Eastern Shipping Worldwide’s Post

PORTS: Norfolk Southern will shutter international intermodal service from South Carolina Ports and Georgia Ports Authority to Chicago, Cincinnati, and Louisville, effective mid-March. While CSX remains an option for importers using Charleston and Savannah to Chicago, Cincinnati, and Louisville, it is a blow to GPA's Mid-America Arc initiative. But the numbers show that the Savannah to Chicago route never really caught on with beneficial cargo owners — it never was able to win share from The Port of Virginia and The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. In this article, Shawn Tureman explains how Norfolk Southern can repurpose the resources to other high-volume lanes, such as Savannah-Charleston to Atlanta or Memphis. He also said that if the port authorities can build density to the Midwest in the future, then NS would re-institute service. https://lnkd.in/e-cTKUz3

The 70s corridor is a key part of the national freight distribution system, spanning over 2,150 miles and connecting the Midwest to both coasts. The Bi-State region relies heavily on this essential corridor of interstates as a crucial transportation thoroughfare, with numerous companies having locations on both sides of the Mississippi River and conducting business with suppliers and customers across state lines. This results in a constant flow of goods and materials.   The corridor is adjacent to St. Louis Lambert International Airport, making it an ideal location for freight distribution, and boasts convenient access to two regional airports. The location’s easy access to major highways, interstates, six Class I railroads, and water transportation networks makes it a strategic location for companies looking to move goods efficiently and cost-effectively. Click the map to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g54xDVwa

Appt systems sound great from rail ramp perspective. But. I'm betting appts for pick ups cannot be made without a pick up #? Ocean carriers generally (with some exceptions) do not issue pick up #'s until cargo is 'arrived' at ramp (how timely will NS be with updating status to 'arrived'? Will they back date the time?). This makes 8 things need to happen in a very short time frame to pick up by LFD: status updated by NS/status received by ocean carrier/ pu# issued / pu # received by importer/pu# sent to dray provider/appt requested / cntr grounded based on appt/ cntr pick up. What's a reasonable timeframe for all 8 of those to happen? Systems are slow, people are out, pick up #'s are late, and this inevitably will lead to delay/missed appts - no appts/cntrs not in the right place at the right time = increased costs through demurrage/driver wait time etc. The rail/ramp is in the business of managing container positions to optimize their operations/costs, not to help you avoid demurrage. They will happily take the storage/demurrage revenue when the above steps take too much time and you can't pull by LFD.

The past, the present, and most importantly, the future of Norfolk Southern is what I had the privilege of talking about during my conversation with Chris Clark, CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, at the Southeast Association of Rail Shippers (SEARS) of Rail Shippers Spring Meeting in Atlanta. As I told Chris, last year, we began implementing our new strategic vision, A Better Way. It’s a pivot from focusing only on short-term gains to driving long-term value for our customers, our employees, our shareholders, and the communities we serve. Our approach balances safe and reliable service, continuous productivity improvement and smart growth.  The entire NS team is working together to enhance our safety culture, and we’re stronger because of it. As a result, we delivered industry leading improvements, and our mainline accident rate was down 42% last year. Our powerful franchise is built for growth, and we’re delivering. We see immense opportunities in evolving market demands, driven by trends like e-commerce, manufacturing, and sustainability. It’s all part of our vision as we chart A Better Way for #NorfolkSouthern and the rail industry. We’re building a stronger, more resilient future for rail transportation. Watch our full conversation at https://lnkd.in/efyc59pB.

♦ Norfolk Southern Cuts Intermodal Service to Some Cities, Reroutes Traffic to Others In a move to optimize its network and focus on high-demand markets, Norfolk Southern (NS) announced that it will stop intermodal service to Birmingham, Alabama; and New Orleans on Feb. 19, affecting both domestic and international cargo. The railroad also said it will reroute some traffic between Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Missouri, and Tennessee, starting from Feb. 12. The changes are part of NS’s long-term strategy to improve efficiency and profitability, as well as to cope with the challenges posed by the import surge and longer dwell times at its terminals. According to Ari Ashe, Senior Editor at the JOC.com, a leading industry publication, NS plans to convert all its international intermodal terminals to ground container facilities by 2023, which will allow it to stack more boxes and keep the cargo flowing. These developments have significant implications for importers and exporters who rely on intermodal transportation to move their goods across the US. Depending on their origin and destination, they may face longer transit times, higher costs, or reduced capacity. To navigate these changes and find the best solutions for their supply chain needs, they can benefit from the expertise and services of John S. James Co., a U.S. Customs Broker and Freight Forwarder with over 80 years of experience. Visit johnsjames.com to learn more. #NorfolkSouthern #Intermodal #SupplyChain #JournalOfCommerce #JOC #Birmingham #Alabama #NewOrleans #Pennsylvania #NewJersey #Ohio #Missouri #Tennessee

What's going on in the world of intermodal transport? 🚆 Norfolk Southern Railway is adjusting its intermodal services, ceasing operations to Birmingham, AL, and New Orleans on Feb. 19 due to low volumes. The changes also involve rerouting traffic between various cities, aiming to optimize efficiency. See more: https://loom.ly/jtoNi5g #NorfolkSouthern #Intermodal #LogisticsChanges 🛤️🚚

Big news from the Georgia Ports Authority. They're investing in supply chain efficiency with a new rail terminal, the Blue Ridge Connector. This is a significant boost for economic development, particularly in manufacturing and supply chain operations. For those of us in logistics, it underscores the growing need for a skilled, efficient workforce. Kudos to everyone working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this a reality. Well done! 👏 👏 Check out the full article in the comments for more insights. #SupplyChain #EconomicDevelopment #WorkforcePlanning #Logistics #WillSeel

The significance of technology in the trucking and logistics sector is highlighted even more following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The efficiency and safety of operations heavily rely on this technology. Baltimore bridge collapse puts low-clearance tech in focus https://buff.ly/497pjH2?

PORT OF BALTIMORE: Some context I can give on the intermodal rail impact on the Key Bridge collapse outside the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. CSX handles a vast majority of international intermodal volume out of the port, and pretty much all of it goes to Chicago. Norfolk Southern has a minor presence. Based on my analysis with Andrew Hooser -- about 3,000 pier containers move from Baltimore to Chicago and from Chicago to Baltimore. For reference, about 100,000 to 130,000 pier container imports go from The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and The Port of Virginia to Chicago per year and about 50,000 to 75,000 pier container exports from Chicago. So in a horrible, horrible situation, our data shows that the rail impact should be minimal and I believe the two other ports can handle re-routing in terms of rail volume. For further reference, my analysis of Intermodal Association of North America data suggests about 500 ocean containers moved from Baltimore to Chicago last month vs. 11,000 to 14,000 ocean containers from NY/NJ and about 6,500 to 8,500 from Virginia.

INTERMODAL: A pair of announcements from Union Pacific Railroad in the last 24 hours. Union Pacific will expanded its international intermodal service from Port Houston to Chicago, Memphis and Kansas City. Union Pacific will also be opening up a new international intermodal terminal in Phoenix. In Phoenix, the idea is to convert some of the drays running between Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach and Phoenix every day and also address how #CARB regulations on zero-emission vehicles will likely raise trucking costs in the upcoming years, making the rail more price competitive. Plus, I think UP is banking on the idea of BCOs gradually moving their distribution centers into Arizona and Nevada to avoid the regulatory environment in California. Lots of moving pieces, as captured by Michael Angell.