Shippers play a crucial role in the smooth functioning of global trade and commerce, as they enable businesses to transport goods to customers around the world. They work closely with manufacturers, retailers, and other businesses to ensure that products reach their intended destination in a timely and cost-effective manner.
There are different types of shippers, including ocean carriers, air carriers, and trucking companies. Each type of shipper specializes in a different mode of transportation, and they work together to form a complex and interconnected network known as the shipping supply chain.
In the shipping supply chain, shippers work closely with logistics providers, customs brokers, and freight forwarders to coordinate the movement of goods from the point of origin to the final destination. They also play a key role in managing the logistics of the shipping process, including routing, tracking, and ensuring the timely delivery of goods.
Check back here for the latest shipper news and insights, or visit our American Shipper news archive to find additional information.
William E. (Bill) Woodhour became president of Maersk Line, Ltd. (MLL) July 1 and will eventually become chief executive officer of the company, taking over from Russ Bruner, who has been president and CEO of MLL since 2014.
Leadership changes at the American Trucking Associations continued under new President and CEO Chris Spear, as the industry group named new executive vice presidents of legal affairs, communications and public affairs, and advocacy.
A.N. Deringer appoints national sales manager and A.R.C. Transit names chief marketing officer, while Akin Gump gains former Commerce Department textiles and apparel trade official.
The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority’s board of directors has named Jeff Theobald as its new chief executive officer, replacing James T. McDermott, Jr.
JLL hires former Walmart executive as VP of retail/e-commerce distribution, while the Port of Oakland elects board president and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s CFO to retire.
Chris Spear, the new president and CEO of American Trucking Associations, began his tenure leading the industry group by removing the now-former executive vice presidents of finance, communications and advocacy.
USAT Logistics announces half a dozen management hires and promotions, while the Northwest Seaports Alliance names operations service center and port operations heads.
The Halifax Port Authority extends CEO’s contract, while HubTran appoints business development director.
Claudio Bozzo, chief operating officer of liner carrier Mediterranean Shipping Company, joins the World Shipping Council board.
Deutsche Lufthansa appoints new CFO, while Virgin Atlantic Cargo names products and partnerships manager.
The supervisory board of Deutsche Post DHL Group has appointed Melanie Kreis to succeed Lawrence A. Rosen as chief financial officer of the German mail and logistics conglomerate.
Canadian National Railway has named Claude Mongeau’s successor as president and CEO of the company, Luc Jobin, as company director, and promoted Mike Cory to chief operating officer and Ghislain Houle to chief financial officer.
The Port of Oakland names new information technology director, while the Port of Redwood City reappoints three commissioners.
Just a few months ago, this column examined the potential merger between struggling South Korean container lines Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Hanjin Shipping (March 2016 American Shipper, “Who’s next for liner M&A?,” page 30), and the effect it would have on carrier marketshare by capacity. Although both carriers, as well as the South […]
The congestion at port terminals on the West Coast that developed in 2014-2015 during contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and employers created many shipper-carrier conflicts. Case in point: a dispute between Ponte Vedra Gifts & Accessories (PVGA), a company headquartered just outside Jacksonville, Fla., and non-vessel-operating common carrier APL […]
DB Schenker appoints senior finance and HR executives for North America team, while the Canadian Airports Council elects new chairman.
The Port of Oakland commissioners have unanimously awarded Executive Director Chris Lytle a new three-year contract, keeping him on board through July 2019.
The Antwerp Port Authority has appointed a new CEO, while Virgin Atlantic Cargo picks VP of sales and Matson appoints a director.
B&H Worldwide appoints VP for the Americas, while Saddle Creek Logistics Services names business development director.
Radiant Logistics names chief operating officer of forwarding operations and chief commercial officer, while Agility appoints managing director of the Central Europe area.
Starbucks names new executive VP for global supply chain, while DHL appoints senior leadership for its eCommerce division and Foss Maritime promotes new president.
NOL board picks CEO and CFO and IAG Global names Asia-Pacific/India commercial manager, while Unishippers appoints new CFO and Kalmar selects senior VP for automation.
Port of Seattle picks head of environment and the Port of Brownsville elects chairman, while K+N names global head of air freight and IATA appoints chairman.
Unicon Logistics names VP of logistical services, while Kalmar, a subsidiary of cargo-handling equipment manufacturer Cargotec, appoints new president.
Kerry Logistics appoints managing director for the Benelux countries, while the Glasgow Prestwick Airport names permanent CEO.
Mergers and acquisitions don’t take place in a vacuum. No matter the industry, or specific situation, there are almost always knock-on effects, which often take the form of further consolidation, either via M&A activity or more organic means like companies going under. This is especially true when it comes to consolidation on a large […]
The 3rd Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals has affirmed the right of ocean carriers, including non-vessel-operating common carriers, to have contracts that extend common law maritime liens. Brendan Collins of Washington-based GKG Law represented OEC Group and was successful in getting the 3rd Circuit to rule in favor of his client, […]
CSX shuffles senior labor relations and network operations management, while Metro Ports appoints director of northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
Georgia Ports Authority elects chairman and Yusen Logistics Mexico picks new president, while Dayton Freight Lines names corporate account manager and Alliance Shippers appoints national accounts manager.
Inchcape Shipping Services has named its global compliance officer, while Kane Is Able has hired a senior vice president of human resources.
Schenker Inc. gains new U.S. CEO and XPO Logistics appoints chief transformation officer, while CEVA Logistics picks aerospace VP and GAC North America names regional commercial director for oil and gas.
INTTRA appoints new CFO, while the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors elects officers and the Canadian government names board member to the Halifax Port Authority.
Christian Blauert has been appointed the new chief executive officer of Yilport Holding, effective June 1, 2016.
Patrick Ottensmeyer has been named chief executive officer of the Kansas City, Mo.-based Class I railroad, effective July 1.
SEKO Logistics appoints VP of network development, while Kuehne + Nagel’s global air freight head steps down and Inchcape Shipping Services names VP of North American operations.
Saddle Creek appointed chairman and CenterPoint Properties named VP on West Coast, while LOC Group appointed COO and CSafe Global announced sales director for France and Spain.
d’Amico International Shipping appoints CFO, while Holland & Knight names senior counsel and NRF picks Loss Prevention Council chairman.
Maersk Line names HR chief, while the American Waterways Operators elects chairman and vice chairman and Greencarrier Freight Services appoints COO.
Air France-KLM names new CEO, while UPS appoints corporate controller and investor relations officer.
Ocean carriers would seem to hold all the cards in contract rate negotiations as controllers of much needed and often tight capacity in an industry with antitrust exemption. Now, after several years in a buyer’s market with no end in sight, the reality is somewhat different. Shippers have the leverage to secure container capacity at reasonable […]
Abandoned cargo can be a problem for carriers, intermediaries, and other businesses. Two lawsuits from last year revolving around abandoned containers filledwith used tires were discussed by Vincent M. DeOrchis, a partner at the New York office of Montgomery McCracken, in an article on his law firm’s website. In the first,(Mediterranean Shipping Co. v. Best […]
COSCO Pacific Ltd. re-designates executive director and vice chairman, while “K” Line nominates managing executive director, outside directors, and supervisory board members
Satellite Logistics Group names senior sales director, while Integrity Logistics selects new president.
The Port of Jacksonville appointed a senior director of facilities development, while Lamar University named an executive director of its new Center for Advances in Port Management.
Port Freeport picks new CEO, while IFCO appoints VPs for commodity management and grower sales and TruckSmart names national accounts director.
Martin Bencher Group and Trax Technologies appoint COOs, while JLL hires global infrastructure advisor, National Tank Truck Carriers names VP of marketing and NationaLease picks business development manager.
SAL appoints manager of Singapore office, while Union Pacific appoints cyber-security expert to board and Johanson Transportation Service announces promotions.
CEVA Logistics appoints VP for contract logistics business development, while Coastal Cargo Co. hires general manager for its Pascagoula, Miss. operation.
Union Pacific names president of ShipCarsNow subsidiary, while Cargotec appoints CFO and TIACA elects Emirates VP to board.
TRAXENS seeks to make its container-tracking technology an industry standard.
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 […]
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 […]
XPO Logistics appoints independent director, while essDOCS names chief commercial officer.
Reading & Northern Railroad appoints forest products VP, while ICC Logistics Services names CCO and the Long Beach Harbor Commission picks directors.
Kuehne Holdings names president and Matchback Systems appoints IT VP, while Kuebix and CSX pick VPs of engineering.
Panalpina designates a new chairman and CEO, while the Port of Oakland names new aviation director and Greenbrier Cos.’s chief commercial officer departs.
DVB Bank appoints co-division head of its global shipping management, while DNV GL’s group executive VP announces retirement.
In just the last few months, we’ve seen two massive deals in the ocean shipping industry: CMA CGM, already the third largest container carrier, in December made a $2.8 billion all-cash offer to acquire APL parent Neptune Orient Lines from Singapore-owned Temasek Holdings; and shortly thereafter, state-owned conglomerates COSCO and China Shipping announced plans […]
In 2013 the produce company Sol Group hired APL to ship melons from Honduras and Guatemala to Los Angeles. The fruit company alleged APL failed to live up to its contractual commitments. Sol sued APL for breach of contract and fraud in the inducement of the contract. It sought monetary damages and a […]
INTTRA appoints new president and COO, while the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad names president and TIACA adds a board member.
Longtime airline veteran Alexander Arafa has been appointed head of global area management at Swiss WorldCargo.
Aljex Software names VP of business development, while Rico Logistics appoints e-commerce logistics director.
Tradepoint Atlantic appoints manager of short-line railroad, while Breakthrough Fuel names VP of technology.
Hub Group names VP of corporate development, while Americold promotes COO to CEO.
The Greenbrier Cos. shuffles CFO position, while CargoTec’s CFO leaves the company in July.
To clarify, the future of the ocean liner industry isn’t here per se, at least not yet, but we may have gotten a glimpse of it at the end of 2015. French ocean carrier CMA CGM recently deployed the largest ship ever to call a U.S. port for test stops at the California ports […]
This liability case emerged from the theft of a shipment of Sandoz pharmaceuticals in 2008. Exel, Sandoz’s logistics provider, hired motor carrier Southern Refrigerated Transport (SRT) to transport the shipment, but the drugs were stolen in or near Dickson, Tenn. Exel and SRT had executed a “Master Transportation Service Agreement” (MTSA). The MTSA provided […]
DHL Parcel names new CEO, while CEVA Logistics appoints executive VP in charge of its South America business.
Port of Longview appoints interim CEO and DP World Group’s CEO retires, while ShipHawk names chief revenue officer and the Port of Houston Authority reappoints commissioner.
YRC Freight names VPs and SEKO Logistics picks head of aerospace vertical, while MARS elects 2016 officers and Volga-Dnepr Airlines appoints global directors.
MOL (America) names new vice president of area operations, while the Port of Houston Authority announces reappointment of commissioner.
3PL veteran starts Allport Cargo Services USA and Suttons Group names new chairman, while Röhlig names Germany ocean cargo manager and Avianca picks interim CEO.
Aljex Software names VP of corporate strategy and IICL elects 2016 board, while SOGET appoints CEO and Hansa Heavy Lift picks offshore adviser.
Port Corpus Christi lines up 2016 commission officers, while Polymer Logistics names sales VP and HMI/Gulf Marine appoint new CEO.
USA Truck names new CEO and SAL picks Asia market head, while Cargo 2000 appoints technical manager and AWO promotes VP to COO.
CEVA Logistics appoints COO for its new ground division and Cargo Composites names marketing director.
Emirates SkyCargo makes senior U.S. appointments, while Troy Container Line appoints VP of FCL and DHL names Asia-Pacific CEO.
SEKO Logistics names chief sales officer, while Crane Worldwide Logistics appoints specialized services head and CEVA announces VP of global heath care operations.
Network Global Logistics names CEO, while Röhlig appoints senior advisor.
The Intermodal Association of North America installs 2016 board, while the U.S. Meat Export Federation promotes Japan director.
Crowley names new VP and deputy general counsel, while Seoul-Incheon International Airport’s marketing VP joins TIACA board.
UPS appoints new general counsel, while customs and trade lawyer starts new firm in Miami.
SEKO Logistics appoints VP of business development, while Finnair Cargo names new head of global sales.
The latest BlueWater Reporting Carrier Report gives readers an industry insider perspective of the potential sale of NOL to CMA CGM, the company’s recent financial performance, and an analysis of APL’s fleet and network.
Ocean carrier APL, a subsidiary of Singapore’s Neptune Orient Lines, finds itself in an interesting position at present. Despite the formation of the G6 Alliance, of which APL is a member, the company has struggled to maintain profitability in the wake of the worldwide economic downturn. Carrier alliances were designed to save companies money […]
A U.S. District Court agreed in August to have antitrust lawsuits filed by shippers against roll-on/roll-off shipping companies dismissed. (In Re Vehicle Carrier Services Antitrust Litigation. U.S. District Court, N.J. No. 13-3306. MDL No. 2471. Aug. 8, 2015.) Now some of the shippers are asking Judge Esther Salas to reconsider her decision or […]
J.B. Hunt Transport Services has named a new CIO, while Smartrac appoints VP of systems and solutions.
XPO names new president of supply chain business, while WCA picks new CEO and the European Community Shipowners’s Associations lines up new leadership.
3GTMS has appointed a new chief operating officer, while CEVA Logistics names contract logistics manager for Iberia region.
Gemini Shippers Group names VP for the U.S. southern region, while Kerry Logistics appoints managers in its U.K. operations.
Port of Stockton names marketing manager and the Hong Kong Shipowners Association elects officers, while APEC reappoints secretariat executive director and Cargotec names IT VP.
The loss of the cargo ship El Faro and its crew of 33 in Hurricane Joaquin on Oct. 1 is the biggest tragedy for the U.S.-flag merchant marine in decades. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board will likely take 12-18 months to complete and litigation growing out of the sinking is […]
It’s no secret, containerships are getting bigger. Unfortunately, port and inland transportation infrastructure in the U.S. simply hasn’t kept pace with the progressively larger vessels. One of the feature stories this month (“The big ship squeeze,” pages 28-30) examines the extent to which consumers may be subsidizing the cost of increasingly large containerships […]
CSX has named its vice president of strategy, while European forwarder association CLECAT appoints new president.
Intelligrated picks senior director for commercial operations and Jettainer names new sales director.
Port Freeport’s CEO will retire, while National Interstate appoints a new president.
C.H. Robinson has named new North American Surface Transportation division president, while Crowley has appointed VP for stakeholders relations in Alaska.
Centiro has named a VP for global sales, while the Ports of Indiana Commission has added a new member.
Crowley appoints VPs to government services and global ship management, while essDOCS names new chairman.
CenterPoint Properties names head of U.S. western region, while International Container Terminal Services, Inc. promotes three VPs.
