Transportation Executives News

One of America's top seaports is set to launch an interagency effort to provide relief to agricultural exporters who are facing shortages of export capacity and skyrocketing logistics costsThe Port of Oakland announced Monday it is launching a program that involves the use of additional yard space and equipment, restored export ship calls and assistance to agricultural export users.The port will open and operate a 25-acre off-terminal, paved container yard equipped to move containers off chassis and store them for rapid pick-up.

Surging shipments into the United States are fueling record high freight costs and logjams at seaports, but transportation executives say the rally will lose steam with a second wave of COVID-19 restrictions on the cards.Container shipping companies, which move goods for customers including Amazon.com and Walmart, got stung late last year and early this year when COVID-19 halted trade around the world, and they question whether the U.S. import boom can be sustained."Let's not get carried away," Rolf Habben Jansen, chief executive of Germany's Hapag Lloyd, told reporters.

A U.S.-China tit-for-tat over tariffs hasn’t dampened cargo volume growth at the Port of Oakland. In fact, the Port is on track for its third straight year of record container volume in 2018, stated the Port authorities.But can it last? That’s the question supply chain experts pondered this week at the quarterly meeting of the Port’s Efficiency Task Force. Forty trade and transportation executives ranging from longshore labor representatives to cargo owners gathered to discuss trade dynamics. Their consensus: cargo volume is spiking right now but could drop by January.“We’re peaking,” said a major U.S. West Coast freight forwarder, “but it may not go on much longer.”Here were the trends noted by Task Force members assembled in Oakland: Warehouses are filling up as U.S.

International transport and logistics executives are increasingly benchmarking their companies’ costs and supplier terms in ocean transport contracts, according to data gathered by Drewry Supply Chain Advisors. In the past 6 months, the ocean transport spend under carrier contracts benchmarked by Beneficial Cargo Owners via the Drewry Benchmarking Club global initiative increased by 50%, to $2.2 billion; the number of benchmarked routes rose by 81% and the volume of benchmarked dry container teu jumped by 67%. FMCG companies and retailers are generally ahead of industrial manufacturers when it comes to using benchmarking to negotiate contracts.

Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the transportation and logistics industry remained steady during the fourth quarter of 2014 according to Intersections, a quarterly analysis of global deal activity in the transportation and logistics industry by PwC US. However activity for the whole year was relatively weak, finishing near 10-year lows. “M&A activity in the fourth quarter remained consistent with the subdued levels we witnessed throughout 2014, however, we are cautiously optimistic regarding 2015 as the recovery in many advanced economies continues,” said Jonathan Kletzel, U.S. transportation and logistics leader for PwC. “The U.S. economy remains strong and a strong U.S. dollar makes acquisitions by U.S. players cheaper for offshore targets.

Trucking, rail and port panelists will explore the benefits of improving America’s intermodal freight transportation system. On May 13, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President and CEO Kurt Nagle will join forces with CEOs representing trucking, railroad and other transportation interests who will offer a host of oftentimes startling facts, surprising statistics and unique stories about the value of investing in our nation’s freight transportation infrastructure in Washington D.C.

The forecasts and business strategies of carriers and manufacturers of transport-oriented capital goods indicate the industry is bracing for an era of higher energy prices and increased regulations, according to 'Transportation Outlook', a study conducted by Forbes Insights on behalf of CIT Transportation Finance. “This study highlights the fact that transportation executives are preparing for a future of uncertainty, both in terms of fuel prices and regulations,” said Jeff Knittel , President of CIT Transportation Finance . Fuel prices and rising energy costs are impacting the global economy: More than eight out of 10 (81%) executives say uncertainty surrounding energy policies is hampering global economic recovery.

Retired Col. Steve Miles to lead David Evans’ federal group. PORTLAND, Ore. – Sept. 7, 2011 – Steve Miles has joined David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA) as vice president and federal market team leader. Miles recently capped a distinguished 26-year career with the Army. He was most recently commander and district engineer for the Portland District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which has one of the most comprehensive and diversified civil works programs in the U.S. He is a decorated veteran and has served domestically in Oregon…

Maritime Administrator Capt. William G. Schubert has designated two educational organizations as National Maritime Enhancement Institutes (NMEI). They are the Consortium for Navigation Support and Analysis (CNSA) at Marshall University in Huntington, WV, and the Global Maritime and Transportation School (GMATS) at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. The CNSA, under the direction of the Nick J. Rahall II Appalachian Transportation Institute at Marshall University, is composed of six academic, research and professional organizations. It addresses maritime policy and implementation issues critical to efficient functioning of the industry through workforce training programs tailored for inland navigation…