Global trade slowing – China’s trucking fleets hit by COVID strain BA.5 and strict driver testing

We are living in a world where fuel costs, COVID strains, and supply chain issues are an everyday struggle for Americans, especially for truckers across the globe. CNBC reported that drivers in “Shanghai must have a health code/travel code/48-hour nucleic acid negative certificate and a local traffic passport in order to move their cargo.” Many of the cities dealing with the new BA.5 strain have facilities where drivers are transporting raw materials, finished, or semi-finished goods, which are under new and strict mobility testing. Drivers are having to get tested before starting to drive, and even if they test negative, having to wait for those results is causing delays.

Cities like Shanghai, Ningbo, Nanjing, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, Shenzhen, Xiamen, and Fuzhou are required to have negative tests for cross-city transportation. This process can delay the movement of goods by up to a week.