The News that Shaped 2021

In an annual tradition, LM group news editor Jeff Berman takes us through the plethora of logistics- and supply chain-related news reported, written and posted by the Logistics Management editorial staff over the course of the past year.

This list is not based on page view analytics to arrive at a “most popular” list. Instead, this list represents the articles that best put into perspective the rollercoaster ride that was 2021. “In a list that could have easily been a “Top 20” instead of a “Top 10”, this is the news that encapsulates the year,” says Berman.

1.) Finally, $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passes Congress to cheers from industry

After being held political hostage for three months, a transformational infrastructure package that includes $550 billion in new spending on highways, bridges and other transport measures finally passed a contentious Congress.

2.) CP and KCS come to terms on merger to combine into first North American single-line network

The respective pursuits of Class I railroad carrier Kansas City Southern (KCS) by Calgary-based Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CP) and its Canadian counterpart Montreal-based Canadian National have come to a stop on the tracks with CP and KCS announcing on September 15 they reached an agreement in which CP will acquire KCS for $31 billion in a stock and cash transaction which includes the assumption of $3.8 billion of outstanding KCS debt.

3.) White House issues executive order focused on securing critical U.S. supply chains

With a sharp focus on helping to create more resilient and secure supply chains for critical and essential goods, the White House issued an executive order that calls for a 100-day review to identify near-term steps it can take with Congress “to address vulnerabilities in the supply chain” for four groups of critical goods.

4.) Trucking industry blasts Biden’s vaccine policy, warning one-third of drivers may quit

The trucking industry is blasting President Joe Biden’s vaccine policy that requires private sector employers with more than 100 employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

5.) Port-focused initiatives are major driver for White House in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The importance of ports was highlighted by how the IIJA allocates $17 billion focused on improving infrastructure at coastal ports, inland ports and waterways, and land ports of entry along the border, the White House said.

6.) Suez Canal travails are the most recent example of supply chain challenges

At a time when the global supply chain is dealing with more simultaneous issues than perhaps ever before, including the COVID-19 pandemic, winter weather events, clogged United States ports, and the need for more labor across myriad parts of the supply chain, the news that the 20,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent) vessel Ever Given ran aground and is trapped in the Suez Canal is just another challenge to deal with.

7.) USPS gets to work on putting 10-year plan into action

The United States Postal Service (USPS) rolled out various network infrastructure investments as part of its 10-year plan focused on achieving financial sustainability and service excellence in order to meet customer and business needs in advance of the 2021 holiday season.

8.) FedEx rolls out $2 billion plan focused on having carbon-neutral operations by 2040

Memphis-based global freight transportation and logistics services provider FedEx announced that it’s making a $2 billion investment in order to have carbon-neutral operations by 2040, with initial investments in vehicle electrification, sustainable energy and carbon sequestration.

9.) State of Logistics 2021: Full speed ahead

Like the supply chains they serve, logistics managers must now fundamentally rethink and redesign their solutions—and how they do will define their future success.

10.) Amazon formally launches new Northern Kentucky air cargo hub

Amazon has been planning and building out operations for this $1.5 billion investment over the last four years, and it said that this hub will serve as the central hub for the Amazon Air U.S. cargo network “facilitating the rapid transport of customer packages across the country.” And it added that this investment will result in creating 2,000 jobs for people from various backgrounds for positions involving load planning, management of package sortation and robotics technology.