🦃 Rain Pain
Good morning! Welcome to the latest edition of "Workday Dash," your go-to source for all things supply chain and logistics. As we gather our thoughts and preparations for a well-deserved Thanksgiving break, the world of supply chain management is far from slowing down. In this pre-Thanksgiving issue, we'll dive into the latest trends, strategies, and insights shaping the industry, ensuring that you stay ahead of the curve even as you savor that extra slice of pumpkin pie tomorrow.
So, grab your coffee, take a quick break from the holiday hustle, and join us for a brief but enlightening journey through the world of supply chain and logistics. Happy reading! 🥧🦃
————
Widespread Rainfall Causes Travel Disruptions Across Eastern U.S
Rain is currently affecting more than a dozen Eastern states, with the heaviest rainfall concentrated in the central Appalachians and parts of the Great Lakes region. This widespread storm is impacting travel on various interstates, including 20, 40, 80, 85, and 90, where wet road conditions and reduced visibility due to rain and low clouds are causing potential travel hazards. Major metropolitan areas like Atlanta and Washington, DC, are experiencing the onset of steady rain, which could slow ground travel in these regions.
While delays at major Eastern air travel hubs have been relatively limited so far on Tuesday morning, the steady rain and breezy conditions are expected to expand along the Eastern Seaboard through Tuesday afternoon, potentially leading to increased delays in this crucial travel corridor.
Check out today’s featured article from CNN to learn more about the weather that is coming towards the holidays this year. Will this largely affect traveling for Thanksgiving?
Featured Article
America travels for Thanksgiving | CNN
“This Thanksgiving travel period is expected to be the busiest in several years with an estimated more than 55.4 million people on the roads and in the skies, AAA says.”
Ford & EV’s
Ford is Scaling Back $3.5 Billion Michigan Battery Plant Amidst EV Demand Slump
Ford is adjusting its plans for a $3.5 billion battery plant in Michigan due to slower-than-expected consumer adoption of electric vehicles, rising labor costs, and cost-cutting efforts. Initially announced by Ford executives in February, the facility faced scrutiny for its connection to Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., or CATL. Despite being a wholly owned Ford subsidiary, the plant licensed technology from CATL to produce lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for EVs.
Ford is now reducing production capacity by approximately 43%, from 20-gigawatt hours per year to 1,700 jobs, down from the initially projected 2,500 jobs, and while the exact reduction in investment was not disclosed, it would still be around a $2 billion investment based on the scaled-down capacity.
Solar & Grants
Albuquerque City Council Greenlights $2.4 Billion Solar Manufacturing Plant
Albuquerque City Council has granted approval for the construction of a substantial solar manufacturing facility in Mesa del Sol. The council has voted in favor of multiple measures to support Maxeon Solar Technologies' $2.4 billion investment in this manufacturing plant. The facility will produce photovoltaic cells and assemble them into solar panels, setting Maxeon apart from other U.S. companies that import these cells from abroad. Anticipated to provide employment for 1,500 individuals and generate 2,000 construction jobs in the near future, the project is hailed as a significant economic boost for Albuquerque and the state. Maxeon expects the plant to become operational by 2025.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Checking out the scoop outside of the United States…
🔋 Surging Hybrid Vehicle Sales in China Pose New Challenge for Foreign Automakers. Chinese automakers with strong hybrid portfolios are gaining consumer interest as they offer cost-effective long-range options, posing a challenge to foreign competitors like Toyota and Honda. While EV sales in Europe and the U.S. face financing challenges, Chinese brands are dominating the domestic hybrid market and expanding globally, capitalizing on their position as low-cost EV producers.
⛴ East Coast U.S. Ports Witnessing Shift in Asian Imports Returning Westward. In October, the West Coast ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach saw a significant increase in import container activity for the holiday season, with a 10.7% and 23.6% surge in throughput, respectively. In contrast, East Coast and Gulf Coast ports experienced a third consecutive month of underperformance, with a 5.1% decline in import boxes, while West Coast ports enjoyed a 12.7% increase during the same period.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🚀 SpaceX Concludes Starship Launch with Dual Starlink Missions. Over the weekend, SpaceX conducted two successful Starlink missions. In Florida, they launched 23 Starlink satellites, while on the West Coast, 22 Starlink satellites were launched, placing them into different orbital inclinations as part of their ongoing deployment efforts.
💰 The Wealthiest 1% Emit More CO2 Than the Bottom 2/3 of the Global Population. A report reveals that the wealthiest 1% of the global population, consisting of 77 million people, were responsible for emitting 16% of all CO2 emissions in 2019, posing severe consequences for vulnerable communities and climate efforts. This level of emissions could result in over a million excess deaths from heat-related issues, underscoring the disproportionate impact of the super-rich, often referred to as the "polluter elite."
🚔 Consumer Watchdog Fines Toyota Financing Arm $60 Million Over Car Loan Scam. Toyota Motor Credit Corp. (TMCC), the U.S. financing arm of Toyota, has been fined $60 million by a federal consumer regulator for unlawfully preventing car buyers from canceling loan add-ons, violating consumer protection laws. TMCC is required to pay $48 million in consumer redress and a $12 million civil money penalty as part of the penalty imposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
🔋 Giant Batteries Disrupt Economics of Gas Power Plants. The affordability of large batteries for stabilizing power supply is leading to the abandonment of many gas-fired power plant projects globally. Battery operators offering competitive backup power prices are challenging the role of gas power plants, resulting in the cancellation or postponement of 68 such projects in the first half of the year.
💨 New York Achieves Milestone with First Offshore Wind Turbine Installation for South Fork Wind Project. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the successful installation of the first offshore wind turbine for the South Fork Wind project, marking a significant step toward completing the first utility-scale wind farm in the United States. The 130-megawatt wind farm, developed by South Fork Wind in collaboration with Ørsted and Eversource, is expected to power around 70,000 Long Island homes and reduce carbon emissions by up to six million tons over 25 years, featuring 12 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines with 11 MW capacities each, installed offshore near Montauk, New York.
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.