BITE SIZED SUPPLY CHAIN/LOGISTICS INFORMATION Info SNACKS
TRADE, TARIFFS & TACTICS
MAKING GREEN A PRIORITY 95% of the world’s top 250 companies publish a carbon target/reduction report. 56% have at least one person leading their sustainability e orts. 41% consider sustainability accomplishments when determining leadership pay. – KPMG study on sustainability reporting
BILL GATES BETS BIG ON FREIGHT Bill Gates has invested $373 million in FedEx and Paccar, signaling confidence in a transportation rebound. His foundation purchased one million shares of each company, with a $273 million stake in FedEx and $100 million in Paccar. FedEx, despite a turbulent year and weaker-than-expected earnings, is undergoing a transformation through an initiative to cut $2.2 billion in costs. Paccar, a big player in the heavy-duty trucking market, saw early 2024 revenue decline but rebounded with a 21% rise in November orders. Analysts suggest Gates’ move is a calculated bet on a recovering manufacturing sector and increasing freight demand. NO DRIVER, NO PROBLEM Volvo Autonomous Solutions and DHL Supply Chain have launched autonomous freight delivery operations in Texas, with routes between With a new presidential administration and a wave of uncertainty heading into 2025, U.S. small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) are recalibrating their strategies to adapt. How are they tackling challenges, seizing opportunities, and preparing for what’s next? Cautious optimism. 67% of SMEs anticipate better performance in 2025 than in 2024, though regulatory and policy shifts have them on edge. Regulatory uncertainty. While 40% of businesses are still evaluating the potential impact of policy shifts, 24% expect negative eects, and 20% foresee a positive outcome. Tari watch. Trade regulations are the #1 focus for SMEs, 67% call them the most important area of change to watch. Strategic adjustments. In response to regulatory shifts, 30% of SMEs anticipate making minor adjustments to their strategies, while 13% are ready to significantly adjust their approach. –DHL Express, SME U.S. survey
AMERICA ON THE MOVE Americans are moving from
western states to the Southeast, finds the 48th annual United Van Lines 2024 National Movers Study. Six of the top 10 inbound states include West Virginia, South Carolina, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Alabama, and Arkansas. For the seventh year in a row, New Jersey remains the least popular moving destination. West Virginia tops the list as the most popular destination in 2024. For the first time in decades, the primary reason for moving interstate was to be closer to family (28%).
JOB LISTINGS vs REALITY
ONLY 6.5% ONLY 1.6% ONLY 4.9% ONLY 54.3%
of supply chain job openings include the term “automation”
of job openings include the term “arti cial intelligence” or “AI”
Dallas and Houston and Fort Worth and El Paso. The initial deliveries, using Volvo VNL Autonomous trucks with safety drivers, aim to validate the technology at scale. Powered by the Aurora Driver, the system features advanced radar, lidar, and camera technology to ensure safety at highway speeds.
of job openings include broad data management responsibilities (data management, data mining)
of job openings include some form of software knowledge
– Cleo Supply Chain Jobs Report
January 2025 • Inbound Logistics 1
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