Gen Z Job Gaps, Venezuelan Oil Tariffs & Norfolk Southern’s $9B Rail Push
Good morning! ☀️
Happy Friday, friends. Gen Z isn’t ghosting the workforce—they’ve just been handed a GPS with no signal. Over 4 million young adults in the U.S. (and 100K in the U.K.) aren’t in school or working, and it’s not laziness—it’s a broken system with unclear paths.
Meanwhile, Reliance Industries is slamming the brakes on Venezuelan oil imports thanks to a looming 25% U.S. tariff. Energy geopolitics, anyone?
And in brighter news, rail’s getting a glow-up: Norfolk Southern is investing $9B across 450+ projects to bring some serious muscle to American reindustrialization. Stefan Loeb says it best: rail’s not just steel wheels anymore—it’s the future of freight.
Let’s dash. 👇
“I don’t believe in luck, I believe in preparation.”
Gen Z's Job Gap Isn’t Laziness—It’s a System Failure
Over 4 million Gen Zers in the U.S. and another 100K in the U.K. aren’t in school or working—and it’s not because they’re lazy.
They’ve been sold the four-year degree as the “only” path, only to graduate into a job market that’s locked up tight. Meanwhile, trades and skilled roles are sitting wide open, waiting to be filled.
🔗 Why It Matters:
Here’s the thing: in transportation and logistics, we need that talent. CDL drivers, warehouse techs, dispatchers, mechanics—these are solid careers with real growth, but we’re not doing a great job showing Gen Z what’s possible.
🔥 Hot Take:
The real “worthless degree” is the one that never mentions trades.
Let’s stop pointing fingers and start creating better pathways. Speak their language. Build real bridges between education and opportunity. Show them the future isn’t just in tech—it’s in trucks too.
Reliance Halts Venezuelan Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Threat
Reliance Industries—operator of the world’s largest refinery—is hitting pause on Venezuelan oil imports after the U.S. dropped a 25% tariff threat on countries buying from the South American nation. That’s about 2 million barrels a month suddenly off the table.
Their April shipment? Still a maybe. But what’s certain is this: crude routes are shifting, and that impacts everyone—especially those of us in transportation and logistics.
✅ Why it matters:
Less Venezuelan crude means changes in tanker demand, rerouted shipping lanes, tighter fuel supply, and rising costs. If Reliance has to source elsewhere, that sends ripple effects across global logistics planning.
🔥 Hot Take:
Tariffs don’t just target economies—they jam up supply chains. Freight doesn’t move in a vacuum. When oil politics heat up, the logistics industry better be ready to pivot.
Norfolk Southern Bets Big on Rail for Reindustrialization
On FreightWaves’ Bring It Home podcast, VP Stefan Loeb shared that the railroad is investing $9B across 450+ projects aimed at powering American reindustrialization. We’re talking infrastructure upgrades, tighter partnerships with businesses, and more visibility across the board.
The mission? Make rail a go-to for industrial freight—safe, sustainable, and now... smarter. Norfolk Southern’s also pushing to level up its tech game to compete with the app-driven convenience of trucking.
🔎 Why It Matters:
This isn’t just a rail company expansion—it’s a wake-up call. If you're in logistics, it means new lanes, new customers, and new chances to plug into a more connected, rail-powered ecosystem.
🔥 Hot Take:
Rail’s not stuck in the past—it’s quietly gearing up to take the lead. Don’t miss the train.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for March 31 2025, from iLevel Logistics Inc.