The Daily: March 25, 2022
Good morning, and Happy Friday!
Promises of a future dependent only on clean energy are pretty words, but the reality isn’t so simple. To reach our goal, we must now depend on dirty little secrets like refining, mining, and the dreaded… diesel trucks.
So it’s a conundrum - why is an EV-dependent future also relying on oil production? 🛢
Don’t worry. Today’s featured article from CCJ Digital will explain. ☕️
“I don’t know the word ‘quit.’ Either I never did, or I have abolished it.”
– Susan Butcher
Today’s Featured Article:
The clean energy revolution depends on diesel | Commercial Carrier Journal (ccjdigital.com)
“The war in Ukraine the resulting oil market chaos has sent diesel fuel rocketing past $5 a gallon while renewing calls for a clean energy revolution to remove fossil fuels entirely from a supply chain that's already reeling from two years of pandemic volatility.”
The Latest On…
Company Culture 🎉
How to Host Driver Events to Improve Company Culture - Fleet Management - Trucking Info
“By investing in employee-recognition or appreciation events for drivers and other in-house staff, fleets create the opportunity to improve overall morale, reinforce organizational values, and ultimately improve employee retention, explained Prime Inc.’s Clayton Brown during a workshop at the Truckload Carriers Association’s annual Truckload convention in Las Vegas.”
Driver Issues 🚚
Mini JOZ Byte | Ep. 51 - Truckers: Once the Heroes, Now the Enemies — iLevel Logistics
“During a White House event in the spring of 2020, Former President Trump and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao - flanked by trucks and commercial drivers - celebrated truckers. Trump praised truckers for their tireless, essential work to deliver much needed supplies to people managing the early COVID-19 crisis. It was a great moment for truckers. But it didn’t last long. Election year politics, the port crisis, and the Freedom Convoy humbled America’s heroes. “
For-Hire Trucking Index: Capacity Tight, but Improving | Material Handling and Logistics (mhlnews.com)
“ACT's Capacity Index rose from January to February, ticking to 52.4 as drivers returned after absenteeism due to Omicron.”
Customer / Vendor Relations 🤝
Getting Into the Spirit of Things - Inbound Logistics
“Alexi Cashen drinks up supply chain challenges by staying centered, and listening and talking to customers with honesty, empathy, and complete transparency.”
HR 📝
Port of LA’s Seroka: Supply Chain Crisis Shows Need for Better Paid Jobs | AJOT.COM
“Gene Seroka, executive director, Port of Los Angeles says supply chain dislocations impacting ports, warehouse and trucking operations will be reduced with better jobs including better pay and benefits for employees.”
Trucker’s Lounge 🧢
Convoy organizer takes a break as participants fall sick, look for new base camp (cdllife.com)
“The organizer of the People’s Convoy has stepped away to spend some time with his family and retrieve his semi truck to continue the convoy’s protests.”
Massive tornado rakes through Big Easy; truck driver recounts survival - TheTrucker.com
“A tornado flipped cars and heavy trucks, ripped off rooftops and deposited a house in the middle of a street in the New Orleans area, part of a storm front that caused damage in places as it blew from Texas to South Carolina.”
Owner Operators 🚛
National Consumer Complaint Database needs a new name, OOIDA says (landline.media)
“The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is doubling down on its claims that the National Consumer Complaint Database is poorly named.”
Collections 💰
What to know before your business adds buy now, pay later | AP News
“Buy now, pay later” is becoming common at large retailers like Target, Ikea and Macy’s. More and more small-business owners are allowing their customers the ability to pay in installments, too.”
Fuel ⛽️
Fuel-Price Dip Likely Only Temporary Reprieve - Fuel Smarts - Trucking Info
“Although retail diesel fuel prices took a slight dip last week after skyrocketing to record highs the past few weeks, that’s not likely a trend that will continue, as traders warn of global diesel shortages.”
Trade & Border Issues 🗺
What Does Russia's War Mean for Supply Chain Globalization? | 2022-03-24 | SupplyChainBrain
“Those alarmed by the confluence of supply chain-crushing global events — a lingering pandemic and what’s turning into an all-out economic war with Russia — would do well to remember that the Great Fire of London occurred during an outbreak of plague.”
Cross-border freight down in January - Land Line
“The year is off to a relatively slow start regarding cross-border freight, with truck freight across the borders down slightly in January.”
Tracking Global Supply Chains; Mining’s Supply Gaps; Russia's Essential Sales | Wall Street Journal Logistics Report
“Global supply chains have been through a period unlike any other, as the pandemic exposed fault lines in long-established networks handling the flow of goods around the world.”
Electric Vehicles 🔋
Nikola begins production of battery-electric Tre semitruck (cnbc.com)
“Production of the battery-electric version of Nikola’s Tre semitruck began on Monday.”
Making the case for electric terminal tractors | FleetOwner
“The terminal tractor segment of trucking is 100% electrifiable. What are you waiting for?”
Regulations ⚖️
Ocean shipping reform act could become law by springtime | DC Velocity
“An ocean shipping reform act could become law as soon as this spring after passing a Senate committee vote yesterday, asserting stronger federal control over maritime carrier practices in response to complaints from shippers and manufacturers.”
How the US can reach a grand bargain on energy policy | TheHill
“Earlier this month, President Biden imposed new sanctions banning Russian imports of oil, liquified natural gas and coal to the United States.”
Fuel Tech ♻️
Hyliion founder on hybrid truck benefits, roadmap to hydrogen | FleetOwner
“Hyliion founder and CEO Thomas Healy discusses the benefits of the company’s hybrid powertrains and hydrogen-powered future.”
Colorado is “leading on clean trucks” despite recent delay on clean-truck policies, officials say (cdllife.com)
“Colorado officials say they are excited about the future of “zero-emission trucks” after holding a press conference discussing going green in Colorado on Tuesday.”
Why President Biden’s Climate Goals Are Fictional | AIER
“President Joe Biden’s climate goals have something in common with many science fiction movies. The future that seems so far away is in reality too temporally close to make the story plausible.”
Health & Safety ⛑
Sen. Thune Again Highlights AV Bill’s Safety Benefits | Transport Topics (ttnews.com)
“The nationwide adoption of autonomous vehicle technology would potentially improve safety and connectivity for the commuter and commercial transportation sectors, a key proponent of the technology in the U.S. Senate said at a hearing on March 23.”
Reducing driver fatigue through smarter steering and suspension | Fleet Maintenance
“Sensor-driven innovations in steering and suspension buffer drivers from rough road better than ever.”
Where are you going? There’s more!
“Mike Short, president of Global Forwarding at C.H. Robinson, provided Logistics Management Group News Editor Jeff Berman with a detailed overview of the many issues shippers are facing, including the labor shortage, inflation, and mode selection, among many others. “
Supply Chain Graphic of the Week: A Snapshot of US Manufacturing Health | SC Digest
“Each quarter, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) surveys its members on a variery of financial, operational and other issue. The Q1 report was released a week ago.”
Watch: How the New Mobility Will Transform Cities and Logistics | SupplyChainBrain
“As cities go carless, how can issues of mobility be solved? Peter Berger, director of business development for Woven Planet Holdings Inc., has answers.”
Supply chains will take at least 2 years to ease: Logistics firm (cnbc.com)
“Heath Zarin of EV Cargo says there will be a “persistent” period of higher freight costs and higher costs across the supply chain in general to provide the “levels of resiliency” the industry needs.”
The Give and Take of Multi-Carrier Parcel Shipping Technology - Logistics Viewpoints
“Demand for e-commerce and omnichannel fulfillment continues to grow. According to Digital Commerce 360, U.S. e-commerce sales increased again in 2021, up 14% year-over-year (YoY), and by more than 50% compared to 2019.”
Amazon Halts Work on San Francisco Depot After City Moratorium | 2022-03-23 | SupplyChainBrain
“Amazon.com Inc. has stopped work on a new warehouse in San Francisco after the city’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to implement a moratorium on new parcel delivery services there.”
Navistar San Antonio Plant Showcases Latest Manufacturing Tech - Equipment - Trucking Info
“Navistar's new San Antonio Manufacturing Plant will build both electric and internal-combustion Class 6-8 vehicles.”
Chip Producers Tell Congress They’re Ready to ‘Go Bigger and Faster’ | 2022-03-24 | SupplyChainBrain
“The chief executives of some of the largest U.S. chip manufacturing companies urged Congress to pass legislation that includes $52 billion in incentives for their industry, calling it “essential” to maintaining competitiveness with China and other countries.”
“That is the revised forecast for 2022 global GDP growth released this week from the economists at S&P Global Market Intelligence.”
3 Ways the U.S. Government is Getting Further Involved in Shipping (morethanshipping.com)
“Over the past several months, it has become clear that the U.S. government is pursuing a path towards further regulations of the shipping industry and the supply chain at-large.”
“The Biden Administration has announced the availability of $2.9 billion in federal grands for major infrastructure projects “of national significance,” including ports and freight hubs.”
NOAA Discovers 207-Year-Old Whaling Ship Lost in Gulf of Mexico (gcaptain.com)
“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced Wednesday the discovery of a 207-year-old whaling ship in the Gulf of Mexico.”
Navistar Opens New San Antonio Factory | Transport Topics (ttnews.com)
“Navistar opened the doors to a new $250 million truck manufacturing facility that its leaders said positions the company to capitalize on current and emerging trends, while also providing room for growth into opportunities to come.”
A 'winning formula': FedEx Freight ramps up collaboration with FedEx Ground | Transport Dive
“FedEx Freight trucks have traveled more than 7 million miles on behalf of FedEx Ground since June, as its parent company pushes for expanded collaboration across divisions, FedEx President and COO Raj Subramaniam said on a March 17 earnings call.”
Interest Rate Hikes Aren’t a Solution for Supply Shocks - The American Prospect
“Policymakers are employing the wrong tools for the current circumstances.”
Americans want Biden to be tougher on Russia: AP-NORC poll | AP News
“As President Joe Biden meets with key allies in Brussels to coordinate a stronger response to Russia’s monthlong assault on Ukraine, a new poll shows Americans have yet to rally around his leadership.”
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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.