The Daily: April 6, 2022
Good morning, it’s Hump Day. 🐪
The White House’s policy decisions haven’t exactly been popular as of late, according to most polls. However, on Monday afternoon, President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg pledged support to the trucking industry with the Trucking Action Plan.
So… what is the Trucking Action Plan? Today’s Featured Article from Overdrive Online can explain. ☕️
“Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.”
– Richard Branson
Today’s Featured Article:
White House touts efforts to improve working conditions for truckers | Overdrive (overdriveonline.com)
“In a press conference on the White House lawn Monday afternoon, President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, among others, touted the administration’s efforts to expand and improve jobs in the trucking industry through its Trucking Action Plan.”
The Latest On…
Brokerage 📞
What Fleets Should Know About Freight Broker Bonds - Fleet Management - Trucking Info
“Whether you’re a motor carrier that works with brokers or you’re thinking of spinning off your own freight brokerage business from your fleet operations, you need to know about surety bonds, also called broker bonds.”
Trucker’s Lounge 🧢
Legendary 'Convoy' creator Bill Fries, aka C.W. McCall, dies at 93 | Overdrive (overdriveonline.com)
“Bill Fries, better known as C.W. McCall or "Rubber Duck" from the 1975 song "Convoy," the resulting film later that decade, and trucking tributes, passed away after a long battle with cancer on Friday, his granddaughter Laura Terry told the Omaha World-Herald.”
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Ep. 52 | Mini JOZ Byte: A Driverless Future on the Horizon — iLevel Logistics
“Advocates for autonomous vehicles (AVs) argue that widespread adoption would boost the overall safety of motorists. After all, machines do not fall asleep, they make fewer mistakes than humans, do not become angry, text, drink, and follow traffic laws.”
Christenson Transportation signs with Locomation to deploy 500 autonomous trucks | Commercial Carrier Journal (ccjdigital.com)
“When fourth-generation truck driver Don Christenson became a driver right out of high school, autonomous vehicles were merely a thing of the future.”
Crash liability with automated vehicles? Responsibility's murky | Overdrive (overdriveonline.com)
“Given the litigation-happy activities of plaintiff's attorneys when it comes to truck-involved crash lawsuits, a panel convened at the Truckload 2022 conference of the Truckload Carriers Association last week in Las Vegas provided insight on just who would be the principal litigation target in crashes involving possible future rigs piloted in large part by automated systems.”
How Supply Chain Digitalization Can Address Supply Chain Disruptions (allthingssupplychain.com)
“Industry 4.0 revolutionized many industries, and now it’s being applied to supply chains.”
AI can mitigate cyberattacks against trucking companies | Commercial Carrier Journal (ccjdigital.com)
“We conducted a study of mid-sized companies analyzing their cybersecurity preparedness, as well as the volume and nature of cyber risks those companies faced in 2020 through today.”
Wing to Begin Biggest US Drone-Delivery Test in Texas | Transport Topics (ttnews.com)
“Alphabet Inc.’s Wing is set to begin the largest drone-delivery test program so far in the U.S., starting April 7 in the Dallas suburbs.”
Did talk of autonomous trucks begin with cruise control? - Truck News
“The buzz about autonomous trucks is slowly getting louder, but do we really want them? Or need them?”
Inflation 💸
Inflation fears force Americans to rethink financial choices: Survey (cnbc.com)
“The Consumer Price Index, which measures a wide-ranging basket of goods and services, jumped 7.9% in February from 12 months prior.”
Maintenance & Repair 🧰
Infrastructure funding is a chance to think beyond cars | The Hill
“Thanks to decades of car-centric policy in the United States, it is nearly impossible to get around in most cities and towns without a car.”
Trade & Border Issues 🗺
Metals Industry Agonizes Over War But Keeps Buying From Russia | 2022-04-05 | SupplyChainBrain
“Last month, 13 copper-industry representatives at the London Metal Exchange were asked whether Russian metal should be blocked from its warehouses.”
Supply chains remain in chaos as Shanghai lockdown is extended indefinitely - The Loadstar
“The Shanghai lockdown has been extended indefinitely, a move that casts further uncertainty over Chinese supply chains, as new data is published showing the impact on China’s ocean freight volumes.”
Jamie Dimon: The war in Ukraine will slow the economy and it could 'easily get worse' | CNN Business
“Jamie Dimon is worried about the powerful shockwaves set off by the combination of high inflation and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.”
Regulations ⚖️
Senate Republicans unveil bill to help small businesses, retail investors | Fox Business
“A group of Senate Republicans on Monday introduced a proposal to spur new business formations by encouraging companies to become publicly traded, tailoring regulations for small businesses and enhancing protection for retail investors.”
Five Takeaways from the UN’s Latest 3,000-Page Climate Report | 2022-04-05 | SupplyChainBrain
“The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its latest 3,000-page look at how humanity can avoid compounding catastrophe if nations take sufficient action to do so.”
Business Strategy 💡
One Multinational’s Supply Chain Transformation Journey - Logistics Viewpoints
“A large multinational is undergoing an impressive supply chain transformation that will run through 2023. While the company has several different goals, two key focuses are improved agility and resilience, and more autonomous planning.”
MODEX 2022: Getting the Supply Chain Back on Track | Material Handling and Logistics (mhlnews.com)
“While technology may not solve every problem, it might be enough to reinvigorate the supply chain.”
Compliance 📋
Fines for regs violations increased | Operation Safe Driver Week dates set | Commercial Carrier Journal (ccjdigital.com)
“The Department of Transportation last week published a final rule updating the civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations, including Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations focused on in trucking-company audits.”
Building trade leader worries California permit approvals will delay offshore wind | AJOT.COM
“Andrew Meredith, president, State Building Trades Council of California is concerned that California environmentalists’ opposition and the State’s lengthy permit approvals process will delay construction of floating offshore wind farms for years.”
Group asks FMCSA to specify a time or distance limit in personal conveyance guidance (cdllife.com)
“The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been pressed to provide a clearer definition for the term “personal conveyance” as it pertains to commercial vehicle regulations.”
Tax Day is coming soon. Here's what you need to know about filing your 2021 taxes | CNN Business
“Soaring inflation. The war in Ukraine. Yet another rise in Covid cases. With so much going on this year it's hard to focus on things like filing your taxes.”
Ports 🚢
Salvors to Remove Cargo Containers from Grounded Ever Forward (gcaptain.com)
“Salvors will need to remove cargo containers from the grounded Ever Forward in the Chesapeake Bay, the U.S. Coast Coast Guard said Monday following two unsuccessful attempts to refloat the ship last week.”
Fuel Tech ♻️
If we want more renewables, we're going to need a lot more mining first | Washington Examiner
“From Day One of his presidency, Joe Biden has been waging war on domestic oil, natural gas, and coal. Now he is making it more difficult for U.S. companies to mine key minerals, making his own climate goals become even more unrealistic than they are already.”
J.B. Hunt Launches Carbon Offset Credit Program - Fuel Smarts - Trucking Info
“J.B. Hunt Transport Services launched a new program called Clean Transport that will allow customers to acquire carbon offset credits equivalent to the emissions created by their shipments.”
Report: Companies are slowing climate initiatives due to rising costs | DC Velocity
“CEOs say delayed investments, price hikes, and nearshoring are primary tactics for dealing with inflation and market uncertainty.”
Electric Vehicles 🔋
Precious Metal Values are Raising Battery Prices and Slowing EV Uptake (msn.com)
“Electric vehicles (EV) are still too expensive for a lot of people. As automakers work to bring EV production to scale, they're running into a problem: ongoing constraints in the supply chain are keeping prices on battery components high.”
Detroit Expands Service Training Center to Add EV Courses - Maintenance - Trucking Info
“Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) has announced the opening of the expanded Detroit Service Training Center, which will be used to train technicians in electric powertrain service, battery maintenance, and full truck repair.”
Inside PepsiCo's strategy for fleet electrification | Transport Dive
“For the food and beverage giant, executive buy-in is a crucial part of scaling for the future.”
Leases & Loans 💰
How leasing companies are responding to increased customer demand | Commercial Carrier Journal (ccjdigital.com)
“With the 2022 Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) Annual Meeting now underway in Miami, the lease and rental (L&R) market has taken another step forward in its return to normalcy.”
Moving beyond just one truck: The case for careful preparation | Overdrive (overdriveonline.com)
“Once I overcame my early business setbacks, detailed in my previous post, I began enjoying success as an independent owner-operator.”
Marketing Approach 📲
Opinion | Why Elon Musk Is Buying into Twitter - POLITICO
“Elon Musk has found something to keep himself occupied until his first crewed mission to Mars fulfills his prediction and lands on the Red Planet in 2029.”
Online Shoppers Want Predictability More Than Speed, UPS Says | 2022-04-04 | SupplyChainBrain
“We’re all familiar with consumers’ need for speedy delivery, as companies like DoorDash Inc., Uber Technologies Inc., Gorillas Technologies GmbH, and others vie to ship items to customers in record time. (For many, it’s still a money-losing venture.)”
American Politics 🇺🇸
‘We’re Going To Get Slaughtered’: Biden’s Poll Numbers Trigger Panic Mode For Democrats | The Daily Caller
“President Joe Biden’s poll numbers are triggering panic mode for some Democrats ahead of the 2022 midterms, strategists said, according to The Hill.”
Retail 🛍
Retail Inventory: Old Method, New Tricks - Inbound Logistics
“Toshifumi Suzuki led 7-Eleven Japan's spectacular rise from small licensee to the highest-grossing retailer in Japan.”
Watch: Will Retail Supply Chain Challenges Get Worse Before They Get Better? | SupplyChainBrain
“Better data sharing between retailers and CPG manufacturers can help overcome supply chain challenges, says Inna Kuznetsova, chief executive officer of 1010Data.”
Driver Issues 🚛
White House gets tepid applause for truck driver recruitment efforts | DC Velocity
“Improvements to truck parking, detention time, driver compensation, and CDL licensing are welcomed, but full solution awaits, industry groups, say.”
Air Cargo ✈️
Air Cargo: Volatility lingers - Logistics Management (logisticsmgmt.com)
“Even with a strong recovery in revenue, the IATA maintains that air cargo did not meet its full growth potential last year. In the meantime, tight capacity, labor shortages, infrastructure shortfalls—and now the Russian invasion of Ukraine—continue to cloud the forecast in this vital sector.”
News Bag 📰
This Week’s Supply Chain Potpourri: The Top Supply Chain Stories of the Week that Was | SC Digest
“After five weeks of offering summary and commentary on the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the global economy and the supply chain, I am going to back off a bit this week, as there wasn’t a lot of news.”
Covid-19 😷
What Do the New Covid Lockdowns in China Mean for Shipping? - More Than Shipping
“When I first heard the news of a new lockdown in Shanghai this week, I recalled the time when we first heard about Covid cases in China.”
Fuel ⛽️
Diesel Ticks Down 4.1¢ to $5.144 a Gallon | Transport Topics (ttnews.com)
“Diesel posted a rare downturn as the national average price dropped 4.1 cents to $5.144 a gallon, according to Energy Information Administration data released April 4.”
Health & Safety ⛑
This Often-Overlooked Department Deserves a Seat at the Decision-Making Table (msn.com)
“Any leader reading this has likely had the following experience: There’s a board room with a long mahogany table, at which sits the C-suite, VP of marketing, VP of sales, the CIO, and assorted board members.”
Unions 🪧
Amazon's first US union overcomes hurdles, faces new ones | AP News
“When a scrappy group of former and current warehouse workers on Staten Island, New York went head-to-head with Amazon in a union election, many compared it to a David and Goliath battle.”
Stocks 📈
Gloom in Transports Sends Smoke Signal for US Stocks | Transport Topics (ttnews.com)
“The latest warning sign for U.S. stocks is emerging from a corner of the market that investors closely watch to get a read on the state of the economy and the health of American consumers.”
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for July 31, 2025, from iLevel Logistics Inc.