Commerce Express Weekly Road Map:

November 12th, 2024 

Keeping you informed on the latest news/insights in our industry.

I-40 Projected to Reopen Between North Carolina and Tennessee by New Year’s Day

Optimistic news, Interstate 40 (between North Carolina and Tennessee) is expected to reopen by New Year’s Day, though travel through the Pigeon River Gorge will be slower than usual, according to the North Carolina DOT.

In late September, Hurricane Helene washed away over a mile of eastbound lanes, leaving traffic to be rerouted on the westbound side, with one lane in each direction. These lanes will be 11 feet wide – one foot narrower than the standard – so the speed limit will be reduced to 40 MPH. It has not been determined how long these conditions will last until they get a more permanent solution.

The reopening depends on when the contractors can finish stabilizing the westbound lanes and installing a concrete barrier. The completion deadline for this $8.5 million stabilization project is January 4th.

Commerce Blog

An example of cargo theft’s beguiling makeover is the fictitious pickup—a scheme where cargo is stolen by fraudulent means, like a truck driver using phony identification or a fictious business posing as a real trucking company hired to haul a load.

In fact, fictious pickups have become a more popular form of cargo theft in the trucking industry. According to theft solutions provider CargoNet there were 127 more cases of fictious pickups in 2023 compared to 2022.

While it’s still necessary to lock warehouses and trucks, supply chain professionals must also safeguard their supply chains from a newer, more sophisticated, digital form of theft.

Click the button below to read more ways to mitigate fictious pickups.

[Labor] Work stoppage at Canada ports:

Vancouver/Prince Rupert – Current work stoppage at the port began on Nov. 4th, and according to a Nov. 7th press release, the union and the BCMEA were scheduled to meet on Saturday, Nov. 9th. Ports that are directly impacted are BCMEA member terminals where the union is employed at. Some rail embargoes are in place, see your specific railway for more details.

Montreal – per the longshoremen’s union, they have rejected a final offer by their employers (Maritime Employers Association). This in turn led the MEA to issue a worker lockout, as they said they had no other option. As the AJOT reports, with this lockout starting, only essential services not relating to longshoring will continue at the Port of Montreal.

Intermodal: Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CSX will launch a new intermodal service linking Mexico to the Southeastern U.S starting December 1st, per the JOC. This service will compete against another similar service that was launched last year in October by Ferromex and Union Pacific.

Cybersecurity: TSA has put forward a proposed rule that would impose cybersecurity risk management and reporting requirements on specific freight and passenger railroads, along with rail transportation systems.

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