Supply Chain

News and analysis of supply chain strategies, sourcing, trends

The latest Supply Chain News & Analysis

New FMC complaint challenges ‘unlawful’ stevedoring fees in Baltimore

Teri Errico Griffis | Jun 5, 2023, 3:02 PM EDT

Two stevedoring companies are looking to the Federal Maritime Commission to stop what they say is an unlawful access fee at the Port of Baltimore after one of them was invoiced $1.2 million.
Transport, trade and regulationRo/ro cargoPortsNorth American ports

ATA urges Congress to reject Su as Labor chief

Teri Errico Griffis | Jun 2, 2023, 4:35 PM EDT

The American Trucking Associations said Julie Su’s track record of supporting California’s A.B. 5 law and a lack of support for the trucking industry has failed to reassure them she would be a successful Secretary of Labor.
Transport, trade and regulationSurfaceTrucking

FMC ‘improperly’ applied incentive principle in detention decision: Evergreen

Teri Errico Griffis | Jun 2, 2023, 1:30 PM EDT

Container carrier Evergreen argues the FMC ignored “critical facts” when applying the incentive rule in a December case and, in doing so, inadvertently set a precedent that detention cannot be charged on a holiday weekend.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingContainer linesSurfaceTrucking

Carrier decarbonization business case flawed: Seaspan

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Jun 1, 2023, 10:32 AM EDT

The lack of security around the supply of alternative fuels in a highly fragmented market will undermine ocean carrier efforts to decarbonize the industry, according to the world’s largest container ship owner.
MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesTransport, trade and regulation

Shippers bemoan lack of progress in ocean visibility despite heavy investment

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 26, 2023, 11:15 AM EDT

End-to-end supply chain visibility remains an elusive goal for providers in a market where shippers are expecting better data quality than they have seen.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingContainer linesPortsNorth American portsSupply Chain

Ocean trade emerges from pandemic haze to face new realities

Peter Tirschwell | May 25, 2023, 11:23 AM EDT

Although the container shipping order book is the highest it has been in many years and demand remains subdued, the ground is shifting under the ocean market in new and unfamiliar ways, writes Peter Tirschwell.
Container shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificTrans-AtlanticAsia-EuropeTransport, trade and regulation

Shippers, regulators muddle through ‘grey area’ of rail storage fees

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | May 24, 2023, 11:44 AM EDT

Shippers want Congress to address their inability to challenge rail demurrage fees when they contract for merchant haulage, but finding a solution will be tricky, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Container shippingDrayageSurfaceInternational railTransport, trade and regulation

Top US Shippers: Recyclables export decline continues as environmental restrictions tighten

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | May 22, 2023, 8:00 AM EDT

Price volatility, economic uncertainty and China’s ongoing efforts to keep adulterated scrap products out of the country held back US exports of recyclable materials for the third straight year in 2022.
Supply ChainMaritimeContainer shippingNorth American portsInternational ports

Pandemic-induced trailer dislocation still hampering US truckload carriers

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 19, 2023, 2:59 PM EDT

Trailer marketplace technology provider vHub estimates a quarter of truckload trailers are out of network for the nation’s carriers, with an abrupt shift in demand exacerbating that dislocation.
TruckloadTruckingLogistics technology

Top US Shippers: Home construction decline drags down HHG import demand

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | May 19, 2023, 2:43 PM EDT

A decrease in US housing construction from the fever pitch seen during the COVID-19 pandemic is reducing demand for imports of furniture, appliances and other household goods.
Supply ChainContainer shippingTrans-PacificNorth American ports

ONE agrees to pay $1.7 million fine in detention/demurrage case: FMC

Teri Errico Griffis | May 19, 2023, 12:18 PM EDT

The carrier will pay the penalty to avoid the Federal Maritime Commission launching a formal investigation into whether it violated US detention and demurrage shipping laws.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingContainer linesNorth American ports

Uber Freight’s Driegert jumps to Flexport to lead new brokerage unit

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 18, 2023, 2:39 PM EDT

Flexport has lured a key figure in the development of Uber Freight and Coyote Logistics in a move likely to shake up the domestic third-party logistics market.
Truck brokersForwardingLogistics technology

House bill wants security checks of port cranes made by US ‘adversaries’

Teri Errico Griffis | May 18, 2023, 1:21 PM EDT

The bipartisan legislation does not identify specific countries that manufacture the cranes that would be subject to inspection, but a statement from the co-sponsors specifically mentions China.
Transport, trade and regulationPortsNorth American portsPort infrastructure

Top US Shippers: Slower US consumer spending to compound export decline in paper, forest products

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | May 18, 2023, 11:31 AM EDT

Some paper products remained in high demand last year, but a decline in China’s real estate economy and a ban on a certain type of pine logs put additional downward pressure on forest products exports.
Supply ChainContainer shippingNorth American ports

NITL lends support for move to give FMC oversight of rail storage fees

Teri Errico Griffis | May 17, 2023, 4:11 PM EDT

Rail storage has been at the forefront of recent regulatory discussion as the FMC solidifies its final rulemaking on detention and demurrage, with shippers wanting ocean carriers to be the billing party for such charges.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingRailNorth-American rail

Top US Shippers: Component shortages putting brakes on auto export growth

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | May 17, 2023, 9:51 AM EDT

Global vehicle manufacturers are still recovering from widespread semiconductor shortages, while domestic automakers and body shops face ongoing delays in components ranging from rear suspensions to front bumpers.
Supply ChainRo/ro cargoNorth American ports

Top US Shippers: Plastic resin exports bounce back as supply chain pressures ease

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | May 16, 2023, 9:00 AM EDT

US exports of plastic resins rebounded in 2022 after an uncharacteristic decline in 2021, but increased production in China and an uncertain global economy could dampen demand this year.
Supply ChainContainer shippingNorth American ports

FLOW gains momentum with ‘give-to-get' data-sharing model

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 15, 2023, 2:12 PM EDT

The growth in participation in FLOW is a signal that the private sector views the voluntary nature of the project as more amenable than governmental data-sharing mandates or legislation.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingContainer linesForwardingPortsTransport, trade and regulation

Cargo fraud, theft surging in ‘wild west’ US truck market

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | May 15, 2023, 11:05 AM EDT

Many businesses are being forced to tighten controls over how goods are shipped and who they ship them with, but the technology that helps them may also be used against them, according to industry sources.
SurfaceTruckingTruck brokersSupply Chain

Top US Shippers: Recession fears pulling at the seams of growing clothing imports

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | May 15, 2023, 10:43 AM EDT

Unlike last year, when apparel importers front-loaded volumes in the first half, apparel shippers are waiting for more clarity on consumer spending before they bring back-to-school and holiday inventory into the US.
Supply ChainContainer shippingNorth American ports