The Weekly Freight Report for March 24th, 2022
The Top Headlines in Freight, Transportation, & Logistics from FLS Transport
The FLS Weekly Freight Report covers the week’s top news in logistics, transportation, shipping, and freight. This week’s report covers wildfires in Texas, carriers donating time and resources, Canadian railways shutting down, EV truck batteries, and congestion at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports.
- TEXAS WILDFIRE | State of Emergency declared as wildfires spread.
- CARRIER LOVE | Carriers donate resources to deliver wreaths.
- RAIL SHUTDOWN | CP shutdown will impact US-CAD agriculture markets.
- BATTERY NEWBIE? | Learn more about the batteries required in EV trucks.
- EAST COAST CLOG | Eastern and Gulf Coast ports congestion climbs.
State of Emergency declared in Texas as wildfires spread.
Approximately 60,000 acres are on fire across Texas, and Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a state of emergency.
The blaze has already destroyed 50 homes, 500 people have evacuated, and there has been one death.
The wildfire is only 30% contained, and thick smoke has impacted visibility along some major highways and interstates.
Click here to see the impacted lanes and maps of the wildfire.
Carriers donate resources to deliver wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery.
Since 2008, professional truck drivers have hauled remembrance wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery in preparation for National Wreath Laying Day. The Truckload Carriers Association works with carriers who donate their fuel, equipment, and the driver’s time to assist the organization Wreaths Across America in delivering the wreaths.
To read more on this volunteerism and see the carriers who donated their resources, click here.
To view available routes this fall or complete an interest form, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Canadian Pacific shutdown will impact US-CAD agriculture markets.
Negotiations broke down over the weekend between Canadian Pacific (CP) and the Teamsters union, triggering CP to begin a “structured shutdown” of its rail service across Canada.
With 3,000 train engineers, conductors, and yard workers not working, the US-Canadian agriculture markets will be under even more strain.
Management from both CP and Teamsters blamed each other for causing the shutdown. Details on the lockout and market impacts can be found here.
Learn more about the batteries required to run EV trucks.
EV trucks will be on the road very soon… and they do not run on AAA batteries.
The batteries required to power large trucks vary in composition and the amount required depending on the truck’s size. Many safety concerns must be worked out before EV trucks become commonplace, as these batteries can be tough to extinguish should they catch fire.
A quick guide on the types of batteries, battery chemistry, how many batteries are required to operate different-sized trucks, and much more can be found here.
Eastern and Gulf Coast ports congestion climbs.
As of last Friday morning, 63 container ships were waiting to dock off East and Gulf Coast ports with more vessels on the way.
Many of these cargo vessels are attempting to bypass the ports of LB/LA, but it seems as though they might end up playing the same waiting game regardless of port location.
It was reported that February volumes at East/Gulf Coast ports climbed 27.3% YoY.
What is causing this volume increase? Click here to find out.
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