Potential Port Strikes to Test Supply Chains
Potential Port Strikes to Test Supply Chains Harold J. Daggett, President of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), warns of a potential strike at Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports. The current contract expires on September 30, 2024, increasing pressure on the […]
Hurricane Beryl Special Report
Hurricane Beryl Special Report Hurricane Beryl closed Texas ports along the Gulf Coast, including Houston, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Freeport, and Texas City. This caused major disruptions to coastal shipping lanes. The ports stopped operations and vessel traffic on Sunday after the Coast Guard declared condition “Zulu.” This condition restricts all vessel movement and cargo operations. […]
Rail Safety Focus
Rail Safety Races to the Foreground After the 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued 31 new safety recommendations. A failed wheel bearing on a covered hopper caused the derailment, leading to a major hazardous materials release. Norfolk Southern and its contractors decided to vent and burn […]
Peak Shipping Season Arrives Early
Peak Shipping Season Arrives Early U.S. ports are bracing for an unprecedented early peak in shipping volumes this summer, with projections showing monthly imports could surpass the two-million TEU mark consistently from June through August. The National Retail Federation highlights a significant rise in consumer spending as a key driver, with retail sales projected to […]
A New Era of Supply Chain Disruption
We’re in a New Era of Supply Chain Disruption, HSBC Analyst Says Supply chain managers face unprecedented challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing geopolitical conflicts, and a historic year with over 60 countries holding elections. HSBC Americas head of global trade solutions, Marissa Adams, asserts that supply chain disruption is now the new norm, emphasizing […]
Dry Van Rates Continue to Climb
Summer Shipping Demand Lifts Truckload Market Spot rates sustainably up 4% over 2023 The truckload market has started the summer shipping season with a strong surge, marked by a 7.1% increase in outbound tender volumes from May 26 to June 3. This surge has helped sustain elevated spot rates beyond the Memorial Day holiday period. Despite […]
Transpacific Container Costs are Climbing
Transpacific Container Costs are on Course for $10,000 The cost of shipping containers from Asia has dramatically increased, reaching up to $10,000 for urgent full-size containers, driven by rising demand and persistent attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. CMA CGM SA, based in Marseille, France, and the world’s third-largest carrier, has set rates of […]
Hyper-Hurricane Season
Texas Ports Prepare for Active Hurricane Season Amid Forecast of Up to 25 Named Storms This year’s hurricane season is expected to be more active, with up to 25 named storms. AccuWeather’s Lead Hurricane Forecaster, Alex DaSilva, predicts 20 to 25 storms, with eight to 12 becoming hurricanes. Texas, now at higher risk, had below-average […]
Freight Market Stabilization
Echo Global Logistics CEO: Freight Market Stabilization on the Horizon Doug Waggoner, CEO of Echo Global Logistics, believes the freight market has bottomed out and could stabilize by the end of the year. Echo Global Logistics, founded in 2005, provides technology-enabled supply chain management services. Waggoner, CEO since 2006, highlighted the declining number of trucks […]
Weighing the Costs of Going Green
The Impact of Converting to Electric Vehicle Freight Trucks on Operating Costs In a recent study, logistics firm Ryder examined the economic impact of converting a fleet from internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks to electric vehicle (EV) freight trucks. This comprehensive analysis of 13,000 trucks of varying sizes revealed significant increases in operating costs associated […]
