Supply Chain Breakdowns

[MacWa77ace]

Well, we finally got an answer to "why no drivers" bringing our orders up from the warehouse facility in Connecticut...
Seems there is an Amazon distribution center nearby and they are recruiting our suppliers drivers.
Amazon pays better and has benefits our distributor doesn't have, etc., so a lot of the drivers jumped ship to Amazon.

They may find the working experience with Amazon is less enticing than it seems.  They have a reputation as a sweatshop that uses up workers and spits them out.  In fact, their new HR system for drivers is entirely automated- if you don't make your numbers you get a text message letting you know you've been terminated.  Drivers have stories about having to speed, run stop signs and keep a pee bottle in their van just to make their delivery times to maintain their job.  For a lot of people that extra $2 an hour isn't worth that level of stress.

Your talking about the drivers delivering to the endusers? Its a different license to drive those little grey trucks to deliver to endusers vs the semi trailers to transfer between distribution centers.

I would expect the CDL drivers delivering the groceries would not want to downgrade to a glorified pizza delivery job. And distribution drivers wouldn't have daily delivery quotas. But IDK if they have the same hiring and contact practices for the distribution drivers vs their last mile drivers.

[PistolPete]

Your talking about the drivers delivering to the endusers? Its a different license to drive those little grey trucks to deliver to endusers vs the semi trailers to transfer between distribution centers.

I would expect the CDL drivers delivering the groceries would not want to downgrade to a glorified pizza delivery job. And distribution drivers wouldn't have daily delivery quotas. But IDK if they have the same hiring and contact practices for the distribution drivers vs their last mile drivers.

It's a limited pool, but the one OTR driver I know took a Amazon job because it looked like more money and he got to be home every night for his kids.  Granted, there seems to be some marital friction which may be a factor for him as well.

But in general, I think you are correct, Amazon isn't stealing CDL's to be local delivery drivers.

[Lambykins]

Your talking about the drivers delivering to the endusers? Its a different license to drive those little grey trucks to deliver to endusers vs the semi trailers to transfer between distribution centers.

I would expect the CDL drivers delivering the groceries would not want to downgrade to a glorified pizza delivery job. And distribution drivers wouldn't have daily delivery quotas. But IDK if they have the same hiring and contact practices for the distribution drivers vs their last mile drivers.

It's a limited pool, but the one OTR driver I know took a Amazon job because it looked like more money and he got to be home every night for his kids.  Granted, there seems to be some marital friction which may be a factor for him as well.

But in general, I think you are correct, Amazon isn't stealing CDL's to be local delivery drivers.

There is an Amazon hub place in Connecticut near the warehouse and they do send out some big loads/trucks. I dunno, am not going down there to check it out.

More delivery woes at the store:
Our Monday truck didn't come in until Tuesday and was woefully short.
Wednesday truck didn't come in at all and NOW they say we can only get a "replenishment" order, no back stock. That will arrive Friday and we won't get a weekend truck. So, next order will be here Monday (maybe).
Plus, cherry on top, the distributor charged the store for our full orders and deliveries that we didn't even get!
Lance wasn't at work today and the rumor mill has it that he headed down to our distributors head office in Connecticut.

[SCBrian]

Ouch - that sounds like a distribution issue. 
Just ordered my next truck for Wednesday.  ~300 pieces maybe 350 when combined with produce.  Only 2 exceptions on the list and they are both dairy (Yogurt and Ranch cups) and only reserve 1 day out.  No notifications from my milk supplier on any issues and I expect to order ~150gal of milk (In pints) for delivery on Wednesday, and every other day for the next 9 months or so.    Of course things may change between now and Wednesday morning, but that's where we are.
The issues we've been seeing locally are all in distro.  to quote some of the excuses we've had:
"They couldn't find a truck to pick up the chicken from Tyson"
"They distro center is crazy short staffed - Only 45 people showed up to work out of over 100"
"XYZ plant is not currently producing that product and focusing on this product due to labor issues"
"More loads on less trucks"
(The last one works for me, since I tend to be the last stop on my route, and it often causes me to receive overtime since I'm a prostitute when $$ is concerned)  On the flip side of that, the distribution company is reimbursing all the overtime we spend waiting for trucks to deliver....

[Raptor]

They may find the working experience with Amazon is less enticing than it seems.  They have a reputation as a sweatshop that uses up workers and spits them out.

A poster I saw on Reddit claiming to be from an Amazon distribution center not vouching for it's authenticity but it is sure in lines with the stories I have read about them. The date written there is 6/29/21 so if correct 364 reportable incidents in 180 days...taking this at face value.

[Lambykins]

]

They may find the working experience with Amazon is less enticing than it seems.  They have a reputation as a sweatshop that uses up workers and spits them out.

A poster I saw on Reddit claiming to be from an Amazon distribution center not vouching for it's authenticity but it is sure in lines with the stories I have read about them. The date written there is 6/29/21 so if correct 364 reportable incidents in 180 days...taking this at face value.

Holy Fuck!
That's a LOT of injuries!
Here's the best safety sign we have at work (and yeah, I bought it and put it up).

[Raptor]

]

They may find the working experience with Amazon is less enticing than it seems.  They have a reputation as a sweatshop that uses up workers and spits them out.

A poster I saw on Reddit claiming to be from an Amazon distribution center not vouching for it's authenticity but it is sure in lines with the stories I have read about them. The date written there is 6/29/21 so if correct 364 reportable incidents in 180 days...taking this at face value.

Holy Fuck!
That's a LOT of injuries!
Here's the best safety sign we have at work (and yeah, I bought it and put it up).

Hmm maybe it would safer to work around velociraptors than an Amazon AI distribution bot.

[MacWa77ace]

]

They may find the working experience with Amazon is less enticing than it seems.  They have a reputation as a sweatshop that uses up workers and spits them out.

A poster I saw on Reddit claiming to be from an Amazon distribution center not vouching for it's authenticity but it is sure in lines with the stories I have read about them. The date written there is 6/29/21 so if correct 364 reportable incidents in 180 days...taking this at face value.

Holy Fuck!
That's a LOT of injuries!
Here's the best safety sign we have at work (and yeah, I bought it and put it up).

This is what we have to deal with here.

This one is in the GM's office


This one is mine

[MPMalloy]

Personally, I can't remember the time someone was injured @ work

Shortage of...the most non-essentials are showing up here.  No motor oil is scary, imo.  That's a critical item, again, imo.

[boskone]

No motor oil is scary, imo.  That's a critical item, again, imo.

I suppose it's a good thing I have 5qts left from my old pickup in the garage.  :|

[MPMalloy]

I order my groceries online and the order have either been full or mostly full.  After about 6PM, the convenience store up the block has about 25% of the shelf space is bear-nekkid.

[Lambykins]

Welp...word from our distributor...
Each department now has a limit on how many items they can order.
For example, grocery is capped at 650 pieces.
What they didn't tell us is they folded frozen foods into the grocery category.
But the way they worded it, everyone thought that frozen had 150 pieces and grocery had 650.
What they meant was frozen got 150 of grocery's 650.
So, grocery manager put in his order first, frozen put his order in second.
Frozen got NOTHING on the truck.
During a big ice cream sale. In hot weather.
Yeah, lots of rain checks being handed out.
It's expected to stay at these piece limits until the end of September.
After that...who knows?

[Raptor]

What they didn't tell us is they folded frozen foods into the grocery category.
So, grocery manager put in his order first, frozen put his order in second.
Frozen got NOTHING on the truck.

Well at least that explains part of the issue.

[flybynight]

Major food distributor Sysco is halting deliveries to a number of restaurants in Kansas citing labor shortages in the industry.



https://www.kwch.com/2021/08/03/sysco-food-distributor-halts-service-impacting-kansas-restaurants/


I can't find at the article at the moment , but I read that  restaurants that were still receiving deliveries had stepped up to help  by ordering supplies for those who had their orders halted

[Raptor]

Not exactly EOTWAWKI stuff but ...
there are 3 fast food places near my home. A Wendy's ,Arby's & a MickyD. I really do not frequent either but I did go to the Wendy's for a Frosty. There is normally a drive through line at all 3 but not tonight. I pulled up the order box and they were out of burgers (all burgers), salads, chicken nuggets, all soft drinks except Sprite and chili. So basically french fries and chicken sandwiches and sprite was all they had. 

They said there waiting for the truck.

I am guessing that the other 3 had similar issues since there was not the usual line.

Transport seems to be a common theme in all of these matters.   

[boskone]

So far things are still looking good here, but I think I'll double-check everything and stock up this week, just in case.  :|

[SCBrian]

Major food distributor Sysco is halting deliveries to a number of restaurants in Kansas citing labor shortages in the industry.
https://www.kwch.com/2021/08/03/sysco-food-distributor-halts-service-impacting-kansas-restaurants/
I can't find at the article at the moment , but I read that  restaurants that were still receiving deliveries had stepped up to help  by ordering supplies for those who had their orders halted

I can see this working.  The restaurants will receive and act as middle-men to get the product.  Saves driver time, labor, etc. 
I havent been notified of any shortages on my weekly order.. yet. But I run my stuff through US Foods as Sysco is the spawn of satan 

[MPMalloy]

I need to stop jinxing myself...

My order today was short more than half the items, all of which would be considered essential.  Meat, bread, veg....

[flybynight]

 A Family Dollar store in Nebraska is back open Monday, after having a sign on its door the previous day indicating everyone had quit.

KOLN reported the store located near 48th Street and Leighton Avenue was closed on Sunday with this message posted on the entrance: "We all quit. Sorry for the inconvenience."



https://www.wibw.com/2021/08/09/employees-put-up-sign-saying-they-all-quit-family-dollar-nebraska/

[Raptor]

An August 4 2021 article dealing with  maritime shipping issues.

https://www.nasaships.com/shipping-alerts-for-august-4-2021/
These are short term disruptions at the ports for imported goods.

US Port, Intermodal, Drayage and Trucking Outlook
​​​​​Port congestion remains high on the US West Coast and Vancouver as well as hot spots in Norfolk and Savannah.  Houston port terminals are back online after an unexpected closure from a network hardware failure, this is spilling over to the chassis supply in New Orleans.

This article in addition to well known driver shortages mentions this:
https://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/51884-trucking-outlook-tough-road-ahead-for-shippers-carriers

Continuing challenges in the supply chain and uncertainty about consumption trends and economic growth remain. "Throughout the pandemic, we've seen how chaos and uncertainty can impact the supply chain," according to the report. "Disruptions have impacted capacity, which impacts fleet productivity, which in turn exacerbates overall supply chain volatility. Retail inventories are still well below normal for this time of the year, and government research indicates inventory drawdowns in the face of labor and materials shortages. As more restaurants and in-person activities open, consumer spending could shift back to services and experiences, even as the leisure and hospitality sectors struggle to fill jobs."

What we are seeing in my opinion is actually several forces at work.
The transport issue of which a large portion is a labor shortage issue.
The general shortages of production capacity in several sectors that are likewise affected by labor shortages.
The final issue is that companies and scaled down orders during 2020 because of a change in demand. They had inventory on hand and was trying to get it out the door to get cash to stay afloat and survive. They continued to keep orders at a lower level while shipping times suddenly increased ~ 2x so they are left with less inventory to distribute as well as trucking issues that exacerbated shipping time.