Commerce Express Weekly Road Map:
March 19th, 2024
Keeping you informed on the latest news/insights in our industry.
Trucking –
- As of March 18th, the national average price of diesel is $4.028 a gallon.
- Seeing a 2.4 cent increase from last week.
- Class 8 truck orders increased in February, per ACT Research data, by 17.4% (27,700 units).
- Norfolk Southern is addressing truck congestion that has been occurring at their Landers terminal in Chicago.
- NS is working to re-engineer staffing levels and shift changes to “better align with increased gate activity.” Drivers have been frustrated with multi-hour delays in the afternoon and evening when picking up import containers reports the JOC.
Rail –
- Members on the transportation committee in the U.S. House are looking to their colleagues to help advance rail safety actions.
- This comes as efforts to pass the Railway Safety Act continues, read more here.
- Port of Huntsville – an inland port in North Alabama – moved over 27,500 rail containers last year; a 24% year-over-year increased compared to 2022.
- So far in 2024, the port has recorded 2,569 rail lifts in January: a 6% year-over-year increase from January 2023.
- So far in 2024, the port has recorded 2,569 rail lifts in January: a 6% year-over-year increase from January 2023.
Cross-Border –
Mexico:
- Major ports in Mexico moved 728,116 TEUs in January – a 20% increase from January last year.
- Mexico was the U.S. top trading partner in January. Mexico was the top trading partner for the U.S. in 2023.
- Top U.S. exports to Mexico were auto parts, passenger vehicles, and tractor-trailers and buses.
- U.S. – Mexico trade increased by 1.1 year-over-year from January last year.
Norfolk Southern Set to Launch Appointment Procedure for Truckers at their Austell (GA) Terminal
Starting Tuesday (March 18th), Norfolk Southern will require truckers to make an appointment when picking up import loads at their terminal in Austell, GA. NS is hopeful this appointment system will create a more efficient flow of cargo.
As the JOC reports, ocean containers will be put on stacks instead of transferring loads from the train to a chassis and placed into a parking spot. The use of computer software will allow appointment data to put containers that go out of the gate at the top of the stack, while putting long-dwelling containers at the bottom.
NS’s Landers terminal in Chicago is up next for implementation of this appointment system. NS hopes that if Austell and Memphis have success with this appointment procedure, that it could also help the flow of cargo in Chicago.
Hitting A Bridge/Overpass in British Columbia Could Cost Truckers Fines/Prison Time
Truckers will need to pay extra attention when going through bridges/overpasses in British Columbia.
Last week the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure announced proposed changes to a provincial law – the Commercial Transport Act (CTA) – that would allow courts to impose fines up to $100,000 and prison time up to 18 months, if convicted of these said violations, Trucker News reports.
“With these new penalties, we are taking the strongest action possible to keep our roads safe and to keep people, goods and services moving,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The push for these new legislative changes is due to 35 crashes (since late 2021) by over-height commercial vehicles. These crashes have caused expensive highway repairs, safety risks, and lengthy highway closures.
Commerce Blog
Former trucking company Yellow Corp. closed its doors back in August, but legal battles will continue to follow this once prominent industry giant into the foreseeable future. 10,000 plus claims have been filed by hundreds of companies and municipalities against Yellow in a Delaware bankruptcy court.
At the heart of many grievances is the claim that Yellow failed to provide 60-day notice to its former employees ahead of the company’s mass layoffs before its bankruptcy last summer.
Port of Brunswick Receives $6M in Funding for Harbor Investments
The Port of Brunswick, located in Georgia, is set to receive $6 million for special harbor investments at the port.
These special harbor projects are to help increase efficiency, and safety of vessel movements at the port. Part of the harbor improvement plan includes a bend widener, expansion of the turning basin, and an expanded meeting area at St. Simons Sound – the Georgia Ports Authority said in a press release.
This funding is part of Georgia’s midyear budget adjustment, which was signed into law on February 29th by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
Total Weekly U.S. Rail Traffic for the Week Ending March 9th, 2024:
- Total weekly U.S. rail traffic was 472,662 carloads and intermodal units – up 5% from the same time last year – per AAR data.
- Weekly U.S. intermodal volume was 258,077 containers and trailers saw a 13.5% increase from last year.
- Chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, and metallic ores and metals all posted increases. While coal, non-metallic minerals, and miscellaneous carloads all saw decreases from last year.
- For the first 10 weeks of this year, rail volume in North America was 6,467,217 carloads and intermodal units – seeing a 1.4% increase from 2023.
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