News
Logistics Recap June 11th – June 17th
Logistics Recap
June 11th – June 17th
Philadelphia I-95 collapse: Trucking deals with impacts
Almost a week after the collapse of a section of Interstate 95 north of Philadelphia set up conditions for supply chain chaos, that disruption is in the market, but signs suggest that it is at an overall level less than earlier anticipated.
Work on reconstructing the bridge already has begun, with a live cam showing ongoing progress.
UPS workers authorize strike during contract negotiations
UPS workers represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters voted in favor of authorizing a strike in the thick of national contract negotiations, the union said Friday.
Members voted 97% in favor of authorizing a strike, allowing the UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee to call a strike if an agreement isn’t reached by July 31, according to a Teamsters news release.
Read More Here Supply Chain Dive
Cyclone impact: Indian ports remain shut
Major ports in the western Indian state of Gujarat, including Adani Group’s flagship Mundra operation, remained shut as winds are still strong after cyclone Biparjoy made landfall.
The powerful storm brought heavy rains in several areas of India and Pakistan and saw winds gusting to as high as 140 kilometers (87 miles) an hour. Both nations have evacuated about 150,000 people, restricted air and rail transport and shut port operations in the affected areas.
Logistics Recap June 4th – June 10th
Logistics Recap
June 4th – June 10th
Bullwhip effect rears its head during peak U.S. import season
Last week, we forecast a further decline in U.S. containerized import volumes in the second half of 2023, and a “new” bottom for volumes during this downcycle. The lingering effects of the “bullwhip effect” on inventories, along with the considerable downside risks that exist to consumer spending, the upcoming months are likely to witness an unprecedented level of caution among importers during this year’s peak season. This caution, combined with a weakening global macroeconomic backdrop, only heightens the risks of declining import volumes.
White House comments on port disruptions
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre avoided saying whether the White House has plans to intervene in the West Coast port dispute when asked during a Wednesday briefing.
“So when it comes to the [West Coast] ports, I can say that the President respects the collective bargaining process,” Jean-Pierre said, according to a transcript of the briefing. “And [Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su] and others in the administration are regularly engaging with the parties, encouraging them to stay at the negotiating table and finish their work.”
Read More Here Supply Chain Dive
China Lobbies EU Over Proposal to Punish Firms Supplying Russia
China is putting pressure on the European Union behind closed doors to scrap proposed trade restrictions on Chinese companies the bloc says are enabling Russia’s war machine in Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter.
Chinese diplomats have met with their European counterparts in Brussels and Beijing in recent weeks as part of a campaign to persuade officials to drop the blacklist, the people said.
Logistics Recap May 28th – June 3rd
Logistics Recap
May 28th – June 3rd
Class 3-5 electric trucks bring many players to the market
Most of the buzz around commercial truck electrification seems to focus on Class 8 models. Who’s ordering them? Where is the infrastructure to charge them? Other than a few lesser-known players like BYD and Nikola, the field belongs to the legacy players like Daimler Truck, Volvo and Paccar.
That leaves a clearer field for startups and electric chassis companies in the Class 3-5 range. Of those, Class 5 model step vans weighing between 16,001 and 19,500 pounds are attracting a lot of new entrants. These trucks can carry up to 10,000 pounds of cargo, move easily in traffic and — despite their boxy appearance — maneuver reasonably well.
Labor flareup causes disruptions at West Coast ports
Labor issues at several West Coast ports led to limited terminal operations on Friday, creating uncertainty over whether disruptions would continue in the coming days.
Port officials and at least two trucking executives told Supply Chain Dive the issues were related to unfilled jobs at terminals. The issue caused varying degrees of disruption at maritime gateways in the morning, during longshore workers’ first shift.
Read More Here Supply Chain Dive
Italy to set up €1 Billion sovereign fund for key supply chains
Italy announced it will set up a €1 billion ($1.1 billion) sovereign fund to channel funding to companies it deems strategic, furthering Premier Giorgia Meloni’s vision to shore up domestic production and secure key supply chains.
Read more: EU Creates Alert System for Semiconductor Supply Chain
It was approved during a cabinet meeting May 31 and is part of a draft law aimed at promoting ‘Made in Italy’. The draft still requires parliamentary approval and might change.