Stay tuned if you’re moving your goods across the country or borders by land. I’m checking out the latest developments, trends, and opinions, and I’ll share my thought leadership right here – about every month. Feel free to interact and leave a comment or reach out to me directly.
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“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
Brian Petrie, Senior Vice President of Land – Sales for DB Schenker, USA
Q1 Updates
World Bank grants Ukraine $50 million for road transport infrastructure.
Latest global news – The World Bank unveiled a $50 million initiative to repair and restore Ukraine’s transportation network to provide immediate humanitarian aid, facilitate recovery, and enhance the capacity of import and export routes.
Here’s the background: Anna Bjerde, Vice President for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank, made a statement on the grant, explaining that “Ukraine needs urgent investments to repair damaged essential transport routes.” According to the World Bank, over 2,100 Ukrainian villages that have been freed since the start of the conflict are facing the challenge of disrupted transportation links because of the war.
This means there is the finance for the acquisition of modular bridges, necessary equipment, and materials to quickly repair road-to-bridge connections and crucial rail lines that have been damaged. It will also assist in financing the procurement of flatbed rail cars and additional rolling stock to increase the railway’s ability to transport cargo in containers.
Let’s be real, restoring Ukraine’s transportation infrastructure is key to enhancing the capacity of import and export routes, and that’s huge for the country’s economic stability and growth. The faster we can get this done, the faster we can eliminate delays, lower costs for international trade, and effectively deliver aid to those in need. And, as we all know, Ukraine is a strategic route for logistics between Asia and Europe, making this logistics infrastructure not only crucial for immediate aid efforts but also for long-term economic prosperity.
The proposed SHIP IT Act aims to enhance trucking and supply chain logistics.
I am also excited to share with you the introduction of the Safer Highways and Increased Performance for Interstate Trucking (SHIP IT) Act! This piece of legislation, brought to us with support from both parties by Dusty Johnson and Jim Costa, is going to modernize the way we operate during emergencies and streamline the entire process of transporting goods throughout the United States.
Johnson believes the act “increases safety and shipping capacity for truckers, provides recruitment and retention incentives for drivers and includes flexibility during times of emergencies or black swan events.” As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans faced numerous disruptions in the freight industry. The SHIP IT Act aims to address these gaps, keep consumer costs low, and streamline the process for shippers to transport goods throughout the United States.
This legislation also allows truck drivers to apply for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grants, incentivizes new truck drivers to enter the workforce through targeted and temporary tax credits, streamlines the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) process, and expands access to truck parking and rest facilities for commercial drivers. These provisions aim to address the challenges faced by the trucking industry and support the growth and development of the sector.
I can tell you, the support for this act is strong, with trucking manufacturers and over 80 members of the Shippers Coalition praising its potential for improving the supply chain, boosting shipping capacity, and easing the workload on truck drivers. I think we can all agree, improving the efficiency of goods transportation on highways is key to being more environmentally conscious and prioritizing safety.
I believe safe commercial driving is essential for maintaining the public’s trust and confidence in the trucking industry. The need for more drivers across the industry is well-documented, and I’m excited by this development. Find out more about our recently enhanced US domestic and cross-border trucking products, including our newly acquired 1,900-unit fleet of trucks and 2,100 employees.
