American Shipper

APL expects to benefit from CMA CGM’s decision to maintain its longtime brand.

Technology aims to help truckers benefit from automated payment.

It’s Not My Problem: How Companies Should View Their Trade Compliance Responsibility in Outsourced Arrangements.

TRAXENS seeks to make its container-tracking technology an industry standard.

FASTLane provides $800 million in new freight transportation infrastructure grants.

   Establishing landed costs for the products that a company handles can be difficult and convoluted. All businesses that import or export need to understand what the total cost of goods is for what they are buying or selling. In order to accurately calculate the landed cost, all factors beyond the obvious primary price must […]

   We all love and hate comparisons—we love when they’re made about others and hate when they’re made about us. That is why it’s so interesting to throw out the following two comparisons about the freight transportation industry and watch people try to explain why they just don’t work:       • The ocean shipping industry and the […]

   The polarized state of American politics these days makes it difficult at the federal level to address the nation’s crying needs. Things are so bad that even well-meaning politicians dare not look like they’re compromising or negotiating in good faith with members of the other party for fear of being accused of selling out core […]

   Last month, this column examined the possibility of a merger between struggling South Korean shipping conglomerates Hanjin Shipping and Hyundai Merchant Marine (“Who’s next for liner M&A?,” page 30). Mentioned in that discussion was the fact that almost any consolidation on the part of major ocean carriers will, by definition, affect far more than just […]

   With suppliers worldwide competing for the same deals, global markets have never been as competitive as they are today, and this competitiveness is constantly accelerating. In this environment, it is crucial for multinationals to use all available sources of cost advantage.    Free trade agreements (FTAs) are one such source. Problem is, too many multinationals aren’t […]

   Persistently weak export growth is an obstacle to U.S. economic growth and prosperity. Workers displaced by substitution of foreign-produced goods for domestic production should find employment in export-oriented industries. Unfortunately, employment growth over the last 15 years has been below long-term average growth rates.    Due to its position as the world’s largest economy, anything that hamstrings […]

   Undoubtedly, you’ve seen trucks carrying oversize loads accompanied by “pilot” or “escort” cars decked out with flags and caution signs. The lead car generally has a pole that is several inches higher than the load. If the pole strikes an overpass, wire or other obstruction, then the driver can radio the truck driver to pull […]

   Transportation Management Software (TMS) is not new. TMS has been around for several decades. However, the interest in TMS is resurging as large and small shippers are finding new ways to access state-of-the-art software or to harvest additional benefits from their existing TMS.    Once reserved for the largest of shippers, TMS has come down in […]

   There’s lots of concern swirling around the upcoming global implementation of the container weight verification, or verified gross mass (VGM), mandate that takes effect July 1, and rightfully so.    The International Maritime Organization (IMO) passed the requirement to provide container weights as part of its Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention back in November […]

The Agriculture Transportation Coalition, an agricultural export group and vocal critic of the container weight regulation implementation process, said the verified gross mass submission guidelines issued by ocean carriers will impede export supply chains.

Keith Andrey, VP of global freight forwarding for UPS, says carriers are also more interested in offering intermodal pricing this year in order to secure cargo volumes in a historically low rate environment.

The Panama Canal Authority has advised vessel operators to load less cargo on to ships in order to maintain a higher draft and minimize water usage in locks.

Some issues surrounding the pending International Maritime Organization container weight verification rule have become clearer, but so much remains opaque with 100 days and counting until enforcement begins officially.

The freight tracking software provider filed a brief earlier this month challenging the denial of a copyright infringement lawsuit against competitor FourKites in 2015.

South Korean ocean carrier Hanjin will operate all five of the 4,000-TEU vessels on the China America Express service, which is scheduled to commence in May.