1766 words 6 minute read – Let’s do this!
We are approaching the week of summer’s biggest U.S. and Canadian holidays and many Canada ports and rail locations will be closed on Monday July 1st and many U.S. Ports and rails will be closed on Thursday the 4th. The Port X Logistics team wishes everyone a very enjoyable holiday next week and reminding you to follow our LinkedIn page for the most updated port holiday schedules, industry news and topics and if you want to talk more about what is instore for the remainder of 2024 email us for more information about our services and how we can help be an industry knowledge tool for you and your team Marketing@portxlogistics.com
South Carolina Ports, the government agency that oversees the operations of the state’s ports, and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) reached an agreement to create a shared workforce after years of legal battles. Charleston’s billion-dollar new container terminal had been largely idle due to the dispute while the settlement also creates a glimmer of hope for the master contract due to expire September 30 for ports from Maine to the Gulf Coast.
South Carolina invested in the future of its container operations with the massive Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal which was completed early in 2021 only to find itself in a drawn-out legal battle over staffing. For more than 50 years, SC Ports used what was called a hybrid model for its workforce which separated duties and had port employees, not union members, operating cranes and heavy-lift equipment. Despite a 2012 revision to the contract calling for future ports to be entirely union-staffed, SC Ports attempted to follow the hybrid model when opening the new Leatherman Terminal.
Port officials told the Port and Courier that details still needed to be worked out to implement the framework agreement. They are confident that it can move forward quickly. Port officials are billing the agreement as the “reopening” of the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal.
However, the ILA canceled talks set for Tuesday in Newark, N.J., to protest the use of automated machinery at other ports, which the union says violates prior labor agreements. With the contract expiration date approaching, tension is still building between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd (USMX). The Union’s leader Harold Daggett has largely expressed in a speech last year he accused the Biden administration of standing by while foreign-owned carriers use the machinery “to eliminate good paying American jobs.” The issue of the ports moving to use automation to lift, carry and stack containers is an unresolved issue that is blocking negotiation talks and causing rifts throughout the ILE and causing labor issues and potential rising congestion in ports such as NY/NJ and Mobile. Daggett has also vowed that the ILE members will strike if they do not secure a new contract before the current agreement expires on September 30th .
Many U.S. manufacturers, distributors, retailers and trade groups are calling on the Biden administration to push for the contract negotiations to get rolling between the ILA and USMX maritime employers, but it is uncertain if the ILA will react to the White House intervention, especially during this election year.
Despite having reached agreements on new contracts without a strike for years, the union has repeatedly said it will not go past the September 30th deadline, fueling growing fears of a crippling strike for the U.S. East Coast ports for October. Planning ahead is crucial and choosing Port X Logistics to help formulate a plan if you choose to divert your cargo to the West Coast and move it via Drayage, transloading and trucking is key. Port X Logistics is the Gold Standard in drayage, transloading and trucking. We track your containers from the time they leave overseas, dray your containers from all port locations and transload with plenty of photos provided and load to outbound trucks for the fastest over the road delivery with a shareable tracking app to track drivers all the way to final destination. Transload orders have been piling up as many shippers have been taking the early initiative to speed up deliveries whether it was an ocean delay or to avoid the rails, but we have all the capacity in the world for you! If you want more information on how you can get your cargo diverted at the port and on the road for a speedy delivery with full visibility contact Letsgetrolling@portxlogistics.com
Import TEUs are down 11.78% this week from last, the heaviest volume this week arriving in Long Beach 15.6% of incoming TEU volume, Los Angeles 15.2% of incoming TEU volume and Newark NJ 12.7% of incoming TEU volume. Most U.S. Ports will be closed on Thursday and next week also starts the time of year where many factories notoriously start to shut down for a couple weeks. With labor contracts and the U.S. Presidential elections starting, it will be interesting to see what is to come over the next couple weeks in the market as the excitement of the holiday week dwindles away into the second week of July.
What’s happening at the ports and rails?:
You can find all the information on the below link where we cover port congestion, chassis issues and capacity lead times weekly at all U.S. and Canada Ports and rail heads on our website – click on the link below
CLICK HERE for Port & Rail Updates
Seattle/Tacoma: The Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins has helped the port to embrace Washington Maritime Blue – a strategic alliance established to enhance maritime sustainability. It was launched as part of the broader Washington State Governor’s Maritime Innovation Advisory Council’s efforts. The council, recognizing the pressing need for eco-friendly nautical operations, sought to create a framework that would drive innovation, collaboration, and sustainable economic growth within the sector. By focusing on sustainability, innovation, and collaboration, the initiative not only addresses the pressing environmental challenges but also paves the way for economic growth and global leadership in green maritime practices. The Port of Seattle, through its active participation and implementation of these sustainable strategies, stands as a testament to what can be achieved when industry stakeholders unite for a common cause. As the organization continues to evolve, it offers a blueprint for other ports and maritime hubs worldwide to follow, ensuring a cleaner, greener future for the maritime industry. If you have questions on how shipping through the SEA/TAC ports can benefit your supply chain and if you are looking for an all-star drayage/transload warehouse team, our Seattle operations has plenty of drayage capacity with the addition of 11 new drivers and a huge amount of warehouse space for transloading and storage projects. Contact letsgetrolling@portxlogistics.com for capacity and great drayage and warehouse rates.
Savannah: The BigLift Baffin made delivery to the Port of Savannah this past Saturday June 22nd to help support operations amidst a strengthening retail market. The Port of Savannah has seen an increase in container volumes every month of this calendar year compared to 2023. So far this year, the ports authority has handled 2.2 million TEUs, an increase of 12.7% over the first five months of last year. The Port is benefiting from source shifting, as more manufacturers establish production facilities in Southeast Asia locations that favor delivery via Savannah, said Griff Lynch, the ports authority’s president and CEO. Port X Logistics South Atlantic team is built to help support your Savannah shipments, we have a drayage fleet of 12 trucks with service to and from Savannah, Charleston and Jacksonville ports as well as container yard space. We also have a full service transload warehouse in Savannah and can handle last-minute urgent transloads and cross docks. Contact Kyle and the team sav@portxlogistics.com
Kansas City: Kansas City is running smoothly just in time for a HUGE announcement. We are the area’s largest Bonded container Freight Station with 13,000 feet of dock space, 25+ Dock doors, and dry vans for local deliveries. We can transload anything from standard pallets, floor loaded and heavy cargo within our Bonded CFS. We have a large drayage fleet of 59 trucks and 58 acres of yard space and equipped with lift capabilities. We are welcoming new transload projects and have immediate drayage capacity – contact letsgetrolling@portxlogistics.com we are eager to work with you!
Denver: Our Denver drayage group is now offering long hauls and a strong focus on covering deliveries to Colorado Springs CO, Cheyenne WY, and Western Nebraska. If you are looking for drayage services into and out of the Denver ramps, our Denver operation is in the heart of the transportation district @ I-25 and I-70 in Denver, Colorado. Located within four miles of both major rail ramps this ensures prompt and affordable service. With 12 trucks and growing and two acres of secure and monitored yard storage, AND a 25,000 sq. ft. transload warehouse and 15 dry vans, we can help with a variety of your transportation, cross dock and storage needs. Denver is growing and don’t forget the newest Denver terminal the BNSF Hudson adds an additional 60+ round trip miles. Contact the Denver team today for great rates and capacity as well for more information and insights regarding the BNSF Hudson Denver@portxlogistics.com
Did you know? Business shutdowns from the holiday combined with extra holiday flights can create longer airport wait times and an urgent need for SUPER FAST pickups for your expedited cargo? Did you also know our Carrier911 team is on the move 24/7/365 to help with all your domestic expedited trucking needs? We can get drivers assigned and on site at the airport in most cases within one hour from the time the order has been dispatched to us. We have access to cargo vans, straight trucks, dry vans and more and all of our drivers have experience with airport and CFS pickups and have access to retrieving the proper documentation to make these pickups seamless. Don’t forget we provide shareable tracking links and PODs sent at the time of delivery, so you can relax stress free with your most critical shipments. The blood sweat and tears that make up the Carrier911 team Jason, Shane and Nick are ready to help with your next shipment success story – Contact info@carrier911.com
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