Increasing rate of women are joining the transportation & warehousing industry
Good morning! It’s a beautiful Thursday. Get some fresh air today. 😁
The Women In Trucking Association released its 2022 WIT Index, demonstrating the increasing amount of women entering the industry. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of women occupying warehousing and transportation jobs in the workforce has grown almost 12% since this time last year.
Check out today’s featured article from CCJ Digital to read about the growing number of women in the trucking industry, both behind the wheel and in the corner office. ☕️
Featured Article:
Female employment in transportation on the rise - CCJ Digital
“More women are entering the transportation workforce, in both the board room and the driver's seat.”
Fuel ⛽️
National diesel average declines, providing slightly more relief at the pump
But not enough. For the week of August 8th, the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) recorded a national diesel average cost per gallon of $4.993. While this is a 13-cent decrease from the previous week and a 16.4-cent decrease from the week before that, the cost is still incredibly steep compared to the national average one year ago, which was $1.629 lower.
Estimates from the EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook are predicting a 2023 diesel average of $4.07 as compared to a 2022 average of $4.73.
Warehousing 📦
Arizona’s desert becoming the next logistics hub for warehouses
Arizona’s Loop 303 area is likely the fastest-growing logistics warehouse hub in the country. The area is currently developing 19.8 million square feet of additional industrial space to meet the growing demand for warehouse real estate.
Southern California’s Inland Empire region has struggled to improve its traditional freight hubs, leaving many manufacturers heading east to the desert in order to enhance their supply chains. Phoenix remains close enough to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles for long-haul trucking and offers a significant amount of land available to build new warehouses.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Bar Graph GIF via GIPHY
📱 Apple has raised an eyebrow or two after asking its Taiwan-based suppliers to begin labeling their products as “Made in China”. The request seems to come on the heels of the U.S House of Representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi, visiting Taipei, Taiwan - resulting in China enhancing customs inspections of products from the region. The People’s Republic of China has insisted that the island of Taiwan is not independent of the country and has drawn much criticism from around the world. This move by Apple suggests that supply chain shortages will continue to exist under the labeling question.
Owner-Operators 🚛
Owner-operators can expect the spot market to soften
After an unreasonably volatile year of recession concerns and inflationary speed bumps, those in the trucking industry are hoping there will be a rebalancing of the market in short order. If the spot markets (which have been erratic over the past 12 months) begin to calm, carriers can expect the stabilization of those rates to create a more agreeable marketplace.
As it currently stands, 96% of carriers responding to a Bloomberg/Truckstop survey have cited sky-high fuel costs as the biggest inflationary issue affecting the profitability of their companies.
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Carrier app streamlines freight procurement - DC Velocity
“AI-powered technology from Sleek Technologies gives small to mid-sized carriers easier access to large shippers, the company says.”
Verizon Connect adds more AI to fleet dashcams - FleetOwner
“The expanded outward and dual-facing cameras use the company’s artificial intelligence engine and cloud computing to create real-time driver coaching and provide fleet managers with more insight into driving events.”
American Politics 🇺🇸
US supply chains need visibility and resiliency. Congress still hasn’t acted. - Supply Chain Dive
“The baby formula shortage should have been reason enough to advance policy.”
Industry Forecast 📊
Container Lines Are Set to Smash Year-Old Profit Record by 73% - SupplyChainBrain
“The world’s biggest container lines are on course to post profits in 2022 that will top last year’s record by 73%, according to a new forecast, buoyed by logistics and labor strains that are squeezing capacity amid sustained U.S. demand for imports.”
Imports Slowing in Second Half of the Year - Material Handling & Logistics
“‘Our biggest concern is the potential for disruption because of separate labor negotiations at the West Coast ports and the freight railroads,’ said Jonathan Gold of NRF.”
Company Culture 🎉
“After fighting off forces seeking to have FedEx Ground drivers classified as employees, now the threat may be drivers becoming franchisees.”
Driver Issues 🚛
NIMBYs rise up across the US to fight truck stop expansion - Back The Truck Up
“NIMBY, or “not in my back yard,” is a term for anyone not wanting something near their home, but who wants to use its services.”
Driver Pay Rose in 2021, ATA Survey Finds - TT News
“Truck drivers saw their pay increase in 2021 — some significantly — according to a new study from American Trucking Associations.”
Customer Relations 🤝
Direct-to-Consumer Sales Are Fueling Supply-Chain Tech Growth - Wall Street Journal
“The push by consumer-goods suppliers to sell directly to consumers is giving a boost to technology companies that help untangle the complexities of retail supply chains.”
Owner-Operators 🚛
The Broader Freight Impact of California’s AB5 [Video] - Trucking Info
“If you think California’s AB5 law won’t affect you because you don’t run in the state or don’t use owner-operators, you might be surprised.”
Electric Vehicles 🔋
“Starbucks Corp., in partnership with Volvo Cars, has installed new electric vehicle (EV) chargers, powered by ChargePoint Holdings Inc., at the first Starbucks stores.”
“Ford Motor is increasing the starting prices of its electric F-150 Lightning pickup due to ‘significant material cost increases and other factors.’”
Sustainability ♻️
Carbon Capture Didn’t Make Sense 12 Years Ago And It Doesn’t Make Sense Now - Real Clear Energy
“It appears the reconciliation bill that includes some $370 billion in energy-related spending is going to become law.”
Inflation 💸
Are we in a recession or just living in a world of mixed economic indicators? - Logistics Management
“With another negative United States Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reading, for the second quarter, at -0.9, following the first quarter’s -1.6 reading, it begs the question of: is the U.S. economy is in a recession?”
Postal Service quarterly loss increases due to pandemic trends and price inflation - DC Velocity
“But long term outlook is helped by April passage of postal reform act, easing payment of employee health and retirement benefits.”
Consumer prices rose 8.5% in July, less than expected as inflation pressures ease a bit - CNBC
“The consumer price index rose 8.5% in July from a year ago, below expectations, due largely to slumping energy prices.”
Online prices fall for the first time in two years - CBS News
“Online shoppers are finally seeing lower prices for some goods, a sign the searing inflation that has scorched the U.S. economy may be starting to cool.”
Business Strategy 💡
Clorox seeks ‘simpler and faster’ operating model to boost savings - Supply Chain Dive
“Clorox will implement a new “streamlined” operating model next year to boost efficiency and improve consumer demand planning, the company announced on its July earnings call.”
Watch: World-Class Supply Chains Create Value - SupplyChainBrain
“Velocity of response and proactivity in risk management is key to meeting supply chain challenges and creating value, says Rajesh Kalidindi, founder and chief executive officer of LevaData.”
Ports 🚢
Port Congestion in the US And Its Effects on Supply Chains - All Things Supply Chain
“Port congestion is a major problem for US ports in 2022.”
US Works with Firms in Supply Chains to Ease Port Congestion - Marine Link
“The U.S. Transportation Department (USDOT) said on Wednesday a supply chain pilot data-sharing project aimed at easing bottlenecks at congested U.S. ports has begun exchanging data and doubled in size.”
Statement by Commissioner Bentzel on East Coast empty container congestion - AJOT.COM
“I want to agree and associate myself with the statement made by Chairman Maffei in the aftermath of his visit to the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, and his concerns on the mounting challenge of returning empty containers to the marine terminals servicing the port.”
Trade & Border Issues 🗺
“I went to Costa Rica with my brother and nephew, and so I’ve been thinking about the amazing Costa Rican biodiversity, beaches, birds and biotech manufacturing (which can be expanded into life sciences but I wanted to use a word that started with a ‘b’).”
Network Association 🤝
UPS to Acquire Health Care Logistics Firm Bomi Group - TT News
“UPS announced plans to acquire Italian-based health care logistics firm Bomi Group to expand the reach of its health unit globally.”
Compliance 📋
AB5 ‘will be disruptive, and people haven’t prepared,’ Schneider CEO warns - Transport Dive
“Schneider National expects enforcement of California’s AB5 law, and any other similar laws requiring independent owner-operators to be reclassified as employees, to compound a driver capacity crunch, CEO Mark Rourke said during a Q2 earnings call.”
Regulations ⚖️
Beware Efforts In the House to 'Fix' Freight Railroads - Real Clear Markets
“A key pillar of the deceptively named “Inflation Reduction Act” is furthering the climate agenda of the Democratic majority.”
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.