🎄Werner's Yule Ride
Good morning! Welcome to the November 7th edition of "The Workday Dash," your go-to source for the latest developments in the dynamic world of supply chain and logistics. While our focus remains steadfast on all things supply chain, we also recognize that November is National Children’s Month. Not only do we celebrate the boundless potential and joy that children bring into our lives, but it's also a time to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children living in poverty.
Join us in this edition as we explore the intersection of logistics excellence and the well-being of our future generations. 👧🏽👦🏼
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Werner Enterprises to Transport 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree
Werner Enterprises has been entrusted with the responsibility of transporting the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas tree, a majestic 63-foot Norway Spruce harvested from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. This year's tree journey, which commences on November 4 with festivities in Elkins, West Virginia, and concludes on November 17 at the U.S. Capitol building's West Lawn, is themed "Endlessly Wild & Wonderful."
The Kenworth 100th Anniversary T680 Signature Edition, adorned with a striking graphics wrap, will proudly carry the tree, christened "wa’feem’tekwi" in the Shawnee language, meaning "bright tree." Werner's drivers, Jesus Davila and Tim Dean will pilot the specially equipped T680 Signature Edition on its tour, which will include community celebrations along the route.
Check out today’s featured article from The Trucker to learn more about why Werner Enterprises was entrusted to carry the Christmas tree that was made for the U.S. Capitol. How will this journey go? What will the tree look like?
Featured Article:
Werner prepares to haul US Capitol Christmas tree | The Trucker
“Werner Enterprises is in charge of hauling this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas tree.”
GM & UAW
GM's Planned $13 Billion Investment in U.S. Facilities as Part of New UAW Deal
General Motors (GM) is set to invest approximately $13 billion in U.S. facilities by April 2028, according to a recent tentative agreement reached with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. While some of these investments, such as $4 billion in Orion Assembly (Michigan) and $2 billion in Spring Hill (Tennessee) for electric vehicles, have already been announced, others, including $1.25 billion for a future electric vehicle plant at Lansing Grand River, are new.
Many of the investments will support assembly plants, engine facilities, and components plants. The deal, which includes wage increases, bonuses, profit-sharing payments, and more, still requires ratification by the union's 46,000 members at GM.
Jobs & Trucking
Truck Transportation Jobs Experience Another Decline
In October, employment in the truck transportation sector faced its fourth decline in the last five months, with a reported drop of 5,000 seasonally adjusted jobs, although this decrease was smaller than those observed in July and August. The past five months have seen fluctuations, including a 13,400 job increase in September, which suggested that the impact of Yellow Corp.'s closure may have been initially overstated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
However, the BLS revised September's job total by 900 and reduced August's total by 5,500 jobs. The October total of truck transportation jobs stands at 1,578,600, marking a decrease of 30,600 jobs compared to the high point in May when the BLS reported 1,609,200 jobs in the sector. Despite economists focusing on seasonally adjusted data, they stress the importance of not ignoring the not seasonally adjusted numbers. In October, this figure was 1,589,700 jobs, unchanged from September and down by 2,000 jobs from the revised September figure.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Checking out the scoop outside of the United States…
⛏ U.S. Initiates First Step in Establishing Lithium Supply Chain in West Africa. The U.S. is making strides in securing its lithium supply chain for the energy transition, with the Ewoyaa lithium project in Ghana set to become a key link. Piedmont Lithium, a supplier for Tesla and LG Chem, is involved in this project, aiming to reduce the U.S.'s dependence on foreign lithium sources, particularly China. Piedmont Lithium is also building a lithium refinery in Tennessee, set to triple the U.S.'s current lithium refining capacity. While China dominates the lithium refining market, resource nationalism is growing in developing countries, potentially impacting the supply chain.
🛳 Port of Brunswick Boosts Ro/Ro Capacity to Accommodate Soaring Auto Shipments. In September, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) reported a substantial 61% increase in automotive and machinery cargo volumes at the Port of Brunswick's Colonel's Island Terminal, reaching 70,645 units of roll-on/roll-off cargo. This surge in activity is attributed to the addition of new customers and increased volumes from existing port users, including shipping lines like CMA-CGM and Gold Star launching Mexico-to-Brunswick routes. The recovery from chip shortage-related disruptions in auto production also contributed to the growth, driven by strong consumer demand.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
💳 Small Businesses Fueling an Increase in Credit Card Debt. Small businesses in the U.S. are increasingly turning to credit cards as a primary or secondary source of funding due to persistently high inflation and rising borrowing costs, according to a Small Business Index published by Intuit. The report shows that 30% of small businesses have relied on credit cards, while another 22% have used loans or lines of credit to cover their expenses. Credit card usage among small businesses spiked in 2021 as inflation began to rise and has continued to increase. Monthly credit card spending by small businesses is now 20% higher on average than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, amounting to about $3,000 per business.
🔋 Why One Tesla Manager Believes Used Cars Are 'Absolutely Pivotal' for EVs. Used electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to play a significant role in the transition to sustainable transportation, as Tesla's U.K. sales and delivery manager, Michael Oates, highlighted at the EV Summit 2023. Oates emphasized that mass EV adoption is imminent, with used EVs serving as a key driver in reaching new audiences who might not have considered electric cars before, especially those with budget constraints. He believes that used cars are pivotal in enabling a broader range of people to experience the benefits of owning and driving an electric car.
📦 Amazon's Logistics Business Ranks First on 2023 Global Freight List. In 2023, Amazon's logistics and order fulfillment business claimed the top spot on the 2023 Transport Topics Top 50 Global Freight Companies list, a ranking of the world's largest transportation and logistics providers. Amazon's extensive third-party logistics operation, which supports its e-commerce network and other businesses, contributed to its rise to the number one position. The company's logistics business is crucial to its operations and has become a major player in the freight and logistics industry. However, other well-known companies like UPS, FedEx, DHL Group, Maersk, and the U.S. Postal Service also secured top positions on the list.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
♻ Redwood Materials Prepares to Recycle the First Major Wave of Used EV Batteries. Redwood Materials is gearing up to recycle a significant wave of aging electric vehicle (EV) batteries expected in 2024, with around 250,000 EVs slated for dismantling and recycling. The company, founded by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, is working to recover high-value metals like nickel, cobalt, lithium, and copper from these batteries to turn them into cathode and anode materials for new cells. Redwood Materials has raised approximately $2 billion in funding and secured a $2 billion federal loan to expand its recycling and component production operations. This expansion comes as several U.S. states are considering regulations to prevent EV batteries from ending up in landfills, emphasizing the importance of responsible battery recycling.
🚛 Trucking Industry on Hold as Controversy Over Drivers’ Employment Status Persists. The controversy surrounding the classification of independent contractors in the transportation industry under California's Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) continues, with multiple legal challenges and unresolved questions. AB5 was initially aimed at reclassifying certain independent contractors as full-time employees, primarily affecting gig workers employed by platform-based companies like Uber and Lyft. Although AB5 was later watered down by Proposition 22 and AB2257, the status of trucking providers remains uncertain. Trucking companies, both truckload and less-than-truckload, are grappling with the potential impact of AB5 on their business models, taxes, and investments, as well as its implications for the entire transportation industry.
🚗 UAW Targets Tesla and Toyota After Contract Success with Detroit Automakers. UAW President Shawn Fain is looking to extend the union's reach beyond Detroit's big automakers and into non-unionized companies such as Tesla and Toyota. The union recently secured record contracts with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, and Fain intends to leverage these victories in its efforts to organize workers at other automakers. The UAW has historically struggled to organize foreign-based automakers in the U.S., but Fain is determined to expand the union's influence. He has taken aim at Toyota, which recently announced wage hikes at its U.S. factories, and expressed confidence in the union's ability to organize Tesla, despite past challenges.
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.