Memorial Day is a somber remembrance of sacrifice; to many, it also means the unofficial start of summer and travel. This year, as summer unofficially starts this last weekend in May, there are reports of shortages of small American flags for Memorial Day observances in some communities, higher gas and food prices, and the effects of supply chain issues and inflation on the traditional Memorial Day sales. And, according to AAA, Memorial Day weekend travel is expected to be the busiest in two years, with travel volumes almost up to pre-pandemic levels.
AAA predicts 39.2 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home during the holiday weekend, an increase of 8.3% over 2021. Even with high gas prices, 34.9 million people are planning to travel by car, a slightly lower percentage than last year (88.9% this year after 92.1% in 2021). Air travel, up 25% over last year, is expected to hit levels just under those of 2019 as three million people plan to fly this weekend.
AAA considers Memorial Day travel patterns a good predictor of what to expect with summer travel. “Based on our projections, summer travel isn’t just heating up, it will be on fire,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel, on the association’s website. “People are overdue for a vacation and they are looking to catch up on some much-needed R&R in the coming months.”
The increased holiday weekend travel volumes and summer activities often lead to a greater emphasis on safety – on the roads, in the skies, at home and at vacation spots. However, at companies like CJ Logistics where leaders typically sign off their monthly messages to the team by saying “Let’s stay safe, strong and committed to our customers and to each other,” safety is much more than a seasonal emphasis.
A culture of safety is of the utmost importance at CJ Logistics. “We value our employees and we focus on maintaining a safe environment for everyone to work in,” said Joe Smiesko, VP, Safety, Security & Compliance. “We emphasize that it takes everyone as a team to work together and make safety a priority in everything we do.”
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