🇺🇸 Freight, Forward!
Good morning! Welcome to "The Workday Dash," your go-to source for all things supply chain and logistics. As we gather on this enchanting November 29th, a day that marks the lighting of the iconic Rockefeller Christmas Tree, we're reminded of the incredible logistics and planning that go into making the holiday season magical. Just as the twinkling lights brighten the New York City skyline, our newsletter aims to illuminate the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the world of supply chain management.
So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and let's dive into the festive world of logistics as we embark on this holiday season journey! ☕️🎄
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White House Initiates DOT Multimodal Freight Office to Boost Transportation
The White House has introduced the Department of Transportation (DOT) Multimodal Freight Office as part of supply chain-focused initiatives. Led by Tara Camden, the office aims to enhance transportation and supply chain resilience, following President Biden's creation of a port envoy position in 2021, highlighting the government's commitment to improving supply chain efficiency.
Former port envoy John Porcari views this launch as a significant step in tackling supply chain challenges, emphasizing the importance of building capacity to respond to transportation and supply chain crises for economic performance and national security.
Check out today’s featured article from Supply Chain Dive to learn more about the DOT Multimodal freight office the White House initiated in order to boost transportation. Will this help transportation in the long run? How much time and money will be put into this?
Featured Article
White House launches DOT Multimodal Freight Office | Supply Chain Dive
“The office, created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will develop a national multimodal freight network and advance freight logistics improvements.”
Social Media & AI
AI-Powered Influencer Marketing Revolutionizes Trucking Industry
Trucking marketers are increasingly turning to AI software to identify and collaborate with social media influencers who can effectively promote their brands. AI-driven influencer search and management tools allow companies to pinpoint influencers based on various criteria, such as location, interests, engagement rate, and more. This approach replaces the traditional hit-or-miss method of influencer selection, offering a more data-driven and targeted approach to influencer marketing.
Trucking firms have seen success in using social media influencers for recruiting new drivers, especially among younger generations who are active on social media and can relate to these influencers' experiences in the industry. Additionally, AI tools help identify virtual influencers, and computer-generated characters that have gained popularity on social media, particularly among younger audiences.
EV & Firetruck
Pierce Enters the Electric Firetruck Arena with Volterra in Partnership with Oshkosh
Pierce, the leading manufacturer of firetrucks in North America, is venturing into electrification by delivering its Volterra electric firetruck to various fire departments nationwide as part of Oshkosh Corporation's broader electrification strategy. Oshkosh, known for producing purpose-built vehicles such as mail trucks, garbage trucks, and construction equipment, is expanding into electric vehicles and automation across different markets. Besides electric firetrucks, Oshkosh has secured a contract to manufacture both battery electric and internal combustion mail delivery vehicles for the United States Postal Service, offering flexibility to retrofit internal combustion vehicles with electric technology.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Checking out the scoop outside of the United States…
🇮🇳 All 41 Workers Rescued from Collapsed Tunnel in India After 17-Day Ordeal. In a 17-day rescue operation in the Himalayas, 41 trapped workers were successfully rescued from a collapsed tunnel after efforts to create an escape route by drilling through rock and debris. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the workers' bravery, and the rescue operation was celebrated as an example of effective teamwork and humanity, with the laborers remaining in good health throughout their ordeal.
💧 Panama Canal Congestion Forces Ships to Divert Through the Suez Canal. Stolt-Nielsen, the largest operator of chemical tankers globally, is rerouting its fleet through the Suez Canal due to severe congestion at the Panama Canal caused by low water levels and extended waiting times. The decision is driven by the need to ensure timely cargo delivery and the Panama Canal's increasing unreliability, resulting in additional costs for customers due to the longer route.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
📦 More Parcel Shippers Expected to Encounter Delivery Surcharges. Parcel carriers like UPS are planning changes to delivery area surcharges (DAS) in the U.S., potentially adding millions of Americans to the DAS list, which can increase costs for shippers. DAS changes can account for a significant portion of a shipper's total surcharge levy, and while many merchants tend to accept these changes each year rather than pass on the cost to customers, these alterations can impact their bottom line.
💰 Bank of America and Deutsche Bank Forecast Interest Rate Cuts for 2024. Both Bank of America and Deutsche Bank predict interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in 2024, but their timelines and expectations differ. Bank of America expects gradual rate cuts starting in June, while Deutsche Bank anticipates a more aggressive approach with a "mild recession" leading to an initial 50 basis point cut in June and further reductions throughout the year, aiming for a lower rate by the end of 2024.
⛽️ Diesel Pump Prices Experience Ongoing Nationwide Decline. Diesel pump prices in the U.S. have fallen for five consecutive weeks, reaching $4.146 per gallon, a 6-cent drop from the previous week and nearly $1 lower than the same period last year. This decline is attributed to decreasing crude oil prices and low refining margins, and both diesel and gasoline prices are expected to remain relatively low through the end of the year.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
🇺🇸 NLRB Rule Facilitates Unionization in Franchises. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has introduced a final rule aimed at simplifying union-organizing campaigns, primarily in large franchise operations like McDonald's. This rule, favored by the current Democrat-majority board, reinstates a 2015 standard that focuses on the level of control an employer must have over another company's workers to be considered a joint employer under federal labor law, potentially affecting non-union employers' relationships with suppliers such as staffing firms.
🚛 Bestpass Expands Services with Acquisition of Fleetworthy Solutions. Bestpass, a toll management and payment platform, has acquired Fleetworthy Solutions to broaden its range of services for commercial fleets, encompassing tolling, compliance, and safety. This acquisition allows Bestpass to provide an integrated solution while expanding its market presence, and both companies will retain their respective brand identities.
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.