Key Currency Exchange Rates for Friday, 7/19/24

Finnish Transport Workers’ Union AKT has begun their strike impacting all Finnish ports and terminals on 15.2. at 6 AM until further notice. The negotiating parties did not reach an agreement and negotiations will recommence later this week. All vessel operations in Finnish ports, gate moves and handling of containers within terminals are now suspended until further notice.

FedEx Corp. announced that it has acquired RouteSmart Technologies, a global leader in route optimization solutions with over 40 years of expertise, providing mission-critical technology to newspaper, postal & parcel, public works, utilities & field service, and waste collection organizations worldwide. The combination of RouteSmart’s leading technology solutions with FedEx’s unparalleled physical and data networks will enable the world’s largest express transportation provider to further drive efficiency across its own global operations, while also strengthening the company’s suite of technology solutions. “This is yet another step on our journey to make supply chains smarter for everyone as we revolutionize logistics,” said Raj Subramaniam, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Corporation. “Our physical network generates terabytes of data that contain invaluable insights about the global supply chain. Through this acquisition, we will use RouteSmart’s expertise and proven technology platform to accelerate the deployment of a common route optimization capability for FedEx operations that will enable our team members to work safer and smarter as they deliver superior service to our customers.”

American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 0.7% in May after falling 0.6% in April. In May, the index equaled 113.7 (2015=100) compared with 114.5 in April. “Tonnage, despite falling slightly over the last two months, remains well above the lows of last year,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “This is no small deal considering that truck tonnage fell significantly less than many other indicators during the depths of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. “One freight segment that is helping tonnage is gasoline as demand for travel, both commuting and vacation related, picks up,” he said. “I’m also expecting retail freight to remain robust as inventories are at historic lows. As retail stocks are rebuilt, it will boost freight. As has been the case for some time, trucking’s biggest challenges are not on the demand side, but on the supply side, including difficulty finding qualified drivers.”