Five Minutes of Freight: FBI surround truckers who pulled into the wrong warehouse; Semi Accident claims 4 police officers in Australia
Coronavirus Daily Update
Total confirmed cases in the United States reach nearly 850k. Deaths 47,684 with 84,050 recovered
New unemployment numbers bring total to over 26 Million
Another 4.4 million Americans filed for unemployment claims last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday, as massive job losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic continued to grow. The new report, which covers the week ending April 18, brings total job losses since the virus outbreak triggered widespread stay-at-home measures five weeks ago to more than 26 million, erasing the entirety of the 22.78 million labor market gains since the Great Recession more than a decade ago. With a labor force that totals about 162 million people, the claims figures suggest the unemployment rate is about 16 percent, or roughly one in six Americans — significantly higher than the 10 percent peak seen during the 2008 financial crisis. The previous one-week high for jobless claims was 695,800 in 1982.
Four Australian Police officers killed after being struck by Semi.
Four Australian police officers were killed when they were struck by a truck after stopping a speeding Porsche in the emergency lane of the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne, Australia Wednesday night. The accident happened after the Victoria Police officers stopped a 41- year old driver of a Porsche 911 for driving 25 mph over the speed limit when they were suddenly struck by the driver of a refrigerated tractor-trailer. The Porsche driver reportedly fled the scene after the accident, but took photos of the accident before fleeing. He later turned himself in the next day and is facing a slew of charges. (News.com.au)
CTA Survey Shows Federal Relief Needed as COVID-19 Severely Straining Trucking Industry
While public support and appreciation for truck drivers during the COVID-19 crisis remains unprecedentedly high, a recent survey by the Canadian Trucking Alliance shows that federal aid is now required to provide much needed relief to trucking companies whose operations have been severely strained by the impact of the pandemic. According to a recent survey comprised of nearly 100 CTA fleet members representing 60,000 Canadian workers shows:
- On average carriers have experienced a 27% decrease in revenue;
- Carriers report a 300% increase in ‘empty miles’ (The condition when trucks are travelling, but not generating any payload revenue for their services);
- Without an improvement in conditions, 37% of fleets have significant concerns regarding the continuation of their operations;
- Sixty-three percent of fleets indicated their customers have recently asked for payment deferrals or simply have not paid the trucking company for their services.
Bankruptcy looms over U.S. energy industry, from oil fields to pipelines
U.S. shale producers, refiners and pipeline companies are scrambling for cash and face likely restructuring as they struggle under heavy debt loads and a dual supply/demand shock in the worst crisis the oil industry has faced.Fuel demand has tumbled roughly 30% worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic, and just as the health crisis worsened a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia flooded markets with crude.(Reuters)
3 Truckers surrounded by FBI agents after pulling into wrong address in NJ
Just moments after three truckers pulled into a Lakeland, NJ warehouse, their semi’s were surrounded by several dozen FBI Agents. The drivers were told initially that the FBI agents were in possession of a warrant to search one of the warehouses in the complex and until they figured everything out, the driver’s loads might be “staying with us.” After three hours three hours, the FBI realized that these drivers were actually at the wrong address and they were told that they were free to go.
