By the dawn’s early light on March 26, we all saw that the Francis Scott Key Bridge had lost its perilous fight with the Maersk Dali. And then we viewed countless videos of the violent carnage, somehow almost graceful, surely caused by bombs bursting in air and not a bump from a boat! Our second response […]

Shipping Line News Blank Sailings Up Dramatically Container Volume Asia to US East Coast Ports (2023) Container Volume Asia to US West Coast Ports (2023)

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 […]