CHP advocates for intrastate ELD mandate
Good morning! Happy Wednesday. It’s Hump Day! 🐫
The California Highway Patrol has decided to put its support behind mandating ELDs on intrastate trucks - this has sparked some contention in the industry. Some are questioning why California - known for going against the grain when it comes to regulations and paving its own path - is now deciding to enter into compliance with federal electronic logging device requirements…
Check out today’s featured article from Land Line to read about the California Highway Patrol’s decision to promote a mandate for electronic logging devices in California-operated trucks. ☕️
Featured Article:
ELDs and rolling truck bombs in California | Land Line
“California Highway Patrol wants to mandate ELDs in trucks that operate only within the state.”
Diversity & Safety 🦺
Female driver recruitment relies on addressing industry harassment issues, Women In Trucking founder says
Women In Trucking founder Ellen Voie is advocating for a safer industry for women. Driver retention and recruitment strategies are growing more important by the day as the industry struggles to fill the growing labor gap with a more diverse group of truckers. Voie has highlighted the industry issues, such as the lack of female showers and washrooms at truck stops and male-only uniforms, that do not promote themselves as an inviting environment for women. However, she also highlighted the relevant safety issues such as harassment, discrimination, and lack of secure and well-lit parking spaces.
Women currently make up nearly 14% of professional driver positions in the United States, according to the 2022 Women In Transportation Index. The American Truck Association’s stats differ, with an estimated percentage of 8% instead. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg focused on this 8% statistic while insisting on more diversity in the industry at this year’s ATA. Management Conference and Expedition in San Diego, California.
Fuel & Shipping ⛽️
Liquefied petroleum, oil, and natural gas are in high demand
Fossil-fuel shipping is experiencing a massive boom, with rates reaching as high as $100,000 per day for some of the largest gas carriers. Commodity spot indexes are edging into the six-figure range, and it doesn’t show any sign of letting up. The United States-Asia and Middle East-Asia routes currently hold the highest volume of propane and butane and Europe is not far behind.
Most ships currently on the water were loaded when rates were still in the five-digit range.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Staring Episode 2 GIF By The Office via GIPHY
🍎 Covid-19 restrictions have shut down a key Chinese facility for Apple iPhones. The company’s primary assembly facility in Zhengzhou, China is operating at a “significantly reduced capacity” due to the country’s strict restrictions regarding the Covid-19 virus. Apple has announced via press release that the hindrance will affect the availability of the new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max during the upcoming holiday season. The supplier’s facility belongs to Foxconn, which is currently in the middle of one of the largest Covid-19 resurgences since the citywide lockdown in Shanghai last spring.
💛 DHL Express's annual price hiker is greater than that of competitors UPS and FedEx. While some are concerned about UPS and FedEx shipping rate increases, it also looks like you can’t look anywhere else for lower prices. International express shipper provider DHL Express is increasing its shipping rates to 7.9% next year, surpassing the 6.9% average increases being implemented shortly at its competitor companies. While price adjustments can vary by country depending on the local conditions, the annual price hike is said to factor in inflation and the current administrative costs associated with security and regulatory measures.
🚢 Global freight remains in the fog. While things are moving at a generally lower cost and more fluidly than in the earlier pandemic days, supply chain disruptions are far from over. Consumers worldwide are feeling the pain of inventory imbalances, soaring costs, and labor shortages. Bottlenecks and backlogs are no longer part of the norms at West coast ports, but stabilizing these locations is in part due to slowing demand.
iLevel With You
More topics for the average American household to consider…
⛽️ U.S. diesel fuel supply isn’t evaporating overnight, despite headlines. There has been public outrage and concern after word of a nationwide diesel shortage began circulating. While there are some regional shortages, there is plenty of diesel on hand and being made each day to keep vehicles operating. Inventories are tight, falling below five-year averages, but the world is extremely unlikely to stop producing fuel. While it may get more expensive, it isn’t running out.
💸 The national average price of diesel jumped 1.6 cents this week. This brings the cost to $5.333 per gallon, an increase of 50.5 cents over three consecutive weeks - it is notable that the cost did drop 2.4 cents in late October. This means that a gallon of diesel costs $1.603 more this week than it did at the same time in 2021. California remains at the most expensive spot in the nation with an average price of $6.191 per gallon.
GET SMART
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
🦾 Supply chain tech company Verte has partnered with warehouse robotics provider Geek+. This business partnership is in part due to Atlanta, Georgia-based Verte’s massive growth and as the company seeks to boost customer satisfaction with a goods-to-person robotic solution. Since originally utilizing Geek+’s picking system at its warehouse in Atlanta, beginning in 2020, the company had now quadrupled in throughput and is focusing on the technology platform going forward.
🤑 Stock market and spot rates: searching for the critical key. Spot market rates depend on supply and demand; if the amount of product available is high, but demand is low… then spot market prices decline. Every dollar matters in logistics and trucking, and utilizing technologies such as artificial intelligence can be the key to keeping market conditions healthy and keeping a company out of the red.
🚢 Container carriers anticipate new losses after years of profits. Shipping demand has begun to decline and combined with low rates and higher costs… it’s looking like the shipping boom is coming to a close. Global carriers are anticipating major losses into the first quarter of next year and have already reported dropping container volumes in Q3. Rates to ship 40-foot containers from China are now $3,000 or less and very few people globally are shipping under contract.
Ports 🚢
Logistics Management contributor John D. Schulz writes about the growing Port of Baltimore, including its new container terminal to its old Bethlehem Steel location.
New arrival of electric-hybrid crane at the Port of Hueneme | AJOT
AJOT shares an article about the newest electro-hybrid crane introduced to the Port of Hueneme, the fourth-largest container port in California.
Network Association 🤝
Important Lessons Learned In Transportation Procurement Management | Talking Logistics
Talking Logistics contributor Adrian Gonzalez writes about some fundamental truths regarding procurement in the transportation market.
4 Keys For Unlocking A Successful Logistics Partnership | Talking Logistics
In this article, Talking Logistics contributor Carlos Godinez writes about the most important things companies can focus when developing partnership.
Electric Vehicles 🔋
Fleets face 'very steep' learning curve on road to EVs | Fleet Owner
Fleet Owner contributor Kevin Jones writes about how trucking needs to reframe its mindset around alternative energy solutions.
Italian EV startup takes on US, Chinese rivals with design | AP News
In this article, AP news contributor Colleen Barry writes about Milan-based startup, AEHRA, and its fresh design concept.
American Politics 🇺🇸
Rail strike looms amid midterms, inflation: Biden team still has work to do | Fox News
In this article, Fox News contributor Steve Forbes writes about the urgent fixes needed to railroad union talks and growing inflation, despite midterm concerns at the White House.
The infrastructure lobbying frenzy is just getting started | Politico
In this article, Politico contributors Alex Daugherty and John Handel write about the lobbying push being made after the $1.2 trillion infrastructure law was ushered into place.
Industry Forecast 📊
Shippers back in the driver’s seat as parcel market growth softens | DC Velocity
In this article, DC Velocity contributor Gary Frantz writes about the softening parcel market and how the pendulum is swinging to accommodate shippers.
Regulations ⚖️
Transportation Best Practices and Trends: Hand of regulation weighs heavy | Logistics Management
Logistics Management contributing editor John D. Schulz writes about the latest trucking regulations and what carriers and shippers need to keep in mind.
California’s Straight-Truck TRU Deadline Puts the Squeeze on Fleets | Trucking Info
Trucking Info contributor Jim Park writes about the beginning of phasing out internal-combustion reefer units in California.
Warehousing 📦
Future-Proofing the Warehouse | Material Handling & Logistics
MHL News contributor Adam Kline writes about what companies can do to improve the efficiency and adaptability of the warehouse.
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Renault and Google team up to develop a ‘software defined’ vehicle | CNBC
CNBC contributor Ryan Browne writes about the partnership between Renault and Google to utilize artificial intelligence and develop a new vehicle for the roads.
Fuel ⛽️
Putting America’s Diesel Situation Into Perspective | Fisher Investments
In this article, Fisher Investments contributors Larissa Murray and Ari Powers write about the potential energy and diesel shortage developing in the U.S.
Fuel Tech ♻️
In this article, CNBC contributor Ammar Frangoul writes about UN Chief Antonio Guterres arguing for the complete phase-out of coal at the COP27 climate change summit.
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.