The trucking industry is still far from solving some of its deepest challenges since the pandemic, such as the shortage of intermodal chassis in circulation. 

The pandemic has put unprecedented strain on global supply chains— and also on the workers who’ve kept those systems running under tough conditions. It looks like many of them have had enough.

With temperatures soaring in the U.K. and U.S., civil engineers and transit authorities say the heat is threatening rail networks across both countries. 

The National Retail Federation (NRF), the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) all welcomed President Joe Biden’s announcement July 15 that he had created via executive order a Presidential Emergency Board.

The White House is monitoring labor talks in the logistics industry as unions representing 115,000 rail workers and 22,000 West Coast dockworkers negotiate fresh contracts, but won’t get directly involved in either bargaining process now, its supply chain envoy said.

Canadian National Railway Co. workers have gone on strike after failing to reach an agreement during the weekend over benefits and wages.

Major railroads, including Union Pacific and BNSF, and their unions remain at an impasse after a government board ended efforts to mediate a settlement, a move which will likely force President Biden’s administration to intervene.

The Port of Los Angeles has enlisted the help of the White House to clear a backlog of rail-bound containers that’s tripled since February.