FMC seeks details on congestion surcharge practices from 8 ocean carriers

Some cargo owners had "shared information with the commission regarding concerns about these charges and their validity," FMC spokesman John DeCrosta said.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 5, 2021

DHL Express takes step toward zero-emission logistics with 12 electric aircraft

The company will use the electric aircraft for regional feeder routes starting in the U.S., primarily for the Southeast and West Coast.

By Max Garland • Aug. 5, 2021

Schneider's intermodal customers face 70% uptick in dwell time

The company aims to add up to 3,000 containers this year to help flow through clogged intermodal networks.

By S.L. Fuller • Aug. 4, 2021

Manufacturers struggle to grow inventories as supplier deliveries remain sluggish: ISM

The ISM Manufacturing Inventories Index for July indicated falling inventory levels. It had reached growth territory in May and June.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 3, 2021

'You can pay or you can wait': How retailers are navigating a shipping crisis

Consumer demand came raging back this year. The supply chain wasn't ready for it, and now retailers, brands and consumers are paying the price.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 3, 2021

MCS Industries to FMC: MSC, COSCO unfair practices created $600K in damages

The complaint will head to the FMC's Office of the Administrative Law Judges where it will be assigned to the agency's sole judge.

By Matt Leonard • Updated Aug. 5, 2021

From sapling to pure-play LTL: The story of XPO Logistics under Jacobs

Bradley Jacobs is a relentless numbers man and a serial entrepreneur. And he's one thing neither XPO nor GXO can replace.

By Jim Stinson • Aug. 2, 2021

Hasbro, Mattel lean on supply chain teams to minimize effects of costly ocean freight, port congestion

The toymakers said challenges in ocean shipping were among the leading factors of cost inflation, but their supply chain teams found ways to navigate the disruptions.

By Edwin Lopez • Aug. 2, 2021

Trucking M&A intensifies as carriers seek 'holistic' portfolio

Uber Freight, Knight-Swift and others are making moves toward bigger books of business by buying companies with strengths in different transport sectors.

By Jim Stinson • July 26, 2021

STB asks Class I railroads to explain 'substantial' demurrage fees

Congestion at intermodal rail hubs like Chicago and Memphis, Tennessee, led the regulator to investigate claims of "significant storage fees" before deciding whether further action is required.

By Edwin Lopez • July 26, 2021

A congested freight environment shows no signs of improvement for peak

Shippers are moving freight earlier, while carriers are trying to plan ahead and add capacity if possible. Could the congestion last through Lunar New Year?

By Matt Leonard • July 22, 2021

Freight shipping spend reaches record high as capacity constraints persist: US Bank

Challenges are playing out across all regions, but the Northeast saw the sharpest increase in spend from Q1 due to "pretty significant capacity limitations."

By Max Garland • July 22, 2021

FMC to audit top 9 carriers as part of permanent program to oversee detention, demurrage

The agency said it wants to ensure "shippers do not suffer from unfair disadvantages."

By Matt Leonard • July 21, 2021

Capacity crunch prompts JB Hunt to limit service

Detention of trailing equipment in the intermodal and truck segments led the carrier to levy accessorial charges on shippers. 

By Jim Stinson • July 21, 2021

BNSF meters traffic from West Coast to Chicago

The railroad is the second to limit its rail traffic to Chicago this week, following Union Pacific's weeklong service suspension intended to clear congestion at inland rail terminals.

By Matt Leonard • July 20, 2021

Union Pacific pauses service from West Coast to Chicago as congestion hits inland terminals

The railroad says the service suspension will give it time to work through a container backlog at its Global IV gateway in Chicago, but experts noted the move may make congestion on the West Coast worse.

By Matt Leonard • July 16, 2021

Pandemic changed rail's product mix as e-commerce grew intermodal volumes

Large retailers and third-party logistics providers leveraged railroads to diversify their transport risk and get around labor constraints in the trucking market during the pandemic, according to a study by Northwestern University.

By Edwin Lopez • July 15, 2021

Higher contract rates pull volume from spot truck market

DAT Principal Analyst Dean Croke said this is the result of carriers securing higher contract rates, which reduces the incentive to focus on the spot market.

By Matt Leonard • July 14, 2021

Stockouts worsen for the chemical industry as shipping delays exacerbate inventory woes

Shortages may last yet another year due to the lasting effects of a February storm in Texas, increased demand and supply chain congestion.

By Matt Leonard • July 13, 2021

Walmart will add transportation pillar to Project Gigaton

The effort will focus on suppliers' fleets to achieve the retailer's goal to avoid one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases in scope 3 emissions by 2030.

By Matt Leonard • July 13, 2021

Freight overflows push LTLs to make tough decisions

FedEx Freight admitted to "temporary targeted volume control" as shippers rush to fill inventories.

By Jim Stinson • July 13, 2021

Levi's diverts freight to East Coast amid 'challenge in Long Beach'

The decision was one of several actions Levi Strauss took to mitigate supply chain disruptions in Q2, according to CEO Chip Bergh.

By Edwin Lopez • July 12, 2021

Biden takes aim at consolidation in ocean, rail with new executive order on increasing competition

The FMC and DOJ Antitrust Division signed a Memorandum of Understanding Monday as the two agencies begin to work more closely on oversight and enforcement in the ocean freight market.

By Matt Leonard • Updated July 13, 2021

Detention and demurrage were hotly debated pre-pandemic. Congestion made it worse.

The average charge more than doubled from 2020, increasing 104%, Container xChange found.

By Matt Leonard • July 8, 2021

Airfreight demand returns to pre-pandemic levels, but capacity could take longer to materialize

The transpacific lane won't be the first to benefit from the return of passenger planes and belly capacity. Freighters expect their services will be in demand into next year.

By Matt Leonard • July 8, 2021