Applications for federal grants for Co2 reduction projects are now open
Good morning! Happy Saturday to all. Don’t forget:
“Some people can’t believe in themselves until someone else believes in them first.” – Sean Maguire, Good Will Hunting
In other news… The Biden Administration has opened the floodgates for applicants interested in funding projects meant to reduce carbon dioxide output under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. The bill will grant funding to a variety of transportation-related infrastructure projects, from pipelines to ground shipping technology, in order to achieve America’s net-zero greenhouse gas goals by 2050.
Check out today’s featured article from Energy.gov to read about the loans now available for applicants who are looking to finance carbon dioxide infrastructure projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and whether your company could qualify. ☕️
Featured Article:
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2 Billion from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Finance Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure | Energy.Gov
“The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today began accepting letters of interest from applicants for loans under a new $2.1 billion Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (CIFIA) program.”
Trade & Border Issues & Covid-19 😷
North American truckers push to stop foreign visitor vaccine requirement
North American truckers have tried protesting, but now they’re partnering directly with the lawmakers. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and Representative Brian Higgins (R-NY) have both applauded Canada’s drop of the vaccine and mask requirement, beginning October 1st. Together, they urge the United States to follow suit.
The United States still requires all foreign visitors arriving either by land or air to be “fully vaccinated” against the Covid-19 virus. In June of 2022, the country lifted requirements for a negative Covid-19 test with arrival to the country by air. Many truckers advise that the cross-border requirement just adds another unnecessary obstacle at this point.
Midterm Elections 🇺🇸
The Seats Republicans Could Flip To Win The House In 2022 | FiveThirtyEight - ABC News
FiveThiryEight contributors Geoffrey Kelley and Ryan Best tackle the issue on everyone’s minds: will Republicans take control of the House of Representatives during the midterm elections? Some districts are more likely to flip parties than others, including districts in Florida, Arizona, and Tennessee likely to turn red.
Why Women Age 50 and Over Could Decide 2022 Midterm Elections | Yahoo! News
Yahoo! News Bloomberg contributor Molly Smith writes about how American women over the age of 50 may be responsible for whichever way the votes swing during midterm elections. This group has often been a reliable determining factor and 51% of those casting votes have said they are unsure of their vote thus far.
Driver Issues 🚛
After a steady climb since 2020 lows, trucking employment dropped 11,000 jobs in September
Since the epic low trucker employment numbers in early 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, employment numbers have steadily been on the rise. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, September issued a loss of 11,000 trucking jobs alone, making the month the first major decline in over two years. Year-to-date jobs are still up nearly 42,000, but the loss of 11,000 can cause some stress.
Following trucking’s tumble, other sectors that experiences large losses in September are transit/ground passenger transportation with 3,600 jobs eliminated and couriers/messengers losing another 1,400.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
🇨🇦 Oh, Canada. The country’s National Supply Chain Task Force is digging into port congestion issues and interswitching, hoping to address supply chain issues across the provinces. With similar problems reflected in their southern neighbor of the United States, Canada also hopes to address the labor shortages by creating programs attracting Indigenous workers and other populations that are underrepresented to supply chain careers. Canada’s Supply Chain Office is led by former CEO of BC Trucking Association, Louise Yako, and the president of Lassonde Industries, Jean Gattuso.
🌾 China vs. the United States… but both lost. Grain exports are tied up because of river logistics issues, leaving both countries in a pickle. Significantly dry weather has reduced water levels in the Mississippi River, only allowing a few barges at a time to move safely through its waters and reducing the output of southbound tonnages by more than 20%. However, China cannot afford further delays in imports, after imports are churning in at a 25% lower level than the past three-year average.
🇪🇬 Egypt is on board. The World Bank has approved Egypt’s request for $400 million to help de-carbonize the country’s transportation logistics sector. The major project on the docket is a railway bypass to be constructed in the Alexandria-the 6th of October-Great Cairo Area corridor, a typically congested area of the railway. The railway project will also reduce emissions by 965,000 tons over the next three decades.
iLevel With You
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🍎 How do you like them apples? Well, most people like them filling trees and supermarkets so that they can enjoy apple fritters and apple pie at home during the upcoming holiday season. Unfortunately, pressing supply chain issues may play a negative role in this year’s apple season and apple farmers across the United States are ringing the alarm. Regardless, the harvest looks plentiful this year… consumers may just be paying more than ever to enjoy it.
🍻 Beer me! First, it was toilet paper… then it was baby formula… now beer may be the latest shortage on the horizon. Beer makers are struggling with inflation and supply chain issues as much as the next industry, but the rising cost of malted barley and what it costs to ship is almost crippling. Beer markers are warning the cost of beer is likely to increase to offset these costs and a lot of beers may become more and more scarce. Better stock up now, because your favorite beer might not be available on tap as often.
GET SMART
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
📈 There’s always money to be made. That’s a motto stock brokers could live by, anyway. If you’re someone who likes to gamble the ‘smart’ way, you may be interested in which stocks are profiting off of consistent supply chain issues plaguing industries across the board. Many companies are throwing up their hands and re-shoring, bringing their operations either close to or back on domestic soil instead of relying on international resources. These options are a favorite on the stock market as their manufacturing facilities expand and welcome a new productivity boom state-side.
💻 E-commerce is the answer. Retailers have taken the notion to heart over the past two years and have only increased e-commerce marketing after several supply chain disruptions have further crippled the market after Covid-19 lockdowns. Supply chain resilience is bigger than increasing volume and sales - it’s also about knowing when to reel it back and wait for opportune moments. Flexibility and adopting new tech seem to be key efforts successful companies are making.
🚛 Are ELDs actually creating a safer work environment for truckers? Since December 2019, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has required the industry as a whole to meet ELD mandate requirements, but there hasn’t been a government-approved study to really test the merits of such regulations. Currently, there is an FMCSA petition circulating with over 1,200 public comments for a five-year exemption from the rule.
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.