Resources
Aug 2023 Local and Industry Updates
After a 5 week disruption from the Canadian West Coast port labour dispute, the backlog is slowly getting cleared. Here’s the latest on what is happening in the industry for empty containers.
Local Updates: Regular Operations while ILWU Members Vote July 27 and 28
Things are very fluid with the West Coast port workers strike that started July 1. Here’s the latest on what is happening in the industry for empty containers.
July 2023 Industry Updates
Here's a few important articles we've read recently, including the latest on the B.C. port strike.
ILWU Canada Issues 72-Hour Strike Notice
ILWU Canada issued 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The dockworkers are prepared to start striking at 8:00am on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Patrick Lo on Maximizing Container Efficiency (Let's Talk Supply Chain Podcast)
On Tuesday, Trakking CEO and Founder Patrick Lo was a special guest on Let's Talk Supply Chain's Thoughts and Coffee weekly show with Sarah Barnes-Humphrey. They discuss how Trakking brings predictability and precision to container management and the importance of working together to remove waste from our shared supply chains.
Local Updates: Export Rates Drop, West Coast 20' Shortages, and Eastern Rail Depots operating 24/7
Shipping volumes continue to be low. With poor Q1 earnings, shipping lines continue to increase blank sailings. Export rates have fallen drastically, to the point that sometimes drayage rates are higher than ocean rates.
June 2023 Industry Updates
Here's a few important industry articles we've read recently, including a potential truckers' boycott on Florida, poor first quarter financials, and truckload rates bottoming out.
Local Updates: GTA Rail, Low 20' in Vancouver, and Increase in Exports
KPCP and CN Rail are accepting more empties in GTA, there's a shortage of 20' containers in Vancouver, and export volumes are increasing.
April 2023 Industry Updates
Here are a few important industry articles we have read recently about CPKC, Delta Port expansion, CBSA labour disputes, LA-LB dockworker job action, West Coast dockworker contract talks, and Port of Montreal job action.
March 2023 Industry Updates
Here are a few important industry articles we have read recently, regarding a new rail & barge network, carbon offsetting in shipping, schedule reliability, a potential CN strike, 100% eBL, and mobile robots in warehouses.
Equipment Update: Import Volumes Remain Low
Import volumes into Canada remain low and shipping companies continue with blank sailings. Equipment shortages persist in the West Coast. Industry experts are predicting that the entire first half of 2023 will remain slow, with improvements coming during the second half of 2023.
Equipment Update: Import Volumes Low, Shortage of 20-foot Containers in the West
Import volumes into Canada continue to be down and shipping lines have continued with their blank sailings. Recent storms and heavy snow in the East Coast has impacted the repositioning of containers to the West Coast. There currently is a shortage of 20-foot containers.
Equipment Update: West Coast Available, Inland Shortage, and East Coast Oversupply
Although the West Coast had sufficient equipment at container depots over the last 4 weeks, things have taken a turn for the worse recently. Vessel delays in December are slowing down empty container turnover in Vancouver, and there are minimal empty containers available at off-docks.
Empty Container Shortages Due to Reduced Imports
The shipping industry is feeling the impacts of what many expect to be an upcoming recession. People in North America are buying less. Imports have decreased, which has led to shortages of empty containers.
New York port truckers press FMC for emergency order
Ocean carriers, marine terminals must share more accurate container storage data, companies urge FMC
Container gateways evolving from cargo ports to data portals
Data portal projects are already well under way at the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam, Los Angeles, New York-New Jersey, and Baltimore.