Biden calls on Congress to pass legislation to avoid devastating railroad strike
Good morning! Happy Wednesday. Let’s get the ball rolling:
“An entrepreneur is someone who has a vision for something and a want to create.” — David Karp, founder, and CEO of Tumblr
The December 9th deadline is approaching fast… and the President is aware that potential railroad labor disruptions would be a brutal blow to the economy. Biden has asked Congress to pass a bill that would fortify the federally proposed labor agreement that was formally rejected by four of the twelve labor unions.
Check out today’s featured article from Supply Chain Dive to read about President Joe Biden’s call to action toward Congress in passing legislation that would disallow a looming railroad worker strike that could cost approximately $2 billion per day. ☕️
Featured Article:
Biden calls on Congress to prevent rail shutdown | Supply Chain Dive
“The president said he’s been advised that “there is no path to resolve the dispute at the bargaining table” before the Dec. 9 deadline.”
Labor Issues & Industry Forecast 📊
Will 2023 employment in the logistics sector plummet?
The global economic slowdown is signaling… yes. Profits were huge in the supply chain and logistics industry early in the pandemic - and many companies were not fully aware of what was around the corner. All parts of the supply chain are now expected to encounter a drastic drop in demand as global inflation persists.
While the market was strong during the pandemic and demand for supply chain labor increased substantially, most companies simply went on a hiring spree. What they didn’t do was develop new synergies and efficiencies to retain this employment boost. It’s expected that the layoffs already being headlined in the blue and white-collar positions will continue for more years to come.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Happy World Cup GIF By FIFA via GIPHY
⚽️ The FIFA World Cup in Qatar is teaching a surprising lesson in sustainability and energy transition. Whether you’re a big soccer/football fan or not, industrial companies are certainly getting a crash course in sustainability challenges at the biggest global sporting event of the year. Qatar, the hosting country of the event, claims carbon neutrality - but the greenwashing is easy to spot. While sustainability means consistent improvement, it’s important for industrial companies to understand that “perfect” can’t be the enemy of “good”.
😷 Both Covid and protests are spreading throughout China. The economic activity of the country is plummeting as outbreaks of sickness and violent protests accelerate. Major cities in China such as major cities like Guangzhou, Beijing, and Zhengzhou are all imposing new and strict lockdowns to combat the growing number of Covid cases. Riots are breaking out at industrial locations, such as the iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, and Chinese citizens seem to be growing weary of the continued tightening of the country’s economy.
📲 Foxconn’s iPhone factory shutdown will cost Apple $1 billion in iPhone sales per week. Chinese authorities imposed a seven-day lockdown of the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou last week, shutting down Apple’s iPhone factory in the location. China’s zero-Covid approach has proven to be extremely costly while Covid cases continue to grow despite the strict measures. The reduced capacity will affect Apple’s bottom line and the new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models will be extremely limited this holiday season.
iLevel With You
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🏎️ Speedy and quick: that’s the trend this holiday season. Warehouses everywhere are being pushed to the brink this holiday season as consumers tire of inaccurate orders and shipping delays. Supply chain technology firm Voxware conducted a survey of 500 U.S. consumers this month that shows 65% would stop shopping with a retailer altogether after two to three late deliveries. Distribution operations are feeling the pressure, looking to streamline operations and improve their fulfillment processes.
💸 Inflation isn’t going anywhere while supply chain issues remain. That’s the assumption of economist Mohamed El-Erian, president of Queens’ College at the University of Cambridge. While being a regular commentator on financial and economic issues, El-Erian has stated that supply chain issues seem to be at the core of inflation’s continued trajectory - and the issue can’t be solved overnight. The current industry transition from fossil fuels to clean energy is also a likely culprit of many challenges to come.
⛽️ The price of diesel has fallen 17.2 cents in two weeks. Standing now at $5,141 per gallon, the national average price of diesel is reflecting its largest drop since the 14.5-cent decline in early August. The weekly Energy Information Administration data shows that the trucking industry’s “lifeblood” is still $1.421 more per gallon than it was at this time in 2021. Gasoline, in comparison, sits at a national average price of $3.534 per gallon.
GET SMART
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
🚛 The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has approved chassis pool expansion on the east coast. This decision was made along with the FMC’s partners the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA), Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Jacksonville Port Authority (JaxPort), North Carolina State Ports Authority (NC Ports), and Consolidated Chassis Management LLC (CCM). It’s expected to be a huge step forward in supply chain efficiency for ocean carriers on the east coast.
📦 Philadelphia welcomes a new LaserShip/OnTrac facility ahead of the holiday rush. This sorting center will double the company’s capacity in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania with more than 326,970 square feet in Logan Township. The center also is home to a fully automated small package sorter, which will assist in boasting a sorting capacity of 31,000 packages per hour. Janet Garraty, executive director of the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce, applauded the sorting center in a statement and highlighted its ability to produce faster delivery service to customers in the tri-state area.
🧃 Food and beverage supply chains are relying heavily upon blockchain technology. Blockchain tech has advanced in recent years, providing the ability to streamline operations and communication across time zones. By capturing and disseminating real-time data, consumers can put their stake in food safety and reliability upon the expiration dates of their products. Optimal customer satisfaction is always the key.
Business Strategy 💡
The Saga of Supply Chain Innovation | Supply Chain Shaman
In Lora’s latest post, the past is explored in terms of supply chain innovation over the years and what can be expected in the near future.
Logistics as a service offering 'will make us unstoppable', says UPS chief | The Loadstar
The Loadstar contributor Ian Putzger writes about UPS's efforts to grow its 3PL arm, Coyote Logistics.
SUPPLY CHAIN SPECIAL: Dealing with industry logistics challenges | Catering Insight
Catering Insight contributor Andrew Seymour conducts an interview with Lee Cogger, the brand manager of XpressChef and Jestic Foodservice Solutions.
Compliance 📋
‘Paper Captain’ Operator Faces Stiffer Penalty for Repeat Offenses | G Captain
G Captain contributor Mike Schuler writes about Coast Guard Sector Columbia River boarding a Washington State-based tuna fishing vessel in violation of the Jones Act after repeat offenses.
Human Resources 📝
Majority of Companies Employ Borderless Technology Talent | MH&L News
MH&L Staff writes about the trend of hiring cross-border stay-at-home employees for software engineering/application development and application support.
Trucker’s Lounge 🧢
Who Hauled the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree? | Trucking Info
In this article, Trucking Info contributor Vesna Brajkovic writes about the husband-and-wife truck driver team for Hardy Brothers that was responsible for delivering this year’s Christmas tree to the U.S. Capitol building.
Falling freight rates shutter Iowa trucking company after 24 years | FreightWaves
Freight Waves contributor Clarissa Hawes writes about the end of an era for family-owned Mid Continent Trucking of Denison, Iowa - a company forced to shut its doors after 24 years.
Covid-19 😷
The AP Interview: IMF head urges China to end mass lockdowns | AP News
In this article, AP News contributor David McHugh writes about International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva call to China to break away from massive lockdowns due to Covid outbreaks.
Rail 🚂
Rail unions decry, businesses praise Biden’s call for Congress to block strike | CNN Business
CNN Business contributors Chris Isidore and Matt McFarland write about the surprising business support and union decry of President Joe Biden after the president urged Congress to block the looming railroad strike.
Regulations ⚖️
2022 Trade Update: Who’s on first? | Logistics Management
Logistics Management contributor Evelyn Bernal, the Director of BPE Global, writes about the top regulatory changes that occurred over the year.
Marketing Approach 🌱
Report Reveals Manufacturers are Investing Their Way out of Supply Chain Woes | Supply Chain Brain
Supply Chain Brain shares an article about the 2022 Manufacturing Agility Assessment released at the Smart Factory Expo.
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Logistics and procurement on autopilot is the future Cofactr wants to live in | Tech Crunch
In this article, Tech Crunch contributor Haje Jan Campus writes about Cofactr, a logistics and supply chain tech company that supplies scalable warehousing and procurement options.
AI-Powered Sales Coaching: Hands-Off Virtual Training | TT News
In this article, TT News contributor Joe Dysart writes about the growing number of artificial-intelligence-powered sales coaching options available to sales managers.
Driver Issues 🚛
Dig for the Gold Behind CVSA’s Out-of-Service Numbers | Trucking Info
Trucking Info contributor Jim Park writes about the newest Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s vehicle inspection initiatives.
Drivers, carriers asked for opinions in predatory towing survey | The Trucker
In this article, The Trucker News Staff writes about The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) survey of drivers over predatory towing practices - including the use of improper equipment, overcharges, and illegal seizures.
Trucking groups cite privacy concerns over electronic ID proposal | LandLine
In this article, Mark Schremmer writes about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposal to require electronic IDs on commercial motor vehicles and why some trucking groups are not thrilled about it.
Cyber Security 💻
Cybersecurity: 'White hats' offer tips to help execs head off hackers | Fleet Owner
In this article, Fleet Owner contributor Kevin Jones writes about nearing era of autonomous trucking and why businesses should consider protecting their systems from cyber hackers.
Repair & Maintenance 🧰
How small- and medium-sized fleets can lower parts costs | Fleet Maintenance
Fleet Maintenance’s contributor David Seewack writes about the American Transportation Research Institute’s latest report numbers, showing the cost of trucking was up from last year.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 28, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.