Intermodal

The duty deferment applies to qualifying importers facing “significant financial hardship,” Customs and Border Protection said.

Diminished railcar demand and COVID-19 headwinds force railcar maker to halt production and trim staff.

Less-than-containerload services offer forwarders and their shippers an alternative to more expensive air freight and full-container transport services, industry experts say.

The Supply Chain Intelligence Center pinpoints trouble spots on the nation’s highways and ports to U.S. humanitarian relief providers responding to the health crisis.

The J.B. Hunt first-quarter conference call provided a mixed bag of anecdotes. While concerns mount over economic disruption, the company has some offsets.

J.B. Hunt’s first quarter results, while slightly below consensus, were likely not as bad as feared. The company’s outlook provided on its earnings call will be the takeaway.

Problem-solving supply chain bottlenecks is the way to build customer loyalty, freight experts say.

Third-party logistics providers engaged in international trade are facing the difficult decision of whether to thin staff or even close altogether in the face of a prolonged economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Members of the Washington, D.C.-based National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America interviewed by American Shipper this week generally praised CBP for permitting the flow of legitimate trade across the continent.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission said there has been no shortage of container-shipping industry members willing to participate in its initiative to identify ways to overcome supply chain obstacles caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

On this week’s Drilling Deep podcast, host John Kingston welcomes Mike Baudensitel of FreightWaves to discuss whether the nation’s rail and intermodal sectors are getting any sort of lift from […]

No one was prepared for the global shipping disruption caused by COVID-19, but Mike Meierkort said Damco’s resiliency program is “the closest thing to having a playbook.”

Arrested Pacific Harbor Line locomotive driver apparently thought the Navy hospital ship was not at the Port of LA to do good.

Coronavirus-caused supply chain disruption has led to port congestion but has not burned reefer market.

Global container carrier sails deeper into North American warehouse and distribution services.

Leader of container and chassis provider organizations heartened to see cooperation during the coronavirus crisis “to minimize the impact for the greater good.”

Commissioner Rebecca Dye will lead the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission effort with industry to identify “operational solutions to cargo delivery challenges” caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Hub Group joins other transportation companies in accessing revolving credit to improve liquidity.

Quick turnaround gets goods critical to combat COVID-19 on their way to Midwest pharmaceutical company.

Maryland port’s Seagirt Marine Terminal will not move cargo Monday and Tuesday.

Critical cargo initiative launched to quickly process imports needed in the fight against the coronavirus.

Using shock recorders when shipping freight may help shippers and carriers better protect freight and assign fault when damage occurs.

The coronavirus is impacting all sectors of the economy, and railroads are no different. Read what expert Jim Blaze thinks will happen going forward.

Best February ever recorded despite challenges from coronavirus pandemic.

The second-shift change will provide time to clean handling equipment to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

International Maritime Organization secretary-general stresses that world trade during the coronavirus pandemic depends on the mariners who move goods.

“It’s important for us to keep the supply chain fluid” during the coronavirus pandemic, Executive Director Gene Seroka says.

Washington governor also asked Trump for hospital ship’s help during coronavirus pandemic.

J.B. Hunt announces $500 one-time bonus for drivers and field staff serving during COVID-19 pandemic.

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency issues guidance on critical industries as millions of Americans ordered to stay home.

CEO Jim Newsome says the SCPA is “working full steam” to meet its obligation to keep the supply chain fluid during the coronavirus crisis.

Some port terminals will be closed Tuesday in honor of Teddy Gleason even though the former ILA president wasn’t born on St. Patrick’s Day.

ILA leader says presidential candidate has been a longtime friend and supporter of the union.

Coronavirus has strained supply chains and had a huge impact on the movement of freight.

Are there too many railroad freight cars? Jim Blaze writes about many reasons why this is the case.

Virus-related demand headwinds bring fresh declines in February Cass data. Visibility into a potential trucking recovery is further clouded.

Most companies are right near the 25% decline in the market since February 1.

Levy is kept modest as report warns high rate would lead to diversions.

Ports authority braces for expected hit from coronavirus but still expects to finish the fiscal year above plan.

The companies that control the bulk of ocean cargo opearte under different rules than most companies. Read Darren Prokop’s explanation of why that is…

CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco writes about the ramping up of manufacturing in China, and the subsequent ramping up of cargo headed to the U.S. via ships.

Jim Blaze writes about the outlook for intermodal rail in 2020.

“In 2020 both governments expect to implement low-cost, high-impact strategies to simplify customs and immigration screening and reduce wait times,” the U.S. State Department said.

The 2019 Protecting America’s Food and Agriculture Act provides funding to help Customs and Border Protection close a shortfall among its agriculture specialist ranks over the next three years.

CCM reorganizes executive team, STEMCO picks VP of sales and marketing, and Southeastern Freight appoints Orlando service manager.

FreightWaves Market Expert Mike Baudendistel writes about the issues impacting rail intermodal in 2020, and the ongoing battle between the railroads and the trucking industry.

The National Treasury Employees Union tells House appropriators that Customs and Border Protection requires an additional 1,100 officers and staff to carry out its mission at the nation’s ports of entry.

The chance to connect LA-area drayage drivers and containers energizes Sammi Liu, who just helped the startup raise $10.2 million in Series A funding.

In the past 30 years railroad freight cars have been able to carry heavier loads, thanks to decisions made in the late 1980s. Read Jim Blaze’s article about what happened and how it has been very important to the railroads.

Reported deal to let Canadian National quietly route some freight around protests gets high marks from director of trucking company hit hard by the disruptions.

The trade war between the U.S. and China caused companies to adapt supply chains and the transportation of their products. Darren Prokop writes about those changes and their impacts.

Canada’s prime minister calls two-week-long disruptions to country’s supply chains in protest of a gas pipeline ‘unacceptable and untenable’ as rail freight continues to shift to trucks.

Head of academic center sees spike in rates, or continued pain through the sector.

Montreal-based Energy Transportation Group moving on loads of bulk commodities as nervous shippers lose patience with two-week disruption of Canada’s rail services from pipeline protests.

Incident captured on video on Manitoba highway underscores high stakes and worsening tensions across the country as anti-pipeline protests severely disrupt Canadian supply chains.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at International Falls, Minnesota, discovered the illegal product in two 40-foot containers from China.

Acquisition of California-headquartered Performance Team designed to strengthen the shipping giant’s ability to meet customers’ end-to-end supply chain needs.

Railroads once carried much of the fresh produce across the U.S. Can they do it again? Jim Blaze explores the topic in his latest commentary.

Patrick Jany, Michael Mitchell and Giovanni Ravano are appointed to C-suite roles.

Transport earnings were rough but may have bottomed.

Canadian National begins “disciplined and progressive” shutdown of eastern network and plans to halt all transcontinental service in response to anti-pipeline protests as impact hits intermodal carriers.

Darren Prokop writes about the volatility in trucking, and how ecommerce may help less-than-truckload carriers recover in 2020.

Jim Blaze explores whether the Class 1 railroads are downsizing their railcar fleets.

J.B. Hunt announced that CFO David Mee will retire March 1. The company will fill the interim role internally until a permanent replacement is found.

Full year net income set a record; CEO speaks highly of rail operations

Lori Ann LaRocco writes about the impact of coronavirus on maritime trade between China and the U.S.

Jim Blaze writes about the long, slow decline of coal as the key commodity for railroads, and whether plastics might replace the lost volume.

FreightWaves SONAR has new information for subscribers.

Wall Street reacts positively to a projection for the rest of the year.

Schneider National’s fourth quarter suffered from a “muted peak season” and softer rates. However, the carrier’s 2020 outlook calls for improving fundamentals.

Intermodal struggled while Brokerage also has a strong period.

C.H. Robinson is leveraging part of its $1 billion investment in tech to establish Robinson Labs, a technology innovation incubator.

Chicago company nearly doubles its size with “likely the first acquisition of several.”

J.B. Hunt’s fourth quarter call addresses some challenges facing its brokerage and intermodal businesses.

Ensuring shippers have “chassis choice” for merchant haulage expected to be a prominent issue in the year ahead.

Jim Blaze explores the decline of railroad freight volume and what may happen going forward.

J.B. Hunt reports lower-than-expected earnings in the fourth quarter as weaker market conditions and increased investment weigh on results.

Los Angeles port signals efficiency gains as the third-largest container alliance plans additional SE Asia stops.

There are still some down times ahead but Susquehanna sees the ground being laid for an upturn.

Dupré Logistics and HOYER form bulk transport entity to provide supply chain services domestically and internationally.

Jim Blaze profiles TTX, a company that is essential to the railroad industry.

“The Box – How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger” by Marc Levinson makes the case that the shipping container and its global intermodal use was one of the most important innovations of the second half of the 20th century.

The Containerization & Intermodal Institute, EROAD and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock announce board appointments.

Jim Blaze writes about the key messages he extrapolated about railroading in 2019.

Despite a tough 2019 market, shippers face increasing price volatility around intermodal drayage as rail becomes more cost competitive compared with over-the-road trucking. Last year was one that intermodal marketing […]

Trump administration seeks industry comment on Obama-era transportation document.

Jim Blaze writes about the potential of short-haul intermodal traffic on the North American Class 1 railroads.

Market Expert Michael Baudendistel writes about rail intermodal volume is lower for the long-term, or can it be more competitive with trucking.

How to best serve largest U.S. consumer market in dense, high-cost region is question for logistics industry.

International container operator DP World joins Asian and European feeder networks together; synergies – and tensions – abound, say analysts.

Lyboldt urges Washington to take action to repair subpar roadways.

President and chief operating officer, Michael Gettle, who assisted in the corporate restructuring is leaving the company.

Economic uncertainty weighs on rail volumes.

MODE Transportation announces that it has completed the acquisition of SunteckTTS.

How the board calculates cost of capital is outdated. How much of an overhaul is needed?

The railroad will consolidate business segments to three groups from four to better adapt to market conditions.

The union drive marks the seventh company at the San Pedro ports to employ workers represented by the Teamsters.

Cass announces two new partnerships designed to enhance the reporting and data methodology of its Cass Transportation Indexes.

The delay of aircraft components and replacement parts can mean tens of thousands of dollars in losses for airlines waiting to make necessary repairs, which is why so many turn to specialized logistics providers.

Drivers “in shock” and blame the troubles of their U.S. parent company for causing Canada’s largest trucking failure of 2019.