🍕☀️🚛 Blaze Escape, Desert Inferno, & Highway Horror
Good morning! ☀️
Today’s edition of The Workday Dash brings you a slice of news that’s hot off the press.
👉 First up, Blaze Pizza is packing its bags and moving its headquarters from Pasadena to Atlanta, escaping California’s high taxes and slashing its corporate tax rate by over a third.
👉 Meanwhile, brace yourselves as another heat wave prepares to sizzle Arizona and Nevada with triple-digit temps before heading east.
👉 Lastly, we delve into the chilling story of Regina Walters, whose tragic end at the hands of the “Truck Stop Killer” reminds us of the hidden dangers on our highways.
Stay sharp and informed.
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”
Blaze Pizza is packing up its Pasadena headquarters and heading to Atlanta to dodge California’s high taxes, cutting its corporate tax rate by over a third. This move aims to fuel their next wave of growth, with the company already running 330 restaurants across 38 states and six countries. This decision comes amidst fast food chains in California, like Pizza Hut and Burger King, slashing jobs due to a new $20-an-hour minimum wage law, leading to nearly 10,000 job cuts since April 1.
And it’s not just Blaze. Neutrogena, QuickFee, Oak View Group, and Unical Aviation are also moving to states with lower taxes. Blaze assures that its 7,500 restaurant employees won’t be affected, though some of its 60 corporate staff are offered relocation opportunities.
CEO Beto Guajardo emphasizes their commitment to California but sees Atlanta as key for future growth. Meanwhile, the California Business and Industrial Alliance criticizes the wage law, arguing it forces businesses to raise prices, cut jobs, or close down.
Why Should We Care?
If Blaze Pizza can’t handle California’s taxes and wage hikes, imagine the ripple effects in our industry. Higher operational costs mean higher shipping costs, longer lead times, and potential delays. As more companies bail from California, expect shifts in logistics hubs and supply chain routes. It’s all connected!
🔥 Hot Take?
California’s wage hike is burning through businesses faster than Blaze Pizza’s oven. Time to brace for a supply chain shuffle.
Southwest Sizzles Under Heat Dome
Get ready, folks! Arizona and Nevada are in for a serious heat wave this week, with triple-digit temperatures expected to soar before moving east. Eighteen million people are under heat alerts through Thursday, with temps 5-15 degrees above average, potentially breaking records.
Phoenix is looking at an excessive heat warning from Tuesday to Thursday, with temps possibly hitting a scorching 111°F or higher. Last Thursday, Phoenix hit a sizzling 113°F, setting a new record. Las Vegas is also gearing up for extreme heat, with highs expected to hit 108°F on Tuesday and 111°F on Wednesday. It's been over 100°F in Vegas every day since May 30, making it the hottest start to June on record.
Nevada's Death Valley could see a blistering 118°F at Furnace Creek, while Mesquite expects temps between 108°F and 113°F. Stay cool and hydrated, everyone.
Why Should We Care?
Triple-digit temps in the Southwest mean increased strain on transportation networks. Overheated engines, stressed drivers, and potential delays are all in the cards. Plus, extreme heat can impact infrastructure, like roads and rails, making everything less efficient and more costly.
🔥 Hot Take?
Southwest's sizzling temps are turning logistics into a hot mess! Time to plan for the heat wave hustle.
The Dark Side of Long-Haul Trucking
The chilling last photos of 14-year-old Regina Walters, a victim of the “Truck Stop Killer” Robert Ben Rhoades, spotlight a grim reality in the trucking industry. Rhoades, a long-haul trucker, used his semi as a mobile torture chamber for over 15 years, claiming up to 50 victims. While his case is extreme, it’s part of a broader issue. Long-haul trucking is the top profession of serial killers, exploiting the job’s isolation and mobility.
Frank Figliuzzi’s book, *Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers*, reveals over 850 murders along highways, many still unsolved. Victims, often sex-trafficked women, are picked up at truck stops, assaulted, and murdered across different jurisdictions, making detection difficult.
Trucking, a vital $850 billion industry, is evolving with new tech and diverse drivers. However, it faces challenges, including the mental and physical toll on drivers. Figliuzzi highlights the need for better vetting, tracking, and support systems to prevent these crimes and aid trafficking victims. Recognizing and addressing these hidden dangers is crucial for our industry.
Why Should We Care?
In our industry, safety and reputation are everything. Stories like the "Truck Stop Killer" underscore the importance of vetting drivers and ensuring robust safety protocols. Improving these areas can enhance your company's image and build trust with clients.
🔥 Hot Take?
Truckers aren't just hauling freight; they could be hauling hidden dangers. It's time for the logistics industry to step up its game on safety and screening.
Daily Riddle:
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I move the world without a face, Bringing goods from place to place. Invisible yet crucial, I must exist, What am I, in one word? It's _________.
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Previous Riddle Answer: Bridge
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for December 24, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.