Pre-Peak Season Shipping Activity Stresses Import Volumes

Pre-retail peak season shipping activity has brought moderate volume increases to most markets, but a lack of equipment has stressed import volumes at origin, according to the ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index from ITS Logistics.

Blue Planet Studio Adobe Stock 460331017
Blue Planet Studio AdobeStock_460331017

Pre-retail peak season shipping activity has brought moderate volume increases to most markets, but a lack of equipment has stressed import volumes at origin, according to the ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index from ITS Logistics. In addition, due to the overseas import origin equipment shortages, shippers are having to book into new North American entry points outside of their current supply chain network.

“Despite having a lack of equipment, North American inland transportation is still not experiencing significant operational challenges as a result,” says Paul Brashier, VP of global supply chain for ITS Logistics. “That said, as it relates to North American entry points, the equipment shortages are causing shippers some moderate disruption this month. This is especially true in the last 7-10 days of July. Volumes should increase as we move into August and peak volumes move from docks at import origin to the U.S.”

 

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“Labor disruptions have the potential to adversely affect operations in the U.S. and Canada,” adds Brashier. “As of now, there is not a high probability of a prolonged strike on the US East/Gulf Coast and Canada, but the threat of a strike is causing shippers to move their booking pairings back to the West Coast to avoid both regions.”

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