Why Global Supply Chains May Never Be the Same | WSJ Documentary

Every day, millions of sailors, truck drivers, longshoremen, warehouse workers and delivery drivers keep mountains of goods moving into stores and homes to meet consumers’ increasing expectations of convenience. But this complex movement of goods underpinning the global economy is far more vulnerable than many imagined.
Photo illustration: Adele Morgan
0:00 Where’s my stuff? How record demand broke supply chains
3:10 Ocean shipping-the journey from Asia
8:01 Inside America’s most backlogged port
13:50 Why there aren’t enough truck drivers
26:00 The humans and robots working in fulfillment centers
38:11 The last mile-how products get to your doorstep
50:06 How can we fix supply chains?
#SupplyChain #Documentary #WSJ

[@wsj]

“This documentary has been months in the making and throughout production we kept wondering if disruptions in global supply chains would still be an issue by the time it came out. Unfortunately, with intermittent shutdowns of ports and factories in China due to Omicron, sanctions on Russia, and the invasion of Ukraine, supply chain disruptions are in some ways as big an issue as they were during the peak of the pandemic. With every new report of goods costing more or being more difficult to get, backlogs at ports or walkouts at an e-commerce distribution center, it feels like understanding of how all of that works is more important than ever.” -WSJ technology columnist Christopher Mims

[@ronaldfranklin6122]

supply chains slowed for 10 years

[@qj2q]

ISIS established by Saudi Arabia in complete secrecy And Saudi Arabia denies it. Saudi Arabia also denies 9/11 attacks on World Trade Towers in New York Saudi Arabia is the one who drew up the plan for the terrorists to do it. In short, terrorism is the foundation of the Saudi government And Saudi Arabia deny it and don't admit it.Her regime falls if it turns out she has ties to terrorism That's why she's so careful about complete confidentiality And don't let any leads expose her. If you want to take terrorism off the roots He must remove the current Saudi regime. King Salman and his entire royal family They're the cause of terrorism all over the world.

[@SideHustleAddict]

@wsj thanks for featuring me in your awesome documentary. Also thanks to Denise and the camera crew for doing an awesome job 🙏🙏

[@Lionhead2128]

You guys are amazing. Thanks for sharing!

[@potapotapotapotapotapota]

This documentary was amazing and eye-opening. Something I will share with all of my friends and family to help them stay informed.

[@Remember-Death]

Because of KZbin, my appreciation for logistics, engineering, and construction has skyrocketed. Our problem-solving skills can often be overshadowed by our problem-creating abilities.

[@jam99]

Celebrate solutions and ignore those with unworthy problems.

[@christiandanielcaballero1896]

Too accurate.

[@jlew5545]

@Employee Of The Month....."our" problem creating abilities are one thing......BUT WHEN PROBLEMS are instead the manufactured constructs of those who are engaged in a willful orchestration of reality.......WELL THAT'S not only an overstep of authority...it's also why instead of "appreciating" YT and every single social media platform.....you should be extremely wary and suspect of ANYTHING OR ANYONE involved in the ancient art of making "the bell toll"......because one day that same bell might very well toll "for thee".

[@mrgermanvono35]

We are our own worst enemy

[@Imad-gk1gw]

A independent man, I can’t believe it myself. In a commercialised world we have been too accustomed to rely on companies, when we should be relying on the knowledge out there.

[@Pilot597]

The last section regarding last mile delivery pretty much summarizes the problem with the broader labor market. A UPS driver has a good job paying +$40/Hr and would be able to retire comfortably. Then Amazon finds that abominable and creates a network of ‘contractors’ who would have to use their own vehicles and be responsible for their expenses and all of that for a pay rate that is just over half the one of the UPS worker. The result? High turnover rates, no one wants to do the job and companies would then blame the workers, the $1,200 stimulus check or even the President when in reality the problem was created by their own corporate greed.

[@elijahrobertscinema6351]

Yup now its mostly run by amazon. Ppl wearing down their own vehicles to make 20 bucks an hour. Same thing as Uber.

[@johnwhite3248]

@@elijahrobertscinema6351 It’s not just the People, it’s the whole system sellers and buyers. Amazon become a need just like the cell phone or the internet.

[@thepalm1687]

Not only do the companies try and blame the workers, they get others (who are likely paying more and waiting longer for something) to blame workers as well. That's just for the few industries that are left here in the USA as well. Parents and grandparents have been sending the jobs overseas for decades now as executives at companies in the US. They keep their cushy, high paying office jobs at headquarters and a few regional offices but the jobs that built our middle class went to wherever was cheapest. Toss out TRILLIONS of dollars spent on wars overseas too and we have what has become of the USA now. Hopefully one silver lining from the last few years is we learned our lesson on relying on single points of failure in our logistical systems...

[@HughMadBro]

Who’s getting all that $ that the drivers aren’t getting… it’s Amazon padding their pockets!!!

[@seangleason260]

Totally totally agree!! The lack of unions is killing is in a major major way, and young people they have no idea about unions and it honestly breaks my heart because unions in my opinion really have the working man a seat at the table so to speak instead of the thankless back breaking minimum wage it's turned into, all this $ and a couple guys get it and the rest of us kill eachother the scraps, there has to be a better way

[@ry.hoshiko5482]

This documentary should be made a mandatory viewing for all students in business studies in every university. I rather watch this eye opening documentary than lecturers repeating boring theories in class trying to get me to understand what is shown in this real life examples.

[@prefersdocile9688]

Have you studied a business study?

[@cornsauce5807]

I actually do have to watch this for an assignment! very interesting

[@moodylogs]

we have to watch it as homework for my logistics lecture :)

[@davidb2206]

Hats off to every worker involved in getting these goods to us. An especially big Thank You to all the truck drivers who kept the country functioning during the pandemic and many closures. Good video, WSJ.

[@matagotangel]

100%. I think many of us never gave it much thought about how incredibly vital truck drivers are. Bless them, it's a very difficult job with not a lot of thanks or appreciation. Thank you to all truckers😇

[@davidb2206]

@@matagotangel A place like Idaho imports 90 percent of its FOOD. They better thank the truckers every day and every time they see one.

[@idan6371]

Agreed, we don't see that side when we click buy it now. Watching this makes me feel dirty and maybe even addicted to wanting stuff.

[@missjhey]

THANK YOU TO ALL THE SAILORS, TRUCKER DRIVERS, LONGSHOMEN, CARGO PILOTS, WAREHOUSE WORKERS, DELIVERY DRIVERS, and US POST CARRIERS who delivers my packages in front of my doorstep It must be TOUGH to make 332 million AMERICANs satisfied.

[@SideHustleAddict]

Thanks for being an awesome customer 🙏🙏❤️❤️

[@DasGrosseFressen]

Let me clap a bit... 👏

[@saltywetreefer3985]

How about thanking the factory workers too who work long hours?

[@SubvertTheState]

@@assessmenttreatment8445 no, I got fired a few months ago. I know I was the best technician in several areas, all over stupid corporate nonsense. Never even met the person that fired me. I've looked at a lot of these jobs, when you factor in a car payment, insurance, maintenance, fines, registration, license and gas, that was a good portion of my income. It's expensive to just get by. And I was at a union shop, I bought a house closer to work, but the economy is set up for millennial turnover. It's like a natural law, 5 years is the maximum I've ever been able to work somewhere. The military, bather at a dressing plant, foundry, food process tech, now I've got to get trained for a new career. It gets old, there is no way to plan on anything. You can call me lazy for not working for minimum wage but costs 80% of my check to get to work. If no one is willing to be a wage slave, maybe they'll start paying more and acting more like their employees are important. I worked 84 hours a week sometimes but I loved my job, whoever fired me probably didn't know that but then they don't care.

[@WheeledandWellArmed]

@@SubvertTheState good luck

[@Arcticwhir]

As a former Amazon warehouse worker, would not recommend working there at all. It is very tiring, repetitive and there is a high lack of respect from management and other higher ups which treat you like a robot.

[@bluerisk]

We had several temp workers who had to work there during the Christmas season...they would rather quite their agency than to return to Amazon. Our company has even started to blacklist certain Amazon centers because they order stuff and then they refuse to take it in because their warehouse is overrunning. While Amazon has to cover the freight cost (what hurt their profits - we are talking about numbers up into the four digits), we have to cover the re-stocking costs of the returning deliveries, and thus we no longer serve these blacklisted Amazon warehouses. If Amazon continues with this policies, they a) hurt their profit to a degree that they'll lose their competitiveness, and b) they lose out more and more business partners who are willing to do business with them. Wouldn't be the first giant to fall.

[@BeranM]

Amazon delivery drivers are some of the most obnoxious bunch of nitwits I have ever seen in my life. I would yank Amazon's charter in this state if I could. I despise that corporation. Dissolve it for all I care. I've only ever ordered books from them and the last time I did that was a decade ago.

[@chinavirus841]

Target is very similar except they’re very nice but when they don’t need you your kicked out without any explanation

[@ryantodd8414]

"Alternative" option is working at fedex, I was a package handler and from what I can tell we had shorter shifts but really physically straining, I mean like you could get stuck loading a truck with nothing but 50lb-120lb packages for an hour or two straight

[@airgunballistics1779]

Amazon is pure EVIL

[@naf2579]

I for one have essentially stopped unnecessary spending thanks to shortages. Now when I do purchase something it's because I NEED it. I'm not just a trained consumer anymore. My savings account loves it.

[@zennyzenzen]

I'm starting this! Been a month and I have more money saved :) I started donating all the extra stuff I don't use. There's so much junk I was holding on to and some I didn't even use!!

[@aishakolo1266]

I'm from California I would like to get some advice if possible from Mr Sam Deymon.

[@mfebs]

Our level of consumption is honestly a bit frightening

[@Rajeevinsane]

Well said

[@potapotapotapotapotapota]

We are destroying the world with all the things we are consuming. Especially with all the plastic, metal and glass we use.

[@AbrahamSamma]

Oh, it gets worse.

[@cable30]

Saw on news sometime back that how much we spent before the pandemic and now e1 was able to save so much and now it barelly is spent cause so many have cut back or move to cheaper area. they said it was like over 1 trillion was spent any year doing anything or buying stuff anytime. and since some or many buy stuff online for any reason it just cause shipments to take longer cause buyers slammed websites for anything anytime and expect it to come so soon cause site make too many promise to get u ur stuff so fast that places get slammed cause we so to speak want the stuff like yesterday anytime. guessing if sites like amazon didnt promise 2 day shipment then the job not be so bad as it is now. use to be days or weeks but now buyer expect to get it sooner then expectd. i say be happy u get it and hope no one steal if from ur front door before u have a chance to see it any.

[@Neo48]

and to think its final destination is the landfill. 1-800-got-junk

[@Batmann29]

This is probably one of the most eye-opening subjects on a very overlooked topic that not many people think about. It’s also funny because I literally bought a USB charger from Amazon 2 days ago and it got to my house this morning. Makes me realize how much work/effort was put in just for me to receive this item. So much respect to all the workers involved in the global supply chain.

[@jonny-b4954]

I've always been surprised Amazon and what not don't have minimum delivery charges like most companies. It truly is only profitable (and only been profitable last 5-7 years I think) through the simply staggering scale of the operation. Don't see how there's profit anywhere along the chain of delivering someone a freakin USB charger for a few bucks, ya know? They HAVE to be taking a loss on that that's only made up through other deliveries. But how long does that concept really work in the long run?

[@josephseka6439]

@Jesus is coming. Read the Gospel. amen

[@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO]

@@jonny-b4954 - The shipping costs are sometimes relatively high, and they are built into the cost of the product (if you are an Amazon Prime member for instance). Sometimes it's low or very reasonable also. But what I think is really unsustainable in the long term (and I'm the antithesis of a leftist or liberal), is the use of natural resources/ fossil fuels as Earth's population grows and the demands on the supply chain increase dramatically in only a few short years. Certain special interests (Globalist Usury Bankers, Royal Families, etc.) would rather have us locked down in our houses ordering online than actually living and traveling in the world/ having relationships/ etc. People should expect a Plandemic every decade or so from now on as the so-called "new normal". Pressure from above and pressure from below is their mantra.

[@israelCommitsGenocide]

@@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO true but dont forget that in 2016 wikileaks revealed many high level satanic cannibal pedophiles like the podesta brothers, obama(barry soetoro) and hillary and nothing happened. We allow the occultists to rule over us so we get what we deserve.

[@jacekicksass]

Feels like any Amazon Prime purchase just creates a Rube Goldberg machine of human misery.

[@davidabrinton]

I was really impressed with all the workers involved in this documentary, especially their attitudes. As a retired person, I truly appreciate all workers involved in the delivery process. I appreciate all workers everywhere who make our world work. As customers we should be appreciative and don't need to make their jobs harder with insignificant complaints and excessive demands. Thank you workers around the world!

[@dgw4049]

My uncle was a long haul trucker and I've never seen anyone drive like him. He could drive forever and his map knowledge and sense of direction was superhuman. Not everyone can do what these guys do. Go sit in a truck for 2 weeks with a long haul trucker and u will see.

[@maupinmaupin1472]

I think the frantic pace which was considered "normal" for the world supply chain has seriously blown a gasket. We need sanity and a local self propelled way of providing for ourselves.

[@jondavidgriffin]

That's tricky when communists have outsourced all of our production to china

[@gogudelagaze1585]

@@jondavidgriffin O_o You're saying Reagan was a communist? And that outsourcing for max profits is a communist thing? Wow xD

[@sgiovanny39j]

@@gogudelagaze1585 gorillas B large is doing some mental gymnastics lol

[@thedevilneveraskstwice7027]

Exactly, some important chains just need to be made local, or communitized (no communism please!). There is no reason to transport for example pork all around the globe. Same goes for other easily produced articles. It was the corrupt politicians who made this possible.

[@DJRenee]

Long overdue

[@milkman81]

As a teamster and a local delivery driver, the more stops and expectations, the more crashes and mistakes!

[@MahkyVmedia1]

Hahaha nobody listens to stuff like this. I've been delivering for 20 years It's like Red Skull says "there's always more workers"

[@billcarlon2488]

People don't care, we want our stuff......and fast.

[@user-uu8wy5xs1t]

Leave it to a....... I'm a Union Man...... to make a post that is that Stupid

[@SLGHTRGNG214]

As a fellow teamster, I agree with this message. We’re out every night late due to demand. Be safe brother !

[@roadtrippin2781]

@@SLGHTRGNG214 So you work good hours? Be appreciative. Nothing lasts forever...

[@chandrakanthns1231]

This is truly an eye opening subject to think about the future of e-commerce market. Hats off to everyone who made this video possible. This documentary makes me feel so grateful as I work in Trucking industry and Appreciate all the people who are working in the field of supply chain for their limitless effort! World is one!

[@anothercomment3451]

World is NOT one, you programmed robot.

[@Natalieneptune469]

Transfer of wealth usually occur during recession, so the more stocks drop, the more I buy, in the meanwhile I'm just focused on making better investments and earning more as recession fear increases, apparently there are strategies to 3x gains in this present market because I read of someone that pulled a profit of $350k within 6months, what are the best stocks to buy now or put on a watchlist?

[@Alejandracamacho357]

Find stocks with market-beating yields and shares that at least keep pace with the market for a long term. For a successful long-term strategy I recommend you seek the guidance a broker or financial advisor.

[@tradekings5433]

@@Alejandracamacho357 Very true..I've been in constant touch with a Financial-Adviser for the past 23 months. You know, these days it's really easy to buy into trending stocks, but the task is determining when to sell or keep. That's where my manager comes in, to help me with entry and exit points in the industries I'm engaged in. Can’t say I regret it, I’m 63% up in profits just in Q3 of 2023.

[@marianparker7502]

@@tradekings5433

[@Alejandracamacho357]

@@marianparker7502 My adviser is "Corinne Cecilia Heaney" You can easily look her up. She has years of financial market experience and she is also FINRA & SEC verifiable.

[@marianparker7502]

@@Alejandracamacho357 I just looked up 'Corinne online and researched her accreditation. She seem very proficient, I wrote her detailing my Fin-market goals and scheduled a call

[@myleghurts3546]

I've worked in a transloading facility and saw first-hand the stress truck drivers have to put up with. Not a glorious job, but very necessary to ordinary citizens. All I can say is when on the road, give truckers the respect they deserve: they just might be heading toward your neighborhood, to deliver your next purchase

[@sandyadams9446]

If u buy it ina store it got there by a Truck.

[@MrSimonw58]

Perks of being a truck driver is you occasionally get to murder a prostitute

[@Dr.Kay_R]

I don't work in logistics. But I sweared to that guy who was shouting for not getting NEWER version of PlayStation. They don't have to wait for months for useful chemicals, medicines and other equipments to arrive like me.

[@myleghurts3546]

@@Dr.Kay_R You carry wisdom in you. There are people who find themselves in a hurry to satisfy their own small wants. What you refer to are needs, and as such, take utmost priority or so should, unfortunately, in this crazy old world, wants and needs are created equal. Kudos to you for your comment! Keep that kind knowledge and share please.

[@myleghurts3546]

@@sandyadams9446 Yes. Somehow, there are individuals who think a chiquita banana is grown on a chiquita tree

[@Mudgrove]

I see this every day. Working in Industrial packaging systems for over 26 years, I see warehouses, distribution centres, factories. And it's time all countries considered local manufacturing to insulate themselves from an inarguably obvious weakness that has potential to cripple overnight. Hardly anyone realises what it takes to get a product from A to B. Also, manufactured goods MUST be serviceable - we need to halt the mindset of "it's a sealed unit, throw it away". Repair, instead of replace. This generates service industries, jobs, manufacturing of spare part industries, and a huge reduction of wasted resources (landfill). Governments are absolutely tone deaf to this. PLUS, brands have the opportunity to be reliable once again from having back-up - service what we sell. An old catch cry... but still VERY relevant.

[@jakkuwolfinsomnia8058]

My friend I experience the exact same principle in laboratories I worked in a high tech biotechnology industrial site making cures and the packaging, shipment the payment methods etc. there’s far more efficient means to do it, but of course governments don’t think about the long-term or sustainability they just think quick cash quick return quick favour.

[@davidhawley1132]

I enjoy watching the KZbin channel The Post Apocalyptic Inventor, where he repairs and/or repurposes tools and other stuff he finds in junkyards. Myself, I buy old pro-quality tools because they are better made and repairable if they break compared to cheap consumer-grade stuff.

[@jakkuwolfinsomnia8058]

@@davidhawley1132 I can appreciate that, I love using innovation to recycle old materials instead of just buying new stuff

[@LastbutNotFirst]

psst. stuff is ment to break. its called planned obsolescence

[@michaelsmith953]

unfortunately government likes money and right to repair/unions aren't as willing to be corrupt and pay them large sums under the table as megacorps A and A

[@danielsweeney8164]

Excellent and timely insight into what happens between clicking 'buy' and my doorbell ringing, in addition to the pandemic issues complicating it. Thank you WSJ.

[@claudiabettina]

The more we simplify our lives the better off we will be. Good documentary - a very important issue.

[@GhostHandGamer]

There's not a labor shortage, there's a wage shortage. If people don't think the compensation is worth their time and effort they won't apply. Cutting costs by decreasing wages and benefits then crying "labor shortage!" is self-fulfilling.

[@bestprice1776]

It's called inflation, solve the devaluation of the dollar and there wouldn't be a wage problem.... The solution already exists and that's BITCOIN

[@MultiAnne36]

That's what I've been saying! Nursing shortage is a good example. 2 years into a Plandemic and still getting low balled on wages. I was offered $24 an hour! Unbelievable! Horrible to non existing benefits. I'm sure the Shareholders aren't hurting though.

[@bestprice1776]

@@MultiAnne36 health care is already too high, we need cuts across the board including wages. 😆

[@CBT5777]

@@bestprice1776 You missed the point. Inflation is caused by corporations. Wake up.

[@GhostHandGamer]

@@bestprice1776 Lol, no thanks. I don't want to buy beanie babies. Until people are actually use it as a currency and not a speculative get rich quick scheme I'm not interested

[@Sirbikingviking]

I used to work as an order picker/selector and as a forklift driver. I have unloaded many trucks and spoken to many drivers. This is one of the best, most well made documentaries I have ever seen. Well done to all those involved, thank you for telling our story.

[@slevinchannel7589]

Seen "Why many lose Faith in Capitalism" by 'Second Thought'?

[@Sirbikingviking]

@@klapsidis Negligent towards safety, toxic and hostile workforce, not recommended. I got arthritis in my joints in my 20s from overwork, took me most of a year to heal.

[@Sirbikingviking]

@@klapsidis Yeah definitely

[@draco_2727]

Eye-opening and heartbreaking at the same time,... thinking about the effort of all these people put and things to go through in order to stay afloat.

[@solosix3991]

Yep. It's purely a leadership issue. There's no further hack in productivity that can meet the needs of consumers while meeting those of workers AND filling the pockets of stakeholders and execs

[@dwaniscool]

This is an amazing and super informative documentary. I am always super grateful for every item that can be purchased today because who knows when this way of living will stop.

[@fartywood3917]

The "I want Everything Right Now" culture has to change, throw away consumerism has to end, Right to repair has to be mandatory, Planned Obsolescence needs to be criminal, changing the mindset to pay a premium for locally sourced products has to set in, greed on wallstreet has to end, politicians with a backbone need to come to power....the list goes on. Its going to be interesting next few decades.

[@jordanfrielingsdorf4761]

We will be living like Wall-e unless we change our ways

[@samlittle7243]

Decades, you're optimistic

[@kontractkillakevo2832]

The lazy culture wanting weekends off and to close early needs to change.

[@christopherbolar]

@@kontractkillakevo2832 lol what? So you just want to be at the beck and call of your capitalist overlord 24-hours a day 7-day a week?

[@kontractkillakevo2832]

@@christopherbolar don’t get into the business world if you can’t handle it. There’s no time for feelings and emotions in business. Money never sleeps so why do people.

[@Kyledacones]

Halfway through this and I’m just so amazed by the stories being told in this documentary. You think you know and have heard these stories before but the people in this documentary are so compelling and insightful.

[@robertthompson9455]

Don't believe the main stream media, they are nearly all propaganda these days.

[@saynothingass]

I love the time with real life employees and getting to know them, it helps me, an audience member, connect with this video and in turn “like” the video more

[@worldcitizeng6507]

This type of documentary format has been used by DW, a German PBS in English for world audiences. They made documentaries on various topics, it keeps me informed on economics, travel, worldwide conflicts etc

[@tricallyourmama]

Let’s not forget about the equipment issue. Truck drivers that come into the port to pick up a container have trouble getting a chassis. The equipment providers do not release them causing more delays at the ports. You have to report on ALL these issues to help people better understand

[@saysimonsaid1576]

As a truck driver I love how people just think that the product they order just appears at their door like magic. Everything you will ever own or consume will spend part of its life cycle on a truck.

[@dodgeplow]

But it does appear on my doorstep like magic. I've ordered packages in a morning and had them delivered the same afternoon

[@saysimonsaid1576]

@@dodgeplow Yeah, unless it was sitting in a warehouse up the street someone had to drive it overnight to your city, then it was sorted to a local route where a day driver brought it to your house. You're welcome.

[@NhatHuyNg]

@@TheBigGSN5 isnt a joke supposed to be funny?

[@agnewb2302]

I'm starting school for my CDL. Can't wait

[@socalnahtty]

😂 yes! & they sit there watching their phones waiting for the little delivery truck to move from one dot to the next 🙌 Common sense is not that common.

[@terp8373]

WSJ did a great job of putting human faces on all this. I have a new-found respect and admiration for all the folks who make the supply chain work.

[@ca6360]

What about China locking down to gain leverage... who holds the leverage? Who is now more dependent on who

[@kennethhudson8013]

More like human excuse for their minions

[@stephenbatchelder5739]

WSJ didn’t show the ambulances outside fulfillment centers.

[@kennethhudson8013]

I don't believe any media from NYC

[@kennethhudson8013]

Why doent the WSJ disinformation news tell us the effect 15 million and counting illegals have on our supply chain? Because they are owned by the Khazistan Mafia

[@timekiler]

I'm really surprised to see such a documentary done by the WSJ. Well done. 👍

[@MUNDOESCABROSO]

One of the best documentaries I have ever watched! Recommended!

[@SideHustleAddict]

Thanks 🙏

[@algerienizer]

there isn't a shortage of labor, there is a shortage of good pay/benefits for these jobs allowing one to live a dignified life, offered food, shelter, healthcare, take care of their families, send their kids to school, and retire in dignity

[@darwinjina]

well, that has just been getting hard due to the government induced inflation. Now with Putin's conflict, it will take years to simmer down.

[@alexbockmeulen3560]

Amen!!!

[@danmorrison7251]

Its actually caused by Inflation due to the printing of trillions of dollars by central banks and authorized by governments. Not only from stimulus checks but also paid big banks, wall st, and foreign entities. Over 80% of the currency supply was created within the last 2 years. The reason its seems like theres a "shortage of good pay/benefits for these jobs allowing one to live a dignified life, offered food, shelter, healthcare, take care of their families, send their kids to school, and retire in dignity", is really the cost of living rose through breaking all time highs with an inflated devalued $. If you learn about central banking and the faults of the fiat ,you will realize your comment is short sighted. Fiat always wrecks economies, destroy lifestyles but they also dont last long.

[@camerontaylor209]

Yeah... We all pay for those costs. Who is supposed to pay for that? It's not paid for now, you want that built in to everything you buy?

[@istyleonu]

The real problem is the shortage of jobs that deserve good pay. I understand wanting a garbage man or some other useful profession to earn a wage that affords them a house, car, and the ability to support a family. What about the 50% of jobs in the world that are low effort and borderline useless though? Do you think a Walmart greeter should be paid 50k+ a year also?

[@wolfe469]

I am a trucker, and we truckers have been operating 24/7 for decades. To say there aren't drivers to pick up the freight or that distribution centers don't accept freight at 3am shows a lack of understanding of how the supply chain works once it leaves the port.

[@seanthe100]

My thought exactly if you knew the nightmare it is to drive around Los Angeles during the day, the night would be freaking awesome!

[@janesslinger2814]

Something really nice about this documentary is you get to see the diverse people involved in the industry: Blue collar, white collar, men, women, all nationalities ... Very interesting and informative.

[@muzmuz]

This was excellent, i love that you guys just put it all online here. Good content!

[@gamingtonight1526]

Shame when they talked about the manufacturing, then the canal, then the open sea, then the docking and unloading and shipping to wholesalers and then shipping to retailers, they didn't talk about the huge amount of C02 released! This is why supplying isn't the problem. Climate change is.

[@sgiovanny39j]

@@gamingtonight1526 though organizations are becoming more responsive to how their supply chains impact the environment, there are not many alternatives to the modes of transportation currently used. We will get there one day. However, that day isn't today.

[@zAlaska]

I recently bought an electric heater at Fred Meyer. The manufacturing date sticker was on it and it was several years old. They manufactured a million of them boxed them up and put them in warehouses. They probably haven't made any new ones for years relying on the inventory that they initially built but they're selling over the years. I wonder what the cost of storage was? I'm satisfied with the product in the new perfect condition that it was and works. It was cheap based on prices of years ago. Once they're gone I expect the price will go up a lot when they have to remanufacture more.

[@Caperhere]

If the resources to manufacture still exist. If we aren’t in a military or economic war with whoever manufactures goods. Lots of room for price fixing. Everything is a monopoly these days. And those are just a few things that immediately come to mind. We’d freak if we knew the whole of it.

[@xrxs1020]

@@Caperhere I agree with your thoughts. I'm struck by the fact that at any point in the supply chain individuals with bad intent can sabotage the flow of goods. Our supply lines are a wonderland for psychopaths and activists who dream of destroying the old order in order to ''build back better.'' Trouble is, whatever we end up with will likely be some sort of half-baked ''new world order'' as part of the Great Reset envisioned by so-called elites. Now that the highly exaggerated ''pandemic'' is ''over,'' people who paid attention are waiting for the next shoe to drop. Know there WILL be a ''next crisis.'' The psychopaths govern via crisis, natural or manufactured. "Progress'' is most easily forged through the fear engendered by real or faked disaster.

[@bennyng765]

You over thinking, the more likely case is the warehouse did not FIFO

[@johnnycreighton29]

Electric heaters are over-rated and too often a safety hazard. Next!

[@taoliu3949]

It's probably why they were so cheap. They were trying to get rid of inventory to free up space.

[@michaelpepsin9581]

I've only ever been a part of the pizza supply chain and I felt the stress of maintaining my vehicle from that alone. Really informative work, well-paced, expanded my understanding

[@janeswayne6524]

Such informative and well-done documentary. Thank you Wall Street Journal!

[@SideHustleAddict]

Thanks for watching buddy

[@cuocsongmylevan]

Thanks for watching fam. That's me from 43:00 to 47:00

[@yfiebach6348]

🐐🐐

[@yogeshcyr31]

👍🏽 how many hours in a month do you work? Is it flexible? what is the job security, Thank you !!

[@fastrice3461]

Hard working dude! Keep hustlin’

[@gman2036]

I bet you’ll stop doing that Flex job after you start noticing your car having failures. Like other people said, it’s Amazon’s way of paying for cheaper transit and taking advantage of people. Capitalism at its finest.

[@brandoncochran6671]

I appreciate all you do! Take care brother!

[@20tea]

As a FedX driver of 20+ years, I totally agree with the strain on all levels. With the cost of living lately, it's getting harder to retain and hire additional workers in this industry. There needs to a be a solution soon, or the supply chain will definitely take a hit. Too much overtime for those of us that continue to work definitely leads to burnout!

[@cIeetz]

you guys need to protest and stand around until you get a raise. Canada post workers did that multiple times ( My Dad worked for them in the parcel plant for like 30 years ) . If people dont protest, they never get change. If postal workers protest, nothing gets delivered and their demands will certainly get met.

[@yodaguy6956]

The harder it is to find workers, the more power current workers have to force better pay and working conditions, don't hesitate to take advantage of that situation

[@r.i.t.randominterestingthi4031]

@@cIeetz and the prices go up againts and the buyers protest cause the prices is too high and the problem just repeated themselves, try another solution other than asking for a raises, we are trying to make a working economy, not a massive apocalypse

[@supermodelatlanta1354]

The solution is sir, fed ex needs to remove that banned for life policy if some goes wrong. I was in small sort. Did 3k packages a day. 24 hr shift on peek. I got phenomena called out the message wasn't released and I got put on the banned list.

[@20tea]

@Goodfella2.0 Ouch, so the amount of work I have personally done at FX freight working 12 hr plus days in and around downtown Seattle the past couple years is not enough for an opinion? I've delivered throughout those 'protests' at chop/chaz zone & mentally ill homeless, precious materials to hospitals/ emergency response, PPE to major facilities/companies, replacement furnishings/goods that was robbed/stripped bare and burned, steel structures and equipment to well known major construction sites, ect... Extra time put in because coworkers left for various reasons, but I need to maintain income for my family and want to serve the people I care about in my community where I grew up. How is it that I have no say in the matter?

[@Joe-bb8bw]

Outstanding. Every school should be showing this Doc.

[@FoodAndTravel303]

Thanks 🙏 WSJ for this awesome opportunity 🙏🙏🎥🎥

[@humbacs11]

I’m a truck driver(owner operator) and the biggest problem for me as a truck driver is that I’m making the same amount of money I was making in 2009 when I started and my cost to run the business skyrocketed. Everything went up in price but not my rates. Where is the money??? The driver on video said that he works 14 hours a day well, he is wrong 😑. We work 24 hours a day because we are on the road all the time I can’t go home in the end of the day I have to sleep in my truck. Do you think $70,000.00/year is good for a 24hour job??? That we are having not that many people interest in driving a truck.

[@aruytpadyugf]

I believe and support everything your said--truckers work 24 hr shifts. I live in California, and I was stuck in traffic for 3 hours on the freeway. It turned out a truck driver drove off a cliff!!! He feel asleep at the wheel. Broke my heart. It just comes to show you how the drivers literally get NO BREAKS for proper rest and sleep. Thank you for doing what you do!!!

[@rodrigocustodio3103]

Isso mesmo Beto, aqui na Austrália 🇦🇺 tá do mesmo jeito

[@Gazelle8]

I've worked at a Pilot for a few years of my life, being able to interact and talk with drivers has given me more respect for them than they get.

[@Sumatra2030]

Respect to all truckers! 🙏✌️💯❣️

[@surfinglifemiasway]

I'm also a driver and I agree with the 24 hour thing or the not being able to walk to your own bathroom after a day's work and take a shower

[@alexgiles1561]

As a society, we need to start respecting the efforts of warehouse workers and truck drivers more. I think we also need to accept that some things will take time to arrive. To me, it seems like the current model is not working.

[@vanepeda6147]

They need to hire more people and pay them more

[@WindsofTrade]

I work in a warehouse and people come in, work a day, realize the work is hard and heavy and quit the next. It's insane. In the 12+ years I've been with my employer we've never been so short staffed now. People started quitting mid-2021 and we've never recovered. The supply chain has fallen apart. In our case even increasing wages hasn't been enough of an incentive for people. I agree with the other commenter though that we need even more pay, or better benefits, especially with retailers bringing in record profits.

[@parafitality2730]

Well overnight shipping is still around and can be done, just expect to pay more for it

[@stephen9564]

@@vanepeda6147 Doesn't matter how many people you hire or how much you pay them when everytime someone sneezes you halt production completely

[@dxelson]

You know whats actually going to happen? Automation.

[@akshaymankar554]

This is the journalism that we need! Thank you! :)

[@kennethsnyder9236]

This is the second or third time I’ve watched this. This Hass to be the most complete explanation of how the global chain works

[@asiatravel2010]

Shout out to Jenny Rosado for being awesome at what she does. As someone that gets deliveries almost every day, I use specific companies that in my area have someone like Jenny. Delivery times are fairly consistent, it is people like Jenny that define if one company gets my business over another. Nice work Jenny!

[@tpeterson9140]

Jennys burner account?

[@asiatravel2010]

@@tpeterson9140 with a response like that I would wonder who you are - certainly not someone who would value empowering and rewarding a smart worker. I can assure you, before this doco I had never heard of or met anyone in it before. I am not affiliated with and have never met anyone involved with the production of this video. Please try again, or press alt-f4 to exit.

[@rajeshupadhyay5683]

@@ericalorraine7943I'll suggest you lookup Priscilla Dearmin-Turner, she have been our real investment prodigy and has also help me handled my trades for over 16 months now.

[@adesolataiwo7507]

Making moves in the crypto market based on emotions is always the smart approach, so yeah, I panicked and sold everything

[@davidhudson3001]

A news host spoke so highly of this💕 Priscilla Dearmin-Turner and her loss prevention strategies been trying to get to her ever since didn’t know she was so accessible here.

[@moony2703]

Just listening to the shipping truck drivers being like ‘there is literally no room to put stuff’ and just thinking about how stuffed the distribution shed I work at gets in the lead up to Christmas and then that collective sigh of _relief_ when all that stockpiled and pre-stacked stuff starts moving and you actually have room to work again instead of spending your time trying to figure out where to put things so they aren’t in the way.

[@thegrandson583]

I'm from India and I've no idea of this channel I was reading rich dad & poor dad and there was an line where they talk about the ' wall streets'. Loved this channel.

[@abdullahfahimnabizada2563]

The whole supply chain was explained and analyzed very well.

[@okonomikatsu4723]

As someone working in international trade, I have never seen this much chaos within Global supply chain. This all leads to the current shortages, price hikes, top that with inflation, things gonna get even more harder for the next several years.

[@cartrips9263]

2008 was nothing compared to this. And yet the media still treats it like its nothing. Tells you how much worse its gonna get. Even 1930s will be a joke in comparison. More wars will happen because of all the break up of global trade and misery caused by it to normal people everywhere. I hope you know who to really blame for it.

[@DixieSchizo]

@@cartrips9263 the tribe who controls the west

[@okonomikatsu4723]

@@cartrips9263 indeed. At the end, normal people always ended up paying the price.

[@mobilmag864]

Is inflation the consequence or the cause of the global chaos ? That is the correct question. Pandemic and war in Ukraine only makes the "next big crash countdown" tick a little bit faster. Price hikes and shortages are just consequences of inflation and this time the big crash will spread from Europe. If we will miss two seasons of harvest from Ukraine (this year harvest is already in great danger), there will be hunger and famine at our side of the pond. People in Europe will have money (at least this year) to buy the expensive crops with everinflating prices, but poor countries in Africa are fu**ed. For example Egypt is in serious trouble right now, because of its dependency on food imports from both Russia and Ukraine.

[@DixieSchizo]

@@mobilmag864 Y'all better get used to high fructose corn syrup cuz I'm sure it's gonna be us who bails you out of this mess. Maybe Belgium will become fatter than the U.S.!

[@kairon156]

I've known all of these shipping phases before but this is one of the best step by step shipping documentaries I've seen. And it was amazingly well put together.

[@frankrodriguezit]

I agree, WSJ content is not only very well made, as far as production value, but also incredible as far as insight, industry experts, interviews and input from all levels. I love the projects the Wall Street Journal channel creates 💕🙏🏽

[@SideHustleAddict]

Absolutely. What an amazing job by wsj 👍👍

[@philobetto5106]

wanting to read a comment that blames Trump or covid or anything other than the corrupt Biden administration

[@wisemoneyfinance451]

I think this trucking industry issue is making a stronger case for electronically-driven trucks. ⚡👍

[@kairon156]

@@wisemoneyfinance451 Agreed. as long as the current truckers are kept on the job. Just get the self driving trucks as the demand needs it.

[@SideHustleAddict]

Thanks Wall Street journal for the wonderful documentary

[@WaveAfterWavebySeas]

Great Video! Way to really explain the global shipping industry. I pray we navigate into a space of optimization and still humanely support our once depending factors THE WORKERS. It will be interesting in the future to see how theses systems sustain with human design.

[@nbonasoro]

"The issue is not having enough people willing to do the job long term." This statement boggles the mind. If the industry is getting feedback that the job is not desirable why isn't the job being altered to attract more people? If people don't want to do long haul trucking why not alter the trucking to be more like a relay. Instead of truckers owning their trucks the logistics company should, that way John Smith can drive the truck X miles and hand it off to Jane doe to drive it Y miles. Am I missing something here?

[@ARocketScientist85]

That's how most European truckers work, they're employees. That naturally comes with it's own caveats like the companies forcing drivers to do tired overtime and such. Trucks should drive autonomously

[@thetrainhopper8992]

Or just ship trailers by train. They've done that for years. You can easily have two people haul 100 trailers across the country and only need truckers for first and last mile trips. It would at least ease up on the highways and give truckers more stability.

[@twingzable]

Exactly

[@sclarsen86]

@@thetrainhopper8992 Trains do ship cargo cross country. There's just not enough infrastructure to support a massive ramp up.

[@CrypticCabal]

@@sclarsen86 agreed. The railroad is at peak capacity and at every point in the supply chain regardless of # of people, these things are very difficult to run happily without massive restructuring and supply chain band aids. The issue is, what happens when this demand goes down, if infrastructure increases? Vacant ports, non profitable railways, and those employees as truck drivers can’t get hours because competition is so high.

[@userasdf1546]

I was a last mile driver for a contractor in FedEx. It was hard work for low pay. I was making $12/hour if I count all my hours. They advertised $15/hour but that was only driving time.

[@_sky_3123]

This was one of the better documentaries I saw this year.

[@chotu5092]

Amazing documentary eye opening

[@pennyc11]

Thank you truck drivers for taking good care of me. Being disabled, I limit my shopping now I do not drive for health reasons. I live a little bit better because of your hard work.

[@gfrizzleshizzlemanizzle]

Least I can do. Peace to you.

[@jensturgeon6976]

It’s crazy the journey for something as small as a phone charger goes through just to be bought from a gas station in the U.S., broken the next week and thrown away.

[@kairon156]

your comment breaks my heart because it's one thing to plan tech to be obsolete, it should also be equally bad to sell cheap products that aren't worth the plastic and shipping required to go on the market.

[@Tropicanax7x]

@@kairon156 The price of greed.

[@generaltso6914]

Aluminum -- mining, processing, storage, 1 soda ☹can, landfill

[@jonathanshields7414]

@@generaltso6914 Soda?

[@frankrodriguezit]

@@generaltso6914 I do what I can to recycle, reduce, re-use I’m a long haul truck driver. Whenever I stop at a truck stop, I’ll pick up a discarded plastic bottles, aluminum cans, or glass bottles

[@dynagaming2693]

Former OTR trucker here, the only thing I disagree with is the professor who keeps saying that deregulation in the trucking industry is what lead to the driver shortage. To completely honest, what lead to driver shortages (and subsequent backlogs of deliveries) IS regulation, specifically DOT regulations. So there used to be called a little book you'd carry called a driver log book. This is where you'd record down your hours. You'd keep multiple copies, one of which you'd give the DOT people at weigh stations, which showed you were compliant with the hours of service (11 hours of driving per day, 14 hour work day max, so you could work 3 hours where you aren't driving and dedicate 11 hours to actual driving). You're required to do a 10 hour reset between days. For YEARS this is how the industry operated. Drivers were definitely exceeding their 11 hours of drive time, but since we're paid per mile that means more money for us. This is what literally kept the economy moving. Then back in 2019 they made it the law of the land that you had to use what's called an ELD (electronic logging device) that's tied into your truck. Every move is recorded, and all a DOT inspector has to do is plug into it and they can see if you're following the HOS rules. Ever notice how in the last few years there seems to be more and more trucks parked along our highways? That's because with the advent of the ELD and subsequent adoption by law, you can't fudge the books anymore. This means more time sitting on the side of the road (or at a truck stop if you're lucky to find an available spot). Every minute you sit, not moving, you're not making any money. This means that a job that used to pay exceptionally well, you're being forced by the government to sit and not make money (in the name of safety, of course). The ironic part is since the adoption of the ELD, accidents have actually INCREASED involving tractor-trailers. Why? Because to make the most out of your day, you need to be fast, getting more miles in before your time runs out. This leads to unsafe actions (including blowing through stop-lights, since literally every second you sit waiting you're not getting mileage). Another problem with this system is that the hours you spend sitting waiting to get loaded, you're not making money AND it counts against your drive time (due to the current laws). While I understand the noble pursuit of making roads safer, it ironically has lead to more unsafe behavior in truckers. The transportation economy used to be run by truckers who had been driving for 15+ hours a day, hopped up on caffeine and amphetamines, who would fudge their log books so they could keep moving and making money. The adoption of the ELD has completely solved the HOS violations problem, but lead to unintended consequences such as shortages of drivers. I left the industry and went to work in construction, where my CDL could still be put to use, because of the regulations. I felt like the government was hindering my ability to provide for my family, so an industry I used to love is now dead to me. TL;DR: Government regulations in trucking have actually caused more bottlenecks, unsafe activities, and driver shortages. Deregulation of the trucking industry in 1980 has nothing to do with the driver shortage we are facing now, it has everything to do with having every minute of your day tracked and being told you can't legally move your truck once you run out of hours.

[@AshadALovell]

Very insightful.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I try to thank all the delivery drivers who kept me going during the pandemic, they have been wonderful. I was on full lockdown for two years and being able to get supplies, etc., delivered made a huge difference.

[@anothercomment3451]

PLAN... Lockdown is a Prison term. Successful Programming, eh.

[@pierQRzt180]

When society relies on job that ends up being unappreciated, then things are wrong. Crucial jobs should be rewarded well, it doesn't matter whether blue/white/ collar.

[@scottishfuryfreedommedia1972]

Driver shortage is because the lack of pay deserved for being out. We only get 34 hr restart & when finally home 34 hr is not enough time being out 30 or more days. And weak pay ,so we're forced to stay out to pay are bills.

[@DylanPlaysGuitar_]

This helped my class thank you wall street journal

[@greggmcclelland8430]

The production value of this is pretty fantastic. Hats off to everyone who worked on this Video. You did a fantastic job!

[@SideHustleAddict]

Thanks buddy

[@jeremykemp8301]

As a supply-chain outsider (until the end of the last mile, that is) I found this fascinating, and a crystallisation / summary of the kinds of issues that most people like myself are probably only peripherally aware of. Sometimes the I-want-it-all-and-I-want-it-now turn of life in the west over the past 2 or 3 decades feels like a house of cards built on sand (and not only because of supply-chain issues). Highly vulnerable to windy days and cloudbursts.

[@ahoued42]

As a supply chain exporter, I love hearing this! Most take for granted the everyday items they have access to. Not many know the headache of getting things from point a to point b. And now with the current events it's darn near impossible to efficiently do this task. It's almost maddening.

[@dudeman5788]

The growth of last 40 years has all been superficial. The chickens have come home to roost.

[@jwilliam2255]

The reason it feels like a house of cards is because it is a house of cards. Maybe we should go back to building our own highly automated factories to actually make the product and pay highly trained workers substantial salaries to design, build and maintain the equipment and the factories. This has worked incredibly well in Germany, Japan, Korea, etc. But no, we're Americans so the obvious solution is to move production out of China to somewhere with *really* cheap labor like Malaysia or Indonesia or Malawi. and then it won't matter that our educational system produces functional morons who believe the world is actually a collection of neo-marxist hallucinations.

[@davidhawley1132]

@@jwilliam2255 Most things in Japan are either slightly cheaper than the US because they are Chinese made and imported by vendors who add no service value, or they are twice or more expensive. I source from China when I think I can live with the quality.

[@JohnWilmerding]

I am glad when I see worthwhile documentaries on KZbin. I love it when people are plain-spoken and know what they are talking about. Such a contrast from all the junk and click-bait that's out there!

[@GamePlayer775]

Insightful; gives you insight into the complexity(ies) of the supply chain.

[@ww32]

Looks like it's time to increase the amount of rail miles we have have in this country, just like we used to have, to reduce the reliance on long haul trucking and spread the load out more evenly to make the system far more robust on the ground side.

[@Jetsonn]

I think that is a good idea

[@raycomeau6866]

Actually the US has the longest rail routes in the world and it consumes 30% of all forms of transportation. It is also old and slow.

[@chriscampbell9191]

Great idea, but rails-to-trails predominates, and rail lines aren't cheap to build anymore. Under present day regulatory and business conditions, none of the transcontinental rail routes would probably have been built. Regional lines? Probably the same problem.

[@christopherfortney2544]

@@raycomeau6866 The vast majority of rail has been removed in the USA. There used to be rail to almost every town and city in the USA. They were tore up replaced with roads or highways. The biggest economic disaster by most economists. Now the problem is almost all the rail is owned by two families. They dont want competition.

[@christopherfortney2544]

@@raycomeau6866 Im gonna add to this that modern trains aren't slow nor do they need much fuel. At speed rail can move 400 miles per gallon of diesel. Physics is an amazing thing.

[@jparsit]

I admire these people. It is very hard work to get things there on time. The corporate should treat them with fair wages, bonuses, and respect.

[@WhatsUpWithSheila]

Some do...

[@nobodyspecial4702]

You're dealing with a world where Amazon is setting the new trends and they aren't going out of their way to provide any of those things, so they can deliver cheaper and that's why their market share keeps going up. Ultimately, Amazon will control world wide shipping and they will dictate the terms for it. It's no different than Walmart entering a region, undercutting all the competition so they close, then raising the prices to levels above what people used to pay before they came. The difference is that instead of a dozen or so places to shop, there's only one and it tells you what you will pay and you don't have any alternatives.

[@tasneemtarannum5039]

This documentary is a masterpiece!

[@greenscreen3347]

I've definitely been frustrated that something I've ordered was a day later than expected. I knew they worked hard, and alot of moving parts. But this really makes you realize just how much goes into it. Especially when 100 years ago you would wait months.

[@peteygonemadarts4765]

I'm a million miler and even though i planned on retiring from this profession I'm leaving in next 2 years . Its not because we have regulations but because the regulations restrict me from being able to drive safely. people talk about FUDGING the Log book . While i admit there were people abusing it most drivers altered log books to OPERATE SAFELY. For example as of witing this i have been up for over 36 hours . Its because the government said it was safer for me to sit awake all day yesterday instead of driving . So i drove all night barely able to stay awake because it was only way to make my delivery . Honestly if i had paper logs i would have drove yesterday while rested and wakeful and slept last night instead of struggling to stay awake to pay my bills . This is a normal reality for many of us and one of the reasons the industry cant hold drivers . If the government tells you you're not allowed to safely operate a deadly piece of equipment then its obvious the government doesn't care about your safety or the safety of the public and none of us want to know we killed someone because the government forbade us from operating safely . The regulations are so confusing that even though i understand Theoretical Physics , read books by Stephen Hawkins and Brian Greene and even regularly listen to physics lectures from M.I.T and Standford ... i can't tell you how to use some of our rules . Is pay an issue ? For the risks the government forces on us yes . This is why only a third or so of CDL holders use it . This is not an easy license to obtain and even harder to keep yet drivers are fleeing this industry . Another problem is scheduling. To often we get loads with an open delivery but then broker schedules delivery while we're not even loaded yet . Then more often than not they arent calculating hours correctly . The load i was just on broker claimed it wasnt a J.I.T ( JUST IN TIME ) because it picked up on Tuesday and delivered Thursday . The reality was i had 34 hours to do an estimated 33 hour drive . If i scheduled it i would have made my first stop 38 hours . The reason is Traffic , Construction , Other delays , Fuel Stop , Two post trips and Two pre trips as well as at least one 30 minute meal and 30 minutes for , well ... restroom needs . That is proper planning but we're not allowed to schedule our deliveries so we can plan . The list goes on but the government hinderance to being allowed to operate safely is one of the biggest factors , but the other issues just add up quickly on that dangerous situation .

[@johnnylogan5927]

I was thinking of becoming a driver in my older years after im done with this asphalt work. Sounds like it has its issues but maybe by then it will be better.

[@mikeb5372]

Yeah, you're exactly right

[@mintyrainbow6994]

I work for a regional transportation company that does a lot of last-mile delivery because we go to all of the small towns that bigger carriers don't go to. We're union, and that means we can't compete with other companies on price, so we've always tried to position our company as a high-end, high-customer service carrier. We cost more but we can do overnight service most of the time, and we provide excellent customer service. In the last two years, this has worked very much to our advantage because there are a lot of people who just want to get it delivered as soon as possible, and will pay more for that service. We've actually had to turn a lot of business away at times. Even so, we never have enough drivers -- the driver shortage affects everyone. 10-15 years ago we would often have extra drivers available and if you wanted something delivered same day, we would do it immediately for the right price. These days, there are NEVER any extra drivers available, so we just can't do same day deliveries like that.

[@evancourtney7746]

I used to be a traffic clerk for a freight forwarder, we handled a lot of time-critical shipments and I used to prefer to work with smaller local companies for 'last mile' delivery. I used to tell my vendors, "I'm not going for bottom dollar, I need you to deliver the right stuff to the right place at the right time". It would break my heart when good guys who could reliably come through for me would close down; they just couldn't charge enough to stay in business.

[@q21wak]

What a good Doc for sure..

[@user-rr8vj3uy4f]

thanks for such an amazing video. it gives a lot of knowledge and reality on supply chain.

[@AmsterdamEats]

This is a really well done documentary, thanks!

[@NoNORADon911]

More BS

[@oneaboveallferrarifan2725]

Fake bs, make America industrial again

[@a45538]

For everyone saying America needs to bring back factories to US. Or should have not send production overseas. Are you willing to pay more for it? And do know people in your community that are willing to work in factories anymore?

[@willz8494]

Good call. And remember, you don’t get to decide that. Conglomerates make their decision.

[@johnl.7754]

Most people aren’t willing to pay extra for it as an individual purchasing stuff but if might be willing to be forced to by the government if tariffs are put on stuff (for everybody). Most people are willing to work in factories (of anyplace else) IF the pay if high enough. Of course the results might be low stock/real estate prices since inflation/interest rates will be very high then.

[@AXXXOLO]

​@@johnl.7754 but then what about capitalism

[@drewh3224]

For the current outsourcing model, Americans are mostly paying for another American's relatively high labor wages and really paying a peanut for a foreign product and labor.

[@abanjuanito529]

How ? dude ... the politicians always make empty talks for campaigns ... Honestly I wanna escape from the states , the politicans scew up the supply chain and economy, ordianry ppl sufferring a lot . the inflation "Aha" moment affects everyday lives and makes me can't breath.... gas pump, coffee shop, grocery store .... feel it " Aha" "Aha, Aha " ... I don't expect "Aha" is the last sound of my life ...

[@mattanderson6672]

Thank you

[@SuperNatural-qu9lz]

This world is crazy, no respect, no awareness, no knowledge and dont care how things work, fix it and fix it fast. Just live life floating around worrying about irrelevancy. I see it everyday allday in traffic. Salute to my truckers and the hard workers that keep the supply chain moving. Keep on Trucking!

[@billyrourke2182]

Really thorough video. One thing I still haven't seen covered in any depth, though, are rail operations. I think following the container from the port through loading the rail and the path it takes would be good to see. Why do some containers load the rail in 2 days after they discharge in LA, but other times it takes 6 weeks! Lots of variability in how long it takes to either load the train at the port, and then sometimes it loads and sits there for a week before it departs. Also, containers can get held up along the way for weeks unexpectedly. Maybe a second video can cover that aspect of the supply chain :)

[@uncannyvalley2350]

American infrastructure needs 4.5 trillion just to repair, and it ain't happening. America is being hollowed out by its own bigotry and ignorance, third world country here we come

[@McChrister]

@@uncannyvalley2350 Well said….Just look at all the robberies of the trains in Los Angeles! Another big problem…👋🏼🇨🇦

[@nn123654]

A big reason is the lack of flexibility in the rail network and the complexity of managing multimodal transit. Where rail has a big advantage is when you're moving a lot of items a long distance. Rail takes considerably longer than truck transportation, and in most cases the goods still have to go on a truck to the last mile anyways. Additionally because you have to go through a rail provider and are adding another trip to and from the rail yard on each end it makes the arrival time far more unpredictable.

[@TheDemocrab]

A big part of it is the rail systems not just in America but globally often being underfunded and the companies running them rife with long-term corruption/management problems stemming from when rail was the only real way to travel long distance at any reasonable speed. (ie. And was incredibly powerful/influential as an industry akin to oil today) For example, I'm an Aussie railfan and a consistent reason for a lot of the smaller rural branch lines closing that you'll hear is the freight demand drying up due to inflexible line managers preventing new customers from easily getting their cargo on the trains because in the managers mind, larger trains serving more customers made their job harder until enough had done that and enough former customers closed their doors that there wasn't enough demand for anything but the larger, long distance trains. This is a big part of why trucks took over cargo at least here and you can even see it still to this day with grain in the state of Victoria where there's at least one line (Eaglehawk-Inglewood railway line) where the local farmers have been calling for the local railline to get reinstated for over a decade because it's actually cheaper for them to truck the grain to the silo and train it to the ports in Geelong or Melbourne and Kensington Mills in Melbourne.

[@pohldriver]

Containers sit because the ports and rail yards are being used as tax free storage. If the product isn't on property, they are taxed for that inventory. Companies want their product in transit and there was a time when they would send loads out just to move them for tax purposes. They also just might not the space for the product or not be ready to receive it. The rail industry also reduced their trunk lines to two tracks and reduced the size or eliminated rail yards as trucking took most of the business.

[@austinquinn476]

I wonder why there is a trucker shortage. I’m usually suspicious of claims of labor shortages. To me that usually means there is a wage shortage or a benefit shortage.

[@alanpedrick1562]

I think what you mean is a manufactured shortage. The fact that mainstream media like this support the lies that all of this happened organically, that it had to happen, and that it was worth the cost, is evident that there is a global conspiracy to make a final push for global technocracy. It all points back to mega powerful, internationally connected zionists. Anytime we start to become more efficient and independent, they cause global catastrophes that stops it and reverses our progress. Free people will soon not exist. Populations will eventually be widdled down and the working class will be mindless slaves, unable to think for themselves let alone be able to fight their way out. It is a sad case indeed, never before seen in human history. Unless we can somehow trigger a swell of organized revolt against this system and get back to a moral state and refuse to submit to outside authority. Nations must be nations unto themselves or they will disappear.

[@erincarr9411]

It probably is both of those things as well as just being a really tough job. I can't imagine wanting to do that job. It's long long hours, hard on your health, and kinda dangerous. I work a couple labor intensive jobs (greenhouse, veggie farm, flower farm, and hospital kitchen) I would rather pick food and kill my knees and hand than drive hours and hours on end. And I get to go home and sleep in my own bed at night.

[@mrpersonality3497]

They're all retired.

[@ronvaughan8041]

It's because the public school system and our government has spent the past several decades demonizing anyone who wanted to dirty their hands or learn a trade instead of going to college. Period.

[@howardkerr8174]

7 years ago I thought that my income was getting me nowhere so I decided to " upgrade " my skills and get a CDL (commercial driver's license). I went to a local community college for a 12 WEEK course instead of one of those 12 DAY courses taught by " professional driving instructors ". I will admit that I struggled and it took more than 1 try to pass the driving part of the state's test. When I sent out my resume I was flooded with responses. I went with a respected company that had one of its many offices in my home state. Imagine my...surprise (?) when I showed up for my indoctrination and the company that I had chosen gave preference to the graduates of the quickee school of truck driving. A few months later I read that my company had bought the local quickee school of truck driving. Anyway, what this video says is true: on a per hour basis, a truck driver, until he/she gets A LOT of experience, is working for minimum wage. And companies have been saying for at least 10 years that they are facing driver shortages. As companies like AMAZON get richer at their employees expense, the situation in this video will get A HECK OF A LOT worse.

[@kraftwerkgrl-___-5304]

Add in rail and you have another layer of issues and concerns. Really good documentary.

[@l00king4you]

very clear video, and feels like part of a series of events taking place from long the pandemic and with just the short closure at the end about the war in Ukraine is definitely a story that is just starting to unfold. would love to hear more on the effects of the Ukraine humanitarian crisis on big international logistics, geopolitics and more.

[@brandonhart9119]

This was great, and as a current truck driver, very accurate.

[@kevg1869]

Amazing doc 👏👏👏

[@umberceri1441]

Absolutely fascinating! Quite honestly, I am buying what I anticipate I might need for the next two years ~ as inflation, fuel shortages, truck driver shortages. I anticipate at my older senior citizen age things will get much worse in the next couple of years! Cost and availability. I expect by the end of this summer 2022, I will be ready to cut back dramatically what I order on line and it is rather high for an older single senior citizen!

[@georgeanddaddecker7563]

Better reestablish the railroad system like it was back in the 1950's. It would take a lot of pressure off of the highway infrastructure . Use trucks for only local deliveries. Next consider more automation at each individual state railroad stations.This would be the cure. Secondly, we absolutely need to start manufacturing in the US again. If England can do it ,so can we.Imagine the possibilities.

[@arontesfay2520]

Manufacturing is actually making a comeback in North America. Railroads are a good solution as long as they don't intersect with roads. That's a huge inefficiency. Overpasses need to be the norm except maybe for very remote roads that don't get a lot of use.

[@thedude6153]

Can’t… it’s Cali. The only future approved way of transportation is a Tesla and unions have and will kill production when going against other countries.

[@stopstopp]

England is definitely not doing it lol

[@Nick-ue7iw]

Preach. The entire system of unload from a boat via crane into a pile, then loaded onto a truck, then unloaded onto another pile, then loaded onto another truck to be sent to a sorting facility then loaded onto ANOTHER truck is absolutely insane. The containers should be coming off the boat right onto a train, which then runs to the sorting facility. Every state or region should have a sorting facility that then ships via rail to a local facility, and then and only then should the truck take over. There is so much inefficiency in the current system it hurts.

[@duketogo2616]

@@Nick-ue7iw It's so simple and makes sense. That's exactly why it will only be done as a last ditch effort after all else has failed.

[@prism7287]

Thank you WSJ for doing this documentary. God bless all these fellow human beings.

[@jaybhatt6775]

incredible

[@adrianbannon8425]

The profits involved versus the mistreatment and exploitation of workers is unacceptable and unsustainable

[@adammcmurtrey4187]

I’d really be interested in having the @Wall Street Journal document what happens when a consumer presses the “Return package” button

[@Pinefenario]

I used to be a sailor. Well done people with this docu! You really showed the human part in the supply chain without being overly dramatic. I must say you Americans are great people, but have really strange measurement units as pounds, foots, gallons and so on. All the best from 🇳🇱

[@Hughmong_Us]

We use Imperial (well, "US Customary System") for daily living purposes really; and other countries use strange combinations of Metric and Imperial in daily life as well. Canada and UK come to mind in that regard. But we Americans do use Metric when it comes to Mathematics and the sciences.

[@iraa9935]

Hahaha -- years ago I read about a space craft/probe crashed because of the confusion/error between metric and English system! Stupid or careless errors can be costly -- so much for “rocket scientist” being brilliant (ok, blame the technicians, and the people who hired them…hahaha

[@thewewguy8t88]

honestly i agree this is not overly dramatic but there is something slightly depressing at least to me and i cant quite put my finger on what it is. but yes its nice to see a very human side of the supply chain.

[@Mhel2023]

I've been trained to think in pounds, feet, ounces, Farenheit, etc when I hear talk of centimeters, liters, gram I go blank and can't envision what that is 240ml of soda = huh, i wonder if that's enough 🤯 16 oz of soda = oh yeah I'll take it 😁 30C = um do I need a coat 30F= I need to go get my coat

[@jwhan8615]

@@Mhel2023 I have been living outside of the US since February 2020 and everyday still I have to start doing the math to see what amount something contains. Just a few days ago I had to look up how many liters were in a gallon to see what we were really paying for gas. Lol

[@mattmorford7489]

I'm so glad I'm not one of those people that complain about the time it takes to get something I ordered. Thank you to all involved for getting my product to me,. Thank you to all involved

[@marylopez0812]

Please update Your teams did amazing job

[@chrisschmitt9963]

As a supply chain undergraduate, this video really displays the changes we talk about in class every day. My generation will be responsible for major evolution in how we approach supply chain.

[@aceeman2135]

Those workers are getting ripped off.

[@jackfrosty4674]

The hippi 60s generation is the ones that messed it up. They are the blamed. Glad to know you will fix it.