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 with Mexico— on labor, agriculture, telecom, […]

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 debt rose to an all-time high […]

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 Cosco put $10.5B on the board […]

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 8% growth due to supply chain […]

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 $100B by the end of 2021, […]

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 there are no recorded statistics for […]

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 of ocean imports; this is 50.5% […]

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 in February 2020 2021 YTD carrier […]

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 highest total in history As ports […]

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 days in advance for Savannah, Norfolk, […]

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 with Operation Warp Speed, the US […]

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 trucking industry concerns for 2021 and […]

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 of $2.44 per mile, the highest […]

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 in January 2021 should France and […]

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 for 8 straight weeks with wine […]