Welcome to the WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Newsletter presented by Unisys. In this issue, Only hours until ILA port strike; Helene relief; hurricane hammers roads.
The clock strikes midnight
12:01 a.m. — If you were hoping for a Hail Mary to be thrown on Sunday that could stop the ILA port strikes, you’re out of luck.
FreightWaves reports, “The International Longshoremen’s Association in a statement Sunday reaffirmed its plans to set up pickets Oct. 1 at ports from Maine to Texas in a job action that directly involves 25,000 workers in container and ro-ro services.”
Those of you who speculated that the government would intervene were brushed back by President Joe Biden on Sunday. The president told reporters, “It’s collective bargaining. I don’t believe in Taft-Hartley.”
With neither side in the dispute negotiating, CNN reports, “There are few signs that a deal could be reached by the deadline set by the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance, which uses the acronym USMX.”
Supply chain steps up after Helene
Final mile that matters — I think we were all shocked on Friday and over the weekend as more and more video surfaced showing the scope of the devastation in Asheville in western North Carolina, as well as Eastern Tennessee and Georgia. Now supply chain organizations and truckers are stepping up to help out. Here are a couple.
Please send me any more you hear of. Email me. Also, don’t miss Monday’s WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, where we talked to Operation Airdrop about how it’s lending aid.
Helene hits I-40
Washout – If you’re sending drivers into the Southeast this week, be aware that many areas in North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee are still impassable. Trucker Gary Johnson reports, “I-40 Is completely shut down as miles and miles (over 100) were washed away just east of 81 into NC from Tennessee all the way to Statesville NC.”
I-26 is also shut down north and south of Asheville.
For alternative routing, Johnson suggests, “The only ways to access Charlotte or the rest of the Carolinas will either be I-77 In VA or I-85 coming from GA.”
Be patient this week with your drivers and shipping partners.
Forget ‘Founder Mode’
FBM – Founder Mode has nothing on Freight Broker Mode. Wear the shirt that lets them know you grind. Head on over toWTTGear.com to get our latest merch! Use code WTTFans for 10% off.
Now on demand
How logistics companies are helping with Helene recovery; ports strike tomorrow
The perfect storms: Hurricane and port strikes
NASA’s Barge Pegasus: The massive rocket ferry
The rest of the noise
- Market closing September on a sour note
- Crime, labor top concerns about nearshoring in Mexico
- Lithium-ion battery fire disrupts terminal operations at Port of Los Angeles
- Is Next Trucking done?
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Don’t be a stranger,
Dooner