Despite workers returning to their jobs, the brief work stoppage will impact freight flows in Canada and the US for a few weeks.
Competition to fill ships in the eastbound trans-Pacific has become so intense in recent weeks that ocean carriers are offering a variety of special rates that are much lower than the spot rates they are quoting.
Most of the recent interest from shippers is for mode-malleable cargo — freight that can be easily switched between breakbulk and container modes.