Monthly Archives for September 2018

Multipurpose market’s gradual recovery continues on demand Above: BBC Chartering’s Emerald ship. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. The multipurpose market is slowly improving from a demand and freight rate point of view, and the fleet also continues to evolve away from “simple” gearless or low-lift-capacity vessels to more specialized, high-lift-capacity ships, according to Susan Oatway, senior analyst, […]

Reading the trailer tea leaves One of US intermodal’s big surprises this year has been the strong growth in trailers, but what does it mean? Are trailers acting as a safety valve for lack of domestic container capacity? Is increasing e-commerce driving the trend? Both of these factors are contributing, but analysis indicates there may be a… […]

Trans-Pacific peak season chaos set to accelerate NVOs' share gain The message for ocean carriers is that they will not lose loyal customers if they treat them fairly. (Above: The Port of Los Angeles.) Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. Having further increased their share of Asian imports to the United States, forwarders stand to gain an even […]

Maersk seeking more India transshipment volume   Above: A Maersk Line ship at sea. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. Maersk Line, hoping to take advantage of India’s liberalized cabotage policy, and as an ocean carrier that already accounts for roughly 20 percent of India’s container transportation, has drawn up a program to transship 20,000 TEU annually at […]

Why container freight invoicing automation hasn’t taken off Overall, recent research by Drewry Supply Chain Advisors found that the liner shipping industry is exposed to $34.4 billion in invoice and payment processing inefficiencies, based on 1.26 billion invoices issued in 2017. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. Shippers and container lines are part of a multi-billion dollar freight […]

Global container lines adjust to slower volume growth Underpinning the sailing cancellations is the need for carriers to improve profitability that was sorely lacking in the first half. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com The escalating idling of container ship capacity and deceleration of global volume, coupled with the threat of US consumer-hitting tariffs, is spelling more trouble […]

E-commerce pushes FedEx Ground to year-round six-day delivery New facilities and advanced technology paved the way for six-day operations, FedEx executive vice president Rajesh Subramaniam said Wednesday. (Above: A FedEx truck in New York City, United States.) Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. FedEx Ground is switching to a six-day-a-week delivery schedule year-round, as the demands of e-commerce […]

Analysis: US refrigerated shippers turn to trailer rail transport Trailer-on-flat-car revenue moves were up over 16 percent year to date through August based on Intermodal Association of North America equipment, type, size, and ownership data. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. One of US intermodal’s big surprises this year has been the strong growth in trailers, but what […]

Higher US truck spot rates blow in ahead of hurricane   The national average dry van rate jumped 6 cents to $2.20 per mile, while the average refrigerated truck rate rose 8 cents to $2.57 per mile, DAT Solutions said Tuesday. (Above: Trucks travel in Miami, Florida, United States.) Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. Hurricane Florence is […]

Transshipment at India’s ports surges after cabotage reform Above: DP World’s Vallarpadam Terminal at Cochin Port. Photo credit: DP World Subcontinent. The effectiveness of India’s liberalized cabotage program remains an open question among trade stakeholders, but the latest data signal brightening transshipment trade prospects for domestic ports, as shippers adapt to changing market dynamics and […]