire

BY THE DOORS

Today we honor the true rock star of construction: Joseph Aspdin. Never heard of him? In 1824, he shoved limestone into a kiln and lit up a fire inside, creating a powdery substance that would glue rocks together.

Tune in and learn more about the heritage of Portland cement and the future of cement logistics. 

53 - Kings and Queens

BY THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS

Logistics is a chessboard—one wrong move, and it’s checkmate. Logistics planners are grandmasters of their trade - no doubt about it. But a traditional manual approach to assign haulers can be costly. 

Why? Tune and learn how AI can make cost-cutting moves for you.

52 - Turn! TURN! Turn!

BY THE BYRDS

When it comes to ready-mix concrete, we at ROCKCAST leave no stone unturned. But how about recycled concrete? How about recycled construction and demolition waste (CDW)? 

No worries, this episode is all about building materials in a circular economy. And we’ll leave no stone unturned, unturned, unturned. Promised!

51 - Walk THis Way

BY RUN-DMC FEAT. AEROSMITH

What do you get when you mix rap music with rock music? Well, the coolest ROCKCAST episode ever. What the…??? you might say. Rap on ROCKCAST? Are you guys crazy?

Trust us and walk this way with us. This episode is all about collaboration in building materials logistics.

50 - 50 Ways To LEave yOur Lover

BY PAUL SIMON

How do you end a toxic relationship? Well, according to Paul Simon, there must be fifty ways to leave your legacy dispatch software.

The problem is all inside your head, the answer is easy if you take it logically: Just listen to this jubilee episode of ROCKCAST.

49 - Born to be Wild

BY STEPPENWOLF

Get your motor runnin’, head out on the highway… to AI. A Harley Davidson might not be the ideal vehicle for delivering building materials. But in this episode we’ll explore how AI can make our roads safer – for eighteen-wheelers and for two-wheelers.

Tune in and learn why road safety starts in the dispatch office.

48 - Rawhide

BY THE BLUES BROTHERS

Does your dispatch software have a cop motor to power your decision-making processes? Does it have cop tires to give your truck schedules the best traction? Does it have cop shocks to dampen all the potholes on the road to digital transformation?

No? Then tune in and learn how AI will keep your truck schedules rollin’, rollin’, rollin’.

47 - Dry County

BY BON JOVI

Data is the new oil, so they say. Does this old adage still hold true? Compared to the carbon reductions that the use of data offers, the carbon emissions of the IT infrastructure and the software itself is neglectable. But does that mean we should ignore it?

Tune in and learn how to turn data into clean energy that drives your logistics on the road to net-zero.

46 - Where The Streets Have No Name

I still haven’t found what I’m looking for... Construction sites are often located in places where the streets have no name yet. In fact, there are often no roads or buildings, let alone an address. But with a perishable product like ready-mix concrete, any delays are critical on the road to your customers.

Tune in and learn how to add precision and speed to your route planning.

45 - Rockin' all Over The World

BY STATUS QUO

Simon & Garfunkel, McCartney & Lennon, Plant & Page - legendary rock duos. Now meet the greatest duo in building materials logistics: ROCKCAST & SR MEASURE.

Tune in and hear from David Boardman, CEO of Stockpile Report, on the app that lets you measure and manage bulk inventory anytime - right from your iPhone.

44 - The Weight

BY THE BAND

It’s a simple equation. Ready-mix, cement, or aggregates logistics is all about weight. And every pound saved from a truck’s tare weight means more payload and greater profitability per job.

But aren't there better ways to boost the payload of your fleet? Sure. Tune in and learn why algorithms provide the highest gain in payload, productivity, and profitability. 

43 - Sweet Child O' Mine

BY GUNS N' ROSES

How often should you wash a ready-mix truck? Only when November rain hits? To ensure a top performance of your rolling equipment, regular cleaning is crucial. 

Truck schedules need regular cleaning too. Tune in to see how algorithms help dispatchers avoid a build-up of unfinished jobs and keep things running smooth.

42 - WASTED YEARS

BY IRON MAIDEN

Douglas Adams said “42” is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. In episode 42 we try to answer the ultimate question of building materials logistics: When is the best time to embark onto the road to digital transformation?

Tune in and learn why you shouldn’t waste any more time and start your journey now.

41 - Blackbird

BY ALTER BRIDGE

Binoculars up, volume on: we’re bird-watching in a quarry! We’ve spotted a beautiful blackbird that will give us a bird’s eye view on quarry restoration and biodiversity. 

Tune in and discover how reduced truck idling helps protect wildlife in and around quarries.

40 - Blue on Black

BY FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

How many KPIs do you really need? In building materials logistics, you're bound to run into plenty. But is there a golden number? 

Tune in as Paul unleashes his infamous “Five Finger KPI Punch” and breaks down the metrics that truly matter.

39 - Like A Rolling STone

BY BOB DYLAN

Striking the right cost balance when replenishing ready-mix plants - without hurting service levels - is no easy feat. Optimizing your sourcing means weighing both: product and transport costs. 

This episode might not win a Nobel Prize for podcasting, but it will deliver valuable insights on cutting costs with AI.

38 - DRIVer's Seat

BY SNIFF 'N' THE TEARS

With the boomer generation about to retire, the need for truck drivers is ever increasing. To make things worse, the trucking industry is struggling to attract and retain younger drivers, ultimately leading to a growing gap between the demand for freight transportation and driver availability.

Tune in and learn how AI can help to close the gap.

37 - The PRice

BY TWISTED SISTER

Dynamic pricing adjusts prices based on market demand. While common practice in many industries, neither the business models nor the technology of many building materials producers are currently designed for digital pricing.

Tune in to explore the tech behind digital pricing and how it could benefit our industry.

36 - Smoke on The Water

BY DEEP PURPLE

Many building materials producers are diving into data analytics. But with all the buzzwords flying around, it’s easy to get confused. 

Not a data scientist? No problem. Tune in to learn the key differences between a data lake and a data warehouse.

35 - BLVD of broken Dreams

BY GREEN DAY

The road to digital transformation often ends on the boulevard of broken dreams. But no worries, Paul and I fixed that boulevard. Now it’s safe to drive.

Want to give it a try? Tune in.

34 - POISON

BY ALICE COOPER

AI is a great remedy when it comes to optimizing your logistics. But like snake oil salesmen in the 19th century, some software vendors promise miraculous benefits that may not always align with reality or their capabilities.

Tune in and get your antidote now.

33 - Rhinestone Cowboy

BY GLEN CAMPBELL

Dispatching is like like a rodeo. Cowboys and dispatchers both face intense pressure and must make split-second decisions to ensure the safety and success of their action.

Saddle up your horses and tune in.

32 - Tribute

BY TENACIOUS D

The best software in the world? Selecting a suitable logistics software should follow the same logic used when buying a car. You may be tempted to pick a muscle car while all you need at this particular stage in your life is a family van. 

Tune and learn how to find the right software for your business needs.

31 - ACE OF Spades

BY MOTÖRHEAD

Warning advice: Gambling with your logistics can be financially risky. As a dispatcher, the odds are against you. New orders arrive, existing ones change, and cancellations hit without warning. If no countermeasures are taken, your entire plan can collapse like a house of cards.

Tune in and discover how to stack the deck in your favor.

30 - NUtbush CitY Limits

BY TINA TURNER

Simply The Best. When it comes to asphalt logistics, algorithms outperform legacy systems and human planners – in speed as well as quality. What‘s more, algorithms can take a larger range of variables into account and can process more data faster than the human mind can.

Tune in as Paul and Dirk head down highway number 19.

29 - DREam ON

BY AEROSMITH

Every software vendor strives to create groundbreaking products that wow existing customers and win over new ones. With today’s technology, almost anything is possible. So dream big, because even the sky is no longer the limit.

Join Paul and Dirk as they cut through the hype and explore what truly matters.

28 - MONEY FOR NOTHING

BY DIRE STRAITS

Customer service starts at the point of order taking. What many do not realize, logistics costs are also generated at the point of order taking. There are many challenges in placing an order that makes your customers and your logistics team happy. 

Tune in and learn how to turn your customer service team into rock stars. 

27 - Badlands

BY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Around the globe, algorithms have transformed the efficiency of ready-mix logistics. But market conditions and business practices differ from region to region, meaning the success of any optimization effort can vary just as much.

Tune in and learn what factors deliver great results.

26 - HARD ROCK HALleluja

BY LORDIE

Sustainability ratings help building materials producers assess the environmental and social impact of their products and supply chains. Scope 3 emissions throughout their supply chain should also be a part of that assessment. 

Tune in and learn how to lower the CO2 footprint or your logistics.

25 - DON't LOOK BACK IN ANGER

BY OASIS

At the height of his fame, Noel Gallagher once said: “We’re not arrogant, we just believe we’re the best band in the world.” With 25 ROCKCAST episodes under their belt, fame hasn’t gone to Paul and Dirk’s heads. But they do believe they host the best building materials podcast in the world..

Time to look back, not in anger. What went right, what went wrong? Tune into this anniversary episode.

24 - WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN

BY THE WHO

The Who were notorious for trashing hotel rooms and smashing guitars on stage. Dirk managed to convince Paul not to do the same with the ROCKCAST studio. Apart from that, it‘s a smashing episode.

Tune in and learn how to break down data silos in your supply chain.

23 - Man on the silver mountain

BY RAINBOW

The stockpile of ROCKCAST episodes is constantly growing. And our bi-weekly replenishment process is still running smoothly.

Tune in and follow Paul and Dirk as they climb on an aggregates stockpile and take a look at the Material Replenishment Process (MRP) in ready-mix logistics. 

22 - Summer of 69

BY BRYAN ADAMS

The summer of 69: Woodstock, flower power, and of course the Apollo moon landing. Here's the twist: 1969 was also the year INFORM was founded. While Santana was shredding the stage at Woodstock, INFORM emerged as a pioneer in applying applying AI algorithms to real-world business challenges. 

Tune in and learn all about the roots of AI in logistics.

21 - SMALL TOWN

BY JOHN MELLENCAMP

Small aggregates and ready-mix producers are the beating heart of our industry. Yet, many still believe, AI is just for the big players in our industry. 

Tune in  and follow Paul and I Dirk on a small town tour. Learn why our AI-Powered Transport Planning software isn’t just for the big players. 

20 - OVER THE HILLS

BY GARY MOORE

With EV trucks on the rise, what’s the challenge with this technology for your building materials logistics? How steep is the road to net-zero? In this episode Paul and Dirk turn off the diesel engine and go electric. 

Tune in and learn all about the nuts of bolts of electrification and what impact this has on your transport planning.

19 - GIMME ALL YOUR LOVIN'

BY ZZ TOP

Overhauling your logistics IT is like restoring a classic car: it takes blood sweat, and tears. But whether it’ a vintage car or a vintage dispatch software, any expert will tell you: it’s all in the prep work. 

Tune in and hear how Paul and I crank up ZZ Top’s legendary Eliminator hotrod and take it out for a spin on the road to AI.

18 - MORE THAN A FEELING

BY BOSTON

We are thrilled to have our first-ever guest speaker on the show: David Boardman, founder and CEO at EveryPoint and Stockpile Reports. While the lyrics of the song he picked are all about the feelings that old familiar music invokes in us, he clearly makes his point:

"Dispatch decisions should be made on more than a feeling."

17 - THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT

BY NAZARETH

Ho Ho Ho. On his final dry run before Xmas, Santa quickly stopped by and rocked the ROCKCAST studio. A red-nosed reindeer, a wooden sleigh, and a white-bearded man – How can they speed up your building materials logistics?

Get your headphones ready, your eggnog poured, the volume turned up, and tune in.

16 - WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR

BY DISTURBED

Every year, idling truck engines burn through millions of liters of fuel. And with every wasted liter, more harmful CO2 is pumped into our atmosphere. A huge chunk of this waste comes down to poor planning and inefficient processes.

It’s time to put an end to it. Tune in and discover how to stop the madness.

15 - LOCOMOTIVE BREATH

BY JETHRO TULL

Moving sand, gravel, and crushed stone by rail generates far less CO₂ than moving them by road. And it can slash logistics costs at the same time.

Curious what a musician standing on one leg can teach a dispatcher about balancing rail and road shipments? Tune in and find out.

14 - TURN THE PAGE

BY METALLICA

Heavy metal concerts and building materials conferences actually share a surprising vibe. They both attract die-hard fans of heavy stuff. And in the end, you walk out hoarse, slightly dusty, and proudly wearing merch/giveaways that say you survived.

Join Paul and Dirk for a mosh pit in front of a conference stage and learn why in-person conferences still matter. 

13 - CHILD IN TIME

BY DEEP PURPLE

The line that’s drawn between good and bad data. When a musician hits the wrong key, you hear it instantly. But when a dispatcher hits the wrong key, the consequences may not become visible or audible for days, weeks, or even months. Especially in master data entry.

Tune in and listen to Paul and Dirk as they discuss why spending time on correct data entry is time well spent

12 - OBJECTS IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR

BY MEAT LOAF

A mirror, Meat Loaf and Machine Learning – what do they have in common? We'll find out in episode 12 of ROCKCAST.

11 - STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

BY LED ZEPPELIN

A stairway, a stockpile, and a song from the seventies – What do they have in common? We'll find out in episode 11 of ROCKCAST.

10 - HURT

BY JOHNNY CASH

+++ THE FIRST CAMPFIRE EPISODE +++
An old country singer and an old dispatcher – What do they have in common? We'll find out in episode 10 of ROCKCAST.

09 - HOLIDAY

BY SCORPIONS

Staff scheduling and truck scheduling – What do they have in common? We'll find out in episode 09 of ROCKCAST.

08 - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL

BY PINK FLOYD

We don‘t need no education – does this also apply to machine learning algorithms? We’ll find out in episode 08 of ROCKCAST.

07 - HERE I GO AGAIN

BY WHITESNAKE

A lonely dispatcher and a central customer service center – what do they have in common? We’ll find out in episode 07 of ROCKCAST.

06 - RADAR LOVE

BY GOLDEN EARRING

A trucker’s love and a trucks GPS signal – What do they have in common? We’ll find out in episode 06 of ROCKCAST.

05 - EYE OF THE TIGER

BY SURVIVOR

The punch of Rocky Balboa and the punch of algorithms – What do they have in common? We’ll find out in episode 05 of ROCKCAST.

04 - SATISFACTION

BY THE ROLLING STONES

Why is digitalization in the aggregates industry no guarantee for customer satisfaction? We’ll find out in episode 04 of ROCKCAST.

03 - JUMP

BY VAN HALEN

A high jumper and a concrete dispatcher – what do they have in common? We’ll find out in episode 03 of ROCKCAST.

02 - ENTER SANDMAN

BY METALLICA

The sandman and a travelling salesman – what do they have in common? We'll find out in episode 02 of ROCKCAST.

01 - WELCOME TO THE SHOW

BY BIFF BYFORD

What do you get when you mix hardrock and hard rocks? We'll find out in episode 01 of ROCKCAST.