2019 will be a transitional year for the United States’ rail industry; known for its inefficiencies, U.S. rail freight is on the quest to increase train speeds and improve services by taking steps towards precision scheduled railroading (PSR). In September, CSX, the leading supplier of rail-based freight transportation in North [...]
Recent events have created a dislocation of chassis in LA/LB Port complex and in part, is due to the lingering effects of the Typhoon in the Eastern Pacific. According to the figures provided, there will be 12 extra loader vessels and 3 up-sized vessels calling the LA/LGB port complex over [...]
Three fast-moving wildfires have raged across California within the past week wreaking havoc on millions of  lives. One of them, Camp Fire, has destroyed Paradise, California and leveled the town’s 26,000 homes, leaving most the residents homeless. The wildfire has become the state’s deadliest and most destructive fire in California’s [...]
As the freight market heads deeper into typical peak season shipping, a wave of uncertainty has importers and exporters on alert, and carriers trying to balance unforeseen demand against United States’ trade policy. Back in May, contract rates to the East and West Coasts were steady and $100 lower than [...]
Effective November 19th, 2018, the revised OffPeak program is scheduled to provide extended hours at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The changes are in response to requests from port users asking for an increase in flexibility and a reduction in the bunching of trucks. All non-exempt containers [...]
Nationwide, importers are struggling to ensure their freight is picked up efficiently from U.S. ports as chassis inaccessibility continues to rise amid cost increases, limited availability and quality of equipment. The decade-long issue has been an increasing problem at ports and railroad terminals for years, resulting in complex arrangements that [...]
CLICK HERE FOR YEAR-TO-DATE FREIGHT NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINESÂ Â International shippers expecting calm, profitable peak season markets, after toiling consolidation of the steamship line industry last year, are finding the path to consumers is political, congested and, once again, expensive. POLITICS OF TRADE While most hesitate in labeling it [...]
It’s difficult for shippers to ignore the tight capacity and backlog of deliveries plaguing domestic transportation across the United States. Fleets nationwide are desperate for drivers and equipment as freight rates, diesel prices, and container volumes continue to soar heading into the August peak season. Intermodal providers may have locked [...]
Trade & tariffs If you’re a business owner, then chances are you’ve been following as the United States trade agenda sent waves of change across international waters. After implementing tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, the Administration also announced the first round of additional 25 percent Section 301 tariffs on [...]
As the U.S. trucking market tightens further under ELD compliance, shippers typically turning to intermodal for additional space will be greeted by high spot rates and cold shoulders as contracted commitments and service adjustments limit rail absorption capacity. Spot rates for intermodal are over 50 percent higher, on average, year-over-year. [...]
