By analyzing the size of trucking companies regarding number of employees and corresponding number of trucks per fleet in relation to the mandates indicates some interesting results. The mandate, while applying to only about 1% of US trucking fleets involves more than 50% of the country’s total tractors, including companies with 100+ employees and fleets ranging from about 50 to over 5,000 tractors. That potentially results in the mandate impacting a huge segment of the nation’s truck drivers. Read more details at link to FREGHTWAVES, (“Biden vaccine mandate may worsen low driver retention rates”, September 9, 2021, by John Gallagher.)

As reported by Relocation Global today, the head of Germany’s Federal Labour Agency is stating that the country will already have 150,000 less workers in 2021, and suggested a need for 400,000 immigrants as skilled workers each year in the coming years ahead. The immense and growing shortage results from a low birth rate and an aging workforce in the country and reflects a similar and wider problem across the EU as well as the UK. Read more about how the EU workforce will dramatically decrease without migration over the next 30 years at (Relocate Global, “German dilemma highlights Europe skills gap”, 31 August 2021, by David Sapsted)

New quarantine measures in China are causing ground handling and operations staff to resign in high volume resulting in cargo delays, flight cancellations, and increasing freight rates. The Loadstar reported this week that the rules are also including flight crews adding to the problem of additional empty and cancelled flights. Backlogs at impacted airports are expected to continue to grow in the weeks ahead. (See link to Loadstar, “Pandemic rules bring China air cargo chaos …”, August 19,2021, Sam Whelan)

The Chaparral has capability of carrying up to 300 pounds of cargo over 300 miles.

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Industry officials have voted to recommend that the U.S. Department of Commerce coordinate multiple federal efforts to deal with the current urgent issue of the record breaking driver shortage and the potential negative impact on the country’s supply chains. Recent developments have led to the Senate infrastructure bill that included support for an under-21 driver apprentice program and other endeavors to increase women drivers. (See link to: Truckload Indexes, “Federal panel urges Biden administration to attack driver shortage”, August 12, 2021, by John Gallagher)

While hurricane activity in the Atlantic has been minimal so far this summer, we are now heading into August and September which are typical peak months for hurricane season. Researchers are expecting about a 28% higher than average number of named storms this season compared to the last 30 year period. As usual, a major storm will impact shippers and carriers and can easily result in substantial supply chain disruptions. (See link for more info at FreightWaves, “Above Average Hurricane Season …”, July 29, 2021, by Jack Glenn)