Stay ahead of the curve with the latest transportation and logistics trends from the experts at Jarrett

One of only two companies that have earned the ranking for 15 years

7.15.2020

We have the following updates within various areas of the transportation segment surrounding COVID-19 as of 7/15/2020 at 3 PM.

LTL

YRC Worldwide (NASDAQ: YRCW) announced it expects to receive a $700 million loan from the United States Department of the Treasury under the CARES Act.

The less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier has been facing mounting financial pressure amid the pandemic to fund obligations to its 30,000 employees. The company is delinquent in making health and welfare as well as pension payments to funds that support its union and non-union employees.

The press release said the company plans to use the money to make the deferred benefits payments to satisfy their obligations.

“We would like to thank Congress for passing the CARES Act and the U.S. Department of the Treasury for providing this vital funding which recognizes the essential role YRCW plays in the nation’s supply chain.  Through our work with over 200,000 customers, including being a leading transportation provider for the Departments of Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, and Customs and Border Protection, YRCW’s freight professionals have developed a deep understanding of, and expertise in, the importance of a secure and reliable supply chain,” said YRC CEO Darren Hawkins.

Learn more here. 

Truckload:

A slight uptick in TL activity the week of July 10: An overall slow first half of July as compared to the end of Q2. Total spot load postings in the Truckstop.com system rose more than 17% during the week ended July 10 (week 27), but volume did not quite rebound to week 25 levels. Weak loads on the Monday following the weekend Independence Day holiday muted week 27 gains. Loads in all key segments – dry van, flatbed, and refrigerated – were higher than in week 26, but rates excluding fuel surcharges were lower in all segments for the first week-over-week decline in total rates since the bottom in week 16. 

Learn more here. 

Carrier Capacity

Carriers’ reluctance to add capacity, after being burned badly after failing to remove capacity following the plunge in volumes triggered by the 2008-09 financial crisis, is understandable.  The capacity discipline that has allowed container lines to keep spot rates elevated on major trades despite falling volumes, raising the chances of the industry ending the year in the black, is beginning to draw a backlash.

Given that they “have done well in a pandemic,” Drewry Shipping Consultants wondered in a July 6 report whether carriers are profiteering from the disruption caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The consultancy, in the report titled “When big profits look bad,” also asked what can be done to smooth tensions between carriers and shippers.  “The current situation — higher carrier profits, but no service improvements — should be a reason for concern for competition authorities,” Olaf Merk, of the International Trade Forum, said in an interview with www.JOC.com.

Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans

According to JOC.com, US Small Business Administration data show the PPP program is maintaining approximately 479,000 for-hire trucking jobs.  Approximately 30 percent, perhaps more, of US for-hire trucking jobs are being supported by  government loans, according to data released this week by the US Small Business Administration (SBA) about companies that received Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans.  That alone indicates the PPP loans may have prevented a trucking capacity crunch in June by keeping a large number of truck drivers paid, if not always behind the wheel, when freight demand plummeted during the COVID-19-linked business shutdowns of April and May.  It also demonstrates the importance of the PPP program, which has been extended through Aug. 8, to maintain an adequate supply of trucks for shippers during an economic recovery that is more likely to stutter than roar, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread.

eCommerce: 

Amazon will restrict warehousing space, with peak season looming, Amazon will restrict warehouse space based on inventory productivity for third-party sellers using Amazon's fulfillment services starting Aug. 16, the company told sellers in a notice Monday.

Peak season 2020 may be tepid in terms of total sales, but e-commerce heavy-hitters need to be prepared for record volume, as coronavirus cases are climbing again and some states are reversing earlier moves to open up their economies. Amazon has already learned this year what such spikes in order volume can do to its industry-leading supply chain.

After restricting incoming inventory to essential products due to capacity constraints in the early weeks of the pandemic in the U.S. Amazon is attempting to avoid a replay with these changes to FBA standards, according to Rick Watson, founder and CEO of RMW Commerce Consulting. 

Learn more here

And don’t forget to claim your spot for our upcoming webinar: KPIs for Supply Chain Performance!

Please contact us directly with any questions. Our next update will be no later than Wednesday, 7/15 at 4 PM. Please visit our website for other updates. 

If you are not currently a JLS customer, and need assistance routing a shipment, contact us and we will be happy to assist you. 

*The information above is subject to change with developing news and updates. We are providing a recap of the most up-to-date information as possible. Each update contains information confirmed by credible sources and does not include inaccurate or speculated news. 

6.30.2020

We have the following updates within various areas of the transportation segment surrounding COVID-19 as of 6/30/2020 at 3 PM.

Leading B2B Publication Releases Annual List of the Supply Chain’s Top Professionals

CLEVELAND, OH – Jarrett received the SHARE award at the Pillar Awards ceremony on December 5 at the LaCentre Conference & Banquet Center in Cleveland. This award is a special honor given to one applicant whose community service best reflects Medical Mutual’s own employee SHARE program. SHARE stands for serve, help, aid, reach, and educate.

 Orrville, OH August 14, 2019 – Inc. magazine today revealed that Jarrett is No. 4032 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. Only 5 other companies in the history of Inc. 5000 have made the list 14 times or more. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

SEVILLE, Ohio. – Jarrett Fleet Services (JFS) hosted an open house at their new location in Seville on July 25 welcoming numerous members of the community and the transportation industry.

The annual Top Green Providers list showcases companies that have found new ways to promote sustainability throughout their operations and to their clients.

Jarrett is thrilled to announce its 20th Anniversary. The 20th Anniversary celebration kickoff launched in tandem with the new Jarrett website.

The industry update provides robust insights on current transportation and supply chain news. The update highlights Amazon’s impact on the industry and Michael Jarrett gives an overview of the events at Jarrett. 

ORRVILLE, Ohio, March 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Food Logistics, the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global food supply chain, is pleased to announce that Matt Angell, Vice President of Logistics Operations and Matt Wagner, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Jarrett Logistics Systems (JLS), were named to the 2019 Food Logistics Champions: Rock Stars of the Supply Chain award. Matt Angell and Matt Wagner have a combined 30 years of experience in designing and implementing transportation management solutions, and have played a key role in the exponential growth at JLS.

Pictured from left to right: Matt Angell, Mike Jarrett and Matt Wagner