American Shipper

Modeling allows shippers to become more efficient, reduce costs, and improve resiliency.

   U.S. Customs and Border Protection must take its four-year-old trade transformation initiative to the next level if it is going to make a real difference enabling businesses to easily move goods in and out of the country, Brenda Smith, the new assistant commissioner for international trade, said.    Smith recently told reporters that her […]

TOTE is building two ships and will convert two more to operate on LNG.

   In the expanding age of software-as-a-service solutions, there’s a parallel, growing concern with which software providers must contend: the extent to which their products are fungible.    The increased use of SaaS solutions—and American Shipper research indicates that growth is more measured than the buzz around SaaS may suggest—has led to the perception that […]

Container Analytics with Ben Meyer    Earlier this year, the ocean liner industry was jolted as the three largest carriers, Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co., and CMA CGM, announced plans to form the P3 Network. The idea of these giants putting their differences aside and cooperating even shocked industry insiders. However, hindsight revealed this massive […]

Global air cargo tonnage is increasing, but is industry off the sidelines yet?

By Beth Peterson    Many new startups are innovating products that include encryption—which is always subject to export controls. Because they aren’t familiar with export regulations, companies inadvertently violate them when building new products…

   Contemporary anecdotal evidence suggests, and recent empirical substantiation supports, the phenomenon that shippers are continually misusing Incoterms. This practice continues among the world’s shippers despite the International Chamber of Commerce’s insistence that certain terms are solely intended for maritime or intermodal containerized freight. But the fault may not lie solely on the buyers and […]

   Who is the supply chain professional who recently became the highest-earning woman in Jeopardy’s history?    Julia Collins.    The 31-year-old from Wilmette, Ill., obtained her master’s degree from MIT’s Supply Chain Management Program in 2010. She received a double-bachelor’s degree in art history and history at Wellesley College.    She won more than […]

   It is human nature, it seems, to ignore a potential problem—hoping it will go away—rather than dealing with it head on.    This is how most shippers are handling the looming driver shortage across North America. Shippers are already experiencing difficulties securing reliable truck capacity as the economy climbs out of a hole. And […]

   In this issue, American Shipper has introduced a new monthly column highlighting trends and developments in global liner carrier capacity.    Titled “Container Analytics,” the column will be written by Ben Meyer, research analyst for American Shipper’s sister company BlueWater Reporting. Meyer joined BWR in 2010, and in 2012 became research team manager. Last […]

Problems faced by trucking, other shipping industries foster inland transport changes.

Truck and rail transporters find money in the movement of liquid bulk tanks.

   A recent decision that affirmed two decisions by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Sompo Japan v. Norfolk Southern et al. and Nipponkoa Insurance v. Norfolk Southern, et al. 2nd Cir. Nos. 13–3416, 13–3501. Aug. 6.) are the latest in a line of cases that could make it more […]

   Amazon and DHL are talking about using drones to deliver packages by air; Google and Tesla about driverless cars.    Some futurists are even hinting at crew-less ships.    Rolls Royce got a lot of publicity earlier this year when Oskar Levander, vice president of innovation, engineering and technology, ruminated about drone ships in […]

   It’s been nearly a year since Jeff Bezos, chief executive officer of Amazon, went on CBS‘s “60 Minutes” to launch the perception of drones as delivery tools into the national consciousness. Of course, commercially operated unmanned aircraft systems had been in the logistics lexicon long before Bezos’ somewhat audacious announcement of an Amazon Prime […]

   There has been much hand wringing at several major North American ports because of the backlog of drayage trucks and associated cargo delays. Marine terminals have had problems handling greater concentrations of cargo at one time with the advent of large vessels. Limited resources and experience dealing with changing cargo flows have primarily impacted […]

   The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded the South Carolina Ports Authority a $10.8 million TIGER grant to upgrade the Wando Welch Terminal so it can efficiently and safely service post-Panamax and super post-Panamax vessels.    The Port of Charleston’s busiest terminal was built in 1982 to handle ships in the 2,000- to 4,000-TEU […]

Expansion strategy rests on accelerated volume growth, higher rates and innovative financing.

The trucking group says flawed data collection means Mexican trucking pilot has issues.