❄️ Trailer Tundra
Good morning! Happy Truck Driver Appreciation Week! In this issue, we pay tribute to the unsung heroes of our industry—the dedicated truck drivers who keep our supply chains moving and deliver goods to our doorsteps. From their crucial role in keeping the economy rolling to their unwavering commitment on the road, we salute these hardworking professionals who play an integral part in our daily lives.
Join us as we explore their vital contributions, the challenges they face, and the initiatives aimed at recognizing and honoring their tireless efforts. 🚛❤️
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Cutting-Edge Trailer Refrigeration Technology Set to Revolutionize North American Logistics
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company and European trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull Corp. are collaborating to introduce new transport refrigeration unit (TRU) technology in North America. Under the name Cargobull North America, Utility Trailer will exclusively distribute Schmitz Cargobull’s latest TRU technology on Utility’s 3000R line of refrigerated trailers. This technology boasts up to 20% less fuel consumption and offers plug-in hybrid and all-electric units to reduce emissions.
It meets California’s stringent emission standards for 2030 and complies with ultra-low-emission TRU regulations. The TRU units also include Hatz industrial diesel engines, a hybrid powertrain, fully embedded shore power, and advanced telematics for monitoring and managing fleet logistics. Future enhancements may include integrated door-locking systems, fully electric models with battery-recuperation axles, and optimized cooling cycles based on individual customer needs. Schmitz Cargobull plans to establish a manufacturing plant in North America by 2026.
Check out today’s featured article from Trucking Info to learn more about what new technology in refrigerated trucks is coming to North America this year. Will this be a game-changer for refrigerated trailers?
Featured Article
New Trailer Refrigeration Tech Coming to North America
“Utility announced the Cargobull news during the International Foodservice Distributors Association’s 2023 Solutions Conference.”
Elon Musk & Loans
Business Ventures with Elon Musk: Expectations vs. Reality
Elon Musk borrowed a billion dollars from SpaceX, a company he owns, around the time he was buying Twitter last year. Despite his 42 percent ownership stake in SpaceX, his voting power was 79 percent, making it practically unstoppable for him to secure the loan. This illustrates how shareholders in any of Musk's companies are closely tied to all of his businesses, with Musk's actions in one company influencing others. This interconnectedness raises ethical concerns, especially in public companies like Tesla, where boards are supposed to safeguard the financial interests of shareholders rather than the CEO. Musk's unique position blurs the lines between his empire and himself, leading to potential conflicts of interest and governance challenges.
While the loan from SpaceX might not be a major concern, it exemplifies a broader pattern where Musk's desires across his ventures are often met without much opposition. This interconnectedness can become problematic when Musk's actions impact public shareholders, as seen with his purchase of Twitter and previous dealings like Tesla's acquisition of SolarCity. The overlap between Musk's interests and those of his companies complicates corporate governance, making it challenging for boards to distinguish between Musk's personal pursuits and the best interests of shareholders.
Amazon & Disaster Relief
Amazon Revolutionizes Disaster Relief with Enhanced Delivery Efficiency
Abe Diaz, an Amazon employee based in Washington state, leads Disaster Relief by Amazon, a group tasked with using the company's resources to assist communities affected by natural disasters. The team utilizes Amazon's resources, such as unused warehouse space, an air transportation system, and cloud computing capabilities, to provide aid after disasters occur. Since its launch six years ago, the program has donated 23 million items to victims of 113 natural disasters worldwide. The team focuses on both proactive and reactive disaster relief efforts, aiming to predict needs in advance when possible and swiftly respond to emergencies. Diaz and his team have played a crucial role in disaster-affected areas, including wildfires in California, hurricanes in Puerto Rico, and earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Diaz emphasizes the importance of community support, stating, "We support our communities ... because it’s the right thing to do."
Amazon's commitment to disaster relief aligns with its broader sustainability efforts. The company has invested tens of millions of dollars in its disaster relief program and has taken steps to reduce its environmental impact, such as purchasing renewable energy, reducing packaging waste, and using hydrogen-powered forklifts. While some critics call for Amazon to do more in terms of sustainability, employees like Diaz and Victor Rodriguez, Amazon's first operational meteorologist, view the company as a "driver of positive change." Diaz and his team continue to work tirelessly to improve disaster relief processes, with the goal of reducing response times to three days or less in the future.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Checking out the scoop outside of the United States…
💻 Europe, US, India, and Vietnam Secure New Electronics Manufacturing Capacity. Electronics and technology manufacturing and sourcing are experiencing a shift towards Europe, North America, and select Asian economies like Vietnam and India. The goal is to ensure resilience and faster time-to-market, reducing disruptions that have affected the sector in recent years. Europe, especially Western Europe, is seeing significant investment in high-end chip manufacturing, with countries like Germany, the UK, and Belgium considered ideal for their talent and research capabilities. Eastern European countries like Poland and Romania are becoming focal points for consumer goods, final assembly, and battery manufacturing.
🚢 U.S. Container Import Volume Shows Slight Rise in August, Echoing Pre-Pandemic Trends. In August 2023, U.S. container import volume saw a slight increase compared to the previous month, indicating a return to pre-pandemic patterns, according to Descartes Systems Group. Despite the volume increase, port transit times remained near their lowest levels, largely due to the resolution of labor issues on the U.S. West Coast. While a drought in Panama affected certain types of shipping through the Panama Canal, U.S. container imports appeared unaffected. In August, U.S. container import volumes remained consistent with pre-pandemic peak season patterns, indicating stabilization in the supply chain.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
😴 The 'Boreout' Job Trend: Addressing Its Impact on America's Workplaces and Solutions for Improvement. "Boreout" is a new employee trend affecting American companies, where workers experience chronic boredom and find their work to be unfulfilling. This phenomenon results in employee stress, lower productivity, health problems, high staff turnover, and early retirement. It is connected to the "quiet quitting" trend, where employees disengage from their jobs, as both trends involve employees feeling emotionally disconnected from their organizations. "Boreout" predominantly affects male employees aged 18 to 35, who are less encumbered by family responsibilities and are more willing to change jobs. This trend has a negative impact on productivity and costs companies money.
💧Navigating the Panama Canal Drought: Tips to Get Your Shipments Moving. Due to continued drought conditions in the Panama Canal region, the Panama Canal Authority has extended daily transit and vessel restrictions through the end of this year and into 2024. While the backlog of ships waiting to transit the canal has slightly improved, vessel wait times remain high at 164.5 hours in September, down from 228 minutes in August. Water levels in Gatun Lake, which supplies the canal, are well below normal levels. Shippers are concerned about potential delays, and some are looking for alternatives to avoid disruptions. AlixPartners suggests several strategies for dealing with these challenges, including prioritizing freight visibility, evaluating supply chain flexibility, exploring alternative options, aligning internal processes, and communicating potential cost exposure.
⛽️ Diesel Price Surges to $4.54 a Gallon, Up by 4.8¢. The national average diesel price continued its upward trend, rising by 4.8 cents to reach $4.54 per gallon, as reported by the Energy Information Administration. This marks the eighth consecutive week of increases, totaling 73.4 cents during this period. Diesel prices are now 49.3 cents lower than they were at the same time in 2022. In EIA's weekly survey, the average diesel price increased in nine out of ten regions, with California experiencing the largest gain of 16.9 cents. The West Coast, West Coast excluding California, and California are the only regions where diesel costs over $5 per gallon on average. Gasoline prices also saw a slight increase of 1.5 cents per gallon on average, now costing 13.2 cents more than a year ago.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
🧑🏽⚖️ NLRB Introduces New Employee Work Rules Standard: What You Need to Know. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a decision stating that all employer work rules that could potentially restrict employee organizing efforts are now presumed to be illegal under federal labor law. This means that many long-standing work rules that were previously considered acceptable are now potentially illegal. Employers need to review their rules and employee handbooks to ensure compliance with this new standard. The NLRB's decision is based on a provision of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) called Section 7, which protects employees' rights related to organizing and discussing workplace conditions. Employers should expect more challenges and litigation related to workplace rules in light of this change.
🇲🇽 As Cross-Border Trade Explodes, C.H. Robinson Expands Presence in Laredo. Third-party logistics provider C.H. Robinson is expanding its presence in Laredo, Texas, with the opening of a 400,000-square-foot cross-border facility featuring 154 dock doors capable of handling 700 trailers. This new facility brings Robinson's total footprint in the area to 1.5 million square feet. The expansion is driven by the growing nearshoring trend, which is attracting suppliers into Mexico, especially. The facility's strategic design aims to speed up the process of unloading and reloading freight, reducing wait times and increasing efficiency. The Port of Laredo, where the facility is located, handled $268 billion in trade with Mexico last year, up 20% since 2021. Robinson expects the facility to support the continued growth in cross-border trade between the US and Mexico.
🚂 Union Pacific has announced it will respond swiftly to safety concerns. Union Pacific (UP) is preparing to respond to concerns raised by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regarding safety issues related to its rolling stock. The FRA has criticized UP's efforts to ensure the safety of its locomotives and freight cars, citing a high defect ratio found during focused inspections in July and August. UP has pledged to take these concerns seriously and will address them promptly. The FRA also questioned whether recent employee furloughs had any impact on safety. UP denied any correlation between furloughs and its ability to address mechanical repairs, stating that safety remains its top priority. The FRA's letter did not provide specific details about the defects or the locations of the inspections but highlighted a defect ratio twice the national average. Union Pacific plans to work with the FRA to resolve these issues and improve its safety record.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 25, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.