1409 words 6 minute read – Let’s do this!
Welcome to 2025, back to reality and a whole lot of weather drama. It is winter after all!
Interesting events are still transpiring within the industry, especially as the U.S. is about to enter into a new administration. Policy changes that could affect the market could be in store for the next 4 years, so we encourage you to subscribe to the Port X Logistics LLC LinkedIn page for more helpful industry information and up to date news and solutions for your supply chain, and to get on the list for this weekly Market Update Newsletter and future industry related news sent direct to your inbox email Marketing@portxlogistics.com
The East and Gulf coast port strike slated to start next week looks set to be called off – Last night, despite much speculation to the contrary, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) came to a ‘tentative’ agreement – on all items – on a new six-year master contract. The two sides have agreed to continue under the current contract until the union can meet with its wage scale committee to schedule a ratification vote, and the USMX members can review and agree the terms of the new contract.
“We are pleased to announce that ILA and USMX have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year ILA-USMX master contract, subject to ratification, thus averting any work stoppage on January 15th,” the two sides said in a joint statement. “This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coast ports – making them safer and more efficient and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.”
“This is a win-win agreement that creates ILA jobs, supports American consumers and businesses, and keeps the American economy the key hub of the global marketplace,” the parties said.
News outlets are still receiving reports that negotiations are still a little shaky, with the already-agreed wage rise back on the table in exchange for less automation. The USMX and ILA said they would not disclose details of the deal until all the members of both parties had reviewed and approved.
(Click here to read)
A pair of massive wildfires spread in Los Angeles from the east and west were still burning unchecked early on Thursday, two days after they ignited, but firefighting crews made progress overnight in controlling a smaller blaze burning in the hills overlooking Hollywood Boulevard. The Palisades fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city’s western flank and the Eaton fire in the east near Pasadena are already the most destructive in Los Angeles history, burning nearly 28,000 acres.
The National Weather Service extended Red Flag warnings – issued when the risk for fire is high due to low humidity, high winds and warm temperatures – for Los Angeles and Ventura counties through 6 p.m. Friday. Humidity will remain at 10% to 20% through Friday, falling to bone-dry single digits at times. Winds are expected to be 40 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 mph through the day and into Friday, the agency said, less than the 100-mile-per-hour gusts that fed the blazes earlier this week but still strong. The fires struck at an especially vulnerable time for Southern California, which has not seen significant rainfall for months. Then came the powerful Santa Ana winds, bringing dry desert air from the east toward the coastal mountains, fanning wildfires while blowing over the hilltops and down through the canyons. The ignition sources for these fires have yet to be determined.
Parts of Texas and the Southern U.S are getting hit with yet another winter storm. The winter storm will hit central and northern Texas with 1-6i inches of snow. Pockets of snowfall from 6-12 inches are expected to hit north of Dallas, Texas; to Arkansas, Tennessee and eastern North Carolina through Friday. The National Weather Service reported a wintry mix of mostly sleet and rain would grow in intensity, with the highest impacts expected Thursday evening in the Dallas-Fort Worth area The city and surrounding areas have been advised to avoid traveling on roadways due to the snow and ice accumulations. Power outages remain a concern as ice could cause local utility outages.
“Some impacts are widespread closures, treacherous travel, scattered power outages, and downed branches expected from the Red River Valley and southern Ozarks through the Lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, and Southern Appalachians,” reported the National Weather Service on Thursday morning. “Some of the heaviest snowfall will be over the Tennessee Valley which will be 6 inches on Friday.”
Whenever supply chain disturbances directly affect the market like weather, remember Port X Logistics can play a role in helping to improve the flow of your supply chain – We are 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 up 4.68% from this week from last week – with the highest volumes coming into Long Beach at 22.9%, Los Angeles at 19.6% and Newark at 12.2%. Seasonal volumes coupled with winter weather has caused a spike in the U.S. truckload spot rate market. The new rate differential reported by DAT Freight & Analytics, a measure of the difference between new dry-van contract rates and the rates they replace, was –0.7% in the week that ended January 6th. That figure has been moving up or down about 1% for several months.
“We haven’t seen a significant shift in shipper pricing power,” Dean Croke, principal analyst for DAT, told the JOC Wednesday. “Replacement contract rates aren’t increasing, but they’re getting closer to parity. We’re at this point of equilibrium.”
Shippers have told DAT they are receiving “slight” increases in annual contract bids. They are telling the Journal of Commerce much the same, claiming annual truckload contract rates in bids are either flat or up only by low single-digit percentages. Click here for the full story.
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: Do you want to learn 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 operation has plenty of drayage capacity with the addition of 11 new drivers and a huge amount of warehouse capabilities for ongoing transloading projects. Contact letsgetrolling@portxlogistics.com for capacity and great drayage and warehouse
LA/LGB: Rail dwell time has improved, likely due to holiday slowdowns, current rail dwell time is 5.2 days.
The threat of an East and Gulf Coast Port strike may have been tentatively subsided, but container volumes are still strong in the LA/LGB Ports – We have immediate capacity to pull your LA/LGB containers for transload, capacity is tendered to on a first come first serve basis. contact letsgetrolling@portxlogistics.com
Did you know? The countdown to Empire State Ride 2025 is on, and we’re getting excited for another impactful year! Riders from all over the country will take on the 7-day journey from Staten Island to Niagara Falls, pushing through 500+ miles to raise funds and awareness for cancer research. As longtime sponsors, we’re proud to cheer them on as they cross the finish line—right near our Buffalo HQ!
SONAR Import Data Images
