pandemic

How do you spend $41 billion without buying more ships?

After nearly a year of accepting only orders they were sure they could build, heavy-duty truck OEMs fully opened orderbooks in September.

This FreightWaves Future of Supply Chain chat covers how consumer behaviors impact pallet usage.

Like other companies in the logistics industry, Varstar pivoted toward technology during the pandemic.

T/CCI makes heavy-duty air compressors in China, but it is looking to do what it can to meet customer demands to localize production.

Company to tack on a 5% fee for FBA sellers at end of month

Trips include driving, rail, transit and air

E-commerce is undergoing a metamorphosis thanks to online grocery shopping

The ripple effect of the anti-COVID truck protests in Canada is spreading to aviation.

Criminals aggressively target commercial trains, tractor-trailers

Cathay Pacific is running out of pilots for its freighter operations because of stricter quarantine measures.

Airlines scheduled & operated more flights in July 2021 than any month since the start of the pandemic in March 2020

Reducing risk from natural disasters, disease and terrorism is an important goal, but doing so shouldn’t paralyze economic activity.

The chaos of the past 18 months will usher in new investments in supply chain technology

“With our sustained focus on supply chain digitization, infrastructure investments and strong business relationships, we have the opportunity to build on this historic milestone,” says Executive Director Gene Seroka.

FedEx is raising the fees on U.S. residential deliveries, its Ground Economy service and on packages requiring “additional handling.”

Trucking companies will need to become more strategic about recruitment in the future. Those not willing to change will have difficulty finding drivers.

Air Canada is finally getting a lifeline from the Canadian government, potentially worth up to CA$5.9 billion.

The lack of Lunar New Year shutdowns contributes to the busiest February on record.

Pandemic heroes of the highway deserve mobile sites, NATSO says. Some drivers don’t think that’s a good idea.

Vaccine distribution is an inherently complex process. The process is further complicated by this specific vaccine’s short shelf life.

HSBC global economist James Pomeroy says we won’t be buying all the one-off big-ticket items we did during the pandemic’s first year.

From truck parts to fuel cells, business leaders face challenges in getting critical components and meeting customer expectations for delivery.

Now is the time to transform the United States’ dominance of information technology into a durable leadership position in innovations that will characterize supply chains the rest of this century.

“The way we responded to the challenges, kept commerce moving and preserved jobs is a story that we will all remember for a long time to come,” says Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka during his State of the Port address.

Ladingo’s growth suggests a segment of the market is not being adequately served by existing solutions.

The Port of New York and New Jersey is committed to fluid operations during cargo surges.

As trucking fleets reassess their safety programs for 2021 and the post-pandemic world, here are five steps they can take to reduce their risk exposure.

“In November, 50 of the 88 vessels coming to Los Angeles first went to anchor and averaged two and a half days there.”

Total traffic volume decreased by more than 16% in the first six months of 2020. Here’s a dive into regional traffic patterns.

“Obviously everything with COVID is a learning curve,” says Tom Hughes.

South Korean carrier turns quarterly $103 million loss last year into $20 million profit this year.

“The outlook of container shipping still remains clouded in uncertainties over the possible comeback of the COVID-19 pandemic and U.S.-China trade conflicts.”

Partners called on to help ensure the supply chain remains fluid.

Flurry of port activity could point to “growing concerns of future supply chain disruptions.”

2020 wins include harbor-deepening funding and Blount Island berth enhancements.

Ocean Network Express is cautious in its full-year forecast as “future cargo demand is very uncertain” while the COVID-19 pandemic wages on.

Everyone has been impacted by the current political, economic and health climate in the U.S. For the health science industry, these challenges are amplified.

JAXPORT is there to help as consumers shift from a shop-till-you-drop mentality to a shop-till-it-drops reality.

“Several months into this pandemic, we are now seeing positive signs by these cargo volume totals.”

“Port partners are taking proactive steps to add more resources and service hours to support this untraditional peak cargo volume season.”

German container carrier now expects 2020 EBITDA of between $2.8 billion and $3.04 billion.

“Regardless of who wins the upcoming elections, our country is in desperate need of a cohesive export plan as well as an infrastructure program and a digitization strategy for ports across the country,” says Executive Director Gene Seroka.

United Airlines lost more than $2 billion in the third quarter, but the cargo division did its part to stabilize finances.

FEMA is trying to plan ahead for supply chain bottlenecks related to pandemic response and says it needs private sector help. New antitrust immunity on information-sharing should help.

Air cargo traffic keeps Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in the same league as FedEx’s and UPS’ super-hubs.

A Pennsylvania developer successfully persuaded local elected officials to approve zoning changes for a new industrial park, despite residents’ complaints. It’s one of several examples of how community opposition can impact industrial real estate development.

Logistics companies are making lemonade from lemons during the coronavirus. New processes and workarounds keep freight moving, but often at extra cost.

Voluntary redundancy is the term used when an organization has more jobs than it needs — or can afford. It’s a nice way of letting people go compared to forced layoffs. IATA has offered deals for employees to leave early, and cargo chief Glyn Hughes has accepted.

Effective communication, great talent and good problem solving are three keys to withstanding supply chain disruptions.

Gene Seroka says the “disruption and breakdown of the global medical supply chain” during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for change in the maritime sector.

Information sharing is part of Executive Director Gene Seroka’s quest for more efficient operations.

Some people call it the Flying Forehead. The A380 is a double-deck plane that airlines quickly parked when the coronavirus destroyed travel demand. Now, Emirates is starting to fly a few of the mammoth planes.

No part of United Airlines was spared from job cuts announced Wednesday, but the cargo division’s roughly 50 job losses are far fewer than those in other parts of the company.

Record freight rates led to another solid month of Class 8 truck orders despite a pandemic, a presidential campaign and social unrest.

The viability of the airline industry is at stake because COVID has mostly wiped out passenger travel. The group’s global trade association is pleading with governments to help airlines with rule changes and financial aid.

The air cargo market continued its recovery in July from the depths of the COVID pandemic, but is still far below last year’s results. Demand is expected to shoot up in the next few months because the holidays are coming.

If you’re an airline with the name Scoot, you’ve got to move fast. The Singapore carrier did that when it transitioned to cargo flights and removing passenger seats.

Now is a good time for carriers that boosted their balance sheets with PPP loans to leverage that by investing in technology.

Q2 EBITDA increases 53.7% and operating cash flow jumps 86.9%.

The United Nations’ World Food Program is running a global air network with partner airlines to deliver COVID relief supplies to underserved communities but doesn’t have enough funding to continue the flights much longer.

Executive Director Gene Seroka does not want to break the 15-month record set during the recession of 2008-09.

Several passenger airlines have proven that cargo can be lucrative business during a pandemic with little travel. American Airlines quickly built a dedicated cargo operation but is now throwing more resources at the business as market conditions improve.

Taiwanese carrier’s dry bulk business takes a beating.

The coronavirus pandemic remains a “major source of uncertainty for the entire logistics industry.”

“We’re not doing any victory celebrations because the trade outlook remains unclear as long as the pandemic is with us.”

Operating profit “turnaround” of more than $300 million reported.

Warm, dry weather isn’t just easier on the body, it’s nice for airplanes with metal frames and electronics that can deteriorate when there is too much moisture. That’s why Cathay Pacific is sending its planes to a sunny vacation spot while it waits for the coronavirus to go away and customers to start flying again.

Airfreight rates from China are on the rise again. The rest of the world is more stable when it comes to air cargo. But China is driving much of the transport activity because of its export of face masks and other goods.

United Airlines is slowly ratcheting up its passenger schedule each month as travel increases, but it’s a tricky game to figure out how much supply to add in an uncertain world.

“Cargo volume reductions related to COVID-19 were offset by the strength of our export markets and record volumes earlier in the year,” says GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch.

Orient Overseas Container Line briefly outlines performance for the second quarter and first six months of 2020.

Airfreight looks like a haven for some ocean shippers that can’t find reliable, affordable transportation, but it probably won’t be that way for long because more businesses will need to move goods by air in the coming months and there aren’t enough planes.

Wrecked car carrier, with some 4,200 vehicles on board, has been on its side in St. Simons Sound since September.

Express carriers UPS and DHL helped push Brussels Airport into the black for June’s cargo volume. Most airports during the pandemic haven’t been able to make up for the loss of passenger flights on which so much cargo typically flows.

The global airfreight market contracted during the first six months of 2020, but airlines made much more money from cargo than last year, according to World ACD.

vailable cargo space on outbound aircraft from China is starting to become scarce again. Shippers better hurry to lock up reservations for the late summer and peak season.

Operational lower level essential to movement of goods and economic recovery.

Transaction volumes in China surged by an incredible 430% when factories reopened at the end of February.

CEO Jim Newsome optimistic about economic recovery in 2021.

‘There is an increasing risk that fatigue and mental health issues could lead to serious maritime accidents.’

Airlines are leaning heavily on governments for support until they can get back on their feet once the COVID crisis subsides. Next up: KLM.

Canceled San Pedro Bay calls more than doubled in the first half of the year compared to 2019.

Boost attributed to retailers trying to beat capacity constraints and rate hikes.

International Maritime Organization warns crew change prohibitions during the coronavirus pandemic have led to a growing humanitarian crisis.

When it comes to airports and cargo, bigger isn’t always better. Shippers are finding the benefits of airports that fly under the radar.

Total cargo volume is down 7.8% this year because of reduced import demand.

Airlines are sweating the coronavirus pandemic despite the recent upturn in travel. El Al says it might fail and Aeromexico went the bankruptcy route.

A language barrier of sorts may be blocking shipping lines and ports from adopting common technology platforms.

United Airlines and Delta are dipping their toes back into the China market. But with COVID-19 and political tensions rising it won’t be a surprise if they are stopped again.

EU e-commerce regulation will bring “one of the most impactful changes.”

Fiscal-year finish 50,000 containers below plan is forecast.

LATAM Airlines Argentina is closing, but the move won’t impact international travel.

Washington State Potato Commission wants you to get fries with that burger.

The best time to build on your company’s offerings through acquisitions may actually be during a global disruption.

Reduced number of canceled sailings indicates return of cargo.