Call for Nominations: Women In Trucking 2023 Driver of the Year Award
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) is seeking nominations for the annual Women In Trucking Driver of the Year award sponsored by Walmart. The fourth annual award recognizes exceptional female professional drivers who lead the industry in safety standards while actively working to enhance the public image of the trucking industry. “At Walmart, we aim to foster inclusion through the intentional action of understanding, supporting, and championing individuals in all of their uniqueness, resulting in a culture where all associates feel welcome, comfortable, safe and empowered to reach their full potential every day,” said Fernando Cortes, Walmart Senior Vice President, Transportation. “Since joining Walmart, I have been impressed by each of our teams and associates who foster inclusion and respect for the individual and intentionally support our female drivers,” Cortez added. “Those are a few reasons we are so proud to sponsor the Driver of the Year award again. I am proud of the work Women in Trucking and Walmart are doing to advance women within transportation.” The application is open to any female driver who has safely driven at least one million consecutive, accident-free miles. Nominees must demonstrate a positive contribution to the trucking industry and their community. “Each year we feature a female professional driver so we can share her story to encourage other women to not only honor her but to consider the opportunity to enter the industry and find success,” said Ellen Voie, WIT president and CEO. “We are looking forward to sharing this year’s driver’s story as well.” The finalists and overall winner will be recognized at the 2023 Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday, March 31st. The winner will be chosen based on her safety record, positive community contributions, and impact on the public image of the trucking industry. She will receive a plaque, commemorative ring, and more. Nomination forms can be submitted at https://www.womenintrucking.org/female-driver-of-the-year. Nominations are due Feb. 1, 2023.
JLG and Oshkosh Corporation receive Industry Recognition in 2022
Combined, the companies accumulated 16 awards and honors this past year JLG Industries, Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company and a global manufacturer of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and telehandlers, received 12 industry awards in 2022, highlighting the company’s most recent innovative product introductions and JLG® equipment with high long-term resale value. RER magazine honored JLG with two Innovative Product Awards. A Technology Enhancements award for the company’s suite of telehandler accessory offerings and a Miscellaneous award for JLG’s “Access Your World” virtual experience. EC&M magazine named the JLG DaVinci® AE1932 all-electric scissor lift its Product of the Year in the Construction Equipment Category. The Construction Machinery ME Awards also awarded the DaVinci lift as its Electric Machinery of the Year. JLG won two International Awards for Powered Access (IAPA) this past year. The DaVinci lift was again distinguished as the Product of the Year, as was the company’s 670SJ self-leveling boom lift. The 2022 Leadership in Lifting Equipment and Aerial Platforms (LLEAP) Awards also recognized JLG’s 670SJ self-leveling boom lift, giving it a Gold Award — the highest honor. JLG’s DaVinciGo App received a Silver LLEAP Award. The JLG Next-Gen Augmented Reality App received a 2022 Rental Editor’s Choice Award, and the company’s new line of Rotating Telehandlers was named a Construction Equipment Top 100 Winner, as well as a 2022 Top Introduction by Heavy Equipment Guide. And last, but not least, EquipmentWatch’s annual Highest Retained Value Awards this year included the JLG H340AJ hybrid boom lift and FT70 Liftpod model. JLG’s parent company, Oshkosh Corporation, received four industry awards in 2022. The company was recently named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, the fourth consecutive year it has been awarded this honor. In addition to Newsweek’s recognition, Oshkosh was named one of Fortune’s 2022 World’s Most Admired Companies, a Leading Disability Employer 2022 by the National Organization on Disability, and one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere™ for seven consecutive years.
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s Survey of Economic Activity: Monthly Leasing and Finance Index
November new business volume up 9 percent year-over-year, down 24 percent month-to-month, up 6 percent year-to-date The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which reports economic activity from 25 companies representing a cross-section of the $1 trillion equipment finance sector, showed their overall new business volume for November was $8.6 billion, up 9 percent year-over-year from new business volume in November 2021. Volume was down 24 percent from $11.3 billion in October. Year-to-date, cumulative new business volume was up 6 percent compared to 2021. Receivables over 30 days were 1.7 percent, unchanged from the previous month and down from 2.2 percent in the same period in 2021. Charge-offs were 0.27 percent, up from 0.26 percent the previous month and up from 0.20 percent in the year-earlier period. Credit approvals totaled 77.7 percent, up from 77.0 percent in October. The total headcount for equipment finance companies was down 4.7 percent year-over-year. Separately, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) in December is 45.9, an increase from the November index of 43.7. ELFA President and CEO Ralph Petta said, “Moving into the final month of the year, equipment finance companies report solid performance. Rising interest rates seem to have little or no effect on origination volume in November. The economy grew in Q3—albeit slowly—and is expected to do so again in the current quarter. Labor markets are stable, inflation woes appear to be abating, consumers are spending, and businesses continue to expand and grow: a recipe for stable growth by providers of equipment financing.” Patrick Hoiby, President, Equify Financial, LLC, said, “New volume continues to be very strong despite continued rate hikes. Charge-offs and delinquency are remaining in check and overall credit quality is good. Employee count is hard to measure because many companies wish to expand, but are having hard times finding people.”
New executive management board at Siemens Logistics
With effect from January 1, 2023, Michael Schneider will become the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Siemens Logistics GmbH. In this role, he will take over the former area of responsibility of his predecessor Michael Reichle, who will be assuming a new management position within the Siemens Group at the same time. Michael Schneider has held various management positions for Siemens Logistics in the Middle East since 2012. He has headed up the global airport logistics business since 2017 and maintains close contact with aviation industry customers. “I am delighted that with Michael Schneider we were able to fill the position of CEO of Siemens Logistics internally and at the same time with a very experienced industry expert,” says Dr. Horst J. Kayser, Chairman Siemens’ Portfolio Companies. “With effect from December 1, 2022, we have already appointed Thomas Diesener, the company’s previous Head of Finance, as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Siemens Logistics. Thus, a seamless and orderly management transition can take place.” “Siemens Logistics has great potential. With our dedicated employees, we are very well placed globally to meet the demands of the market. In my new role I will continue to position the company together with the management team to create attractive and innovative solutions while generating added value for our customers and expanding the business,” emphasizes Michael Schneider. “I am looking forward to the challenge in the new role and of course, I treat it with due respect.” Michael Reichle will continue to lead Siemens Logistics up to the end of 2022. He has been CEO of the global company since July 2014. “It’s been an honor and a privilege for me to drive forward the further development of the airport, mail and parcel business over the last eight years,” underlines Michael Reichle. “Together with my management team, we’ve worked constantly and intensively to strengthen our businesses in the markets, to position them independently and more stably, and make them what they are today. Through it all, I’ve been deeply impressed by the commitment of our employees around the world.“ The new CFO Thomas Diesener joined the Siemens Group in 2004 and has held various positions in the area of finance. He has been working at Siemens Logistics since 2013, most recently as Head of Finance. As an internationally experienced manager, he brings in-depth expertise in finance and corporate strategy. With its new executive management board, Siemens Logistics will be building on a firm foundation of competence, expertise, and continuity.
AAR preliminary statement on STB’s final offer rate review and ADR decisions
Today, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) issued a fatally flawed final rule in its Final Offer Rate Review (FORR) proceeding, and at the same time issued a proposal for new STB arbitration rules (ADR). Unfortunately, the ADR proposal ignores key principles that could otherwise make STB-sponsored arbitration of small-rate disputes a viable option. AAR and its members are closely reviewing the decisions to determine the next steps, but it is clear that our primary concerns remain. FORR, the rule modeled on baseball-style arbitration, flatly exceeds the agency’s authority. In a case filed under the new rule, the agency would do no independent analysis or engage in any reasoned decision-making, but instead would simply choose the “final offer” rate proposed either by the shipper or by the railroad. “The FORR rule abdicates the agency’s statutory responsibility to determine the maximum reasonable rate. Sound economic principles are abandoned, in favor of an arbitrary procedure that offers no certainty to any stakeholder and instead rewards legal brinksmanship,” stated AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies. With respect to the ADR procedures for small rate cases that a group of Class I railroads had proposed, the Board’s decision falls short of including substantive provisions that were critical to one or more railroads. But at the same time, the rule effectively requires all Class I railroads to agree to participate in order for the procedure to be available as an option for any railroad. “On its face, the ‘all or none’ approach misses the mark and risks undermining the Board’s stated desire for alternative dispute resolution over litigated outcomes. As it stands, even if a vast majority of railroads sign up for ADR, the rule will prevent small rate disputes that could quickly and cost-effectively be arbitrated because anything short of 100 percent industry participation prevents anyone from using it.” added Jefferies. “Unfortunately, today’s decisions could very well result in a missed opportunity to create a workable solution for shippers and railroads alike.”
Episode 342: Product labeling with Loftware
Loftware is a software company that has been around for 35 years and specializes in label operations. Josh Roffman, SVP of Marketing and Product Management at Loftware, joins this episode of The New Warehouse to tell us about the importance of label operations in the supply chain. Josh discusses the evolution of labels and how businesses of all sizes can leverage Loftware’s software to drive consistent labeling throughout their supply chains. Key Takeaways Kevin and Josh discuss some challenges companies face as they expand globally from a labeling perspective. Josh believes the integration of the data and the control over the templatization of the actual labels themselves to ensure that the output is consistent across the supply chain are some of the most significant challenges businesses face. At Loftware, they spend a lot of time working with customers on integrating into their ERP or WMS systems to ensure the data is flowing correctly. Errors can result in massive losses in terms of production time and can be particularly costly if applied to food, medical or pharmaceutical goods. Josh shares that one of Loftware’s surveys found that 77% of respondents had to pause their production lines multiple times in the past year due to labeling issues. He adds that CDC research shows 8-10 large enterprises experienced at least one significant labeling error per year, costing them up to $ 2 million. Those costs serve as a reminder of how crucial it is to ensure accuracy and efficiency when it comes to labeling processes across different industries and the potential cost of not doing so. Josh explains why labels are such a critical part of the supply chain process, as they help identify goods from the point of manufacture to their final destination: the consumer. Labeling is essential because its content is dynamic and tailored to fit customer needs, regional requirements, and other factors like language or hazardous warnings. Thanks to sophisticated technology solutions, labels can now contain even more data than ever, giving companies more flexibility in tracking goods and responding to customer demands. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 342: Product Labeling with Loftware
California Steel Industries to build galvanizing line at Fontana Mill
Nucor Corporation announced that California Steel Industries, Inc. (CSI) will build a continuous galvanizing line at its mill in Fontana, California. The new galvanizing line will serve construction end markets in the western United States and is expected to have an annual capacity of 400,000 tons. With the addition of this new line, CSI will have a total hot dip galvanizing capacity of 1.2 million tons per year. The investment is expected to cost approximately $370 million and take 30 months to construct following regulatory approvals. “With recent closures of galvanizing capacity in the western region, CSI is seizing an opportunity to provide the high-quality value-added products that our customers have requested,” said Leon Topalian, Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nucor Corporation. “This investment continues the strong partnership we have cultivated with JFE Steel of growing together in North America.” CSI is a flat-rolled steel converter with the capability to produce more than 2 million tons of finished steel and steel products annually. The company has five product lines including hot rolled, pickled and oiled, cold rolled, galvanized, and ERW pipe. Key end-use markets served by CSI include the construction, service center, and energy markets. CSI employs more than 800 full-time and temporary teammates. CSI is the second partnership between Nucor and JFE Steel of Japan, following the formation of Nucor JFE Steel Mexico, which completed construction in 2020 and is in qualification trials with the burgeoning regional automotive market. Nucor acquired a 51% stake in CSI earlier this year. In addition to its majority ownership of CSI, Nucor currently operates five strategically located sheet mills that utilize thin slab casters to produce flat-rolled steel for automotive, appliance, construction, pipe and tube, and many other industrial and consumer applications. The company also has a sixth wholly owned sheet mill under construction in West Virginia. The capacity of Nucor’s sheet mills is currently estimated at 14 million tons per year and, inclusive of this investment and the planned additions in West Virginia and South Carolina, Nucor will grow to 6.4 million tons of galvanizing capacity in the United States. All of Nucor’s sheet mills are equipped with galvanizing lines and five of them are equipped with cold rolling mills for the further processing of hot-rolled sheet steel.
Toyota Material Handling formalizes partnership with unique nonprofit Anchor House
Toyota Material Handling (TMH), a manufacturer of forklifts and provider of a range of material handling solutions, announces a new partnership with Anchor House, a local nonprofit that focuses on investing in Jackson County residents through housing, employment resources, and nutritional assistance. Anchor House is the only homeless assistance program serving the local community, offering two emergency shelters and the largest food pantry in the area. “Toyota Material Handling is proud to partner with this local organization that has an impact on so many families and individuals in our community,” said Tracy Stachniak, TMH Vice President of Human Resources. “Anchor House is a staple in the community, and we are proud that this partnership will allow the shelter to broaden the ways they assist those in need.” Toyota’s commitment through this partnership includes $100,000 in financial support to Anchor House to be paid over the next four years. The company is also providing in-kind donations to meet needs that arise for Anchor House and its beneficiaries, such as non-perishable food or business and interview attire. TMH employees will have unique opportunities to make a difference by volunteering for the organization to provide shelter maintenance and food pantry donations. The partnership also includes support for Anchor House’s self-sufficiency program with Toyota providing employment skills training to residents involved in the program. The training includes but is not limited to interview skills, resumé writing, and application completion assistance. Through this program, TMH is helping develop a sustainable employment track for Anchor House families. “The growing need for our services in the community has been evident by the increased need for food and shelter we’ve continued to experience. Now more than ever, our friends and neighbors need our assistance,” said Anchor House Executive Director Megan Cherry.“With the growing need, we rely on vital partners like Toyota to help us with our important work. This allows us to meet those needs and ensure that no one is left in the cold or hungry. “We couldn’t be more grateful that Toyota has come alongside us to provide volunteers, hard work, and financial support to our mission. Toyota is one of our biggest champions and supporters. We are able to continue to meet the need because of this great partnership and work they support.” In 2022, Anchor House provided more than 10,500 nights of shelter to citizens in need and served over 14,000 people through its food pantry. The organization has continuously served the Jackson County community for over three decades and partners with multiple organizations in the area to provide holistic support for those with immediate and long-term needs. Learn more about Toyota Material Handling’s culture of volunteerism by clicking here or by visiting toyotaforklift.com.
Vice President Mike Pence to address Distributors at Executive Summit 2023
Pence to share insights on global and domestic realities ahead for North American businesses The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), which is the voice of the 8.1 trillion-dollar wholesale distribution industry, and employs more than 5 million U.S. workers, announced that Vice President Mike Pence will keynote Executive Summit 2023, the premier industry event for wholesale-distribution, January 31 – February 2, 2022, at the Fairmont, Washington, DC. Vice President Pence will address North America’s leading class of distributors and share his insights on the global and domestic realities ahead for North American businesses, the U.S. economy, the supply chain, and more. NAW’s Executive Summit is known in the industry as the most important and insightful event of the year; bringing together an incredible roster of distribution industry executives and service suppliers from all corners of the country to network, share best practices and innovate for the future. “We could not be more honored to welcome Vice President Mike Pence to address distributors from across North America at Executive Summit 2023,” said NAW CEO Eric Hoplin. “The Vice President’s leadership has been felt throughout the business community and we are eager to hear his ideas and insights for the future advancement and prosperity of the country and to ensure that distributors can do what they do best and supply and support America,” concluded Hoplin. “Distributors are the heart of the American supply chain,” said Vice President Mike Pence. “Thanks to the critical links and connections this industry makes possible, the goods and products needed to live and prosper in America make their way to communities and municipalities around the country. It is through distribution that towns and cities are built, homes are lit, families are fed, and the sick are supplied with life-saving medical products. We are thrilled to address leaders of this critical industry that keep the economy and the country moving,” concluded Pence. Each year, the Wholesale-Distribution Industry gathers in Washington, DC for NAW’s Executive Summit to hear from top executives and thought leaders from across the industry on topics such as innovation, supply chain visibility, profitable growth strategies, regulation, the economy, branding, and the value in investing in a happy workforce. NAW is one of America’s leading trade associations, representing the $8.1 trillion wholesale distribution industry. Founded in 1946, NAW is comprised of national, regional, and state employers of all sizes, industry trade associations, partners, and stakeholders spanning all sectors of distribution. Our industry employs more than 5 million workers throughout the United States and accounts for 1/3 of the U.S. GDP. There are 35,000 wholesale distribution companies that operate in nearly 150,000 places of business across North America, including all 50 states. NAW’s mission is to deliver world-class programs and services, designed to help the most dynamic companies in wholesale distribution succeed. Our programming is tailored for the CEOs, senior executives, and rising leaders at our member companies and associations. Members engage with NAW through our offerings in Thought Leadership, Networking, Executive Education, Benchmarking/Research, Shared Resourcing, Partnerships, Government Relations, and Public Affairs.
Cheers to a New Year!
I hope that everyone reading this is coming off a great 2022 and is ready to come out of the gate firing on all cylinders in 2023. As I write this article, topics such as inflation, interest rates, economic outlook, supply chain, automation, technology, competition for talent, and electrification of the North American forklift fleet remain at the top of mind for many lift truck dealers. These topics and their impact on our industry could be a column each on its own. However, to kick off this New Year edition, I wanted to briefly touch on some of these topics. Supply Chain The hidden cost of variability in the supply chain was the topic of my column in the October edition. There I posed a few questions: What is your dealership doing to diversify your offerings? Are the various departments within your dealership working together to optimize purchases of inventory and products from your suppliers? A few trends continue to prevail on the supply chain topic. Labor shortages and disruptions are still a factor throughout the supply chain. China is sticking to the zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy, which has the potential for disruptions when their ports shut down for COVID reasons. Ocean freight rates are trending down; however, some are stating that this trend could be due to the early shipment of Christmas retail goods. There is likely to be continued pressure on certain products, especially those with electronics as there have yet to be signs of improvement in chips or electronic components availability. Variability in the supply chain will continue to be a thing in 2023 and your procurement teams will continue to have to determine which products and commodities it makes sense to apply just-in-time inventory practices to vs just in case. Businesses must continue to remain vigilant in anticipating supply chain disruptions and have alternative options ready in advance to avoid not only a negative impact on their revenue stream but also prevent negative customer experience. Automation It was great to see in-person trade shows thriving and back to pre-pandemic or higher attendance in 2022. I attended last year’s MODEX show in person and it was evident that automation was one of the top themes. Labor shortages continue to be a trend with our industry’s target customers such as warehouses, fulfillment centers, big box stores, etc. These warehousing companies are implementing automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence to not only attract and retain a younger generation but also to fill the voids of shortage of labor in warehousing facilities. Many lift truck dealers in our industry have added systems and automation solutions to meet the needs of their customers over the past years, especially as they needed to have additional products to sell. Smart warehousing and automation will continue to advance in our industry and there will be plenty of opportunities to sell parts and service this type of equipment as well. The need for additional technicians on your service team will certainly play into the ability to provide aftermarket service on these systems. Competition for Talent The labor shortage and competition for talent, especially for your service technician workforce has been a hot topic for many years now and remains as such. As I mentioned in my previous paragraph, if you are looking to add the service opportunities that come with the boom in smart warehousing and automation, then you will either look to add additional service technicians or invest in training your existing technician force. As a growing number of service technicians are retiring or nearing retirement, dealers and independent service providers continue to face a shortage of technicians. The competition for talent is certainly not limited to your service technician staff. The competition for parts professionals, sales staff, office personnel, and management will continue to be fierce. You will want to be sure to keep your finger on the pulse of the retaining, recruiting, and development of your workforce. Be mindful of what businesses are doing in not only this industry or adjacent industries; keep up with what businesses are doing across various types of industries. Electrification Many businesses now have dedicated departments and positions for Environmental, Social, and Governance. Some may be instituting corporate policies around environmental issues such as air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and compliance with government environmental regulations. For example, according to a recent article on the Rental Equipment Register website, “Sunbelt Rentals will be expanding its electric on-road fleet with an order of 700 Ford F-150 Lightning trucks. The purchase of the trucks will contribute to the goal Sunbelt Rentals set to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity by 35 percent by 2030.” Just this past year, the California Air Resources Board, passed legislation that will require all new cars sold in the state by 2035 to be free of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide. If you visit the California Air Resources Board website, you will read there they are trying to “accelerate the transition to zero-emission to meet the state’s air quality and greenhouse gas reduction goals. They are currently developing a measure that would drive the greater deployment of zero-emission forklifts within fleets throughout the state; one of several near-term actions intended to facilitate further zero-emission equipment penetration in the off-road sector. This measure is scheduled for Board consideration in 2023.” If the trend in automotive does mirror itself into the off-road equipment sector such as the forklift industry, what will the impact be on your business and your market? Manufacturers and new equipment sales aside, the service of electric forklifts is different than the service of internal combustion or gas-powered forklifts. Everything from the diagnostics to the parts consumption are factors that will have an impact on your service departments. Electrification in the forklift industry electrified equipment and fleets, will be hot topics in 2023. Technology As I wrote in my November column, B2C customer experience and shift of buying behavior to the ease of online transactions is now an expectation of your customers and
Continued Q4 decline in new Industrial Manufacturing with 118 planned projects in November 2022
IMI SalesLeads announced the November 2022 results for the newly planned capital project spending report for the Industrial Manufacturing industry. The Firm tracks North American planned industrial capital project activity; including facility expansions, new plant construction, and significant equipment modernization projects. Research confirms Q4 Projects Totals to be October with 129 new projects and November with 118 new projects in the Industrial Manufacturing sector. The following are selected highlights on new Industrial Manufacturing industry construction news. Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Manufacturing/Production Facilities – 106 New Projects Distribution and Industrial Warehouse – 41 New Projects Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Scope/Activity New Construction – 45 New Projects Expansion – 39 New Projects Renovations/Equipment Upgrades – 33 New Projects Plant Closings – 13 New Projects Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Location (Top 10 States) Indiana – 7 Minnesota – 7 North Carolina – 7 Ohio – 6 Pennsylvania – 6 California – 5 Georgia – 5 Iowa – 5 New York – 5 Quebec – 5 Largest Planned Project During the month of November, our research team identified 16 new Industrial Manufacturing facility construction projects with an estimated value of $100 million or more. The largest project is owned by Freyr Battery, which is planning to invest $2.5 billion in the construction of a manufacturing facility in NEWNAN, GA. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Construction is expected to start in 2025. Top 10 Tracked Industrial Manufacturing Projects QUEBEC: Automotive mfr. is planning to invest $700 million in the construction of a battery manufacturing facility in BECANCOUR, QC. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Construction is expected to start in 2023. ARIZONA: Consumer goods mfr. is planning to invest $500 million in the construction of a manufacturing facility at Inland Port Arizona in COOLIDGE, AZ. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Construction is expected to start in 2023, with completion slated for 2025. MAINE: Paper product mfr. is planning to invest $418 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on its manufacturing facility in SKOWHEGAN, ME. They are currently seeking approval for the project. NEW YORK: Industrial tool and equipment mfr. is planning to invest $319 Million for the construction of a manufacturing facility on Stamp Drive in ALABAMA, NY. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Construction will occur in multiple phases, with the completion of Phase 1 slated for late 2024. INDIANA: Semiconductor mfr. is planning to invest $236 million for the construction of a 100,000 SF manufacturing facility in ODON, IN. They have recently received approval for the project. Completion is slated for 2024. GEORGIA: The apparel company is planning to invest $87 million in the construction of a manufacturing and distribution center in ELLABELL, GA. They are currently seeking approval for the project. MISSISSIPPI: Packaging product mfr. is planning to invest $79 million for the expansion and equipment upgrades at their manufacturing facility in PELAHATCHIE, MS. They have recently received approval for the project. UTAH: Telecommunication equipment mfr. is expanding and planning to invest $73 million for the construction of two manufacturing facilities in SALT LAKE CITY, UT. Completion is slated for Summer 2023. WISCONSIN: A pharmaceutical company is planning to invest $60 million for the expansion of a recently acquired processing facility in EAU CLAIRE, WI. They are currently seeking approval for the project. GEORGIA: Ammunition mfr. is planning to invest $60 million for the construction of a 300,000 SF manufacturing and warehouse facility in ELLABELL, GA. They have recently received approval for the project. They will relocate their operations upon completion. About the Author: Since 1959, SalesLeads, based out of Jacksonville, FL has been providing Industrial Project Reports on companies that are planning significant capital investments in their industrial facilities throughout North America. Our professional research team identifies new construction, expansion, relocation, major renovation, equipment upgrades, and plant closing project opportunities so that our clients can focus sales and marketing resources on the target accounts that have an impending need for their products, services, and indirect materials.
Decide to make everyday the First of the Year
Well, it’s a new year again. More resolutions, more goals, more plans. If the new year only ran until February, we would be fine. Most people can only keep their resolutions and goals going for about a month. Don’t take my word for it ask any fitness center. Crammed in January, empty in February. Hey, wait a minute. Didn’t someone say it only takes 30 days to make a habit? So how come if I can keep it up through January that I can’t keep it going for the rest of the year? Easy answer whoever said the thirty-day crap lied. It takes about 1,000 days to make and keep a habit (unless it’s to break an addictive habit like drinking or smoking then you must be inactive for as long as you were active repay a day for a day). OK, so what’s the secret of achievement? Ray Pelletier, known as “America’s Business Attitude Coach” has been speaking internationally on the subject of winning for more than 20 years. He has just authored a book entitled “Permission to Win.” Presented here are some of his principles and philosophies. To Pelletier, winning is as easy as 1,2.3: Implement a winning way of thinking, Follow a winning positive principle, and Execute a winning success action. The winning way of thinking is: You become what you think about. Think win. The winning positive principle is: Self-talk equals self-performance. Talk win. The winning success action is: Give yourself permission to win. Take winning action. Hey, wait a minute, you say. That sounds too easy. No, it’s simple there’s a big difference between simple to understand and easy to do. Positive thinking ain’t easy. Success ain’t easy. Winning ain’t easy but it can be learned. Pelletier says, “The key (and least executed principle) is giving yourself permission to win. I’m talking about a college degree in positive thinking with an attitude… and a postgraduate degree in permission to win attached to it. You don’t THINK you’re going to win. You don’t HOPE you’re going to win. You DECIDE you’re going to win.” “The most incredible aspect of this process is that people block their own success by telling themselves they can’t succeed. Sounds incredible, but it’s true,” says Pelletier. “They tell themselves It’s OK to settle for less than what I want. They give themselves excuses like, It’s not my job or worse They don’t pay me enough to… or worst They tell themselves that it’s OK to quit. Winning must be an active permission before it becomes a living reality.” “Napoleon Hill, studied 157 of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, and that every one of them had one trait in common: they KNEW they would succeed,” says Pelletier with passion. “It was a flat-out decision. Most of them had little money or support, and several of them had almost no formal education. But one thing they all understood: winning is a decision.“ “Not to decide is to decide,” He adds. “It’s a permit to win, and you have to give it to yourself. Others can support it but you give it to yourself. You want the secret. That’s the secret.” Permission to win is an active process made up of winning thought components. Here are the winning components and actions that will encompass your decision to win: Develop the desire to win. Most people want to win but lack the desire to accomplish it. Permission opens desire. Visualize winning every time you play. See the win before it occurs. Permission lets the mind’s eye focus. Remember past wins. Think about previous wins makes present wins seem more achievable. Permission relives memorable wins. Talk win to yourself. You tell yourself you’re a winner. Permission is granted to yourself from yourself. Read about winners. Learn how others won. Permission is stronger when understanding is present. Listen to winning stuff. The more you hear sounds of winning, the easier it is to understand winning ways. Permission is easier when you repeat the message. Hang around winners. The best place to learn winning ways is from a winner. Permission comes from winning thoughts and ideas. Take winning actions. There’s no such thing as a passive winner. You don’t wait to win you take action. Permission is a winning action. Act like a winner. “Permission to win is the most powerful decision a person can make,” says Pelletier. “As it evolves in your psyche, your thinking will begin to automatically adjust to disappointments and setbacks and find a way to get around them or overcome them. Winning will gradually become instinctive. Your mindset will be different than anything you’ve ever experienced before. Your approaches will be exclusively winner-oriented.” “If you start out every day like it was the first of January, you begin to develop the attitude and intensity needed to become a winner. A daily winner,” says Pelletier. “Real winners make every day New Year’s Day.” Ray Pelletier understands winning like few people in the world. Not only has he taught it in the corporate board room one of his most notable successes is in the college locker room. Ray delivered the pregame “Permission to Win” talk to Notre Dame before the Orange Bowl when they beat Colorado in 1989. Ray was given the game ball. “Permission to win is a lifestyle.” Says Pelletier. “It’s more than a choice, it’s a decision. A decision is something you make after you choose. And the cool part is that you decide between an excuse about losing or permission to win.” What’s your decision? About the Author: Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of twelve best-selling books including The Sales Bible, The Little Red Book of Selling, and The Little Gold Book of Yes! Attitude. His real-world ideas and content are also available as online courses at www.GitomerLearningAcademy.com. For information about training and seminars visit www.Gitomer.com or email Jeffrey at [email protected] or call him at 704 333-1112.
U.S. Rail Traffic for the week ending December 17, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending December 17, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 476,232 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.5 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending December 17 were 226,977 carloads, down 3.2 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 249,255 containers and trailers, down 7.5 percent compared to 2021. Three of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2021. They were motor vehicles and parts, up 2,783 carloads, to 15,251; farm products excl. grain, and food, up 603 carloads, to 16,719; and petroleum and petroleum products, up 181 carloads, to 10,582. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2021 included coal, down 3,317 carloads, to 61,577; chemicals, down 2,766 carloads, to 31,342; and miscellaneous carloads, down 1,948 carloads, to 8,512. For the first 50 weeks of 2022, U.S. railroads reported a cumulative volume of 11,603,096 carloads, up 0 percent from the same point last year; and 13,059,825 intermodal units, down 4.9 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 50 weeks of 2022 was 24,662,921 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 2.7 percent compared to last year. North American rail volume for the week ending December 17, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 330,786 carloads, up 0.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 329,112 intermodal units, down 5.7 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 659,898 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.9 percent. North American rail volume for the first 50 weeks of 2022 was 33,849,073 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.8 percent compared with 2021. Canadian railroads reported 81,774 carloads for the week, up 7.2 percent, and 64,345 intermodal units, down 2.2 percent compared with the same week in 2021. For the first 50 weeks of 2022, Canadian railroads reported a cumulative rail traffic volume of 7,299,453 carloads, containers, and trailers, down 0.4 percent. Mexican railroads reported 22,035 carloads for the week, up 13.6 percent compared with the same week last year, and 15,512 intermodal units, up 10.5 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 50 weeks of 2022 was 1,886,699 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 3.9 percent from the same point last year. To view the weekly rail traffic charts, click here.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield to headline NAW’s Executive Summit Dinner Gala
Former International Space Station Commander to speak to top wholesale distribution executives at National Air & Space Museum The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) has announced that Chris Hadfield will headline its 2023 Executive Summit dinner gala– the premiere event for the wholesale distribution industry. “We are thrilled to have renowned astronaut, Chris Hadfield, at the NAW Executive Summit this year,” said NAW CEO Eric Hoplin. “Chris will headline our dinner gala at the National Air & Space Museum- a fitting venue as we look towards the Next Frontier of wholesale distribution,” concluded Hoplin. “The wholesale-distribution industry is such a dynamic and enduring industry on the front line of America’s supply chain every day. I’m honored to address this incredible group of executives and share my experience, lessons learned, and what the future of innovation holds for us all, “ said Colonel and Retired Astronaut Chris Hadfield. A heavily decorated astronaut, engineer, and fighter pilot, Colonel Hadfield’s many awards include the Order of Canada, the Meritorious Service Cross, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. Drawing upon his insights from an extensive career in the astronaut corps, the Colonel will discuss the necessity for both preparation and reaction to complex change, with our members at the premier dinner event for the North American distribution industry. Held annually, NAW’s Executive Summit gathers the top executives across the wholesale distribution industry for world-class education and programming, and to discuss the future of the industry. This year’s theme is the Next Frontier of Wholesale Distribution. The wholesale distribution industry has seen America through every advancement and inflection point in history. Whatever the next frontier looks like, the wholesale-distribution industry will be there to meet the moment and lead the way. NAW is one of America’s leading trade associations, representing the $7.4 trillion wholesale distribution industry. Founded in 1946, NAW is comprised of national, regional, and state employers of all sizes, industry trade associations, partners, and stakeholders spanning all sectors of distribution. Our industry employs more than 5 million workers throughout the United States and accounts for 1/3 of the U.S. GDP. There are 35,000 Wholesale-Distribution companies that operate nearly 150,000 places of business across North America, including all 50 states. NAW’s mission is to deliver world-class programs and services designed to help the most dynamic companies in Wholesale Distribution succeed. Our programming is tailored for the CEOs, senior executives, and rising leaders at our member companies and associations. Members engage with NAW through our offerings in Thought Leadership, Networking, Executive Education, Benchmarking/Research, Shared Resourcing, Partnerships, Government Relations, and Public Affairs.
Selected Joulin grippers now sold under the Kenos® brand
End of May, Piab acquired Joulin, a global provider of vacuum gripping solutions. Now, Piab has integrated three of Joulin’s gripper ranges into its Kenos® portfolio, while the solutions for the heavy-duty industries continue to be marketed under the Joulin brand, whose experts further support these industries in defining the best system for each individual customer. As the market for material handling solutions is growing rapidly, Joulin has a perfect strategic fit to the Piab business. Through the acquisition, Piab is evolving automation further by strengthening our position as a world-leading automation company in our core industries and applications as well as taking a significant step into the raw wood industry, building on Joulin’s 60 years of experience. To further reinforce and expand the solutions business in heavy-duty applications and the wood industry, these solutions consisting of large grippers and gantry cranes will continue to be marketed under the Joulin brand. The industry-known experts will remain to design and build solutions matching individual customer needs and provide their top service. At the same time, the selected gripper ranges developed by Joulin, including the MiniGrip, the FlexiGrip, and the Safe&Light are integrated into the Kenos® brand, which perfectly complements the existing Piab portfolio and further strengthens the support of different needs of the customers. The Kenos® MiniGrip (KMG) is suitable for the FMCG, food & beverage, and automotive industries. It is a foam gripper that can be adapted to tight clearance applications in an End-of-Arm Tool (EOAT). Its foam surface offers the versatility to pick a variety of different objects without adjustment. In case of uneven layer heights, KMG can be equipped with level compensators without needing to change the mounting device. Find out more about it by clicking here! The Kenos® FlexiGrip (KFG) is suitable for the food & beverage, automotive, and construction industries. It is a vacuum foam gripper that can be used as a single gripper on robots as well as on cobots, or combined into an EOAT for use with industrial robots. With its foam surface, it offers the flexibility to pick a variety of different products without adjustment. Its modular design provides the flexibility for fast and easy set-up in case of product changes as well as simple integration into existing equipment. Learn more by clicking here! The Kenos® Safe&Light (KSL) is suitable for use in applications such as packaging, warehousing, and end-of-line production. Thanks to its special design of a carbon fiber structure holding a foam-made body, it is extremely lightweight allowing you to make maximum use of the robot or cobot payload. It is a robust and simple solution for a broad range of purposes, particularly for palletizing applications in rugged and dusty environments. Read on by clicking here! As a vacuum technology leader Piab offers a wide range of solutions for various industries and applications, from suction cups and pumps to full EOAT and custom solutions. Whatever the needs and requirements of the application. Piab’s experts support all customers in the right selection of gripping tools and act as reliable partners from the beginning and beyond.
Salt, Petroleum sail cargo shipments into final weeks of 2022
As shipping on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway enters the final weeks of the 2022 season, cargo shipments ebbed and flowed with the changing needs of the winter months. With nearly 4 million tons of cargo moving through the system in November, the year-to-date total has reached more than 31.5 million tons, down only 6.8% from this time last year. “It’s important to take a step back and look at the big picture when comparing 2022 and 2021,” said Bruce Burrows, President & CEO of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “For example, general cargo was down 22.35% in November 2022, but it was up 71% in November 2021, so that paints things a little differently when you compare; not just general cargo, but all categories.” Burrows adds, “We’re optimistic the season will finish in good shape, and shipments of winter-related products illustrate that.” Salt shipments (up 17.23%) for replenishing inventories for roadways aided the dry bulk category (up 1.42%). Petcoke shipments (up nearly 16%) and potash (up 184%) also contributed to the increase in dry bulk. Liquid bulk was up 8.54% in November, including petroleum products (up 27.45%). In November, shipments at the Port of Toledo surpassed 10.5 million tons thanks in large part to gains in coal, grain, and iron ore. Shipments are expected to remain steady going into the final month of the shipping season. “We are handling about 20% more cargo since the Cleveland Cliffs HBI plant went into production at the Port two years ago,” said Joseph Cappel, VP of Business Development for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “We will build on our new baseline by continuing to make improvements to our dock and material handling capabilities making the necessary investments that will modernize our facilities. This includes the acquisition of a Liebherr 550 mobile harbor crane, the reconstruction of the dock wall at Midwest Terminals, a new conveyor system, and the addition of a multi-modal liquid bulk transload facility representing more than $32 million in recent project investment at the Port.” Through November, the Port of Monroe has handled over 100,000 short tons of bulk product, 130,000 tons of liquid asphalt, and 210,000 tons of steel coils. This fall, the Port loaded over 3,000 tons of steel bars manufactured at Gerdau Special Steel Monroe on the Mark W. Barker, the newest ship on the Great Lakes. The ship, bound for the Gerdau grinding ball mill in Duluth where the material is melted down into grinding balls used by the mining industry, was loaded by the Port’s new Manitowoc crawler crane. The Port of Monroe also recently celebrated the award of an $11 million grant from the U.S. Maritime Administration. The Lake Erie Renewable Energy Resilience Project will fund a handful of components including shoreline reinforcement, rehabbing the existing wharf, and the addition of a second wharf for future wind energy cargoes. The Port’s Turning Basin dock, built in the 1930s, will be heavily rehabilitated and shore power infrastructure will be installed along the riverfront to provide power to the riverfront wharves. More than 1.9 million short tons of iron ore sailed from the Port of Duluth-Superior in November, the season’s fourth-highest monthly iron ore throughput, helping lift the Port’s season-to-date maritime tonnage total above 26.5 million through November. November’s overall maritime tonnage total for the Port eclipsed 3 million short tons for the seventh consecutive month, drawing the season-to-date total within 8.2% of the five-season average. “General cargo shipments, including project cargoes, over-dimensional cargoes, and a variety of other types, have definitely been among the highlights this season in the Port of Duluth-Superior,” said Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “It’s been a very good year for those arrivals, with shippers benefiting not only from Duluth Cargo Connect heavy-lift capabilities but also from our port’s excellent road and rail clearances to and from the middle of North America. It’s part of the advantage cargo-movers gain by using the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System to reach the Upper Midwest and interior Canada.” At the Port of Cleveland, general cargo tonnage continues to outpace 2021 levels. “We are projected to finish 2022 more than 25% above our tonnage in 2021 for steel, container, and project cargo movements,” said David Gutheil, Chief Commercial Officer at the Port of Cleveland, “The modernization project involving Docks 24 and 26 is scheduled for completion in late May 2023. This has been an 18-month process, and when complete, will serve as the foundation for our general cargo dock for the next 30-40 years.” In addition, the Port recently completed the assembly of a pumping facility that will enable the transfer of liquid bulk cargo from the vessel to the rail car. This system will go into operation early in the 2023 cargo season. The Port anticipates moving approximately 100,000 MT of liquid cargo through this system next year. “The long-term infrastructure improvements we continue to make have shown the cargo market that the Port of Cleveland is a port of choice not only within the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway System, but within the U.S. supply chain system.”, added Gutheil.
Ports’ Container Dwell Fee program to end Jan. 24
San Pedro Bay measure reduced backlog without triggering a fee The San Pedro Bay ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will phase out the option to collect a “Container Dwell Fee” on Jan. 24, 2023. Since the program was announced on Oct. 25, 2021, the two ports have seen a combined decline of 92% in aging cargo on the docks. While the executive directors of both ports have had the authority from their respective harbor commissions to implement the fee, it was never activated because cargo owners were able to clear their long-dwelling cargo off terminals. “This fee was conceived as an incentive to ease congestion, keeping imported goods flowing to stores across America,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “Measured by this standard, we can all appreciate the policy’s success, and best of all, the fee was never implemented. We thank cargo owners and terminal operators for working with us to make operations more efficient, and of course dockworkers for their dedicated labor.” “I said when we launched this program that I hoped we would never collect a dime because that would mean that containers were moving off our docks. And that’s exactly what occurred,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “I’m grateful to the cargo owners and all our waterfront workers for all their successful efforts to improve the efficiency of our operations.” Under the temporary policy, ocean carriers could be charged for each import container dwelling nine days or more at the terminal. Fee implementation has been postponed by both ports since the start of the program. The Long Beach and Los Angeles Boards of Harbor Commissioners both extended the fee program through Jan. 24, 2023. Neither port plans to extend the program beyond that date. The policy was developed in coordination with the Biden-Harris Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and multiple supply chain stakeholders.
National Propane Gas Foundation kicks off scholarship program
The National Propane Gas Foundation Scholarship Fund (NPGF/SF) program kicked off on Dec. 15. Children of employees of NPGA member companies, state propane associations, or PERC are eligible to apply. Applicants may be pursuing any course of study at two- and four-year colleges or technical, trade, or vocational schools. Students pursuing propane-related careers are especially encouraged to apply. Every year, the NPGF/SF awards $1,000 and $2,000 scholarships, including the PERC/Roy W. Willis Scholarship, to more than 100 students. Since 1994, the NPGF Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $2.25 million to more than 1,500 children of NPGA member company employees. The application window is open from Dec. 15, 2022 to Feb. 15, 2023. Questions? Contact [email protected].
WIKA Mobile Control launches new CTL-S700 series of safety controllers
WIKA Mobile Control has introduced the new CTL-S700 series of safety controllers. These controllers offer many interfaces and I/Os for safety-relevant machine control tasks and can be used in safety-critical applications according to: IEC/EN 61508 Parts 1-7:2015 SIL 2 EN ISO 13849:2015 PL d EN 62061:2005 + AC:2010 + A1:2013 + A2:2015 SILCL 2 Available in four different configurations, the CTL-S700 series offers up to 64 inputs and 56 outputs providing versatility for a variety of applications. These cost-effective controllers feature CODESYS 3.5 SIL 2 programming and a data logger that collects all relevant operating data. Multiple CANopen safety and Ethernet interfaces are also available. Controllers from the CTL-S700 series are equipped with a 300 MHz Aurix TC299TX processor, up to 64 MB flash, 2.7 MB SRAM, and 32 kB FRAM. With an IP66/67 protection rating, a robust cast aluminum housing, and high shock and vibration resistance, these controllers are designed for use in harsh environments making them a perfect fit for mobile cranes, telehandlers, MEWPs, forestry equipment, and other mobile machine applications.
The time to start is now
Our topic this month deals with tax planning and an organized approach to minimizing your tax bite as part of your CASH IS KING business practice. The is no doubt about it, the uncertain nature of our economy, inflation, and a lack of qualified personnel justify a tax avoidance policy to pay as little as possible. Being that your 2022 book results and therefore your tax results are somewhat in the “can” already, I plan to suggest methods to minimize the 2023 tax bill due 16 months from now. The tax code is EXTREMELY complex, and for equipment dealers, it is even more complex because rental transactions add to the complexity to the point where your normal an IRS agent without a lot of rental experience can drive you up the wall with the potential adjustments they come up with. Consequently, it pays for dealers to work with industry-specific professionals to suggest, explain, execute and deliver a tax avoidance plan as soon as possible for 2023 and beyond based on the current tax code. As far as 2022 is concerned you should have met with your industry tax expect at least four times before December 31, 2022. At the beginning of 2022 discuss how the 2021 return is going to look. How much you have paid in and what you will have to pay for ’21 results as well as estimated payments for ’22? The dealer, of course, has input into the estimated payments if certain events or transactions will change business operations in any way. When the ’21 return is delivered ready to be sent to the IRS. There should be a discussion that compares the ’21 returns against the ’20 returns and the previous discussion estimating the tax payments discussed in #1 above. What changed? Why? If changes are negative, how do you avoid them in ’22? And I expect the return to be delivered and processed before the first due date meaning no extensions are required. It does nobody any good to file the ’21 returns in Oct of ’22 because if there were tax reductions to be had you now do not have the time to take full advantage of them. At this same meeting potential changes to the tax code for the current year should be discussed to determine both positive and negative impacts and any steps that can be taken in ’22 to minimize any negative impact they may have. This second meeting also provides input to pass on to customers if your products and services are part of their tax equation. A July or August meeting to see how the company is progressing and whether the remaining estimated tax payments are necessary at the level they are set at. If the company’s taxable income is expected to be less than projected perhaps the final two payments can be reduced. This is also a good time to explore any other code changes anticipated for ’23, and how to take advantage of them if time is available. In December see how the year is working out and identify any issues or questions about specific transactions that may impact revenue or expenses. This is also a good time to provide a data request to provide the information necessary to prepare the annual return. I do not believe this is overkill. It is a program to make your tax person’s job easier to produce a plan of attack for your finance department to avoid both unnecessary cash outflows and delays in receiving refunds. This approach should also apply to the business owners of the C-Corp, S-Corp, or LLC. And to add to the complexity I have to include a State & Local (SALT) review in the process. As I have mentioned in the past State and Local tax issues are in many cases more complex than the Federal requirements. If you buy, sell, and rent over state lines you have tax requirements. And if you have work-from-home employees you may have a state issue to deal with. And since some states do not allow bonus depreciation, the tax liabilities we are talking about can become substantial. The SALT initial review will cover your nexus status in the states you do business in, along with the sales and use tax requirements required for goods sold in each state involved. There are ways to mitigate these SALT taxes if you change how you process transactions. A good SALT advisor can help with this process (I know a couple of you need assistance). Once the initial SALT review is performed you may only require a “touch base” interaction once a year to stay on track. One other issue that is sure to surface is how you cost out your goods and services for tax purposes during an inflationary period. For equipment, the price paid is the tax basis of the equipment. The same goes for service work. But how about parts sales? How are you costing your current sales? This may be a good discussion point to ask your tax person about. And what if you decide at some point that the costs you incurred for new and used equipment and parts are no longer recoverable in the then-current market? Can you adjust your cost and take a tax deduction? What process do you have to follow to warrant a deduction? Speaking of deductions, your CAP-X purchases allow for Bonus and Sec 179 deductions. If you are having a good year and have the ability to purchase equipment or other fixed assets it may pay to complete those transactions in ’23 as opposed to waiting to buy in ’24. That is assuming, of course, that what you need is available. The acquisitions bring additional value because they reduce the 23-tax burden as well as any estimated tax payments due in ’24 based on the ’23 tax due. As a reminder, the units purchased have to be “placed in service” in ’23 to make this work. Knowing that skilled labor