Coronavirus

Airlines lose $113 billion, coronavirus cancels conferences, robust volumes in major markets and so much more!

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Mexican trucking officials discuss cross-border goals; CBP finds $590,000 of meth in shipment of stone items; Mexican automotive industry’s 2019 foreign investment: $3.9 billion; Helion targets car and heavy-duty truck dealers around Dallas.

Chart of the Week:  Outbound Tender Volume Index – USA  SONAR: OTVI.USA  People have been clearing store shelves in parts of the country as if they were preparing for a zombie apocalypse this past week. This mass purchasing—or threat thereof—has spiked trucking volumes in the U.S. as the national Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) increased […]

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen wants freight and passenger railroads to temporarily alter their sick leave policies and provide stronger sanitizing materials.

Volumes show signs of life.

OPEC recommended steep cuts and a Russian-led group balked.

Unprecedented uncertainty will likely delay annual contracts between shippers and ocean carriers.

On today’s episode, Dooner and Hill are talking about a former Uber exec who filed for bankruptcy after losing a $179M dispute with Google, the FMCSA going after rule-breaking ELDs, and coronavirus costing commercial airlines a $113 billion loss.

Zach and Anthony talk about the latest coronavirus developments on transportation, the main functions of a freight forwarder and recent economic developments.

Zach Strickland and JP Hampstead talk about how consumers are spending more on groceries than normal, which is translating to higher volumes for this time of year. Fears of the coronavirus could be causing “panic buying.”

Good day, StradVision, an AI-based camera perception system, has announced it is developing animal detection capabilities for its SVNet software, which is used in advanced driver assist systems as well as autonomous vehicles. StradVision CEO Junhwan Kim said in a statement that the new software will “almost completely end” collisions between animals and vehicles. In […]

Airfreight demand from China is still lower than normal this time of year, but it is finally picking up as the coronavirus scare gradually subsides. The new dynamic is reflected in higher cargo rates.

An exclusive interview with SIA Flexitanks CEO Damien McClean on what’s happening right now with Chinese manufacturing, trucking and ports.

Jim Blaze writes about the outlook for intermodal rail in 2020.

Slashed oil production is bad for tankers, but fallout for container ships hinges on price action.

The carriers gained pricing power this week as volumes jumped over 6%, capacity tightened slightly and spot rates increased across the country.

Will capacity tighten and raise rates, or will volumes evaporate and crash them again?

The city is at the center of the U.S. coronavirus epidemic, with 70 cases confirmed and 10 deaths.

Spike in demand for household essentials; Chinese manufacturers suffer under virus attack; H&M opening up its supply chain.

Airlines are taking it on the chin from the coronavirus. To balance revenues with expenses, airlines are cutting schedules. Lufthansa and United Airlines have taken cost-cutting even further.

Excluding coal carloads, U.S. carloads in February fell only 0.8% from last year, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Brian Aoaeh explores the vulnerability of supply chains in an interconnected world that is threatened by a potential pandemic.

The robotic trucking company will expand its UPS runs to 20 trips per week and has added an extra run between Phoenix and El Paso, Texas.

CEO of Canadian logistics software provider says China’s surprise recovery may signal a better prognosis for supply chains around the world.

As fewer ships arrive from China, there’s less capacity and equipment for U.S. and European container exports.

Airlines continue adjusting their flight schedules and capacity to contain costs as traffic dries up due to the coronavirus scare.

Rather than talk about the proposed TRATON buyout of the company — the elephant in the room — Navistar executives unpacked reasons behind the disappointing first fiscal quarter they had predicted.

Canadian National CEO JJ Ruest still expects the company will meet 2020 targets despite a significant hit from rail blockades.

Profits grew in the fourth quarter and full-year 2019 at ATSG as its leasing and airline subsidiaries both performed well.

Already feeble orders of new tractors took another hit in February as uncertainty over the business impact of the coronavirus kept fleets out of the market.

The choice depends on the lane, the freight and the rate.

Baltimore terminal reduces working hours; Georgia ports brace for volume dive

CargoMetrics data reveals that Chinese port activity has recovered much faster than some had feared.

‘Strong sales’ in February are expected to continue through Easter. Disruptions to the company’s supply chain continue to be monitored.

With the possibility of rail blockades fading, the railway is seeking to ramp up its eastern operations again after it had shut them down for roughly two weeks because of protests.

The travel and hospitality industries are getting battered by falling demand for their services as the coronavirus spreads. Less economic activity and aircraft capacity hurts shippers too, who can’t sell or ship as many goods.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has opened the application process for $225 million in grants available to ports for infrastructure improvements. Plus, coronavirus idles containers, China outbound volumes are dropping, and Arizona’s gas tax hike is in trouble.

Two U.S. steel companies recently announced they were expanding in Mexico through acquisitions and facilities upgrades.

American Association of Port Authorities says year-over-year cargo volumes in the first quarter could be down by at least 20%.

People might be willing to travel for business, but companies are nixing nonessential trips. Many industry conferences are being canceled as a result.

Industry conferences cancel on coronavirus fears, retail supply chains sputter, Cassandra Gaines talks travel, plus the economics of trade during black swan events.

Airlines are at the mercy of the coronavirus. About the only thing they can do is try to reduce operating costs and preserve cash flow until people are willing to start traveling again.

Trucking Freight Futures significantly down for the week as February contracts enter expiration and fears of significant supply chain disruption grows.

China’s largest ecommerce company, JD.com, not ready to completely quantify coronavirus disruption.

Manufacturing outlook: The coming week will be telling for the industrial segment. The Institute for Supply Management updated the Purchasing Managers’ Index (ISM.PMI). It breached the 50-expansion threshold in for two consecutive months. There may be some talks of a turnaround for the manufacturing segment. However, the numerous headwinds in the current macro-economy suggest that […]

DHL has decided to close its StreetScooter electric vehicle business, plus household income rises, aluminum plant likely to close, and why Americans will love self-driving trucks.

FreightWaves celebrates three years, coronavirus continues to upend markets, Emily Szink’s mainstream push for FreightWavesTV, and so much more!

Every FreightWaves article is designed to assist our readers in becoming the most informed professionals in the transportation and logistics industry. These articles may have flown under your radar this week. We consider them essential reading. The mysterious resurrection of Celadon’s Mexican business – Bankrupt Celadon Group reveals employees in Mexico recently restarted operations of its […]

Container shipping rates from China to the U.S. west coast and international intermodal volume out of the L.A. port complex are both at or below last year’s seasonally-weak Chinese New Year Period. Extended factory shutdowns to prevent the spread of the coronavirus may inhibit a March or April rebound.

“We’re a highly resilient industry even in the face of a potential pandemic,” Washington Trucking Associations official says even as intermodal carriers take hit from disruption of Chinese shipping to West Coast ports.

Passenger and freight traffic showed big declines this month in certain regions. Airports and airlines are moving to right-size operations to the downmarket caused by the coronavirus.

Join us as we take an in depth look at how the Coronavirus is affecting the global supply chain and all modes of freight transportation.

Mexico City-based Estafeta is one of the largest courier, express and parcel firms in the country. The company has around 6,700 employees and operates 30.5 million shipments per year.

How coronavirus will impact volumes remains to be seen

JP Hampstead and Zach Strickland continue to assess the impacts of the Coronavirus on volumes and rates.

The World Health Organization on Friday raised its assessment of the global coronavirus risk from “high” to “very high,” the most serious assessment in its new four-stage alert system. “This is a Class 1 event and is unprecedented in modern history,” FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller said of the global economic and supply chain effects of […]

On today’s episode we talk to attorney Cassandra Gaines about TQL hack liability, plus the economics of the coronavirus.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG is moving rapidly to reduce costs and preserve cash flow as the coronavirus outbreak widens to more countries.  Three days after announcing a series of expense reductions, Lufthansa on Friday said group companies would reduce short-haul operations by up to 25% in the coming weeks, reduce long-haul flight schedules and park 23 […]

Trucking Freight Futures tumbled on Thursday on growing fears of a global supply chain slow-down due to the continued spread of Coronavirus.

The airline and airfreight industries are dealing with reduced capacity in Asia as health concerns reduce travel demand.

Brian Aoaeh explores unforeseen shocks to global supply chains and global commerce.

Chao outlines five measures aimed at protecting passenger and cargo transportation.

Ocean, intermodal and trucking data are flashing red. Don’t worry — DAT just made a bullish call on spot rates.

The coronavirus has made its first impact upon the American economy – the stock market. The novel virus is also impacting import volumes from China and the effect will quickly trickle into the trucking market. It has not yet, but will soon. This week, spot rates bounced back slightly with a bump in outbound volumes. Capacity remains very loose.

Though still quiet on Wednesday, activity in the Trucking Freight Futures began to return as the market deals with uncertainty.

It has been a particularly rough start of the year for tanker stocks despite exceptionally strong results.

Americans view foreign trade positively; Tesla records only 12.2 miles of self-driving in 2019; cab-hailing companies have an emissions problem.

Continued strength in northbound less-than-truckload pricing helps drive Canadian shippers’ freight costs in December, the latest results from the Canadian General Freight Index show.

U.S. rail traffic maintains its slump for another week

Harbor commissions sign agreement to collaborate on common issues.

FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller writes about FreightWaves third birthday, and the company’s past, present and future.

Anthony and Zach explain the primary cost drivers of operating a trucking company and the market influences that drive the pricing volatility on both contracted and transactional freight movements. Also, an update on the coronavirus situation and what we are seeing in the economy today that may affect your life tomorrow.

No evidence yet of coronavirus-induced drop in dry bulk rates. Is it coming?

Lowe’s sees positive sales comps in 14 of 15 regions, but full-year fiscal 2020 guidance disappoints.

United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has the support of a majority of Canadian lawmakers even if some seem set on delaying ratification to score political points.

U.S. export licenses are required for numerous types of highly infectious diseases that are shared in the form of samples for medical research between labs around the world.

The financial chickens from the coronavirus are coming home to roost. Lufthansa is belt-tightening, other airlines might try to ease lease terms for assets.

ORBCOMM lowers full-year 2020 guidance given recent coronavirus developments.

Uncertainty is still an underlying theme facing North American freight railroads.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said most benefits of “Phase One” trade deal with China should be realized in 2020, despite commercial disruption from coronavirus.

Reported deal to let Canadian National quietly route some freight around protests gets high marks from director of trucking company hit hard by the disruptions.

It’s difficult to predict how travel and trade patterns will impact the global economy for the full year, but companies involved in trade and travel are feeling the pinch already. The crisis is creating risks and opportunities for airlines, especially for companies that fly dedicated freighters.

Trucking Freight Futures stuck in neutral on Monday as Coronavirus fear grips market.

The Home Depot continues to report record sales growth on the back of a “very strong” consumer.

The trade war between the U.S. and China caused companies to adapt supply chains and the transportation of their products. Darren Prokop writes about those changes and their impacts.

Spireon has integrated its trailer management system, FleetLocate, with P.S.I.’s tire pressure monitoring system, giving users new insight into tire pressures and temperatures. Plus, coronavirus is impacting nearly all shippers, DSV plans job cuts, and who will succeed Jimmy Haslam at Pilot?

Diesel fell far more than the price of crude oil; trucking stocks mostly fell less than S&P 500.

An exclusive interview with Jefferies analyst Randy Giveans on the coronavirus-induced shipping-stock collapse.

Coronavirus hits markets, mass layoffs at Starsky, ex-employee talks MDL, J.B. Hunt becomes an NVOCC and more

Diesel fuel price outlook  EIA statistics show total U.S. distillate production at the highest level ever for the second week of February despite significant concern over demand. Inventory reports were bearish. One other factor looming in the market: OPEC meets March 5-6. All models show it needs to cut further to balance markets, but it […]

The Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting has kicked off, and it’s all about connectivity and electrification, plus a CBD warning, oil prices fall, and the coronavirus

As risks surge and stocks plunge, a look at the key coronavirus issues and a rundown of FreightWaves’ coverage to date.

Stay up to date with all your favorite FreightWaves podcasts!

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: factories in Mexico feeling effect from coronavirus; Mexico seeks solution to controversial fuel standard; traffic congestion costs the trucking industry $75 billion annually; and metal recycling firm to build new plant near U.S.-Mexico border.

Every FreightWaves article is designed to assist our readers in becoming the most informed professionals in the transportation and logistics industry. These articles may have flown under your radar this week. We consider them essential reading. Trucking veteran Ingrid Brown shares cancer journey to save others – The 40-year trucking veteran is a tireless advocate for […]

Not only were volumes lower in 2019, but they traveled less miles, which compounded the impact of oversupply. Volumes have not recovered, but something else has changed that may help carriers this year.

Volumes still sluggish but positive.

Director of Freight Market Intelligence Zach Strickland is back to chat with Director of Passport Research JP Hampstead about the state of rates this past week. They also talk about the continued impact of the coronavirus and post-Valentine’s Day freight rates.

Head of academic center sees spike in rates, or continued pain through the sector.