<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Intermodal marketing companies and railroads are using ongoing bid negotiations to raise rates in annual agreements for 2027. </p></div>

Intermodal marketing companies and railroads are using ongoing bid negotiations to raise rates in annual agreements for 2027.

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Rail News

North-American rail

Intermodal providers

Surface

Window for record intermodal savings closing as rate hikes loom

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Almost all of the groups that submitted comments to the US Trade Representative said fees targeting China’s maritime industry would hurt an array of US industries due to higher transportation costs and reduced export competitiveness.</p></div>

Almost all of the groups that submitted comments to the US Trade Representative said fees targeting China’s maritime industry would hurt an array of US industries due to higher transportation costs and reduced export competitiveness.

Port News

Transport, Trade and Regulation News

North American ports

Maritime

USTR urged to suspend Chinese ship fees until January or later

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>The <i>Journal of Commerce</i> Breakbulk Ship Capacity Indicator fell to its lowest level since the index was launched in February 2025, indicating a decrease in available ship capacity for breakbulk and heavy-lift cargoes.</p></div>

The Journal of Commerce Breakbulk Ship Capacity Indicator fell to its lowest level since the index was launched in February 2025, indicating a decrease in available ship capacity for breakbulk and heavy-lift cargoes.

Project cargo

Breakbulk News

MPV operators more optimistic as congestion, vessel delays tighten capacity

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>The largest US less-than-truckload carrier said shipments decreased 1.4% year over year for the four months through September, but it expects to gain business in new verticals. </p></div>

The largest US less-than-truckload carrier said shipments decreased 1.4% year over year for the four months through September, but it expects to gain business in new verticals.

Trucking News

FedEx Freight shipments drop but fuel, rates boost revenue

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>The Pacific Maritime Association said talks with ILWU Local 26 will continue with assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. </p></div>

The Pacific Maritime Association said talks with ILWU Local 26 will continue with assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

Longshore labor

Strike deadline at LA-LB ports delayed until Nov. 4: PMA

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>There are quite distinct tiers within the top 10 container carriers, and it’s not easy — without huge investment or further consolidation — to move between them, writes Jeremy Masters.</p></div>

There are quite distinct tiers within the top 10 container carriers, and it’s not easy — without huge investment or further consolidation — to move between them, writes Jeremy Masters.

Container lines

Top ocean carriers sit tight within three-tiered reality: analyst

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Singapore reclaiming its port dominance requires shifting from a passive facilitator of ships to an active orchestrator of global supply chains — a transformation that cannot be led from ministerial corridors alone, writes Dr. Raymon Krishnan. </p></div>

Singapore reclaiming its port dominance requires shifting from a passive facilitator of ships to an active orchestrator of global supply chains — a transformation that cannot be led from ministerial corridors alone, writes Dr. Raymon Krishnan.

International ports

Rethinking Singapore’s maritime strategy amid supply chain orchestration

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Chronic inland congestion and structural bottlenecks have fundamentally shifted this power dynamic, upping the need for port authorities to be more active to support the port ecosystem, writes Robbert van Trooijen.  </p></div>

Chronic inland congestion and structural bottlenecks have fundamentally shifted this power dynamic, upping the need for port authorities to be more active to support the port ecosystem, writes Robbert van Trooijen.

Port infrastructure

Port authorities must evolve beyond passive landlords

Notes: A rising line implies increasing capacity compared to previous month

Index

JOC Breakbulk Index implies decreasing capacity through summer months

JOC Breakbulk and Project Cargo Index October 2026

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Retailers with distribution centers in the eastern half of the country say their ability to deliver containers carrying holiday merchandise in time for Black Friday sales is in jeopardy. </p></div>

Retailers with distribution centers in the eastern half of the country say their ability to deliver containers carrying holiday merchandise in time for Black Friday sales is in jeopardy.

Drayage

LA-LB rail container backlog causes growing concern among retailers

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>A “once-in-generation” flood near Laguna, New Mexico, that began on Saturday will have a substantial short-term impact on all shippers, including intermodal.</p></div>

A “once-in-generation” flood near Laguna, New Mexico, that began on Saturday will have a substantial short-term impact on all shippers, including intermodal.

New Mexico flooding snarls BNSF’s intermodal network

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Union Pacific Railroad’s purchase of 500 new domestic containers breaks a three-year industry equipment freeze and diverges from the approach of private asset-owning intermodal providers. </p></div>

Union Pacific Railroad’s purchase of 500 new domestic containers breaks a three-year industry equipment freeze and diverges from the approach of private asset-owning intermodal providers.

UP resumes intermodal container fleet expansion

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<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>The strike threat from unionized security personnel comes as the Southern California gateway is already experiencing congestion and rising rail container dwell times due to record or near-record container volumes this summer and fall. </p></div>

The strike threat from unionized security personnel comes as the Southern California gateway is already experiencing congestion and rising rail container dwell times due to record or near-record container volumes this summer and fall.

Marine terminals

ILWU local threatens strike at LA-LB ports beginning Sunday

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>The railroad said some systems were gradually returning to service, but that significant operational restrictions remained due to the outage, which began Tuesday and was determined to not be a cyberattack. </p></div>

The railroad said some systems were gradually returning to service, but that significant operational restrictions remained due to the outage, which began Tuesday and was determined to not be a cyberattack.

CSX tech outage halts Class I interchanges, disrupts intermodal freight

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>The Pacific Maritime Association and unionized security personnel represented by ILWU Local 26 are likely to announce the short extension on Friday, the PMA said. </p></div>

The Pacific Maritime Association and unionized security personnel represented by ILWU Local 26 are likely to announce the short extension on Friday, the PMA said.

Window for record intermodal savings closing as rate hikes loom

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Essential Reads

LA-LB rail container backlog causes growing concern among retailers

New Mexico flooding snarls BNSF’s intermodal network

UP resumes intermodal container fleet expansion

Recent Commentary

Rethinking Singapore’s maritime strategy amid supply chain orchestration

Port authorities must evolve beyond passive landlords

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