News - Industry News
Ro/ro carriers brace for auto surge amid capacity crunch
"Recovering auto production could lead to tighter capacity in the automotive logistics supply chain. Photo credit: Georgia Ports Authority."Roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) carriers are attempting to manage their already tight capacity carefully as they brace for increased automobile production, a welcome signal of pandemic recovery but a challenge when ships are...
Forwarders add Asia air, rail services as Omicron spreads
"Trucks line up in Vietnam waiting to cross into China. More than 2,000 trucks are stuck in border queues with waiting times as long as 30 days, according to DHL. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."Rising COVID-19 infections and tough measures from Asian governments to limit new cases are forcing service providers...
Vancouver rail service struggling ahead of new import surge
"Vancouver stakeholders say some operational functions, such as drayage, have not been significantly impacted by the interruptions in rail service. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."Intermodal rail service in Vancouver continued to deteriorate this week, with excessive rail container dwell times now a major factor contributing to the port congestion that has...
Truckload carriers see no break in freight demand
"Truckload carriers are moving higher volumes, but freight often travels shorter distances as shipper distribution needs become increasingly regional and even local. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."Major trucking companies say strong consumer demand and rising operating costs are pushing rates higher, sending a signal to shippers that they can expect significant...
Container lines beefing up US East Coast capacity: eeSea
"East Coast imports are rising as more shippers attempt to avoid the bottlenecks at West Coast ports. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."The US East Coast will start 2022 with 25 percent more vessel capacity than it had at the start of 2021, according to maritime intelligence firm eeSea, as shippers seek ways to avoid...
Robust rail rates dilute case for China-Europe subsidies: forwarders
"China has been steadily cutting back its state subsidization of the rail freight network with Europe. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."The high rates and sustained demand for China-Europe rail service is expected to continue through 2022, and forwarders believe the strong market conditions will help the network withstand any further scaling down...
Project cargo on the rise at Port of Antwerp thanks to EU Green Deal
Conventional breakbulk grew by 74% in 2021Breakbulk volumes grew explosively in 2021 at the Port of Antwerp, after a huge downward spiral in 2020 due to the pandemic and global trade wars. The main driver is a sharp increase in steel import volumes. But also striking is the rise in...
Carrier rate push continues to pound India-US cargo amid sustained demand
"Mediterranean Shipping Co. from Feb. 14 will levy a $4,000-per-container peak-season surcharge for all cargo from India to the US and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."There seems to be no letup in soaring freight rate levels for Indian exporters trying to maximize shipments propelled by elevated global...
Rate platform Xeneta acquires air freight data specialist CLIVE
"Real-time air freight data is crucial for shippers and their forwarders planning cargo shipments in such a volatile market. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."Freight rate benchmarking platform Xeneta said Thursday it has acquired Amsterdam-based air freight data analyst CLIVE Data Services, expanding its coverage of the global air cargo market at a...
Global vessel arrival times slump to record low: Sea-Intelligence
"Congested ports on the major east-west trades dragged down vessel schedule reliability in December. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."Global schedule reliability of container ships plunged to its lowest recorded level in December, led by another dismal performance on the trans-Pacific where just one in 10 vessels was on time, according to...
Mobile readies to add inland rail reach with land deal
"The Port of Mobile is looking to boost its intermodal reach through Alabama and beyond. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."The Alabama Port Authority is looking to buy land near the state’s capitol to open an inland rail hub meant to boost Mobile’s nascent intermodal franchise. The proposed hub comes as Mobile received support this month from the state and a Class I railroad to expand the port’s north-south inland reach. The port’s board of directors voted Tuesday to allow the port authority to...
Canadian National names first female CEO in its history
"CN’s intermodal volume declined 19 percent in the fourth quarter compared with Q4 2020. Photo credit: TamasV/Shutterstock.com."Canadian National Railway (CN) has named Tracy Robinson as its new CEO, with the former Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) executive becoming the first female to lead CN in the company’s 103-year history. Robinson...
Decarbonization and Its Impact on the Project Cargo Supply Chain
Moderator: Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Project and Heavy-Lift Shipping, JOC, Maritime & Trade, IHS MarkitSpeaker(s): TBC *Check back soon for more information! Interested in sponsoring this webcast? For more information, please visit https://subscribe.joc.com/mediasolutions/...
Vaccine mandates not slowing US-Canada freight
"The use of vaccinated truckers has kept freight moving across the US-Canada border with few, if any, delays reported. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."US and Canadian shippers appear to have dodged the trucking delays that were feared when the two countries imposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates on drivers crossing their borders, but...
China-Europe rail slowdown gives respite to stretched network
"Early factory closures in China and pandemic control measures are putting the brakes on runaway Asia-Europe rail freight volume. Photo credit: Metrans."China-Europe rail traffic has slowed dramatically into 2022, enabling the overburdened network to clear volume backlogs that developed at key border crossings when shippers, forced out of the congested...
LA-LB ports look to extend incentives for nighttime truck trips
"Terminal operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach say charging the traffic mitigation fee only on daytime truck trips has not resulted in more container moves at night. Photo credit: Flystock/Shutterstock.com."The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach want US regulators to allow them to extend a program incentivizing nighttime truck moves, even though terminal...
Forwarders’ digital needs feed latest Logixboard investment
"Logixboard’s $32 million round was led by Insight Partners, which has experience in the logistics technology sector, having previously invested in E2open and project44. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."Forwarding software vendor Logixboard has channeled growth in demand for tools that help freight intermediaries improve their customer interfaces into its second large...
Recalibrate internal collaboration
Connection does not translate into collaboration. Information overwhelms the individual and remains stuck in proliferating silos throughout companies. A recent JOC survey revealed the scope of this roadblock and the degree to which this has worsened since 2020. This white paper examines the findings, including where the industry can rethink...
Truck capacity to stay tight, pushing up LTL rates: SMC3
"Old Dominion Freight Line President and CEO Greg Gantt said equipment shortages could send LTL freight rates even higher this spring and in the fall peak season. Photo credit: Old Dominion Freight Line."This may be a year US shippers will long remember, despite their best efforts to forget. There...
China–Europe shippers bucking pre-CNY rush: forwarders
"Ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks in China that have impacted trucking and labor activities led manufacturers to ship early though ports such as Yantian (pictured). Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."Shippers moving non–time sensitive goods from China to Europe are bucking the typical trend of rushing to ship containers ahead of the Lunar New...
