Webcasts

In this webcast, expert panelists discussed this year's top 50 trucking companies with an in-depth look at their financial performances, their strengths and their challenges. Discussions also included how the list has changed since 2011: Who is new to the list, and who has dropped off; which companies are growing and which are not... and why.

In this webcast, panelists discussed their forecasts for agricultural perishable exports this year, including:

• The outlook for fruits, vegetables and poultry products.
• How skyrocketing trucking rates may affect your cold chain.
• A predicted strong year for red meat exports.
• Equipment availability issues, including chassis at ports, and reefer boxes in the Midwest, where demand is growing.
• How new FDA rules may affect your supply chain.

2011 was another difficult year for the container shipping industry thanks to a sputtering U.S. economy, a struggling housing market and lingering unemployment numbers. The European economic crisis is forcing trans-Atlantic container lines to cut back on services, contributing to an already-dire situation of too much capacity and not enough cargo on vessels. Does 2012 hold any hope of a recovery in the industry?

JOC Economist Mario O. Moreno and Moffatt & Nichol Chief Economist Walter Kemmsies gave their outlooks for container shipping for 2012, including forecasts for trans-Pacific imports and exports, capacity vs. equipment availability and U.S. consumer spending.

The webcast discussed these topics:

• 2011 was a year of success and of record double-digit freight growth in the intermodal sector.   
• How much growth is expected in the first part of 2012?
• Are the railroads prepared to accommodate the capacity moving from trucking to intermodal?
• What major projects are the railroads eyeing?
• What other challenges does the industry face in the new year?