Depending on where you are based, here is a decent chance you could not make it into the office today, due to Winter Storm Benjamin–for good reason. As I look out the window of LM’s Southern Maine bureau, the snow is coming down fast and furious to be sure.
And if you did make it into the office, or are planning to, being cautious, careful and alert on the roads goes without saying.
In case you are wondering about the status of a shipment, the weather may be keeping it off the roads or rails today, here are some links below to service and contingency plans for transportation and logistics service providers. LM will update this list as more alerts come in. Newsroom Notes urges you to be safe today should you be on the roads or railways.
Weather Service Alerts:
American Logistics Aid Network: “American Logistics Aid Network is ACTIVATED and tracking impacts from this week’s severe winter weather. As part of our preparedness efforts, we are committed to bringing you the latest information and updates on supply chain impacts via our periodic Situation Reports.
For more information on the storm, visit NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center and ALAN’s Supply Chain Intelligence Center.”
FedEx: “Contingency plans have been activated to mitigate impacts of winter storms across the United States, including at our Memphis and Indianapolis hubs. Our top priorities are the safety and well-being of our team members, as well as providing our customers with the highest level of service possible.
A National Service Disruption has been issued, and shipments with a delivery commitment of Monday, January 26 may be delayed, with potential delays continuing throughout the week. Delays related to these weather impacts may not immediately be reflected in the estimated delivery date.
Please visit the Service Alerts page on fedex.com for updated information. Residential recipients can enroll in FedEx Delivery Manager to stay informed of their shipment’s progress.”
UPS: “Safety comes first at UPS. We continue to make pickups and deliveries in areas where conditions allow us to safely operate. Severe weather may affect operations in some areas. Contingency plans are in place to help ensure that shipments arrive at their final destinations as quickly as possible.
For the status of your shipment, track your package on ups.com. Note that the UPS Service Guarantee does not apply to shipments impacted by severe weather.”
XPO: Winter weather is impacting operations. Expect delays in the markets listed [here] due to winter weather impacting operations.”
CSX: “CSX will provide service updates as storm conditions evolve. We encourage you to monitor our CSX Customer Advisories and Intermodal-specific Real-Time Service Advisories for any operational actions that may become necessary.
If your site experiences closures or changes in service needs due to the storm, please notify your CSX contact promptly.
The Customer Solutions team is available to offer details and answer questions regarding your shipments. Connect with the Customer Solutions team at 1-877-ShipCSX (1-877-744-7279). If you need Carload assistance, select option 2 from the sub-menu, followed by 1, 5 to talk to a representative. For Intermodal assistance, choose 2 from the sub-menu, followed by 2, 2 to converse with a representative. Alternatively, you can submit a Shipment Problem Resolution request via our website www.shipcsx.com.”
Norfolk Southern: “At this time, all Norfolk Southern Intermodal facilities are operating under normal conditions and no terminal or gate closures are planned. NS will continue to monitor and adapt to conditions over the weekend as additional winter hazards may continue into Sunday. Customers are strongly encouraged to review local forecasts and Department of Transportation information for updates regarding conditions in their local areas.
Intermodal terminal information can be found by visiting www.norfolksouthern.com/intermodal.”
Uber Freight: “Over the next week, we expect localized capacity tightness rather than a broad, sustained squeeze across the South. As winter weather approaches, the biggest impact is usually short-term disruption (i.e., drivers sitting out, equipment repositioning delays, and temporary lane imbalances) rather than a structural capacity shortage.
Spot rates typically move up modestly and unevenly, driven more by uncertainty and last-minute rejections than true demand spikes. Shippers that plan ahead and reposition freight early are often able to avoid paying those premiums. Generally, the market is facing strong seasonal headwinds and rates are likely to fall. The storms might counter that impact temporarily, but over the coming weeks, we still expect to see normalization from peak season.
As we experience repeated weather disruptions, we anticipate more and more shippers will move away from reactive playbooks and toward forecast-led planning, real-time visibility, and more flexible procurement strategies. Shippers that consistently integrate extreme weather into their planning frameworks, and diversify and strengthen carrier relationships are better positioned for long-term resilience and performance.” — Mazen Danaf, Principal Economist, Uber Freight
