💪🏼✈️✨ C.H. Robinson Revolution, Spirit Share Skyrocket, & Stellantis Spark

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Good morning! ☀️

It's a crisp Tuesday morning in January, and we're back with your daily dose. Grab your coffee, hit that snooze button one more time, and let's dive into some industry insights to kickstart your day. We've got you covered. 🚚☕

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“To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart.”

— Sr. Thomas Watson

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C.H. Robinson | Shipping | Electronic

C.H. Robinson Revolutionizes Shipping with Electronic Bills of Lading

C.H. Robinson digitizes bills of lading (eBOLs) with ten LTL carriers, planning to add four more. Over 17,000 customers adopted eBOLs last year. Greg West, VP of LTL, highlights the move's significance. eBOLs simplify extensive paperwork for LTL shipments with multiple customers and destinations. Drivers generate tracking numbers via API, scan them on arrival, and initiate tracking, reducing physical paperwork. C.H. Robinson achieves a 92% accuracy rate in predicting on-time LTL shipments and is the first 3PL to adopt eBOLs, supported by the NMFTA's Digital LTL Council. This transition modernizes logistics, improves efficiency, and enhances industry visibility, with other companies likely to follow suit soon.

Read more about this at Freight Waves >

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MY INDUSTRY?

C.H. Robinson jumping on the eBOL bandwagon is a big deal. eBOLs are a shortcut through the paperwork jungle. They cut down on manual tasks and easily made errors, making life easier for carriers, shippers, and the good people receiving the goods. Faster operations all around! No more guessing games. It's like having a live map for your shipments.

With eBOLs, it's a smooth ride for your customers too. No more hiccups caused by paperwork goof-ups. C.H. Robinson is leading the way, telling others in the businesses to ditch the paper and go digital. This move is all about getting with the times and making everything work better. Thanks to eBOL standards, everyone would be on the same page.

🔥  OUR HOT TAKE?

While C.H. Robinson's switch to eBOLs seems like a massive technological leap forward, let's not get too carried away with the hype. Sure, it streamlines some paperwork and offers real-time visibility, but does that really warrant all this excitement?

Let's not forget that the logistics industry has been chugging along just fine with traditional processes for ages. While eBOLs might be a nifty tool, they're not a silver bullet for all the industry's woes. Let’s not forget about the drivers who used to slap stickers and handle paperwork… are we leaving them behind in this digital race?

Being the first doesn't always mean being the best or most efficient. We shall see what happens next.

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Airlines | Merger | Shares

Shares Soar as Spirit and JetBlue Appeal Ruling Blocking Merger

Spirit Airlines stock rose about 10% after the news that both Spirit and JetBlue will challenge a judge's decision to stop their $3.8 billion merger. If the merger had gone through, it would have made them the fifth-largest airline in the U.S., but the judge was worried it would reduce competition and hurt travelers looking for low prices. Even though Spirit's stock initially dropped by more than 60% after the judge's ruling, it has gone up a bit after the appeal and a better financial forecast. JetBlue's stock also went up a little. Other airlines like Delta, American, and Southwest also saw small increases in their stock prices due to these events.

Read more about this at CNBC >

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MY INDUSTRY?

Airlines aren't just about passenger flights; they're also major players in hauling goods, especially time-sensitive stuff. So, any shake-ups in the airline scene can mess with the availability, cost, and efficiency of air cargo services - the lifeblood of the supply chain. When two big airlines merge, it can trigger changes in how they price their services, the routes they take, and the kind of services they offer. For the logistics and supply chain industry, this might mean rethinking budgets and choices for moving goods by air.

Airlines usually double-dip with passenger and cargo flights. So, if they start doing things differently, it can mess with how people travel and, in turn, mess with the demand for cargo space and logistics services linked to passenger flights. This merger appeal also brings up the behind-the-scenes drama in the airline industry, like rules and competition. Getting the lowdown on these details can give us a peek into how government decisions toss up the game and business tactics.

🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?

Ah, the world of corporate mergers and antitrust battles – it's a never-ending game of chess with billions of dollars on the line. The recent surge in Spirit Airlines shares is a real eyebrow-raiser.

While it's natural for stock prices to fluctuate based on such big news, we believe the appeal itself doesn't necessarily change the fundamental concerns raised by the judge's decision. The judge's ruling was rooted in antitrust concerns and the potential harm to competition in the airline industry. This likely remains a valid concern, and the appeal doesn't address those issues directly. The fact that Spirit's shares initially plummeted by over 60% following the ruling speaks volumes about the seriousness of these concerns.

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Stellantis | UAW | Concern

Stellantis' Workforce Changes Spark Concerns and Union Opposition

Stellantis is separating 539 extra workers from its U.S. manufacturing. This worries the United Auto Workers president. The employees were told last Friday and the separation happened immediately. Stellantis says it's not laying off these workers, so they can't get extra unemployment money. The company says it's doing this to make operations more efficient. Stellantis is making other changes, like temporary layoffs at the Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack facility and layoffs at the Toledo Assembly Complex. This is part of Stellantis' move towards electric vehicles, which need fewer workers even though they cost more to make.

Read more about this at Moparinsiders >

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MY INDUSTRY?

When Stellantis makes changes to its workforce, especially in manufacturing, it can have a domino effect. This might tamper with how easy it is to get your hands on their vehicles. It's a bit of a headache for companies that deal with car parts, making the whole logistics and transportation side of things a bit more tricky. Stellantis is all about going electric and being super efficient these days, which means they can suddenly make more or fewer cars at times.

The UAW and other labor unions’ reactions to changes in the car industry are very influential to the bigger labor picture. It's essential to be ready for anything. Stellantis trying to outdo its competitors can also change what cars they make, how much they charge for them, and how much people want them.

🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?

It's pretty clear Stellantis is trying to stay ahead in the crazy world of cars. They're making some moves to match their workforce with their big plans. We can't ignore that this decision affects those workers losing their jobs. But Stellantis isn't just doing this for fun; it's part of the EV and sustainability trend that everyone's following. They're trying to find the right balance between taking care of their workers and staying strong in a fast-changing business.

Sure, it might make things tough for some of their employees, but it's a smart move to keep the car industry going strong. It's not easy to juggle business needs and look out for the workers, but it needs to be done for the industry's future and to keep everyone steady in this wild ride of a world.

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Daily Riddle:

I'm small and compact, yet I hold great power,

In devices I'm found, every single hour.

I charge up your gadgets, make them come alive,

Without me, they'd be dull, unable to thrive.

I'm known for my energy, quite light and airy,

With a symbol that's Li, I'm a tiny chemistry fairy.

What am I, you may plea, shining so bright and merry?

In your phone and laptop, I'm the secret to their flurry.

Jan 19 Answer: snow plow

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