San Pedro Bay ports update dwell fee structure to add free time for intermodal goods

Shippers diverted imports from rails to trucks after a threat of an import container dwell fee was found to favor local cargo. Now, the port is trying to level the playing field.

By Edwin Lopez • Updated Jan. 24, 2022

'Insult to injury': Record rail demurrage adds to shipper costs

Storage fees skyrocketed in 2021 after an import surge snarled transportation networks. The ballooning revenues have shippers and railroads at odds over who's at fault for congestion.

By Sarah Zimmerman , Edwin Lopez • Jan. 12, 2022

Zim offers incentives for container pickup at Port of Los Angeles

It's another example of an ocean shipping company paying truckers to pick up laden cargo.

By Edwin Lopez • Jan. 12, 2022

Cathay Pacific cuts air cargo capacity after Hong Kong tightens COVID-19 restrictions

The omicron variant is casting a long shadow over air transport.

By Max Garland • Jan. 10, 2022

Port of Oakland plans pop-up container yard as import surge slows exporters

Pop-up facilities have become a common solution for ports around the country grappling with a deluge of imports.

By Edwin Lopez • Jan. 6, 2022

By the numbers: Biden reviews supply chain progress with task force

The Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force touted progress in relieving port congestion, stocking store shelves and boosting the workforce.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 4, 2022

Chartered ships emerged in 2021 as a way to get around congestion

Home Depot, Costco and Walmart were among the businesses which leased ships to take control of their supply chains.

By Alejandra Carranza • Dec. 23, 2021

Maersk to acquire Li & Fung's logistics unit for $3.6B

The deal will grow Maersk's global warehouse footprint to more than 100 million square feet.

By Edwin Lopez • Dec. 22, 2021

Railroads faced service disruptions, congestion as intermodal demand grew

At times in 2021, there seemed to be more business than railroads could handle.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 21, 2021

Air cargo gave congestion-challenged shippers a lifeline in 2021

Companies paid soaring rates to avoid port delays and mitigate production snags by taking to the skies.

By Max Garland • Dec. 20, 2021

Port of Long Beach plans 'Supply Chain Information Highway' for cargo tracking, visibility

"Information is not making its way across the supply chain," said the deputy executive director at the Port of Long Beach.

By Alejandra Carranza • Dec. 17, 2021

In 2021, shippers faced a year-long battle with squeezed trucking capacity, high freight rates

Astronomical prices and challenges finding space pushed companies to change strategies – or double down.

By Shefali Kapadia • Dec. 17, 2021

Maersk to manage Unilever's ocean and air transport via control tower

The goal of the partnership is three-fold: to improve visibility across Unilever's supply chain, to boost efficiency and to cut down on emissions.

By Shefali Kapadia • Dec. 16, 2021

How regulators stepped up to address congested ports and supply chains in 2021

Long lines of waiting ships and stacks of containers at West Coast ports drew attention from the White House.

By Shefali Kapadia • Dec. 16, 2021

Sysco expands private fleet with acquisition of produce distributor

More shippers are leaning into their private fleet operations, largely because of the control it allows over costs and customer service in a volatile environment.

By Shefali Kapadia • Dec. 14, 2021

Historic lows in ocean carrier reliability leave shippers looking for alternatives

Space for LCL shipments is more often readily available, but shippers still have to battle port congestion. 

By Alejandra Carranza • Dec. 8, 2021

Cargo handling delays clog airfreight volumes in November

Air cargo rates jumped 8% from October to November while capacity, still below pre-pandemic levels, rose 0.5%, according to Clive Data Services.

By Max Garland • Dec. 7, 2021

FedEx will sell space on empty container imports as a congestion-bypass service

Shippers can cut 20 days' worth of transit time port-to-port, FedEx Logistics CEO Udo Lange said.

By Max Garland • Dec. 6, 2021

Supply chain stakeholders offer incentives to keep trucks moving through San Pedro Bay ports

CMA CGM offers refunds for night and weekend pickups as FMC paves the way to allow ports to suspend fees during off-peak hours.

By Jim Stinson • Dec. 6, 2021

Ashley Furniture's trucking arm to get western boost with Wilson Logistics deal

Adding capacity is a strategic move for the retailer as port congestion persists in Southern California.

By S.L. Fuller • Dec. 3, 2021

Toymaker Ty air ships products for the holidays to avoid port congestion

More companies are taking their freight to the skies as the holidays begin, sacrificing the cost-effectiveness of ocean shipping to ensure products arrive in time.

By Max Garland • Dec. 1, 2021

The problem with chartering a ship: Break bulk is a lost art

Break bulk is doable for large, well-capitalized companies, but there's no guarantee they'll achieve lower freight costs than using carriers, a Xeneta executive writes. 

By Katherine Barrios • Dec. 1, 2021

Amazon, Walmart among 9 companies to receive FTC order for supply chain data

The information the FTC will solicit is at the forefront of supply chain managers' day-to-day operations, such as the disruptions to obtaining and transporting products.

By Shefali Kapadia • Nov. 30, 2021

Walmart sees 51% increase in throughput at Southern California ports after Biden's shift to 24/7

Retailers brought a holiday wish list of additional supply chain actions to a White House meeting.

By Colin Campbell • Nov. 30, 2021

JB Hunt starts transload service as shippers face intermodal congestion

The service comes as shippers rely more on East Coast ports and intermodal services to avoid West Coast port congestion.

By S.L. Fuller , Sarah Zimmerman • Nov. 24, 2021