DOT’s “Call to Action” aims to reduce road fatalities in partnership with private sector
Good morning! Today, we would like to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate National Thank A Mail Carrier Day. This special day is dedicated to recognizing the hard work and dedication of our mail carriers, who play a crucial role in the delivery of letters, packages, and parcels across the country. They are the unsung heroes who tirelessly work to keep our supply chain running smoothly, ensuring that we receive the items we need when we need them. So, let's take a moment to show our appreciation and thank our mail carriers for their hard work and commitment to serving our communities. 💌
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Road fatalities are at historic highs. Some are connecting dangerous driving during the pandemic to the recent surge, and the Department of Transportation wants to do something about it. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the DOT’s latest initiative in partnership with many businesses and nonprofits to bring the horrifying number of traffic fatalities down. Companies partnering with the DOT include Uber, Lyft, and Honda.
Check out today’s featured article from AP News to read about the DOT’s latest campaign “Call to Action” and its combined efforts with other businesses and nonprofits to reduce road fatalities on United States roadways. Together, can the public and the private sector create safer roadways for all? ☕️
Featured Article:
Companies pledge millions in fed effort to stem road deaths | AP News
“Nearly 50 businesses and nonprofits — including rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, industrial giant 3M and automaker Honda — are pledging millions of dollars in initiatives to stem a crisis in road fatalities under a new federal effort announced Friday.”
Company Culture & Labor Issues 💻
For company culture’s sake, many employers are asking their remote workers to come back to the office
The Covid-19 pandemic sent the vast majority of office workers home to work from the living rooms and kitchen tables. Many grew accustomed to the switch, but companies are now asking their employees to come back to the office - either full-time or on a new hybrid schedule. While there has been significant push-back, some are claiming that the workplace culture is what binds a company together… and a 10-minute Zoom call every other day cannot cut it.
It isn’t just a question of community and camaraderie. Many companies believe that in-person collaboration and teamwork are essential to the success of their business and can be difficult to achieve through remote work. Additionally, some companies may be more concerned about potential cybersecurity threats and feel more comfortable with having employees work in a secure office environment. Overall, each company may have its own specific reasons for asking remote workers to return to the office, and the decision will likely be influenced by a variety of factors, including company culture, technology, and the nature of the work being performed.
Sustainability & Fuel Tech ⛏️
The global race to find the next EV-mineral pot of gold
Countries around the world are scrambling to mine critical rare earth minerals because they are essential components in the production of a wide range of clean energy technologies, including wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles. These minerals are called "critical" because they are not widely available and are essential to the development of new technologies. As countries aim to transition towards a net zero future, the demand for these minerals is rapidly increasing. The production of clean energy technologies requires large quantities of rare earth minerals, and securing a reliable supply is essential to ensuring the continued growth of the renewable energy sector. Additionally, the global push towards a green economy has led to an increase in the demand for other technologies that rely on these minerals, such as batteries for energy storage and advanced manufacturing processes.
However, the mining and refining of rare earth minerals are often environmentally and socially controversial, and many countries are seeking to establish their own domestic supply chains to reduce their dependence on other countries and to ensure the responsible extraction and production of these minerals.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🔋 The electric vehicle transition isn’t all butterflies and rainbows. Electric vehicles are often more expensive than their internal combustion engine counterparts, making them less accessible to the average consumer. Despite advances in battery technology, many electric vehicles still have a limited range, which can make long-distance driving challenging and can also limit the appeal of electric vehicles to consumers. While charging infrastructure is improving, there are still concerns about the availability and accessibility of charging stations, particularly in rural or remote areas. Electric vehicle batteries are large and complex, and the recycling and disposal of these batteries can be a challenge, particularly in countries with limited waste management infrastructure. Overall, the transition to a market of fully electric vehicles is complex and multi-faceted, and there are valid concerns and criticisms that need to be addressed in order to ensure a successful transition.
⚖️ Where there is a new technology, there are lawsuits. The age of Artificial Intelligence may be finally settling upon us, and lawsuits are already being filed against some of the biggest names in the game. ChatGPT has taken the world by a storm - some college students utilizing the app to write term papers and some companies (such as Buzzfeed) admitting they are using the AI bot to write their articles. Fall of 2022, anonymous copyright owners sued Open AI and Microsoft over allegedly infringing upon the rights of Github.
👑 Amazon had a tough year, but its goals are still enormous. Amazon, the “everything store” has become a regular staple in households across the globe. While the company announced a round of 18,000 layoffs recently, it doesn't change the trajectory of the company that wants to eclipse past its reputation of the quickest way to get anything delivered to your home. Amazon is now reaching its tendrils into the businesses involved in its marketplace, and even governments. Regulators should be wary…
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.