Policy Outweighing Capability? Exploring the Viability of Electric Cars
Good morning! From global logistics to warehouse operations, we've got you covered with the most up-to-date information to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve. So grab a cup of coffee and let's dive into today's edition!☕️
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new rule that would require 67% of new vehicles sold in 2032 to be electric, up from 5.8% in 2022. However, analysts believe that the proposed rule is ambitious, attempting to push electric vehicles onto the public at a faster rate than they are willing to accept them.
The history of environmental regulation is marked by ambitious but unrealistic goals, often resulting in missed deadlines and a lack of enforcement. Congress may enact legislative restrictions to prevent agencies from implementing unrealistic regulations. Check out today’s featured article from Cato to read about the ongoing policy transformation surrounding the implementation of electric vehicles in the market. Are these goals too ambitious - or is it too late to turn back now?
Featured Article:
Electric Cars: Policy Beyond Capability? | Cato.org
“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced proposed emission standards that would mandate a large increase in the sale of new zero‐emission vehicles from model years 2027 through 2032.”
Air Cargo & Business Strategy 💡
Air Cargo Space Becomes Attractive for Large Shipping Companies
Steamship lines are diversifying their services and seeking a larger share of the global logistics market by entering the rapidly growing air cargo market, according to the International Air Transport Association. However, this highly competitive market poses challenges such as the need to establish partnerships with airlines and compete against industry giants such as DHL, FedEx, and UPS.
Nonetheless, the entry of steamship lines into air cargo may lead to industry growth, increased innovation, improved service quality, and lower costs for customers.
Shipping & Logistics 🚢
Evergreen Orders Multi-Billion Dollar Boxships
Taiwan's Evergreen has released a tender for twenty-four 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel ships, with each unit estimated to cost $180 million. The order is expected to be divided among several yards, with the top three Korean yards being the frontrunners for the project.
Meanwhile, data from shipping organization BIMCO shows that the global order book for container ships has increased for ten consecutive quarters, reaching a new record high in each of the last four quarters, and is expected to exceed 30 million TEU soon.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
🐻❄️ The United States is Falling Behind in the Arctic Race. Concerns have been raised about the United States' potential loss in the Arctic race, with the melting of Arctic ice opening up trade routes and making natural resources more accessible. The US has been highlighted as lacking in icebreakers compared to its competitors, with Russia and China increasing their presence in the region. However, this may actually benefit the US by improving its overall security and international influence compared to its competitors, due to its geography that protects it from foreign invasion and enables the deployment of military forces without the use of the Arctic.
🛢️ Life onboard a massive oil tanker is more interesting than you think. Life on board an oil tanker has its ups and downs, according to seafarers who spend months at sea. The highlights include seeing natural phenomena such as the aurora borealis, which make them feel complete. However, the downside is loneliness and the inability to help their families while being far from home. Some veteran seafarers suggest that shipping needs to change to attract younger generations by using new technology.
🇮🇳 Current Business Enthusiasm for India Explained. India's economic growth and business opportunities have attracted a lot of attention and investment from international corporations. The country has made efforts to simplify its regulatory environment, improve its infrastructure, and foster entrepreneurship. India's tech sector, in particular, has seen significant growth and innovation. Additionally, the country's large and young population represents a potentially massive market for consumer goods and services.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🔋 EV charging is complicated, but experts are weighing in. Building a charging infrastructure is as important as selecting the right electric vehicle when electrifying a fleet. Amy Dobrikova, VP of fleet solutions for Blink Charging, detailed the building blocks toward fleet electrification during a session at the Green Truck Summit in March. Other experts such as Brian Cook of Conductix-Wampfler and Kurt Steinert of Hitachi Energy emphasized the importance of taking a charging infrastructure project step by step and preparing charging sites with utility upgrades, permits, backup power, and mobile charging solutions.
🚛 Exploring Driving Jobs with Different Trailer Types. If you're a truck owner or planning to buy one, it's important to decide what kind of freight you'll haul and in which areas you want to run, as it can impact the success of your trucking business. While some drivers stick to the trailer type they originally trained with, others want to experience the variety that trucking offers. A change in trailer type can mean different non-driving tasks, hours, runs, and pay for the owner-operator.
⛽️ Truck stops increase alternative fuel options. Truck stop operators are expanding their alternative fuel offerings, with major chains such as Pilot Co. keeping their options open on which technology to focus on. Pilot is preparing to offer a range of alternative fuel options, including electricity, renewable diesel, biodiesel, hydrogen, compressed natural gas, or liquefied natural gas. The North American Council for Freight Efficiency expects hydrogen-powered trucks to be the best option for the trucking industry to reach zero-emission vehicle goals, and Pilot is exploring hydrogen opportunities with several parties.
💨 California zero-emission truck mandate sets a timeline. California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved rules that all new medium- and heavy-duty vehicles sold or registered in the state should be zero-emission by 2036 and all trucks to be zero-emission by 2042. The American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear criticized the move, stating that zero-emission trucks are still in the early stage of development, and infrastructure to support them does not exist. Truckload Carriers Association President Jim Ward added that pushing trucking companies towards the adoption of vehicles that are still early in development and fraught with limitations is premature and irresponsible.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
📋 The supply chain is getting back to the basics. The supply chain management industry is shifting its focus back to the basics after three years of chaos, with large tech companies laying off employees and others streamlining operations in preparation for an economic expansion. This change is new for those who entered the profession during the pandemic, but for supply chain veterans, it was expected. Going "back to basics" means embracing foundational building blocks of procurement and supply chain management, such as effective communication and risk management, to offer a competitive advantage in an increasingly volatile economy.
💻 Survey Finds Majority of Supply Chain Professionals Plan to Boost Technology Usage. According to a survey by Ivanti Wavelink, supply chain professionals are looking to technology to help workers perform their jobs more efficiently, due to challenges in acquiring and retaining the right talent. The survey found that 85% of respondents plan to invest in new technology or build upon existing technology in the next year, with 53% planning to increase automation by up to 30%. Time to train the workforce and high turnover were the most-noted workforce challenges, with respondents looking to hand-held mobile computers and tablets as their most-used tools to enhance worker productivity.
🚛 US Bank report shows nationwide decline in truck freight volume. According to the latest US Bank Freight Payment Index, freight volume through trucks declined by 6.1% year-on-year in Q1 2023, marking the fourth quarter of decline. The report showed that the drop was highest in the Southeast, West, and Northeast regions, where the volume fell 16.1%, 14.1%, and 13.8%, respectively, compared to just 2.4% in the Midwest, which has experienced a volume decline for 12 quarters straight. Despite the decline, spending on truck freight decreased by just 0.3% YoY and rose in all regions except the Midwest.
♻️ Sustainability is trendy but worth the price. Corporate sustainability has become a mainstream concern for both service and manufacturing companies, with a focus on reducing energy consumption, waste, and pollution, and increasing recycling and reuse of products and packaging. Pressure from stakeholders has driven logistics and supply chain professionals to prioritize sustainability in their duties and responsibilities. In response, researchers have identified best practices for sustainability in logistics, focusing on practices that can be implemented by multiple organizations at a reasonable cost and within a brief period of time. Sustainability is defined as the ability to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
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.