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. 

The latest Supply chain News & Analysis

Long list of issues awaits US maritime regulators

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
US maritime regulators are on the forefront of monitoring the market for anti-competitive practices while nudging stakeholders to make containerized supply chains more efficient and reliable.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

US regulators approve Miami terminal alliance

Dustin Braden, Shipper Relationship Manager |
US maritime regulators have approved an alliance between container terminals at Port Miami.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

India waters down order to scrap shipping surcharges

India Special Correspondent |
Indian maritime authorities have backed down from their pledge to abolish all shipping surcharges following stiff resistance from container lines.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer lines

New fight brews at FMC over detention and demurrage

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
A diverse group of shippers is ready to challenge fees that container lines and marine terminals impose for delays at US ports. But first the shippers need approval from federal maritime regulators.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsNorth American portsTrucking NewsDrayage

Russian rail shippers want investigation of preferential service

Eugene Gerden, Russia Special Correspondent |
Shippers have asked Russia’s competition regulator to investigate what they describe as a system of bribes and close business ties that results in some shippers receiving better treatment than others.
International railTrucking NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Trump's DOT chief pick calms shipper, transport provider nerves

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
Elaine Chao's pro-business approach could be a big win for motor carriers that have faced a laundry list of regulations under the Obama administration that threaten to tighten capacity and increase shipping rates.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Trump infrastructure plan hits reality of Congress

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
When it comes to big-budget infrastructure spending proposals, US shippers and transportation providers be warned: you’ve been down this road before.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

US shippers forced to look inland for warehouse space

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
The bull run of the industrial real estate sector is expected to continue well into 2017 as importers and exporters seek quality sites for warehouses and distribution centers close to major seaports and inland hubs, but also in secondary markets.
Industrial Real Estate News

Global terminal operators, Rotterdam seek cooperation to deal with carriers

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
If approved, the agreement between maritime heavyweights would be the first global terminal alliance.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

VIDEO: US shippers, logistics providers demand better infrastructure

JOC Staff |
Shippers, truckers, and logistics providers say the industry in the next four years must demand in a unified voice more investment in aging US freight infrastructure.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Smoother Uruguay-Brazil customs set once agent slowdowns end

Rob Ward, Brazil Special Correspondent |
Brazilian shippers stung by ongoing slowdowns by customs officers can take solace in the fact that when those officers decide to resume their duties as normal, shipments between Uruguay and Brazil will have less customs restrictions placed on them.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Canadian forwarders risk fines for violation of new e-lading rules

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
Forwarders handling shipments bound for Canada must now submit electronic house bills of lading prior to arrival or face steep fines, which could translate to higher rates and delays for cross-border shippers.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

OOIDA renews challenge to US electronic logging mandate

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
Independent truckers want the full appellate court to rehear its case against the government's electronic logging mandate, as the compliance clock ticks louder.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsTrucking NewsLTL

Truckers challenge US regulators over sleep apnea

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association says language in a rule issued last year seen as "requiring" sleep apnea testing violates the law.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsTrucking NewsLTL

Digitization accelerates in Indian transportation industry

India Special Correspondent |
Maersk Line this week launched a mobile app that helps its Indian customers track and trace their shipments.
Logistics Technology News

Battle for US trades is on after THE Alliance gets regulatory OK

JOC Staff |
The fight between the three major shipping alliances on US trades officially starts in April.
Container linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Government reform gives major Indian ports pricing flexibility

India Special Correspondent |
In another big-ticket reform initiative, India’s union cabinet on Wednesday approved new legislation meant to transform major, or public, ports into independent companies.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Restructuring OK gives hope to ailing Santos port terminal

Rob Ward, Brazil Special Correspondent |
Debt restructuring at a Santos container terminal that now relies on breakbulk cargo paves the way to a concession extension.
International portsBreakbulk NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Malacca Strait port development heating up

Turloch Mooney, Senior Editor, Global Ports |
The Malacca Strait is probably the hottest region in the world for port development at the moment.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Congress rolls back HOS restart, while DOT adds truck regs

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
As the Obama administration winds down, federal regulators are rolling out some long-awaited trucking safety rules, while Congress legislates driver hours of service. Some groups would like president-elect Trump to block pending rules.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsTrucking NewsLTL

Gwadar, Pakistan port growth lags as challenges mount

Turloch Mooney, Senior Editor, Global Ports, and Peter Shaw-Smith, Special Correspondent |
Under the original development master plan, Gwadar was to handle about 100 million tonnes (110.2 million tons) of cargo in 2017, but it is nowhere near achieving that figure.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsBreakbulk News

What shippers need to know about new US port bill

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
Here’s what shippers, marine terminals, port authorities, and container lines need to know about the 728-page Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation bill, which covers water infrastructure from irrigation to drinking water projects.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

US toy imports to hit six-year high, IHS Markit forecasts

Mario O. Moreno, Economist |
The US toy trade continues to feel the force of demand powered by the Star Wars films.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Online platform looks to shake up Indian shipping

India Special Correspondent |
Entrepreneurs in India are seeking to transform freight transportation in the country.
Logistics Technology News

Japan's ailing top three liners get government aid

Hisane Masaki, Japan Special Correspondent |
The tax reforms provide another release valve for growing financial pressure.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

China buys majority stake in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port

Turloch Mooney, Senior Editor, Global Ports |
China state-controlled company China Merchants signed a deal with the government of Sri Lanka to buy an 80 percent stake in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota deep-sea port.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Warehousing, logistics demand rising on US-Mexico border

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
<p>Talk of construction along the US-Mexican border is about more than building a wall.</p>
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Miami terminals seek alliance to jointly cooperate with container lines

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
US regulators are reviewing a proposed agreement between two marine terminal operators at the Port of Miami that would allow the terminals to jointly negotiate terms and conditions with container lines — a first for the United States.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer lines

US truck lobby urges broader use of TWIC card

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
One card and one security background check should be enough for truck drivers, American Trucking Associations CEO tells Senate subcommittee.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsTrucking News

US export gains shield Central America trade deal under Trump

Alan M. Field, Contributing Editor |
Is Trump truly anti-free trade, and if so, will he also train his eye on the Central America Free Trade Agreement, the decade-old trade pact that was modeled after NAFTA?
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Europe port operators seek regulatory clarity in daunting market

Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent |
Europe’s private port and terminal operators have called for “clear and stable” regulations to ensure adequate returns on their investments in an increasingly unsustainable market.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

US trucker hours-of-service violations drop

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
The overall number of truck driver hours-of-service violations cited by roadside inspectors dropped in fiscal 2016, but certain types of violations increased.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsTrucking News

Hamburg Sud deal likely to force Maersk sale of Brazilian subsidiary

Rob Ward, Brazil Special Correspondent |
Maersk Line’s acquisition of Hamburg Sud will likely force it to sell its Brazilian flag operation Mercosul Line, which could open the door to CMA CGM or Mediterranean Shipping Co. to enter the closed Brazilian coastal shipping market.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Maersk, Evergreen seek Russian antitrust settlement

Eugene Gerden, Russia Special Correspondent |
Global container lines found guilty of cartel practices in the Russian market are seeking a settlement with Russian authorities in an attempt to avoid multi-million dollar fines.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer lines

US shipper, trucker petition could trigger detention and demurrage relief

JOC Staff |
A broad range of US shippers, truckers, and transportation intermediaries are asking federal maritime regulators to consider creating a rule to prevent marine terminals and container lines from charging demurrage and detention fees.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American portsDrayage

Private sector effort to fund US-Mexico ports of entry advances

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
Bipartisan legislation would make it easier for US Customs and Border Protection to partner with private companies or entities to fund infrastructure improvements at US border crossings and ports of entry.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsTrucking News

Private sector envisions data portal to reduce US port congestion

Hugh R. Morley, Senior Editor |
A private sector-fueled initiative guided by the US Federal Maritime Commission aims to create a national portal in which key, non-proprietary information is shared with shippers, liners, truckers, and others to reduce port congestion.
Marine terminalsLogistics Technology NewsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Brazil to extend length of port concessions

Rob Ward, Brazil Special Correspondent |
In order to draw in more international and national investors, the Brazilian government is poised to extend its minimum period for port concessions.
International portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

India makes headway on abolishing shipping surcharges

India Special Correspondent |
Indian shippers who have been reeling from unpredictable demand may have some cost relief on the way after the Directorate General of Shipping and stakeholders moved a step closer to reaching an agreement over abolition of shipping surcharges.
Container linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

US Congress on course to pass port bill

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
House and Senate negotiators Monday released a compromise water infrastructure bill — with some long-anticipated federal dollars for harbor deepening projects at Port Everglades and Charleston — and plan to send it to President Obama’s desk before the end of the week.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News