News

Paris-based global logistics group Gefco has confirmed its acquisition of Spanish transport logistics company GLT, the Handy Shipping Guide reports.

Call it the Internet of Things, the Sharing Economy, a result of the ELD mandate, or the emergence of blockchain-style applications, but we are witnessing a digital gold rush when it comes to developing technologies bent on improving supply chains.

2018’s unusually late Chinese New Year means that port traffic will normalize and then accelerate for pre-summer shipments at the same time as California’s March harvests, causing a truckload capacity crunch.

The Teamsters have opened negotiations with UPS on a new contract and they have a significant request: no drones or driverless vehicles.

Redwood Logistics (Redwood), a top-100 3PL provider and one of the fastest growing logistics companies in North America, announced today it has been selected as the newest member of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

In what will come as little surprise to anyone who has recently renewed their commercial insurance policies, rates are going up. The bad news is that there doesn’t appear to be an immediate end in sight, according to a new report from A.B. Best.

The California port has commenced a $24 million project to modernize its Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, allowing the terminal to handle up to 4.6 million metric tons of cargo annually.

The nearly 30-year old group, which once represented the major liner carriers that move nearly all container cargo between the Far East and the United States, will officially cease operating […]

The Omaha, Neb.-based Class I railway recorded a net income of $7.3 billion for the fourth quarter of 2017 and $10.7 billion for the entire year.

Jacksonville Port Authority (JaxPort) selects chief operating officer, while Norfolk Southern (NS) names executive vice president and chief legal officer.

The U.S. Justice Department said Yi-Chi Shih and Kiet Ahn Mai were arrested on Jan. 19 and subsequently charged with illegally obtaining technology which they in turn exported to China […]

Global ag giant Louis Dreyfus Company has successfully concluded its first international shipment utilizing blockchain technology.

Industry-wide ELD adoption is forging a yellow brick road for blockchain and other technological marvels.

Yesterday Maersk Line announced that it joined the New York Shipping Exchange (NYSHEX), a new digital platform offering standardized contracts, locked-in prices, and space security for ocean container shipping.

With the ELD mandate enforcement date behind us, owners of trucking companies can now focus on the next sweeping change to impact their business; implementation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was signed into law by President Trump on Dec. 22, 2017.

At least for one week, seasonality has impacted rates, according to the latest data from DAT Solutions. Spot rates for dry vans and flatbeds fell for the week ending Jan. 20.

The platform, which allows shippers to compare rates and services among 500 freight forwarders, will use a $10 million investment to expand operations and functions.

Montreal-based Class I railroad Canadian National (CN) saw its net income spike 156 percent for the quarter to $2.61 billion Canadian (U.S. $2.11 billion) compared with the same 2016 period, […]

The private marine terminal operator inked a long-term lease on 8.67 acres at Port Everglades to construct a new auto processing facility as it plans to move from its 5.73-acre […]

The Class I railway also reported operating revenues of $2.7 billion for the quarter, up 7 percent year-over-year, as overall volumes ticked up 5 percent thanks to intermodal, coal and […]

The South Atlantic port handled its highest volumes ever of containers in 2017 at over 4 million TEUs, an 11 percent increase from 2016.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $54,000 civil penalty against True Value Co. of Jonesboro, Ga. for allegedly violating federal hazardous materials regulations for air transport.

TECSYS hires chief marketing officer; NAVTOR names chief technology officer; Alliance Shippers appoints president and CEO; Direct ChassisLink hires chief strategy officer; and Dachser appoints chief operations officer.

Chattanooga, TN-based Lync America has joined other transportation industry visionaries by collaborating with the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), an alliance formed to ensure standardization of blockchain technology in logistics and throughout the supply chain.

The “leaked” plan calls for liberalizing tolling policy and allowing states to commercialize interstate rest areas, among other things, as a means of funding infrastructure.

The infrastructure bill outline leaked yesterday provides clues to how Trump wants to incentivize $800B in state, local, and private spending: tolls on interstates, removing constraints on private activity bonds, and value capturing financing for transit projects.

Manual processes may appear cheaper at first, but studies have shown that switching to automated accounting programs for account payables and receivables saves money in the long run, even for small operations.

TRAFFIX, one of Canada’s longest-serving third-party logistics specialist, based out of Milton Ontario with offices in Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, and Dallas, is proud to announce that they have joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

The compliance rate for ELDs among fleets sits at 86%, according to the latest rolling survey of 318 fleets by CarrierLists.

The Southern California’s five-member board unanimously voted to approve a project that involves reconfiguring, expanding and enhancing the existing Pier B rail facility near the 710 Freeway.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has denied a motion from the non-profit St. Johns Riverkeeper for a preliminary injunction against JaxPort and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, allowing […]

Ports on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts have been nabbing market share from their West Coast counterparts for the last five years, but that trend accelerated last year following […]

AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) carried over 700,000 metric tons of cargo last year, a 13 percent increase from 2016, the all-cargo airline said in a statement.

With tight truck capacity, driver shortages, and doubts about NAFTA, how much will food prices rise?

February weather is going to be volatile, cold, and stormy as the Polar Vortex returns to North America. Plan accordingly!

“It’s fairly mind-blowing what’s happening in the industry right now,” says Chris Polk, An American Trucker podcaster.

Last Friday, the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) decided to keep its standards intellectual property open, to encourage ease of adoption. 

With the PyeongChang Winter Games opening ceremonies on Feb. 9, we wondered what kind of logistics operation it takes to make the Olympic Games run smoothly? We break down some of the numbers from past Games in this infographic.

The impact of the government shut down; U.S. oil production; Lyft users ditching their cars; February weather forecasts–all this and more.

Although most federal agencies are furloughing workers, the free movement of freight should not be impeded by the government shutdown. However, research, policy, rule-making, and permit/grant application review processes are largely being suspended.

U.S. Chamber of Congress president, Thomas J. Donohue, is preparing for an uphill battle to push for a raise of the federal gas tax by 25 cents per gallon to help shape the debate about upgrading U.S. roads, bridges, airports and other infrastructure.

A group of leading environmental and maritime shipping organizations have called for the prohibition of transporting non-compliant marine fuels once the global 0.5 percent sulfur cap takes effect in 2020.

Global Logistics Properties, a provider of logistics facilities and solutions, marked the completion of its privatization process Monday by delisting from the Singapore Exchange.

U-Freight, an international freight forwarder and logistics services provider, said e-commerce growth has spurred growth in the air cargo market.

Intermodal pricing rose 4 percent in December compared with the same 2016 period, and that growth looks poised to continue into 2018, according to the latest Cass Intermodal Price Index.

Learning Machine Technologies, a leading global provider of blockchain-based records for institutions including MIT and the Republic of Malta, has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

Back in November, KeepTruckin launched a petition drive asking FMCSA to provide a 2-hour exemption for long-haul drivers delayed at a shipper.

Domestic truckload pricing jumped 6.2 percent for the month compared to December 2016, the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year gains, according the latest Cass Truckload Linehaul Index.

The movement of goods is booming in Latin America (LATAM) and it is resulting in a significant rise in the number of commercial vehicles being sold in the region.

South Carolina is looking to increase the fines for driving slower than the average speed in the passing lane, and that is just one of the legislative bills working their way through state legislatures that will affect transportation.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has confirmed its plan to move its truck-making arm from Saltillo, Mexico, to Detroit, MI, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Chad Boblett has built not just a successful Facebook group, but also the largest professional online forum in the U.S. on rates and logistics in the freight industry

J.B. Hunt’s quarterly earnings call reports strong revenues and earnings, but gets a huge hand from tax reform

Outbound rates from the Great Lakes have held steady at the high prices reached during last September’s nationwide spike, but over the past 7 days, they’re trending upward again.

Bettina Warburg explains blockchain to a child, a teenager, a college student, and an expert in this video from Wired Magazine.

American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear took to Medium on Thursday to tout the benefits the trucking industry will see from passage of the new tax law, including noting an ATA survey that says 50% of fleets are planning wage increases or one-time bonuses.

Parcel volumes associated with e-commerce continue to show outstanding rates of growth, with both FedEx and UPS reporting strong U.S. domestic volumes, but the current strength is more than just the ongoing growth of e-commerce.

IBM and Maersk have teamed up to build blockchain solutions for the maritime container shipping industry, apparently focusing on automating costly import-export documentation.

The Class I railway revealed that for 2018, it is planning to invest between C$1.35 billion and C$1.5 billion in capital programs, and is expecting mid-single-digit revenues growth.

Really want to guess where HQ2 will end up? Follow the tech talent pool and logistics network.

The Texas-based rail logistics provider will utilize blockchain technology in a new cloud-based platform titled RAILChain.

The New Super 1 will sail between Japan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Vietnam, utilizing four vessels and a total rotation time of 28 days round.

The interim measures, developed from working groups with participation from airport stakeholders, aim to address factors that contributed to issues like ground equipment failures that occurred during a recent storm.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is finding itself increasingly in the mix as a regulatory agency for exports as well as imports, according to Megan Montgomery, executive vice president of […]

A Government Accountability Office report released Wednesday revealed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection airport officials have not verified licenses for some radiological imports and its processes do not ensure […]

The International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology (INTERDICT) Act requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to increase the number of chemical screening devices available to […]

NATSO was invited by the House Committee on Homeland Security to discuss the insidious and pervasive issue of human trafficking.

SCLogic, a leading provider of in-building logistics systems, announced today that they have joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

Mark Lambert, former co-president of a Maryland-based company specializing in nuclear materials transportation, was indicted for his alleged role in bribing officials connected with Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corp.

The U.S. Commerce Department has taken up antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into decorative ribbon imports from China on behalf of a Pennsylvania manufacturer of these products.

South Korea worked feverishly expanding roads and train services in anticipation of thousands of athletes and spectators and millions of items arriving from all over the world. Then North Korea decided it wanted to join the party. 

The long-awaited infrastructure plan from the White House is taking shape and could be part of President Trump’s State of the Union speech on Jan. 30, according to Reuters. CNN, however, reports that the plan will not likely be finished by that time due to the president’s travel schedule.

In addition to handling a record 2.2 million TEUs in 2017, South Carolina Ports Authority has various projects underway, some of which will be completed in 2018.

Pay particular attention to analytics-driven IoT platforms, computing at the edge, and data exchange brokerages (DEBs), as IoT influences everything from home security systems, to oil and gas exploration, to smart cities, to retail experiences, and beyond.

The temporary speed restriction in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence was lifted because there have been no sightings of North Atlantic right whales in the area of the slowdown […]

The Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act (H.R. 4318), which has now moved to the Senate for approval, promises to eliminate $1.1 billion in import tariffs during the next three years and […]

Brexit has brought up various challenges that are set to impact the country, both economically and politically. In that regard, the scenes that unfold in the supply chain scenario is worrying and needs contemplation. 

The Lowell, Ark.-based intermodal and trucking provider recorded net earnings of $385.3 million on revenues of $1.99 billion for the fourth quarter of 2017, up 228 percent and 16 percent […]

Seabury Maritime PFRA appointed managing director, advisory; Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd. selected next chief executive; and Truckstop.com named vice president of small and medium business sales.

China-based, state-owned shipping behemoth China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) has acquired a 49% stake in a landlocked port under construction in Kazakhstan, the New York Times reports.

The American auto industry’s shift to electric vehicles over the next five years may represent an opportunity for Chinese EV makers to capture market share. Several companies have announced plans to expand into the U.S., which might represent a threat to Tesla.

Tropos Technologies’ electric vehicles are capable of hauling over 1,000 pounds and can be configured for cargo and last-mile delivery, perhaps making them an ideal alternative for local delivery.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is asking the Trump Administration to increase the federal fuel tax 25 cents per gallon.

The U.S. maritime regulator outlined a plan identifying certain regulations under its purview that are suited for reform or elimination, and has adjusted its penalty amounts in line with inflation.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is consulting with the USPS on the feasibility of implementing a bill aiming to combat illicit opioid imports.

If you’ve ever had your doubts about Elon Musk’s grand visions, you aren’t alone, but at some point maybe we should get on board the Tesla fan-wagon. Production issues are one thing, but they’re breaking new ground all over the world.

COSCO SHIPPING International announces several appointments; Hamburg Süd names global head of corporate communications; JAXPORT hires director, national container accounts; Logistyx Technologies names CEO; and Flexport appoints VP of people […]

More than a dozen shippers and intermediaries explained during a Federal Maritime Commission hearing Tuesday how carriers engage in punitive assessment of penalties for exceeding contracted detention and demurrage levels.

After a difficult adjustment period in July/August, CSX improved its performance on key metrics like train speed and dwell time, ending 2017 as an industry leader.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has rented out as many as 60 data centers worldwide for the Bitcoin-dependent enterprises using the blockchain.

FreightRover, the freight exchange and streamlined payment platform, announced today that it has joined forces with other industry leaders in the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

Even though hyperloop has not yet been officially launched in mainstream transportation systems in the United States, it has piqued the interest of the Chinese government enough to consider a 16-man passenger pod system using the Maglev technology.

The recent mudslides in California have caused a number of travel concerns in California, including along Highway 101, which will likely remain closed until next week, California Department of Transportation officials said.

For fleets that spend time operating on load boards, the high spot rates are a blessing. For shippers, though, it’s been a challenging time as they have been forced to adjust to a new era in trucking.

In the last few weeks, there has been a lot of confusion in the driver community regarding the per diem, which has been eliminated for company drivers under the new Republican tax plan.

The bill would eliminate $1.1 billion in import tariffs during the next three years and increase U.S. manufacturing output by over $3.1 billion.

The biggest hurdle to overcome is the long-distance infrastructure of superchargers.

ZIM appoints chief digital officer; Schneider Packaging names executive vice president; A.N. Deringer selects director of consulting and a new senior trade advisor; and the Container Owners Association names board […]

Mudslides and a dead Pacific Northwest are contributing to high northbound rates coming out of Los Angeles, while extreme winter weather in the Northeast and freight backbuilds are keeping Chicago hot.

Craig Fuller, Managing Director of BiTA, says that blockchain-enabled smart contracts will facilitate more detailed, specialized transactions without the high fees of credit cards.