inventory levels

Maritime’s early peak masks rising trade and economic uncertainty

Container imports surged to a multi-year high in early July, driven by importers racing to recover lost time after tariff disruptions. While volumes spiked, this early peak doesn’t necessarily signal stronger demand.. As inventories grow more expensive to hold, maritime carriers are bracing for softer demand and more volatile shipping patterns in the months ahead.

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Thomas Wasson Thursday, July 6, 2023

Loaded and Rolling: The plight of the owner-operator

The freight recession’s impact on small fleets and owner-operators gained mainstream media attention on Monday with an article by Shannon Pettypiece, a senior policy reporter for NBC News. The article related the story of Arnesha Barron, a 39-year-old driver who in 2021 became an owner-operator after working at a trucking company for six years.

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Thomas Wasson Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Loaded and Rolling: Transload service starts, omicron variant spreads and length of haul increases

J.B. Hunt transload service starts as shippers deal with intermodal and port congestion J.B. Hunt Transport Services has started a transload service in the New York metro area. In a press release, the offering is touted as “a one-stop source for quickly transferring ocean freight into equipment for domestic transport.” The facility, located in Jersey […]

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Thomas Wasson Thursday, November 18, 2021

Loaded and Rolling: Private fleets expand; trucking mergers and acquisitions; and detention on the rise

Private trucking fleets expand amid soaring spot rates According to a recent National Private Truck Council Report, private fleets continue to expand due to high spot market rates and dwindling capacity in the market. Less capacity equals less service, and service metrics remain a big driver for in-house transportation. For large common carriers (they haul […]

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