🚂 Phoenix Rail Phusion
Good morning! In the brisk December air, as the world ushers in the season of festivities, we at "The Workday Dash" reflect on a different kind of celebration – Universal Human Rights Month. While the holidays bring joy, togetherness, and cherished traditions, it is essential to pause and recognize the importance of human rights. In the realm of supply chain and logistics, our work is deeply intertwined with the principles of fairness, equality, and respect for all.
Join us as we delve into stories of inclusivity, sustainability, and the vital role that supply chain professionals play in shaping a world where every individual's rights are honored and protected. Welcome to the December edition of "The Workday Dash.”💪🏼😁
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Union Pacific Expands Green Intermodal Network with New Phoenix Terminal
Union Pacific Railroad is set to open a new international intermodal terminal in Phoenix in Q1 2024. This terminal, located in the downtown rail yard, aims to provide a sustainable, cost-effective rail option for Arizona's regional shippers and receivers, reducing truck traffic on congested highways and contributing to emissions reduction. Duncan & Son Lines will offer drayage support for international container transportation from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, further enhancing this initiative to shift from long-haul trucking to greener rail transportation.
This expansion of Union Pacific's intermodal network, the largest in North America, emphasizes the company's commitment to comprehensive coast-to-coast services, allowing customers to transition from trucking to rail transport and saving 380 miles of truck miles between Los Angeles and Phoenix, resulting in significant greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
Check out today’s featured article from AJOT to learn more about Union Pacific and what their latest move is. Will this be a huge step for the railroad? Will more money be collected from the new Arizona terminal?
Featured Article
Union Pacific to open new intermodal terminal in heart of Phoenix | AJOT
“Union Pacific Railroad plans to open a new international intermodal terminal in the heart of Phoenix, providing customers a sustainable rail option between ocean ports in the Los Angeles Basin and the nation’s fast-growing Southwest region.”
Funding & Infrastructure
FTA Grants $220.2 Million for Modernizing U.S. Ferry Systems Under Biden's Infrastructure Law
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced $220.2 million in grants to modernize the nation’s ferry systems, facilitated through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These grants will enhance ferry services in rural communities, facilitate the acquisition of modern, low-emission ferry boats, and upgrade supporting shore infrastructure.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the crucial role of ferries in connecting communities to essential services and jobs, highlighting the potential for ferry routes to serve as critical transportation links. The grants will fund various projects across eight states and American Samoa, supporting fleet expansion, new terminal construction, and vessel replacements, with a focus on improving reliability and connectivity.
Candy & Child Labor
Mars Commits to Eliminate Child Labor from Supply Chain by 2025 Amid CBS News Allegations
Candy manufacturer Mars has pledged to eradicate child labor from its supply chain by 2025 following a CBS News report linking child labor to its cocoa sourcing for products like M&M's and Snickers. Mars acknowledged that more than 65% of its West African cocoa supply chain is currently in compliance with its standards. However, CBS News alleged that Mars is further from reaching its goal than it publicly claims, citing instances of falsified paperwork and a lack of verification of child labor practices by field supervisors from small subsistence farms.
Mars condemned the use of child labor and stated that it is urgently investigating the claims made by CBS News, ready to take appropriate action against any non-compliant suppliers.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Checking out the scoop outside of the United States…
🌊 Panama Canal Restrictions Cause Delays for Bulk Goods Vessels Compared to Container Ships. The Panama Canal is imposing size and number restrictions on vessels due to the ongoing Central American drought, particularly affecting tankers and bulk freighters. While liner shipping has faced minimal consequences so far, draught reductions are impacting container capacity, which could lead to increased shipping costs and potential impacts on container prices in the future.
🤖 Pony.Ai’s Self-Driving Trucks Approved for Convoy Tests in China. Pony.ai has received a license to conduct "platooning" tests of its autonomous trucks on public roads in Guangzhou, China, allowing multiple autonomous trucks to travel in convoy formation. The approval acknowledges Pony.ai's achievements in research and development, cementing its role in China's automated driving sector, with platooning offering benefits such as cost reduction, improved efficiency, and lower carbon emissions.
🛢 OPEC+ Reaches Consensus for Increased Production Cuts to Prevent Supply Glut. OPEC+ has agreed to increase its production cuts by an additional 1 million barrels per day due to concerns about declining oil prices and a potential surplus in 2024. Saudi Arabia will extend its voluntary output reduction of the same magnitude into the next year, with individual production levels to be announced by each member country separately.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🔋 Forum Mobility Unveils Electric Drayage Truck Charging Depot in Port of Long Beach. Forum Mobility has introduced a high-speed charging depot for heavy-duty trucks at the Port of Long Beach, with a focus on supporting the transition of California's drayage fleet to zero-emission vehicles. The strategic location near terminals has garnered interest from drayage carriers, and Forum Mobility aims to establish a network of charging depots at key locations to promote electric vehicle adoption.
📉 Federal Reserve's Preferred Inflation Gauge Indicates Cooling Price Pressures. The Commerce Department's report indicates that the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure remained stable in October, showing a slowdown in price pressures, influenced by high interest rates and slower economic growth. Consumer prices remained unchanged from September to October, with a year-over-year inflation rate of 3%, marking the lowest rate in over 2.5 years. Core prices, excluding volatile food and energy costs, also slowed, rising by 0.2% from September to October, with a year-over-year increase of 3.5% in October, slightly below September's rate.
🚛 Predatory Towing Practices Can Significantly Inflate Fleet Expenses, Study Finds. Predatory towing practices in the trucking industry, including excessive hourly or per-pound rates and unwarranted additional charges, are causing significant issues for drivers and fleets, according to a study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). The study highlights that excessive rates and additional charges have the most significant impact on trucking companies, leading to challenges and financial burdens.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
📦 FedEx and UPS Gain Market Share on Black Friday at the Expense of Regional Carriers. National carriers like FedEx and UPS have increased their market share on Black Friday by offering rate discounts to attract more volume into their networks, reversing the trend seen during the COVID-19 pandemic when smaller regional carriers gained prominence. However, the shift in market share is more noticeable on Black Friday compared to the peak season, which still largely maintains a similar national vs. regional carrier split as the previous year, according to ProShip.
👱🏼♀️ JB Hunt’s Shelley Simpson Named 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking. Shelley Simpson, President of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, has received the 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking Award from the Women In Trucking Association and Daimler Truck North America for her remarkable contributions to the trucking industry and dedication to promoting gender diversity in transportation. Throughout her nearly three-decade career at J.B. Hunt, Simpson has played a pivotal role in fostering leadership and growth opportunities within the profession, rising through the ranks to become President in 2022.
💰ATA Voices Concerns Over Proposed Legislation on Trucker Compensation. The American Trucking Association (ATA) opposes the Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act, a legislative proposal introduced in Congress. ATA argues that the bill, which aims to change compensation structures for certain commercial drivers, could disrupt the established employer-employee relationships, potentially harming the supply chain and reducing driver pay while eliminating jobs in the trucking industry.