CBP Exceeds 1 Billion Cut Flower Inspections in Anticipation of Mother’s Day
Good morning! Welcome to your Friday edition of the Workday Dash! As the weekend draws near, we bring you the latest insights, trends, and developments from the world of supply chain management. Whether you're a logistics enthusiast, a procurement professional, or simply curious about the intricate workings behind the products we use every day, this newsletter is your essential source of information. Get ready to start your day informed and inspired. Happy reading, and have a fantastic weekend ahead! ☕️
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists are intensifying their inspections of cut flower shipments ahead of Mother's Day to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Since April 1, CBP has inspected over 1 billion cut flower stems from various countries, intercepting 1,514 significant pests. Colombia remains the top shipping country, accounting for more than 650 million flower stems. CBP emphasizes the importance of protecting U.S. agriculture and urges travelers to consult CBP resources and declare any agricultural items to avoid penalties and reduce the risk of introducing pests and diseases into the country.
Check out today’s featured article from AJOT to read about exactly how much work goes into getting the mom in your life a very special bouquet of flowers on Mother’s Day.
Featured Article:
CBP tops 1B cut flower inspections ahead of Mother’s Day | AJOT
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists across the United States are ramping up efforts to inspect cut flower shipments to prevent bugs and diseases from reaching the American public during Mother’s Day this weekend.”
Taxes & Supply Chain 📊
Eastern Oregon Grants Amazon $1 Billion in Tax Breaks for New Data Centers
Amazon has been granted tax breaks worth an estimated $1 billion by officials in a remote county in northeastern Oregon to establish five new data centers. The unanimous vote by the Port of Morrow's commissioners marked the final step in securing the enterprise zone incentives, aimed at attracting approximately $12 billion in Amazon's investments to the region. However, concerns have been raised regarding the transparency and fairness of the company's previous tax incentives, as investigations are underway to examine potential conflicts of interest among officials involved in awarding the tax breaks.
Amazon already operates four large data centers in Morrow County, contributing significantly to property tax revenue. While the tax breaks have been a subject of debate, local officials view Amazon's presence as a diversification of the economy and a means to offset the region's dependence on natural resources following the closure of a sawmill and coal plant. The growing data center industry, fueled in part by substantial tax breaks, has prompted discussions among Oregon lawmakers about reforming the enterprise zone program, potentially implementing limitations on incentives, and requiring public notice before voting on deals.
Deliveries & Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Zipline Secures GNC and Other Customers for Home Delivery Drone Service
Zipline, a drone company, is expanding its customer base for its Platform 2 technology, which focuses on last-mile delivery. Alongside the previously announced partners, such as Sweetgreen and government entities, Zipline has now secured GNC and other customers for its home delivery service. Platform 2 offers more precise delivery capabilities, utilizing a drone to reach the destination and an autonomous droid to complete the final delivery, making it suitable for home deliveries.
Zipline plans to conduct over 10,000 test flights this year and will launch its first customer pilot soon. The company is also customizing the delivery process to meet specific customer needs, as seen with its collaboration with Pagliacci Pizza to design a special pizza box for efficient drone delivery.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
🇺🇸 Challenges Arise as Investment in US Manufacturing Soars, Amid Labor and Space Constraints. According to research by the Financial Times, investments in US high-tech and clean energy sectors have seen a significant increase in the last three years, with a sharp rise following the Inflation Reduction Act. The study examined manufacturing projects worth at least $100 million in semiconductor, electric vehicle, battery, and renewable energy component facilities, revealing a nearly 20-fold growth in investment since 2019. Despite the ongoing trend of reshoring and nearshoring, challenges such as limited space and labor availability may hinder the realization of projects and delay their intended output.
🚢 Freight Forwarding Industry Faces Hurdles in the Second Half of 2023. Supply chain professionals are expressing concerns about three main challenges in the second half of 2023: the possibility of a U.S. recession, geopolitical risks, and rising operating costs. A survey by Container xChange reveals that 49% of respondents see a U.S. recession as a key concern, followed by geopolitical tensions at 32% and rising operating costs at 22%. Geopolitical tensions stemming from events like Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tensions between China and Taiwan could potentially impact global trade and lead to the fractionalization of trade blocks. Meanwhile, many companies are grappling with rising operating costs due to a decline in freight demand, increased energy prices, labor cost hikes, and a shortage of depot space.
📦 Indication of Significant Weakness in Box Demand Emerges. Weakness in U.S. box demand continues to reflect the challenging state of the goods economy, with the three largest North American containerboard/box producers reporting significant declines in Q1. Despite a recent uptick in demand, indicators such as falling real earnings, tightening lending standards, and low small business confidence suggest that an improvement in box/goods demand is not expected in the near future. Packaging Corp. of America's decision to indefinitely idle one of its containerboard mills in Washington, resulting in layoffs, raises questions about the company's response to improving demand.
🔋 Hyundai's Roadmap to Joining the Top Three Global EV Manufacturers by 2030. Hyundai Motor Company is making significant investments in research and development, new plants, and expanding its electric vehicle (EV) lines and production capacity, with the aim of becoming one of the top three global EV manufacturers by 2030. The company plans to develop two new EV platforms and introduce 18 models by 2030, targeting 2 million annual EV sales. Hyundai's focus on dedicated EV platforms and partnerships, including a joint venture in China, demonstrates its commitment to the EV market and future growth opportunities. Additionally, Hyundai is investing in the South Korean EV industry and building a new EV plant in the U.S. in collaboration with battery maker SK On.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🤝 Employment Market's Sizzling Momentum Begins to Subside. The robust employment market that defied a weakening economy and puzzled economists is now displaying signs of cooling. Job openings have declined, layoffs have risen, and employers are slowing down their hiring pace. This shift in the labor market suggests that the tight job market may be starting to loosen, and factors such as tighter business conditions and weak sentiment are expected to impact future labor data. Wall Street is closely monitoring how companies respond to the economic slowdown, as recent layoffs announced by major companies could have a delayed effect on overall employment data.
🚙 The Quest for Self-Driving Cars: Where Are We Now? The perception of electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the public eye has taken divergent paths, despite both being initially hailed as inevitable technologies. EVs have maintained their positive hype and are seen as an eventual reality, while AVs have faced skepticism and criticism. One reason for this divide is that EVs can be purchased and used today, whereas self-driving cars are still far from consumer accessibility. However, this narrow perspective fails to consider the potential of new technologies and different standards for evaluating their success. The article argues that EVs and AVs should be appreciated based on their own merits and potential applications rather than solely conforming to existing notions of car functionality.
🇺🇸 Bipartisan Vote Advances Railway Reform Bill in Senate Commerce Committee. Bipartisan railway reform legislation, prompted by a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, has advanced in the Senate Commerce Committee. The Railway Safety Act of 2023, sponsored by Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and J.D. Vance (R), includes provisions such as requiring two-man crews on trains and increased deployment of hot-box detectors. The bill aims to enhance railway safety and hold railroad companies accountable for accidents, such as the hazardous chemical spill caused by the East Palestine derailment.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
📦 Unveiling the Power of Digital Twins: Enhancing Warehouse Efficiency. Digital twins have emerged as a transformative tool for improving warehouse productivity and efficiency. By creating virtual replicas of physical assets and processes, digital twins provide real-time insights and recommendations to optimize operations, reduce costs, and enhance productivity. They enable warehouse managers to simulate different layouts, optimize equipment placement, streamline inventory management, and optimize processes and workflows. Moreover, digital twins offer real-time analytics, monitoring, and predictive capabilities, empowering managers to respond quickly to changes and disruptions. Implementing digital twins can be a game-changer for warehouse operators, offering a holistic view of operations, enhancing communication and collaboration, and enabling simulation and visualization of various scenarios for data-driven decision-making.
🤖 Locus Robotics to Deploy 5,000 AMRs with DHL Supply Chain. DHL Supply Chain has signed a deal with Locus Robotics to deploy 5,000 autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) across its global network of warehouses and distribution centers. This marks the largest AMR deal in the industry to date. The deployment of Locus Origin AMRs will enhance DHL's supply chain operations, improving worker productivity, order accuracy, and overall efficiency. DHL has already been utilizing Locus Robotics technology and has now exceeded 250 million units picked using the LocusOne solution across its global sites.
📲 Revitalizing the Future: Unveiling a National Semiconductor Technology Center. President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law to address chip shortages and enhance the American semiconductor supply chain. The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released a vision and strategy paper for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), aimed at advancing semiconductor technology, fostering R&D, and building a sustainable workforce. The NSTC will collaborate with various stakeholders, provide shared facilities and expertise, and focus on semiconductor advancements that benefit the industry in the long term.
♻️ ClearFlame Gears Up for Fleet Testing of Engine Modification Technology. Chicago-based startup ClearFlame Engine Technologies is offering a solution to help the trucking industry transition to renewable energy. By modifying heavy-duty diesel engines to run on renewable fuels like ethanol, ClearFlame aims to provide the same power and performance as traditional diesel engines while integrating seamlessly into existing manufacturing and fueling systems. With ongoing fleet testing and support from major investors, ClearFlame is poised to play a significant role in the decarbonization efforts of the trucking industry.
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.