Global shipping stands at a turning point as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) prepares to approve the first worldwide carbon levy on maritime emissions — a landmark move that could reshape trade flows, fuel strategies, and cost structures across the industry. The proposed rules would make vessels over 5,000 gross
Federal immigration enforcement is quietly reshaping U.S. trucking capacity — and the ripple effects are already hitting the spot market. Following a series of ICE crackdowns in major freight regions, including a high-profile sweep in Oklahoma, many non-domiciled CDL holders are steering clear of southern lanes or parking their trucks
China has unveiled new maritime regulations that could sharply escalate tensions with the United States, signaling a tit-for-tat move in the ongoing trans-Pacific trade conflict. The updated rules empower Beijing to impose retaliatory port fees or even bar ships under U.S. services from Chinese ports, mirroring American measures set to
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s proposed merger has sparked a strong response from the Rail Customer Coalition (RCC), which represents shippers across manufacturing, agriculture, and energy. In a recent letter to the Surface Transportation Board (STB), the RCC cautioned that reducing the number of Class I railroads could restrict options,
A new Drewry analysis highlights how risk exposure in container shipping contracts has sharply increased. Even when shippers secure base rate reductions during bidding, carriers often introduce new fees later—like fuel surcharges or unexpected regulatory charges. Add in uncontrolled detention/demurrage, frequent blank sailings, and reduced capacity, and what looked like
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern want to fix a major inefficiency in intermodal freight: the costly truck transfers across Chicago. Their $85 billion merger could create a coast-to-coast rail line that reduces crosstowns by routing lower-volume shipments directly between East and West Coast destinations. Today, up to 3,000 shipments per
Trans-Pacific Spot Rates Split Spot market pricing on the trans-Pacific has entered a split reality. Rates from Asia into the U.S. West Coast and East Coast have risen overall since early September, but not evenly. Data from Xeneta shows mid-high spot rates surged by double digits in just a week,
Business As Usual – TLC’s Jameson Mielde On The View From Jamestown The latest TLC podcast unpacks a freight market in transition. Trucking supply and demand appear balanced, though this reflects soft demand rather than robust growth. Ocean imports have cooled after an initial tariff-driven spike, leading to downward pressure
US Boosts Critical Minerals The U.S. Energy Department is injecting nearly $1 billion into domestic critical mineral infrastructure, a move set to reshape how and where high-value materials move across the country. With China no longer a reliable source for key inputs like lithium, rare earths, and specialty metals, the
