Freight
In volatile markets, shippers face the dual challenge of maintaining service and controlling costs. This article points out that simply increasing the number of carriers does not guarantee reliable capacity; the key lies in the optionality provided by network scale, mode-agnostic scheduling capabilities, and network-level collaborative execution. Uber Freight's case shows that through a multi-shipper network and intelligent systems, companies can increase routing guide compliance to 97% during disruptions and achieve 96% on-time delivery during peak seasons.
Crowley has announced a new direct weekly shipping service linking Central America (Guatemala and Honduras) with Port Houston in Texas. The service aims to meet rising demand for fresh produce and other goods, with the first vessel scheduled to arrive in Houston on Sept. 10.
The traditional metrics for freight audit are the number of errors detected and the amount recovered, but the industry is shifting toward a more forward-looking question: why errors occur and how to avoid their recurrence. By integrating multi-source data such as EDI and APIs, and leveraging AI and machine learning, audit can evolve from transaction control to a preventive mechanism, ultimately forming transportation financial intelligence to support better decision-making.
The Panama Canal Authority issued a shipping advisory on August 20, announcing that due to drought issues caused by El Niño, it will reduce the daily transit slots for the Neopanamax locks from the usual 10 to 9 starting September 3, and for the Panamax locks from the usual 26 to 25 first, then further to 23 on September 15. Meanwhile, the 48-foot draft restriction originally scheduled to take effect on August 26 has been postponed to September 2, and the 47.5-foot draft restriction originally scheduled for September 3 has been postponed to October 1. The Authority stated that precipitation in the watershed during the current hydrological year (May to August) is 34% below the historical average, and El Niño in 2026-2027 may further reduce rainfall.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said at a media briefing on Tuesday that the port expects cargo volumes to grow 5% year-over-year over the next 6 to 8 months due to ongoing Red Sea conflicts and the implementation of Panama Canal draft restrictions. Although Seroka emphasized that this growth is not a commitment, the port has prepared through communication with trucking associations, terminal operators, shipping lines, and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
In response to potential drought impacts, the Panama Canal Authority recently announced the fourth and fifth rounds of draft restriction measures. As a result, multiple shipping companies including MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, and ONE have announced or updated related surcharge standards, covering routes from Asia to the US East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.
According to Sea-Intelligence's Blank Sailings Tracker report released on July 24, despite carriers continuously injecting new capacity into the market, the number of blank sailings in the first half of 2026 was up to 4.5 times higher than the same period in 2019, with actual available capacity growth significantly lagging behind nominal capacity. On the Asia to U.S. East Coast route, capacity grew by 46% while blank sailings increased by 215%, and on the U.S. West Coast route, the two metrics were 16% and 62%, respectively. Industry experts point out that the gap between physical capacity and available capacity is widening, and shippers need to readjust their supply chain expectations.
BNSF Railway announced on August 10 that it is launching a faster intermodal service from Phoenix to Dallas-Fort Worth, with transit times exceeding three days, operating six days a week. This move aims to address domestic peak season capacity demand and paves the way for the Logistics Park Phoenix facility, which is set to open in 2027.
Freightos data shows that spot rates on the Asia-to-US East Coast route hit a new high of $9,144 per FEU this week, up 1% week-over-week; West Coast route rates rose 11% week-over-week to $6,826. Despite the early start of the peak season, transpacific rates diverged from Asia-Europe routes, and the industry was surprised by the resilience of rates.
The Global Port Tracker report jointly released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates shows that container imports at major U.S. ports increased 13.2% year-over-year in June, but July is expected to see a year-over-year decline of 7.6%. Jonathan Gold, NRF's vice president for supply chain and customs policy, said that despite uncertainty from tariff policy changes, retailers have fully stocked up for the upcoming holiday season.