Halfway through Brake Safety Week
Good morning! It is National Burger Day 🍔
But National Burger Day falls square in the middle of Brake Safety Week.
Hopefully, if you’re a professional driver, you’ve been staying out of trouble… thus far. Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s seven-day brake inspection and brake-safety outreach campaign began on Monday and we’re only halfway through.
Check out today’s featured article from Trucking Info to read about what Brake Safety Week is really about - and perhaps, a thing or two to keep in mind while avoiding a ticket. ☕️
Featured Article:
How to Stay Out of Trouble During Brake Safety Week | Trucking Info
“Brake Safety Week kicked off on Monday.”
Company Culture 🎉
FedEx contractor threatens delivery halt if contract terms aren’t reached by peak season
One of FedEx Ground’s largest contractors, Spencer Patton, has publicly warned that he will cease deliveries for the company beginning on Black Friday if delivery provider contracts aren’t adjusted to fleet inflationary pressures. Patton Logistics is responsible for 225 different routes in 10 midwest states and has been very vocal about the need for an improved compensation plan for FedEx’s contractors.
Currently, FedEx Ground’s contracted independent businesses are under antitrust regulations, which prohibit the group from performing a widespread boycott. The company has stated that it has concluded more than 1,600 contract renewals within the past 90 days.
Tech Time 💻
Video Games 90S GIF By HuffPost via GIPHY
📱 So, what’s the plan? Qualcomm, the massive tech company, is reforming its digital transformation strategy. Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain at the company, Brent Wilson, is sharing his plans as the world deals with an unprecedented demand for semiconductor chips.
🚢 Hybrid shuttles carriers have arrived! The Port of Virginia is on a mission to replace its diesel powered cranes with electric ones, introducing 11 new units to its marine terminal. Kalmar, the manufacturer of the electric cranes, will assist the port in achieving net-zero carbon emissions in under twenty years.
🔋 Electric yard truck rentals will be all the rage! Well, if Orange EV has anything to say about it. The first domestic manufacturer to offer all-electric Class 8 vehicles in 2012, Orange EV is successfully operating more than 450 electric yard trucks. The company’s rental program allows operators to utilize its fleet during heavy operational seasons instead of renting unreliable diesel models.
Sales 🧾
Trucks still flying off the “shelves”, even as the market begins to slow
For the third consecutive month, sales of brand-new Class 8 trucks have remained strong, surpassing the 20,000 unit threshold. Earlier in the year, the sales struggled to meet the 2021 highs, but soon leaped ahead in June and have stayed elevated throughout the summer months. With December typically being the strongest month of the year, this uptick signals a strong year overall in truck sales.
Truck manufacturers are still dealing with a backlog of 200,000+ units in North America alone. Approximately 20,000 units of that backlog make up 2023 units and it’s likely that the orders for 2022 units won’t be completed by the end of the year.
Health & Safety 🦺
Hair testing suggested for FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
This isn’t the first time that the Trucking Alliance has made a push for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to introduce hair testing to the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. In a bid to the Federal Register yesterday, the Trucking Alliance is asking to modify current regulations.
Hair testing has been controversial in the sense that it cannot prove that a person has actually used the substance that is being tested - only that they have been in an environment that included the substance. It’s been requested in the past that hair testing be used instead of urinalysis, however, the FMSCA has previously denied this request as recently as May of 2021.
Deliveries 🚛
Lowe’s pilots faster delivery at the fulfillment center, select stores | Supply Chain Dive
“Lowe’s is looking to better tap professional customer demand through new fulfillment and delivery pilots, CEO Marvin Ellison said on the company’s Aug. 17 earnings call.”
Company Culture 🎉
Starbucks accused by union of retaliation over closure of two locations | Fox Business
“On Tuesday, a labor union for Starbucks employees accused the coffeehouse chain of retaliation against unionization efforts.”
Felixstowe Strike Could Drag On as Workers Demand 10% Pay Rise | Supply Chain Brain
“Strikes at the U.K.’s largest container ship port could extend beyond the eight days currently planned by unions, threatening more disruption to the country’s supply chains.”
Inflation 💸
What can Supply Chain Executives Do in the Face of Rampant Inflation? | Supply Chain Digest
“In recent months, the US – and indeed most of the world – is battling very high inflation, with the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) up year-over-year in July a whopping 8.5%, with similar CPI numbers the months before that.”
Trade & Border Issues 🗺
Study Confirms Jones Act Benefits for Puerto Rico | G Captain
“The Jones Act can be a divisive topic, especially for those living in places like Puerto Rico and Hawaii who rely on ships for just about everything.”
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Automation will cost 63mn APAC jobs, says Forrester report | Supply Chain Digital
“Forrester Principal Forecaster Analyst Michael O’Grady says automation APAC job losses means STEM education & workforce training will become key.”
Waymo to Test Freightliner Redundant Autonomous Truck on Texas Highways | Trucking Info
“Waymo said it it’s ready to begin publicly testing what it says is the first redundant autonomous Class 8 trucking platform on public freeways.”
Electric Vehicles 🔋
Inflation Reduction Act Offers Incentives to Increase Electric Truck Adoptions | TT News
“For those motor carriers seeking to begin or continue their fleet conversions to electric trucks, new federal legislation will offer significant financial assistance.”
Made-in-America Electric Cars: Good in Theory but a Complicated Mess in Practice | New Republic
“Demanding E.V. parts be made domestically could slow down the energy transition—or, alternatively, fall afoul of free trade policies the United States has worked hard to enact.”
Fuel ⛽️
“The only thing that climbed as high as gas prices earlier this year was the disapproval of President Joe Biden, as Americans blamed him for record prices at the pump.”
Business Strategy 💡
“You have competition, but you might be wrong about who they are.”
Deere takes ‘multipronged approach’ to secure supply, tackle backlog | Supply Chain Dive
“John Deere is inking long-term agreements with suppliers and taking other steps to shore up supply of critical components after parts constraints created production backlogs, executives said on a Q3 earnings call Friday.”
Data 📀
In-house vs. Managed Service EDI – Which is right for you? | All Things Supply Chain
“Due to its ability to digitise and simplify the exchange of business documents, electronic data interchange (EDI) has been adopted by 85% of companies, including top names like Amazon.”
Addressing Data Challenges With Supply Chain Visibility | SupplyChainBrain
“Because global modern supply chains are incredibly complex, involving a vast network of manufacturing and logistics personnel, even simple mistakes can result in lengthy delays.”
Industry Forecasting 📊
Supply chain impacts holiday season before it even starts | Supply Chain Management Review
“A survey report released by UPS start-up Ware2Go details how merchants are planning to compensate for supply chain irregularities. “
The State of US Logistics 2022: Logistics Are “Out of Sync” | Material Handling & Logistics
“This year's State of Logistics Report lays out how to respond to continuing supply chain dysfunction.”
“Technologies related to control towers, visibility and machine learning are in the spotlight when it comes to supply chain planning.”
Edmunds: Five cars that won’t be around for 2023 | AP News
“The collection of new vehicles on sale is constantly changing with all of the latest introductions and discontinuations.”
Owner-Operator 🚛
From educator to owner-operator| Fleet Owner
“How one owner-operator made her childhood dream a reality at age 49.”
Network Association 🤝
Pilot, Kodiak Partner on Autonomous Truck Services | TT News
“Travel center operator Pilot Co. and automated technology firm Kodiak Robotics on Aug. 23 announced the formation of a partnership under which the companies will collaboratively develop autonomous truck services at Pilot and Flying J travel centers across North America.”
Taxes 💰
Testing mileage-based user fees as a replacement for Georgia’s gas tax | Reason Foundation
“Georgia’s highways need a new, sustainable funding source.”
Driver Issues 🚛
How to become a truck driver in 2022 | Back The Truck Up
“It’s been a long time since 2005, when I earned my commercial driver’s license.”
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.