Steeling Profits, Flake News, & Hot Cargo
Good morning!
Buckle up—it’s a steel of a week (but not in a good way). Trump just dropped a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, so get ready for rising costs and some spicy trade drama. Meanwhile, Mother Nature is in full chaos mode, with back-to-back winter storms set to dump snow, ice, and flooding across major freight corridors. Delays? Oh yeah. And in a plot twist no one saw coming, cleaning up shipping fuel might actually be making the planet hotter—because apparently, sulfur was keeping things chill all along.
Stay warm, stay informed, and maybe stock up on coffee—it’s gonna be a long week.
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
Steel Tariffs Are Back – What It Means for Supply Chain & Logistics
Trump just announced a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports—including from Canada and Mexico—starting Monday. He’s also teasing reciprocal tariffs on countries that slap high duties on U.S. goods.
Winners? U.S. steel stocks, which shot up.
Losers? Just about everyone in logistics and transportation.
This latest tariff push reflects Trump’s broader trade strategy—leveraging import taxes to pressure other nations while also using them as a revenue stream for the government.
💡 Why This Matters: Because steel is everywhere in our industry—trucks, trailers, containers, warehouses—and higher costs mean higher freight rates. Plus, expect retaliatory tariffs from other countries to shake up trade routes and demand.
🔥 Hot Take: This is like putting a toll booth on the entire supply chain. U.S. steel companies may cash in, but logistics, trucking, and manufacturing are footing the bill. Hope you’re ready for the trickle-down tariff effect.
Back-to-Back Winter Storms to Slam East Coast & Midwest
Brace yourselves—two major winter storms are set to slam the U.S. this week, bringing heavy snow, freezing rain, and flooding. From Colorado to the East Coast, expect road closures, flight cancellations, and freight delays.
Storm 1 (Tues-Wed): Snow from Kentucky to D.C., heavy rain in the South, and flash flooding risks.
Storm 2 (Wed-Thurs): Snow from Colorado to Chicago (5-9 inches), plus freezing rain hitting NYC, Philly & Boston.
📉 Why It Matters: If you’re in logistics, this is a nightmare. Treacherous roads = delays, reroutes, and higher costs. Spot market rates? Expect a surge as capacity tightens and shippers scramble.
🔥 Hot Take: Mother Nature just hit the supply chain with a "Winter Rate Surge"—snow, ice, and delays driving up freight costs. If you’re moving goods, plan ahead & stay flexible.
Did Cleaning Up Shipping Fuel Make the World Hotter?
In a wild twist, cutting pollution from cargo ships may have actually contributed to global warming.
Back in 2020, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) slashed sulfur in shipping fuel to reduce harmful air pollution. The result? A 7.4 million-ton drop in sulfur oxide emissions—a big win for human health. But here’s the catch: sulfur particles help clouds reflect heat back into space. Now, with fewer of them, scientists think this could be nudging global temperatures up (though it’s not the main culprit).
📦 Why It Matters: If new climate concerns drive stricter fuel mandates, carbon taxes, or sustainability rules, expect higher costs and more compliance challenges for logistics pros.
🔥 Hot Take: We scrubbed the fuel, and now the planet’s sweating? Turns out, sulfur was throwing some literal shade—and now, regulators might come knocking with even tighter policies. Adapt or sink.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for April 11, 2025, from iLevel Logistics Inc.