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Supply chain

The Journal of Commerce’s supply chain news and analysis impacting the management of end-to-end supply chains reports on supply chain strategies, cargo visibility, inventory trends, sourcing, customs certification and contract logistics. Supply chain news coverage also delves into refrigerated shipping advancements and management of inventory status, regulatory updates and government funding projects. 

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The latest Supply chain News & Analysis

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

Autumn Cafiero Giusti, Special Correspondent |
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 NewsMaritimeLogistics Technology News

PSA leveraging forwarder acquisition to serve shippers directly

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
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 Shipping NewsContainer linesForwardingLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

New US House bill would boost FMC’s antitrust authority

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
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 Regulation NewsContainer Shipping News

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

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
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 Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsBreakbulk News

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

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
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 Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsBreakbulk NewsSupply chain

Forwarding software vendors key on visibility connectivity channels

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
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 Technology NewsForwarding

IANA warns against national reclassification of independent contractors

Teri Errico Griffis |
The Intermodal Association of North America is adding its voice to the chorus of opposition against a federal push to reclassify independent workers.
SurfaceTrucking NewsTrucking laborRail NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

European Parliament approves shipping ETS, but stakeholders wary

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
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 Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

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

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
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 Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesRail NewsNorth-American rail

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

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
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 Shipping NewsNorth American portsIndustrial Real Estate News

US ports keen on new funding, but less so on proposed reforms: AAPA

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The main advocacy group for US ports said the step change in port funding over the coming years will mitigate future congestion and allow for better cargo flow.
North American portsMarine terminalsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

ZEBOX broadens startup reach with new hubs in UK, Singapore

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
The addition of a new location in Singapore is meant to help supply chain technology accelerator ZEBOX reach a “strategic gateway to the Asian market,” it said.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer lines

Latest push for US shipping reform to test regulatory appetite

Peter Tirschwell |
The long-term impact of container shipping’s moment in the sun — and in the crosshairs of regulators — will come down to which of two starkly divergent versions of reality carries sway in Washington in the coming months.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Demurrage invoicing complications cloud FMC’s free time rulemaking process

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
The assessment of storage fees inside a terminal creates competitive pressures among marine terminal operators, their container line customers, and the importers that contract with container lines.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsNorth American ports

Hapag-Lloyd joins carriers nixing US storage fees when terminals are closed

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Looming federal rulemaking over detention and demurrage billing policy continues to compel container lines to refrain from assessing free time fees on weekends and holidays, with Hapag-Lloyd the latest to make such a change.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsNorth American ports

Ocean carriers ‘jumping the gun’ on D&D billing changes: terminal operators

Teri Errico Griffis |
Ocean carriers are already rushing to fall in line with pending FMC rulemaking, with a string of liners announcing in recent weeks they will cease charging detention and demurrage on containers that cannot be picked up or dropped off when a terminal is closed for business.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Growing warehouse vacancies near NY-NJ not sign of weak market: analysts

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The warehouse market near the Port of New York and New Jersey is seeing some tenants leave and new space becoming available, but that’s not a sign of a significant drop in demand, observers say.
Industrial Real Estate NewsContainer Shipping NewsNorth American ports

‘One FedEx’ seeks better balance between air, rail, trucking

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
To reduce costs, FedEx’s system-wide network overhaul will create a stronger North American “ground-air” trucking network, including FedEx Freight, and increase its use of US intermodal rail, the company says.
SurfaceTrucking NewsLTLIntermodal providersSupply chain

Shipping reform would not have prevented pandemic-era disruption: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst |
While it may be easy to understand the desire to fix container shipping’s perceived problems with government intervention, no amount of reform would have prevented the shortage of capacity or record freight rates during the pandemic disruption, writes analyst Lars Jensen.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Cargo owners push for greater FMC regulation over rail storage fees

Teri Errico Griffis |
NSAC says it supports reasonable detention and demurrage practices, but wants to correct “abuse” of the system by regulating that rail operators directly invoice ocean carriers for storage, not importers.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth-American rail

Regulatory disconnect impeding progress on shipping decarbonization

Peter Tirschwell |
The pressure on regulators to put a price on carbon emissions is growing as carriers ramp up investments in zero-carbon ships, which make their brands appealing to environmentally conscious shippers but expose them to lower-cost competition.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Terminal operators, Cosco join Saudi chemical shipper in eBL deal

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Data from eBLs issued via GSBN’s infrastructure will also be used to electronically release SABIC cargo at Hutchison and PSA terminals in Asia.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesMarine terminalsInternational portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

MSC joins carriers ending demurrage billing when US terminals are closed

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
The fast-moving developments around changes to detention and demurrage billing are happening amid an ongoing rulemaking process by the FMC around the assessment of such charges to consignees and their drayage representatives.
Container linesContainer Shipping NewsPort NewsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

New House shipping bill garners support from stakeholders

Teri Errico Griffis |
The legislation aims for faster development of uniform data-sharing standards, while the co-sponsors say they were also motivated to protect US shipping interests from what they view as China’s malign influence over the supply chain.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Ocean carriers, marine terminals warn Congress on regulatory overreach

Teri Errico Griffis |
The testimony comes as two House members prepare legislation designed to update OSRA-22 and another congressman restarts an effort to remove the antitrust immunity of ocean carriers.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Forwarders grapple with new freight rate math on tech investments

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Forwarders that experimented with new software during the days of robust freight demand now face a dilemma over what technology produces actual returns on investment as volumes and margin shrink.
Logistics Technology NewsForwardingAir Cargo Forwarder News

HMM joins Maersk in ending demurrage collection at closed terminals

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
HMM’s decision to immediately cease charging demurrage fees at closed terminals comes as the US Federal Maritime Commission is finalizing rulemaking around free time billing practices.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsMarine terminalsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

New bill in US House seeks repeal of carriers’ antitrust immunity

Teri Errico Griffis |
The legislation also aims to provide a boost for US exporters by prioritizing getting their products into foreign markets and better defending them against container rate increases and detention and demurrage fees.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

German strikes over pay dispute cripple transportation network

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
German unions demanding inflation-busting wage increases walked off the job Monday, bringing the country’s transport system to a halt.
SurfaceForwardingRail NewsInternational railAirports NewsAir Cargo Forwarder NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

US House duo pledge OSRA fixes to boost FMC power

Teri Errico Griffis |
US Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel Maffei went before Congress Thursday to field questions about the agency’s budget, slow-going rulemaking, and whether new amendments are needed for shipping reform.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

FMC querying carriers, terminals on free time billing practices

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Ahead of a June deadline to issue new rulemaking on detention and demurrage billing, the Federal Maritime Commission is seeking clarity from carriers and terminals about billing shippers when container pickups and drop-offs are not possible.
Container Shipping NewsPort NewsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Maersk going it alone, so far, on policy changes to free time billing

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Maersk in April will stop collecting detention and demurrage fees on days terminals are closed and shippers can’t pick up or drop off containers, a move yet to be followed by competing ocean carriers.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Proactive approach to ISPM 15 progressing despite roadblocks

Autumn Cafiero Giusti, Special Correspondent |
Breakbulk shippers and logistics providers have several proposals for changes to ISPM 15 mitigation and enforcement measures pending approval from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

New IMO rule at odds with practical realities: breakbulk executives

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, and Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Breakbulk industry executives warn new rules aimed at reducing vessel emissions could incentivize vessel operators to implement measures that increase emissions in other areas of the supply chain.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

IEPs file brief siding with ocean carriers in FMC chassis dispute

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
The independent equipment providers say upending the current business model would create additional chassis shortages and invoicing problems that would inconvenience cargo owners.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer linesDrayage

WiseTech Global weighing US domestic tech acquisition options: CEO

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Widely used forwarding software provider WiseTech Global will pursue further US landside logistics technology targets in 2023, its CEO says.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsForwarding

US draft legislation seeks to update OSRA-22, boost China scrutiny

Teri Griffis, Associate Editor |
The bill would heighten transparency into regulatory penalties levied against ocean carriers and marine terminal operators and draw a sharp line on the involvement of China-based entities in US shipping.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsNorth American ports

Shipper group wants more FMC action on dwell fees, ERDs

Teri Errico Griffis |
An advisory group created by the FMC two years ago is pushing the agency to act on several key issues, but some members have expressed frustration over the response from regulators.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

Shipwell arms ‘underserved’ smaller shippers with automated bidding tool

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Shippers that often use spreadsheets and small transportation teams to bid and execute freight shipments are the target of a new software tool from technology provider Shipwell.
Logistics Technology NewsTrucking NewsTruckloadLTLTruck brokers

US regulators approve CP-KCS merger to form first US-Canada-Mexico rail

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
In approving the $31 billion merger, the Surface Transportation Board rejected arguments from the FMC and competing railroads that the deal would harm US ports and shippers.
North-American railNorth American portsSurfaceTransport, Trade, and Regulation News