The Problem with Ocean Freight and Air Cargo Rates
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: January 19, 2022 Quote of the Issue: “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. Adios Coming for the USMCA? ShapLight Focus: Congress is pressuring the Biden Administration to bolster US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) enforcement efforts— especially […]
Continue Reading »Supply Chain Buckles Under Consumer Demand
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: December 8, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “…too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption. Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns.” – Jimmy Carter. Demanding Times for Import and Consumer Demand Forecasters ShapLight Focus: US household […]
Continue Reading »Hapag-Lloyd Steams in with $3.3B Profits for 2021
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: October 14, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “If I had a dollar for every time I got distracted, I wish I had a puppy.” – Anonymous. Drewry Forecasts Steamship Industry Profits of $300B for 2021 ShapLight Focus: Hapag-Lloyd made $3.3B in the first 6 months of 2021 while […]
Continue Reading »A Salute to Workers in the Physical Supply Chain
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: September 7, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” – Aristotle Ocean Supply Chain’s so Darn Freaky, It’s Hurting our GDP ShapLight Focus: The US economy grew 6.5% in Q2 2021, but that figure fell well short of economists’ predictions of […]
Continue Reading »Carrier Profits, Market Chaos, and Dysfunction
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: July 14, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope.” – Bernard Williams Record Carrier Profits Amid Market Chaos and Dysfunction ShapLight Focus: Ocean carrier profits have already exceeded all of 2020 and are projected to eclipse […]
Continue Reading »More Global Shipping Delays after Suez Canal Saga
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: May 26, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “Here comes the sun, and I say, it’s all right.” – George Harrison Who Says the Suez is Done Wrecking Progress for Global Shipping? ShapLight Focus: An estimated 40% of all global ocean bookings were delayed or rolled in May; although […]
Continue Reading »The Worst Suez Market Allocation ‘Ever Given’
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: April 22, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “Fear is, I believe, a most effective tool in destroying the soul of an individual—and the soul of a people.” – Anwar Sadat Suez Pushes Market to Worst Allocation ‘Ever Given’ ShapLight Focus: In March 2021, there were 3.02 million TEUs […]
Continue Reading »US Importers Sink $5.19B into Freight Services
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: March 23, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “Gratitude, like faith, is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it grows.” – Alan Cohen. Paying More for Less Reliability with Freight Services ShapLight Focus: US importers paid $5.19B in freight services during February 2021, up from $1.95B […]
Continue Reading »Transpacific Imports and Port Congestion Woes
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: February 15, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” – Roger Crawford Transpacific Imports Driving Volume Surge and Port Congestion Woes ShapLight Focus: 2.8M TEUs of containerized cargo were imported into the US in January 2021; this is the second […]
Continue Reading »Port and Rail Congestion Get Carriers Off Track
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: January 15, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.” – Timber Hawkeye US Domestic: Port and Rail Congestion Crippling Service Levels ShapLight Focus: Dray carriers are requiring bookings at least 12 […]
Continue Reading »US Trucking Assembles for Vaccine Transportation
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: December 2, 2020 Quote of the Issue: “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.” – Oprah Winfrey US Trucking Landscape: Ready to Mobilize for Vaccine Transportation ShapLight Focus: The domestic trucking industry employs nearly 3.5M Americans In coordination […]
Continue Reading »Truck Driver Shortage Lacks a Woman’s Touch
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: November 4, 2020 Quote of the Issue: “Every storm runs out of rain.” – Maya Angelou US Trucking Landscape: Truck Driver Shortage in Spotlight during Surge ShapLight Focus: Women comprise only 6% of the current truck driving labor force According to the American Transportation Research Institute, the top […]
Continue Reading »FTL Trucking Rates Continue to Ramp Up
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: October 14, 2020 Quote of the Issue: “There’s something to be said for sitting still and letting things clear, the way morning fog burns off the lake.” – George Witte FTL Trucking Landscape: Record Rates per Mile ShapLight Focus: In October, FTL trucking rates hit a national average […]
Continue Reading »USTR Announces Additional Duties on French Luxury Goods
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: July 14, 2020 Quote of the Issue: “A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.” – Nelson Mandela Government Corner: WHO Cares? ShapLight Focus: The U.S. Trade Representative has (USTR) announced additional 25% duties on $1.3B in French luxury goods (including make-up and handbags) to take effect […]
Continue Reading »US Alcohol Sales in High Spirits
A Condensed Update for American Shippers Issue Date: June 25, 2020 Quote of the Issue: “Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility” – Michelle Obama US Alcohol Sales: Wine and Spirits Proving to be “Essential” for Americans ShapLight Focus: US alcohol sales have been 20% higher or more year-over-year […]
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