Looming rail worker strike looks like it may be held at bay… for now
Good morning! Happy Thursday, readers. Make it a great one!
Soon, it will be a full year that unionized rail workers in the United States have been working without a contract in place with the railroads. Negotiations have been going sour, and the White House has taken drastic measures - launching a Presidential Emergency Board - to help mitigate the talks between the union and the railroad companies. Pay agreements have been suggested, however, they must also be ranked and filed by September 16th. If not… rail workers may very well be poised to launch a very disruptive union strike.
Check out today’s featured article from Supply Chain Digest to read about the looming danger of a national railroad worker strike and whether the Biden Administration’s Presidential Emergency Board can avoid such a supply chain mishap shortly before the November midterm elections. ☕️
Featured Article:
Supply Chain News: Will Rail Carriers avert a Strike in Less than Two Weeks? | Supply Chain Digest
“The stakes are high in the ongoing negotiations between a number of unions and US rail carriers, with potential new agreements that may not be accepted by the rank and file.”
Health & Safety ⛑
Food & beverage supply chains are easily crippled by safety missteps
Systematic failures in the food and beverage supply chain can compromise the well-being and safety of consumers across the nation. Earlier this year, the Abbott Nutrition Factory in Sturgis, Michigan - a factor largely responsible for most of the formula in circulation in the United States - was shut down by the Food and Drug Administration after many safety issues were cited. This lack of compliance with regulations set by the FDA left many exposed to risky consumables and eventually a shortage of baby formula that frightened parents across the nation.
Widespread disregard for food sanitation practices can also make many facilities vulnerable to infestations of rodents and other pests. Supply chains must be wary of following these regulations to the utmost degree, keeping both their businesses and their customers, safe and satisfied.
Safety & Security 🚨
Container thieves love traffic jams at the ports
Unattended cargo containers are sitting ducks for ambitious thieves. We’ve seen in viral videos railroads pilfered by mobs of criminals, stealing products that are forced to a halt after backlogs of containers are jammed at the ports. The U.K., currently facing a labor dispute strike at its largest port in Felixstowe, is hoping to avoid similar problems.
To avoid an influx of thieves taking advantage of the supply chain’s hiccups, experts suggest that warehouses should secure their cargo and make sure it’s secure from port to the final destination. Constant movement and clarity of visibility will minis the risk of stolen cargo.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
🇩🇪 Germany’s North Sea trade sphere is suffering from stagnancy. There are now a total of 19 containerships sitting at the ports of Bremerhaven and Hamburg - leaving approximately 11% of goods completely stuck in the supply chain. This traffic at the ports is stopping Germany from reaching the levels their shipping sector had in pre-pandemic days and hindering global trade. (Supply Chain Brain)
🚢 Globally, container shipping is still skyrocketing in profits. The industry had been witness to a 123% increase of improvement since this time in 2021, netting the industry an additional $35.1 billion. After the 2008 financial crisis, container shipping suffered for twelve years of negative bottom lines, making this change in a direction absolutely novel. (G Captain)
🇧🇷 Want more soy? Brazil is here to get you what you need. Brazil is the world’s largest soybean provider and the country is working overtime to fill the gap left by the United States, which has fallen short after pandemic-era regulations and shutdowns. The fierce competition between the U.S. and Brazil for the soybean market is encouraging heavy investment in agriculture advancement in both countries. (Supply Chain Brain)
More to consider…
Step aside, NASA - Elon Musk is ready to take the reins. NASA, the governmental agency that once has all eyes on it, is being overtaken by Elon Musk’s Space X. With almost half of a century passed without sending another person to the moon, business tycoons and eccentrics like Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson are also jumping in the ring, announcing missions to the ball of cheese in the sky and the gaseous surface of Venus. Whether for human advancement of profit or personal glory… well, that’s up to you to decide. (Unheard)
The ups and downs of fuel prices seem to have no end. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported another slight dip on September 5th to just above $5 per gallon, down from August 29th but higher than August 22nd. Oil producers have ignored the White House’s plea to pump more oil and have only made marginal increases. Many are worried that they will begin climbing again at rapid speeds. (The Trucker)
Did you fly on an airplane over Labor Day weekend? You and everyone else. This year’s TSA screenings at airports across the U.S. surpasses 2019 numbers, reaching a whopping 8.7 million people. Summer travel has caused crippling traffic jams at airports and runways across the country, and now after a busy Labor Day Weekend, airlines are preparing for what is likely to be a very busy holiday season. (CNBC)
Fuel ⛽️
To Bolster Fuel Supplies in the Northeast, End Talk of Banning Exports and Look to the Jones Act | Real Clear Energy
Real Clear Energy contributor Christopher Guith writes about the opinion for officials to review using the Jones Act to send more of the much-needed fuel to the Northeast, where the gasoline and diesel stores have depleted significantly.
Diesel Dips 3.1¢ to $5.084 a Gallon | Transport Topics
Transport Topics' shares an article highlighting the hovering national gasoline price average at just above $5 per gallon.
Company Culture 🎉
Ousted contractor launches vote of no confidence in FedEx Ground CEO | Supply Chain Dive
Supply Chain Dive reporter Max Garland writes about the former FedEx Ground contractor Spencer Patton’s vote of “no confidence” in the company’s CEO.
DHL UK CEO Resnick on today's big supply chain challenges | Supply Chain Digital
Supply Chain Digital contributor Sean Ashcroft writes about the DHL Supply Chain UK & Ireland division’s CEO, Saul Resnick, and his opinion on creating a better company culture.
Summer is over. And the battle to get workers back to the office is heating up | CNN Business
CNN Business contributor Jeanne Sahadi writes about the growing battle by companies to implement a hybrid work scheduled for employees that have gotten comfortable working from home.
Fuel Tech ♻️
CMA CGM creates Special Fund for Energies | DC Velocity
DC Velocity Staff writes about the containership company CMA CGM move to accelerate the transition to renewable energy with the five-year Special Fund for Energies.
Trucker’s Lounge 🧢
Trucking students left untrained, broke after trucking school closes without warning | CDL Life
CDL Life contributor Wimberly Patton writes about the sudden closure of the For Lupton, Colorado Commercial Vehicle Training Center, leaving many student broke and without a CDL-license they had been paying and working toward.
Logistics gives back: September 2022 | DC Velocity
DC Velocity Staff writes about the charitable works and donations in the logistics sector in September of 2022.
Shop Profile: How dry-bulk hauler run by ATA chairman optimizes workflow | Fleet Maintenance
Fleet Maintenance contributor Seth Skydel writes about J&M Tank Lines, a dry-bulk hauler that is owned and operated by CEO Harold Sumerford, Jr.
Industry Forecast 📊
Supply Chain News: US Purchasing Managers Index for August Still over Key 50 Mark | Supply Chain Digest
Supply Chain Digest Editorial Staff writes about the US Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) August reporting and what this may mean for the economy.
2022 CCJ Top 250: Carriers boost revenues in a tight market | CCJ Digital
CCJ Digital contributor Jeff Crissey writes about global revenues among some of the top supply chain companies.
Norfolk Southern finds success with new ideas for supply chain bottlenecks | CNBC
CNBC contributor Lori Ann LaRocco shares a brief summary and video explaining Norfolk Southern’s desire to improve shipping methods despite West Coast port traffic.
American Politics 🇺🇸
Biden administration releases plan to implement $50B from CHIPS Act | Fox Business
Fox Business contributor Julia Musto writes about The CHIPS for America program rolling out and what it could mean for the US semiconductor manufacturing industry.
Business Strategy 💡
BD Achieves End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility | Logistics Viewpoints
Logistics Viewpoints contributor Steve Banker dives into the benefits of companies focusing in on supply chain risk management practices, and why Becton Dickinson serves as an excellent example.
Constraints are a gift | Seth’s Blog
Seth' writes about the benefits of business constraints and what a business owner can do to use them to their advantage.
Human Resources 📝
Manufacturing Supply Chains: Solving Workforce Challenges with Output-Based Staffing | Inbound Logistics
Inbound Logistics shares commentary on workforce challenges and what firms can do to utilize output-based staffing solutions.
UPS hiring for the holiday rush holds steady above 100,000 | AP News
AP News contributor Anne D’Innocenzio writes about UPS’s hiring decisions as the 2022 holiday season approaches.
Network Association 🤝
NFI partners with Boston Dynamics to debut autonomous robot | Supply Chain Dive
Supply Chain Dive associate editor Megan Ruggles writes about the partnership between NFI Partners and Boston Dynamics and the team’s new autonomous robot.
Survey: manufacturers need to reduce “operational friction” with their suppliers | DC Velocity
DC Velocity Staff writes about how companies should being focusing on bolstering their relationship with suppliers with better tech solutions.
NAVTOR and Danelec Partner to Unlock Big Data Value | Marine Link
Marine Link shares an article explaining the new partnership between NAVTOR and Danelec to give clarity of data to supply chain companies.
Electric Vehicles 🔋
Investors pump financial backing and vehicle orders into electric truck sector | DC Velocity
DC Velocity Staff writes about the growing investments in electric trucks as the federal regulations push for full implementation.
Nio reports wider second-quarter loss despite increase in EV shipments | CNBC
CNBC contributor John Rosevear writes about the Chinese Electric Vehicle automaker Nio’s quarterly loss despite the increase in electric vehicle sales.
Safety 🦺
HDT Fact Book 2022: Fleets Adapt to Changing Safety, Regulatory Landscape | Trucking Info
Trucking Info contributor Deborah Lockridge writes about the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s estimate of traffic fatalities and what truck drivers and fleets need to know about roadway safety.
Roadside breakdown services: Lifelines that rescue truckers | Fleet Owner
Fleet Owner contributor Scott Achelpohl writes about the need for emergency breakdown services for truckers on the road.
Ports 🚢
Port of Savannah Reports Strong July Results Amid Expansion | Transport Topics
Transport Topics shares an article that lays out the Port of Savannah’s strong numbers after the month of July surpassing all forecasting projections.
Trade & Border Issues 🗺
JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and other major European banks are turning off hot water, stopping fountains, and preparing diesel generators as Russia chokes the energy supply | Business Insider
Business Insider contributor Kate Duffy
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.