The issue of driver retention is an ongoing challenge in the transportation industry. Not only has it become harder to find qualified drivers, but recruiting, vetting, and training them is more time-consuming and expensive than ever.

On June 21, 2022, The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) took effect, effectively banning the import of all goods made in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China. President Biden signed this law on December 23, 2021, after it overwhelmingly passed both houses of Congress. In addition to giving the government additional tools to enforce U.S. forced labor laws, the new law includes a statutory presumption that all goods from Xinjiang are made with forced labor.

It’s an unfortunate reality of the business – cargo has always been vulnerable to theft.

Along with the cost of staffing and materials, shipping and transportation management consistently ranks as one of the most expensive items in a company’s budget.

The rising cost and decreased supply of fuel continue to pose a significant challenge for shippers and carriers alike. Ongoing concerns over inflation, foreign wars, and economic uncertainty have only exacerbated the problem, with the national average price of diesel fuel soaring past previous records. As of May 16, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported an average increase of $2.37 over a year ago, with sections of the East Coast seeing hikes of $3 or more.

As the Wall Street Journal reported in September of last year, the global shortage of computer chips fueled by the pandemic has dramatically affected commercial truck and trailer production.

It’s no secret that the last decade has seen a dramatic rise in e-commerce. While as recently as 2011, the segment accounted for barely 5% of retail sales, that percentage has grown steadily – reaching nearly 20% in 2021. And forecasts indicate that by 2025, e-commerce will make up roughly a quarter of all global retail sales. 

As the subject line suggests, there has been a recent (March 23, 2022) development out of the office of the US Trade Representative that offers some hope to companies that had previously been subject to exclusions to the Sec. 301 duties against China.

On March 1, 2022, the Felicity Ace sank in the Atlantic Ocean. Traveling from Germany to the U.S., the ship was carrying thousands of luxury cars from Volkswagen, including Porsches, Lamborghinis, and Bentleys. According to Reuters, without international cargo insurance coverage the financial losses could equal upwards of $155 million.