West Coast

Mississippi River shipping faces potential crisis for third straight year

Shipping along the Mississippi River could prove to be a massive headache in 2024, per a recent report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

An unusually warm and dry winter — which allowed the Upper Mississippi River shipping season to begin earlier than usual this year — might herald drought conditions in key areas of the Mississippi River Basin over the coming months.

“Of growing concern will be the potentially low flows on the Mississippi River this summer into fall due to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/mississippi-river-shipping-faces-potential-crisis-for-third-straight-year

IMC Logistics acquires California carrier American Pacific Transportation

Memphis, Tennessee-based intermodal logistics provider IMC Logistics has acquired American Pacific Transportation, boosting the company’s drayage truck capacity across California.

“As a result of this acquisition, we will have more than 500 trucks in California, signifying our commitment to our customers in this region,” Joel Henry, IMC’s CEO, said in a news release.

American Pacific Transportation has locations in Calexico, Chino, Commerce, San Diego and Lompoc, California. The carrier has...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/imc-logistics-acquires-california-carrier-american-pacific-transportation

Threat of strike looms large over East, Gulf Coast ports

There’s an increasing abundance of skittishness surrounding the future of East and Gulf Coast ports.

The labor contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) is set to expire at the end of September. The ILA represents some 70,000 dockworkers, while the USMX represents employers at 36 coastal ports — including three of the U.S.’s five busiest ports: the Port of New York and New Jersey, the Port of Savannah, Georgia, and the Port of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/threat-of-strike-looms-large-over-east-gulf-coast-ports

West Coast leads latest surge in US container imports

The start of 2024 is bringing with it significant growth in volumes at top U.S. ports.

January witnessed a 9.2% year-over-year increase in inbound containers. This rise represents the latest reading in four consecutive months of growth, a beacon of positive momentum after a challenging period dominated by the post-pandemic downturn.

“We are now completely back to year over year changes being driven by underlying economic activity, as we are past the periods where such changes were driven by...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/west-coast-ports-leads-latest-surge-in-us-container-imports

West Coast intermodal spot market still strong despite falling rates

A photograph of a Union Pacific train hauling intermodal containers across a field.

Although U.S. West Coast demand for intermodal rail service in late January might not be as tight as what the market witnessed in the fourth quarter of 2020, the spot market is still showing some signs of tightness, according to FreightWaves’ SONAR charts.

Intermodal tender rejection rates show that carriers are still struggling to meet customer commitments, according to Mike Baudendistel, FreightWaves’ market expert for rail and intermodal. 

“Intermodal tenders are rejected by carriers at much...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/west-coast-intermodal-spot-market-still-strong-despite-falling-rates

The Daily Dash: TFI to acquire UPS Freight; new king of the freight world crowned

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, TFI International has agreed to acquire UPS Freight from UPS, dramatically expanding its U.S. presence. Plus, is the West Coast the new ruler of the freight world; and outbound tender volumes continue to fall.

TFI acquiring UPS Freight

TFI International has agreed to acquire UPS Freight for about $800 million, the Canadian trucking and logistics company and UPS (NYSE:UPS) said Monday, in a deal that...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-tfi-to-acquire-ups-freight-new-king-of-the-freight-world-crowned

All American Marine part of 47′ MLB life extension program

All American Marine Inc. (AAM) has been named the West Coast shipyard by Birdon America Inc., for Phase I of a contract to perform a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) on a number of the U.S. Coast Guard’s fleet of Motor Life Boats (MLB). AAM is currently working on two MLB’s at its shop, with a plan to ramp up to eight MLB vessels each year during Phase II. Birdon America was awarded the prime contract to perform Service Life Extension work on all MLBs in the Coast Guard’s fleet.

The current...

https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/all-american-marine-part-of-47-mlb-life-extension-program/