Supply Chain

News and analysis of supply chain strategies, sourcing, trends

The latest Supply Chain News & Analysis

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

FMC needs to take oversight of rail storage charges: shippers

Teri Errico Griffis | May 11, 2023, 4:07 PM EDT

Rail storage fees continue to be a point of contention for shippers and the National Shipping Advisory Committee wants the FMC to step up and take ownership.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingRailNorth-American rail

Top US Shippers: Supply chain bottlenecks put cork in US alcohol imports

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | May 11, 2023, 10:12 AM EDT

US imports of beer, wine and spirits could have been even stronger over the last two years if not for widespread supply chain disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supply ChainContainer shippingNorth American ports

ONE becomes latest carrier to drop per diem fees at closed US marine terminals

Teri Errico Griffis | May 10, 2023, 2:03 PM EDT

The change comes in advance of the FMC’s final rule on detention and demurrage billing that is due to be published in mid-June and has already generated pushback from marine terminal operators.
Container linesContainer shippingNorth American portsTransport, trade and regulation

Top US Shippers: US toy imports ‘normalizing’ after slipping from record 2022

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 10, 2023, 9:58 AM EDT

Toy and game manufacturers front-loaded traditional holiday merchandise in 2022, resulting in an exceptional first half of the year followed by a weak fourth quarter that coincided with a broader decline in consumer spending.
Supply ChainContainer shippingTrans-PacificNorth American portsInternational ports

FMC adds oversight heft by naming first director of enforcement program

Teri Errico Griffis | May 9, 2023, 1:44 PM EDT

Ex-DOJ advisor John Crews will oversee the FMC departments that investigate and prosecute a growing number of shipping complaints.
Transport, trade and regulationMaritimeContainer shipping

Top US Shippers: Price inflation pulls the plug on surging US electronics imports

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | May 9, 2023, 11:48 AM EDT

Last year’s dip in electronics imports is a sign that US consumers were holding back on some discretionary purchases after two years of heightened spending during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supply ChainContainer shippingTrans-PacificNorth American portsInternational ports

Top US Shippers: Continued poor service threatens budding ag export recovery

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | May 8, 2023, 10:12 AM EDT

Better vessel reliability helped fuel a return to growth in US agriculture exports in the second half of 2022, but those green shoots could be ripped up at the root if service doesn’t continue to improve.
Supply ChainContainer shippingTrans-PacificNorth American portsInternational ports

Forwarders’ digital journey not complete yet: Magaya survey

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 8, 2023, 7:30 AM EDT

More than half of forwarders have migrated completely to cloud-based software, a study of 70 global logistics services providers has found.
Logistics technologyForwardingSupply Chain

Evergreen pushed contracted cargo to spot market: FMC shipper complaint

Teri Errico Griffis | May 5, 2023, 3:30 PM EDT

An automotive parts importer alleges that after Evergreen failed to provide approximately 65% of contracted vessel space, it had to pay $750,000 on the spot market to secure capacity.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingContainer lines

China to remain top for logistics investment despite regional sourcing shift

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | May 5, 2023, 2:30 PM EDT

Logistics and industrial investment in the Asia-Pacific region was estimated at about $50 billion last year, down from a record $72 billion in 2021.
Transport, trade and regulationInternational portsIndustrial real estate

Renewed focus on purchase order management leads to tech vs. service dilemma

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 5, 2023, 1:55 PM EDT

Tethering purchase order technology to operations can help expedite drastic decisions, but pure software vendors offer a level of neutrality that logistics providers can’t.
Logistics technologyForwardingSupply Chain

NY-NJ terminals alter free time tariff as FMC rule on closed gates looms

Michael Angell, Associate Editor and Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | May 5, 2023, 1:38 PM EDT

The rule changes will not have much of an initial cost impact on shippers as almost all New York-New Jersey terminals are closed on weekends and holidays, thereby not counting toward free time, and containers are now moving off the port faster.
North American portsContainer shippingTransport, trade and regulation

FMC post-OSRA complaint process secures $1 million in relief for shipping interests

Teri Errico Griffis | May 4, 2023, 4:19 PM EDT

Shippers, truckers and other transport interests have filed more than 287 complaints with the FMC since last June, mostly involving detention and demurrage billing.
Transport, trade and regulationMaritimeContainer shippingContainer lines

Ex-Slync CEO indicted over alleged misappropriation of company cash

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 4, 2023, 3:49 PM EDT

The indictment also alleges Chris Kirchner attempted to cover up his financial activities and fired employees who raised questions about them.
Logistics technology

US warehouse vacancy rose in first quarter as demand waned

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | May 4, 2023, 2:19 PM EDT

CBRE’s latest figures on industrial real estate demand show the supply of new and existing warehouses grew faster than tenant demand, with vacancy spikes expected through 2023.
Industrial real estateContainer shippingNorth American ports

project44 inks new partnership with container tracking vendor

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 4, 2023, 12:35 PM EDT

A container tracking hardware vendor behind Hapag-Lloyd's deployment of dry box sensors is linking with supply chain visibility provider project44.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingContainer linesSupply Chain

Flexport moves into fulfillment realm with Shopify Logistics acquisition

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 4, 2023, 7:05 AM EDT

Flexport expects both enterprise customers and small merchants to tap into the last-mile and fulfillment network it acquired with Shopify Logistics.
Logistics technologyForwardingLast mile

FMC crackdown on ocean carrier billing prompts Houston per diem change

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | May 3, 2023, 4:19 PM EDT

The Port of Houston is changing its tariff to align with ocean carriers who are no longer charging detention and demurrage fees when terminal gates are closed, but it’s also increasing its own fees to incentivize cargo movement.
North American portsContainer shippingTransport, trade and regulation

US shipping interests want FMC to regulate rail storage fees

Teri Errico Griffis | May 3, 2023, 3:20 PM EDT

Currently, there is no US regulatory agency with direct authority to oversee application of rail storage fees under ocean carriers’ through bills of lading and to determine whether those charges are assessed properly.
Transport, trade and regulationMaritimeContainer shippingSurfaceRailNorth-American rail

Bed Bath & Beyond looks to recoup millions from OOCL in FMC complaint

Teri Errico Griffis | May 1, 2023, 4:49 PM EDT

The now-bankrupt retailer alleges the ocean carrier failed to provide the full vessel space it contracted for, then charged much-higher premiums to ensure its cargo wasn’t rolled.
Container shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificTransport, trade and regulation

Court hands freight broker Convoy procedural win in legal battle with DAT

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 1, 2023, 10:56 AM EDT

Transportation observers believe the dueling complaints could have implications for the US spot truckload market because DAT is a primary source of available loads that brokers and carriers use to fill their pools of owned or third-party capacity.
Truck brokersTruckingTruckloadLogistics technology

DHL Express plans US physical expansion, including delayed new hub

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | May 1, 2023, 8:00 AM EDT

International air express carrier DHL is building out its US footprint to gain greater density and reach in its largest market, its CEO for the Americas says.
Supply ChainTruckingAir cargo carriersIndustrial real estate

Truckload appointment standards group adds heavyweights to drive adoption

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 1, 2023, 5:00 AM EDT

Echo Global Logistics, Coyote Logistics and prominent transportation management system vendors Oracle and e2open are among new members adding momentum to a truckload appointment scheduling initiative.
TruckloadTruckingTruck brokersLogistics technology

USDOT opens $160 million in funding to cut emissions from port truck idling

Teri Errico Griffis | Apr 27, 2023, 12:04 PM EDT

Funds will go to projects that focus on reducing emissions from port-related truck idling, particularly in communities adjacent to ports.
SurfaceTruckingTransport, trade and regulation

Broad reshaping of detention, demurrage billing possible in FMC rulemaking

Peter Tirschwell | Apr 27, 2023, 9:30 AM EDT

The FMC is poised to implement potentially far-reaching changes in how detention and demurrage fees are assessed, a move that could cloud how to incentivize the movement of cargo through US marine terminals.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Breakbulk23: AI will infiltrate day-to-day breakbulk shipping: experts

Autumn Cafiero Giusti, Special Correspondent | Apr 25, 2023, 2:34 PM EDT

Human intervention is necessary to ensure that AI is adapted into shipping in a measured way, as quality decisions are dependent on quality data, attendees at the Journal of Commerce’s Breakbulk and Project Cargo Conference were told.
Breakbulk shippingMaritimeLogistics technology

PSA leveraging forwarder acquisition to serve shippers directly

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Apr 25, 2023, 1:44 PM EDT

The scale of PSA International’s ambitions to expand its reach beyond its 60 container port terminals by leveraging the acquisition of a non-asset-based global logistics provider parallels Maersk’s own integrator ambitions.
Marine terminalsContainer shippingContainer linesForwardingLogistics technologyTransport, trade and regulation

New US House bill would boost FMC’s antitrust authority

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Apr 24, 2023, 4:56 PM EDT

The legislation would give the Federal Maritime Commission the direct ability to block carrier and terminal agreements it views as anticompetitive, without the need for a court order.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shipping

Breakbulk23: BIMCO executive wants cargo data added to CII carbon ratings

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Apr 21, 2023, 2:15 PM EDT

BIMCO’s head of Americas called for changes to the Carbon Intensity Indicator that would make the new regulation from the International Maritime Organization “fit for purpose.”
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingBreakbulk shipping

Breakbulk23: Changing trade, political dynamics demand ‘new pragmatism’

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Apr 20, 2023, 2:21 PM EDT

An advanced sense of “pragmatism” is needed for shippers and nations to cope with changes wrought by war and climate change, attendees at the Journal of Commerce’s Breakbulk & Project Cargo Conference were told.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingBreakbulk shippingSupply Chain

Forwarding software vendors key on visibility connectivity channels

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Apr 20, 2023, 9:15 AM EDT

Integration specialist Prompt Global has connected CargoWise with key visibility provider FourKites to save forwarders money and time aligning cargo milestones with transportation management.
Logistics technologyForwarding

IANA warns against national reclassification of independent contractors

Teri Errico Griffis | Apr 19, 2023, 4:27 PM EDT

The Intermodal Association of North America is adding its voice to the chorus of opposition against a federal push to reclassify independent workers.
SurfaceTruckingTrucking laborRailTransport, trade and regulation

European Parliament approves shipping ETS, but stakeholders wary

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Apr 19, 2023, 1:16 PM EDT

The inclusion of shipping in Europe’s ETS carbon pricing mechanism is almost a done deal, with legislators having one more bureaucratic hurdle left to clear.
Container shippingContainer linesTransport, trade and regulation

Hapag-Lloyd files FMC complaint against CSX over rail demurrage fees

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Apr 14, 2023, 12:13 PM EDT

Growing tension among shippers, ocean carriers, and logistics service providers over free time fees has ratcheted up with Hapag-Lloyd accusing subcontractor CSX of profiting from rail demurrage.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingContainer linesRailNorth-American rail

JOC Rankings: MSC, Maersk top two carriers in Gulf Coast in 2022

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Apr 14, 2023, 11:20 AM EDT

Although the two carriers are partners in the 2M Alliance, it was the addition of extra capacity in their standalone services that led them to handle a combined 40 percent of the cargo coming into the Gulf Coast last year.
Container linesContainer shippingNorth American portsIndustrial real estate