California’s new gold rush is lithium extracted from Salton Sea’s toxic brine
Good morning! Happy Friday - are you ready for a long weekend? Get the BBQ warmed up!
Lithium is a precious metal required for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries. It is a desperately-needed product to fulfill the growing need for EVs after steep regulations have been put into law and automakers begin to produce more options for their customers. The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act aims to prioritize domestically-sourced lithium and those who know how to mine the material are turning toward Southern California’s Salton Sea.
The shores of the man-made lake are an “X marks the spot” of one of the largest known reserves of lithium on the planet. The catch? Companies like Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Controlled Thermal must aggressively dig through layers of 600 degrees Fahrenheit, toxic, and volcanic brine in order to reach it.
Check out today’s featured article from Forbes to read about the extravagant plans several lithium production companies are strategizing to mine some of the most precious metals needed for a sustainable future. ☕️
Featured Article:
California’s Lithium Rush For EV Batteries Hinges On Taming Toxic, Volcanic Brine | Forbes
“The Salton Sea region has one of the world’s largest known reserves of lithium, enough to power batteries for more than 50 million electric vehicles within a few years.”
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
U.S. companies have integrated record levels of robots after droves of workers quit their jobs
The age of robotics has officially begun. What’s been dubbed ‘The Great Resignation’ resulted in a massive labor shortage after workers left their positions by the millions. In 2021 alone, a whopping 3.8 million jobs were added to the American workforce, blowing away the Chamber of Commerce’s predictions.
The robotics industry seized the opportunity. Warehouse and logistics firms across the nation are filling positions with robots instead, and we can thank a shocking labor shortage for the loss of those opportunities.
Human Resources 📋
Generational gap responsible for lack of warehouse workers
The newest generation of workers is expecting more - higher pay and implementation of technology available to ease operating procedures. These two factors are some of the most important warehouse managers need to focus on in order to attract a younger workforce, according to a survey conducted by Berkshire Grey.
Labor shortages are no stranger to today’s industries, but the e-commerce and warehouse fulfillment sector has had a particularly difficult time bouncing back. The younger generation typically isn’t interested in the demanding and physical labor required in a warehouse. Chief Supply Chain Officers need to adapt.
Rail Indicators 🚂
Months-long railroad car congestion is clearing up, reports Union Pacific
The Union Pacific railroad, one of the largest private rail networks in the country, is finally reporting greener pastures after months of crippling congestion on its tracks. Crew shortages and threats of union strikes have also created a backlog on supply chain constraints on the rail network, leaving essential goods heavily delayed and many workers frustrated with the lack of progress.
The new UP report shows an 8% improvement mark since mid-April and an additional 3,000 train cars are back in operation to support increased demand. The railroad recovery is essential for the U.S. economy’s health and these new numbers signal that there is a growing strength.
More to consider…
The CHIPS Act probably won’t solve the looming semiconductor problem. The federal government’s most recent legislation - meant to improve industrial policy - has critics raising eyebrows about whether government subsidies will actually enhance the business climate in the energy sector. (City Journal)
Sick of your summer flights being delayed? Well, you aren’t the only one. After several months of consistent delays due to fuel constrictions and labor shortages, the U.S. Department of Transportation is launching a customer service dashboard to assist in airline transparency with frustrated customers. DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg was opening challenged airlines after they have struggled to keep pace with the flight boom after pandemic restrictions were lifted. (AP News)
Your Amazon Prime delivery may take longer to get to you - but at the benefit of a smaller carbon footprint. The company is launching a new delivery route algorithm - the Customer Order and Network Density Optimizer (Condor) - with the goal of minimizing the amount of miles driven in each of its delivery vans. After being test-run in small pockets of the country, it is now nationwide with plans to adapt in other countries. (Supply Chain Dive)
Business Strategy 💡
Navigating The River of Demand | Supply Chain Shaman
Supply Chain Shaman’s Lora shares thoughts on supply chain planning amid growing demand, especially as peak season approaches.
Re-Commerce is Buzzword at Home Delivery World 2022 | Supply Chain Brain
Supply Chain Brain’s Senior Editor, Helen Atkinson, writes about the newest term to share at the dinner table - re-commerce. Re-commerce is what retailers must do with returned goods in order to make them seem, “like new.”
Leadership 🏆
Supply Chain Insider, Episode 5: Supply Chain Resiliency with Accenture's Maria Rey-Marston | Material Handling & Logistics
MH&L’s contributor, David Blanchard, summarizes a recent Supply Chain Insider Podcast episode interviewing Accenture's Maria Rey-Marston on all things supply chain visibility.
Ports 🚢
East Coast, Texas ports gain as retailers skirt Pacific gridlock | AJOT
AJOT contributors, Jeannette Neumann and Augusta Saraviva, write about the rerouted shipping lanes to eastern ports, which are now absorbing the majority of the container ship congestion.
Driver Issues 🚛
Recent shift in market conditions changing the driver pay conversation | CCJ Digital
CCJ Digital senior editor, Angel Coker, writes about the shifting market conditions in the trucking industry and whether drivers can continue to expect continued pay raises.
Safety 🦺
Safety Groups Petition NHTSA to Reconsider Rear Underride Rule | Trucking Info
Trucking Info Heavy Duty Trucking Staff writes about the recent push by several safety awareness groups to petition the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reconsider an underripe guard rule set to be rolled out in early 2023.
Samsara study found customers’ crashes and idling down, utilization up after a year of adoption | Fleet Maintenance
Fleet Maintenance staff shares an article regarding a study of nearly 400 fleets and what they are able to improve in both safety and fuel efficiency after implementing telematics to their rosters.
Trucker’s Lounge 🧢
Big rigs rolling to rescue in Mississippi capital’s water crisis | The Trucker
The Associated Press shares a heartwarming story of 108+ semi-trucks full of water heading toward Jackson, Mississippi to help supply those in need after a multitude of water problems have affected the city.
Human Resources 📋
Small businesses are still desperate for workers even as other companies slow hiring | CNBC
CNBC contributor, Ian Thomas, writes about small business struggles regarding hiring even as the jobs available begin to dwindle.
Inflation 💸
Lumber prices ride a volatility roller coaster | Supply Chain Dive
Supply Chain Dive’s reporter, Mary Salmonsen, reports on the fluctuating cost of lumber and how it is affecting the building and manufacturing sectors of America.
Industry Forecast 📊
Supply Chain Graphic of the Week: Global Trade Volumes are Slowing | SC Digest
Supply Chain Digest showcases its Supply Chain Graphic which shows the global trade volumes slowing down after reaching a high in Q2 of 2021.
Xeneta: Higher Long-Term Container Rates Will Help Carriers to Huge Profits in 2022 | G Captain
G Captain’s contributor, Mike Schuler, writes about the softening container market regardless of freight rates continuing to climb.
Don’t Mistake Today’s “Whack-A-Mole” Logistics Regime For A New Era Of Global Supply Chain Management | Forbes
Forbes contributor, Harry G. Broadman, writes about the international trend of logistics choices from transport pricing to tiered supply chains.
HDT Fact Book 2022: Out-of-Sync Supply Chains & Logistics Transformation | Trucking Info
Trucking Info contributor, Deborah Lockridge, writes about the consistent supply chain disruptions that firms just can’t keep to Catcha. break from.
Equipment supply chain poised to meet pent-up fleet demand in 2023 | Fleet Owner
Fleet Owner contributor, Josh Fisher, shares the results of a red-hot freight market beginning to cool - can fleets begin to finally buy more trucks and trailers as we enter the new year?
Tech 📟
RFID, AIDC, and IoT News: Kmart Australia Going Full Speed Ahead with Item-level RFID | SC Digest
Supply Chain Digest shares about Australian retail Kmart’s RFID implementation and adaptation of mobile robots for the night shift at its warehouses.
Sustainability ♻️
Sustainability a mindset, not a tech project - Sheri Hinish | Supply Chain Digital
Supply Chain Digital contributor, Sean Ashcroft, shares a summary of IBM’s Global Sustainability Leader, Sheri Hinish, speech at London’s Procurement & Supply Chain Live, in April.
Infrastructure 🔨
Nevada Infrastructure Summit Planned as State Gets Funding for Inland Port | Transport Topics
Transport Topics’ staff reporter Noel Fletcher writes about the recently awarded $25 million in federal grants to Nevada’s inland port project, announced at the Infrastructure Summit in Las Vegas.
Electric Vehicles 🔋
Why electric airplanes are taking off at flight schools | CNN Business
CNN Business contributor Tom Page writes about electric airplanes beginning to take off from airfields across the nation.
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.