🪐 NASA’s Brakes
Good morning! We hope this letter finds you in good spirits as we dive into the heart of summer. Today we are thrilled to celebrate National Refrigeration Day—a time to honor the innovative technology that plays a crucial role in preserving the quality and safety of our products throughout the supply chain.
So if you see a refrigerated truck today, make sure to appreciate how much it helps professionals day to day in order to complete their jobs. ❄️
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Opposition to lithium mining in Nevada has emerged from an unexpected source: NASA. The space agency is voicing concerns over plans to mine a desert tract in Nevada that holds a vast lithium deposit, essential for producing cleaner electric energy and combating climate change. However, NASA argues that the same site—known as Tabletop Flat—is vital for calibrating the precise measurements of numerous satellites orbiting above.
At NASA's request, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has agreed to withdraw 36 square miles of land from potential mineral exploration and mining, acknowledging the crucial role Tabletop Flat plays in satellite calibration. This flat and undisturbed piece of land in Nevada's Railroad Valley has served as a reliable location for precise measurements over the past three decades, ensuring the accuracy and functionality of satellite applications across various fields, including weather forecasting, national security, and climate change monitoring.
Check out today’s featured article from AP News to read more about why NASA is hitting the brakes on mining for lithium in Nevada. Will there be more mining areas forced to retreat their acres for satellites? Will NASA say more on this subject?
Featured Article:
NASA opposes lithium mining at tabletop flat Nevada desert site used to calibrate satellites | AP News
“Environmentalists, ranchers, and others have fought for years against lithium mining ventures in Nevada.”
Marketing Approach & Sales
Bud Light Unveils New Ad Campaign to Spark a Turnaround
Bud Light aims to reverse its declining sales by launching a new marketing campaign designed to overcome adversity. The beer brand faced backlash and a significant drop in sales after featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in a promotional campaign, leading to negative attention and threats against employees. Bud Light has released a 60-second ad featuring people enjoying the beer despite facing common summer inconveniences to regain customers. The campaign also includes partnerships with country singers for backyard concerts, ads featuring NFL players, and weekly giveaways to enhance the summer experience for consumers.
The new ad campaign builds upon Bud Light's "Easy to Drink, Easy to Enjoy" theme, which was introduced during the Super Bowl. However, after sending a customized can to Mulvaney, the brand faced controversy, drawing what critics have labeled a “transphobic backlash”. Following the incident, Bud Light's vice president of marketing, Alissa Heinerscheid, was placed on leave, and a new marketing lead was appointed. The company's response to the controversy was criticized, leading to the revocation of its top LGBTQ+ rating. With its latest campaign, Bud Light hopes to reconnect with consumers and reestablish its position in the market after facing a decline in sales and competitive challenges from rival brands.
Diversity & Compliance
Yellow Subsidiary Settles EEOC Claim Over Gender Discrimination in Driver Hiring
Yellow Corp. subsidiary USF Holland has agreed to pay $490,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging gender discrimination in the hiring of truck drivers. The EEOC claimed that USF Holland, based in Olive Branch, Mississippi, had been consistently refusing to hire female truck driver applicants since the terminal's opening in 1986 up until 2022. Despite the company denying the allegations when the complaint was filed in December 2022, an amended complaint listed nearly two dozen women who were allegedly qualified for truck driver positions but were not hired due to their gender.
The EEOC stated that USF Holland failed to hire any female drivers at the Olive Branch terminal, except for one who was hired and subsequently fired before completing her first route. Under the settlement agreement, USF Holland will establish a $120,000 scholarship fund to support female applicants in enrolling in the company's truck driver apprenticeship program. The scholarships will cover tuition, wages, lodging, meals, and other related costs. The company will also provide anti-discrimination policy statements to all employees at the Olive Branch location, conduct training for hiring personnel, revise job descriptions to accurately reflect position qualifications, and collaborate with organizations like the Women In Trucking Association to enhance recruitment efforts.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Checking out the scoop outside of the United States…
☄️ NASA Media Invitation: Covering the Asteroid Sample Return. NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission is set to deliver the agency's first asteroid sample collected in space to Earth on September 24, 2023. Media representatives interested in covering the landing and related mission activities are invited to register for access. NASA will also host a media teleconference on June 26 to provide logistics information for covering the landing. In the months leading up to the return, there will be various events and opportunities for media coverage, including clean room tours, curation lab media day, capsule return rehearsal, pre-landing news conferences, and the sample capsule landing itself. Media interested in attending these events must register online within the specified deadlines.
🚞 Logistics Plus adds to European operations. Logistics Plus Inc., a logistics service provider based in Erie, Pennsylvania, has acquired Dutch company Jan Krediet in order to expand its presence in Europe. Logistics Plus already has a presence in several European countries, and acquiring Jan Krediet will further strengthen its operations. Jan Krediet specializes in various segments such as furniture, kitchens, project furnishing, forwarding, warehousing, and value-added services. The two companies had previously formed a strategic partnership in 2016, focusing on the furniture, fixtures, and equipment sector. The acquisition was completed on June 6, and the financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
🌊 Addressing the Pacific Lift Challenge. The US military's preparations for conflict in the Pacific are being hindered by inadequate logistics planning, according to Bradley Martin and Christopher Pernin of the RAND Corporation. While the US has impressive power-projection capabilities, the vast distances of the Pacific pose significant challenges for reinforcements and supplies. The absence of a unified plan has resulted in disjointed efforts by different services to address intra-theater logistics. The authors argue that the responsibility lies with the Pentagon and Congress to assign responsibility, allocate resources, and provide oversight to meet these needs, emphasizing the critical importance of addressing the logistics gap in the Pacific.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🪦 NHTSA Reports Decrease in Traffic Fatalities during the First Quarter of 2023. According to projections released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic fatalities in the first three months of 2023 decreased by approximately 3.3% compared to the same period in 2022. This marks the fourth consecutive quarterly decline in fatalities after seven straight quarters of year-to-year increases. Despite a 2.6% increase in vehicle miles traveled, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled has decreased from the previous year. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted the progress but emphasized the need for continued efforts to make this downward trend permanent and reduce preventable crashes. NHTSA is actively working on new vehicle standards, infrastructure improvements, and promoting safe driving practices to enhance roadway safety.
💰 $1 Billion SPAC Deal Highlights Industry Shift. Appian Capital Advisory has successfully sold the Santa Rita nickel mine and Serrote copper-gold project in Brazil for a total of $1.065 billion. The sale highlights Appian's investment philosophy of applying long-term value investing principles to the cyclical mining industry. The transaction was facilitated by ACG, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), and involved various components such as royalties, equity and debt, off-takes, and locked boxes. The deal brings together mining and auto-making giants, including Glencore, La Mancha, Stellantis, Powerco, and Volkswagen's battery maker. The acquisition aligns with car companies' strategic objectives of securing long-term supplies of metals for electric cars and ensuring end-to-end supply chain visibility.
💊 Chamber of Commerce Embraces Medical Supply Chain Resilience Act. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's senior vice president for International Policy, John Murphy, expressed support for the Medical Supply Chain Resilience Act introduced by Senators Tom Carper and Thom Tillis. The proposed legislation aims to enhance the resilience of medical supply chains and promote domestic manufacturing. It would facilitate the establishment of trusted trade partnerships to diversify the sourcing and procurement of medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The Chamber of Commerce sees this bill as a practical approach to strengthening America's health preparedness and urges Congress to pass it into law.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
🛤 New hydrogen locomotives from CPKC and CSX. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CSX Corp. have announced a joint venture to develop and deploy hydrogen conversion kits for diesel-electric locomotives, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the freight rail industry. The partnership comes in response to the need for a long-term, effective alternative fuel solution to reduce the industry's significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. CSX plans to convert one of its diesel locomotives using a hydrogen conversion kit developed by CPKC, with the conversion work taking place at CSX's locomotive shop in West Virginia. This collaboration is seen as a significant step towards proving the viability of hydrogen as a solution for emissions reduction in the rail industry.
🐟 Walmart Sets New Standards for Tuna Suppliers. Walmart and Sam's Club have announced an enhanced seafood policy aimed at improving transparency and data collection in the tuna supply chain. By 2027, the policy requires that Walmart U.S., Walmart Canada, and Sam's Club tuna suppliers source exclusively from vessels with 100% observer monitoring and from fisheries that have zero high-seas transshipment unless such activity is covered by 100% observer monitoring. The policy builds on Walmart's goal for all shelf-stable private and national brand tuna to come from certified sources by 2025. The enhanced policy addresses issues such as accidental catching of non-targeted species, illegal fishing, and abandonment of fishing gear. It focuses on two key areas: observer monitoring and high-seas transshipment, both of which are crucial for ensuring transparency, combating illegal activities, and promoting sustainability in the tuna fishing industry.
🚛 New Requirement: Heavy Trucks and Buses to Have Automatic Emergency Braking Equipment. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have announced a proposed rule that would require heavy trucks and buses to be equipped with automatic emergency braking systems within the next five years. The agencies estimate that these braking systems could prevent over 19,000 crashes and save 155 lives annually. The technology uses sensors to detect imminent crashes and automatically applies the brakes if the driver has not done so, providing additional assistance to the driver's braking efforts. Ann Carlson, NHTSA's chief counsel, emphasized that the proposed rule has the potential to significantly improve safety and save lives on the nation's roadways. This new requirement follows a recent proposal to mandate automatic emergency braking systems in passenger cars and light trucks.