Commerce Express Weekly Road Map:
October 17th, 2023
Keeping you informed on the latest news/insights in our industry.
Domestic Market Updates:
Trucking –
Recent Developments:
- Approximately 4,000 workers represented by UAW have REJECTED the tentative contract with Mack Trucks.
- UPDATE: Those UAW members and Mack Trucks will RESUME talks this Thursday.
- UAW has announced a ‘new approach‘ in their strikes
- The union said they would not expand the strike immediately against the big 3 automakers, but that they are “not sticking to one pattern of giving these companies an extra hour or an extra day.”
- California Trucking Association filed a lawsuit against the California Air Resources Board (CARB), asking the federal court to block the implementation.
- Georgia governor has extended Georgia’s suspension of taxes on motor fuels until at least November 11th.
- The national average price of diesel is $4.44 a gallon, which has dropped 5.4 cents in the last week.
Rail –
Recent Developments:
- Union Pacific has launched a new Mexico-Southeast intermodal service, connecting multiple railroads on a brand new rail route.
- Norfolk Southern is increasing their services out to the USWC
- They will be accepting ocean containers in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and Louisville, Kentucky (when terminals are open), to then be transported to the USWC.
- The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a BNSF coal train that derailed over the weekend on a bridge that crossed I-25 in Colorado.
- This caused coal and coal cars to spill onto the interstate.
- STB extends the comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding reciprocal switching.
- The comment period deadline is now November 7th, 2023.
Cross-border –
Recent developments:
- Canada is investing $150M Canadian dollars ($110 USD) for a new container terminal in Montreal.
- The terminal will have a 2,215ft dock, rail tracks that will connect to CN railway, a container yard, an access road and operations and administrative buildings.
- Mexico remains the top U.S. trade partner in August, marking the seventh time in eight months.
Trucking News
Texas Has Resumed Cargo Truck Safe Inspections at Port Laredo
Last Thursday, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) started safety inspections for all commercial vehicles that are coming from Mexico and going through the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge in Laredo.
These Texas DPS inspections are in addition to the commercial checkpoints that the agency started on September 20th at the Marcelino Serna port of entry in Tornillo and the Ysleta-Zaragoza International Bridge in El Paso, per Freightwaves reports.
Check out our blog here, for more details.
What’s the Trucking Industry’s Top ‘Concerns Going Into Next Year?
One of the main concerns on fleets and drivers minds for next year is the economy. Some of the other concerns are truck parking, fuel prices, driver shortage, and driver pay – according to a survey conducted by American Transportation Research Institute.
ATRI surveyed more than 4,000 transportation stakeholders when conducting the survey this year.
Inflation, increasing interest rates, diesel prices, a decrease in freight demand, and decline rates can all have an impact on fleets and drivers.
Commerce Blog
The Canadian railway (Class I railroad) prides its operations for being prepared to handle the country’s typically low temperatures and heavy snowfall throughout the winter months.
However, this season, the railway is warning stakeholders that new regulations could burden its ability to satisfy shipper-customer demand and steward supply chain fluidity. CN recently submitted an outline of grievances to the Canadian government through its 2023-2024 winter plan.
Rail News
CPKC Annual Holiday Train Set to Begin Again Soon
The Canadian Pacific Kansas City holiday train is set to return starting November 20th and run until December 19th.
This is the 25th year the holiday train has been occurring, which raises money, food and awareness for support foods banks, all throughout their network.
Since being established in 1999, it has raised more than five million pounds of food and $22.5+ million for various food banks and food shelves.
This year will include 191 live music shows in six provinces and 14 states. Every event is free, and attendees are encouraged to make a monetary or food donation.
Total Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending October 7th, 2023
- For this most recent week was 499,217 carloads and intermodal units, which is up 3 percent compared to the same time last year.
- AAR data shows U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 265,449 containers and trailers – up 2.5 percent compared to last year.
- Motor vehicles and parts, grain, and petroleum and petroleum products all saw increases. While miscellaneous carloads, farm products (excluding grain and food), and forest products all saw decreases.
- In the first 40 weeks of this year, North American rail volume was 26,066,184 carloads and intermodal units – down 3.6 percent compared to last year.
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