Putin tells EU to lift sanctions on Nord Stream 2
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A few days before Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, Germany made the decision to cease moving forward with Nord Stream 2. Nord Stream 2 would’ve injected 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually into the European Union and Russian President Vladimir Putin is pointing to this as the reason for Europe’s current energy crisis. Putin says that self-imposed sanctions and a “green agenda” are the EU’s problems.
Check out today’s featured article from G Captain to read about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s pointed remarks toward the European Union and its current energy crisis. ☕️
Featured Article:
Putin To Europe: If You Want Gas Then Open Nord Stream 2 | G Captain
“President Vladimir Putin on Friday denied Russia had anything to do with Europe’s energy crisis, saying that if the European Union wanted more gas it should lift sanctions preventing the opening of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.”
Diversity & Driver Issues 🚛
ATA launches “Women In Motion” initiative to promote trucking careers and increase sector diversity
The American Trucking Association (ATA) is launching a new initiative titled, “Women in Motion” (WIM). The goal of the initiative is to accelerate the career growth of women in the trucking industry, both behind the wheel and behind a desk. WIM highlights professional development opportunities and access to career options across the United States for women looking to dive into an industry in dire need of diversity.
ATA CEO and president Chris Spear noted that WIM is essential to attracting women to the trucking sector. One of the most important issues WIM is focusing on is truck parking - a common safety concern for women on the road. The ATA has advocated for safer parking options by supporting the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act.
Compliance & Regulations ⚖️
Trucking industry leaders struggle with possible nationwide implications of CA’s AB5 compliance
California’s controversial AB5 law is no stranger to the discussion. The law puts into effect an independent contractor test, essentially barring companies from hiring independent contractors for work that directly matches the operations performed at that company. Owner-operators in the state of California are becoming barred from work unless they agree to become employees, instead.
There are broader implications to this rule, though. Many fear that other states or even a federal law may be put in place to mirror California’s ruling. Many experts claim that such an act would not only put all trucking owner-operators out of business, but would also create a slower supply chain, further shipping challenges, and a more expensive bottom line for everyone - from shippers to the customer.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
📉 And down we go. FedEx global volume is reportedly down after the Q1 update, says President and CEO Raj Subramaniam. The company is expecting volume to remain on a downward trajectory for the remainder of the fiscal year and it making big changes in its operations to help offset the growing costs. (Supply Chain Dive)
🏆 They’re spreading doom and gloom… but they might be right. CEO of FedEx, Raj Subramaniam, gave the world a dire warning on CNBC last week: he believes that we are heading straight toward a global recession, and we should brace ourselves. FedEx shares fell 15% on last week after low Q1 earnings were reported by FedEx. (Supply Chain Brain)
🎄 Are you and your workplace ready for the onslaught? With the holidays also comes the busiest time of year for the supply chain: peak season. Time tracking, peer-topper hurdles, and mandated breaks for employees working the floor and behind the wheel are key to ensuring the well-being of your workers and the efficiency of a company’s operations. (Material Handling & Logistics)
iLevel With You
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🏢 Tired of that abandoned warehouse on your Main Street? Well, e-commerce shoppers can rejoice because retailers are looking to fill the space with a distribution center close to their customer’s homes. ‘Neighborhood Fulfillment Centers’ are the newest trend in the retailer space, with Florida-based investment firm, Sterling Organization, leading the charge. (DC Velocity)
🚂 Many may not realize how close to the disaster we really were last week. The rail worker unions and the railroads hung by a thread as labor talks were heading to the midnight hour. The United States rail network just barely skirted catastrophe - it currently accounts for 14.1% of trade between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. (Flexport)
👩🍳 Time to eat! Despite inflation continuing to soar, restaurants and hotels are remaining strong. This of course comes after a few years of turmoil, after being forced to closure in record numbers during the early onslaught of the pandemic. (AP News)
GET SMART
What is “Metcalf’s Law?” The “value of a network is proportional to the square of the number of connected users of the system.” But how does this relate to supply chain visibility?
Let’s get together! DB Schenker has officially absorbed USA Truck, a leading capacity solutions provider. USA Truck’s stockholders approved the merger, which includes 2,100 employees and a 1,900 fleet of trucks.
Long-term contracts shouldn’t completely scare you. While there are pros and cons, container shippers can expect these more often in their deals with major ocean carriers like Maersk and Hapag, who will likely not amend these agreements after the dotted line is signed.
Medical Logistics 🩺
Medline spends $500M to shore up inventory | Supply Chain Dive
Supply Chain Dive associate editor, Megan Ruggles, writes about Medline, the medical supplies manufacturer, and its additional spending during Q2 to boost inventory.
Mental Health 🧠
Podcast | Can We Bring ‘Empathy’ to the Warehouse? | Supply Chain Brain
Supply Chain Brain contributor, Robert J. Bowman, summarizes the Supply Chain Brain Podcast about the importance of cultivating happier employees for staff retention and higher productivity in the workplace.
Sustainability ♻️
eFulfillment and Sustainability – Speed or Green? | Supply Chain Digest
Supply Chain Digest editor, Dan Gilmore, writes about whether consumers are actually putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to “greener” methods of sourcing and shipping the products they purchase.
First public global database of fossil fuels launches | AP News
AP News contributor Drew Costly writes about the launch of the United Nations’ Global Registry of Fossil Fuels - a one-of-a-kind database tracking fossil fuel emissions.
Regulations ⚖️
What Is National Logistics Policy And How It Will Cut Transport Cost | Outlook India
Outlook India shares an article about India’s governmental plans to address the high cost of logistics in the country with the National Logistics Policy.
Lawsuit 👩⚖️
CDL Life contributor Ashley writes about the North Carolina ruling against BJ Trucking Company Inc. and Chad Cline - in violation of the False Claims Act and the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act, they are penalized with over $5 million.
Safety 🦺
Safety tips for wrecker drivers | Fleet Maintenance
Fleet Maintenance contributor Nick Warrick writes about the safety precaution wrecker drivers should take when they are forced to tow or secure a wrecked vehicles from a crash scene.
Fuel 🛢
Granholm’s Call to Build U.S. Fuel Stockpiles Is a Losing Proposition | Supply Chain Brain
Supply Chain Brain’s article by Bloomberg explains the U.S. Energy Sectary, Jennifer Granholm’s, proposal to build back the U.S. inventories of fuel. Unfortunately, the proposition seems to be slacking, as fuel storage brokers in New England claim that there is no reason to bring back fuel stores due to the market shifting.
Industry Forecast 📊
‘Seasonality,’ signs of normalcy, return to rollicking trucking market | Logistics Management
Logistics Management contributor, John D. Schulz, writes about the slight signs of normalcy in the trucking sector after now several years of turbulent supply chain issues.
CNBC shares a video of Capital Wealth Planning’s Kevin Simpson explaining the differences between competitors FedEX and UPS.
Network Association 🤝
Would you Outsource your Logistics Services to a Competitor? | Global Trade
Global Trade contributor, Peter Frerichs, writes about whether a supply chain crisis can be avoided by outsourcing certain operations to competitors.
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Automation the key to Biden software supply chain demands | Supply Chain Digital
Supply Chain Digital contributor, Sean Ashcroft, writes about what cybersecurity agencies will need to accomplish to meet the Biden Administration’s policies for supply chain software security.
Warehousing 📦
Storage, Labor Plague Logistics Companies Searching for Warehousing Solutions | TT News
TT News contributor Mindy Long writes about the dire search for warehouse space among logistics companies.
Inflation 💸
Robert Shiller: Fed risks ‘disgrace’ if it doesn’t control inflation | CNN Business
CNN Business contributor Julia Horowitz summarizes Noble Prize-winning Yale economist Robert Shiller’s recent words about the economic future of the United States.
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.