The Daily: March 24, 2022
Good morning, folks. Choo Choo. 🚂
Word on the street is that the White House is running its mouth… and truckers and railroad workers aren’t happy about it. Representatives of the industries aren’t necessarily mad about what’s being proposed by the White House’s Supply Chain Task Force - more like they’re concerned over why they are not being consulted about any of it.
Today’s featured article from Real Clear Politics will fill you in on the rest. ☕️
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston Churchill
Today’s Featured Article:
White House Snub Rankles Truckers and Railroads | RealClearPolitics
“In the Eisenhower Office Building, just across the street from the White House on Tuesday, a select group of businesses were gathered around a board room table with key Biden administration officials to discuss a new data-sharing initiative between industry and government.”
The Latest On…
Covid-19 😷
Scientists worry virus variant may push up COVID cases in US | AP News
“With coronavirus cases rising in parts of Europe and Asia, scientists worry that an extra-contagious version of the omicron variant may soon push cases up in the United States too.”
Fuel ⛽️
The Economics of Gasoline Tax Holidays | Cato at Liberty Blog
“When gasoline prices rise, politicians search for a policy response to calm the motoring and voting public.”
Russian Oil Seeps Into Global Market, Easing Supply Fears for Now | 2022-03-23 | SupplyChainBrain
“Millions of barrels of Russian oil are still finding a way to buyers almost a month after the country first invaded Ukraine, tempering concerns that a sanctions backlash would all but choke off supply and cause the market for physical cargoes to overheat.”
Diesel price surge pinching margins for all truckers, says Donald Broughton (cnbc.com)
“Donald Broughton, Broughton Capital managing partner, joins ‘Power Lunch’ to discuss why diesel prices remain elevated, what it means for truckers struggling to pay rising fuel costs and what these elevated fuel costs mean for companies dealign with diesel.”
'No end in sight' for diesel fuel price hike | Commercial Carrier Journal (ccjdigital.com)
“The average price of a gallon of on-highway diesel dropped more than a dime for the week ending Monday, settling at $5.13 cents.”
Europe Heading for a Diesel Shortage, Traders Say | Transport Topics (ttnews.com)
“Europe is facing the prospect of a shortage of diesel as flows from Russia dwindle in the aftermath of its invasion of Ukraine, senior executives at three trading houses said.”
The real reason gas prices are so high (yahoo.com)
“It’s a politicized country, so every problem must have a political origin.”
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Toyota: Improving the Supply Chain with Lean Automation (epsnews.com)
“The supply chain has seen unprecedented disruption over the past two years, from the pandemic to the long-term impact of Brexit.”
Maintenance & Repair 🧰
Buttigieg says DOT will dole out $2.9 billion in infrastructure grants (cnbc.com)
“The sum, part of the bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure law President Joe Biden signed into law, is intended to bankroll highway, bridge and freight projects.”
Compliance 📋
NLRB claims two trucking companies misclassified drivers at Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach - Logistics Management (logisticsmgmt.com)
“The long-simmering problem of how to correctly classify trucking industry workers—either as contractors or employees—has arisen once again.”
Fuel Tech ♻️
Legislation Would Support Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Trucks, Fueling Infrastructure - Fuel Smarts - Trucking Info
“Nikola praised the Hydrogen for Trucks legislation. The Nikola Two FCEV Sleeper, designed for up to 900-mile runs, could be in production by 2024.”
Trade & Border Issues 🗺
US and Europe Could Go Into Recession Under Worst-Case Russia Scenario (businessinsider.com)
“Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been felt throughout the whole world, financially and emotionally.”
US rolls back Trump-era tariffs on UK steel - BBC News
“The US has agreed to ease Trump-era tariffs on UK steel and aluminium shipments, resolving an issue that had strained relations between the allies.”
China-Europe rail routes become supply chain’s latest problem | AJOT.COM
“More than a million containers set to ride 6,000-plus miles of railway linking Western Europe to Eastern China via Russia are now having to find new routes by sea, adding to costs and threatening to worsen the global supply chain chaos.”
Owner Operators 🚚
Owner-operator Glen Horack takes home $25K with top honor. | Overdrive (overdriveonline.com)
“Owner-operator Glen Horack of Elkland, Missouri, leased to Prime, was named the Owner-Operator of the Year Tuesday, March 22, at the concluding gala banquet and ceremony of the Truckload Carriers Association's annual Truckload 2022 conference in Las Vegas.”
Blockchain ⛓
Tackling Counterfeiting with Blockchain (allthingssupplychain.com)
“The counterfeit business is booming, but at the cost of authentic businesses suffering heavily.”
Health & Safety ⛑
Back to efficiency basics with advanced driver assist systems | Overdrive (overdriveonline.com)
“The way that professionals drive for maximum fuel efficiency can be seen as basically the same as driving for safety.”
Fit to Pass’ Rebuilt program serves driver recruiting, retention, and health | FleetOwner
“Rebuilt by Espyr is designed to coach and train drivers who have been medically disqualified in order to earn recertifications, allowing them to continue driving for the same company.”
Regulations ⚖️
Senate Committee Approves Ocean Shipping Reform Act | Transport Topics (ttnews.com)
“A U.S. Senate panel easily approved legislation meant to facilitate the flow of freight at the country’s ports.”
Electric Vehicles 🔋
WattEV Orders 50 Electric Volvo Trucks to Launch Truck-as-a-Service Program - Fuel Smarts - Trucking Info
“The Volvo VNR Electric model is designed for local and regional distribution, pickup and delivery, and food and beverage distribution.”
As fuel prices rise, towns add electric vehicle charging stations - TheTrucker.com
“A wave of new electric vehicle charging stations across the country is coming as interest in alternatives to gasoline and diesel vehicles is on the rise and could heighten further due to a global spike in fuel prices.”
Electric Vehicle Makers’ Russia Connection | RealClearEnergy
“Elon Musk, who is now spending his time urging the U.S. to increase oil and gas production despite selling electric vehicles, wants you to believe that he is putting his financial interests and environmental ambitions aside in a goodhearted effort to protect America’s national security interests.”
Where are you going? There’s more!
CRST sexual harassment SCOTUS petition declined - Land Line
“The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a sexual harassment case filed by female CRST Expedited drivers.”
“Tim Topi, owner of Wave Hill Breads in Connecticut, told "Cavuto: Coast to Coast" on Tuesday that the inflationary environment has been impacting his business, as the cost of gas used to transport bakery goods in his seven vans skyrockets.”
“These are interesting times for US manufacturers. Most are seeing strong orders and sales, while at the same time many are battling slow deliveries from suppliers, lingering COVID issues, and significant worker shortages.”
“The pandemic has changed the conversation. Now is the time to rethink long-standing practices for adoption of a same-day delivery strategy best suited to your operations.”
Watch: All That Data Is Useless Without True Collaboration | SupplyChainBrain
“Neither the supply chain nor the customer benefits from masses of data without the right visibility that enables true collaboration, says Krenar Komoni, chief executive officer and founder of Tive”
It's a Small World - Inbound Logistics
“With a goal to get Wiliot's products to customers around the world and make a big impact on them, Tony Small learned that you can usually move faster than you think possible.”
Disney employees walk out, as ESPN and Disney+ back LGBTQ+ rights | CNN Business
“Disney employees staged a walkout Tuesday in protest of the company's response to Florida's controversial Parental Rights in Education law, which critics have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill.”
Biden faces off against Putin. His other opponent is time. - POLITICO
“The president heads to Europe both to applaud the alliance he’s helped build against Russia and to keep it together.”
“Early in the pandemic, PPE shortages hit hospitals across the country hard.”
Why Are Tesla, Volkswagen And Nio Scrambling For Graphite? | OilPrice.com
“That includes rare earth elements and battery materials, such as lithium, cobalt, and graphite–all of which are key not only to electric vehicles and energy storage, but to computer components, household appliances, and clean energy technology in general.”
Fed Raising Interest Rates: The Impact on Small Businesses | Nav
“The Federal Reserve announced today it has raised a key interest rate by .25 percent, moving the target range for the federal funds rate from 0 to .25 to .50 percent.”
Buttigieg emphasizes operator compensation, conditions | Overdrive (overdriveonline.com)
“Platt retold Lloyd's remarkable story from the stage, chronicled last year in Overdrive at this link, also excerpted here. Lloyd, based in Mississippi, hauls for Airline Transportation Specialists and had stopped at a crash scene to assist two motorists after their car hit a utility pole and erupted into flames.”
How a Major Restaurant Equipment Supplier Weathered the Pandemic | SupplyChainBrain
“Few businesses took a bigger hit from the COVID-19 pandemic than restaurants — and, by association, the companies that supply them.”
E-commerce Effect: Change for the better - Logistics Management (logisticsmgmt.com)
“The impact of e-commerce on freight transportation has been profound, and it’s not restricted to any single mode—in fact, all have been affected. What’s the reality and what does it mean going forward?”
February Truck Tonnage Index is flat, reports ATA - Logistics Management (logisticsmgmt.com)
“The ATA’s advanced Seasonally Adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, for February, matched February, at 115.3 (2015=100), which was slightly revised from an initial reading of 115.5.”
“So far, Amazon has avoided unionization at any of its US fulfillment centers, though it operates a number of unionized facilities in Europe. But it will be interesting to see how long it can fend of organizing effort on its home turf.”
Relationships Matter Even More When Parts are Scarce (epsnews.com)
“The semiconductor supply chain squeeze has been tough on OEM customers – tougher on some than others.”
Carriers that put people first win Best Fleets to Drive For honors | FleetOwner
“28 for-hire carriers were recognized at TCA’s Truckload 2022 for providing positive working environments for truck drivers during the past year.”
TRAC Intermodal will use US-produced chassis to grow fleet | Transport Dive
“TRAC Intermodal has signed a deal with LB Steel and Integrated Industries to expand the largest fleet of marine and specialty chassis in North America, TRAC announced this month.”
Ticket quotas discussed at multiple statehouses (landline.media)
“Work continues at statehouses around the country to address concerns about practices that force law enforcement officers to partake in ticket quotas.”
“Inflation, COVID shutdowns, and supply-chain shortages have made Americans increasingly gloomy about the economy.”
Okta hack puts thousands of businesses on high alert - The Verge
“Okta lists Peloton, Sonos, T-Mobile, and the FCC among its 15,000 customers”
Amid protests, Europe limited in curbing high energy prices | AP News
“Across Europe, governments are slashing fuel taxes and doling out tens of billions to help consumers, truckers, farmers and others cope with spiking energy prices made worse by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
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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.