LM    Topics     Transportation    Ports

Ports: Stable service through uncertain times

Learn about the 34th Annual Quest for Quality Award winners for global Port Authorities


Like so many of the links that make up the global supply chain, the North American ports continue to do their best to operate under the specter of consistent change—pressures that are often dictated by forces out of their control.

“Over the many year’s I’ve covered this market segment, port authorities are always being told to prepare for the uncertain,” says executive editor Patrick Burnson. “Each year there seems to be a new herculean challenge, and then it’s hurry up and wait.”

The latest of these massive challenges was the preparation for the expanded Panama Canal locks that went into operation in mid-2016. According to industry analysts, the impact of that development has yet to be fully measured.

In the meantime, Burnson reports that massive capital improvements at the nation’s ports continue to center on capacity enhancements to accommodate larger container ships being routed through Panama—and for the even more massive “mega” vessels on all-water routes.

While labor issues have been somewhat stable around the U.S., port authorities now also have to monitor renegotiated trade agreements and newly implemented tariffs being pushed through by the Trump administration, moves that could result in changes to import and export volumes.

“And don’t forget, the U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership may adversely affect cargo volumes across all of the nation’s ports,” adds Burnson. “But again, we won’t know the full effects of these moves for quite some time.”

Through all of this preparation for an uncertain future, LM readers tell us that these North American ocean gateways continue to step up with world class service despite a still unsettled global ocean freight market.


2017 Quest for Quality Winners Categories

NATIONAL LTL | REGIONAL LTL | TRUCKLOAD | RAIL/INTERMODAL | OCEAN CARRIERS | PORTS | 3PL | AIR CARRIERS and FREIGHT FORWARDERS



home page



Article Topics

Magazine Archive
Features
Transportation
Ports
Ports
Quest for Quality
Transportation
   All topics

Ports News & Resources

LM Podcast Series: Examining the global trade market with Chris Rogers, Head of Supply Chain Research for S&P Global Market Intelligence
LM reader survey highlights impact of inventory levels on operations
Signs of progress appear to be made on PMA-ILWU negotiations
Descartes’ March Global Shipping Report sees sequential gains and annual declines for U.S. imports
S&P Global Market Intelligence report looks at normalization of supply chains over course of 2023
Industry stakeholders call on White House to aid in West Coast port labor talks
Q&A: Michael Farlekas, CEO, e2open
More Ports

Latest in Logistics

SEKO Logistics’ executives address Peak Season potential amid economic backdrop
FedEx and union-represented pilots reach terms on a tentative agreement
National diesel average falls for the week of May 22, reports EIA
Ocean shipping returns to pre-pandemic status
GEODIS expands drayage presence with acquisition of Southern Companies
Schneider Electric leads the Gartner Global Supply Chain Top 25
Q&A: Jared Weisfeld, Chief Strategy Officer, RXO
More Logistics

Subscribe to Logistics Management Magazine

Subscribe today!
Not a subscriber? Sign up today!
Subscribe today. It's FREE.
Find out what the world's most innovative companies are doing to improve productivity in their plants and distribution centers.
Start your FREE subscription today.

May 2023 Logistics Management

May 30, 2023 · Following a year of record revenue for carriers, shipping analysts see the pendulum swinging in the other direction, as rates are decreasing, volumes are falling, and new capacity is coming online.

Latest Resources

Your Road Guide to Worry-Free Shipping Between the U.S. and Canada
Your Road Guide to Worry-Free Shipping Between the U.S. and Canada
Get expert guidance and best practices to help you navigate the cross-border shipping process with ease. Download our free white paper today!
Warehouse/DC Automation & Technology: It’s “go time” for investment
Warehouse/DC Automation & Technology: It’s “go time” for investment
In our latest Special Digital Issue, Logistics Management has curated several feature stories that neatly encapsulate the rise of automated systems and...

Why accurate, real-time location data is a must for efficient operations
Why accurate, real-time location data is a must for efficient operations
Find out how next-generation workforce management apps use accurate, real-time location data to power successful operations in this webinar with Radar CEO...
Should you lease or buy your lift truck fleet?
Should you lease or buy your lift truck fleet?
Leasing critical equipment like lift trucks can offer flexibility, but some lease terms can be complex and costly if you’re not...
2023 State of the Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Industry Report
2023 State of the Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Industry Report
In this year’s Third-Party Logistics State of the Industry Report, you’ll learn about our top trends for the year and...