Shippers have long complained about unfair detention and demurrage fees at the ports. A particular point of contention is getting charged for days when port terminals are closed, and it's [...]
The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) released an images to the media of trucks backed up on Friday from a terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. Labor action by the International Longshore & [...]
While the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) seems to still be figuring out how to enforce the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA), it seems more shipping reform is on the way. John [...]
Ocean freight rates have fallen, for which U.S. importers can rejoice. Readers of Universal Cargo's blog certainly don't need a recap of how freight rates skyrocketed during the pandemic, thanks [...]
On Thursday, Universal Cargo's blog was about MSC and Maersk announcing they're ending the 2M Alliance. The world's top two shipping lines said they're doing this to "pursue individual [...]
It's become something of a habit when talking about the sister ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to mention they're the busiest port complex in the U.S. in terms of cargo volume brought in [...]
2022 is just days away from being over, so it's time to look forward to 2023. We'll probably have a few posts focused on what the year will have in store for international shipping, but today we [...]
This is a guest post by Daniel Williams. International shipping can be complicated and time-consuming. Knowing what paperwork you need, understanding relevant regulations, and finding reliable [...]
Nearly three full years after the railroad unions went into negotiations with the railroads for new contracts, resolution has been reached. Last week, I blogged about the House of Representatives [...]
There was more port disruption this week as the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) contract negotiations drag on. And shippers can expect this to continue for some time. By all [...]
By all reports, the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) are still far away from reaching terms on a new master contract. And now [...]
Shippers are preparing themselves for the more and more likely outcome of a rail strike in November. Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz went on CNBC, laughing off the idea of a perspective strike on [...]
There are lines in current news outlet articles that shippers, importers in particular, will actually be happy to read: "Trans-Pacific shipping rates have plummeted roughly 75% from year-ago [...]
West Coast ports, East Coast ports, Gulf Coast ports... we're seeing congestion all over. A great deal of the focus lately has been on congestion at East and Gulf Coast ports as many shippers are [...]
There's an issue holding up contract negotiations at the West Coast ports, and it's not automation. Paul Berger reports in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ): Labor talks between West Coast [...]
Shippers have more fees – or at least faster racking-up fees – to worry about at the Port of New York and New Jersey. Michael Angell reports in the Journal of Commerce (JOC): "The largest marine [...]
Afer two years of port congestion and supply chain disruption and with new powers from the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (“OSRA 2022”), the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is considering [...]
In the last blog, we looked at how – with the slowing economy – retailers and shippers are decreasing their imports and expected to keep doing so in 2023. As discussed, that should mean [...]
Strike, strike, strike! The U.S. supply chain is in a triple strike threat from truckers, dockworkers, and rail workers. Normally, it's three strikes and you're out, but this is no game. Any one [...]
The Port of Oakland can no longer claim operations have not been affected by truckers striking over the California's Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5), which ends the independent owner and operator model of [...]
