International

The Ambassador Bridge over the Detroit River is a vital trade link between Canada and the U.S.

With protests showing no signs of easing up, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency Sunday for his city.

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Vaccine mandate has varied impacts on Mexico cross-border trucking; Texas toll road truck traffic rises 57% year-over-year; Chinese ATV maker to build $152M plant in Mexico; and drug seizures surge at Texas-Mexico border.

Trucks, cars and supporters clog Toronto as protests tied to the Freedom Convoy come to multiple Canadian cities to protest vaccine mandates and other issues.

Donation platform GoFundMe shut down the Freedom Convoy fundraiser after consulting with police and reports of violence

For some truck drivers at the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa, the cause of protesting border vaccine mandates means putting up with uncomfortable bedfellows.

Traffic is beginning to move at the U.S.-Canada border in Coutts, Alberta, after protesting truckers agree to reopen some lanes.

Police are taking action to remove a truck blockade at the U.S.-Canada border that stranded some cross-border drivers.

UPS posted its best quarterly operating profit in its history. It also declared a 49% dividend increase.

Canadian trucking firm Pride Group Logistics dramatically expands its U.S. presence with the acquisition of Texas truckload carrier Arnold Transportation Systems.

Here’s what it looked like in the middle of the “Freedom Convoy” protest In Canada.

E-commerce is becoming an increasing area of focus for some ocean carriers.

Truckers and supporters from the Freedom Convoy pack Ottawa in a morphing protest that originally focused on vaccine mandates at the US-Canada border.

“International collaboration is essential to decarbonize global supply chains. It’s time to get started on this important work,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.

A Florida trucker with U.S. and Canadian citizenship explains why he joined the Freedom Convoy despite being vaccinated against COVID-19.

Canadian railway CN eyes volume growth from vaccine mandates and grain, and it expects higher volumes in the second half of 2022.

GoFundMe says it needs to know how organizers of the Freedom Convoy will distribute money to truckers who are heading to Canada’s capital to protest cross-border vaccine mandates.

As truckers across Canada protest vaccine mandates at the U.S. border, an unvaccinated owner-operator says she faces financial ruin over the jab requirement.

As the U.S. cuts off borders to unvaccinated truckers, the impacts for Canadian trucking companies run the gamut from a punch in the gut to business as usual.

The U.S. government moves forward with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate despite fears that thousands of truck drivers will leave cross-border freight.

While vaccine mandates prompt real fears of a cross-border capacity crunch, the cost of moving freight between the U.S. and Canada has been underpriced for too long.

As the vaccine mandates begin for truckers at the U.S.-Canada border, here are five burning questions about what’s required, how many drivers might leave and what the freight markets are telling us.

“The global supply chain will be further strained because of these lockdowns in China and the result would be a further gap in global demand and supply,” says Container xChange CEO Johannes Schlingmeier.

Schneider National says it will shut down its Canada-based business, impacting 150 personnel including truck drivers, by the end of March.

Canadian officials say rules for unvaccinated Canadian truckers at border are still coming into force after erroneous statements sow confusion.

Growth in air cargo volumes decelerated in the last two months of 2021. Blame it on too much demand stressing the freight system.

Canada has scrapped plans to subject unvaccinated Canadian truckers to testing and quarantines after returning from the United States.

Canada Cartage makes its fifth acquisition in the past year as it buys Quebec-based dedicated contract carrier Laurentien Transportation.

More COVID control measures in China are impacting international goods movement.

A small COVID outbreak is curtailing industrial operations in the Chinese city of Ningbo and the port could soon feel the ripple effects.

Canada’s Titanium Transportation Group eyes future growth with the acquisition of Ontario-based carrier Bert and Son’s Cartage.

Canadian trucking company Bison Transport has acquired Maine carrier Hartt Transportation Systems in one of its largest U.S. deals.

Cathay Pacific is running out of pilots for its freighter operations because of stricter quarantine measures.

While many companies put environmental concerns on the back burner the past two years, “the topic has very much returned to the top of the agenda for most leading players in the industry today,” said Greg Hewitt, CEO at DHL Express USA.

“Expectations are that high consumer demand and low inventory levels will keep rates elevated well into next year,” says Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta.

Maersk is becoming an integrated logistics goliath with the ability to provide freight management, transportation, warehousing and e-commerce fulfillment for big retailers and manufacturers.

A group of 14 senators is asking President Joe Biden to exempt truckers who cross the U.S.-Canada border from an upcoming mandate to avoid putting more strain on the supply chain.

Making freight and logistics activities sustainable in the Asia-Pacific region is anything but simple.

Canada is threatening to impose tariffs on U.S. exports and suspend provisions of the USMCA trade agreement over a proposed tax incentive for American-made electric vehicles.

The number of ships waiting to berth at the Port of Vancouver reached 60 as congestion continues while rail service slowly recovers from storms.

CN begins moving trains on the Kamloops-Vancouver corridor three weeks after flooding and landslides in British Columbia knocked out its main Port of Vancouver rail link.

Montreal-based Fuel Transport offers a $7,800 COVID-19 vaccination bonus for truckers as the cross-border mandate looms.

A union and a trucking company serving the Port of Vancouver reached a tentative agreement to give container drivers benefits and increased pay, averting a strike.

The company plans to recruit would-be entrepreneurs to provide trucking services in five countries, according to The Information.

The largest container terminal operator in the world is buying BDP, a midsize U.S. freight forwarder.

Drivers at one of two Port of Vancouver trucking companies facing a strike have reached a tentative agreement with their carrier.

Canada’s supply chain is in a “crisis situation” as over 50 ships wait to dock at the Port of Vancouver and CN struggles to restore service.

CN hasn’t been able to reopen its rail main link to the Port of Vancouver due to weather issues as large backlog of vessels continues.

Container truckers at two carriers serving the Port of Vancouver have voted to authorize a strike, threatening to bring more disruption as rail service resumes.

Canadian and Mexican truckers will reportedly need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to cross U.S. borders starting Jan. 22 amid fears of significant disruption to the supply chain.

Canadian transportation and logistics firm Manitoulin Group expands in western Canada with acquisitions of Diamond Delivery and First Canadian Messenger.

Kuehne + Nagel is one of the largest, most profitable international freight management companies in the world. Its CEO announced he will leave next year.

Canadian Pacific says it will reopen its rail link with the Port of Vancouver on Tuesday, vowing to clear backlogs to “get the supply chain back in sync.”

Air Canada is adding cargo capacity equivalent in weight to 860 adult moose in and out of Vancouver.

CP and CN rail service at the Port of Vancouver could resume this week as mounting congestion and backlogs continue after devastating floods and landslides.

U.S. truck drivers will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter Canada starting in January as an industry group warns of a “perfect storm” for the cross-border supply chain.

Unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers contemplate whether to get COVID-19 vaccine ahead of U.S. border mandate amid fears thousands won’t.

The Port of Vancouver warns of terminal disruptions and vessel delays after flooding in British Columbia cuts off CN and CP rails.

A climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, hosted Transport Day on Wednesday, when global leaders signed on to create at least six green maritime routes by 2025.

Cross-border trucking and logistics firm Titanium is negotiating higher rates with customers as inflation puts pressure on margins. “Nobody is shocked,” COO Marilyn Daniel says.

The company expects record 2021 earnings and boosts its 2023 bottom line forecast by $700 million, to $9.24 billion.

Air Canada Cargo has been a strong pandemic performer, but the passenger side of the business is finally beginning to recover.

Governments at the G20 meeting are pulling together to address supply shortages caused by freight transportation backlogs.

The Science Based Targets initiative standard for setting net-zero emissions targets can provide companies with guidance while increasing the credibility of their goals.

TFI International fails to replicate early herculean improvement at ex-UPS Freight as operating ratio weakens slightly in record third-quarter financial results.

The CEO of Canada trucking giant Mullen Group says the cost of freight in the country is set to press upward amid high demand, tight capacity and the end of wage subsidies.

“These international commitments are valuable, but of course they are no replacement for actual action on the ground,” said Timothy O’Connor, senior director and senior attorney of energy transition strategy at the Environmental Defense Fund.

Transport Canada is investigating an ELD certification body after a vendor alleged that it approved a device that could allow drivers to falsify their logs.

Canadian trucking and logistics firm XTL Group expands into the U.S. with the acquisition of Georgia freight brokerage CBT.

Stockholm-based TrusTrace plans to use the capital to expand globally, enhance product development and “continue leveraging cutting-edge technology and the best minds in the industry to achieve positive, restorative change for people and the planet,” said Shameek Ghosh, CEO and co-founder.

“This record result was achieved despite severe congestion around the network,” says the Hong Kong ocean carrier.

Despite Ikea’s many climate-related goals, Ship It Zero is calling out the Swedish retailer and other major players such as Amazon and Walmart via “die-ins” to highlight shipping emissions’ impacts on human and environmental health.

GLS has agreed to acquire Rosenau Transport for $288 million in a deal that creates a freight and parcel network across Canada.

Yes, despite the headaches, the ocean carriers are making boatloads of money.

AskWaves talks with an expert to learn how the Global Logistics Emissions Council provides a single framework for supply chains around the world to track emissions.

Kriska Transportation Group strengthens its cross-border LTL business with the acquisition of Ontario-based Transport N Service.

The discovery of possible explosives led to a shutdown of the Ambassador Bridge, disrupting freight at the busiest commercial U.S.-Canada border crossing.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has agreed to become the owner of the largest U.S. terminal operator, Ports America, in a deal with Oaktree Capital Management

Canada Border Services Agency officers back a deal that will bring a new four-year contract with additional pay. But there’s one catch: The retroactive agreement expires next year.

Green shipping technology and fuels are costly and could remain that way until economies of scale and innovation advance — something that many shipping companies say will require government regulations.

Generous government spending and climate change policies to continue as Justin Trudeau secures a third term as Canada’s prime minister. But he’ll still need support from other parties.

Air-truck service via Toronto is faster for some logistics companies than booking shipments direct to O’Hare, where delays are mounting.

A truck driver agreed to transport nearly 1,000 pounds of marijuana under the watch of federal agents after his load was intercepted at the U.S.-Canada border.

A union that recently wrested allegiance of pilots at Cargojet away from a competing union now says the company fired some members for their organizing activity.

“We believe that every sector has to make a contribution toward global decarbonization,” Fernando Rangel Villasana, senior technical manager at SBTi, told FreightWaves.

An executive from Pedigree Technologies explains how the North Dakota firm became one of the first ELD providers to successfully get a device certified in Canada. It wasn’t easy.

Canadian truck driver Robert Mitchell had the misfortune of picking up a load of paint thinner on Sept. 11, 2001, with the intention of transporting it to the U.S.

Canada Cartage makes its fourth acquisition of 2021 with the addition of Rapid Delivery, a Canadian carrier specializing in dedicated domestic and cross-border freight.

With limited manpower because of COVID, the main cargo terminal at Shanghai airport can’t process many freighter flights.

A ransomware attack on a maritime fuel storage provider in the Canary Islands likely didn’t live up to the hackers’ hype. But the incident reflects the very real cybersecurity risks facing the companies supporting the global shipping industry.

Canada’s Titanium Transportation Group continues its asset-light push into the U.S. freight market with a new brokerage office in Denver, its fourth in the country.

Freight forwarder JAS Worldwide announced it has entered into a share purchase agreement with forwarding, logistics and supply chain management provider Greencarrier Freight Services International.

Cervus Equipment is set to be acquired by Brandt Tractor in a $240 million deal that will take the Canadian Peterbilt dealer private.

Canadian Tire is acquiring a 25% stake in Ashcroft Terminal in a deal that will allow the retailer to move containers from the Port of Vancouver more efficiently, while securing rail capacity.

Titanium Transportation Group plans to add two more U.S. freight brokerage offices this year after the Canadian firm reported record second-quarter revenue.

Canada Border Service Agency employees have ended a day-long work-to-rule strike after reaching a tentative agreement with the Canadian government.

The union representing nearly 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency personnel warns of slowdowns at Canada’s ports of entry starting Friday as it issues a strike notice.

A trucker could face prosecution after U.S. border officers say they found nearly 70 pounds of cocaine in a trailer full of watermelons and peppers she was hauling to Canada.

Canada is reopening its borders to vaccinated Americans. AskWaves explains why this will help fuel demand for freight in the hospitality sector.

The Ever Given, stuck in the Suez Canal for six days in March, finally berthed at the Port of Rotterdam on Thursday.