The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) strike has entered its second day, impacting ports along the East and Gulf Coasts and causing significant ripple effects across multiple industries. CEO and president of the American Trucking Associations, Chris Spear, joins to discuss the situation and its impact on the trucking sector.

Spear notes that although the strike just began, it's already having immediate consequences for the trucking industry. He says that approximately 62 container ships, carrying nearly 500,000 containers, have been diverted from their intended East and Gulf Coast destinations. This sudden decrease in supply and inventory to transport is promptly affecting trucking operations.

"This is just a pure lack of leadership," Spear asserts, calling for intervention from political officials. He elaborates: "It is the responsibility and job of the president of the United States and this administration — the vice president, the acting secretary of labor — to actually mediate. To bring these parties to the table when they can't reach an agreement. They haven't met since June, and you have the president out there saying, 'Oh, it's collective bargaining.' Well, that's true if they're actually talking. You've got to bring them together to solve pay, automation, and other outstanding sticking points. These issues aren't going to get resolved unless this president steps up to the plate and actually provides the leadership needed."

This post was written by Angel Smith