The Daily: March 30, 2022
Good morning. The day is young. 😎
Now, we know that you know about PPP Loans. But let’s pretend you don’t.
The Paycheck Protection Program was a covid-relief plan introduced during the darkest days of 2020. Approximately $800 billion of taxpayer money was distributed to businesses that were suffering greatly due to the unprecedented shuttering of the US economy and yes - the money was supposed to be used to keep employees paid, regardless of the major coronavirus-related setbacks.
Well, it didn’t go as planned. At least 10% of that amount is now assumed to have been pilfered by fraudsters and spent on the finer things in life, instead.
“Let them eat cake,” right?
Today’s Featured article from NBC News is prepared to spill the beans. ☕️
“Play by the rules, but be ferocious.”
– Phil Knight, founder, Nike
Today’s Featured Article
'Biggest fraud in a generation': The looting of the Covid relief program known as PPP (nbcnews.com)
“The official in charge of Covid relief tells NBC News' Lester Holt that programs like PPP were structured in ways that were "an invitation" to fraudsters.”
The Latest On…
Company Culture 🎉
Hybrid workplaces for offices aren’t working. (slate.com)
“Few people are as knee-deep in our work-related anxieties and sticky office politics as Alison Green, who has been fielding workplace questions for a decade now on her website Ask a Manager. In Direct Report, she spotlights themes from her inbox that help explain the modern workplace and how we could be navigating it better.”
Raj Subramaniam to become FedEx CEO on June 1 (cnbc.com)
“Scott Wapner reports breaking news on FedEx corporate leadership for ‘Closing Bell: Overtime.’”
Companies Need To Keep an Eye on Zillennials’ Workforce Preferences | Material Handling and Logistics (mhlnews.com)
“A new MetLife study found that more than half of workers aged 23-28 say an unfulfilling job is causing them stress.”
Inflation 💸
What is causing inflation and how to fix it, explained to the extent possible - Vox
“Inflation: Why? That’s the question many consumers have been finding themselves asking lately. Followed by inflation: Fix?”
Small businesses feel sting of inflation as prices soar, survey shows | Fox Business
“Small businesses are increasingly worried about the impact of red-hot inflation, with a majority of owners raising prices on consumers to offset the financial pain.”
Compliance 📋
ELD Mandate: FMCSA and the Law of Unintended Consequences - Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) - Trucking Info
“Electronic logging devices have made driver hours-of-service records more accurate. But does that correlate to safer driving?”
Regulations ⚖️
Fiscal Year 2023 DOT Budget Heads to Congress - Fleet Management - Trucking Info
“With the inclusion of an additional $37 billion in guaranteed Advanced Appropriations provided under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the DOT’s total budget will be $142 billion.”
A timeline of Biden's actions on oil and gas reveal where his priorities are | Fox Business
“President Joe Biden made an abrupt about-face when he called on U.S. energy producers to step up domestic oil and natural gas output to address rising prices and the growing supply crisis prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions on Russia’s oil exports.”
Marketing Approach 📱
Buyer, Beware of These Sophisticated Greenwashing Tactics | SupplyChainBrain
“In an age of internet-savvy consumers, companies have employed increasingly sophisticated greenwashing tactics to avoid taking meaningful environmental action, while reaping the reputational benefits of appearing eco-friendly.”
When Is It Time to Reevaluate Your ECommerce Fulfillment? (allthingssupplychain.com)
“Coming from a fulfillment company, it’s too tempting not to call eCommerce fulfillment the “heavy lifting” essential to running a successful brand that brings customers back again and again.”
Fuel Tech ♻️
Supply Chain Execs Need to Have Resource Conservation Strategies | Material Handling and Logistics (mhlnews.com)
“A new Gartner survey recommends employing circular economy models, treating waste like a value-based asset and preserving natural capital.”
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Modex 2022: Geek+ introduces autonomous picking technologies | DC Velocity
“Geek+, a maker of AMRs (autonomous mobile robots), has introduced three new technologies: PopPick, a next-generation goods-to-person picking solution; RoboShuttle+P40, a new high-density solution; and S20C-A, an innovative sorting solution.”
Ports 🚢
Georgia Ports completes Savannah harbor deepening | DC Velocity
“This month marked the completion of a harbor deepening project at the Port of Savannah that clears the way for mega-ships to transit the Savannah River and will accelerate commerce throughout the region, according to local officials.”
'Clean Canaveral' Performs Inaugural Barge-to-Ship LNG Bunkering Operation (gcaptain.com)
“The largest Jones Act-compliant LNG bunkering barge has completed its inaugural bunkering operation in Jacksonville, Florida.”
Behind the Efforts to Free the Ever Forward | Transport Topics (ttnews.com)
“The phone at Downs Park, a beach in Pasadena, Md., on the Chesapeake Bay, has rung several times a day for the past two weeks with people asking the same question: ‘Is the ship still there? Can we come see it?’”
Customer / Vendor Relations 💼
The Importance of Balancing Technology, People, and Service in Shipping - More Than Shipping
“The Covid pandemic and post-pandemic eras have accelerated the use of technology and automation even faster in the shipping industry.”
Covid-19 😷
Shanghai lockdown tests 'zero-COVID' limits, shakes markets | AP News
“Chinese authorities sought to reassure companies and jittery investors on Tuesday as a two-phase lockdown of Shanghai’s 26 million people entered its second day, casting an unusual quiet over the normally bustling center of finance, manufacturing and trade.”
Electric Vehicles 🔋
If You're Focused On Amazon's Competition, You're Missing the Future | RealClearMarkets
“‘You have to be kidding me.’ Those were the words uttered with obvious incredulity to Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, the original founders of Tesla Motors. They were at a bar in Woodside, and they were discussing their hope of changing the very definition of the automobile.”
Used Electric Cars: Should You Buy One? (msn.com)
“Let’s kick things off with price because let’s face it, that’s the main reason you’re thinking about buying a used EV, isn’t it?”
Trade & Border Issues 🗺
Supply Chain Issues Continue to Hurt Businesses. Lifting Tariffs Can Help. | RealClearPolitics
“One of the pervading headlines throughout the past year focused on just how much global supply chain disruption issues have affected American businesses and consumers across the country.”
The Supply Chain Crisis Is About to Get a Lot Worse | WIRED
“The Supply Chain is in chaos—and it’s getting worse. Airfreight warehouses at Shanghai Pudong Airport are log-jammed as a result of strict Covid testing protocols imposed on China’s biggest city following a local outbreak".”
Russia's Ukraine invasion has unintended consequences for Putin (cnbc.com)
“When Russia invaded Ukraine, it was widely believed to have expected an easy victory over its neighbor, but Ukraine has proven to be a much more formidable opponent than expected.”
Ukraine War, China Lockdowns Hit Global Supply Chains | 2022-03-29 | SupplyChainBrain
“Global supply strains that started to ease in early 2022 are worsening again as headwinds strengthen from the war in Ukraine and China’s Covid lockdowns, threatening slower growth and faster inflation across the global economy.”
Lockdown Hits Shanghai; Longshore Labor Worries; Resetting Supply Chains | Wall Street Journal Logistics Report
“A new lockdown in Shanghai is threatening another potential setback for global supply chains built on China’s export machine.”
Will Russia use its gas to 'blackmail' Europe? We're about to find out | CNN Business
“In the weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, Moscow has continued to ship natural gas westward and Europe has used the energy to power industry and heat homes. That may be about to change.”
TMS 🖥
Trucker Path Launches Dispatch Feature for Small Carriers - Fleet Management - Trucking Info
“Trucker Path Dispatch is a tech-enhanced, highly-efficient, full-service dispatch service designed specifically to serve the back-office needs of the hundreds of thousands of small carriers and owner-operators.”
Driver Issues 🚚
FMCSA's new boss emphasizes compensation, detention issues | Overdrive (overdriveonline.com)
“The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's acting chief Robin Hutcheson was on something of a whirlwind tour of outreach to various trucking constituencies during her time at the Mid-America Trucking Show this past week in Louisville, Kentucky.”
Health & Safety ⛑
Why Do Truck Drivers Flash Their Lights at Oncoming Traffic? (msn.com)
“The behavior of truck drivers can sometimes be perplexing for noncommercial (i.e. commuting) drivers, who are often curious about why the massive vehicles they're sharing the road with have spikes on their wheels or stuffed animals strapped to their grilles.”
Trucker’s Lounge 🧢
Thousands flock to MATS’ 50th anniversary - Land Line
“For the first time in three years, the Mid-America Trucking Show was back in person.”
Opening Modex keynote sounds optimistic note | DC Velocity
“With inflation rising, supply chains snarling, the pandemic lingering, and geopolitical tensions growing, it can be easy to feel a little grim about the future.”
Fuel ⛽️
Truckload Fuel Surcharges: An Overlooked Opportunity for Improvement? (talkinglogistics.com)
“There is a constant focus on contract rates and spot rates in truckload transportation. But there is another cost factor that, like a little brother or sister, sometimes gets overlooked: fuel surcharges.”
After a dip, U.S. diesel prices back on the rise | FleetOwner
“Trucking’s main fuel last week had started to reverse course, but all regions of the U.S. show slight to moderate increases in prices this week as they stay at record highs.”
Why gas tax breaks could 'do little to nothing' to help trucking companies | Transport Dive
“Despite temporarily relief in some states, truckers worry the International Fuel Tax Agreement will negate any savings.”
Maintenance & Repair 🧰
Solutions to an age-old tire problem are here | Fleet Maintenance
“With rising fuel and tire prices, supply issues in popular sizes, and availability in general as the main issues for truck tire purchasers, getting the most out of every casing is critical.”
Leases & Loans 💰
Re-calibrating | Seth's Blog (seths.blog)
“When an entrepreneur gets funded, it’s often difficult for them to start spending money on assets–the old limits fade slowly.”
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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.