An agreement was reached just hours before deadline on Friday between the Unifor union and Prudential Transportation to avoid a strike by container truck drivers at the Port of Vancouver. There was a similar agreement with Aheer Transportation on Tuesday. This news comes as British Columbia is still in the midst of rail service disruptions caused by recent flooding and landslides. Link to video tour of port.  (See details at link to American Shipper, “Vancouver port trucker strike averted as union reaches deal with 2nd carrier”, December 2, 2021, by Nate Tabak)

After failed talks with the two carriers, Aheer Transportation and Prudential Transportation, the union Unifor announced on Monday notice (72-hour) for a strike on Friday. The union represents about 200 truckers or about 12% of drivers that work the Port of Vancouver, BC. The strike will increase delays and congestion on top of the already 50 plus ships waiting to dock this past weekend. (See details at link to American Shipper, “Port of Vancouver truckers issue strike notice”, November 29, 2021, by Nate Tabak)

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Transport Topics released news today that American Trucking Associations (ATA) together with several other industry trucking associations and other groups have taken legal action to sue the Biden Administration. The lawsuit was filed yesterday, November 9 as a response to the recent COVID-19 vaccine mandate. (See details at link to Transport Topics, “ATA-Led Coalition Sues to Block Federal Vaccine Mandate”, November 10, 2021, by John Summers II)

After months of dissent and negotiation in the House of Representatives following approval by the Senate back in August, the US Congress has passed and advanced the Infrastructure bill last week to the president to sign into law. The bill provides a long list of new spending items including $110 billion for roads, bridges and major projects; $66 billion for passenger and freight rail and $7.5 billion for electric vehicle chargers and other infrastructure. (See more at link to Transport Topics, “Congress Clears $1 Trillion Infrastructure Package”, November 6, 2021, by Eugene Mulero)

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FEDEMAC reported today that the UK loosened Cabotage rules (the transport of goods between 2 places in the same country by a transport operator from another country for the purposes of hire and reward) which normally involves heavy restrictions in the UK. This action comes as a response to ease supply chain challenges in an environment of driver shortages, high consumer demand and record highs in road rates with forecasts of even further rate increases in Q4 2021. (See link for more at: FEDEMAC, “Record Road Rates as UK Relaxes Cabotage”, November 4, 2021)

September US employment numbers substantially missed expectations despite optimism due to several factors including the ending of supplemental unemployment benefits. A very worrisome and low number of 194,000 jobs were added in September, further down to almost half of the already low number added in August of 366,000. It is now estimated that about 11 million US jobs are currently open. (See link to Worldwide ERC, “A Changed Workforce Complicates Management Challenges”, October 27, 2021, Annie Erling Gofus)