🦃 Turkey Trot
Good morning! As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday here at "The Workday Dash," we're reminded of the significance of a well-orchestrated supply chain. Just like a perfectly timed Thanksgiving feast, supply chain and logistics operations require precision, coordination, and a dash of magic. In this special Thanksgiving edition, we'll carve into the latest industry insights, serving you a hearty plate of news, trends, and innovations that keep the global supply chain community moving forward.
So, grab your pumpkin pie, cozy up with a cup of hot cider, and let's dive into the latest happenings in the world of logistics and supply chain management on this festive November 23rd! 😁🦃
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Turkeys, Costs, and Logistics
Behind the scenes of Thanksgiving preparations in the United States, a complex supply chain manages the production and distribution of approximately 245 million turkeys, with Minnesota, North Carolina, and Arkansas leading in turkey production. Despite a drop in the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal to around $61.17, concerns about rising food prices due to inflation and supply chain disruptions persist, especially for side dish ingredients. The journey of a Thanksgiving feast involves 2,500 miles and nearly 700,000 workers, including drivers, warehouse personnel, and logistics coordinators, with the Defense Logistics Agency ensuring the delivery of over 360,000 pounds of food by Thanksgiving eve. Smaller turkey sizes are becoming more popular, possibly reflecting smaller gatherings and impacting the turkey industry's production, transportation, and storage dynamics.
Check out today’s featured article from Freight Caviar to learn more about the logistics that go into Thanksgiving each year. Will statistics reign true for this year?
Featured Article
The Thanksgiving Supply Chain in the United States | Freight Caviar
“Discover the journey of Thanksgiving from farm to table in our feature on the intricate logistics and transport that ensure your holiday feast.”
Holiday Season & Retail
Retailers Brace for Uncertainty This Black Friday
Retailers are expressing caution and issuing conservative outlooks for the fourth quarter, including Tapestry, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Best Buy, Nordstrom, Hanesbrands, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Abercrombie & Fitch. This caution is driven by ongoing inflation and changing consumer behavior, with consumers facing financial pressures and adjusting their spending habits. Holiday spending growth, which surged during the pandemic, is expected to slow to 3% to 4% in 2023, leading to uncertainty about consumer spending and disappointing earnings forecasts for many retailers.
Safety & Recall
Stellantis Recalls Over 32,000 Hybrid Jeep Wrangler SUVs Due to Fire Risk
Stellantis is recalling more than 32,000 hybrid Jeep Wrangler SUVs due to a potential fire risk. This action follows eight incidents where hybrid Wranglers caught fire while parked and turned off, with six of them being charged at the time of the fires. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The recall specifically covers 2021-2024 models of the Jeep Wrangler 4xe SUVs, with other Wrangler models considered safe. Stellantis advises affected SUV owners to park them away from buildings and avoid charging until necessary repairs, including software updates and battery pack replacements, can be completed.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Checking out the scoop outside of the United States…
🇪🇸 Amazon's Logistics Workers in Spain Announce Cyber Monday Walkouts. On Cyber Monday, Spanish union CCOO organized one-hour strikes for approximately 20,000 Amazon warehouse and delivery workers, with a repeat planned for the following day. The strikes are focused on concerns regarding wages, working conditions, labor safety, acknowledgment of workplace risks, and the demand for higher wages to match workload volume, despite Amazon's claims of competitive compensation and benefits and safe working environments.
📦 Alibaba Executive Addresses Employee Concerns Regarding Jack Ma's Share Sale in Internal Post. Alibaba executive Jiang Fang clarified that the timing of the disclosure about Jack Ma's family trust's plan to sell shares was coincidental and unrelated to the cancellation of the company's cloud unit's listing. The disclosure was necessary due to U.S. securities rules, and the intention behind the plan was to reinvest in agriculture and public welfare projects, dispelling concerns about Ma's commitment to Alibaba that had impacted the company's market value.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🚝 New Federal Rule Requires States to Implement Carbon Emission Reductions in the Transportation Sector. A new federal rule from the Federal Highway Administration mandates that states and urban areas establish emission reduction goals for their roadways to combat carbon emissions from cars and trucks, the largest source of emissions in the United States. The rule has garnered support from environmentalists and some Democratic-led states. Still, it faces opposition from state transportation agencies, which question their ability to meet the goals and the federal government's legal authority to impose such rules.
💰Logistics Company Commits to $16 Million Investment in Charleston County. Logistics firm IronLink is expanding to the East Coast with a new facility in South Carolina, investing $16.45 million and creating 250 jobs. The CEO mentioned the strategic advantages of the Charleston port and expressed excitement about contributing to the local economy, marking IronLink's first presence in the Southeast, and complementing its existing facilities on the West Coast and in New Jersey.
⛽️ OPEC+ Meeting Delay Sends Oil Prices Tumbling. Oil prices fell by over 4% in response to the postponement of the OPEC+ meeting, originally scheduled for Sunday, which was expected to discuss potential oil supply cuts. Both Brent and WTI crude prices dropped to around $79 and $75 per barrel, respectively, raising the possibility of lower gas prices for US drivers during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The delay has sparked concerns about disagreements among OPEC+ members regarding production levels and cuts, creating uncertainty in the oil market.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
✈️ Uncertainty Surrounds New F-35 Logistics Deal for 2024 as DoD Pauses Negotiations. The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin have reached an impasse in negotiations for a new sustainment approach for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, leading to consideration of maintaining the traditional maintenance structure through at least the end of the next year. The issue centers on a congressional mandate requiring the performance-based logistics (PBL) agreement to enhance readiness or reduce maintenance costs, prompting Pentagon officials to work on a new sustainment contract that could extend beyond 2024 to support existing F-35s and global operations. Lockheed Martin expressed disappointment but remains committed to providing sustainment support for mission readiness.
💵 Covenant Logistics Settles Discrimination Allegations for $700,000. Covenant Logistics and its subsidiary, Transport Management Services, will pay $700,000 to settle allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that they engaged in discriminatory practices against noncitizen workers while verifying their work permissions in the U.S. As part of the settlement, they will provide anti-discrimination training, revise employment policies, and undergo DOJ monitoring. The investigation found that Covenant and its subsidiary engaged in unfair documentary practices between January 2020 and at least August 2022, contravening a federal law that permits workers to choose acceptable documentation regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.
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.