Graphing the Shifts: Exploring Heavy Trucks, Mass Transit, Warehouse Automation, and More

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Port Time: Importally Hilarious!

Import dwell time by ports and country. 

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Walkin' on the Wild Side

Pedestrian deaths on the rise.

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Heavy Truck Sales: Weightlifting Success!

Heavy truck sales (more than 14,000 lbs.) are up in April compared to the previous year. It is worth noting that sales plummeted during the Great Recession, reaching a low of 180,000. However, by 2019, sales had rebounded and reached an all-time high of 570,000. In April 2023, sales experienced another increase and came close to reaching the previous record."

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Tesla's Surplus: Charged Overstock!

Tesla's surplus supply reflects a decline in demand for EVs and the slowdown of the nation's economy. It also accounts for Tesla's recent price reductions across various models."

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Pandemic-Pounded Public Transit

Mass transit never recovered from the drop caused by the pandemic. Ridership peaked in 2014 and fell by 8% by 2019. It further plummeted during the pandemic and has remained significantly below historical levels.

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Warehouses: Automagically Transforming Efficiency

Warehouse automation is predicted to spread rapidly. By 2027, over a quarter (26%) of warehouses are expected to have some form of automation installed, indicating an increased penetration rate. This marks a significant rise from the 18% recorded in 2021.

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Freight Slump: Ship-tastrophe Strikes!

This chart is derived from U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index data showing the recent freight shipment slump occurring in most regions –  except the Southwest. 

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Cargo Calm: Waiting Game

Expect import container volumes to remain well below last year's levels until inflation rates and inventory surpluses diminish.

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Confidence Rates: Powell-er Failure

Americans exhibit very little confidence in Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, with only 36% expressing a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in his ability to do the right thing for the U.S. economy. This marks the lowest reading Gallup has recorded for any prior Fed Chair.

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Supply Chain Salaries: Ascending Logistics

According to a new report from the Association of Supply Chain Management, the salaries of supply chain professionals rose by 3% year-over-year, reaching a median annual income of $98,570 in 2023. Additionally, workers with less tenure received more consistent raises compared to their more experienced counterparts.

Here is the overall salary picture by supply chain titles.

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Canal in Drought: Ship Happens

The past few months in Panama have been unusually dry, significantly affecting the productivity of the canal. Insufficient water levels have led to vessel restrictions and a decrease in the movement of goods through the canal.

This chart illustrates the percentage of normal rainfall during the February-April period. While 2021 and 2022 experienced above-average precipitation, 2023 is tied for the lowest percentage since 2019, with approximately 60% of normal rainfall. Unfortunately, forecasters see no signs of improvement. In 2019, the drought persisted into the summer, resulting in significant shipping impacts that rippled through the entire global supply chain.

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Spending Spree Index: Consumeromics

The components of the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index, excluding energy, reflect changes in the prices of goods and services purchased by consumers. It is evident that the pandemic accelerated trends. Since 2021, all components have been growing at annual rates higher than 2%.

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