Good day,
Weeks into the pandemic, bare shelves in grocery stores continue to trigger anxiety in Americans worried about possible food shortages. Grocery and warehouse workers testing positive for COVID-19 add to the alarm. But never fear – although the pandemic is causing logistical headaches for producers and manufacturers, the U.S. is not going to run out of food, experts say. “The food is there. It’s just going into different spots,” David McInerney, the chief executive of FreshDirect, told the New York Times. Now that cruise ships are not using up all of the avocados, he observed, “we have a giant surge of avocados.” Dairy farmers, forced to reroute from wholesale markets to grocer stores, are facing a similar glut in milk, butter and cheese, Reuters reports.
Did you know?
Preliminary North American Class 8 net orders in March fell to 7,800 units, down 45% from February and 51% lower than an easy year-ago comparison. March’s Classes 5-7 net orders were 14,700 units, down 36% from February and 31% from year-ago levels. (ACTResearch)
Quotable
“Be strong, look out for the welfare of your people and focus right now on cash, cash, cash.”
– Foster Finley, global co-leader at AlixPartners, on how supply chains can manage COVID-19 risk in the short-term and long-term. (Via SupplyChainDive)
In other news
Pandemic cuts Uber, Lyft rideshare business by 50%
The ride-hailing businesses of Uber and Lyft have shrunk by about half in recent weeks compared with a year ago. (The Information)
Tesla deliveries jump
The company delivered 88,400 vehicles in the first quarter of 2020.(CNBC)
California poised to sue Trump to stop another clean car rollback
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra criticized the Trump administration’s timing as the state focuses on fighting the coronavirus, which so far has killed at least 135 Californians. (CAPradio)
Amazon pledges warehouse safety, diverts N95 masks to hospitals amid coronavirus pandemic The e-giant said it will divert sales of masks and other medical supplies to hospitals and government entities.(SeattleTimes)
Final thoughts,
COVID-19 causes severe respiratory dysfunction in humans, but apparently clears the air on planet Earth. As the economy grinds to a halt due to the coronavirus, Earth-orbiting satellites have observed significantly reduced emissions of nitrogen oxides, which come primarily from cars, trucks, power plants and factories, Space.com reports. In some areas, air pollution at night has decreased by more than 50%.
Hammer down, everyone!
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now