On June 9, 2022, a discrimination lawsuit brought against Union Pacific Railroad Co. by Le'Mont Bass, an African American employee, was dismissed by a federal judge. Bass had alleged racial discrimination by the company, citing his 26-year tenure as a locomotive engineer without receiving a promotion despite multiple attempts.
Bass had filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights in 2004, highlighting his numerous unsuccessful efforts to secure a promotion at Union Pacific. In his complaint, he detailed at least 40 positions he had applied for, all of which resulted in rejection. Bass sought not only a promotion but also the return of any income he may have lost due to the alleged discriminatory treatment. After a thorough review of the case, Judge Stephen P. McGlynn concluded that while sympathetic to Bass, the court found that he was not qualified for the positions he sought. No evidence of racial discrimination was found, leading to the dismissal of the case against Union Pacific Railroad Co.
The Department of Labor recently issued a ruling against three cross-border logistics companies in San Diego, requiring them to pay a total of $840,000 in back wages to warehouse and transportation workers. The companies - Ruffo de Alba Forwarders LP, SAI Logistics Experts Inc., and Moving Technologies of America Inc. - were found to have exploited Mexican nationals by paying illegally low wages of $2.77 per hour.
This enforcement action comes as part of ongoing efforts to crack down on wage violations in the southern U.S. border region. Investigators discovered that many companies in the area routinely flout labor laws and hire workers at substandard wages. Under the terms of the ruling, Ruffo de Alba Forwarders is obligated to pay $222,899 in back wages to 14 employees and nearly $445,798 in damages. SAI Logistics Experts must pay $318,249 to 13 employees to compensate for unpaid wages, overtime, and liquidated damages, as well as an additional $8,645 in misconduct penalties.
California-based trucking company Tony's Express, under the ownership of John H. Ohle, has recently announced its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, operating in the small trucking business, was acquired by Ohle in May 2023 from brothers Anthony "Tony" Raluie and George Raluie. Following the acquisition, Ohle notified over 200 employees of the company's closure, leaving many without their paychecks.
The bankruptcy filing was made in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, under the provisions of Subchapter V which allow for the reorganization of small businesses. The president of the company stated that the company has up to 199 creditors and that funds will be available for distribution to unsecured creditors. Ohle cited challenging market conditions as a significant factor in the company's financial struggles, highlighting the high cost of fuel in California as a key issue. Despite efforts to secure partnerships with two potential companies, negotiations ultimately failed to materialize into agreements.
The 'Move to -15ºC' initiative has gained support from prominent companies in the industry, including Danish Crown (an international food company), Blue Water Shipping (a global logistics service provider), and Seacube Container Leasing. A study conducted by Nomad company in February revealed that storing frozen food at -15ºC instead of the standard -18ºC can result in a 10-11% reduction in freezer energy consumption without compromising product safety or quality.
Research by various European institutions has further shown that increasing the temperature of refrigerated containers by three degrees could annually save 17.7 million tons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to removing 3,800,000 cars from the road. Thomas Eskesen, a key figure of the initiative, emphasized that transitioning to -15ºC can play a significant role in decarbonizing global supply chains.
Fesco, Russia's leading sea container carrier, is strengthening its ties with India in response to rising demand and increasing cargo volumes. The company's vessel operates twice weekly on the West India-Novorossiysk route, with an average transit time of 16 days from India to Russia.
To optimize its capacity utilization, Fesco utilizes Mundra as a hub for consolidating and transhipping cargo from various locations in the region. The service primarily transports construction materials, chemicals, food products, and refrigerated goods in the import direction, while exporting products from the Russian timber industry and agricultural sector. According to preliminary data, bilateral trade between India and Russia increased by 33% in 2024.
ImportYeti recently unveiled a new tool designed to enhance transparency within Mexico's supply chain, catering to brands seeking to procure products from suppliers in the region and fostering stronger business relationships. The tool, available on ImportYeti's website, offers users the ability to explore suppliers linked to various companies, view the specific cargo imported by select businesses, and access pricing information.
David Applegate, the founder of ImportYeti, noted a growing demand from clientele to include Mexican suppliers in the platform. Applegate shared that it took the team over four months to meticulously curate and prepare the database for Mexico.
With its search engine scouring through more than 90 million publicly available shipping records, ImportYeti empowers users to gain greater insights into the intricate global supply chain landscape. Mexico stands as a pivotal trading partner for the United States, with the total trade volume surpassing $800 billion in 2023.
The New York State Thruway Authority recently unveiled the latest addition to its revamped service area network with the opening of the Ramapo service area on southbound Route 87 in Sloatsburg. This development represents a significant turning point in the Authority's $450 million private investment initiative to modernize all 27 Thruway service areas.
The collaboration with Empire State Thruway Partners has allowed for the transformation of these vital rest stops into state-of-the-art facilities that cater to the needs of the 90,000 vehicles that pass through the bustling Ramapo service area each day. Spanning over 20,000 square feet, this expansive site offers a multitude of amenities for visitors, including a spacious dog walking area, a diverse range of retail shops and dining options, a Starbucks with a convenient Drive-Thru feature, a designated play area, and four high-speed chargers tailored for electric vehicles.
A bill was introduced on June 26th that could have significant impact for the freight transportation industry, particularly in regards to truck parking spaces. The proposed legislation seeks to allocate more than $200 million towards improving truck parking infrastructure.
The bill also includes bans on speed limiters on heavy-duty vehicles, mandatory use of electronic recorders for livestock carriers, California's efforts to get meal and rest break provisions repealed, and efforts by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to impose greenhouse gas emission measures. Todd Spencer, President of the Independent Driver-Owner-Operator Association, highlighted the pressing issue of inadequate truck parking spaces causing drivers to resort to stopping in unsafe locations.
Chris Spear, President of the American Trucking Associations, echoed support for the bill, emphasizing the importance of providing drivers with safe and comfortable parking options to reduce stress and improve overall efficiency in the movement of goods.
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