Shippers consider redirecting cargo away from congested California ports

Switching cargo from Southern California to the Northwest Seaport Alliance can especially make sense for inland-point intermodal moves to the Midwest, one expert said.

By Matt Leonard • March 5, 2021

FMC, lawmakers meet to discuss container practices, whether carriers violate Shipping Act

One commissioner said legislation and modernization to the Shipping Act might be necessary to resolve ongoing container issues.

By Matt Leonard • Updated April 9, 2021

Inventories drop with no signs of softening demand: ISM

Shortages in ocean freight, corrugated boxes, gloves and dozens of other products are pushing up the prices for many commodities.

By Matt Leonard • March 3, 2021

FMC: Injecting more containers won't solve supply chain woes

Two commissioners — a Republican and a Democrat — call for cooperation among supply chain stakeholders.

By Daniel B. Maffei & Louis E. Sola • March 2, 2021

Wayfair cites ocean shipping disruption, port congestion for in-stock issues

The retailer expects it could take a "few months" to get back to the in-stock levels it usually tries to maintain, one executive said.

By Matt Leonard • March 1, 2021

Crocs: Redundancy in ocean freight contracts takes priority over cost

The footwear brand's logistics director said a turbulent market with high consumer demand proves container shipping is a commodity, not a service.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 26, 2021

No rate relief in sight for ocean shippers as Lunar New Year passes

If consumer spending doesn't fall off during 2021, the ocean shipping industry could be in for a busy and record-breaking year, one analyst predicted.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 23, 2021

Shipper, trucker groups applaud FMC on 'strongest step' to demand container information from carriers

The Federal Maritime Commission said failing to follow the agency's interpretive rule on detention and demurrage "might constitute a violation of" the Shipping Act.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 18, 2021

Expeditors: 'Severely' misaligned freight market spikes ocean, air rates

"We moved more freight in the fourth quarter of 2020 than in any other quarter in our history," the company's CEO said in its earnings release.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 17, 2021

4 charts show the effects of West Coast port congestion and supply chain delays

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have been overburdened with a deluge of container imports over the last few months.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 16, 2021

FMC to discuss 'big, huge step' related to detention, demurrage and container returns

The commissioners will meet as ports face congestion issues resulting from record import levels and shippers deal with a container imbalance that is increasing the price of equipment.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 11, 2021

Maersk: Contract, short-term rates up across the board

The carrier expects a high freight rate environment to continue through Q1 before easing in Q2, though "it is really hard to predict the demand patterns for 2021," the company's CFO said.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 11, 2021

DSV Panalpina ready for 'M&A adventures'

The CEO said its preferred acquisition is a large, global forwarder with similar characteristics as DSV, as the company seeks a larger share of the fragmented market.

By Shefali Kapadia • Feb. 11, 2021

NRF expects record imports through June, with retailers buying goods early to ensure carrier space

Tight capacity has pushed spot rates to more than double over the last year and caused an uptick in rolled cargo.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 10, 2021

Peloton will incur 10 times its usual transportation costs as it ships by air, expedited ocean

The fitness equipment company is spending $100 million to speed deliveries to frustrated consumers.

By Shefali Kapadia • Feb. 8, 2021

The Container Store: 3PL surcharges 'much more impactful' than expected

The retailer pegged a double-digit slide in its margins on increased shipping costs that "more than offset" a nearly 21% YoY increase in sales, executives said this week.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 5, 2021

Harbor truckers dispute millions of detention, demurrage charges as fees surpass $200

Trucking firms may pass added costs down to shippers, depending on the relationship, as well as the terms of the contract between the two parties, HTA's CEO said.

By S.L. Fuller • Feb. 3, 2021

Why the empty container math doesn't add up in US exporters' favor

What led to a global imbalance of available shipping containers? And what were the effects on U.S. businesses?

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 3, 2021

FMC calls on Biden to prioritize vaccines, PPE for port workers

Unions and groups representing maritime employees reported nearly 2,000 COVID-19 cases since March 2020.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 1, 2021

Is Lunar New Year the turning point for equipment shortages?

Manufacturers are operating at full capacity to produce containers. It's just a matter of moving the new equipment to where it's needed.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 27, 2021

Ocean rates rose through January as ports report record year

Carriers have held off on the blank sailings that usually happen around Lunar New Year, but one forwarder suggested booking loads for spring now as capacity is strained.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 22, 2021

Rolled cargo ticks up at 75% of ports worldwide: Ocean Insights

Shippers are also dealing with an increased rate of blanked sailings to start 2021. Blanked capacity is expected to reach 13% and 11% of overall capacity in the third and fourth week of January, respectively.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 20, 2021

Patent Pending: Walmart plans automated order picking, Target floats RFID for freight tracking

Supply chain innovators apply to patent what they see as important tools for the future. Sometimes they're brilliant. Sometimes they're funny.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 15, 2021

Damco is gone. Where do Maersk, freight forwarders and shippers go from here?

Shippers face a choice as they plan freight strategies: the simplicity of a single end-to-end provider or the reduced risk of a diversified carrier network.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 13, 2021

European shippers say ocean carriers broke contracts, call on regulators to step in

Authorities in China and South Korea and the Federal Maritime Commission in the U.S. are also examining ocean shipping practices and container availability.   

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 7, 2021