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Opinion: South Carolina Economy Relies on Efficient Truck Transportation

Over the past year, we’ve all had to adapt to new norms because of the pandemic. When we were told to stay at home to slow the spread of COVID, we banded together as a country and did so. With so many people unable to leave their homes and travel to their local stores to purchase essential products, our country turned to online shopping.

Online shopping isn’t going anywhere either, as e-commerce sales are expected to grow even after the pandemic reaches an end. With this major uptick in online ordering comes a heightened need for U.S. cargo carriers. From delivering masks, hand sanitizer, and critical vaccines to food and clothes, cargo carriers helped maintain supply chains and our economy in a time when we saw countless businesses forced into closure.

Online retailers rely heavily on freight delivery carriers such as FedEx, UPS, and a number of other surface transportation companies to get the American people what they need. Nearly 70 percent of the freight moved each year in the U.S. is transported by truck. With the U.S. heavily dependent on freight trucks for shipping, it’s important that our country’s transportation system and trucks are positioned to match up with increasing cargo and demands for capacity.

To further stimulate economic recovery from the pandemic, delivery trucks need to be able to carry cargo at maximum capacity. However, the solution of a modest length increase in freight trailers continues to be thwarted by a 40-year old regulation that limits tandem truck trailers to be 28-feet in length. It’s hard to believe that our country’s transportation system is still held back by a regulation enacted before the emergence of the internet, e-commerce and cell phones, and it’s time to modernize regulations to meet our current needs.

Though 20 states currently allow twin-33 trailers, the trailers are banned from crossing state lines which hinders a huge amount of interstate commerce. According to Americans for Modern Transportation, “studies have shown that twin 33’ trailers can move the same amount of freight with 18% fewer truck trips, reducing the congestion and allowing consumers and businesses to realize the $2.8 billion annually in lower shipping costs with quicker delivery times.”

The federal law limiting twin trailers to 28’ in length directly holds back South Carolina’s economy, as we are missing out on a chance to more rapidly push out our goods, especially given that our top export is transportation equipment. As South Carolina continues to grow as one of the largest state exporters, experiencing a 74% growth in state exports between 2008 and 2018, our state needs to set itself up for even more growth in the next 10 years. Our people rely on the success of our exports as well, and in 2016 alone South Carolina exports supported over 157,000 jobs.

Additionally, if we were able to add a mere five feet to our trailers, the results would not only benefit our economy, but also our environment. The adoption of 33-foot twin trailers, commonly known as twin-33s, would save hundreds of millions of gallons in fuel, significantly lower carbon emissions, and lead to fewer trips on the road. Twin-33 trailers increase the capacity of each truck trip by more than 18 percent over the current twin-28’ configuration, and their efficiency and sustainability would help ensure economic and environmental success for our state and country.

As our country climbs out of the pandemic, our cargo carriers should not be hindered by decades-old regulations. We need our lawmakers to remove these regulations in order to add desperately needed capacity to our transportation system and help fuel our economic recovery. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and  Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) needs to recognize this issue and fight for our economy, our environment, and the South Carolina businesses and consumers who depend on efficient truck transportation and supply chains. It is time for our country and industry to move forward.

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Eat & Drink

5 Charleston Brunch Spots Locals Are Obsessed With

Charleston local and phenom lifestyle blogger, Lovely In Grey, recently shared her favorite brunch spots and because we’re all friends here, we’re passing along the info to you:

Whenever I have someone come into town to visit, the first thing I think of is “Where can we go for brunch?” And as such a boozy city, Charleston has no shortages of amazing brunch places. So as we’re gearing up for the weekend, I thought I would share a few of my favorites.

Park Cafe

If you’re looking for brunch on the lighter side, I would definitely recommend the Park Cafe. Located just off of upper King Street, Park Cafe has the best avocado toast in town, hands down. Order one of their amazing lattes as well and you’ll be set for the day, without the overstuffed feeling brunch can sometimes leave you with.

Miller’s All Day

One of the newer places in Charleston for a delicious brunch, my favorite thing about Miller’s All Day is the decor. And not to take away from the food and drink at all, but I just love how uniquely decked out this little spot is. If you’re in the area, you can’t go wrong with the Short Stack or an order of their Biscuits and Gravy – so good!

Page’s Okra Grill

Honestly, I wish I could go to Page’s every day for brunch, if only just for the bloody mary’s. But since drinking on an empty stomach is never my best idea, I’m happy to dig into their amazing menu every time. And since Page’s Okra Grill is located so close to Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, it’s an ideal place to start if you’re trying to keep the Sunday day drinking going.

Hominy Grill

An absolute classic, Hominy Grill is my go-to for when I have guests in town. With a “drive-thru” style outdoor bar and no reservations allowed, Hominy Grill is always a good choice. I 100% recommend getting the grits if they don’t already come with your order – and if they do, just go ahead and order some more on the side, that’s how good they are.

Mill Street Tavern

Though it’s not actually a place I’ve been before, I am dying to try out Mill Street Tavern. Located on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, the menu is packed full of amazing dishes that I can’t wait to try. I’m already trying to decide if I’m going to get the West Coast Benedict, Hash of the Day or the Fat Stack of Pancakes when I finally make it there.

For more local insider tips and hot spots visit lovelyingrey, one of our favorite Charleston lifestyle blogs. #CHSLikeALocal

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Guest Columns

Portuguese Man-of-Wars Spotted On Folly Beach

Featured Image Credit: Fox News

Thinking about taking a dip in the ocean anytime soon? If so, be on the lookout. Poisonous Portuguese Man-of-War’s have been spotted on Folly Beach once again this summer season. A Portuguese Man-of-War is not a jellyfish, nor is it a singular creature. It is a colony of multiple organisms, called polyps, that are unable to survive without each other.


If you see one of these creatures lying on the beach, please do not touch it. Immediately seek help from a lifeguard or beach patrol, they will properly dispose of it. Even if it looks dried out and dead, these creatures are still extremely venomous, stepping on one or touching its tentacles will cause a sharp sting.

 

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Guest Columns

Our Favorite Lazy Day Activities In Charleston

Featured Image Credits: Unsplash

We all need an excuse to be lazy every once in a while, and what could be better than a designated ‘National Lazy Day’? Nothing, that’s what.

If you’re not sure exactly how to make the most of this very important holiday, don’t sweat it because Charleston is full of lazy day activities. Here are five ideas to get your lazy day started off right.

  1. Hit up a chill brewery that offers flights of beers, so you can taste one after another without having to order every time you decide you want to try another. I mean, ordering takes effort, and effort is not something that we want to exert on this national holiday.
  2. Order a cake shake from Cupcake DownSouth. But, be sure to order your shake via the Uber Eats app so that your delicious milkshake is delivered directly to your front door. It doesn’t get much lazier than that.
  3. Lounge around in a set of Charleston-made pj’s by Patricia’s Couture. But what’s really special about these pajamas is that a picture of your favorite furry friend gets stamped in a pattern all over your lounge-wear. Looks like it’s time to dig up some puppy pictures of Fido.
  4. Take a break at Shem Creek Park. It’s a perfect spot for fishing or taking a quiet stroll through nature. Note the word ‘stroll’, not walk or hike, and definitely not ‘run’. It is National Lazy Day, after all.
  5. Cats are arguably the laziest of all animals, so why not hang with a few on National Lazy Day? You can do just that at the Pounce Cat Café & Wine Bar. Get your zen on while you sip some wine and pet a few cats as they (lazily) pass you by.

https://www.pouncecatcafe.com/cafe/

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Eat & Drink

A Guide To Your Charleston Bachelorette Weekend

Featured Image Credit: Tim Will Photography

Are you looking to throw an epic bachelorette weekend featuring cool restaurants, rooftop bars, and on the water activities? Charleston has all of that, and more. With so much to choose from in the Holy City, here are some key essentials to your weekend with the girls.

Mornings With Manis & Mimosas

Sit back and relax with your girls by your side and a mimosa in hand. You’ll all be feeling like pampered princesses!  Spend your morning being pampered by the friendly staff, who make your nails look flawless.

Mimosa Nails & Spa: 1113 Market Center Blvd Unit G, Mt Pleasant, SC

Just Nailed It: 1903 N Hwy 17 #101, Mt Pleasant, SC

Soak Up The Sun

Air conditioning and shade can be essential at times in Charleston (along with booze and the beach), but spending the day in the sun is always a good time. Whether it’s in the sand, on a board, or in a kayak, Charleston’s coast will not disappoint.

Take a Trip to the Beach: Isle of the Palms, Sullivan’s Island, & Folly Beach

Coastal Expeditions: Your choice of kayaking, paddleboarding, or a take a ferry to Bulls Island

Nature Adventures: Spend the day kayaking or paddleboarding

Happy Hour With A View

There isn’t much like spending some time looking out at the beautiful skyline of the Holy City with a drink in hand. But you can’t do that at just any place, here are a few of the best rooftop bars in CHS:

Eleve: 55 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC

The Vendue: 19 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC

Market Pavilion Rooftop Bar: 225 E Bay St, Charleston, SC

Sunset Cruise

Set sail around the Charleston waterways for the night. Oh, and don’t forget, booze can be included as well.

Palmetto Breeze: 100 Church St, Mt Pleasant, SC

Saltwater Cycle: 33 Lockwood Dr, Charleston, SC

Adventure Harbor Tours: 56 Ashley Point Dr, Charleston, SC

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Guest Columns

august

Can’t Miss August Events In Charleston

Featured Image Credit: Tides Folly Beach

With the start of the school year right around the corner, August is the perfect time to get those last summertime activities in with friends and family!

Mount Pleasant Waterfront Memorial Park Music & Movies

Every Friday 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Free admission, food trucks, and live music is the way you’ll want to spend your friday nights in August.

 

Movie Night at the Tides on Folly Beach

Every Wednesday in August

Break out your beach blankets and chairs to enjoy a movie on the beach.

 

Regal Movies Summer Express Series

August 7 & 8 10:00 am

Summerville, Charles Towne, and Palmetto Grande Theaters

Showing Minions and the Boss Baby at 10 am

Tickets are only $1

 

Race for the ARK

August 25, 2018 7:00 am – 11:00 am

This race includes a 5K run/walk and 1-mile fun run – both races begin and end at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 206 Central Avenue in Summerville. The USATF-certified course winds through historic downtown Summerville. The 5K begins at 7:45 a.m. and the 1-mile fun run kicks off at 8:45 a.m.

 

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Featured

flooding

Flooding Causes Billions In Property Damage

Featured Image Credit: Youtube

When it comes to rising sea levels, Charleston is on the front lines of the battlefield. Situated on the coast of South Carolina, the Holy City is notorious for flooding during storms that drop more than an inch of rain. Flooding throughout the city is made worse by incoming tides and rising sea levels.

Scientists from the nonprofit First Street Foundation have recently found that a massive $7.4 billion in home value has been lost due to rising sea levels from 2005-2017 in the five coastal states of Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, and to no surprise, South Carolina.

According to research conducted by Steven A. McAlpine, Head of Data Science at First Street Foundation and Columbia University professor and statistical consultant Jeremy R. Porter, $465 million was lost in the Miami-Dade County real-estate market from 2005-2016 due to sea-level rise flooding.

So what do the numbers look like for South Carolina?

The total loss in South Carolina is over $1.1 billion and for the Charleston area specifically, that is over $266 million in total property value lost.

Previous academic studies have forecasted the negative impact sea level rise will have on the value of coastal properties in the future, but this study is the first to show that depreciation has already taken place. By looking at predictors of home value, such as square footage or proximity to amenities and economic trends like the 2008 recession, scientists were able to isolate the impact frequent tidal flooding, caused by sea level rise has had on home value.

“It is one thing to project what the future impacts of sea level rise could be, but it is quite another to know that the market has already responded negatively to this threat,” McAlpine told the First Street Foundation in a press release. 

“The ability to pay for solutions to sea level rise is directly related to our ability to finance them. We do not want to see the beginning of a domino effect, where lost property value lowers the tax base and cripples our ability to finance solutions,” Porter stated in the press release.

This is the first academic paper to signify that sea level rise is directly to blame for a decrease in coastal home value and the role nearby flooding plays in that decrease.

“Flooding does not have to be a way of life for coastal communities. Cities can take measures to mitigate the impact and protect property values,” Matthew Eby, Executive Director at First Street Foundation said in the press release. “But without action, the rate of home value loss will only accelerate.”

For residents of Charleston, sea-level rise and flooding have always been persistent, but it is clear loss such as this that proves there is no time to wait when it comes to protecting our beloved coastal properties.

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Guest Columns

brackish

Brackish Bowties Represent South Carolina At “Made In America” Showcase

Featured Image Credit: Brackish Bowties Instagram

Early this week, President Donald Trump invited a local company from each state to the White House to showcase products made in America.

 

Our co-founders, Ben and Jeff, are in Washington, DC today representing Brackish at the White House for the Made in America Product Showcase. We were chosen to represent #SouthCarolina at this event as an American made brand, and are extremely honored to represent the place we call home. • Check out our stories for a sneak peek inside the White House ☝? #MadeInAmericaProductShowcase #brackishroots

A post shared by Brackish (@brackishbowties) on Jul 23, 2018 at 9:01am PDT

Representing South Carolina in the “Made in America” showcase was Brackish Bowties from right here in Charleston, SC. Brackish Bowties co-founders Ben Ross and Jeff Plotner attended the event and kept us all updated on social media.

“As an American made brand, (we) are extremely honored to represent the place we call home,” the company wrote in a post.

Check out Brackish Bowties here!

The full list of companies representing each state includes:

Alaska – The ULU Factory – Knives

Alabama – Red Land Cotton – Cotton Linens

Arizona – Lanternland Lighting – Outdoor Lighting

Arkansas – Ranger Boats – Boats

California – K-CO Products, LLC – Little Big Shot–Hose extension

Colorado – Never Summers Industries – Snowboards

Connecticut – The Wiffle Ball Inc – Plastic Baseball bats and balls

Delaware – Masley Enterprises – Custom Military Gloves

Florida – Bullett Blues – USA Sourced Jeans

Georgia – Winton Machine – Copper Pipes

Hawaii – Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. – Instruments

Idaho – Kuma Stoves – Stoves

Illinois – Klein Tools – Tools

Indiana – Newmar Corporation – Campers

Iowa – Kent Nutrition Group Inc. – Livestock Feed

Kansas – BG Products, Inc. – Equipment to Service Vehicles

Kentucky – Stoneware & Co. – Dining Sets

Louisiana – Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights – Lighting

Maine – Bartlettyarns, Inc. – Yarn

Maryland – Lockheed Martin – F 35

Massachusetts – Ginger Betty’s – Cookies

Michigan – Ford Motor Company – Ford F 150

Minnesota – Wintergreen Northern Wear – Clothing

Mississippi – Viking Range, LLC – Stove

Missouri – St. Louis Pneumatic – Pneumatic Tools

Montana – Montana Instruments Corporation – Cryostations

Nebraska – Lincoln Industries – Metal Finishing

Nevada – Shallus Pen Company – Pens

New Hampshire – White Mountain Puzzles – Puzzles

New Jersey – Serratelli Hat Company, Inc. – Hats

New Mexico – Ernest Thompson – Furniture

New York – Sherrill Manufacturing-Liberty Tabletop – Flatware

North Carolina – C.R. Onsrud Inc. – Industrial Cutting Machines

North Dakota – Giant Snacks Inc. – Sunflower Seeds

Ohio – City Machine Technologies, Inc. – Industrial magnets

Oklahoma – Round House Jeans – Clothing

Oregon – FLIR Systems – Military Cameras

Pennsylvania – BWP Bats – Baseball Bats

Rhode Island – Colonial Mills – Rugs and Home Accessories

South Carolina – Brackish Bowties – Bowties

South Dakota – Glacial Lakes Rubber and Plastics – Rubber soles for military shoes

Tennessee – Moon Pie – Marshmallow Snacks

Texas – Beck Cowboy Boots – Cowboy Boots

Utah – Liberty Safe – Gun Safes

Vermont – Ann Clark Ltd. – The American Cookie Cutter – Cookie Cutters

Virginia – Capps Shoe Company – Shoes

Washington – Mauk Fishing Stuff – Fishing Gear

West Virginia – Chico Enterprises – Pepperoni Rolls

Wisconsin – Jack Links – Beef Jerkey

Wyoming – Mountain Meadow Wool Mill – USA Sourced Wool Products

50 states – Space Launch System – Model of SLS (Orion and SLS models)

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