Commerce Express Weekly Road Map:
April 23rd, 2024
Keeping you informed on the latest news/insights in our industry.
Baltimore Bridge Incident:
— A limited access channel for smaller vessels is on track to open at the end of April. This temporary channel will be 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep to the Port of Baltimore. It’s expected to restore around 15% of the original commercial activity to the port but is welcomed news to industry stakeholders.
— Since April 19th, over 1,300 tons of debris has been removed from the Patapsco River, reports say. In addition, 120 containers have been taken off the Dali – the cargo ship that collided with the bridge.
Domestic Market Updates –
- As of April 22nd, the average price of diesel was $3.992 a gallon.
- Seeing a 2.3 cent decrease from last week.
- Seeing a 2.3 cent decrease from last week.
- Container operations at the Port of Portland expected to be suspended in October as lack of state funding, financial losses keep increasing, and a search to find a permanent third-party operator have failed.
- Agricultural and seafood shippers that use the port will have to truck goods through other ports – which will increase costs – starting in October.
- The port will still handle Ro/Ro car and vehicle ops and break bulk/heavy cargo.
- BNSF moved 14% more intermodal volume through their facilities year-over-year.
- U.S. railways moved $15.6 billion in freight throughout January 2024 – this is down almost 7% from January 2023.
- South Carolina Ports saw a 17% increase in loaded imports in March, plus a 12% year-over-year increase.
- Rail moves at Inland Port Greer saw a 22% year-over-year increase.
Produce Season is Here
It’s beginning to look a lot like… produce season! Fruits and vegetables are starting to be harvested, and shipping volumes are expected to see an increase.
In the U.S., states in the south typically start this produce season in late March/April, while states in the north see produce season start more throughout the summer and early fall.
One thing to keep in mind is produce shipments need to move quickly, in order to stay fresh and not go bad. With that urgency, produce freight rates usually become more of a premium in order to secure a truck.
What to Know About CVSA Roadcheck 2024
When: This year’s Roadcheck will take place on May 14th-16th, 2024.
What: The purpose of CVSA’s International Roadcheck is to inspect commercial motor vehicles and bring awareness to compliance of regulations. It also brings awareness for those in the trucking sector of important vehicle components, such as tractor protection systems – which is one of this year’s focuses, as well as controlled substance and alcohol possession or use.
Who: Law enforcement who are certified by the CVSA set out to inspect commercial motor vehicles and drivers at various parts of the country such as weigh/inspection stations, temporary sites and mobile patrols, to make sure they follow and are following regulations.
Where: All throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Have questions? Reach out to our team today.
Commerce Blog
Over the past few years, trucking stakeholders have perceived a particular form of regulation in California as an antagonizing force against the state’s trucking industry and its some 70,000 owner-operator truck drivers.
When AB5 went into effect four years ago, the California Trucking Association (CTA) was granted an injunction which prohibited enforcement of the law onto the trucking industry. However, this ruling was eventually reversed. Since then, California trucking is now subject to AB5.
Union Pacific Opens New Direct Service, Southern California to Illinois
Earlier this month, UP launched a new service that goes between the Lance Fritz Inland Empire Intermodal Terminal in Fontana, CA and Global 2 located in Northlake, Illinois.
In their announcement, UP says transits times for east and westbound will be around 4-6 days – depending on the contracted services. They hope this new direct service will provide some shippers with lower drayage costs in both Illinois and California with “intermodal services closer to the first and final mile.”
Total Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending April 13th, 2024
- Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was up 1.5% at 466,463 carloads and intermodal units, from the same time last year – per AAR data.
- S. weekly intermodal volume also saw an increase (11%) with 258,082 containers and trailers.
- Commodities of motor vehicles and parts, petroleum and petroleum products, and farm products (excluding grain and food), all saw increases. While commodities off coal, metallic ores and metals and non-metallic minerals all saw decreases.
- In the first 15 weeks of this year, North American rail volume saw an 2.2% increase (9,789,570 carloads and intermodal units) from the same time last year.
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