American Shipper

Report highlights warehouse labor tightness caused by e-commerce surge in key cities

Export control exemption for Chinese telecom company due to expire next week

The Berkshire Hathaway-owned Class I freight railroad will pay $50,000 in civil penalties related to a March 2015 crude oil train derailment in Galena, Ill., according to a statement from Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Additional shippers and logistics companies have expressed support on a call for the Federal Maritime Commission to provide guidelines on detention and demurrage charges.

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is putting its restructuring plans on a shareholders’ meeting agenda for Feb. 27, but HHI workers plan to strike from Feb. 22-27 in attempts to block the meeting.

On a bright note, Philip K. Brewer, the president and chief executive officer of Textainer, said the container lessor is pleased with the progress it has made in recovering equipment from Hanjin, which was a major customer.

However, the Northwest Seaport Alliance said it may see lower cargo volumes for February, and volumes with Alaska are expected to decline for the full year of 2017 due to soft market conditions.

Intermodal pricing increased 3.8 percent for the month compared with the same 2016 period, just the fourth year-over-year increase since December 2014 and the largest since October 2014, according to the latest Cass Intermodal Price Index.

Truckload pricing slipped another 0.3 percent for the month compared to January 2016, the 11th consecutive month of year-over-year declines, according to the latest Cass Truckload Linehaul Index.

The Greek port’s box volumes declined in 2016 from a year prior amid increased volumes at the car terminal, while revenues ticked up 3.6 percent.

Chewy will build a large fulfillment center in Ocala, Fla., which will employ 600 people.

DHL Express appoints Markus Reckling as the new chief executive for Germany, while Mitsui O.S.K. Line (MOL) names chief country representative in Turkey.

Forwarders and NVOs are accustomed to adapting to complex markets and new competitors, but is this time different?

Union official says labor wants to be constructive partner in trade deals

U.S. would be wise to focus on state-owned enterprises, not currency

While A.P. Moller-Maersk plans to narrow its focus to transportation and logistics, the foundation that owns a controlling stake in the company will move in its own direction, Ane Maersk Mc-Kinney Uggla said.

Activist investor Paul Hilal’s hedge fund was looking for a swift and amicable transition for outgoing Canadian Pacific President and CEO E. Hunter Harrison to join U.S. Class I railroad CSX, but negotiations have taken a decidedly hostile turn this week.

The union and employers said contract discussions 19 months prior to the expiration of the current contract “demonstrates the commitment each side has to maintaining stability and growth.”

The Israeli ocean carrier signed up with Alibaba to allow customers of the e-commerce site to book space on its vessels, Reuters reported.

Rates from Shanghai to North Europe fell 6 percent since last Friday to $858 per TEU, according to the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index.