Trucking –

• As of December 18^th, the national average price of diesel is $3.894.
  • Dropping 9.3 cents compared to the week prior.
• Class 8 sales drop in November – for the fourth consecutive month
• Port of Los Angeles is planning to add a near-dock chassis facility and container storage yard
  • This facility will be used for storing, maintaining and repairing chassis. Plus, a temporary storage yard for empty containers.
• Over 1,100 union workers at DHL express are on strike at a Cincinnati air cargo hub – since Dec. 7^th.
  • Update: as of December 15^th – members of Local 100 in a variety of U.S. cities have refused to cross picket lines by CVG workers
  • DHL says they will not resume bargaining until January

Rail –

• U.S. Customs Border Protection has halted freight rail operations at two Texas ports of entry Freightwaves reports.
• Surface Transportation Board has extended the deadline – to December 20^th – on feedback for its proposed rule on reciprocal switching.
• Union Pacific is expanding their on-dock rail service at Port Houston – including access to four more inland markets
• Georgia Ports Authority approves $127 million for building the Blue Ridge Connector – an inland rail terminal
  • This new terminal will serve a variety of industries such as consumer goods, heavy equipment, food, and forest products.

Cross-border –

Canada:

• Contract talks out at the Port of Montreal appear to have stalled, as a deadline for a potential strike looms (would not be earlier than January 4^th).
  • The dockworkers union chief negotiator cites the maritime employers have yet to make an offer on a new pay package, as the reason for the stall.
  • Shippers are ‘urging’ the Canadian government to get involved in avoiding a potential strike.

Mexico:

• In the third quarter of 2023, Mexico averaged 57 thefts per day from cargo trucks, per Overhaul.  
  • Food and drinks, miscellaneous goods, and building and industrial materials remained the top three most stolen product types.