Mexico’s transportation system struck with malicious cyberattack
Good morning! It’s Election Day & National Cappuccino Day. We suggest grabbing a cappuccino and heading over to your local polling booth to make your voice heard. 🇺🇸
In other news… New permits, license plates, and driver’s licenses for commercial truck operators in Mexico are currently suspended until December 31st. This is due to a malicious software attack that affected the country’s transportation ministry in late October. The Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) has not made public the extent of the attack but has advised the Cyber Incident Management and Contingency Plan is underway.
Check out today’s featured article from Freight Waves to read about the vicious cyberattack on Mexico’s transportation ministry in late October and how the agency is moving forward to avoid anything like this again. ☕️
Featured Article:
Borderlands: Cyberattack disrupts Mexico’s transportation system | Freight Waves
“Mexico’s transportation ministry has stopped issuing new permits, license plates and driver’s licenses for commercial truck operators until Dec. 31 because of a cyberattack in late October, creating possible delays for transporters.”
Railroads & Unions 🪧
Another rail union approves railroad deal, giving hope to strike avoidance
After the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employee Division and Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen voted no against the approval of the labor contracts proposed by the railroads, many have voiced renewed concerns about a nationwide rail strike. However, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have voted and approved the deal - 52% in favor of 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses. Critics of the deal from the former two unions cite quality-of-life concerns and a lack of sick pay to their standards.
The railroads have repeatedly rejected union demands for paid sick leave due to previous deals being made to make up for this matter, including higher wages and strong short-term disability benefits. The deal being rejected by these two unions was specifically mitigated and delivered by the Presidential Emergency Board.
Midterm Elections 🇺🇸
Biden won on infrastructure. Democrats are struggling to get voters to care. | Politico
In this article, Politico contributors Tanya Snyder, Jordan Holman, Annie Snider, John Handel, and Eleanor Mueller write about the struggles Democrats are facing regarding getting midterm voters to recognize President Biden’s infrastructure successes.
What to watch in the high-stakes 2022 midterm elections | AP News
In this article, AP News contributor Steve Peoples writes about what to watch for on Election Day and how you can make informed predictions.
POLITICO's final Election Forecast: Senate up for grabs, GOP on brink of House majority | Politico
In this article, Politico contributor Steven Shepard writes about the publisher’s predictions for the midterm elections. Politico believes that the GOP is very likely to win the House of Representatives majority.
Driver Issues & Trucking 🚛
U.S. perception of trucking industry is overwhelmingly positive
Along with grocers and healthcare workers, truck drivers are in the top three ranking essential/critical industries in the United States, according to a recent poll. The poll, commissioned by Trucking Moves America Forward, is showing that the American image of the trucking industry is currently better than ever before. Those surveyed showed an 87% favorable impression of truckers, which is up from the 67% surveyed in 2019, prior to the pandemic.
When asked about the essential need of truck drivers, 96% said they were required to keep the supply chain and the economy flowing in a positive direction.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Episode 9 Smoke GIF/The Simpsons via GIPHY
☢️ Eastern and Central Europe see nuclear power revival. U.S. company Westinghouse Electric Co. plans to expand to Europe to assist the continent as it transfers itself from its reliance on Russian natural gas. Poland, The Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Slovakia have all announced plans for nuclear reactors as they explore low-carbon alternatives to polluting fossil fuels. Westinghouse’s first project will focus on northern Poland, building three AP1000 reactors for $20 billion. The project is a signal of the United States and Poland’s growing partnership after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
🇪🇺 The EU & the US are going head-to-head over the Inflation Reduction Act. In the recently-passed IRA bill, the United States is offering tax benefits to those renewable energy companies operating domestically. Trade partners in Europe are demanding the same treatment and warning that there could be retaliation if the United States doesn’t amend the legislation to be non-discriminatory against them. The European Union has cited the possibility of destructive competition on a global scale and claims that President Biden’s preferential treatment creates an uneven playing field. both sides of the debate hope to settle the discussion before the Trade and Technology Council in early December.
🌾 Russia has officially pulled out of the UN-brokered grain agreement. The Ukrainian Grain Corridor, originally made possible with the assistance of the neighboring country Turkey and the United Nations is no more. As Russia pulled out of the agreement over the weekend, the country also leveled threats of military intervention against any Ukrainian boats attempting to depart from the Black Sea. Despite the threats, Ukrainian ships carrying grain have yet to be disrupted by the Russian military - although the shippers are still very wary. Some say that the lack of military invention means that Russia has less power over the grain market than previously perceived.
iLevel With You
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🛋️ The pandemic-born furniture boom is over. During the early days of the Covid-19 shutdowns, Americans were eager to source up their homes and backyards with new furnishes. While North Carolina had long been given the title of the “the Furniture Capital of the World” since the late 19th century, consumers began purchasing their furniture from overseas in places like Italy, Poland, and Germany. Now, with the pandemic (mostly) behind us, there is a bulk of inventory clogging furniture warehouses and tight wallets are giving consumers a sense of hesitancy. However, the rental side of the industry is flourishing.
🛍️ Despite inflationary challenges, the economy appears strong as the holidays approach. The National Retail Federation (NRF) is now forecasting strong holiday sales despite sky-high interest rates and growing inflation - which is confounding to some. Job growth, salary increases, and steadfast consumer fundamentals seem to be combatting the economic downturns of 2022, and the NRF is anticipating somewhere between a 6% and 8% increase in holiday sales compared to 2021. The job market is technically cooling, but the NRF is predicting that retailers will still hire over the next few months… meaning the worst is yet to come.
🛏️ Overstock.com is now offering convenient customer returns with UPS. Overstock CEO Jonathan Johnson unveiled the launch of the companies’ partnership on a Q4 earnings call last week, heralding the pilot program as an extremely convent process meant to streamline customer returns and better understand customer preferences on an internal business level. UPS CEO Carol Tomé also announced the launch on an earnings call and advised that the details of the program are not ready yet for public consumption, but the logistics company is excited about the project and being able to display what UP’s physical network and digital tools can do for Overstock.com customers.
GET SMART
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
⚓️ U.S. Gulf Coast to welcome a new natural-gas export terminal. Builder Sempra Infrastructure is moving forward with the project in order to speed up access to liquefied natural gas for overseas buyers, who are in desperate need of the resource since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led countries to ban Russian natural gas exports. The project is set to begin in Port Arthur LNG, a South Texas export facility that should be in operation by 2027. Several more locations in Texas and Louisiana are expected to begin, as well.
🏆 CXOs are offering their insight into the top trends in the logistics market. Chief Experience Officers include founders and investors, diving into the most important key indicators in the Supply Chain industry. The three universal themes focused on seem to be collaboration, talent, and sustainability. While uncertainty has been the typical outlook of the logistics realm for several years, these three key indicators can help companies navigate difficult and challenging times with some sense of security.
🔋 Electrification of off-road operational equipment is on the rise. From forklifts to airport ground-support equipment, most industries are looking to meet ESG goals that include zero emissions within the next 10-20 years. Currently, over 200 electrified equipment models are available across eight distinct off-road categories - including mining, rail, cargo-handling, marine, and agriculture sectors. Construction equipment seems to be the most popular, likely because most construction sites are equipped with the electrical infrastructure to recharge this equipment.
Industry Forecast 📊
Top Supply Chain Trends for 2023 and Beyond | Logistics Viewpoints
In this article, Logistics Viewpoints contributor Steve Banker writes about inflation, the pending recession looming over Americans, China’s uneven partnership with the United States, and the difficulties surrounding ESG compliance in the industry.
Top North American Seaports and Airports Realize Record Volumes | TT News
In this article, TT News Features Coordinator Mike Senatore writes about the growing volumes at North American seaports and airports.
Electric Vehicles 🔋
Jacobs demos latest valvetrain technologies to reduce emissions | Fleet Owner
Fleet Owner contributor Cristina Commendatore writes about the Jacobs Vehicle Systems demonstration of its newest cylinder deactivation and active decompression technology.
3PLs 🗒️
3PLs Make Debut on Global Freight 50 | TT News
TT News Managing Editor Seth Clevenger writes about the third-party logistics companies making waves on a. global scale.
Wages 💸
Hourly pay best way to deal with wait times | Truck News
In this article, Truck News contributor David Henry writes about hourly pay being on the prime ways for dealing with drivers having to sit in long lines at ports and yards in order to make deliveries.
Compliance 📋
EU says it has serious concerns about Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act | CNBC
CNBC contributor Silvia Amaro writes about the European Union’s growing concern over the Inflation Reduction Act and what it could mean for EU energy companies.
U.S. Economy 🇺🇸
What the wave of tech layoffs tell us about the economy | CNN business
CNN Business contributor Nicole Goodkind writes about the new trend of layoffs sweeping through the tech industry,
Leadership 🏆
“I can’t go for that” | Seth’s Blog
In this blog post, Seth writes about why standards can evolve in leadership and how they change a little bit at a time.
Ports 🚢
Hyundai Develops “Lashing-Free” Loading for Containerships | Maritime Executive
In this article for Maritime Executive, South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries launches its newest method for loading containerships without lashing-related work. This is expected to assist with improving the containership industry issues with cargo loss.
Brokerage 📞
Q&A: RXO's Wilkerson on the High-Tech Brokerage's Spin-Off and What's Next | Trucking info
Trucking info contributor Deborah Lockridge writes about XPO Logistics’ spinoff brokerage company RXO.
Trucker’s Lounge 🧢
The Trucker contributor John Worthen writes about professional driver Richard Jones and his experience working in New York state.
Fleets warn of a bold truck thief on the loose | CCJ Digital
CCJ Digital contributor Alex Lockie writes about Michael Jamal Walker of Baltimore, Maryland, a man accused of truck theft.
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Riding in an autonomous truck | Back The Truck Up
In this article, Back The Truck Up contributor Michael Vincent writes about his experience riding in an autonomous Plus.ai truck at the FreightWaves F3 event.
Peak Season 🎄
Fox Businesses contributors Cameron Cawthorne and Houston Keene write about one small business in Virginia and their opinion of the holiday season sales to come.
Trade & Border Issues 🗺️
Supply Chain Woes Accelerate Reshoring, Nearshoring Trend | TT News
TT News contributor Gary Frantz writes about the restoring and near-shoring manufacturing trend.
Network Association 🤝
Transportation departments embrace revenue-risk public-private partnerships | Reason Foundation
In this article Director of Transportation Policy Robert Poole writes about the U.S. public-private partnership infrastructure world and how its evolved.
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.