U.S. Jobless Claims Fall To Lowest Level Since 1973

An important measure of layoffs hit its lowest mark since the Nixon administration, a sign of increasing momentum in the labor market and a possible hint at the extent of job growth for the full month of July

June cargo traffic up 14 percent at Seattle-Tacoma ports

Cargo volume at the ports of Tacoma and Seattle jumped 14 percent in June year-over-year, according to a joint statement.

Global Logistics Properties creates $7B fund for China logistics facilities

Global Logistic Properties, the largest provider of modern logistics warehouses in China, said it aims to invest up to $7 billion in the logistics sector over the next four years, as it plans to set up its second China-focused logistics infrastructure fund with seven investors.

L.A/Long Beach port truckers strike Pacific 9 Transportation

Short haul truck drivers that haul cargo to and from the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports walked away from their jobs Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Times. The drivers are fighting to gain employee status at Pacific 9 Transportation, according to a union representative.

US truck tonnage falls on high inventory levels

Truck tonnage dropped in June, and didn’t climb as much as previously thought in May, as high inventory levels dampened truck demand, according to the American Trucking Association. (This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce.  To access, please click on the above link.)

Intermodal pricing slipped in June as US truckload rates rose

Contract truckload rates increased year-over-year and month-to-month in June, as truckload carriers benefited from shipper concerns about capacity, according to Cass Information Systems. (This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce.  To access, please click on the above link)

US freight shipments slow, shipper spending rises in June

Freight shipments within the U.S. slowed in June, rising only .02 percent from May, after climbing 2.3 percent that month, according to the latest Cass Freight index.  Freight payments by shippers rose 2.4 percent last month, compared with 1.5 percent and 1.6 percent in May and April. (This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce.  To access, please click on the above link.)

Double-digit export plunge pulls down LA total traffic

Containerized cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles declined 2 percent in June compared to June 2014, with a 10.7 percent drop in loaded export containers accounting for much of the decline. (This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce.  To access, please click on the above link.)

Industrial production rises but manufacturing flat

Industrial production ticked up 0.3% in June as the mining and utilities sectors saw a boost from an increase in crude oil extraction.

Teen truckers? Bill would drop big-rig driver age to 18

WASHINGTON (AP) — Parents may hesitate to hand teens the keys to the family car, but Congress is proposing to allow drivers as young as 18 to get behind the wheel of big rigs on the nation’s interstates.