Latest news

The five terminals that comprise the New York Terminal Conference in the Port of New York and New Jersey will increase demurrage fees in October as part of their annual fee revision process.

Spot rates in the westbound Pacific took a sizable drop this month due to declining US exports to Asia, which are resulting in especially low vessel utilization rates. The normal strong rebound, which should begin in November, could be muted as a result.

The slowdown reflects easing global economic growth and retaliatory tariffs with the United States.

The Army Corps of Engineers awarded two contracts this week for the final steps to complete the harbor deepening in Savannah and Charleston.

A 10-week peak-season-only service launched Aug. 5 by Cosco and OOCL amid weakening spot rates adds a new level of confusion in the eastbound trans-Pacific, which is only being heightened by single-voyage extra-loader services by other carriers.

Zim’s broadening partnership with the 2M Alliance helped the Israeli carrier record a profit in the second quarter of 2019 and an increase in freight rates for the quarter over the same period in 2018.

The strong quarter for Maersk will strengthen its resolve in making what amounts to an existential bet that the integrator path is the best response to the commodification of ocean shipping.

Ro-ro high and heavy imports are strong into the United States despite gathering economic storm clouds.

Ulrich Ulrichs takes the helm of prominent global MPV/HL carrier BBC Chartering as Svend Andersen steps down.

The inefficiencies inherent in the Mexican customs process could be reduced through reforms, including a more standardized interpretation of customs laws, stakeholders say.

One of the few positive indicators in trucking is the ATA Tonnage Index, which rose 7.3 percent in July year over year -- a signal that some don’t believe the industry is in turmoil.

The founder of industry stalwart software provider Catapult has started a new venture aiming to provide logistics companies with a way to automate repetitive and time-consuming data entry processes.

Maersk’s latest linkup signals the carrier’s intent to continue building out its digital offerings to shippers.

Carriers could react to the continuing decline in spot rates in the eastbound trans-Pacific by canceling more sailings during Oct. 2-7 Golden Week and beyond.

WiseTech’s purchase of Depot Systems allows it to gain yard container management technology in the US.

A new agreement between the US and Canada will allow the two countries to fully clear cargo before railroads and trucks reach landside ports of entry, reducing congestion and freeing up customs officials.

Acquisitive-minded Adani Group is pursuing a deal that would give it a 72 percent stake of India's Krishnapatnam port.

Proposed hours-of-service reforms -- though well-intentioned -- are a “catastrophe waiting to happen” for the US trucking sector, according to one interested observer.

Monetization of TradeLens would give the largest global container line another revenue stream not tied to ocean shipping, furthering its effort to become an integrator.

Carrier market share in the trans-Pacific is not expected to change much in the next few months, in part because carriers will manage capacity by blanking individual sailings and deploying extra-loader vessels to handle import surges.

The container terminal at the Port of Progreso, in the south of Mexico, will undergo an upgrade by operator APM Terminals Yucatan as the federal government also targets the port for enhancement in a plan to create a software, electronics and automobile development zone nearby.

Declining eastbound trans-Pacific container spot rates this week indicate that predictions of a weak peak season could be accurate.

Despite the "doom-and-gloom" predictions of some industry watchers, there are cities where trucking activity has picked up in August, offering a glimmer of hope for the US freight market.

The 2019 JOC Directory of Trucking Companies is a one-stop source of information for North American shippers and third-party logistics providers on nearly 180 select trucking companies in the United States and Canada.

As tough as compliance with the IMO 2020 low-sulfur regulations will be, the switch to a cleaner fossil-based fuel will not be enough to achieve the IMO’s long-term zero-emissions target.

The middleman role of forwarders will remain, but their survival will depend on embracing technology and providing greater value to customers in a transparent, data-driven environment.

Terminal operators say an increase in truck turn times in Los Angeles and Long Beach last month does not signal a return to the congestion experienced during the 2018 peak season.

Container carriers have already begun voluntarily reducing their carbon footprints, but shippers need to be prepared for the disruptive — and expensive — changes that must take place for the wider industry to reach IMO-mandated emissions reduction targets.

India is investing $500 million in Iran’s Chabahar port, but a lack of demand has forced the Indian government to consider offering tariff discounts at Indian ports for carriers en route to Chabahar.

After a rise in domestic US trucking rates in June offered a glimmer of hope, the numbers and commentary show a return to sluggish shipping conditions in the previous 45 days.

The initial growth in volume booked via Maersk Line’s new online tool gives carriers further impetus to provide similar products that offer guaranteed contract reliability.

The Memphis-based freight forwarder has hired long-time project forwarding veteran Michael Confessore to help build a dedicated project team from the ground up.

It was a modest second quarter result, but Maersk Line continues to improve its profitability by improving reliability and resisting any temptation to chase market share.

The containerized shipping industry was able to convince the US Trade Representative to take cranes and containers off a list of tariffs going into effect on Sept. 1 and Dec. 15.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed updates to the hours-of-service regulations covering the trucking industry to increase flexibility and safety on US highways.

It has been several years since Seoul-based container carrier HMM has managed to report a quarterly profit, and the second quarter of 2019 was no different.

The Wednesday announcement by the Canada Infrastructure Bank solidifies the development of the project and promises funding, as an acceleration of container volume growth within the last three years pushes the Port of Montreal toward full capacity.

Evergreen Marine has plunged deeper into the mega-ship operating space, ordering another 11 ships in addition to the 11 that are already being built and delivered.

Will stiff fines force greater compliance by shippers with hazardous cargo declaration, or is technology a better way to prevent devastating ship fires?