Category Archives for Industry News

Tight air cargo capacity challenges Seattle crab exporters Freighters and widebody belly carriers allocate based on a five-month season but this year it started six weeks late when early harvests netted crabs that did not meet industry minimum weight requirements, a US forwarder noted. Photo credit: Shutterstock. Seattle forwarders are facing a shortage of space […]

Where are refrigerated container rates headed? Despite the nature of the reefer trade with its seasonal swings in commodities and trade lanes, reefer container rates in 2017 did not reflect any slack or off-peak dips. Photo credit: Shutterstock. In January 2017, Drewry Supply Chain Advisors launched its Global Reefer Freight Rate Index. According to Stijn […]

Chicago intermodal rail delays ‘unprecedented’ since January The congestion in Chicago is so bad some drayage providers are refusing to take on new customers. Photo credit: Shutterstock Major delays are plaguing shippers and logistics providers in Chicago because of a perfect storm of winter weather, intermodal rail yard delays, chassis shortages, and tighter truck capacity […]

Reefer container shortage to persist in 2018 Amid a strengthening global economy, reefer containers are in demand in 2018. Photo credit: SeaCube Container. The consensus among those in the reefer shipping sector is that a shortage of reefer containers continues to negatively impact the sector. A closer look at the problem, however, reveals some underlying […]

Bottlenecks threaten strong reefer shipping sector The US fresh food/perishables sector is looking at substantial revenue growth in 2018, if infrastructure and congestion hurdles can be addressed. Photo credit: CMA CGM. Strong demand for fresh foods and other perishables that require refrigerated transportation is encouraging news for the global reefer market in 2018. However, the […]

DHL responds to failed KFC deliveries in UK DHL handles the food logistics for 900 KFC outlets in the United Kingdom. Photo credit: KFC. DHL is working to get hundreds of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fast food outlets in the United Kingdom back up and running after delivery problems limited the supply of chicken and […]

US freight forwarders: Trouble haunts ACE deployment A white paper released by the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America concludes that a program designed to streamline trade is still a “work in progress” that is “still in need of a substantial infusion of common sense policy, solid programming, additional budget allocation and good […]

EU to make another push for Pan-Europe freight rail Given increasing road congestion, the European Union is under pressure from to make a concerted effort to create a genuine, pan-European rail market, but given the dominance of state-owned rail operators in most countries that stifles competition, shippers and forwarders remain skeptical. Photo credit: Shutterstock. LONDON […]

Maersk envisions being a ‘one-stop shipper shop’ Maersk Group CEO Soren Skou outlines the carrier’s strategy at its capital markets day in Copenhagen. Photo credit: Maersk. Maersk CEO Soren Skou spelled out his plan for the group to become a global integrator of container logistics with customers using its online platforms to find prices, arrange […]

INTTRA sees active role in future visibility pipeline INTTRA officials see their company as potentially a key player in any central portal or pipeline designed to give shipping industry players end-to-end supply chain visibility, especially if it is blockchain-based. Photo credit: Shutterstock. As established service providers re-evaluate their potential role within Maersk’s plan for an […]