Canadian National Railway (CN) is offering rebates on demurrage charges for shippers that pick up containers from its Chicago and Memphis terminals during periods of lower traffic in an attempt to mitigate congestion at the busy inland intermodal ramps.

The US Surface Transportation Board wants the seven Class I railroads to explain their policies and practices for demurrage fees, but the agency is holding off on regulating them more — for now.

Norfolk Southern said that changes to the layout of the Landers intermodal yard in Chicago and additional lift equipment will help speed the flow of ocean containers.

CSX and Union Pacific are working hard to restore fluidity on intermodal networks, but both companies said that issues may persist through the end of the year.

Forwarders say US importers of lower-value cargo from Asia and those with low margins are increasingly priced out of the trans-Pacific market as peak season volumes further tax the shipping system.

As desperate shippers search for cargo solutions and sop up breakbulk capacity, the new MPV/HL sentiment index reveals strong short-term confidence but longer-term wariness in the breakbulk sector.

US retail inventories as a percent of sales sits at an all-time low, but many importers and shippers are getting priced out of restocking because of high ocean freight rates.

The carrier-led standards consortium DCSA on Wednesday established definitions for five key port call phases to improve messaging between carriers and terminals.

Seattle-Tacoma and Vancouver increase their regional market share due to new services and extra-loader vessel calls, with Prince Rupert hoping to rebound from a slow first half.

Cargo owners are unlikely to see any easing of elevated rate pressure across transportation modes through the fourth quarter, according to K+N's Detlef Trefzger.

US maritime regulators have told the top container lines operating in the US to open up their books for an audit of how they assess storage charges amid increased pressure from Congress and the White House to crack down on unreasonable detention and demurrage fees.

BNSF Railway is rationing the number of ocean containers it will move between Southern California and Logistics Park Chicago for two weeks in an effort to relieve mounting congestion caused by a flood of imports to the Midwest.

After a COVID-19 pandemic lull, violations of ISPM 15 regulations around dangerous insects are increasing in Houston and elsewhere, triggering costly remedies and intense frustration in the breakbulk and project cargo community.

A bill expected to be introduced in Congress in August would drive a sweeping bipartisan overhaul of US shipping law if passed.

Canadian National Railway services to Vancouver are sporadic as wildfires slow trains and imports pile up at Port of Vancouver docks. Three out of the four marine terminals are reporting container dwell times that are on average 10 days or more.

The MSC-Shell deal shows that commercially viable solutions for zero-emission fuels are a long way from being available at scale.

Maersk’s moves in India are a clear sign it is aggressively pursuing strategies to retain and grow its market leadership there amid resurgent export trends.