🍻🚛💰 Uber’s Last Call, IMC Hydrogen Shift, & Biden Charging Forward
Good morning! ☀️
Bundle up, it's a chilly Wednesday morning in January, and your daily supply chain fix is here!
Grab that cup of steaming coffee, because we're serving up some spicy supply chain gossip to warm up your day. Whether you're a supply chain pro or just someone who appreciates a well-executed logistics dance, we've got you covered. Let's defrost those brain cells and dive into today's sizzling supply chain news. ☕️
“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”
Uber | Delivery | App
Uber to Close Drizly Alcohol Delivery App
Uber is saying goodbye to Drizly, the alcohol delivery app it bought for $1.1 billion three years ago. Drizly will stop operating at the end of March, but customers can still order until then. Uber wants to focus on its core Uber Eats strategy, where people can order a variety of items all in one app, including food, groceries, and alcohol. Although Uber will shut down Drizly, it plans to use the knowledge it gained to improve its own beverage delivery services, known as "BevAlc." This move makes sense as most of Drizly's customers also use Uber, which could lead to some benefits for the company.
Read more about this at ABC News >
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MY INDUSTRY?
It's a sign of the times in the on-demand delivery world. Knowing what's up in the market and what people want is the key to staying in the game for logistics companies. Drizly was all about getting your booze delivered, but it was cozy with Uber Eats too. That shows how important it is for delivery services to mix things up and offer more than one service. People are all about convenience… and they want it all.
The Drizly closure might not rock the boat in trucking and logistics, but it's like a crystal ball for relevant market trends, competition, mixing services, and keeping your data safe.
🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?
This is a classic case of "out with the old, in with the new." Uber seems to be going all-in on Uber Eats, which makes sense from a business perspective. But for fans of Drizly, it's like losing your favorite neighborhood bar. Sure, we understand the need to streamline and focus on core strategies, but there's something about the simplicity of tapping an app for your favorite bottle of wine or craft beer. It was revolutionary, especially during those cozy nights in when you had no desire to leave your couch.
But Uber promises to learn from Drizly's legacy. So maybe… just maybe… we'll see some of that convenience and selection trickle into Uber Eats. Until then, we'll raise a glass to Drizly and the good times it delivered, pun intended.
Biden | EV | Charging
Biden Administration Pledges $623 Million for Electric Vehicle Charging Network Expansion
The Biden administration is investing $623 million in the electric vehicle charging network, focusing on helping disadvantaged communities and freight trucks. They also see the importance of electric and zero-emission trucks for the future of transportation. Efforts are underway to reduce carbon emissions in the freight and maritime industries. Declining prices and economies of scale are making electric and hydrogen-powered trucks more affordable. Moving away from fossil fuels will have long-term benefits for the environment. Challenges remain, including getting the public to accept electric vehicles, but these projects are crucial for a greener, fairer, and more sustainable future. The expansion of the EV infrastructure will add around 170,000 charging stations nationwide, reaching 500,000 by 2026, ahead of schedule. These efforts represent significant progress toward a cleaner and more prosperous transportation system.
Read more about this at TT News >
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MY INDUSTRY?
A whopping $623 million cash injection into the electric vehicle charging networwill do wonders to expand the infrastructure that EVs - including those freight-hauling big rigs - need. With more charging stations on the map, it's getting easier for logistics leaders to ponder switching to EVs.
The focus on helping disadvantaged communities and greening up freight trucks tells us one thing: the industry is fired up about cutting emissions and being kinder to our planet.
Additionally, the declining EV prices and the promise of long-term savings are the financial carrots dangling before our eyes. Planning budgets, managing operational costs, and thinking about overall profitability - each is part of the game when considering a switch to cleaner energy sources.
🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?
While the push for cleaner, greener trucks is all the rage, it's worth wondering if we're trading one set of problems for another. Electric and hydrogen-powered trucks might save the environment, but what about those who currently rely on diesel for those long-haul journeys? Are we asking them to choose between the planet's future and their livelihoods?
Speaking of choices, should governments be forcing the trucking industry into this eco-friendly corner? Regulations mandating zero-emission trucks sound noble, but what if some logistics companies simply can't afford to make the switch? Are we risking putting small and struggling businesses out of commission?
So, while we applaud the intentions behind this funding… let's not lose sight of the fact that the logistics world is navigating some choppy waters. It's a tricky balancing act between sustainability and practicality, and it's bound to ruffle a few feathers along the way.
IMC | Hydrogen | Mandate
IMC Shifts to Hydrogen-Powered Trucks to Meet California Emissions Mandate
IMC, the leading US container transportation company, has placed an order for 50 Nikola fuel-cell trucks to replace its battery-electric vehicles following unsatisfactory results from two years of testing. While California mandates zero-emission trucks for drayage by 2035, IMC chose hydrogen fuel cells due to their longer range, although concerns remain about the hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
Read more about this at Hydrogen Insight >
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MY INDUSTRY?
California's throwing down the gauntlet with new rules - demanding that all of the state’s drayage trucks need to be emissions-free by 2023. They're on a mission to boot fossil-fuel trucks out of the ports by 2035, and trust me… that's a colossal shift for the trucking companies hustling in the Golden State.
IMC is making a very bold move into the hydrogen fuel-cell truck game, and it's a sign that the industry is dead serious about going green. Hydrogen's the cool new kid on the block, especially for those long-haul routes where electric trucks just can't quite keep up.
However… we're in desperate need of more spots to top off those hydrogen tanks. Right now, they're as rare as unicorns, and that's causing some major headaches for companies like IMC.
🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?
It's awesome that the trucking industry is going all-in on zero-emission vehicles to fight climate change. But here's what's on our mind - the rush to meet those rules.
Hydrogen trucks look cool, but this article makes very clear the hurdles logistics companies are dealing with. Electric batteries can hold a limited range and productivity, causing problems for long-haul truckers who clock in serious hours. We need tech that can handle the real-world trucking grind.
Plus, there aren't enough places to gas up those hydrogen rigs. Without a solid network of refueling spots, it's like having a sports car with no gas stations in sight. The industry and government need to continue to team up to fix that, so trucking companies can switch to greener tech without breaking a sweat.
We're all for cleaner trucks, but let's keep it real and make sure the trucking world can actually handle it. Jumping in without thinking about the practicalities of this shift could cause chaos in an industry that keeps everything moving through the supply chain.
Daily Riddle:
I uncover secrets, hidden and divine,
In a world of digits, I tirelessly shine.
Through mountains of numbers, patterns I seek,
In the realm of information, I'm quite unique.
What am I?
Jan 16 Answer: Delivery Service
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 22, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.