Shipper size matters in port diversification choice

The surge in cargo volume that major U.S. East Coast container ports have experienced this year at the expense of their West Coast counterparts has come mostly from large shippers because smaller companies can’t afford to alter their supply chain network, according to one logistics expert.

New customer clearance process to speed US-Mexico intermodal shipping

Certain shippers tapping southbound U.S. – Mexico intermodal services offered by Schneider National won’t have to wait on protracted clearance processes at the border, thanks to new streamlined customs processes announced Tuesday. (This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce.  To access, please click on the above link.)

Intermodal infrastructure investments featured on CNBC

Demand for freight transportation is expected to rise sharply in the coming decades. The Federal Highway Administration estimates total U.S. freight shipments will rise to 28.5 billion tons in 2040 — a 45 percent increase from 20121. As demand grows, intermodal rail will play a critical role in the current and future freight transportation landscape.

Demand for rail service should continue to grow

In reporting weekly U.S. rail traffic as well as volumes for August 2015 and the first eight months of 2015, the Association of American Railroads said that traffic is beginning to show some signs of growth.

Truck safety and new technology: What the Future Holds for Fleets and Drivers

Heavy truck accidents account for 3,800 fatal crashes a year, 3,900 deaths annually, 100,000 injuries, and 13% of all traffic fatalities. That’s according to Daniel Blower, an associate research scientist at the University of Michigan’s transportation Research Institute.

U.S. Construction Spending Hits a New Postrecession High

U.S. construction spending rose to the highest level in more than seven years in July, suggesting that the housing market and business investment can help underpin economic growth amid turbulence outside American borders.  (This article requires a subscription with The Wall Street Journal.  To access, please click on the above link.)

U.S. Oil widens distribution and supply footprint with Indianapolis terminal acquisition

Appleton, Wis.- U.S. Oil, the petroleum and renewable energy distribution division of U.S. Venture, Inc., announced today that it has acquired a refined products terminal in Indianapolis, Indiana. The new terminal adds 410,000 barrels of capacity and expands U.S. Oil’s existing distribution network to 21 terminals in North America.

CMA CGM Callisto, largest container ship ever to call Puget Sound, arrives at Terminal 18

Heralding the larger ships cascading into the trans-Pacific trade, the CMA CGM Callisto, the largest container ship ever to call Puget Sound, arrived Tuesday at Terminal 18 in Seattle.

U.S. Productivity Increases at 3.3% Pace in Second Quarter

WASHINGTON—U.S. worker productivity advanced this spring, reflecting a bounce back in economic activity following a slow start to 2015. (This article requires a subscription with The Wall Street Journal.  To access, please click on the above link.)

Eastbound trans-Pacific spot rates fall to 45-month low

Just days before trans-Pacific ocean carriers aim to implement aggressive general rate increases on eastbound services to North America, average spot rates from Shanghai to the U.S. hit their lowest level in almost four years. (This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce.  To access, please click on the above link.)