Welcome to the WHAT THE TRUCK?!? newsletter. In this issue, energy issues stall supply chains; congestion mounts at East Coast ports; Amazon algorithms tighten their grip; first female port header named; and more.
Lights out
Anarchy in the U.K. — Gasoline panic-buying has our friends across the pond looking like a reflection of the U.S. during the Colonial Pipeline hack. Reuters reports, “Britain’s transport minister pleaded with motorists on Tuesday to stop filling up old water bottles with fuel at gas stations after panic-buying left pumps dry across major cities and prompted the government to put the army on standby.” While the government in England has stated that there is no fuel shortage, Bloomberg is reporting that 90% of the “pumps in major British cities have run dry.”
Gas in the U.S. — Regular gas prices, which averaged $2.18 a gallon last year according to AAA, are now nearly a dollar above that at $3.17. CBS news reports, “Jeffery Born, an energy markets expert at Northeastern University, said current gasoline prices are partly a result of production and refining capacity that was knocked offline by Hurricane Ida and partly a result of other shortages — even a shortage of tanker drivers.”
Diesel dilemma — The Department of Energy/Energy Information Administration retail diesel price is at a level it hasn’t reached in nearly seven years. FreightWaves’ John Kingston reports, “At $3.406 per gallon, the benchmark price for fuel surcharges has not been at this lofty level since a price of $3.419/gallon on Dec. 15, 2014.”
Port watch — If you’re anything like me, during the shipping crisis you’ve been checking vessel maps more often than your fantasy team. One to watch right now is the ports of New York/New Jersey where over two dozen cargo ships and tankers sit at anchor. That tanker fuel is important for heating oil as winter approaches and is a market to keep an eye on. Disruptions aren’t in the data yet but impacts may be too early to show.
“The power curbs will ripple through and impact global markets. Very soon the global markets will feel the pinch of a shortage of supply from textiles and toys to machine parts.” — Nomura analyst Ting Lu to Bloomberg
Factories of sadness in China — Retail inventories aren’t the only thing impacted by overseas shutdowns. Now Asia and Europe are dealing with a power shortage that’s hitting its factories. The center of China’s manufacturing belt in the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong are under power usage restrictions. How bad is it? The New York Times reported, “Factories in the city of Dongguan have not had electricity since last Wednesday.” Dry bulk, LNG, iPhone, Tesla and even steel production are all seeing similar energy-related slowdowns. Read FreightWaves’ Greg Miller’s article for a full breakdown.
Amazon’s algorithmic dystopia
Terminated — Not only have Amazon sellers had to contend with an endless and escalating shipping conundrum, but they’re also swimming against the digital current of robo-judgement. Some say Amazon’s SkyNet-like algorithms, which dispense punitive measures without many options for recourse, are at the heart of the matter. Last month, VIAHART CEO Molson Hart came on WTT to discuss those challenges.
“The whole thing just doesn’t make sense. But that’s kind of Amazon for you.” — Chukar Cherries founder Pam Montgomery in The Seattle Times
Cherry pit — This week, The Seattle Times reported on Chukar Cherries, which was abruptly banned from Amazon due to what may be guilt by algorithmic association. Despite the company’s being a seller in good standing since 2003, Amazon’s fraud detection system misassociated it with a “bad actor” near Shanghai. With an estimated 6 million Amazon sellers operating on the platform, most have an automated business relationship with the e-tail giant. When things go awry, appeals can last months. Fortunately for Chukar Cherries, The Seattle Times intervened and helped the seller get its account active again.
“Every time I need to turn right, it inevitably happens. A car cuts me into my lane, and the camera yells at me, in this really dystopian dark robotic voice.” — An Amazon driver to Vice
I always feel like somebody’s watching me — Interior dashcams aren’t just for 18-wheelers anymore. Amazon’s AI-based cameras have drivers upset about routine driving behaviors that are triggering the eye in the sky. MSN reports, “it penalizes them for totally normal actions such as looking at the side mirrors or adjusting the radio and when another car passes them.” The danger here is that drivers begin to adopt dangerous behaviors that won’t trigger the system. You may have heard the reports this week of Tesla testers who are trying to game Elon’s touchy safety score system in order to gain access to the company’s controversial Full Self-Driving Beta Software. Tesla testers complain of similar mundane events impacting their score.
Savannah gets first female port header
Ports America moves forward — International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1414 has named 20-year veteran Shebbie Davis as the first female header of the Port of Savannah. Bang the cowbell! WSAV reports that Davis will oversee “port crews as they unload and transport cargo shipments from the ships docked at the port.” She takes the role as East Coast ports face mounting congestion as record freight volumes pour in from trans-Pacific lanes. Twenty-four container ships currently sit at anchor outside the Port of Savannah.
Expansion — They’re going to need more space for all that volume. gCaptain reports, “The Georgia Ports Authority Board approved more than $34 million to help expedite an additional 1.6 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in capacity to the Port of Savannah that will begin coming online in December.” That’s not the only South East port that got some love today. FreightWaves Joanna Marsh has the story on Jacksonville Port Authority awarding a $49 million construction contract to expand terminal capacity.
Latest airfreight disruption … turtles?
Slow and steady — A turtle on the tarmac at Japan’s second-busiest airport delayed five planes on Friday morning. ANA has already had to cancel 14 of its weekly flights to Hawaii due to coronavirus restrictions. However some at Narita international airport see the reptile as a symbol of nature healing. The Guardian reports that the airline said, “In Hawaii, sea turtles are seen as bringing good luck, and we hope this turtle that came to see the flight off signals a bright future.”
WTT this week
Wednesday — What happens when a driver quits and abandons his truck? We’ll learn the logistics behind recovery. Why you should embrace tech now, not later. Five tips to prepare you for this year’s peak season. A special announcement from Charley Dehoney. How to identify the right candidates for your brokerage and more. With Caleb Nelson, chief revenue officer at Sifted; Melissa Forman, chief strategy officer at TriumphPay; Mohammad Banibaker, president at Azmi Freight Inc.; Sean Richardson, VP of growth and development at Tallgrass Freight Co.; and Dehoney.
Friday — The art of freight journalism. On this special episode of the show, we’re highlighting some of FreightWaves’ brightest reporters. Learn how they investigate and source stories, what’s newsworthy and what makes a headline click. With FreightWaves Editor in Chief Mike McAllister, Brian Straight and reporters Clarissa Hawes, Alan Adler and Grace Sharkey.
Catch new shows live at noon ET Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWavesTV, FreightWaves LinkedIn and Facebook or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player.
Now on demand
Container ship invasion hits both US coasts … and China
What happens when a rocket launch goes awry?
Stuff the truck
How you can help — This week Saia Inc. and TransImpact are teaming up to stuff a truck for Hurricane Ida relief. Rachael Heaps lets you know how you can donate and get involved. Take a look.
Subscribe to the show
Or simply look up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player.
All FreightWaves podcasts can also be found on one feed by looking up FreightCasts wherever you get your podcasts.
Want a new WHAT THE TRUCK?!? shirt or hat? Check out the swag store.
One love,
Dooner