Carmen Gerace

Trans-Atlantic LCL steady despite COVID-19

ocean freight

Ocean freight consolidators and forwarders have taken comfort in less-than-container-load (LCL) volumes and services in the U.S. trans-Atlantic trades, despite the ongoing economic headwinds caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In recent months, more American and European shippers have turned to LCL services as a cheaper alternative to air freight and a way to counter ocean carrier service disruptions involving full-container-load (FCL) transport.

“Owing to the higher FCL and airfreight charges,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trans-atlantic-lcl-steady-despite-covid-19

Expedited trans-Pacific LCL filling a growing niche

Southern California ports

Major ocean freight consolidators in the U.S. market see no shortage in demand for expedited less-than-container load (LCL) service requests from freight forwarders during the ongoing global pandemic.

These services promise roughly 12-day port-to-port transits between China’s dominant seaports and Los Angeles and Long Beach in Southern California, compared to mostly standard, monthlong ocean transits for eastbound, trans-Pacific container traffic.

Although expedited LCL services are three to four...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/expedited-trans-pacific-lcl-filling-a-growing-niche

Navigating service contract negotiations during COVID-19

This is no ordinary year for American shippers and freight forwarders that are attempting to finalize their annual ocean service contracts with the container carriers.

The uncertainty of how much cargo will be available from the shippers and the amount of capacity offered by the carriers for the next contract season, which generally starts in May, remains anyone’s guess in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“The biggest obstacle we face in service contract negotiations this year is the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/navigating-service-contract-negotiations-during-covid-19