[FFW News] Auto worker strike could harm freight

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📈 BY THE NUMBERS: Important numbers impacting freight and logistics

⛽ Diesel: $4.633 gal (⬆️from $4.540 last week) - Source: EIA

✈️ Air Cargo Index (Aug ‘23): 157.9 (⚖️ from $166.2 in July ‘23) - Source: FRED

🚢 Global Container Index: $1,389.50 - Source: Freightos

Logistics News for Sept. 20, 2023

✊UAW strike could negatively impact ground logistics

Industry observers are concerned that the United Auto Workers strike could negatively impact trucking and ground logistics. Chris Spear, president of the American Trucking Associations, said that the United States “auto industry is a significant contributor to the nation’s freight economy.” “That’s hundreds of millions of tons of freight that are subject to disruption if this dispute continues for a significant period of time,” Spear warned. Read more…

🗳️U.S. House passes legislation restricting EPA waivers on diesel regulation

The GOP-controlled U.S. House of Representatives advanced legislation to the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate that seeks to restrict the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing waivers dealing with the sale or use of new motor vehicles equipped with diesel combustion engines. This bill was proposed as a response to California’s shift toward requiring EVs and decarbonizing fleet freight trucking at West Coast ports and terminals throughout the state. More… 

🤝Inland ports double down on Louisiana International Terminal

As shipping volumes shift eastward from traditional Pacific Coast terminals, inland ports, and freight shipping authorities are doubling down on their support for the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT). The LIT project is a high-dollar trade infrastructure expansion project to alleviate congestion on vessels that call on Port NOLA (New Orleans). LIT would expand Louisiana’s volume capacity in a way that is similar to Texas, New England, and West Coast ports. Read more…

✈️🚢Maersk successfully tests Oman-based multimodal trade terminal

Shipping giant Maersk has successfully tested a multimodal sea-air solution that would cut shipping times and costs. The Port of Salalah and the Oman Airports partnered with Maersk to develop a new solution for cargo transiting from Sri Lanka to Egypt. All accounts suggest that this is successful. More right here…

📰Worth the read…📰

“Our global supply chains are stressed and under pressure, not only because of material shortfalls and shipping delays, but also due to labor shortages in key sectors. Skills shortages are now seen across all points of the supply-chain continuum, from sourcing to production, logistics, and delivery of goods and services…Rebuilding distressed supply chains will require a combination of technology and human skills development strategies.” - Joe McKendrick

…from “How to Address the Supply-Chain Staffing Crisis,” Sept. 18, 2023, Harvard Business Review

Also, check these out because, well, knowledge is power🔋🔋🔋…

• “The Fed Isn’t Getting the Economy It Expected” - The Wall Street Journal

• “Consumer headwinds won’t bring out Scrooge this holiday shopping season: Economist” - Yahoo! Finance

• “Box lines hit by rising fuel costs as OPEC cuts supply” - The Loadstar

• “Cargo Ship Loaded With Grain Leaves Ukrainian Black Sea Port” - Bloomberg via GCaptain

Compiled by Michael McGrady – news analyst and writer.

Do you have a tip? Feedback? Email him – [email protected]