Freight lanes backed up early at the south corridor. Trucks lined the entry road before sunrise. Engines idle. Drivers stayed in their seats. Some stepped out to check schedules on phones. The gate sensors blinked but did not cycle fast enough to clear the line.
Elena arrived on site with a small team. She walked past the first row of trucks. Drivers looked toward her but did not speak. A clipboard was passed to her from a yard supervisor. The list showed delayed dispatch for the third day.
Alexander was already inside the control room. Screens showed route status, clearance checks, and flagged shipments. He did not look up when Elena entered.
Elena placed the clipboard on the table.
"This is getting worse," she said.
Alexander tapped one screen.
"It is not worse. It is slower because checks increased."
"Same thing in practice," Elena replied.
He moved a file on the screen.
"Not same. One fails later. One fails now."
Elena stood beside him.
