CLIFF NOTES 

Top Logistics Headlines This Week

Domestic Freight Management

Spot Market Truckload Volume Sets Record In March, Driven By Demand For Flatbeds

Spot truckload freight availability set a new 20-year record for the DAT North American Freight Index. The 38 percent increase in volume, year over year, can be tied to increased demand for flatbed equipment. See more here.

U.S. Intermodal Volumes Up For Week Of April 7

United States intermodal containers were up 3.1% at 263,007 year-over-year. Factors that have caused increases in truckload volume have also carried over to intermodal demand. See more here.

PierPass To Adopt Appointment System And Flat Fee For OffPeak Program

PierPass will overhaul the model used by its OffPeak program for truck traffic mitigation at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. This replaces the current congestion pricing model with an appointment-based system that uses a single flat fee on both daytime and nighttime container moves. See more here.

Capacity Issues Continue At Select Chinese Ports Of Origin, Causing Delays

Please note that space issues continue at select Chinese ports of origin which is causing port congestion and delays. To minimize supply chain delays, importers are encouraged to place ocean freight bookings as far in advance as possible, with a minimum of two weeks lead time. If you have urgent shipments, please contact our team to learn more about our air freight solutions.

Canadian Rail Network Faces Possible Labor Strike

Two unions representing Canadian Pacific employees have voted in favor of a work stoppage that could begin as soon as April 21. The strike would include around 3,000 conductors and locomotive engineers, creating a significant capacity shortage at a time when railways face strong overall shipping demand. See more here.

Retail Consolidation

Walmart Eases Supplier Deadlines For Some Deliveries

Walmart will allow some suppliers to deliver a day early to its regional distribution centers. The new policy shows how widely the driver shortage has affected Walmart's supply chain. See more here.

E-Commerce: Cultivating A New Logistics Landscape

To adopt to e-commerce's growth, companies serving retail and manufacturing customers are expanding their portfolios. E-commerce has accelerated the speed that order volumes move up and down the supply chain. See more here.