Imports Increase In Spite of Issues
Imports Increase In Spite of Issues March showcased a robust performance in U.S. container import volumes, climbing by 0.4% from February and marking a 15% increase year-over-year, according to Descartes’ monthly report. The report attributes these gains partly to the delayed timing of this year’s Lunar New Year, which led to a significant surge in […]
Container Storage Cost Contention
The Ripple Effects of a Critical Infrastructure Collapse The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26 has thrown a wrench into the logistics operations on the U.S. East Coast, especially affecting the Port of Baltimore. With MSC, the world’s largest ocean carrier, redirecting Baltimore-bound cargo to alternate ports, the logistics sector anticipates […]
Fleets Grow, but Market Slow
The early months of 2024 have witnessed a surprising uptick in Class 8 truck orders, rising over 20% from the previous year, despite the consensus on a struggling freight market. ACT Research suggests that factors like private fleet expansion and increased spending on infrastructure are buoying these numbers. However, the broader market tells a different […]
Baltimore Bridge Suffers Tragedy
A catastrophic event unfolded when a large section of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed due to a collision with a container ship, leading to a significant logistical challenge for one of the U.S. East Coast’s busiest ports. This disaster has initiated extensive search-and-rescue operations and caused a shutdown of the Port of Baltimore for […]
Opportunities In Logistics M&A
The logistics and transportation sector is at a turning point, with mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity poised for growth in 2024, following a slowdown in 2023. A McKinsey report highlights the confluence of soft shipping demand and ready investors as catalysts for a potential uptick in opportunistic buying this year. Company valuations are expected to […]
TLC’s March 2024 Appearance On The Chemical Company’s The View From Jamestown
Joe Hassenfratz and Jameson Mielde from The Logistix Company (TLC) provided valuable insights into the evolving freight industry on The Chemical Company’s View From Jamestown podcast, hosted by Ben Sawicki. They highlighted the strong performance of February, reflecting a hopeful continuation of positive trends from January, and discussed the pivotal role of contracted versus spot […]
Warehouse Labor Demand Dwindles
In February 2024, the truck transportation sector saw minimal change, shedding only 300 jobs, indicating a stable employment landscape since August 2022. This stability comes amidst broader fluctuations in the freight industry, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics revising January’s job numbers downward by 4,200. Conversely, warehouse employment continued its decline, losing 6,800 jobs and […]
Shifting Demurrage Accountability
The Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) latest rule on demurrage and detention charges has sparked concern within the shipping industry, with the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) voicing apprehensions about its impact on shippers. This rule, aimed at addressing container late fees, absolves drayage truckers from direct billing, thus shifting potential financial burdens to shippers. While […]
New Connection to Bridge Asia and the US
In response to the burgeoning demand for U.S. imports from Asia, Ocean Network Express (ONE) is poised to revolutionize the transpacific shipping landscape with its newly unveiled Asia Pacific 1 (AP1) service. Starting in late spring, this service promises to connect Asia and the U.S. West Coast more directly than ever before. Featuring expedited routes […]
The EU Joins the US in the Red Sea
The European Union has taken decisive action by launching Operation Aspides, a naval mission to protect critical shipping routes in the Red Sea from escalating Houthi attacks. Recent incidents, including assaults on a US-owned, Greek-flagged bulk carrier and the Belize-flagged Rubymar, have underscored the urgent need for enhanced security measures. With the support of several […]
