container shipping

Container rates on the eastbound trans-Pacific fall by double-digits as ocean shipping braces for new U.S. port fees. 

Plans to end the war in Gaza should help global shipping return to the Suez Canal in 2025, the waterway’s chief said.

National Tree Co. CEO warns that tariffs and inflation are adding millions in costs and could tighten supplies of artificial trees and holiday décor.

While Israel and Hamas meet to discuss a U.S. proposal for ending the war in Gaza, it’s uncertain whether a peace deal will return major shipping lines to the Red Sea and Suez Canal. 

The Port of Los Angeles wants to build an all-new container terminal to accommodate the biggest container ships on the planet.

August container traffic was 9% higher year-on-year in August at Georgia’s Port of Savannah.

Container rates on the trans-Pacific reached two-year lows as weak demand is expected to continue through the end of the year.

China sets new port fees, could bar U.S. ships in retaliation for charges on Chinese shipping set to take effect in October.

Customs and Border Protection will continue to fund cargo inspections and other essential services during a government shutdown.

CSX has officially opened the Howard Street Tunnel after a clearance project that will boost container volume at the Port of Baltimore.

Shifting political winds and a trade reset will limit global growth in containerized shipments to about 2% annually, according to a new United Nations forecast.

Containerized imports are set to dive in 2025, an analyst predicts, as President Trump’s tariffs take a toll on China-U.S. trade. 

Maersk won’t levy a surcharge when U.S. fees on China-linked ships take effect in October. 

Hawaii and other American territories called for changes to the Jones Act, citing unfair economic burdens outside the continental United States.

August was a strong month for the Port of Los Angeles, but that could be the end of the good news in 2025 for the busiest U.S import gateway. 

Ocean rates climb as a deal for social media’s TikTok heralded an upbeat outlook for China-U.S. trade relations.

Amid fears that tariffs and frontloading would slow the peak shipping season, new data from a bellwether U.S. import gateway shows otherwise. 

Container spot rates on the eastbound trans-Pacific reverse course as liner operators redeploy Chinese-built ships away from U.S. services ahead of punitive port fees. 

Import cargo at U.S. container ports is expected to decline through the end of 2025 despite near-record summer volume.

Canadian National and CSX are collaborating on direct intermodal service from the West Coast of Canada to the heart of the U.S. Mid-south region. 

The former top U.S. maritime official backs U.S. initiatives to revitalize shipping and shipbuilding, but warns that careful planning is needed.  

The Port of Long Beach shut down operations at Pier G Tuesday after dozens of containers from a docked ship fell into the water. 

The Port of Long Beach has released a draft environmental report for its transformative Pier B on-dock rail expansion project.

Container shipping profits plunged 56% in Q2 on tariffs and shifting trade policies; the forecast remains cautious.

Expansion project will add 1.15 million TEUs in annual capacity to the eastern Canadian port.

The Port of Jacksonville, Fla. has hired Juan Pablo Acosta Magaña to lead container cargo sales for Latin America. 

Rising average spot rates for some importers reversed the summer-long trend on containers moving from Asia to the United States as bigger shippers press carriers for better prices.

President Donald Trump has nominated two Floridians to fill the pair of vacancies on the Federal Maritime Commission, the U.S. regulator of ocean shipping.

While ocean container rates on the trans-Pacific were unchanged in the latest week, carriers are testing soft demand with general rate hikes. 

U.S.-based Cerberus Capital Management and HD Hyundai of South Korea announced an investment partnership in the American maritime sector.

The busiest U.S. container ports saw a modest rise for import container volumes in July as shippers raced to beat the Trump administration’s early August tariff deadlines.

A formal trade framework between the EU and U.S. should stabilize container cargo flows on trans-Atlantic routes, says forwarder Kuehne & Nagel.

After tariff worries chased up import volumes in July, ocean freight rates have steadily fallen on frontloading, capacity issues. 

South Carolina Ports Authority President and CEO Barbara Melvin is stepping down.

Dubai’s DP World enjoyed revenue and profit gains in the first half of the year as global container volume overcame political and logistical hurdles.   

Are declining import bookings a response to erratic trade policy, or are there broader economic signals to be gleaned?

Why This Class Matters in a Down Market Rates are tight, volumes are shifting, and fuel isn’t doing anyone any favors. A lot of carriers are hanging on by a thread, and in a down market, it’s natural to think adding a second truck might help you grow your way out of it. But here’s […]

Container rates on the closely-watched eastbound trans-Pacific fall to their lowest levels since before the Red Sea crisis erupted in 2023. 

Training gaps and outdated tools have left freight security full of blind spots; competition makes them wider. The trucking industry carries roughly 70% of all goods across the United States, yet it’s operating in the middle of a freight recession. Volumes are down, rates are volatile, and with many providers fighting load to load just […]

The Pasha Group announced it has expanded service at the ports of Seattle and Tacoma by acquiring the transloading assets of MacMillan-Piper and Tacoma Transload.

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. saw earnings sag as President Trump’s trade war on China hit trans-Pacific container volumes.

The Port of New Orleans saw rising chemical imports and resin exports during the first half of 2025.

Truck and rail dwell and capacity remained stable at the ports of LA-Long Beach despite a record surge in container volumes.

TRAC GeoFleet is an innovative on-demand chassis solution that offers customers guaranteed chassis availability alongside usage-based billing.

Supply chain data consultant Xeneta has acquired eeSea, a specialist in global carrier reliability data.

Container rates on the eastbound trans-Pacific braked their slide after tariffs fueled record volumes. 

July was a record month for the Port of Los Angeles, as monthly container volumes for the first time topped 1 million TEUs.

If you’ve been behind the wheel long enough, you’ve probably got your own DEF horror story. Maybe it was a sensor going out halfway up a mountain grade, forcing you into limp mode at 5 mph while traffic backed up behind you. Maybe it was a clogged DPF that threw you into a forced regen […]

The Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association has appointed industry veteran Rob Cannizzaro as deputy executive director.

Imports of containerized cargo through U.S. ports finished just shy of a monthly record in July, headlined by a recovery of China shipments through the busiest American gateways.

Retail industry trade group forecast import volumes to finish this year 5.6% behind 2024 levels.

The decline of ocean container rates on the critical Asia-U.S. route is unstoppable amid President Trump’s economic war on China and reset of global trade policy, says analyst Xeneta.

A new Union Pacific service is raising the stakes for intermodal traffic moving from southern California ports to Chicago.   

Georgia ports moved the most containers in a year since 2022.

Maersk revised its full-year forecast upward on “resilient demand”

Reducing waste and improving visibility is paramount in produce cold chain shipping.

The recent storm of trade news failed to move the needle for trans-Pacific container rates.

Two companies behind the containership involved in the deadly 2024 Baltimore bridge collapse are suing the ship’s builder.

Matson said earnings were weaker as trade and tariff volatility hit  volumes on China routes. 

The government of Panama is going to court to challenge Chinese operating contracts for two ports adjacent to the Panama Canal, potentially setting up a bid by a U.S. conglomerate. 

Let’s be clear—manual dispatch boards, whiteboards in the shop, and scribbled notes on the back of receipts don’t cut it anymore. Not if you’re serious about running a field-based operation that’s efficient, accountable, and scalable. Whether you’re managing roadside service trucks, mobile technicians, or heavy equipment repairs, the right field service management (FSM) software will […]

Let’s set the record straight—bookkeeping is not some behind-the-scenes admin task you push off until tax season. In trucking, your books are your compass. Without clean, organized, and trucking-specific financials, you’re not just driving blind—you’re making decisions that could sink your business. I’ve seen too many good carriers fall apart not because of bad freight, […]

The former U.S. regulator for ocean shipping has exchanged the American flag for a lobbyist’s briefcase.

When revenue stalls, most small carriers think: “I need another truck.” That logic is broken. Adding trucks before dialing in your business model just multiplies your problems—fuel, repairs, insurance, compliance, and payroll. A small operation with 1 to 3 trucks should be profitable before it ever considers scaling up. Let’s make this clear: if you’re […]

Liner operator CMA CGM said it is interested in buying CK Huchison’s global marine terminals.

The Port of Los Angeles is poised to reap the benefits of Union Pacific’s acquisition of Norfolk Southern, its top executive says.

Let’s clear this up: your back office isn’t an office. It’s the system you build to make decisions, protect your money, and stay on the road legally. It doesn’t need to be big—but it does need to be tight. The three main roles of your back office are: If your current setup involves a legal […]

When you’re out running loads in the dead of night, your dash cam doesn’t get to sleep. It’s still working. Still recording. Still protecting your business. And if you’re relying on a camera that can’t see clearly after sunset, you’ve got a weak link in your operation. Accidents don’t check the clock. Most incidents—whether it’s […]

CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest ocean container carrier, said profits fell in the second quarter as trade disputes hit U.S. imports from China.

Freight rates on U.S. ocean trade routes hold steady as shippers and carriers wait out trade talks, tariff deadlines.

Introduction: The Gearshift That Sparked a Divide There’s an unspoken line drawn in the dirt at every truck stop in America: those who drive automatics, and those who swear by a stick. It sounds like a preference—but it runs deeper. One side sees convenience, consistency, and progress. The other sees lost skill, lazy entry, and […]

Container data submitted by carriers at major U.S. ports is now available on the Federal Maritime Commission website. 

South Korea proposed a massive U.S. shipbuilding partnership as Seoul looks to finalize a trade deal with Washington.

Yemen’s Houthi rebel militia said it is escalating its campaign against Israel-linked shipping, regardless of a ship’s destination.

You started as an owner-operator, grinding out miles, chasing loads, and wearing every hat—dispatcher, accountant, mechanic. Now you’re running a small fleet, maybe two to five trucks, and the hustle that got you here is starting to choke you. The phone’s ringing off the hook, paperwork’s piling up, and you’re still doing it all yourself. […]

Running a small fleet means you’re stretched thin—dispatching loads, chasing payments, and keeping trucks rolling. Then ELD reports hit you like a brick wall, piling on data you barely have time to read, let alone understand. Hours of service rules aren’t optional, but you don’t need to drown in reports to stay compliant. If you’re […]

Some small carriers chase new freight like it’s a numbers game. They blast emails, cold call every logistics contact they can find on LinkedIn, and undercut rates just to get a shot at the next load. It’s a hustle. And while it might land you a load here and there, it doesn’t build staying power. […]

You don’t need more meetings. You need better habits. Many carriers hear the word “safety review” and immediately think of three-hour meetings, binders collecting dust, and a compliance officer nobody wants to talk to. That kind of thinking is exactly why safety becomes a scramble—something you deal with after a violation, not before it. But […]

Despite U.S. tariff impacts, Drewry’s Global Container Port Throughput Index rose modestly in May, but better year-on-year, indicating global trade flows are adjusting.

Many carriers look at detention as a nuisance. Time sucks. A fight for pennies after hours of wasted time. And on the surface, they’re not wrong—detention is frustrating. But if you know how to track it, document it, and use it in negotiations, detention becomes more than a delay. It becomes leverage. This isn’t about […]

The CMA CGM Phoenix is the largest container ship to operate under U.S. colors after reflagging.

Too many small carriers run their maintenance programs off hope and memory. And let’s be honest—that’s not a strategy. That’s a liability. Waiting until something breaks costs more than just money. It costs downtime, lost loads, and sometimes even your reputation. The worst part? Most of it’s avoidable. The problem isn’t that fleets don’t believe […]

NATO is warning ports are under unprecedented threat from attacks that threaten global trade and defense logistics.

Let’s not sugarcoat it—your first DOT audit is a test, and most small carriers walk in unprepared. Not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know what to expect. They assume having insurance, a truck, and a few loads under their belt means they’re good. But when FMCSA comes knocking, it’s not about how […]

Too many carriers are chasing the wrong scoreboard. They measure success by the number of miles they run, the number of loads they book, or how many trucks they have on the road. But here’s the truth: more miles don’t mean more money—and more loads can sometimes mean more losses. Real growth in this business […]

Shippers are stepping back from the trans-Pacific trade amid trade uncertainty and tariff fatigue.

Cargo volumes were a mixed bag at Gulf Coast ports in June, with Houston reporting a slight decline and Corpus Christi seeing gains.

Small- and medium-sized businesses are feeling the tremors of unpredictable U.S. trade policy and dozens of recent tariff changes.

Ocean container rates on the Asia-U.S. trade lane continue to fall, according to Drewry’s latest data.

Uncertainty over tariffs and shifting supply chains undercut the Port of Oakland’s June container volume. 

Union Pacific, the largest publicly-held railroad, is in merger talks with eastern rival Norfolk Southern, according to a published report.

China could block the sale of CK Hutchison’s global port facilities if it doesn’t get a stake in the deal involving a U.S. private equity firm and Mediterranean Shipping Company.  

Declining demand and a global tariff fight continue to undermine ocean container rates on key Asia-U.S. trade lanes.

BNSF Railway and Union Pacific came to an agreement on routing of intermodal trains ahead of a meeting with regulators. 

The official overseeing White House maritime policy is leaving, according to a published report.

The American Association of Port Authorities and legislators want to limit the ability of Customs and Border Protection to bill them for inspection services.

The Federal Maritime Commission has opened a probe into possible anti-competitive pacts between Port Houston and ocean carriers.

The Port of Los Angeles saw container volume surge 8% to a monthly record in June.

Ocean container indicators turn negative as importers wait for developments on tariffs and trade policy.

When dispatch handoffs get sloppy, mistakes multiply and money slips through the cracks. Drivers get left in the dark, loads fall through the cracks, and your business starts to bleed in places you can’t afford. Whether you’re running two trucks or twenty, this article will show you how to build a clean, repeatable dispatch handoff […]