🚂🌉🪧 Track Tension, Bridge Overtroubled, & Stalled by Stellantis

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Good morning! ☀️

Today’s supply chain rollercoaster has no shortage of twists.

👉 First, longer freight trains might be great for cutting costs, but they’re causing more derailments than we'd like—literally. 

👉 Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department is throwing the book at the container ship Dali after its bridge-smashing Baltimore disaster.

👉 And just when you thought it couldn’t get crazier, the UAW is revving up for a strike vote against Stellantis over broken promises.

All aboard the supply chain chaos express! Let’s dive in.

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“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.”

— Helen Keller

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Are Long Freight Trains Worth the Risk?

Recent reports show that longer freight trains are becoming more common, but they're also causing more derailments. The National Academies of Sciences found that the push-and-pull forces between railcars in mile-plus long trains can be risky, especially if they're not assembled properly. Train crews are raising red flags, saying these mega-trains are harder to handle over uneven terrain and lead to communication issues. Railroads say they've got safety measures in place, but this is definitely something the industry should keep an eye on.

💡 Why It Matters: Long trains can mess with your supply chain. Delays, disruptions, and even blocked crossings can ripple through your operations. Keeping an eye on this could help you avoid some headaches down the line.

🔥 Hot Take: Saving money on longer trains is great—until a derailment sends the whole system off the rails.

Read more at Finance Yahoo >

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Justice Department Sues Over Fatal Bridge Collapse

The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the owner and operator of the container ship Dali, which caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, killing six workers and shutting down the Port of Baltimore. The suit accuses the companies of gross negligence and seeks over $100 million in damages to cover the emergency response and federal aid provided after the incident.

The Dali, owned by Singapore-based Grace Ocean Ltd. and Synergy Marine Group, lost power, leading to the crash. The ship’s poor maintenance and multiple onboard failures were cited as preventable causes of the disaster. Cleanup efforts and reconstruction of the bridge are ongoing, with Maryland seeking compensation for the bridge's $1.9 billion rebuild.

💡 Why It Matters: You should care because when a major port like Baltimore gets shut down, it disrupts the entire supply chain—delays, rerouting, increased costs, the whole nine yards. If you're moving goods, a disaster like this could throw a wrench in your operations for weeks or months. Plus, it highlights the importance of ship maintenance and safety to avoid costly accidents that ripple through the industry.

🔥 Hot Take: Poor ship maintenance doesn’t just sink ships; it sinks supply chains too.

Read more at The New York Times >

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UAW Plans Strike Vote Over Stellantis Contract Breach

The United Auto Workers (UAW) is preparing for a strike vote against Stellantis, claiming the company broke promises from their 2023 contract—threatening American jobs in the process. UAW President Shawn Fain says Stellantis didn’t follow through on key commitments, like reopening the Belvidere, IL plant. Even worse, they’re planning to shift Dodge Durango production to Canada, which violates their agreement and risks even more U.S. jobs.

With no response from Stellantis and grievances piling up, the UAW is considering targeted strikes but hasn’t ruled out a nationwide walkout.

💡 Why It Matters: A strike could seriously impact vehicle production, disrupting everything from fleet renewals to auto part deliveries—big news for anyone in logistics or supply chain management.

🔥 Hot Take: When automakers stall, the supply chain hits a major speed bump.

Read more at The Washington Post >

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Daily Riddle:

I’m what you feel when plans go astray,

When shipments are late and things go away.

I tangle the routes, throw off your schemes,

I’m the roadblock in your smooth-flowing dreams.

What am I?

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Previous Riddle Answer: Consumers

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