Negotiations are currently taking place among the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 63 Office Clerical Unit (OCU) office workers and their employers – terminal operators and shipping lines, represented by the Harbor Employers Association. The OCU have expressed concerns that port employers are outsourcing jobs to out-of-state workers [...]
The European Union is implementing a new customs pre-arrival security and safety program, underpinned by a large-scale advanced cargo information system – Import Control System 2 (ICS2). The program is one of the main contributors towards establishing an integrated EU approach to reinforce customs risk management. WHAT [...]
WAREHOUSE FIRES IN THE U.S. With so many reports in the media of warehouse fires across throughout the United States, the following is a quick summary of the locations, damage, and impact. On February 6, a massive fire broke out in a furniture warehouse in Chicago Heights, IL. The ash [...]
OHIO DERAILMENT Update February 20, 2023: Norfolk Southern (NS) continues clean-up efforts in East Palestine, Ohio and remains unclear when this line of track will be operationational again. NS continues to work through their freight backlog estimating delays of 24-hours or greater. Update February 17, 2023: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine [...]
U.S. Government Accountability Office Releases Supply Chain Resilience Report A short trip to the local grocery store is all you need to see that the U.S. supply chain has not yet recovered from COVID-19. Empty shelves continue to frustrate customers and retailers alike. One of the most concerning issues currently [...]
During a recent Customs and Border Protection (CBP) webinar, CTPAT Program Director Garza answered calls from the trade that discussed making it possible for Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) Trade Compliance program members to report forced labor in their supply chains when they discover it without triggering CBP penalties, a new reporting mechanism similar but distinct from [...]
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Maersk announced the termination of their 10-year 2M Alliance in 2025. Established in 2015, The 2M partnership was formed to optimize ship utilization and manage cargo volume and has served over 30% the world’s container trade. The Alliance served its purpose and provided the efficiency [...]
"Our nation’s rail system is literally the backbone of our supply chain, as you all well know. And so much of what we rely on is delivered on our rail, from clean water to food and gas and every — every other good. A rail shutdown would have devastated [...]
U.S. HOUSE BLOCKS RAIL STRIKE Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to block a nationwide rail strike by imposing a labor contract weeks before a threatened labor stoppage would impact the economy. The resolution, H.J. Res. 100, seeks to prevent a freight shutdown estimated to cost the U.S. [...]
US MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $39 MILLION TO STRENGTHEN SUPPLY CHAIN The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded $39 million in grants to fund 12 marine highway projects throughout the Nation under America's Marine Highway Program (AMHP). This grant money was earmarked to boost services on the nation's [...]
