Industry Insights
Hindsight 2020: lessons learned lead freight forward
Jefferson Clay Director, Global Sales (written on behalf of the business development team) I recall sitting in a meeting about a year ago. Communications to clients from late 2019 into 2020 had been challenging: COVID-19 in China, docks shuttered, shipment delays....
Containers sit due to chassis shortage
The surge of import shipments coming into the United States continues at an unprecedented pace creating ongoing chassis shortages. DCs are holding containers/chassis longer before unloading. It's taking longer to move chassis back into the system. Broken chassis are...
Port disruption continues to impact freight forwarding
Port disruption continues to impact freight forwarding due to a variety of factors. Surging demand for goods being shipped from Asia to North America along with Asia to EU trade. Lack of vessel space Container shortages related to labor disputes, congestion and...
2021 freight forwarding predictions
The last year has been an experience we’d all like to forget but will always remember. For supply chain professionals who depend on importing and exporting, the word unique just isn’t enough. COVID, port shutdowns, blank sailings, port congestion, container imbalances...
Equipment Imbalance Surcharge notice to Asian importers
Effective the week of Nov. 30, an Equipment Imbalance Surcharge (also called an Emergency Intermodal Surcharge) will be assessed per notices we've received from select carriers. The carrier charge will affect port and rail import shipments from Asia. CMA, ZIM and MSC...
What a long strange year its been for import companies
By Susan Trautman (As published in Inside Indiana Business Perspectives) Wondering why you can’t get that new washer/dryer delivered next week, find your favorite products on store shelves or even get a desk for your newly discovered home office? Chalk it up to the...
Importer tariff lawsuit: what you need to know
We’re getting questions about a lawsuit being filed by importers in the U.S. Court of International Trade related to recent tariffs. Here’s what we know.
Chinese say: Add capacity, less aggressively increase rates
Chinese authorities have asked major container lines to inject more capacity and less aggressively raise rates in the trans-Pacific trade as spot rates hit highs. According to the JOC.com report, representatives from the Chinese ministry of transportation and...
U.S. imports landed… now what?
In August, we shared an update about the surge of shipments that came into the United States top ports: LA/Long Beach and New York/New Jersey. In fact, U.S. seaborne imports hit a record high in August after containerized freight shipments rose by 5.9% year over year...
Nation’s top ports realizing recovery
July U.S. imports surge; Blank sailings decline July trade reports are out for inbound container volumes to U.S. ports and point to recovery. Both west and east coast port officials say they’re seeing a surge of inbound volumes and reduction in blank sailings. On the...
Hong Kong goods relabeled Made in China
Advisory Notice Update On Aug. 24 we issued an update to the original advisory that is below. An additional 45-day compliance period has been granted to relabel goods made in Hong Kong to Made in China Compliance for Hong Kong Normalization has been extended for an...
Recalculating steamship routes and rates from Asia
Peak shipping season is coming, and Midwest manufacturers continue to work to recover the year. The Cargo Services team sees headwinds and strongly recommends now as the time to carefully review supply chains to determine if there are options to save cash by shipping...