🔋📞🚢 Electrifying Deals, Call Comeback, & Ship Squeeze
Good morning! ☀️
Here’s what’s buzzing in our world today:
👉 Hertz is Selling EVs: Hertz is offloading 20,000 electric vehicles, including nearly a third of its Teslas, for around $25,000 each. Time to consider upgrading your fleet?
👉 Phone Call Comeback: In our digital work environment filled with Zoom, Slack, and Teams, phone calls have become a rarity. Could a simple call cut through the noise and boost efficiency?
👉 Container Crunch: A shortage of container slots on vessels leaving China is driving up freight rates, and this pinch isn't expected to ease anytime soon. Time to strategize and find alternative shipping solutions.
Stay ahead of the curve with The Workday Dash. 🚛💨
“We need not wait to see what others do.”
Hertz and the $25K EV Spells Out A Surprising Shift
Hertz is selling off 20,000 EVs from its fleet, including nearly a third of its Teslas, for around $25,000 each. This move comes as the U.S. auto industry grapples with slower-than-expected EV adoption. While EV sales have grown, they’re not meeting initial projections, and automakers are pivoting towards hybrids.
Despite the challenges, the transition to EVs continues as prices drop and infrastructure improves. Hertz’s used Teslas, primarily 2022 and 2023 Model 3s, are available at no-haggle prices with warranties and federal tax credits.
Why does this matter? For those in transportation and logistics, this is a chance to upgrade fleets affordably, but it’s also a reminder of the evolving landscape of vehicle technology.
Considering a used EV? Hertz might just have the deal for you. 🚗🔋
Reviving the Phone Calls in Remote Work
In our Zoom, Slack, and Teams-filled work world, phone calls have become pretty rare. But some employers are trying to bring them back to fight screen fatigue. Bill Cox from Lyra Health finds phone calls a refreshing change from endless video calls and chat windows.
Younger employees, especially "Zoomers," often dread phone calls, a fear dubbed “telephonophobia.” They prefer messaging and emails for efficiency and to avoid anxiety. Riley Young, 26, even listens to music to pump herself up for cold calls but still avoids them when working from home.
Despite the love for digital messaging, some bosses, like Scott Eastin, prefer candidates who actually pick up the phone. Responsiveness can sometimes outweigh qualifications. This trend has even led to hiring consultants like “the Phone Lady” to train employees on basic phone skills due to high demand.
As we navigate remote work, balancing digital communication with traditional phone calls might just be the key to more effective and less stressful interactions.
Why This Matters in Transportation and Logistics:
Communication is key in our industry. Reviving phone calls can lead to quicker problem-solving and clearer communication compared to endless back-and-forth messaging. It helps resolve issues on the spot, keeps operations running smoothly, and builds stronger relationships with clients and partners.
🔥 Hot Take:
Reviving phone calls in logistics could be the game-changer we need. Instant clarity beats endless chat threads any day. Time to embrace the ring!
Container Shortage Hits Shipping Costs Hard
Heads up: there's a major shortage of container slots on vessels leaving China, causing freight rates to spike, and this isn't expected to ease up anytime soon. Niki Frank, Asia-Pacific CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, warns that high shipping costs for Chinese-made goods will stick around due to limited transport capacity and strong demand.
Shipping costs from Shanghai to Europe have shot up by about 20%, now at $7,000 for a 20-foot container. This surge is fueled by Chinese manufacturers rushing to ship toys, leather shoes, and festive lights to dodge Red Sea risks and higher US tariffs.
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index, a key rate measure, has jumped 12.6% to over 3,000 points for the first time since August 2022. This shows just how intense the competition for shipping slots is right now.
To cope with these challenges, DHL is advising clients to consider alternative transport methods like rail and trucking. Despite the rising costs, Frank notes it won’t be as bad as during the pandemic, but the system is still very stretched.
On the bright side, DHL is diving into the booming EV market with a new center in Shanghai to support the export of electric vehicles and components, which is a major growth area for the company.
Why This Matters:
In the transportation and logistics world, container shortages mean higher shipping costs and more competition for space. This impacts your budget, delivery timelines, and overall efficiency. Staying informed helps you plan better and explore alternative transport methods to keep things moving smoothly.
🔥 Hot Take:
Shipping costs are sailing sky-high! Time to think outside the box (or container) with rail and trucking options. Flexibility is key in these choppy waters.
Daily Riddle:
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I come in seasons with powerful might, Bringing heavy rains day and night. I drench the lands and fill the air, What am I, that brings wet everywhere?
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Previous Riddle Answer: Traffic
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.