The Weekly Freight Report for November 11th, 2021

The Top 5 Stories in Freight, Transportation, & Logistics

Here’s this week’s Weekly Freight Report:

  1. What improvements will the 1.2 trillion dollar IIJA fund?
  2. Winter storm threatens transportation this week with snow and thunderstorms.
  3. SANTA 18 Act hopes to save the holidays by removing prohibitions on younger CDL drivers. 
  4. The SBTC states that hackers have had access to FMCSA data as far back as 2019. 
  5. Excess ordering will create an inventory glut that will impact prices later.

1. What improvements will the 1.2 trillion dollar IIJA fund?

After months of delays, the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) passed and is the starting point for transportation industry improvements. Improved roads, bridges, rail, port, and intercoastal waterway infrastructure. Airport enhancements. Investment in training new, young talent. The bill also creates advisory boards and committees focused on safety, leasing, small businesses, and labor force inclusivity. To see who else is receiving funding, click here.

2. Winter storm threatens transportation this week with snow and thunderstorms.

The first major storm to impact transportation is on its way and could bring travel to a halt as the Plains, Midwest, and western Great Lakes could experience strong winds, heavy snow, and severe thunderstorms. Carriers moving along major routes such as I-90, I-94, I-29, or I-35 to name a few should keep a close eye on the forecast. To stay up-to-date on the upcoming storm, click here.

3. SANTA 18 Act hopes to save the holidays by removing prohibitions on younger CDL drivers. 

Moving cargo from a port of entry to another location within the same state is considered interstate transportation… and current regulations prohibit drivers under the age of 21 from moving this cargo. The Supplying America Needs Truckers Aged 18 Act (Santa 18 Act) hopes to alleviate supply chain stress during the current peak shipping season by removing prohibitions to get goods on the road just in time for the holiday season. To read more on the legislation and regulations, click here.

4. The SBTC states that hackers have had access to FMCSA data as far back as 2019. 

With malware, phishing scams, and ransomware hacks on the rise… could your system be as vulnerable as the FMCSA? Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) has known about the FMCSA security vulnerabilities and has been alerting authorities for years. In a document sent to the FBI on Nov. 1, the SBTC noted the USDOT audit missed critical security issues and has been ignoring evidence from a duly licensed private investigation (PI) firm. Click here to find out more about the FMCSA’s security breach.

5. Excess ordering will create an inventory glut that will impact prices later.

Businesses trying to curtail inventory shortages in 2022 have been double- and triple-ordering goods in addition to building partially completed products in hopes that the supply bottlenecks will resolve soon. This excess ordering creates a gluttony of inventory down the road. The natural ebb and flow of the markets mean that every period of scarcity will be followed by a period of excess… which means deflation could be on the horizon. To find out which key shortages are peaking, click here.

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