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AI: Shippers' edge in mitigating higher rates Companies are trying to harness artificial intelligence to tackle a variety of vexing industry problems, especially supply chain visibility. Photo credit: Shutterstock. Electronic logging devices, blockchain software, cyber security, application programming interfaces, and cloud computing — all are flooding into a logistics and transportation business where email, if not […]

Infographic: Trans-Pacific US importers' 2018 expectations Just call it “cautious optimism,” regarding the stance of US shippers importing from Asia at the start of 2018. The US and global economies are accelerating, which suggests, all other factors being equal, a continued uptrend in consumer spending, and that promising outlook appears to have affected shippers in […]

Logistic operations move closer to US docks Executive directors at one port were overt about their goal: to drive cargo through the port. Photo credit: Shutterstock. US seaports are turning some of the priciest properties into logistics hubs, container dray-off yards and chassis storage facilities, proving that beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) and equipment providers will […]

Maersk adds trains for Nepal import trade   Shippers in landlocked Nepal had long been using Kolkata Port for their maritime access, and the direct rail link has eased some of those concerns. Photo credit: Shutterstock. Maersk Line said it is keen on making greater inroads in Nepal’s burgeoning import trade through its supply chain […]

US shippers' top challenges for 2018 The industry entered 2017 with cautious optimism, driven by the strengthening US and global economies. Photo credit: JOC.com The industry entered 2017 with cautious optimism for US and global economic health that has solidified to confidence. US containerized trade, trucking, and intermodal rail volume, and industrial warehouse demand surged, […]

The US, global, container shipping economies heat up It’s refreshing to hear shippers and transportation providers increasingly shed the view that they’re looking to the year ahead with cautious optimism, considering it’s seemingly been an economic “Groundhog Day” since the 2008-2009 global recession. But instead of grumpy Bill Murray being forced to live the same […]

For transporters, pricing power emerges At the year’s start, the segment with the strongest pricing power is air cargo. Photo credit: Shutterstock. It’s refreshing to hear shippers and transportation providers increasingly shed the view that they’re looking to the year ahead with cautious optimism, considering it’s seemingly been an economic “Groundhog Day” since the 2008-2009 […]

Chittagong-Dhaka truck weight limit temporarily suspended Transporters also underscored the need for a rail link between Chittagong and Dhaka. Photo credit: Shutterstock. Amid protests from the business community, the Bangladesh government has suspended a new axle load policy for three months, until March 15, as the policy had ultimatley halted movement of FEU on the […]

FMC begins 2018 shorthanded The commission recently launched an effort to identify regulatory changes that would improve industry practices and commission operations. Photo credit: Shutterstock. The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) opens 2018 with two vacancies and what longtime watchers of the regulatory agency expect will be a cautious approach to port congestion and other… […]

A new year, a new chance to break the cycle How much has really changed, and how much is likely to change? Those are timely questions to ask as 2018 begins, following the wild ride of the top container carriers shrinking by eight in two years and heralding the potential — but still only that […]