Let's Talk Logistics

According to Wikipedia.org, hurricane season starts in the Atlantic the first of June, but it seems official now with the threat of Dorian hitting the Florida coast sometime in the next 72 hours. The National Weather Service says it is currently a category three but is predicting it will reach category four status by the time it reaches the coast. Like a nail-biting horserace, no one is sure what to expect at the finish line until the final moment of impact.

The U.S. DOT announced today a series of newly proposed changes to the 2013 hours-of-service final ruling. These changes will give drivers more flexibility and are a result of feedback from industry organizations and individuals who have been affected by the 2017 electronic logging device (ELD) mandate.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

It all started in a small underground bunker in Antarctica, with a French scientist, his two colleagues, and a glass of whiskey. After a long day of drilling through ice, a few ice chips from a core sample were precisely what his glass of amber-colored liquid needed. While staring at his drink, the ice emitted several bubbles that floated to the surface. It dawned on the scientist that the air (specifically the CO²) trapped in the bubbles if analyzed, might be able to tell a story.

When temperatures reach 98 – 100 degrees with heat indexes as high as 115, like last weekend in Maryland, everything cold gets warm incredibly fast! During these extreme temperatures, many shippers are requesting that even fresh loads run at 26 degrees instead of 28. 

University of Maryland Student, Zach Bee, Accepts 2019-20 Choptank Transport Scholarship

PRESTON, MD – July 18, 2019. Zachary Bee is a rising senior at University of Maryland’s College Park campus and has been selected as the recipient of the Choptank Transport Business Scholarship for the academic year 2019-2020.

The scholarship, established in 2012, was created in hopes of furthering the education of undergraduate students who otherwise might not have the opportunity to attend college. The goal is to provide aid to business students interested in future employment, including but not limited to, transportation and third-party logistics. Freight brokerages, like Choptank, are part of a growing field that provides solutions between manufacturers and carriers.

This quarter’s market trends report got me thinking about the perpetual ups and downs of the transportation industry, and naturally, yo-yos – a cool invention that I fondly remember from my childhood. I haven’t seen a yo-yo in years and naturally assumed that the toy went the way of marbles and Tiddlywinks. What child (ahem, or adult) would want to play with a spool and a string when they have smartphones, tablets, and gaming technology? After doing a little research, I found that yo-yos not only have an impressive back story, they are still a relevant child’s toy. But more on that later.

The extra costs that occur on an LTL shipment’s bill of lading, called accessorial fees, are not really hidden costs. They are fees for added services that some loads require by the nature of the cargo. They are fees on top of the initial quote that LTL freight companies charge.

I am constantly amazed at what we can accomplish in the face of adversity, and last week’s DOT roadcheck exercise was a perfect example. The yearly drill brought the nation’s transportation industry to a grinding slow down – for two reasons. 

President Trump made the surprise announcement last week that beginning June 10, 2019, a 5% tariff will be implemented on all goods imported into the United States from Mexico. The tariff is imminent unless concrete efforts are made to curb the illegal immigration into the U.S. If talks do not begin immediately and steps are not taken to control the border crossings these tariffs can quickly escalate. Every month that passes without changes to Mexico’s immigration policies will result in an additional 5% tariff until it reaches a cap at 25% in October.  

Reminder: the International CVSA (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance) road checks begin June 4-6. Capacity may be tight during this time so book your loads early! 

Today is National Autonomous Vehicle Day, according to the Registrar at National Day Calendar’s website which declared it so in 2017. May 31 is now the day to observe and celebrate the development of autonomous vehicles, including cars, trucks and even drones.