Potential “green corridors” would limit access to shipping lanes
Good morning! Happy Thursday - the end of September is drawing near.
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
– Thomas Edison, entrepreneur and inventor
The world’s biggest cargo shipping lines have big goals of a zero-emission future, but not everyone is completely on board. “Green Corridor” projects are one method proposed for accelerating this goal. These green corridors would be shipping lanes that can only be used by ships that run on alternative fuels. If these green corridors pop up, forcing ships to reroute that aren’t compliant, the shipping industry will likely speed up the process for cleaner air and sea.
Check out today’s featured article from McKinsey to read about the benefits of “green corridors” for shipping carriers and how they should be used to enhance the zero-emissions dialogue in the industry. ☕️
Featured Article:
Green corridors could lead the way to zero-carbon shipping. But how can they become a reality? | McKinsey
“A new report by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping in collaboration with McKinsey lays out a blueprint to assess the feasibility of green corridors.”
Driver Issues & Regulations 🚛
White House awards almost $38 million in grants to expand truck parking with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Florida and Tennessee are the lucky recipients of $37,600,000 in grant funding, but this list will likely grow soon. There has been a severe shortage of truck parking capacity across the country for years and it is the number one complaint of truck drivers. The U.S. Department of Transportation itself reports that 98% of drivers experience issues finding safe parking for their rigs.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and the American Truck Associations (ATA) teamed up and wrote directly to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg earlier this year, appealing to the DOT for the need to invest in adequate truck parking across the nation.
Mental Health & Company Culture 🎉
Prioritizing employee mental health can make a huge difference in supply chain operations
Supporting employee mental health is critical in today’s day and age. The stress and strain of the workplace can pile on an already stressed individual, creating havoc in the supply chain. This can be seen plain as day in the railroad industry - top leaders and several front-line members of the rail unions have been vocal about the lack of mental health awareness by the railroads and it led to a near-strike.
Management and executives should be approaching the topic of mental health carefully and deliberately.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico’s Governor wants a Jones Act waiver… but why? The Jones Act has earned many critics claiming that it is an outdated shipping law that puts the supply chain in a tedious position. However, Puerto Rico’s call to action to the White House is on unstable ground. Governor Pedro Pierluisi claims that the waiver is needed due to massive diesel shortages in the territory and that a number of "unidentified “fuel distributors” have advised that the Jones Act limits the island’s access to deliveries. (G Captain)
🗂 Start-ups need to get started somewhere! Global partners from North America to Australia are tackling the supply chain with unified resiliency and flexibility… and creativity. Some start-ups are heavily investing in robotics and automation while others are restoring their operations or bringing them back to domestic soil. One thing is clear: supply chain start-ups are paving a new path forward in a post-pandemic world. (Global Trade)
🇨🇳 China is unveiling more eco-friendly ships. Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) has built a 100 crude oil tanker that sports four rigid sails on its deck. The sails are composite materials developed by Guangwei Composite Materials and are nearly 130 feet high. (The Maritime Executive)
iLevel With You
More topics for the average American household to consider…
💰 The Fed might need to take even more drastic measures… like taking your job away. An analysis by RSM chief economist Joe Brusuelas is estimating that at least 1.7 million Americans lose their jobs after Fed chairman Jerome Powell projected unemployment rising to 4.4% by the end of next year. Powell says that browbeating inflation will only occur with softer labor conditions. Unfortunately, there is no easy way out of this mess. (Fox Business)
🚗 Watch out, Richmond, California folks - the Richmond Moves shuttle is heading your way. The shuttle is on innovative, on-demand transit service being offered to Richmond residents. The concept? A Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid minivan is waiting at a charging station for a user to book on the app. The cost is a flat $2 fare and students and elderly ride free-of-charge. Some are calling this the new Uber or Lyft. (Reason.org)
⚡️ Last nuclear plant standing, for now. California Governor Gavin Newsom gave a surprising announcement earlier this month that the state’s final-standing nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon in San Luis Obispo, would remain operational… for the time being. A swift change of public opinion toward nuclear power has left some scratching their heads. (City Journal)
GET SMART
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
💵 Even when cash gets tight, it’s possible to witness supply chain growth. Andrew Youderian of the Twitter handle @eCommerceFuel shared a thread examining the profitability of brands even when there are cost-cutting measures being implemented. When a company isn’t able to finance, it can still lower shipping costs, thin out operations, and reevaluate payment terms with vendors. (Flexport)
💽 Update this! McLeod Software is introducing new software and user interfaces for its carrier and freight broker customers. McLeod CEO Tom McLeod spoke at the company’s 2022 user conference, conveying that the goal is to equip its customers with the technology capabilities they will require to prepare for whatever disruptions the future might have in store. (TT News)
Business Strategy 💡
Top 15 Ways to Maneuver in Today’s Trucking Market | Inbound Logistics
Inbound Logistics contributor Helen Mann writes about how one can maneuver through historic inflation and operating costs while maintaining a profitable trucking company.
When the Rubber Hits the Road | Supply Chain Shaman
Supply Chain Shaman Lora writes about business continuity and its characteristics.
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
Plus on its Different Path to Autonomous Trucks [Video] | Trucking Info
Trucking Info shares a video of HDT Senior Contributing Editor Jack Roberts speaking with Plus Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Shawn Kerrigan about the future of Plus’ autonomous fleet.
Trade & Border Issues 🗺
Study: Russia's Black Sea Container Traffic is Down, But Not By Much | The Maritime Executive
A Maritime Executive contributor writes about the Black Sea’s Russian container ship traffic and whether its slowed down amid wartime on its banks.
Trucker’s Lounge 🧢
Watch this absolutely chaotic driving from motorists AND a truck driver | CDL Life
CDL Life contributor Wimberly Patton shares an article about a video-captured bout of road rage on a two-lane highway in Canada, where a sedan and truck swerve dangerously.
Leadership 🏆
Watch: Innocent Armor and Jillamy: A Distribution Case Study | Supply Chain Brain
Supply Chain Brain contributor Robert J. Bowman writes about Innocent Armor and Jillam’s partnership to build a new fulfillment center.
Women In Trucking Association Announces its September 2022 Member of the Month | Women In Trucking
Women In Trucking Staff writes about September 2022 Member of the Month, Haleigh Fickett - a transport driver for R.H. Foster Energy.
Spotlight on Reverse Logistics: Cambridge Capital’s Benjamin Gordon Interviews Gaurav Saran
Medium contributor Benjamin Gordon writes about the popularization of reverse logistics.
Bosses Can Beat the Tight Labor Market by Tearing the Paper Ceiling | Supply Chain Brain
Supply Chain Brain contributor from Bloomberg writes about the unnecessary qualifications companies often look for when trying to fill a position.
Company Culture 🎉
Supply Chain Brain Senior Editor Helen Atkinson writes about why the executive team of supply chain companies should be focusing on developing better company culture to retain the best and brightest employees.
GM delays return-to-office mandate after employee backlash | CNBC
CNBC contributor Michael Wayland writes about General Motors’ decision to postpone bringing executive employees back to the office setting.
A Thoroughly Flexible Attitude in the Warehouse Will Attract and Retain Workers | Supply Chain Brain
Supply Chain Brain Senior Editor Helen Atkinson writes about how a flexible attitude could retain workers in your warehouse where there is a notoriously high turnover rate.
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.