Month: March 2020

As TIA continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and it’s impact on the 3PL and transportation industries, here is your Daily Update for March 31. As a reminder, you can find all the latest information, resources, guidance, and news from TIA’s COVID-19 Response Center.

TIA UPDATE:
Thank you to those who joined us today for TIA’s first Virtual Lunch & Learn webinar: Families First Coronavirus Response Act & Related Employment Issues. A special thank you to Margo Wolf O’Donnell with the Benesch law firm for her great presentation on new Family Medical Leave Act and Sick Leave provisions, and how they affect TIA Members.

For those who could not join us, a recording of the webinar is also available. As mentioned during the webinar, if your business has less than 500 employees you are required to adhere to these rules, unless you apply for an exemption. It is highly recommended that you send the Department of Labor’s template information sheet to your employees as soon as possible. This is a legal requirement.

Mark your calendar for our next Virtual Lunch & Learn webinar on Thursday afternoon: Is Your Incentive Compensation Plan Helping You or Hurting You Right Now? (Part I). Beth Carroll will review common freight broker compensation structures to examine how they are affected by external market economics, in ways that are not always intended.

If you have ideas or suggestions for webinar session topics, let us know.

MISCELLANEOUS:
Drury Hotels would like to show their support for the service the transportation industry is providing during the COVID-19 crisis by offering your drivers a special “Travel Healthy” rate available at their more than 150 locations nationwide. Rates start at just $59.00 per room, per night and include complimentary breakfast and wifi.

For details on Drury Hotels’ “Travel Healthy” offering – or to access the promo code to receive the special rate – click here.
—————————–

We’ll be back tomorrow with the day’s latest COVID-19 updates and information.

For all the parents out there who are now doubling as school teachers, here’s Bing Crosby’s “Swinging on a Star.”

As TIA continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and it’s impact on the 3PL and transportation industries, here is your Daily Update for March 30. As a reminder, you can find all the latest information, resources, guidance, and news from TIA’s COVID-19 Response Center.

TIA UPDATE:
We seem to have settled into a new normal, with updates and changes coming much less frequently. So, we’ll trim these updates back to once a day unless things heat up again – hopefully not!

We are very excited to be able to offer our new Virtual Lunch & Learn webinar series, every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:00 PM EDT throughout the crisis. The purpose is to provide you with information and strategies that you can execute immediately to benefit your business. The webinars will be recorded and available on the TIA website.

If you have ideas or suggestions for webinar session topics, let us know.

NÖEL PERRY’S DAILY COVID-19 UPDATE:
Please treat these numbers cautiously because they could be influenced by low Sunday accounting. That said, this was a very promising day with decreases in new cases for almost everybody, even the U.S. As a result, the Western Europe and World totals were down as well (shown in the table for the first time).

Among the countries I track, only Denmark and Australia went the wrong way, but Australia has a suspicious Sunday count (or is it Monday there already?). Should these overall numbers repeat for a few days, the contagion has probably turned a corner, at least among the countries that have been suffering for a while.

Not importantly that reaching inflection only means that the problem is roughly half through. It is a necessary precondition to the departure of the bug, but there would be two to three weeks of significant contagion thereafter before the problem is weakened enough to prod governments into removing embargoes.

We can, however, be encouraged by the Swedish example, a government that has chosen to make the majority of its restrictions voluntary. So far, they have not had a worse problem than their Western European counterparts, all of whom have made serious mandatory restrictions. That experiment bears watching. Should it continue to produce similar results, the experience may encourage other governments to relax some restrictions bringing welcome reliefs to their economies.

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS:
Avalon Risk Management has issued Risk Management & Coverage Considerations to guide businesses through the COVID-19 crisis.

We provided an update on Friday afternoon from CargoNet about security during the crisis, which you can read in full.

Eric Starks, Chairman & CEO of FTR Transportation Intelligence, is also providing updates, information, and guidance related to the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting crisis, which can be found here.

—————————–

We’ll be back tomorrow with the day’s latest COVID-19 updates and information.

Please enjoy the theme song from one of my favorite movies, “As Time Goes By” from 1942’s Casablanca.

As TIA continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and it’s impact on the 3PL and transportation industries, here is your Afternoon Update for March 27. As a reminder, you can find all the latest information, resources, guidance, and news from TIA’s COVID-19 Response Center.

CONGRESSIONAL UPDATES:
With the successful Senate vote of 96-0 and the House of Representatives final passage by voice vote today of the “CARES Act”, TIA President & CEO Robert A. Voltmann, CAE issued the following statement:

On behalf of TIA and our 1,800 member companies in all 50 states, I want to praise both the House of Representatives and the Senate for passing this major legislation. This is the relief both individuals and businesses have been eagerly waiting for.

To our valued member companies, I can finally tell you that the wait is over, and relief is finally on the way for you, your staff and your business.

This legislation cuts through the political talking points and rhetoric, providing real Americans with real relief, in real-time. For the last month, our country, and our members, have been reeling from the ongoing COVID-19 fallout. While this disaster is far from over and the economy remains down, this emergency relief package mitigates some of the damage perpetrated by COVID-19.

Our members, the third-party logistics companies that facilitate freight from the manufacturer (shipper) to the motor carriers and other modes, are essential during the COVID-19 crisis. Many of our members are struggling financially through this time and have been directly impacted by this economic and health downturn.

I want to thank the leaders of both chambers – in both parties – that worked tirelessly to get to yes; our members and millions of Americans thank you for this action.

TIA VIRTUAL LUNCH & LEARN:

As TIA continues its efforts to provide a suite of resources to our members and the industry in response to the COVID-19 crisis, we’re excited to announce the launch of TIA’s new Virtual Lunch & Learn webinar series.

TIA’s Virtual Lunch & Learn webinar series will be held semiweekly on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET through at least June 2020.

This interactive webinar series is FREE to TIA Members and Capital Ideas Conference Registered Attendees and will provide participants with an opportunity to learn and engage with industry peers during these times of social distancing and teleworking.

Information on the first three Lunch & Learn webinars in the series is below but we want to hear from you on the topics you would like to see presented moving forward. Please complete this brief 30-second survey and let us know what you want from TIA’s Virtual Lunch & Learn webinar series.

Tuesday, March 31: Register Now
Families First Coronavirus Response Act & Related Employment Issues
Presented by Margo Wolf O’Donnell | Co-Chair – Labor & Employment Practice Group | Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Thursday, April 2: Register Now
Is Your Incentive Compensation Plan Helping
You or Hurting You Right Now? Part I
Presented by Beth Carroll | Managing Principal | Prosperio Group

Tuesday, April 7: Register Now
Is Your Incentive Compensation Plan Helping You or Hurting You Right Now? Part II
Presented by Beth Carroll | Managing Principal | Prosperio Group

MISCELLANEOUS:
CargoNet: Message to the Industry (COVID-19)
During this unprecedented global health emergency, we are all looking for ways that we can help. It is our belief that in tough times it is more important than ever to band together and support our supply chain community in any way possible. Many criminals will see this as an opportunity to take advantage of the fact that securing cargo may not be an immediate priority. To this end, CargoNet will be providing complimentary cargo theft response services… Read the full message.

—————————–

We’ll be back on Monday with the Morning Edition featuring COVID-19 updates and information that came through over the weekend.

On what is a MUCH-NEEDED sunny afternoon in the Nation’s Captial, here’s Count Bessie and “Makin’ Whoopie.“

As TIA continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and it’s impact on the 3PL and transportation industries, here is your Morning Update for March 27. As a reminder, you can find all the latest information, resources, guidance, and news from TIA’s COVID-19 Response Center.

FMCSA UPDATE:
TIA is honored to work with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) to ensure that freight continues to move freely along the supply-chain during the COVID-19 pandemic and that both of our industries continue to be considered essential during this crisis. Please see the letter to FMCSA Acting Administrator Jim Mullen.

TIA VIRTUAL LUNCH & LEARN WEBINARS:
As TIA continues its efforts to provide a suite of resources to our members and the industry in response to the COVID-19 crisis, we’re excited to announce the launch of TIA’s new Virtual Lunch & Learn webinar series.

TIA’s Virtual Lunch & Learn webinar series will be held semiweekly on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET through at least June 2020.

This interactive webinar series is FREE to TIA Members and Capital Ideas Conference Registered Attendees and will provide participants with an opportunity to learn and engage with industry peers during these times of social distancing and teleworking. This webinar series is valued at $699.

Information on the first three Lunch & Learn webinars in the series is below but we want to hear from you on the topics you would like to see presented moving forward. Please complete this brief 30-second survey and let us know what you want from TIA’s Virtual Lunch & Learn webinar series.

Tuesday, March 31: Register Now

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act & Related Employment Issues
• Presented by Margo Wolf O’Donnell | Co-Chair – Labor & Employment Practice Group | Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Thursday, April 2: Register Now

• Is Your Incentive Compensation Plan Helping You or Hurting You Right Now? (Part I)
• Presented by Beth Carroll | Managing Principal | Prosperio Group

Tuesday, April 7: Register Now

• Is Your Incentive Compensation Plan Helping You or Hurting You Right Now? (Part II)
• Presented by Beth Carroll | Managing Principal | Prosperio Group

NÖEL PERRY’S DAILY COVID-19 UPDATE:
The current numbers show lower infection rates than feared. Even in Italy, only one in 900 people have been infected, and one in 9,000 have died. In the U.S., the numbers are one in 7,000 and one in 500,000. The relatively low infection rates mean the virus itself is unlikely to deny you many workers. The risk is from quarantining. Fatality rates elsewhere in the world have been higher than average for viruses (10% in Italy), although that is elevated by inadequate testing. South Korea is the lone country to have tested adequately. Its rate is 1.4%. The U.S. and several other countries with advanced health systems are in the same ballpark as South Korea.

It appears that this strain of bug reaches an inflection point where the number of new cases starts dropping at between 20 and 35 days from onset. Such timing would allow be short enough to allow relatively orderly recovery from the economic hits from quarantining. Longer timing or steeper peaks in cases would put such economic order in jeopardy. Keep your eye on those statistics.

Whatever the scenario, there is a real chance that this shock could set off a deep recession lasting into 2021. Caution is advised. If a more negative health effects scenario materializes, such a recession becomes very likely. Download Noel’s full report on “What Are the Numbers Telling Us?” today.
————————————

Wishing everyone a Happy Friday and hope you all enjoy a much deserved weekend. Here’s Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” to close out your week.

As TIA continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and it’s impact on the 3PL and transportation industries, here is your Afternoon Update for March 26. As a reminder, you can find all the latest information, resources, guidance, and news from TIA’s COVID-19 Response Center.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL) UPDATE:
The DOL has published the model notice to employees in response to the passage and enactment of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). This model notice is a version of what employers will be required to post in their businesses to advise employees of their rights under FFCRA.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE:
Transport Canada has released guidance similar to the U.S. DOT from last week. There are few differences to be aware of, including a requirement to make sure the BOL states the load is for emergency relief and a requirement that carriers notify their specific provisions HOS director of their plan to operate under this emergency declaration.

NÖEL PERRY’S DAILY COVID-19 UPDATE:
Here’s Noel’s latest modeling. Yesterday was, as we should still expect, a mixed day in Western Europe and the focus of attention now. The oldest outbreak in Italy remains on a modest downslope. The bad news is that Germany, Spain, France, and the UK all saw an increase in their new cases. The good news is that most of the other countries show signs of stabilization. That is in welcome contrast to a week ago when all were in the upswing.

The U.S. continues on an upward slope with no signs of an early inflection. The best news is that our death rate is holding at 1.5%, much lower than elsewhere. Keep in mind that all the death rates are almost certainly overstated because of undercounting of cases.

Finally, Iran remains a troubling spot, having shown an upward path the last few days after gaining stability for the previous two weeks. It is now 31 days in without signs of inflection.

 

MISCELLANEOUS:
Eric Starks, Chairman & CEO of FTR Transportation Intelligence, is also providing updates, information, and guidance related to the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting crisis, which can be found here.

—————————–

We’ll be back tomorrow with the Morning Edition featuring COVID-19 updates and information that came through overnight.

For this afternoon, let’s think about the lights on Broadway and hoping they’ll be back on soon, with the Andrews Sisters’ “Lullaby of Broadway.”

Transport Canada released guidance similar to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from last week. There are few differences to be aware of including a requirement to make sure the BOL states the load is for emergency relief and a requirement that carriers notify their specific provisions HOS director of their plan to operate under this emergency declaration.

The Department of Labor (DOL) released a draft poster that employers will be required to distribute to their employees, which outlines the requirements of the new family medical leave act and sick leave provisions.

As TIA continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and it’s impact on the 3PL and transportation industries, here is your Morning Update for March 26. As a reminder, you can find all the latest information, resources, guidance, and news from TIA’s COVID-19 Response Center.

GENERAL UPDATE:
During these unprecedented times, TIA continues to serve you and build toward the future. Just today, we released a contract consideration resource to guide your contracts with shippers. We reminded you of all the model contract resources available to TIA Members.

We have also created guidance on applying for an SBA loan, even before the Senate and House take action on the new loans and grants.

Our Government Affairs team is also calling members to identify Chief Financial Officers, Chief Marketing Officers, and Chief Technology/Information Officers so that we can build communities of these folks. We all know the power of interacting as TIA Members. As we come through the COVID-19 crisis, we want to be able to expand upon our interconnections.

CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE:
On March 25, the U.S. Senate passed S. 3548, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act (CARES Act) in a 96-0 vote. The bill has now been transmitted to the U.S. House of Representatives, where they are expected to vote to approve the package on a voice vote on Friday, March 27.

TIA has produced a detailed overview of Phase III of the CARES Act. TIA will provide additional information and updates on the CARES Act as they become available.

INSURANCE UPDATE:
We’re hearing the following from the insurance industry: Those 3PLs who specialize in freight servicing flatbed and specialized are feeling the early pinch, which could impact broker bond claims in the near future. Those who premium finance their insurance policies will start experiencing the finance company wanting to change payment terms as they are experiencing increased defaults already and the flexible terms from the past will likely change with the renewal.

Members should expect premiums to increase as underwriters have been consolidating over the past year or two for Contingent AL and since they have struggled to see any underwriting profit, the impact on the economy and stock market for investment income returns have disappeared for the time being.

With the underwriting challenges above, expect the policy forms being offered for Contingent AL and Cargo as well as E&O will tighten as well in coverage.

MISCELLANEOUS:
DAT is also putting out information regarding COVID-19 on a regular basis, which can be found here.
————————————

Today should be Opening Day, so here’s Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” from 1949. Soon, we’ll be back in the park watching the great American pastime. Go Nats!

Just before midnight last night, the Senate approved unanimously the CARES Act or phase 3 of the coronavirus relief efforts. Linked is a summary of the pertinent issues for our members. The House is expected to take this up on Friday by voice vote, unless a Member objects, which would cause House Members to travel back to Washington for a roll call. I don’t anticipate that happening, but this is Washington, DC…

As TIA continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and it’s impact on the 3PL and transportation industries, here is your Afternoon Update for March 25. As a reminder, you can find all the latest information, resources, guidance, and news from TIA’s COVID-19 Response Center.

CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE:
The Senate agreed on a stimulus package (Phase III of relief efforts) early this morning and will likely pass it this afternoon. It remains to see when the House will take it up.

They could do it by unanimous consent (UC), but rumors are circling that the New York delegation could oppose a UC. Setting up a situation where House Members would have to come back to Washington and take a roll call vote on the package. Stay tuned for more details.

DHS UPDATE:
On a call with the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Chris Krebs, it was reported that they have notified as many political and police entities as possible about the essential nature of trucking.
They want to know about problems by emailing to [email protected].

CISA Director Krebs also suggests that people carry letters indicating that they are part of an essential industry.

AMERICAN LOGISTICS AID NETWORK UPDATE:
On a call with the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) this morning, it was reported that some warehouse operators are experiencing problems with people coming to work. It was also reported that some local law enforcement was harassing truckers.

If you’re experiencing any challenges, please let us know by emailing [email protected] or [email protected].

It was reported to us that some retailers are refusing the delivery of containers of goods they ordered. This could lead to excessive demurrage charges. Again, if you’re experiencing this please let us know.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR UPDATE:
The Department of Labor (DOL) has released guidance documents and resources for employees, employers, and FAQs, on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which the agency has been tasked with implementing.

TIA understands that these documents will not be the final guidance on the issues, as we await rulemakings from the DOL in the coming days. Stay tuned for more updates on this issue.

• FFCRA Employee Guide
• FFCRA Employer Guide
• FFCRA Frequently Asked Questions

NÖEL PERRY’S DAILY COVID-19 UPDATE:
Yesterday was had modestly hopeful results with improvements in several Western European countries. Note there are five countries whose numbers yesterday fell, but who also gained the previous two days (highlighted in yellow). That could be an early sign of inflection.

The yellow cells in the Days to Inflection column have had a promising trend across at least three days. The big negatives were Spain and, especially, Iran. Iran is now 30 days in with a still increasing count.

As expected, the US had the biggest increase in cases. We are still clearly in the upward trend stage and should not slow down for four or five more days.

You can see the effects of the length of contagion in the comparisons by region. Western Europe continues to lead the tragic parade. However, its new case percentage has fallen dramatically while North America’s has risen. This is an expected result.

A week from now Europe should be even lower and North American substantially lower. That is a good benchmark to watch. If that number does not lower, then the pandemic may be headed for the scale discussed in worst-case scenarios. There is little yet to suggest that, besides Iran’s data. Still, these numbers will tell us the outcome relatively soon.

MISCELLANEOUS:
DAT is also putting out information regarding COVID-19 on a regular basis, which can be found here.

Finally, thanks to Scott Marks, TIA’s new Government Affairs Manager, for his work putting together guidance for SBA loans.

—————————–

We’ll be back tomorrow with the Morning Edition featuring COVID-19 updates and information that came through overnight.

Hoping that Noel is on the right path, here’s Duke Ellington & Ella Fitzgerald’s “I’m Beginning to See the Light.”