A year ago, congestion at West Coast ports pushed shippers east. Now, that trend might reverse. Glenn Taylor
reports that the current contract for East Coast port dockworkers doesn’t expire until the end of September 2024, but the union representing them has made it clear: Members should prepare to go on strike next October.
“With 2024 still expected to be a relatively slow market, the chaos this would create is less than what it would have been if a strike were on the table a year ago. Shippers and BCOs will need to take into account the potential long lead times as they chart out their risk and supply chain network in 2024.” — Glenn Koepke, GM of Network Collaboration, FourKites
While rerouting shipments to the West Coast is an option, there’s a chance it’s not all smooth sailing. Peter Tirschwell at Journal of Commerce
points out that if the decline in shipments reverses and the long-term growth trend resumes in 1H 2024, additional pressure will come to bear on the West Coast.
Even though the turkey’s still in the freezer, retailers have been offering hot deals since the beginning of the month to stretch out the holiday shopping season. Whether you sell sweaters, screwdrivers or sugarplums, FourKites’ Mark Delaney
After a year of record-setting temperatures, sustainability continues to be a priority for many companies. But where do they start? Chris Cunnane at Logistics Viewpoints
Speaking of climate change, as Panama continues to grapple with the worst drought in 73 years, the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) plans to reduce the number of booking slots to just 18 beginning February 1. FourKites’ Glenn Koepke
