🥑 Guaca-Bot: Chipotle's Zesty Helper
Good morning! Happy National Emoji Day! 🎉📦🚚
Today, we're celebrating the playful and expressive world of emojis and their role in modern communication. While emojis may seem like fun and lighthearted symbols used in text messages and social media, they have become integral to our digital language, transcending borders and cultures. In the supply chain and logistics world, where effective communication is key, emojis have found their way into the conversation, bringing creativity and emotion to the industry.
From the simple thumbs-up 👍 to the truck 🚚 and the world globe 🌍, emojis have become shorthand for expressing sentiments, conveying urgency, or highlighting specific supply chain elements. They add a layer of visual representation to text-based communication, helping to bridge gaps and enhance understanding across different languages and backgrounds. 😀
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Chipotle Mexican Grill is testing a new robot, called the Autocado, that can cut, core, and peel avocados used in its guacamole. Developed in partnership with robotics startup Vebu Labs, the collaborative robot (cobot) aims to reduce the prep time for guacamole by half. The Autocado can hold up to 25 pounds of avocados at a time and vertically orients, slices, and removes their cores and skin. While the robot helps save time and labor costs, Chipotle still wants employees to be involved in the guacamole-making process.
The company plans to test the Autocado in restaurants later this year. Chipotle has been exploring automation for other kitchen tasks and is considering further opportunities to automate ingredient preparation and utilize artificial intelligence for food prediction.
Check out today’s featured article from CNBC to read more about the guacamole-making robot that will upgrade Chipotle’s game. Will this be revolutionary in speeding up the process of food making? Will more food places follow behind Chipotle?
Featured Article:
Chipotle tests robot that can prepare avocados to make guacamole faster | CNBC
“Chipotle Mexican Grill has developed a robot that can cut, core, and peel avocados used in its guacamole as the restaurant industry faces a sustained labor shortage.”
Driver Issues & Parking Shortages
Old Drive-In Theaters Transformed into Truck Parking Solutions
Frank Sonzala, a veteran in the trucking and transportation industry, is spearheading a business plan to address the pressing issue of the nationwide truck parking shortage. Sonzala and a group of investors aim to convert abandoned drive-in movie locations and similar sites near major cities into secure truck parking facilities with amenities such as restaurants, bathrooms, showers, and recreation areas. Sonzala's company, ConTrade Holdings, plans to establish a coast-to-coast network of parking locations, providing over 40,000 truck parking spaces.
The truck parking problem is a significant safety concern, with truck drivers struggling to find safe parking spaces at the end of their shifts. Sonzala emphasizes the urgent need for additional parking, as the current 360,000 legal parking spaces fall significantly short of the required 3 million. By repurposing old drive-in theaters, which offer sufficient space, water, electricity, and proper zoning, Sonzala believes they can address the issue. The company aims to build 100 facilities with 450 parking spots each, initially focusing on congested areas with the least amount of truck parking. While acknowledging the involvement of the private sector is vital, Sonzala highlights the need for collaborative efforts between governments at the local, state, and federal levels to solve the parking challenges.
Labor Agreements & Port Strike
Labor Agreement Resolves Disruption at Vancouver and Prince Rupert Ports
After 13 days of closure, the container shipping ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert in British Columbia, Canada, are set to reopen soon following the resolution of a labor dispute. The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) announced a tentative four-year agreement, which is subject to ratification. While the strike had a significant impact on containerized rail moves from the Canadian ports to the US, the reopening will gradually alleviate disruptions, although it may take weeks or even months for operations to return to normal.
Although the strike had a limited effect on US imports due to the relatively small contribution of the Canadian ports, the reopening is a positive development for retailers who rely on merchandise coming through Canada. The resolution of the labor unrest in Canada also marks the end of a period of labor disruptions along the Pacific coast of North America, which had the potential to exacerbate supply chain challenges. Meanwhile, the US branch of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has already reached a tentative agreement with terminal employers, with a ratification process expected to take approximately three months.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Checking out the scoop outside of the United States…
📈 Los Angeles Port Reports 70% Surge in June Cargo. The Port of Los Angeles experienced its fourth consecutive month of rising cargo volumes in June, reaching the highest level since July 2022. The port handled 833,035 units, marking a 70% increase compared to February, which had the lowest volumes since the start of the pandemic. This recovery comes after a decline in volumes caused by importers diverting shipments to other facilities during lengthy labor contract negotiations. Despite a 24% decrease in cargo volumes for the first half of this year compared to the previous year, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka expressed optimism for improved performance in the second half of 2023. The port recently reached a tentative contract agreement with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, aiming to regain the cargo that was redirected to East and Gulf Coast ports during the negotiations.
🌊 Suez Canal Pilots' Role in Grounding. Ever Given's grounding in the Suez Canal in March 2021 brought the maritime shipping industry to a standstill, impacting global trade. Now, over two years later, the Panama Maritime Authority, acting as the authority of Ever Given's flag state, has submitted its accident report, revealing the causes of the grounding. The report highlights a combination of factors, including the failure to assess the risk of bad weather conditions, improper navigation decisions by Suez Canal pilots, ineffective communication between the bridge team and the pilots, and the ship's excessive speed. It also emphasizes the importance of careful pilot management, integration with the bridge team, and addressing language difficulties.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🚗 EV tires prove to be a pollution challenge. As the electric vehicle (EV) industry continues to grow, tire manufacturers face the challenge of developing tires that meet the specific needs of EVs. These vehicles are generally heavier than traditional internal combustion engine cars and require tires that can handle the increased weight and torque. Tire companies are working on improving tire designs and developing new chemical formulas to cater to EV requirements. However, the environmental impact of tires is often overlooked. Over time, tires wear down and release tiny particles into the air, contributing to pollution. These particles can be inhaled or settle on nearby soil, leading to environmental and health concerns. In fact, tire particulate pollution has been found to exceed tailpipe emissions. Studies have shown that a single car can shed an average of 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds) of tire particles per year, adding up to 6 million tons globally.
📦 A 10-day UPS strike could be the costliest in US history. A potential 10-day strike by UPS workers in the US could have significant economic consequences, estimated to cost the country $7.1 billion, according to an analysis by Anderson Economic Group. The study predicts that businesses and consumers would bear $4.6 billion of the total cost, causing long-term harm to small businesses, household workers, sole practitioners, and online retailers. Additionally, UPS would face direct losses of $816 million, and the Teamsters union members would lose $1.1 billion in wages. The remaining costs would affect UPS suppliers and result in lost tax revenue. The Teamsters union has threatened to go on strike on August 1 if a new contract agreement is not reached. Talks between the union and UPS broke off recently, with each side accusing the other of walking away. The union blames the company for not meeting its economic demands, despite UPS's significant earnings growth during the current contract period. However, UPS remains hopeful that a strike can be avoided and continues to focus on negotiations.
👨🏽💼OSHA Increases Focus on Warehouse and Distribution Center Safety. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has launched a national emphasis program aimed at reducing workplace hazards in warehouses, distribution centers, and similar facilities. The program is a response to the significant growth of these facilities over the past decade and aims to prevent injuries and illnesses in the industry. The initiative will also target mail and parcel processing facilities, local delivery, and high-risk retail establishments. With over 1.9 million people employed in warehousing and distribution, the labor department cited data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that show higher than average rates of injury and illness in the industry. Under the three-year program, OSHA will conduct safety inspections focused on various hazards, including powered industrial vehicle operations, material handling, and storage, walking and working surfaces, means of egress, fire protection, heat, and ergonomic hazards.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
🚚 Solutions for a Skilled Workforce. The trucking industry is grappling with a shortage of technicians, and traditional approaches to recruitment and retention have yielded limited results. To overcome this challenge, the industry needs to change its perspective on technicians and adapt to the evolving requirements of the job. One crucial aspect is reevaluating technician wages to ensure they are competitive in the market. The State of Heavy-Duty Repair report highlights the range of salaries and average hourly raises for technicians. Adjusting pay structures and job descriptions to accurately reflect the skills and responsibilities of modern technicians is essential. Engaging with students at STEM and technical schools is a significant opportunity for attracting new talent. Collaborating with guidance counselors allows companies to showcase the job opportunities available within their fleets or dealerships. Providing training on current truck technology is crucial, as today's trucks are equipped with advanced systems. Investing in new trucks, diagnostic tools, and equipment sets the stage for comprehensive technician development.
🙌 Universal Truck Identification Devices: Streamlining Fleet Operations and Enhancing Efficiency. The concept of Universal Identification Devices (UID) for trucks, proposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in response to a petition from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), raises numerous questions. The implementation of UIDs would involve electronically transmitting data from trucks to roadside enforcement, enabling quick identification of which trucks require inspection. However, several key aspects need clarification. These include determining which trucks would require UIDs, the specific data to be transmitted, how enforcement would be carried out, and the potential impact on highway safety. Additionally, issues such as equity among carriers, the cost of implementing UIDs, and the willingness of drivers to comply need to be addressed. While UIDs may offer potential benefits, further analysis and exploration of these questions are necessary to determine their viability and effectiveness in improving highway safety.
🇨🇦 New Approach Emerges in the Speed Limiter Debate. The House Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Subcommittee has advanced an appropriations bill that includes a provision to prevent the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from using funding for its speed limiter rule-making. The provision states that no funds can be used to require commercial motor vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds to be equipped with speed limiters. The bill is expected to proceed to a markup hearing in the full committee. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) supports this effort and opposes speed limiter mandates, citing concerns about dangerous speed differentials and increased interactions among vehicles. Other legislative efforts to stop speed limiter mandates have also been introduced, including HR3039, which prohibits the FMCSA from moving forward with such regulations.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 27, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.