THE threat of a US east and Gulf coast dock strike from October 1 is impacting trucking networks, pushing more to anticipate responses to a work stoppage, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.
Drayage and trucking firms this week are 'pre-pulling' containers from eastern and southern US ports, shipping some containers east-to-west on intermodal trains and looking for space to transload and store goods and containers. Rising outbound spot truckload volumes from ports are expected to tighten capacity.
If the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) stops work along the east and Gulf coasts for more than four days, 'that would jolt the trucking industry onto a track for [pricing] recovery,' said Jeffrey Tucker, CEO of Tucker Company Worldwide, a freight management and brokerage firm near Philadelphia.
Truckload spot rates have been bouncing along the bottom they hit last year for most of 2024. Contract rates appear to have arrested their downslide, and there are signs rates could turn up again, perhaps in the fourth quarter but more likely in 2025, according to most forecasters. But an ILA strike, especially a longer one, could reset expectations.
Customers concerned about strike impact of the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) deadlocked over a new master contract covering East and Gulf coast dockworkers.
Wage increases and terminal automation are the two primary stumbling blocks. ILA President Harold Daggett has said the union will not agree to an extension once its contract expires.
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Drayage and trucking firms this week are 'pre-pulling' containers from eastern and southern US ports, shipping some containers east-to-west on intermodal trains and looking for space to transload and store goods and containers. Rising outbound spot truckload volumes from ports are expected to tighten capacity.
If the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) stops work along the east and Gulf coasts for more than four days, 'that would jolt the trucking industry onto a track for [pricing] recovery,' said Jeffrey Tucker, CEO of Tucker Company Worldwide, a freight management and brokerage firm near Philadelphia.
Truckload spot rates have been bouncing along the bottom they hit last year for most of 2024. Contract rates appear to have arrested their downslide, and there are signs rates could turn up again, perhaps in the fourth quarter but more likely in 2025, according to most forecasters. But an ILA strike, especially a longer one, could reset expectations.
Customers concerned about strike impact of the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) deadlocked over a new master contract covering East and Gulf coast dockworkers.
Wage increases and terminal automation are the two primary stumbling blocks. ILA President Harold Daggett has said the union will not agree to an extension once its contract expires.
SeaNews Turkey
