Making the new tax credit for EV buyers worth your while
Good morning! Happy Thursday 🎉 We have some good news and some not-so-great news…
There’s a new law signed into order - have you heard? The U.S. government is in the process of rolling out new tax credits to those who choose to purchase an electric vehicle - but alas, there is a catch.
To be eligible for the tax credit, the car must be manufactured in North America, and unfortunately… some of the models included on the list of 31 cars have raised their prices exactly the same amount as the tax credit.
Check out today’s featured article from AP News to read about the new US tax credit for electric vehicles and how, as a consumer, you can make it worth your while. ☕️
Featured Article:
Which EVs qualify for new US tax credit? Websites offer help - AP News
“As part of the rollout of a huge new climate, tax and healthcare law, the U.S. government is moving forward with its plan to award new tax credits to electric vehicle purchasers.”
Owner Operators 🚛
Biden Administration edges towards federalizing California’s controversial AB5 law
Since the 2020 election, the Biden Administration hasn’t been shy about its pro-union agenda. American labor law has undergone sweeping reform with the PRO Act and now, the White House is taking a keen interest in California’s recent AB5 law - a controversial piece of legislation that has effectively targeted the “gig economy” in the Golden State and caused owner-operators in the trucking industry to shut down the Port of Oakland in protest late last month.
AB5 redefined the Department of Labor’s definition of “independent contractor” - supporters say that the law is meant to give power back to an “exploited” worker and forces companies to hire employees with benefits instead of paying them as contractors. Those who criticize the bill say it instead takes away power from the individual workers who often are seeking more flexibility with their income-earning and that this bill instead hands over unprecedented power to unions.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
North America Travel GIF By Nu Skin via GIPHY
🚢 And… strike! Port workers across the world are threatening walkouts and strikes, leaving the global supply chains under some serious pressure. The U.K. ports seem to be facing the brunt of it - the struggling economy and the surging cost of living in the country have over 500 employees at Liverpool’s Peel Port in Great Britain agreeing to strike. The dockworkers rejected a 7% pay increase and instead demanded that their wages continue to rise with the over 9% inflation rate. The Christmas inventory cycle is expected to cause some disruption during peak season in the U.K.
🚛 Great news for the logistics market in Africa! One of the world's largest tech companies, Google, is financially backing the Kenya-based e-logistics commerce platform, Lori Systems. Lori Systems digitizes shipping hauls across the continent and manages the cargo operations for logistics companies. Google has invested in Africa twice previously - developing a $50 million Africa Investment fund in October of 2021. The company has said that it plans to invest $1 billion over the next five years in Africa’s technological development. Africa established the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2018 and is expected to further grow the continent’s trade to approximately $21.9 billion.
🌾 Finally, the grain from Ukraine arrives! Following the deal struck between the UN, Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey, the first shipments of grain that have been sea-locked in the Black Sea for months have arrived in the Syrian port city of Tartous. The first ship, a Sierra Leone-based freighter, had departed Ukraine’s Odesa port with a destination of Lebanon but seems to have diverted from that path. Grain and corn being unloaded in Syria instead is surprising and only validated by satellite photos, as the ship has kept its transponder switched off for the duration of its journey.
Artificial Intelligence 🦾
DHL Supply Chain working to implement more robotics into North American warehouses
DHL Supply Chain announced the beginning of its warehouse digitization journey back in 2018. The company’s North American facilities were going to be saturated with new and emerging technologies on the market, funneling the company toward a goal of innovation in its workplace. Shortly after the announcement, the company partnered with Locus Robotics and deployed over 2,000 robots to its warehouses across North America.
Now, in 2022, the company is taking its warehouse efficiency goals to the next level. Robotic arms are being utilized in palletizing or de-palletizing products in DHL facilities. Additionally, the company is showing great interest in the DortBot DoraSorters.
Company Culture 🎉
Companies in big cities need to rebrand because remote work is here to stay
The optics around many large companies that have towering skyscrapers in big cities like Manhattan used to brand themselves to prospective employees as an option to work at while still enjoying “city life.” Now, in the age of remote and hybrid work, they need to reframe their culture.
A post-pandemic commonality among companies is the large cash infusions into cutting-edge technology to make remote work possible. While many employees were originally sent home due to safety and CDC recommendations, employees now largely want to stay there. Commercial office buildings are still standing near-empty across the nation’s largest cities, even as restaurants and shopping malls open back up for business. A successful business revival would require superstar companies and brands to reshape their company culture so that employees again feel welcome, included, and respected - even from their home office.
Rail 🚂
“The nightmare that has been the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for about a year in terms of container ships waiting many days for a berth to unload is almost over – only to see the bottleneck move to the rail yards.”
Plan for inland port in the middle of California’s Mojave Desert gains traction - Supply Chain Dive
“A private investment firm aims to break ground on an inland port in the middle of California’s Mojave Desert by 2023 after local officials greenlit the project last week.”
Trucking industry closely watching railroad talks to avert strike - The Trucker
“The special board appointed by President Joe Biden to intervene in stalled railroad contract talks suggested Tuesday that 115,000 rail workers should get 24% raises and thousands of dollars in bonuses as part of a new agreement to avert a strike.”
Warehousing 📦
Los Angeles Warehousing Mecca Halts Expansion Just as Needs Soar - Supply Chain Brain
“Communities in the Inland Empire, the U.S.’s logistics mecca east of Los Angeles, are suspending new warehousing projects to examine the impact from decades of pollution — putting the industry under pressure when it’s needed most.”
Sustainability ♻️
“Consumer products giant Proctor & Gamble has agreed to change its sourcing practices for wood pulp, under pressure from environmental groups and some investors.”
Driver Issues 🚛
The Solution to the Driver Shortage: Driver Retention - Material Handling & Logistics
“How to keep trucking during the professional driver shortage.”
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
API plus AI helps speed up last-mile logistics - The Machine - Venture Beat
“Getting products and services from point A to point b is what logistics is all about.”
Electric Vehicles 🔋
Orange EV scales up zero-emission trucking solutions - FleetOwner
“With more than 450 electric Class 8 vehicles in use across the continent, the oldest heavy-duty EV OEM has a new round of funding to expand its sustainability offerings.”
Fuel ⛽️
“The Inflation Reduction Act reinstates Lease Sale 257, an oil and gas sale spanning 80.8 million acres across the Gulf of Mexico.”
Inflation 💸
Small businesses deserve relief from soaring credit card swipe fees - Fox Business
“Congress can help small businesses by restoring free market competition to credit card transactions.”
Trade & Border Issues 🗺
The U.S. supply chain is now facing two trade hurdles - CNBC
“A pileup of German import containers are expected to extend into the first quarter of 2023.”
Retail 🛍
Walmart GoLocal surpasses 1M deliveries - Supply Chain Dive
“Walmart GoLocal, the retail giant’s white-label delivery service, has surpassed 1 million deliveries, Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon said on an earnings call Tuesday.”
US retail sales were flat in July as inflation takes a toll - AP News
“The pace of sales at U.S. retailers was unchanged last month as persistently high inflation and rising interest rates forced many Americans to spend more cautiously.”
The lesson for Main Street from the Walmart, Target inventory failures - CNBC
“Walmart and Target inventory management failed to keep up with swift changes in consumer spending and the impact of inflation and Covid.”
Network Association 🤝
Geodis expands its 3PL reach in the U.S. with acquisition - DC Velocity
“Buying New Jersey contract logistics and last-mile delivery provider Need It Now Delivers will create a combined network of 15,000 people at 200 locations.”
Quest for Quality 2022: Air Carriers/ Air Freight Forwarders - Logistics Management
“Air cargo companies provide world-class service despite strong headwinds.”
Business Strategy 💡
Today’s Last-Mile Delivery Must-Haves - SupplyChainBrain
“Amazon.com has spoiled us all in terms of delivery expectations.”
Customer Relations 🤝
Successful businesses are going direct-to-customer - Supply Chain Management Review
“Technology enables supply chains to be customer present by more tightly integrating demand with supply. “
Ports 🚢
Grand Jury Charges Seven Over Fraudulent Extortion Scheme at Port of San Juan - G Captain
“A federal grand jury in Puerto Rico has returned an indictment charging seven individuals with labor racketeering offenses in the Port of San Juan.”
Cab Tech 🚚
International debuts its first integrated powertrain, powered by new 13-liter - CCJ Digital
“International Truck on Tuesday unveiled its new in-house designed and engineered powertrain – the first new International on-highway product since regulators approved Volkswagen subsidiary Traton Group's takeover of Navistar last July.”
Industry Forecast 📊
July Medium-Duty Sales Dip Year-Over-Year - TT News
“Classes 4-7 U.S. retail sales in July slipped 7.3% compared with a year earlier, and only Class 6 with its typical base of bigger customers posted a gain, Wards Intelligence reported.”
Freight market update: signs of life? - Back The Truck Up
“The SONAR 3D map below is showing the changes in market share over the past week.”
Repair & Maintenance 🧰
Best practices for spec'ing last-mile tire treads - Fleet Maintenance
“Last-mile deliveries are booming, but these routes add significant stress to commercial vehicle equipment, particularly tires.”
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.