Construction supply chain anticipates more shortages and increased costs
Good morning! Happy Friday - TGIF. As the kids say… let’s get this bread. 🥐
“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” — Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist, and novelist
Supply chain issues have affected the construction industry since late 2020, and the problems don't seem to be being resolved anytime soon. Material prices are continuing to escalate and experts are weighing in: the persistent inflation in the United States will do nothing but expand upon these challenges.
Check out today’s featured article from Supply Chain Dive to read about the near future of the construction industry amid inflating prices of cement, insulation, lumber, steel, and drywall. ☕️
Featured Article:
More shortages and prices hikes forecasted for construction’s supply chain | Supply Chain Dive
“Analysts and contractors break down prices and lead times for concrete, cement, steel, lumber, insulation, drywall and HVAC equipment in the coming year.”
Compliance & Driver Safety 🚛
Operation Safe Driver Week shows speeding is the leading cause of driver citations
During Operation Safe Driver Week - a seven-day stretch of deliberate outreach and enforcement by the CVSA - more than 35,000 commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles were pulled over in the U.S. and Canada. This voluntary week-long campaign hopes to zero in on the biggest issues that cause driver-behavior-caused crashes.
Officers issued 8,586 speeding-related citations and issued an additional 7,299 warnings for this behavior. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than a quarter of traffic deaths are caused by speeding - equating to approximately 100,000 deaths. Shockingly, in 2020 alone, 11,258 speeding-related deaths were reported on U.S. roadways.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Season 1 Airplane GIF By Rick And Morty via GIPHY
✈️ Still battling Covid, China’s air traffic sinks to 35% of 2019 levels. While there have been many critics of China’s zero-Covid policy, it’s clear that the country’s flight activity is very indicative of the economic toll these policies are taking. Shukor Yusof, the founder of aviation consultancy Endau Analytics, shared the numbers, representing a drastic plummet over the past two months. Chongqing and Zhengzhou are effectively shut down due to localized lockdowns, Shanghai has restrictions on those entering the city, and Beijing is urging its dwellers to remain in the city.
😅 China’s leader Xi Jinping is facing angry citizens and a failing economy. The possibility of a public health crisis seems to be fueling the doubling-down of strict Covid lockdowns within the country. Xi Jinping and Beijing don’t look like they’ll be easing up either - the wave of protests is just another spark to signal that China’s government will continue to enforce in an escalating manner.
⛽️ Gasoline is now cheaper in the U.S. than it was prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The US average price per gallon for gasoline is now $3.47, sitting below the $3.54 price in February, prior to the invasion. A potential recession could be a major reason for the drop, which sat at a whopping $5.02 per gallon in June.
iLevel With You
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🚂 The House of Representatives passed legislation blocking a railroad labor strike. President Joe Biden publically urged Congress to intervene just two days prior, suggesting that a rail shutdown would devastate the economy. After posing himself as a “pro-labor” president, unions are now expressing frustration over Biden’s efforts to remove their “bargaining chip”. However, Congress’s decision is expected to side-swipe a potentially-crippling economic situation for every American.
✈️ Airlines look to building a future that will make up for 2022 travel woes. After headlines repeatedly highlighted lost bags, delayed flights, and very unhappy customers - US air travel is facing the future with new data in their hands. While there have been complaints of labor shortages being the culprit, a digital capability gap has also been the source of much confusion and frustration among flyers looking for quick updates on their travel plans.
📦 Many transport and logistics businesses grew during the 2020-2021 lockdowns. Career opportunities may be the silver lining found in the frustrations over the past several years - with the industry expanding with new roles, such as marketing, sales, and technology. Robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence seem to be at the forefront of technological innovation and pose many opportunities to those looking to break into the logistics industry.
GET SMART
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
⛽️ Diesel fuel prices remain high as regular gasoline continues to dip. Even while the price of oil falls, the price of diesel has remained stubbornly high, greatly affecting the trucking industry. Diesel prices have climbed about 50% over the course of 2022, while gasoline sits increased by about 14%.
👋 Bye-bye, TradeLens. Maersk and IBM have abandoned their plans to expand upon their joint blockchain-based global trade platform after it failed to gain enough traction and users. Originally launched in 2018 with the goal of promoting efficient global trade and tracking shipping containers across the world, there has been a lack of widespread industry participation.
🔋 Tesla may have moved to Austin, Texas, but it has California to thank for its semi-truck. The ultra-powerful California Air Resources Board played a massive role in Tesla’s development and growth before it left the Golden State, pushing the zero-emission vehicle mandate that required automakers that didn’t sell “enough” electric vehicles to purchase credits from Elon Musk’s famous EV company.
Maritime ⚓️
TEU: Definition, History, and Vessel Sizes | Inbound Logistics
In this Inbound Logistics article, the definition of TEU - or twenty-foot equivalent unit - is explained, along with its utility.
Business Strategy 💡
How Shippers Can Find Relief from Drayage Disruptions | Supply Chain Brain
Supply Chain Brain contributor Jenna Kuehn writes about the relationship between drayage and shippers.
Talking Logistics contributor Adrian Gonzalez writes about the opportunities today for improving straining supply chain solutions.
The Holiday Season Offers New Opportunities for Supply Chain Improvements | Flexport
The Flexport Editorial Team writes about what Black Friday and Cyber Monday can teach us about peak seasons in the upcoming years.
Driver Issues 🚛
Effectiveness of In-Cab Coaching for Trucking Fleets | Trucking Info
Trucking Info contributor Vesna Brajkovic writes about the realities behind training drivers on drive distraction.
American Politics 🇺🇸
IIJA’s Implementation Raises Concerns, Draws Praise at Senate EPW | TT News
TT News Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero writes about the ongoing discussions in congress over the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Rail 🚂
There is no substitution for a functioning rail network in the U.S., says Sec. Pete Buttigieg | CNBC
CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ holds a discussion with the Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Trucker’s Lounge 🧢
Easing on down the road: interview with Melissa Williams | DC Velocity
In this article, DC Velocity Senior Editor Victoria Kickham interviews Melissa Williams, an independent owner-operator on the DC Velocity’s “Logistics Matters” podcast.
Trucker wins 50 grand on a run to Maryland | CDL Life
CDL Life contributor Wimberly Patton writes about a 35-year-old truck driver from Lorton, Virginia who won $50,000 in the lottery while running a load through Maryland.
Diversity 👩
3 Personal Insights for Women Breaking Through the Trucking Industry | Food Logistics
Food Logistics contributor Candace Davis from Davis & Davis Transportation LLC writes about what can be drawn from women breaking through in the transportation industry and why this is an exciting time.
Sustainability ♻️
Conference Board maverick driving sustainability change | Supply Chain Digital
Supply Chain Digital contributor Sean Ashcroft writes about The Conference Board's purpose as an agent of change in terms of the country’s sustainability efforts.
Network Association 🤝
Kroger, Albertsons CEOs Face Senate Questions Over Merger | TT News
TT News contributors Leah Nylen and Brendan Case write about the CEOs of Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos. being pressed by Congress to answer questions about their massive merger.
Exclusive look at WyoTech's expansion | Fleet Maintenance
Fleet Maintenance contributor Alex Keenan writes about the 90,000-sq.-ft. expansion of WyoTech’s Laramie, Wyoming, campus.
Compliance 📋
Tire chains: A state-by-state requirement guide | The Trucker
The Trucker contributor By John Worthen writes about the tire chains regulations among each of the fifty states.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 28, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.