DOT Secretary under pressure from trucking safety advocacy groups
Good morning! Happy first day of Spring! As the weather begins to warm up and flowers start to bloom, it's important to stay on top of the latest developments in the supply chain industry. From new regulations and innovations to global trends and best practices, our daily newsletter has got you covered. So grab a cup of coffee and let's dive into today's top supply chain news! 💐
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DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg can’t catch a break. Tuesday morning, he received a letter co-signed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Reliable and Safe Highways, and the Parents Against Tired Truckers. Together - along with several other groups - the letter urged the secretary to take strong and immediate action in terms of strengthening trucking regulations. The letter cited the nitric acid truck rollover near Tucson, Arizona last month and the East Palestine railroad incident as further reasons for concern.
Check out today’s featured article from Back The Truck Up to read about the crossroads in front of Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of the Department of Transportation. How will he respond to the joint letter from Teamsters, PATT, and other advocacy groups? Is a lack of trucking safety regulations the problem, here?
Featured Article:
Set speed limit to 60 says Truck Safety Coalition | Back The Truck Up
“Secretary Pete Buttigieg got a strongly worded letter from the advocacy group, calling for a national truck speed limit, sleep apnea directive, HOS overhaul, and more.”
Regulations & Trucking 🚛
NOx emissions face aggressive EPA regulations in the trucking industry
NOx emissions in the trucking industry refer to the emissions of nitrogen oxides, which are harmful air pollutants that are produced when fuel is burned in diesel engines. These emissions contribute to air pollution and can have negative impacts on human health and the environment. To address this issue, the trucking industry has been exploring technologies and strategies to reduce NOx emissions, such as using cleaner fuels and adopting more efficient engine designs.
Now, the urgency to evolve has never been stronger. The Environmental Protection Agency published aggressive policies for heavy-duty truck emissions standards, set to kick in in 2026. Trucking fleets are handling aggressive NOx emissions policies in a few ways. Some are upgrading their vehicles to meet the new emissions standards, while others are investing in new technologies, such as diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) systems and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, which can help to reduce NOx emissions. Additionally, some fleets are exploring alternative fuel options, such as natural gas and electric vehicles, which produce fewer or no NOx emissions. The trucking industry is also working closely with regulatory agencies to ensure that policies and regulations are practical and feasible for fleets to implement while still achieving the desired emissions reductions. Overall, the industry recognizes the importance of reducing NOx emissions and is taking steps to meet the challenge.
Unions & Company Culture 🎉
Attempts to unionize at Nissan Tennessee plant fall short
The 62-9 vote against the union at Nissan’s Smyna, TN plant is a disappointing result for those who advocated to unionize for two years. Spanning over the course of two presenting administrations, machinists who supported unionizing battled it out before the National Labor Relations Board. Advocates say the delayed response from the Board on moving forward with the vote effected support for the movement.
Nissan's position on unions has been a contentious issue in recent years. The company has a history of resisting unionization efforts in its plants around the world, including in the United States, Europe, and Asia. In the United States, Nissan has been accused of union-busting tactics, such as intimidating workers and discouraging them from organizing. The United Auto Workers (UAW) has been trying to unionize Nissan's plant in Canton, Mississippi, for several years, but the company has resisted these efforts. In 2017, workers at the plant voted against unionizing in a closely watched election that was marred by allegations of unfair labor practices.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
🇨🇳 Relationship worsens between US & China, according to DHL global trade report. While it may not be “breaking” news to anyone, the DHL Global Connectedness Index 2022 is showing that the frayed ties between the two powerhouse nations only seem to be getting looser. The DHL Global Connectedness Index is a detailed report that explains the state of globalization and is published by New York University’s Stern School of Business. Its data is compiled from 171 countries and explains how much of the global trade moves around the world.
☹️ Count Rockwell Automation Inc. CFO Nick Gangestad suspects supply chain issues will linger. Speaking at this week’s JPMorgan Industrials Conference, Gangestad discussed the 26,000-employee-strong company’s first-quarter pace and his expectation that the health of the world’s supply chain has a long way to go. With ongoing issues stemming from the pandemic, inflation, and years of regulatory challenges, the automation giant is constantly pivoting with problems reported by the company’s suppliers.
🚙 General Motors facing struggles selling in China, the largest automotive market. US automaker GM is reporting declining operations and joint ventures in the country across the Pacific Ocean, sitting at approximately 67% less than numbers relayed in 2014-2015. The Chinese market has become increasingly competitive, with local automakers such as Geely, BYD, and Great Wall Motors gaining market share. These domestic brands have been able to offer more affordable and localized products that appeal to Chinese consumers, which has put pressure on foreign automakers like GM to keep up.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🌵 Tesla wins $330 million in tax breaks from Nevada. Additionally, the approval of a sprawling Tesla vehicle battery facility east of Reno will include the construction of a long-awaited electric semi-truck factory. Tax breaks in the state will result in a total of $330 million relief for the electric vehicle manufacturer as they agree to provide the state with good-paying jobs and a nearly decade-long boost to the local economy around the planned factory.
💰 Oregon temporarily suspends EV rebates due to money running out. Too many people are applying to the program which would provide rebates for buying or leasing an electric vehicle, according to The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The department released a statement claiming that $71 million has been dispersed to Oregonians over the past five years and 1/5 of those rebates went to low-and moderate-income households.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
👱♀️ WIT leaders have a solid vision for the future of trucking. Women in Trucking Association (WIT) leaders Ellen Voie and Jennifer Hedrick spoke with Fleet Owner about the future of trucking and the diversity they envision. The trucking industry has traditionally been male-dominated, and women have been underrepresented in the sector. According to a report by the American Trucking Associations, women make up only 6% of truck drivers in the United States. This lack of diversity can create a culture that is not welcoming to women and may prevent them from considering trucking as a viable career option.
🚔 South Dakota cop car props up crashed big rig. On a snowy March 16th, an 18-wheeler collided with a outh Dakota Highway Patrol (SDHP) trooper’s vehicle and left the scene in quite a state. In a photo posted to the SDHP Facebook, a photo of the collision shows the big rig propped up and balancing precariously on the top of the police car. SDHP has vocalized that the accident produced only minor injuries and all persons involved walked away from the incident.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 28, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.