ILWU Announces Tentative Agreement on Key Issues in Port Union Contract
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) announced on April 20th, that a tentative agreement had been reached with the PMA on some key issues and that negotiations were continuing on the West Coast Port Union Contract, which expired in July 2022. The Port of Long Beach had temporarily suspended operations at 4 Terminals on April 6-7th, when an insufficient number of ILWU cargo handling workers failed to report to work, which has been characterized as an unofficial job action. The ILWU experienced a setback on April 6th when a National Labor Relations Board panel ruled in favor of a Seattle Marine Terminal Operator in a union jurisdictional dispute with the IAM (Int. Assoc. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers). The case is expected to proceed through the U.S. Courts. Uncertainty of union contract negotiations has contributed to Shipper diversion of imports from West Coast Ports to East and Gulf Coast Ports and a significant decline of cargo volumes at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Read more
EPA Approves CA Advanced Clean Truck Zero Emissions Vehicle Regulations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has regulatory authority over U.S. Truck emission standards per the Clean Air Act, granted a waiver to the State of California to implement stricter regulations, which are part of the CA Air Resources Board (CARB) Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) rule. The rule requires Truck sales of 40% Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Class 8 Tractors by 2035, in a phased-in approach beginning in 2024. Trucking Industry groups have voiced concern over the cost and availability of Class 8 ZEVs and charging infrastructure. The Truck & Engine Manufacturers Assoc. issued the following statement on March 31st: “We remain concerned that limiting manufacturers’ lead time to produce compliant vehicles will present significant challenges. Adequate lead time, regulatory stability, and the necessary zero-emission recharging and refueling infrastructure are imperative for manufacturers to develop, build, and sell customer-acceptable, effective products capable of meeting CARB’s zero-emission vehicle sales mandates”. Read more
Truck Charging Station Start-Up Receives Backing from Amazon & CBRE
Forum Mobility, an Oakland CA start-up providing Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Trucks and Charging Stations, has received the financial backing of Amazon and the Industrial Real Estate firm CBRE. Forum has plans to build a comprehensive network of charging stations for Heavy-Duty Trucks, beginning with locations linked to the Ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach and Oakland, including the inland empire. Nine charging station locations, with a total of 724 chargers are scheduled to be online by 2025. Long Beach drayage company Hight Logistics was the first company to receive on-site fast chargers and leased BYD, Volvo, and Kenworth all-electric Class-8 Trucks last year. Matt LeDucq, CEO, of Forum Mobility states “Today we can provide a Class 8 electric truck, and all its charging needs, at a monthly price that’s competitive with diesel – without the emissions”. Read more
STB Approves Merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Railroads
The U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) approved the combination of the Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KSC) Railroads on March 15, 2023. With the 2021 $31 billion acquisition of KCS, the CP will operate as the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Railroad, headquarterd in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The combined railroad network of 20,000 miles of rail provides rail access from the Pacific Port of Vancouver to Atlantic Canada through the U.S. to Mexico’s Pacific Container Port at Lazaro Cardenas . The railroad access to these Ports will provide U.S. Container importers additonal options wanting to avoid congested U.S. Ports of Entry. Read more
CMA CGM Activates its Air Cargo Partnership with Air France-KLM Airlines
CMA CGM, the 3rd largest Ocean Carrier, announced the activation of its air cargo partnership with Air France-KLM Airlines. The France-based companies will jointly market and operate their combined freighter capacity and air networks. The combined offerings give customers greater choice in destinations and improved transit times and flexibility by utilizing the freighter and passenger belly space of the airlines. The top three Ocean Carriers: MSC, Maersk, and CMA CGM now offer integrated air cargo to complement their maritime container services. Read more
Third-Party Logistics Firm FMI Acquires Canada-Based SDR Distribution
Third-Party Logistics Provider NFI, Camden, NJ, announced its acquisition of SDR Distribution, headquartered in Ontario, Canada. SDR hosts a Client base in excess of 100 customers with over 1,000 vendors and a footprint in excess of 2 million sq. ft. of fulfillment centers in Canada and the U.S. Glenn Nicodemus, CEO of SDR, stated: “The acquisition of NFI will bring added value to our customer relationships since SDR prides itself on being an expert in the fashion and apparel industry”. The acquisition of SDR expands NFI’s warehousing and distribution presence in Canada to 4.5 million sq. ft and NFI’s total U.S. and Canada warehousing footprint to more than 70 million sq. ft. Read more