Biden administration abandons 24/7 port plans due to financial burden
Good morning! It’s the American Business Women's Day! Woohoo, the American businesswoman curating this email for you is celebrating today. 🎉
“You will be defined not just by what you achieve, but by how you survive.”―Sheryl Sandberg
Let’s get down to it. Supply chain congestion at the ports is nothing new - we’ve been talking about it for ages. The White House announced big plans a while back to push U.S. ports to adopt 24/7 operations in order to offset the constant port traffic… but it doesn’t seem to have caught on as well as they would’ve hoped. The cost involved with such an endeavor is not very incentivizing.
In light of this, the White House Port and Supply Chain Envoy is shifting gears.
Check out today’s featured article from Supply Chain Dive to read about the White House’s failed 24/7 port initiative plans and what the administration’s Port and Supply Chain Envoy says it will start investigating, instead. ☕️
Featured Article:
White House supply chain strategy shifts beyond 24/7 port operations | Supply Chain Dive
“Port and Supply Chain Envoy Gen. Stephen Lyons said the initiative failed to gain traction due to the financial costs involved.”
Trade & Border Issues + Sustainability 🌎
China’s freshwater shortage forewarns of macroeconomic supply chain implications
China’s Yangtze River, its largest waterway and the location of the nation’s biggest hydropower station, is reporting its lowest levels on record during August. The drought has been catastrophic in China as its industries suffer from energy and food shortages. Manufacturing, energy, and agriculture rely on water to keep the market strong… and a weak Chinese market signals a difficult road ahead for the rest of the world.
When Chinese investors are being squeezed, the global supply chain feels it too. China, which has often been acknowledged as a leader in manufacturing low-cost goods for companies worldwide, is now being forced to prioritize its water resources over economic growth.
Money Matters & Covid-19 💸
CFOs are being forced to routinely consider supply chain issues in a post-pandemic world
Chief Financial Officers across the globe - 72% in fact, according to a new Protiviti survey, are acknowledging that supply chain challenges are a driving force behind organizational financial issues over the past year. In the form of higher costs and lower sales, supply chain problems seem to keep on coming. CFOs are seeing the loss of growth opportunities as a reason to rethink how their financial strategy is implemented going forward.
Shareholders depend on CFOs to provide accurate visibility of revenue to appease valuation reports. By focusing on betters outward and organizational structure, CFOs will be able to fulfill their obligations and better navigate future supply chain hindrances.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
🪧 There seems to be a global trend regarding labor unions… they’ve had enough. With cresting issues between the U.S. dock workers and rail workers compounded with mass walkouts at several U.K. ports, supply chain conflicts are popping up left and right. Frontline workers are making it clear that they are tired of being treated as expendable after years of being touted as essential, being forced to take the brunt of the labor during pandemic shutdowns, and suffering from inflation as a result. (The Wall Street Journal)
🛢 Get ready to grow! In a recent study titled, “Global Retail Oil and Gas Logistics Market 2022-2026” released by ResearchAndMarkets.com, forecasts are projecting that the global fuel market will grow by a whopping $1.2 billion over the next four years. The study analyzed the current global market scenario as well as the trends and likely growth of automobiles on the road. Market segments considered in the analysis included railroads and tanker trucks across North America, Europe, The Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and South America. (Business Wire)
🇬🇧 Mind the cap. The threat of wiping out profits has left businesses across Europe scrambling for a way to deal with the energy crisis after Russia invaded Ukraine. While the United Kingdom had announced it would be capping business energy costs with the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, they have postponed the enforcement and left many businesses sighing in relief. But the energy problem - the root of it all - is not vanquished. (The Loadstar)
iLevel With You
❄️ Winter is coming and experts are sounding the alarm. Food and other goods might have their most challenging year yet navigating the perilous supply chain. The escalating cost of living, growing labor unrest, energy shortages across Europe, and extreme weather are just some of the expected hurdles consumers can expect to face more of over the coming months. (Salon)
🚙 Beep, beep - in the market for a new car? Well, we hope not… as the prices of those vehicles are bound to go up, again. Shipping costs are causing the automakers to scramble after the scarcity of ships increases the havoc upon the industry. Freighters who move seaborne cars are charging up to $80,000 per day - the highest price point since 2000. (AJOT)
🎄 Real or fake? Well, those families who are used to shopping for real Christmas trees should prepare to secure their tree early this year. Many are concerned that seasonal items will be limited this holiday season and with good reason. However, the problem isn’t a shortage of product - it’s the distribution of timely deliveries and effective transportation methods that should have some preparation ahead. (WKYT)
GET SMART
📡 Modern advancements are many companies’ claim to fame. From technology platform updates, data collection, rapidly—adapting robotics, and artificial intelligence… the tech renaissance is in full swing, and supply chain companies are quickly getting their hands on every piece of tech they can in order to simplify operations.
💉Safety first! At the 2022 CPhl worldwide event in Frankfurt, Tower Cold Chain is displaying its new passive KTEvolution container, a robust and reliable temperature-controlled container that could be groundbreaking for the pharmaceutical industry. Safe deliveries are essential for clinical trials of pharmaceuticals and vaccines and Tower’s container is ideal for small last-mile deliveries.
👾 We have a breach. External logistics providers are being assigned to manage the logistical needs of the supply chain for those e-commerce retailers feeling a bit… clueless. However, outsourcing this entire sector may be a security risk for these platforms due to API integration not being properly adapted by all parties involved.
Leadership 🏆
GXO Named to 2023 FreightTech 100 | Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance shares an article announcing GXO Logistics, Inc. as the number one honoree of FreightWaves’ FreightTech 100 for the second year in a row.
Business Strategy 💡
Redesign logistics networks every three to five years, panel says at CSCMP Edge | DC Velocity
DC Velocity Staff write an article summarizing the thoughts shared on a panel at the CSCMP Edge trade show in Nashville this week. The panel agreed the logistics networks should be reviewed every six months to keep operations fresh.
Shipping 🚢
Shipping: liners swimming in money but supply chains sinking | Hellenic Shipping News
Hellenic Shipping News published an article explaining the paradox of shipping liners doubling their revenues in 2021 and continuing to follow this path in 2022 regardless of shipping capacity not growing along with it.
Tech 💿
Can software simplify the supply chain? Ryan Petersen thinks so | The Verge
The Verge contributor Nilay Patel summarizes an interview with the CEO of Flexport, Ryan Petersen. In the interview, Petersen discusses the importance of adapting supply chain software.
TMS 💻
Arrive Logistics unveils technology platform | FreightWaves
Freight Waves contributor John Paul Hampstead writes about the new transportation management system, ARRIVEnow, unveiled by Arrive Logistics. Arrive Logistics’ proprietary software is expected to increase gross revenue to reach $2.4 billion this year.
Network Association 🤝
Yahoo! Finance shares an article announcing the partnership between MOL Consolidation Service (MCS) and Vesselbot, a state-of-the-art visibility system to assist supply chain companies in reducing emissions.
Diversity 🤜🤛
For Black-owned businesses, concerns extend beyond inflation, supply chain issues | NBC News
NBC News contributors Curtis Bunn and Claretta Bellamy write about the unique concerns voiced by Black-owned business owners that extend past supply chain issues and inflationary problems.
Trade & Border Issues 🗺
Customs compliance made easier with an integrated supply chain | Maersk
Maersk shares an article explaining the importance of an integrated supply chain while falling in line with customs compliance across borders.
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.