Supply Chain

News and analysis of supply chain strategies, sourcing, trends

The latest Supply Chain News & Analysis

Maersk shifts detention billing to consignees ahead of FMC regulation

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 8, 2023, 9:50 AM EST

The move by the carrier comes as the FMC is in the midst of a rulemaking process around detention and demurrage billing mandated by the passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 last June.
DrayageContainer shippingContainer linesNorth American portsTruckingTransport, trade and regulation

Visibility providers target challenges of container terminal milestone data

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 7, 2023, 3:59 PM EST

Shippers struggling to manage demurrage fees and container availability information have two new options to track the status of containers at ports.
Logistics technologyMaritimePortsMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Investors back Overhaul’s hybrid risk management–visibility strategy

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 7, 2023, 9:00 AM EST

Supply chain risk-focused technology provider Overhaul has channeled demand for reducing exposure to cargo theft into a $38 million funding round just a few weeks after acquiring competitor SensiGuard.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingTruckingRail

US startup eyes street turn tech expansion throughout North America

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 6, 2023, 10:00 AM EST

Technology startup Qualle is trying to overcome drayage industry inertia around matching empty import boxes with export loads outside of ports by using early-stage funding to serve every North American port market.
Logistics technologyPortsMarine terminalsNorth American portsDrayageTrucking

CMA CGM rides strong first half to record profits in 2022

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 3, 2023, 2:29 PM EST

Even as demand headwinds buffet container lines, the CMA CGM Group posted record earnings in 2022 thanks to the lingering effects of the pandemic-fueled container market.
Container linesContainer shippingSupply Chain

US DOT opens $12.4 million in funding for maritime transportation projects

Teri Errico Griffis | Mar 3, 2023, 1:47 PM EST

The federal government says it’s looking to fund projects across the country that will help move goods, particularly in rural areas, and strengthen the country’s supply chain.
Supply ChainPorts

TPM23: CN focusing investment on capacity growth: CEO

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Feb 28, 2023, 5:52 PM EST

Canadian National will grow its capacity based on the assumption that China will remain the biggest sourcing country for North America while acknowledging the shift under way into Southeast Asia, India, and potentially Africa that could fuel cargo through eastern Canada, its CEO told TPM23.
North-American railSurfaceSupply Chain

TPM23: Sustainability should be collective, not competitive: ONE’s Nixon

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Feb 28, 2023, 4:05 PM EST

The container shipping industry needs to collaborate in finding alternatives to fossil fuels rather than each player following their own path, ONE CEO Jeremy Nixon told TPM23.
MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesTransport, trade and regulation

TPM23: Flexport’s new CEO puts focus on building ‘next-generation’ tech

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 28, 2023, 2:23 PM EST

Flexport, the polarizing digital forwarder, will double down on technology development during a lull in global trade, new CEO Dave Clark said at TPM23.
Logistics technologySupply Chain

TPM23: MSC putting ocean shipping first after ending 2M Alliance: Toft

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Feb 27, 2023, 7:13 PM EST

MSC’s chief executive told TPM23 that the company’s hefty orderbook signals to customers that the carrier remains chiefly committed to ocean shipping, rather than selling an integrated supply chain service.
Container linesTransport, trade and regulation

TPM23: US can’t quit China, but trade needs to de-risk: Petraeus

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Feb 27, 2023, 4:40 PM EST

US shippers are entering an era of greater risk in China trade, retired Gen. David Petraeus warned, but the two largest global economies will remain linked despite moves to source goods elsewhere.
Trans-PacificContainer shippingTransport, trade and regulation

TPM23: Resilient US economy may avoid recession in 2023: economist

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 27, 2023, 2:55 PM EST

The forecast for the US and global economies is brighter than a year ago, with reduced risk of recession, thanks in part to the “decongestion” of supply chains, economist Nariman Behravesh said at TPM23. 
MaritimeContainer shippingSupply Chain

TPMTech23: ‘Purchase order management’ the new catchphrase in logistics

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Feb 27, 2023, 10:36 AM EST

Retailers are discovering the importance of closely managing purchase orders as increasingly complex trans-Pacific supply chains spawned by the pandemic highlight the need for a heightened hands-on approach.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingTrans-PacificSupply Chain

TPMTech23: Retailers seek to make supply chain visibility data more useful

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Feb 24, 2023, 10:42 AM EST

Shippers are gaining better supply chain visibility, but now they must step up their game and better manage and integrate the data they are receiving from transportation providers, technology companies told TPMTech23.
Supply ChainLogistics technology

More investment headed to US last-mile delivery market

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 24, 2023, 9:42 AM EST

Transportation providers of all sizes, from Maersk to Pitt Ohio, are searching for last-mile delivery options as customer and consumer demand evolves.
Last mileSupply Chain

GSBN, Navis partner to help exporters track ERD changes

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 23, 2023, 11:00 AM EST

The Global Shipping Business Network is giving exporters an app that would track changes to earliest return dates across container terminals that use Navis terminal operating systems.
Logistics technologyContainer linesMarine terminals

BlueCargo will use new investment to expand container platform nationwide

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 23, 2023, 9:07 AM EST

Rising demand from importers reckoning with the costs of detention and demurrage have fueled an $11 million investment into container management provider BlueCargo.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingMarine terminalsNorth American ports

Slync investors double down on beleaguered company with new funding

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 22, 2023, 4:09 PM EST

A new funding round for the embattled logistics software vendor is bound to raise eyebrows in an industry that has long been cynical of the impact of venture capital-backed founders.
Logistics technologySupply Chain

Leaf Logistics using technology to create dedicated truckload fleets in key US markets

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 21, 2023, 6:00 AM EST

Freight coordination software provider Leaf Logistics is working with a number of shippers and truckload carriers to build flexible, dedicated fleets to allow for continuous moves in big US markets.
Logistics technologyTruckload

ONE commits to sensor-equipped dry container fleet

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 20, 2023, 3:00 AM EST

Singapore-based Ocean Network Express, the sixth-largest global container line, will work with a division of Sony to track its global fleet of boxes.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingContainer lines

New data casts doubt on H2 rebound in US freight demand

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 17, 2023, 1:58 PM EST

Despite better-than-expected factory output in January, the manufacturing spigot that releases shipping demand simply isn’t turning fast enough and retail inventories remain stubbornly high.
SurfaceTruckingRailSupply Chain

After pandemic shock, container shipping navigates uncharted waters

Peter Tirschwell | Feb 17, 2023, 9:33 AM EST

The container shipping market is quickly moving on from the pandemic period and into a phase that is at once familiar but also entirely new and unpredictable, writes Peter Tirschwell.
Container shippingContainer linesNorth American portsTransport, trade and regulation

Logistics automation will work with humans, not replace them: experts

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 17, 2023, 8:00 AM EST

Automation is already being infused into shipper and forwarder technology systems in ways that may be imperceivable to users.
Logistics technologyForwardingSupply Chain

WiseTech continues acquisition campaign with $414 million Blume purchase

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 16, 2023, 9:09 PM EST

WiseTech Global is doubling down on its reach into US intermodal networks with its $414 million purchase of Blume Global three weeks after acquiring drayage tech provider Envase.
Logistics technologyMaritimeForwardingInternational railIntermodal providers

Acquisition spree continues despite downshift in container shipping bull run

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Feb 16, 2023, 10:26 AM EST

The container shipping industry’s profit margins are easing, but the appetite for acquisitions — from air cargo units to last-mile delivery logistics — isn’t letting up, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Container shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsAir cargo carriersSupply ChainLast mile

Top container lines commit to complete shift to electronic bills of lading by 2030

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 15, 2023, 7:00 AM EST

Major container lines have agreed to an ambitious 2030 deadline to migrate from paper bills of lading to digital versions as resistance to such initiatives weakens.
Container shippingContainer linesLogistics technologyTransport, trade and regulation

Ex-Slync CEO Kirchner charged with defrauding investors of millions

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 14, 2023, 4:49 PM EST

Federal authorities allege ex-Slync CEO Chris Kirchner took millions of dollars meant to fund the startup technology company and instead financed extravagant personal expenditures.
Logistics technologyForwarding

FMC judge ruling on chassis will have major impact, but questions linger

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Feb 10, 2023, 3:24 PM EST

A decision by an FMC administrative judge on chassis usage will shake up the way chassis are provisioned for ocean containers, but there are several unknowns on what the future will look like at ports and rail hubs.
Container linesContainer shippingNorth American portsDrayageTransport, trade and regulation

US DOT says ports can tap $662 million in 2023 grants

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Feb 9, 2023, 12:12 PM EST

The US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration is on the hunt for port projects that mitigate climate change, among other aims, as it lays out grant funding opportunities for 2023.
Transport, trade and regulationNorth American ports

Flexport debuts Shopify app in move to target small importers

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 9, 2023, 9:57 AM EST

A new Flexport app on Shopify’s partner marketplace is likely to be the first of many initiatives between the forwarder and e-commerce storefront provider.
Logistics technologyForwarding

3PL Echo moves to expand LTL business with new executive hires

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 8, 2023, 1:24 PM EST

Primarily an industrial transportation sector, the LTL business is moving into retail and is also becoming more involved in transloading at US port cities. 
TruckingTruckloadLTLLogistics technology

Increased vessel capacity, reliability key to 2023 reefer rebound

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Feb 8, 2023, 12:30 PM EST

Refrigerated container trade was muted in 2022 due to high costs and poor service, but ocean carriers appear keen to serve those markets in 2023 now that dry cargo rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Cool CargoesContainer shippingNorth American ports

Overhaul acquisition consolidates freight risk management market

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 7, 2023, 9:00 AM EST

Freight visibility provider Overhaul has acquired a competitor that doubles its size and gives it deeper cargo monitoring capability in Brazil, Mexico, and Central Europe.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingTruckingAir Cargo

FMC order for MSC to justify congestion fee marks first under OSRA-22

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Feb 6, 2023, 2:47 PM EST

The Federal Maritime Commission has exercised its first use of new legal authority under OSRA-22 requiring an ocean carrier to justify the reason behind levying a congestion surcharge against a shipper.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shipping

US retailers’ global sourcing strategy will take time to develop: analysts

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Feb 3, 2023, 3:32 PM EST

As the size of China’s workforce declines and production challenges increase, US retailers are shifting to global sourcing strategies, with each sector looking for the business model that meets its particular requirements.
MaritimeContainer shippingTrans-PacificInternational portsTransport, trade and regulation

US transport providers lose fewer jobs than expected in January

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 3, 2023, 2:44 PM EST

Courier, trucking, and warehousing firms lost workers last month, but the seasonal surge and purge was more muted than expected, reflecting broader labor market resilience.
SurfaceTrucking laborIndustrial real estate

End of 2M Alliance will set dominoes in motion across ocean shipping: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst | Feb 3, 2023, 9:56 AM EST

The announced dissolution of the 2M Alliance raises the question of what additional large-scale dominoes might be toppling over in the next few years in the container shipping sector, writes analyst Lars Jensen.
MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesTransport, trade and regulation

US ‘freight recession’ putting motor carrier financing tools to the test

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 3, 2023, 9:03 AM EST

Smaller US truckload carriers and the companies that provide them with access to working capital are under increasing pressure as cargo demand slows.
Logistics technologyTruckingTruckload

New IMO rules force global reefer fleet to confront uncertain future

Richard Bright, JOC analyst | Feb 3, 2023, 8:00 AM EST

The specialized reefer fleet has proven to be remarkably resilient in the face of various challenges, but now it must deal with the latest threat in the form of new IMO environmental regulations.
MaritimeCool Cargoes

C.H. Robinson reaffirms commitment to global forwarding business

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 2, 2023, 3:25 PM EST

The largest US logistics provider claims “compelling results” from cross-selling surface transportation and air and ocean services, despite weak market conditions.
Supply ChainMaritimeTruckingAir Cargo