International

COVID-19 pandemic challenges American seed producers to secure airfreight capacity to meet spring planting.

Resilience360 recently released reports analyzing the impact of COVID-19 on trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“We’ve definitely seen things coming back,” Energy Transportation CEO says as a key measure of truckload volumes in Canada rises 27% over two weeks on FreightWaves’ SONAR platform.

Distribution patterns expected to change in post-coronavirus world.

Regulatory guidance is expected to be significant to American shippers facing container availability charges from carriers and marine terminals during COVID-19 pandemic.

Hong Kong-based shipping line says first-quarter volume was down less than half a percent despite pandemic.

UPS faces economic and other challenges in the wake of COVID-19.

The smallest of the standardized ocean containers in the global fleet remains ideal for dense, heavy agricultural goods, forest products, and machinery shipments.

Employees will test devices that vibrate when wearers come too close to protect them from coronavirus infection.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the need for social distancing, even while working. For the freight industry, the adoption of autonomous vehicles might be a good start.

Service contract negotiations between container carriers and shippers are being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission says.

A CFO, government affairs VP and two life science sales directors are hired and a Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association board appointment is announced.

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Nuvocargo raises $5.3 million for cross-border freight operations; Nogales importers donate free produce to the community; cargo at Mexico’s seaports decline during the first quarter; CBP seizes 352 pounds of marijuana at Santa Teresa port of entry.

As a plunge in freight volumes and rates take a toll, Canada’s trucking industry seeks relief on payroll taxes to hold on to precious cash.

While suffering a significant drop in cargo volume during the coronavirus pandemic, the seaport stands “ready to help position America’s industries for future success,” says Executive Director Gene Seroka.

The 24,000-TEU Algeciras will make maiden voyage from Qingdao, China, on Monday.

“We expect that more shippers will shift from just-in-time supply chains to just-in-case supply chains,” U.S. CEO Mark McCullough said.

Delta Air Lines is increasing the number of scheduled cargo flights between Asia and three U.S. cities, using its passenger aircraft as substitutes for freighters.

Canadian transportation and logistics company says it laid off or furloughed 1,000 employees as it posts first-quarter results.

The German shipping line says it has cut CO2 emissions per transported TEU by about 50% since 2008

Container equipment shortage exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic stresses upper-Midwest soybean exporter trying to fill his springtime customer orders to Asia.

Canada’s largest transportation company reveals cutbacks as it reports a 16% jump in profits during the first quarter.

Canadian truck driver Nicole Folz learned that she tested positive for COVID-19 two weeks after falling seriously ill during a cross-border run in the US.

The Jacksonville, Florida-based ocean carrier finds continued demand for reefers among Central American and Caribbean fruit and produce shippers.

On road to recovery, Nicole Folz raises money to get more personal protective equipment in the hands of fellow truck drivers.

Some reports say crew killed Spirit of Hamburg mariner, while others point to an intruder.

From quarantine, Canadian truck driver Nicole Folz detailed her saga of falling ill hundreds of miles from home.

Portsmouth Marine Terminal will be closed while import volumes are down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Identifying the packages that come in contact with infected individuals in the supply chain is vital to reduce the pandemic’s spread.

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

Radio frequency identification has matured in terms of its cost effectiveness and efficiency over the past decade, the company says.

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Avocado imports from Mexico fare well during pandemic; Caterpillar’s Texas distributor building new factory; General Motors to make masks in Mexico; new logistics app aids supply chain.

The longer the coronavirus crisis continues, “the longer it’s going to take to get the ship righted,” says GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch.

From quarantine, Canadian truck driver Nicole Folz recounts the scary reality of falling seriously ill hundreds of miles from home during a less-than-truckload run in the United States.

Short-sea shipper says economic impact of COVID-19 has forced service disruption and employee layoffs.

The 19,200-TEU MSC Anna is retrieving empty containers piling up during the coronavirus crisis to return to Asia.

The current $61 billion set-aside for the domestic airline industry left out the forwarders.

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

Truck drivers must wear a nonmedical mask or face covering when they enter the country from the U.S. under a new rule to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Houston, Jacksonville and Charleston all report drops in March.

A chief supply chain officer can be the linchpin connecting all different departments within a retail company, including marketing, finance, sales and accounting.

The Canadian government has ordered thousands of coffee cup-sized Spartan Cubes, but it remains unclear if it will deploy them at border crossings.

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.

Global maritime insurer promotes international adoption of container packing and declaration practices to reduce losses.

Ubirch, a blockchain cybersecurity company, has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). Learn more about Ubirch and BiTA.

Cargo has had a window view on some international airlines. Now U.S. airlines are looking to load boxes in the passenger cabin when operating in cargo-only mode. The next step — remove the seats altogether.

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

Fee-based storage offered at five North American terminals to assist importers dealing with supply chain disruption caused by coronavirus pandemic.

The number of empty containers returned to Asia from the California port dropped 23% in March.

Shelley Uvanile-Hesch hopes people will think twice about leaving home during the COVID-19 pandemic after seeing her trailer as she moves vital goods between Canada and the United States.

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Researchers find ways to minimize wait-times at border crossings; truck cargo volumes down at Otay Mesa; container volume slows down at Port Houston; and KAL Freight expands into Texas.

The global logistics giant said its Q1 profits among its five business divisions suffered from the coronavirus upheaval.

U.S. logistics real estate operator announces it has reached the 100 million euro cap for its European logistics fund.

Cargo X is Brazil’s largest digital freight marketplace, connecting about 20,000 carriers and their 400,000 truckers with freight.

Coronavirus and tariffs blamed for lowest total in more than a decade.

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.

Canada’s Aleafia Health aims to minimize risks to its older patients and ensure steady supply by launching final-mile service.

Shippo is a next-generation shipping platform for ecommerce businesses, helping them provide their end consumers with an exceptional shipping experience.

World Shipping Council issues reminder that seafarers are the backbone of international supply chains.

Continued drop in cross-border truck traffic mirrors broad decline in Canadian freight as COVID-19 crushes demand for nonessential goods.

“The coronavirus is delivering a shock to the supply chain,” said port chief Mario Cordero.

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.

Passenger aircraft are being used to fly essential cargo between continents. Learn more about what the airlines are doing to survive and to assist key supply chains.

Sharp Transportation Systems keeps Americans and Canadians supplied with essential medicines and vaccines as tensions mount over cross-border medical supply chains.

The Justice Department said joint logistics operations among five American medical supply distributors to provide protective medical gear to virus hot spots does not violate antitrust law.

Cheez-Its, chocolate, candy among top imports from Mexico during pandemic; CBP stops wood-munching pests from entering Port Houston; $4.2 million of cocaine seized at border patrol checkpoint; and trucking services firm Liftit expands operations in Mexico.

Mayor taps Gene Seroka to locate and deliver medical supplies critically needed during coronavirus pandemic.

3M pushes back as Trump pressures company to keep all domestically produced N95 masks within the U.S. as hospitals and healthcare workers encounter shortages of personal protective equipment as they fight COVID-19.

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.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it will do its part to keep imports of medical gear flowing efficiently into the country.

Cross-border trucking and logistics company Titanium Transportation Group explains why it decided to haul a load of N95 masks for free.

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.  There are certain markets that the average person […]

FIATA questions the reasonableness of assessing demurrage and detention charges against shippers and forwarders during pandemic.

French carrier reports entire 500-vessel fleet is free of coronavirus cases.

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

Assistant Commissioner Todd Owen said additional reimbursable services agreements help Customs and Border Protection facilitate commerce during COVID-19 pandemic.

FedEx (NYSE: FDX) and its subsidiary TNT International are placing surcharges on all international parcel and freight shipments. The changes go into effect April 6. The changes were described as […]

BMW Group has initiated the “PartChain” project to create an industry-wide solution for secure data-sharing.

CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco provides commentary on how the Phase One trade deal between the U.S. and China has not worked as thought, at least to date….

Almost 24% fewer truck drivers entered Canada from the U.S. last week than a year earlier, a sign that COVID-19 is hurting cross-border freight.

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

Sick seafarer has been isolated on board the container ship off the coast of Spain.

“This contract extension provides stability for both UPS and our pilots as we jointly face unprecedented times in our industry,” said IPA Union President and Capt. Robert Travis.

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.

Canadian prime minister makes clear that trucking companies can qualify for 75% wage subsidy as some carriers struggle far from the robust volumes of essential consumer goods.

CEVA and DHL free themselves from contractual constraints to realign operations and facilitate pricing flexibility during pandemic.

Crew members evacuated from container ship, tested for coronavirus and hospitalized in China.

The head of the Airforwarders Association says preparing for business impacts from natural disasters, like COVID-19, requires “a lot of practice and uncomfortable preparation.”

The big two automakers plan to produce more than 5 million SUVs and pickup trucks in 2026, but only plan on making 320,000 electric vehicles the same year.

A C-suite and board are shuffled, and a commercial operations director and Europe manager are hired.

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade.

“A lot of carriers could go into bankruptcy without help,” Energy Transportation Group CEO says. But a 75% wage subsidy from the Canadian government offers hope for vulnerable trucking companies and freight demand hit by COVID-19.

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

If confirmed, these would be the first reported cases of COVID-19 on board a container ship.

Second Navy ship expected to arrive in New York on Monday to provide relief to hospitals overburdened with coronavirus patients.

Carrier generates $815 million in cash with sale of stakes in eight port terminals.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission’s legal staff is expected to deliver its final demurrage and detention rulemaking assessment to the commissioners in the next several weeks.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen laying off 2,500 workers in the United States and Mexico, retiring and recycling about 15 vessels.

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