The new edition of the Shippers Conditions Index, which was issued this week by freight transportation consultancy FTR, remained in positive territory for the fourth consecutive month, after several months of declines. FTR describes the SCI as an indicator that sums up all market influences that affect the transport environment for shippers, with a reading … Read more
United States rail carload and intermodal volumes, for the week ending September 28, were mixed, according to data issued this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Rail carloads, at 227,046, were down 3.5% annually, trailing the weeks ending September 21 and September 14, at 232,818, and 232,154, respectively. AAR reported that four of … Read more
Labor peace is now restored for 36 United States-based East and Gulf Coast ports following a brief but heightened period of uncertainty. The ports had been shut down for the better part of three days after the expiration of the previous six-year contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance … Read more
Since East and Gulf Coast port dock workers officially went on strike earlier this week, both parties—the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are continuing to make the case for their respective positions, in terms of what led to the work stoppage and what it will take to get a … Read more
The services sector continued its strong performance in September, growing for the third consecutive month, according to the latest edition of the Services ISM Report on Business, released today by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The September Services PMI, at 54.9 (a reading of 50 or higher signals growth), rose 3.4% from August, marking … Read more
As the supply chain rose in prominence around the world, so too did the scrutiny it now faces. Because of that, it should not come as a surprise that global ESG (environmental, social, governance) legislation is driving up labor violations. In fact, laws such as the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, Canada’s Modern Slavery … Read more
One day after dockworkers at 36 United States-based East and Gulf Coast ports, from Maine to Texas, officially walked off the job—when a deal between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) could not be struck by 12:01 AM ET on October 1—the National Retail Federation (NRF), in conjunction with more … Read more
Thousands of truckers, mostly independent contractors whose living is dependent upon drayage and other hauls from the nation’s ports, have been idled along with those represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA). Some 45,000 dockworkers are on strike. They have largely shut down three dozen or so ports, shutting most of Newark-New York and shipping … Read more
September manufacturing output remained in contraction territory for the sixth consecutive month, according to the new edition of the Manufacturing Report on Business, which was issued today by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The report’s benchmark reading, the PMI, at 47.2 (a reading of 50 or higher indicates growth), matched August. ISM added that … Read more
As of 12:01 AM ET this morning, roughly 14,500 union workers at 36 East and Gulf Coast ports, stretching from Maine to Texas, are on strike for the first time since 1977. This development was largely expected, especially in recent weeks. As previously reported by LM, the current six-year labor contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) … Read more
