Logistics Providers

Shippers, carriers, and other participants in the supply chain are closely watching the US/China tariff volleys, but they say the effect on the market so far has been minimal, although that could change.

Maersk's APM Terminals unit believes the authorized economic operator designation will substantially enhance its freight-handling efficiency and decrease operating costs, among other benefits.

Ocean carriers have announced a wide range of surcharges in recent months, and while the market is dubious, the carriers show no sign of retreat.

The truckers' strike in Brazil was costly, by several metrics, and no one would like to see a repeat. Still, the strike has prompted shippers, forwarders, and other trade stakeholders to reassess how they allocate transportation, with an eye toward reducing if not eliminating vulnerability.

While terminals have made good strides in improving technology within their four walls, they are poorly connected with the greater supply chain in which they play a critical role as the interface between the water and the land; that connectivity has to occur for the industry to advance. And with International Longshoremen's Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union labor peace, there’s now time to do it.

An average of 24 container ships have been waiting daily at the port’s outer anchorage, officials said.

Shippers may find that the cost of operating a new chassis could be lower than that of an ostensibly cheaper refurbished or aging chassis over the long run, once fuel consumption and maintenance are taken into account.

More, faster rail route options with more reliability/visibility, are the chief reasons China-Europe rail use is increasing. Add the historic time advantage over ocean freight and cost advantage over air cargo and the net result is a shift in rail from an “interesting option” to “preferred transport mode" for many shippers.

Shippers are struggling with how to leverage e-commerce channels profitably, but the US Customs and Border Protection service is struggling similarly with regulating the sheer number of shipments crossing borders, especially since many of them now qualify under the $800 duty-free de minimis level.

A pilot project in Rotterdam will give shippers and forwarders greater visibility of containers and allow them to better plan box transport.

Inland container depots (ICDs) are responsible for stuffing and unstuffing export and import containers on their premises. If Bangladesh does not add more ICDs, cargo delays and missed shipments are likely to increase at/near Chittagong Port.

Only a small percentage of Hamburg’s container traffic is transported to and from the hinterland via the network of inland waterways, something the German port wants to change.

The transaction completed through RoadOne’s holding company — Bright Light Partners — will increase the company’s overall size to 1,600 drivers in 60 locations throughout the United States.

All key fundamentals point to another strong revenue growth year in 2018 for the third-party logistics provider sector, absent a trade war.

The new digital product, which commenced global operations in early 2017, is designed to offer instant pricing/booking, cost transparency/cargo tracking, simplified/centralized documentation, and proactive/round-the-clock customer services.

US shippers may be concerned about the impact of trade wars and higher tariffs on their costs, but those jitters haven’t dented how much freight they actually ship. Initial reports from trucking companies such as Old Dominion Freight Line and economic indicators such as the Non-Manufacturing Index and Purchasing Managers' Index show the US economy is still rolling strong.

One group views the cabotage regulation change as an opportunity to lower domestic logistics cost and drive growth in India; the other, a domestic short-sea operators group, argues container line costs, port costs, inadequate infrastructure, and planning are hurting its transhipment business, not cabotage restricton.