The central Washington town of Quincy offers the lowest operating costs for distribution centers in a site-selection consultant’s survey of 29 western U.S. and Canadian locations with intermodal connections to regional markets. The most expensive sites in the survey were in California and Vancouver, British Columbia, according to The Boyd Company, based in Princeton, N.J. Boyd’s survey compared costs for a hypothetical 500,000-square-foot distribution center employing 175 workers and shipping to western regional markets. The analysis included cost factors such as labor, real estate, construction, taxes, utilities and shipping. Annual operating costs among western U.S. cities in the survey ranged from $21.6 million in the northern San FranciscoBay area to $14.1 million in Quincy, in central Washington. Canadian cities’ costs ranged from $23.6 million in Vancouver, British Columbia, to $18.7 million in Calgary, Alberta. Canadian costs were calculated in U.S. dollars at parity. All of the 29 locations surveyed have intermodal terminals of at least one of the major railroads serving western North America: BNSF, Union Pacific, Canadian National or Canadian Pacific. “We’re not recommending that our clients make any investments without intermodal rail facilities,” said John Boyd Jr., principal at the firm that produced the report. Boyd said intermodal rail helps blunt the impact of rising fuel costs. The company projects over-the-road trucking costs will rise 5.6 percent this year and by a much higher rate in California, where a new low-carbon fuel standard is expected to push diesel retail prices to $6.69 a gallon by 2020. The report also cited the importance of electricity costs in distribution center site selection. One reason for low costs of DCs in central Washington is inexpensive hydroelectric power. The Boyd report is available on request at contact@theboydcompany.com .Contact Joseph Bonney at jbonney@joc.com and follow him at twitter.com/JosephBonney .

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>The deal will see Acuitive Solutions’ AcuAudit product integrated into Cass’ freight audit and payment platform, one widely used by large shippers.</p></div>

The deal will see Acuitive Solutions’ AcuAudit product integrated into Cass’ freight audit and payment platform, one widely used by large shippers.

Feature image

Cass acquires international freight invoice auditing tool to widen modal reach

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Whether it be geopolitical crises, labor unrest or the wild card of a second Trump administration, the global supply chain will face no shortage of unknowns in 2025.</p></div>

Whether it be geopolitical crises, labor unrest or the wild card of a second Trump administration, the global supply chain will face no shortage of unknowns in 2025.

Risks ‘coming fast’ as global supply chain shifts nervously into new year

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>As the supply-demand imbalance drives air freight rates to levels not seen in two years, forwarders are trying to balance the contractual requirements of airlines while securing capacity at reasonable rates for customers.</p></div>

As the supply-demand imbalance drives air freight rates to levels not seen in two years, forwarders are trying to balance the contractual requirements of airlines while securing capacity at reasonable rates for customers.

Tight capacity, high demand expected to push air cargo costs higher in 2025

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Advent eModal, a three-decade landmark provider of fee collection and appointment scheduling at container terminals, has been sold by private equity group Blackstone to air cargo software specialist CargoSprint. </p></div>

Advent eModal, a three-decade landmark provider of fee collection and appointment scheduling at container terminals, has been sold by private equity group Blackstone to air cargo software specialist CargoSprint.

Air cargo payment provider acquires Advent eModal

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>While cargo volume is expected to grow 5.8% next year, the airline association is warning that aircraft supply chain issues will raise costs, possibly limiting that growth.</p></div>

While cargo volume is expected to grow 5.8% next year, the airline association is warning that aircraft supply chain issues will raise costs, possibly limiting that growth.

Capacity shortage, aging fleet to clip air cargo wings in 2025: IATA

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>The IMO tends to move at a glacial pace, but with 2030 emissions targets looming, it no longer has that luxury.</p></div>

The IMO tends to move at a glacial pace, but with 2030 emissions targets looming, it no longer has that luxury.

Suez diversions, lack of IMO agreement put 2030 emissions targets at risk

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Outside investment for project carriers is scarce, primarily because future project cargo flows are so difficult to predict.</p></div>

Outside investment for project carriers is scarce, primarily because future project cargo flows are so difficult to predict.

US policy uncertainty clouds MPV/HL outlook going into 2025

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Shippers must weigh the merits of a single-source relationship on drayage through key ports over splitting volume among regional and national carriers, or even brokers. </p></div>

Shippers must weigh the merits of a single-source relationship on drayage through key ports over splitting volume among regional and national carriers, or even brokers.

Drayage diversification emerging as shipper priority amid supply chain volatility

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>The charges come as spot rates for ex-Asia cargo into the US have climbed sharply over the past month.</p></div>

The charges come as spot rates for ex-Asia cargo into the US have climbed sharply over the past month.

New year means fresh disruption for container shipping market: analyst

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>The LTL sector will try to hold its ground on pricing until improvements in US manufacturing lift demand.</p></div>

The LTL sector will try to hold its ground on pricing until improvements in US manufacturing lift demand.

LTL carriers expanding networks to prepare for long-term growth

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Despite the kudos for railroads, some market players question the value of pandemic-era comparisons, suggesting that 2024’s peak season aligns more closely with pre-pandemic trends.</p></div>

Despite the kudos for railroads, some market players question the value of pandemic-era comparisons, suggesting that 2024’s peak season aligns more closely with pre-pandemic trends.

IMCs say railroads handled peak season surge better than pandemic

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>It’s difficult to imagine international intermodal growing much more, if at all, on the US West Coast in 2025.</p></div>

It’s difficult to imagine international intermodal growing much more, if at all, on the US West Coast in 2025.

Strong 2024 sets international intermodal up for tough comparisons

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p> The considerable intermodal ocean volumes that ordinarily would have moved in 2025 have likely been pulled forward into 2024, writes analyst Larry Gross.   </p></div>

The considerable intermodal ocean volumes that ordinarily would have moved in 2025 have likely been pulled forward into 2024, writes analyst Larry Gross.

International intermodal market enters “constrained” 2025: analyst

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Adam Roth, executive vice president at NAI Hiffman, highlights the inverse relationship between transportation costs and real estate investment and the “rule of 1.5.”</p></div>

Adam Roth, executive vice president at NAI Hiffman, highlights the inverse relationship between transportation costs and real estate investment and the “rule of 1.5.”

<div class="phx-topic"><p>Global protectionism and geopolitical shifts are prompting companies to delay real estate decisions. Adam Roth, executive vice president at NAI Hiffman, highlights the inverse relationship between transportation costs and real estate investment and the “rule of 1.5.”</p><p><i>Inland24, Chicago, Illinois</i></p><p><b>Sponsored by CenterPoint Properties</b></p><div class="wrapper-narrow"><dynamic-object type="brightcove" resource-id="6363936408112"></dynamic-object></div></div>

Global protectionism and geopolitical shifts are prompting companies to delay real estate decisions. Adam Roth, executive vice president at NAI Hiffman, highlights the inverse relationship between transportation costs and real estate investment and the “rule of 1.5.” Inland24, Chicago, Illinois Sponsored by CenterPoint Properties

The 1.5-year impact rule

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Michael Brazeal, manager of development transactions at CenterPoint Properties, shares insights on adapting to post-COVID tenant demand, optimizing supply chains and building partnerships to support tenant growth.</p></div>

Michael Brazeal, manager of development transactions at CenterPoint Properties, shares insights on adapting to post-COVID tenant demand, optimizing supply chains and building partnerships to support tenant growth.

<div class="phx-topic"><p>Strategic locations and green initiatives are essential in today's industrial real estate landscape. Michael Brazeal, manager of development transactions at CenterPoint Properties, shares insights on adapting to post-COVID tenant demand, optimizing supply chains and building partnerships to support tenant growth.</p><p><i>Inland24, Chicago, Illinois</i></p><p><b>Sponsored by CenterPoint Properties</b></p><div class="wrapper-narrow"><dynamic-object type="brightcove" resource-id="6363935724112"></dynamic-object></div></div>

Strategic locations and green initiatives are essential in today's industrial real estate landscape. Michael Brazeal, manager of development transactions at CenterPoint Properties, shares insights on adapting to post-COVID tenant demand, optimizing supply chains and building partnerships to support tenant growth. Inland24, Chicago, Illinois Sponsored by CenterPoint Properties

Evolving industrial real estate needs

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>Dylan Nowak, Gulf region sales director at C&amp;K Trucking, shares insights on logistics career growth, effective supply chain strategies, the vital role of employee engagement and his key takeaways from recent industry disruptions.</p></div>

Dylan Nowak, Gulf region sales director at C&K Trucking, shares insights on logistics career growth, effective supply chain strategies, the vital role of employee engagement and his key takeaways from recent industry disruptions.

<div class="phx-topic"><p>Data-driven approaches are crucial for enhancing customer success and operational resilience. Dylan Nowak, Gulf region sales director at C&amp;K Trucking, shares insights on logistics career growth, effective supply chain strategies, the vital role of employee engagement and his key takeaways from recent industry disruptions.</p><p><i>Inland24, Chicago, Illinois</i></p><p><b>Sponsored by C&amp;K Trucking</b></p><p></p><div class="wrapper-narrow"><dynamic-object type="brightcove" resource-id="6363702996112"></dynamic-object></div></div>

Data-driven approaches are crucial for enhancing customer success and operational resilience. Dylan Nowak, Gulf region sales director at C&K Trucking, shares insights on logistics career growth, effective supply chain strategies, the vital role of employee engagement and his key takeaways from recent industry disruptions. Inland24, Chicago, Illinois Sponsored by C&K Trucking

Navigating logistics challenges

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<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper"><p>The central Washington town of Quincy offers the lowest operating costs for distribution centers in a site-selection consultant’s survey of 29 western U.S. and Canadian locations with intermodal connections to regional markets.
 </p></div>

The central Washington town of Quincy offers the lowest operating costs for distribution centers in a site-selection consultant’s survey of 29 western U.S. and Canadian locations with intermodal connections to regional markets.

<div class="phx-topic"><p>The central Washington town of Quincy offers the lowest operating costs for distribution centers in a site-selection consultant’s survey of 29 western U.S. and Canadian locations with intermodal connections to regional markets.</p><p>The most expensive sites in the survey were in California and Vancouver, British Columbia, according to The Boyd Company, based in Princeton, N.J.</p><p>Boyd’s survey compared costs for a hypothetical 500,000-square-foot distribution center employing 175 workers and shipping to western regional markets. The analysis included cost factors such as labor, real estate, construction, taxes, utilities and shipping.</p><p>Annual operating costs among western U.S. cities in the survey ranged from $21.6 million in the northern San FranciscoBay area to $14.1 million in Quincy, in central Washington.</p><p>Canadian cities’ costs ranged from $23.6 million in Vancouver, British Columbia, to $18.7 million in Calgary, Alberta. Canadian costs were calculated in U.S. dollars at parity.</p><p>All of the 29 locations surveyed have intermodal terminals of at least one of the major railroads serving western North America: BNSF, Union Pacific, Canadian National or Canadian Pacific.</p><p></p><div class="wrapper-full"><dynamic-object type="youtube" resource-id="gmpTl_7H2Tc"></dynamic-object></div><p>“We’re not recommending that our clients make any investments without intermodal rail facilities,” said John Boyd Jr., principal at the firm that produced the report.</p><p>Boyd said intermodal rail helps blunt the impact of rising fuel costs. The company projects over-the-road trucking costs will rise 5.6 percent this year and by a much higher rate in California, where a new low-carbon fuel standard is expected to push diesel retail prices to $6.69 a gallon by 2020.</p><p>The report also cited the importance of electricity costs in distribution center site selection. One reason for low costs of DCs in central Washington is inexpensive hydroelectric power.</p><p>The Boyd report is available on request at <a href="mailto:contact@theboydcompany.com">contact@theboydcompany.com</a>.</p><p><i>Contact Joseph Bonney at <a href="mailto:jbonney@joc.com">jbonney@joc.com</a> and follow him at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JosephBonney">twitter.com/JosephBonney</a>.</i></p></div>

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