U.S. manufacturers expect the new $1 trillion infrastructure bill to both stoke demand for construction equipment and help speed the supplies to markets. The measure approved by Congress is likely to support years’ worth of public works projects, the WSJ’s Austen Hufford reports, creating stronger long-term demand for manufacturers and construction companies. Those suppliers are already swamped by orders as labor and parts shortages delay output. But Kip Eideberg of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers says companies expect to start seeing increased orders from the law early in 2023 as projects are finalized and funding from new grant programs starts to flow. Executives also expect to see the benefits of refurbished and expanded ports and roads that will help ease some long-running bottlenecks. Investment firm Cowen writes that early transport beneficiaries will be flatbed-truck operators like Daseke that will carry the heavy loads for new projects.

The weekslong strike at Deere & Co. is starting to ripple across Farm Belt supply chains. Dealers are bracing for delayed deliveries of new equipment and farmers fear higher prices ahead, the WSJ’s Jesse Newman and Bob Tita report, as the sector copes with new turbulence following shortages of components and raw materials that have stretched out supplies of new tractors and combines. The disruption threatens to undercut a rebound in the agricultural economy driven by commodities price gains. U.S. forecasters project net farm income may surge 20% this year, growth that is rippling across agricultural supply chains and reviving demand for new equipment. Deere says it will operate its U.S. plants with supervisors and other nonunion employees, and the company is considering sourcing parts from its overseas plants. That’s likely to stretch out plant production schedules, and farmers say that would cut into their own production next year.

Supply-chain disruptions in the retail sector are leading to some wrangling at checkout counters. Retailers are pushing holiday shoppers to accept substitutions for items that are out of stock or in limited quantities, the WSJ’s Charity L. Scott and Suzanne Kapner report, as storefronts try to salvage sales in the critical fourth quarter despite supply chain gaps. Such swap-outs have grown more urgent for retailers because shortages can vary widely by products and brands depending on how order calendars may align with shipping schedules. The Adobe Digital Economy Index estimates that out-of-stock messages to online consumers are up 32% since June, with recent shortfalls highest for apparel, followed by sporting goods. Product delivery is a major factor for online sellers. Experts say dropshippers like Wayfair, which has its suppliers send orders directly to customers, have more flexibility to make substitutions because they aren’t sitting on inventory.

As companies staff up for the holiday season, they face one of the tightest labor markets in decades. To attract employees, some companies like United Parcel Service are offering sign-on bonuses and additional benefits as well as creative incentives. In a WSJ video, UPS says its hiring is getting more nimble and focused on the digital world. UPS is getting back to job applicants in 30 minutes, for instance. That's down from an average of two weeks before the pandemic as the package carrier follows its recruits online.

The U.S. transportation sector’s unemployment rate dipped to 5.1% in October, down 3.8 percentage points from October last year. (Dow Jones Newswires)

The U.S. infrastructure bill will put funding behind efforts to build a national network of electric-vehicle charging stations. (WSJ)

Self-driving truck technology company Plus special-purpose acquisition company Hennessy Capital Investment terminated their merger deal. (MarketWatch)

Airlines are rapidly hiring more pilots as they try to restock a pandemic-reduced workforce now strained by a quick rebound in travel. (WSJ)

BHP Group will sell its controlling interest in two metallurgical coal mines to Stanmore Resources for up to $1.35 billion. (WSJ)

Japan’s economic output fell 2.1% in September. (Nikkei Asia)

U.S. apparel imports from China rose 25.2% in September while inbound shipments from Vietnam fell 4.6%. (Sourcing Journal)

Big retailers including Walmart and Amazon are squeezing out independent merchants that have fewer resources for managing supply-chain disruptions. (Washington Post)

As many as 200 old tankers are hauling U.S.-sanctioned oil cargoes involving Iran and Venezuela. (Lloyd’s List)

Evergreen Marine ordered two ships with capacity for the equivalent of 24,000 containers, bringing its order book to 78 vessels. (The Loadstar)

Apparel retailer Columbia Sportswear says transit times for its U.S. imports have doubled to six weeks. (Supply Chain Dive)

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey plans to cut greenhouse-gas emissions at its facilities in half by 2030. (Journal of Commerce)

BNSF Railway’s third-quarter operating profit rose 12% to $2.6 billion on a 12% gain in revenue. (Trains)

Several airlines are increasing their use of fuel-hedging in a sign they expect continued high oil prices. (Air Cargo World)

Paul Page is editor of WSJ Logistics Report. Write to him at paul.page@wsj.com.

Follow the WSJ Logistics Report team: @PaulPage, @jensmithWSJ, and @pdberger. and @LydsOneal. Follow the WSJ Logistics Report on Twitter at @WSJLogistics.