Latest news with #CraigFuller
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How GM + Nvidia are changing the face of the automotive industry
General Motors is making significant strides in revolutionizing its manufacturing processes through a new partnership with chipmaker Nvidia. Announced in March, the collaboration aims to harness the power of artificial intelligence to enhance automation, cut costs and improve efficiency across GM's factories. At the heart of this partnership is Nvidia's advanced computing technology, which GM is leveraging to build custom AI systems for its manufacturing operations. The automaker is using Nvidia Omniverse with Cosmos to create digital twins of its assembly lines, allowing for virtual testing and simulation of production processes before physical implementation. This is JP Hampstead, co-host with Craig Fuller of the Bring It Home podcast. Welcome to the 25th edition of our newsletter, where we go deep into one of the largest-scale tech-industrial partnerships in the automotive industry. 'Using digital twins, we simulate a running production line before it's constructed, optimizing our planning process and allowing us to scale faster while saving time and money,' explained JP Clausen, GM's executive VP of global manufacturing and sustainability. 'It also helps our team members identify and solve problems more effectively.'These digital simulations enable GM to test and refine new production processes without disrupting existing vehicle manufacturing, a critical advantage as the company balances production of both traditional combustion engines and electric vehicles. The partnership extends to training robotics platforms for operations such as material handling, transport and precision welding. Through a combination of AI and machine learning, GM has developed systems that can identify potential issues in manufacturing, such as leaks in battery packs, allowing for quick repairs and supporting quality control. The automotive industry, led by companies like GM, remains the largest user of industrial robots in America. According to Brookings Institute data, nearly half of the 233,305 industrial robots in the United States are employed in auto manufacturing. Michigan, home to GM's headquarters, accounts for nearly 28,000 robots — approximately 12% of the nation's total. Detroit, in particular, stands out as the robot capital of America, with more than three times the number of industrial robots compared to other metropolitan areas. By 2015, the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area had 15,115 industrial robots in place, or 8.5 per 1,000 workers, a significant increase from 5,753 robots in high concentration of automation has contributed to a dramatic shift in GM's workforce composition over decades. In 1979, GM employed 468,000 American hourly workers, representing 76% of its U.S. workforce. By 2021, that number had dropped to just 45,000 American hourly workers, or 46% of the company's domestic workforce. GM's innovation hub, the Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, employs approximately 24,000 people with an average annual salary of $120,000. This facility has become central to developing the company's AI-driven manufacturing technologies. Using both robotics and proprietary AI tools, GM has implemented systems to inspect welds and paint coats, identifying irregularities and anomalies that might affect vehicle quality. This technology not only improves product quality but also enhances workplace safety by automating potentially hazardous tasks. 'We're using AI and advanced software to help our team minimize ergonomic stressors, enable workplace safety and enhance quality in our manufacturing plants,' notes Clausen. 'Investing in our current and future workforce with better technology helps ensure that our teams have the skills and tools needed as we continue to evolve our manufacturing footprint to meet customer demand.' GM's automation advancements come at a critical time as the company navigates challenges in electric vehicle production. In October 2023, GM announced delays in the production of electric trucks, including the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, pushing the start date at its Orion Assembly plant from 2024 to late 2025. The company cited the need to 'align its capital investments with electric vehicle demand and implement vehicle engineering improvements to boost profitability' as reasons for the delay. GM's partnership with Nvidia aims to address these challenges by improving engineering efficiency and manufacturing processes. Engineers collaborate in real time on digital twins of manufacturing robotics using Nvidia's Omniverse. (Photo: Nvidia) Despite production delays, GM maintains ambitious plans, projecting to have more than 1 million units of EV capacity in North America by the end of 2025 and to convert 50% of its North American assembly capacity to EV production by automation raises concerns about job displacement, GM emphasizes that AI is being implemented to enhance, not replace, its workforce. The company describes its approach as 'people-centric,' using AI to help employees avoid ergonomic stressors and improve workplace safety. 'It's not about automating everything or building more vehicles faster — our winning formula is driven by a combination of flexible manufacturing, advanced technology, and a talented workforce,' states Clausen. Nevertheless, GM's transformation from 'automaker to platform innovator' suggests a continuing shift toward higher-skilled, technology-focused employment. In its presentation to investors titled 'From Automaker to Platform Innovator,' GM projected that software and new business ventures would grow from $2 billion to $80 billion by 2030, indicating a future in which salaried professionals may increasingly outnumber traditional manufacturing workers. The Nvidia partnership positions GM to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven automotive landscape. Jensen Huang, Nvidia's founder and CEO, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: 'The era of physical AI is here, and together with GM, we're transforming transportation, from vehicles to the factories where they're made.' GM plans to build next-generation vehicles on Nvidia DRIVE AGX, based on the Nvidia Blackwell architecture, delivering up to 1,000 trillion operations per second of high-performance compute. This technology will not only power manufacturing but also enhance future advanced driver-assistance systems and in-cabin safety features. As automotive manufacturing continues to advance, GM's strategic investments in AI and robotics may provide a competitive edge. The company has maintained its position as the U.S. sales leader for three consecutive years through 2024, offering what it describes as 'the broadest portfolio of electric vehicles in the industry,' with plans to expand to a dozen EV models by the end of 2025. 'The era of physical AI is here.' – Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO (Image: Fortune Business Insights) GlobalFoundries Announces $16B U.S. Investment to Reshore Essential Chip Manufacturing and Accelerate AI Growth GlobalFoundries (NASDAQ: GFS) (GF), working with the Trump administration and with support from leading technology companies aiming to onshore critical components of their supply chain, has announced plans to invest $16 billion to expand its semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging capabilities across its facilities in New York and Vermont. GF's investment is a strategic response to the explosive growth in artificial intelligence, which is accelerating demand for next-generation semiconductors designed for power efficiency and high-bandwidth performance across data centers, communications infrastructure and AI-enabled devices. Kraft Heinz confirms $3B investment in US manufacturing Kraft Heinz will spend $3 billion on its U.S. manufacturing facilities, the company confirmed to Food Dive. It's the largest investment in its plants in decades. Pedro Navio, president of Kraft Heinz's North America operations, told Reuters earlier this month that planned investments could add 3,500 employees to the Lunchables producer's workforce. Rolls-Royce to invest $24 million in US manufacturing Rolls-Royce has announced a $24 million U.S. investment that will more than double production of backup power generation systems for data centers and create more than 100 new jobs in the U.S. The investment includes a new 250,000ft2 Logistics Operations Centre adjacent to the existing manufacturing facility in Mankato, Minnesota. It will enable Rolls-Royce to increase production capacity for its mtu Series 4000 generator sets, which are in high demand from the rapidly growing data center industry. The post How GM + Nvidia are changing the face of the automotive industry appeared first on FreightWaves. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Freight fraud: Leveraging the carrier identity solution
This fireside chat recap is from FreightWaves' Freight Fraud Symposium in Dallas on Wednesday. FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: Fraud is the Signal: Designing the Future of Freight DETAILS: The fireside chat between FreightWaves' Craig Fuller and Michael Caney from Highway discusses fraud prevention in the freight industry. They explore the importance of an identity layer, know-your-customer (KYC) principles and technological solutions to verify carrier capabilities. The discussion highlights challenges in brokerage, the need for secure transactions and strategies to reduce fraud while maintaining efficient freight movement. SPEAKERS: Highway Chief Commercial Officer Michael CaneyBIO: With over two decades of leadership and advisory experience in fleet operations, freight brokerage and FreightTech, Caney has a track record of driving transformational growth for early-stage companies. As the founder of GrowthNexus, he has guided FreightTech startups and midmarket 3PLs to scale through innovative go-to-market strategies and operational efficiency. KEY QUOTES FROM CANEY: 'The fraud [opportunities] appear in the disconnection between your phone system and your communication channels. When you bring those things together, you eliminate fraud, but you also unlock commerce, you also unlock speed and you also create new experiences for motor carriers.' 'I think that there's a lot of improvement that could happen on-site at the shipper. … There's a lot of shippers that will let anybody pick up a load. I've seen cases of stolen loads where we get photocopies of the license [from the shipper], and they copied a guy's driver's license that was expired. … There's a shipper standard that needs to happen.''We have to be really vigilant about who has access to what [shipment] information and how they can disseminate that outside of your four walls.' Articles by Grace Sharkey DAT acquires Outgo, enters race to become dominant freight exchange platform Avocados, auto parts and ambushes: Inside Mexico's cargo theft crisis Cyberthreats surge against US logistics infrastructureThe post Freight fraud: Leveraging the carrier identity solution appeared first on FreightWaves. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Christmas is saved' if US can resolve trade woes: FreightWaves CEO
As President Trump's trade tariffs continue to pile up in just his first several months in office, experts are looking ahead to the repercussions the administration's policies could have on US supply chains, freight and logistics operators, and imports in general. FreightWaves Founder and CEO Craig Fuller comments on the drop in shipments from China and what to expect from retailers this fall and holiday shopping seasons if trade difficulties aren't resolved. In a White House Cabinet meeting last week, President Trump acknowledged the impact his tariffs will have on consumer goods and their constrained availability for American buyers. Catch the Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka's interview with Yahoo Finance from last week. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Asking for a Trend here.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Research on driver shortage claim points to churn rather than burn
Recent research published by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association's Research Foundation took aim at the theory of a persistent driver shortage in the long-haul truckload segment. The report titled 'The Churn: A Brief Look at the Roots of High Driver Turnover in U.S. Trucking,' argues that despite claims by other trucking associations of a shortage, it's the turnover rates of upwards of 90% across large truckload fleets that are to blame. The researchers argue that a persistent shortage would lead to higher driver wages, as a lack of labor would, according to some economists, result in higher wages from demand for said labor. The research outlines many structural issues that it deems a feature, not a bug, of the long-haul driver labor market. The first comes from the intense competition that prevents carriers from raising wages for fear of losing out to a cheaper competitor. The carrier that raises wages needs a higher rate, and that means that among price-sensitive shippers, someone else gets the coveted incumbent spot on the routing guide. The second argument the report notes is labor subsidies via industry and government initiatives that increase the labor pool of available drivers without resulting in higher wages. Overtime and regulatory loopholes also exist, with truck drivers not qualifying for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. However, this exemption has been around since the 1930s. This results in a fragmented pool of drivers who, by the nature of their job, are unable to negotiate for better working conditions. The final piece of the report talks about information asymmetry, in which new drivers who enter trucking are misled and believe the earnings starting out are much greater than the reality. From personal experience, it took this long-haul over-the-road driver at least a year to learn the habits the lifestyle needed to become economically productive. Those same new drivers who graduated from CDL school had a 50% success rate to make it past six months. On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order requiring that truck drivers be able to speak English or be placed out of service. According to a fact sheet published by the White House, the order rescinds previous guidance that had watered down the law that required English proficiency, which had removed the out-of-service criteria. Additionally the order instructs the secretary of transportation to review state issuance of nondomiciled commercial driver's licenses to identify any irregularities and ensure the drivers are licensed and founder and CEO Craig Fuller weighed in, noting on the X platform, 'This is a positive development for safety, but it will have a significant impact on trucking capacity and could help the industry right-size from excess capacity.' Fuller added that one insurance executive from one of the largest firms in the U.S. estimates 40% of truck drivers are first-generation immigrants and 10% of the total driver population lacks English proficiency. The White House notes that safety is one of the reasons behind the move, with over 120 people killed every day as a result of motor vehicle crashes. This is roughly the equivalent of a Boeing 737-700 crashing each day. Another challenge is resources. An estimated 45,000 people work for the Federal Aviation Administration. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has 1,000 to 1,100 employees. Werner Enterprises' first-quarter earnings came as a surprise. The company reported a net loss of $10.2 million compared to last year's Q1 gain of $6.2 million. In the earnings release, CEO Derek Leathers cited elevated insurance costs, extreme weather, a smaller fleet and customer changes related to tariff uncertainty as reasons behind the earnings miss. Fewer trucks did impact top-line revenue, which fell $36.8 million in Q1 to $433 million. The company's operating ratio net of fuel was 99.6%, a 430-basis-point decline from 95.3% in Q1 count also took a hit, with the combined truckload transportation services segment shedding 520 tractors from 7,935 in Q1 2024 to 7,415 units in Q1 2025. Broken down by segment, one-way truckload fell by 154 tractors y/y from 2,786 to 2,632, while dedicated saw a larger loss of 366 units from 5,149 to 4,783 tractors. The percentage of empty miles, or deadheading, also crept up, from 14.9% in Q1 2024 to 16%. A good rule of thumb for deadhead percentages is to try to keep them around 10%, which is easier said than operationally done. During the earnings call, Leathers gave more details and noted the possible impacts of tariffs. While the quarter is an outlier due to the rare instance of Werner's posting an operating loss, Leathers notes the company is in a better position regarding liquidity, having recently secured a $300 million receivables-backed line of credit. Leathers also referred to the impacts of tariffs on Werner's business as an air pocket, referencing the reduction in inbound freight to U.S. ports from Asia. That pocket will need to be filled with substitutes to offset the loss in freight demand. FreightWaves' John Kingston adds: '[Leathers] said Werner customers have been telling him their inventory levels 'are in good shape,' so there won't be a rescue from those customers needing to increase their freight demand.' Summary: Dallas' outbound tender volumes ( have grown approximately 20% over the past five years compared to the national average of 15%. The two largest outbound markets in the U.S. — Ontario, California, and Atlanta — have both lost significant shares: 2% and 13%, respectively. The ongoing capacity glut is hiding a rather significant shift in national freight flow patterns. In a more balanced market, freight demand changes are discovered through isolated pockets of tightening, where spot rates increase and carriers flock to cover the freight. In the current market, where supply is abundant, there is no tightening or increased rates as carriers are nearly sitting on the sides of the streets ready to pounce. Import demand has dropped, but that hasn't been strongly felt in the domestic freight market as of yet. It does create volatility in the market that makes for uncertain long-term planning. A Light That Moved Fast and Shined Bright: Honoring Brittany Traylor (FreightWaves) Dispute over $6.7 million leads to closure of Kingsley Trucking (FreightWaves) Mass layoffs in trucking and retail coming – Apollo (FreightWaves)FMCSA denies truck driver learner's permits for 17-year-olds (FreightWaves) Strong demand drives up used truck prices and volumes (Commercial Carrier Journal)Insurance costs, entry-level driver training top ATRI's research priorities for 2025 (The Trucker) The post Research on driver shortage claim points to churn rather than burn appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Huge decline at LA port is a hit to truckers—and a stark warning of coming tariff damage
Logistics experts are warning that cargo volumes at U.S. ports are undergoing a precipitous drop. This trend is most apparent in Los Angeles, home of the nation's busiest port, and one that is first to feel any drop-off from Asian shipping. The drop in container shipping is the latest sign the White House's trade war is having a real effect on the U.S. economy, and one sizable group of workers is poised to feel the impact first: long-haul truckers. On Thursday, the founder of a media firm that tracks shipping trends reported that daily volumes this week are equivalent to Thanksgiving and Christmas Day—the two slowest shipping days of the year. The founder, Craig Fuller, also warned truckers to avoid hauling shipments to Los Angeles since they would likely have to "deadhead" back home—the industry term for driving an empty load. The drop-off coincides with the ongoing fall-out from the global trade war launched by President Donald Trump, which imposed tariffs on countries around the world, and singled out China for a dramatic 145% levy. This has led to a resulting drop-off in orders for Chinese goods, though the effect on shipping is only hitting U.S. shores now. This week, though, the effect is beginning to be felt at West Coast ports—and is soon going to become far more pronounced. Here is a chart from Port Optimizer, hosted by the Port of Los Angeles, that shows what is poised to happen to import volumes: Those declining volumes will translate directly to even fewer loads for truckers at the Port of Los Angeles, but that is only the beginning of the ripple effects. In addition to a coinciding drop-off at other West Coast ports like Long Beach and Seattle, truckers in other cities—where vessels take longer to arrive from Asia—will see deliveries dry up. On X, entrepreneur Molson Hart posted shipping route data to say that in the next two weeks, containers will stop arriving in Houston and Chicago, and that the same will happen in New York a week later: Earlier this week, President Trump indicated that he was ready to scale back some of his tariffs. That may not be enough, however, to reassure skittish trading partners wary that the President's tariff policy could shift again. Meanwhile, a near-term drop-off in container traffic is now a certainty, meaning that U.S. truckers may have to get resigned to driving fewer miles for the foreseeable future. This story was originally featured on
