National Electric Manufacturers Association calls for stronger enforcement, predictability in upcoming USMCA review
Last week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative held a public hearing focused on the operation of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), with the first six-year review of the agreement scheduled for July 1, 2025. The USMCA agreement went into effect on January 29, 2020, during President Trump’s first term in […]
Port of Long Beach appoints Hacebaga as its next CEO, effective January 1
Following its early October announcement that Port of Long Beach (POLB) CEO, Mario Cordero, will retire at the end of 2025, following the last 8.5 years in his current position—and, prior to that, seven years on the Federal Maritime Commission and eight years as a member of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners—the Long […]
USPS-Amazon contract uncertainty grows as reverse auction plan raises stakes for 2026 renewal
With the existing contract between global e-commerce retailer Amazon and the United States Postal Service set to expire in October 2026, media reports published yesterday indicated that there could be some shifts coming in that relationship. Citing a Washington Post article, Reuters noted that USPS Postmaster General David Steiner intends to hold a reverse auction […]
Logistics growth sees mild decline in November, states LMI
Logistics sector growth saw some easing in November, according to the new edition of the Logistics’ Managers Index (LMI), which recently released earlier this week. The monthly LMI is a joint project among researchers from Arizona State University, Colorado State University, University of Nevada, Reno, Florida Atlantic University, and Rutgers University, and also receives support […]
Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger filing with the STB is delayed delayed until mid-December
While a December 1 date for the merger application to be sent to the Surface Transportation Board (STB), regarding the historic proposed $85 billion merger between Class I railroads Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS), had been widely anticipated, UP CEO Jim Vena said at the UBS Global Industrials and Transportation Conference this week […]
U.S. Department of Transportation targets ‘CDL Mills’ as thousands of training providers removed from federal registry
With a focus on safety for the nation’s roads and highways and removing unqualified drivers and corrupt operators from the trucking industry, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) this week said it is taking steps focused on how commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) are issued. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy said that almost 3,000 CDL training […]
Q3 intermodal volumes see annual gains, reports IANA
Third quarter intermodal volume saw annual gains, according to a report recently issued by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). Total loadings, at 4,757,324, increased 2.8% annually, hitting its highest level since the second quarter 2021. Domestic containers, at 2,221,466, were up 2.5% annually, and trailers were down 18.7%, to 115,950. All domestic equipment, […]
Looking at the impact of tariffs on U.S. manufacturing
Six months after the administration’s latest wave of tariffs took effect, the headlines tell an optimistic story. The U.S. trade deficit is narrowing. Tariff revenues have doubled. Companies have announced more than $1.7 trillion in new manufacturing investments, from semiconductor fabs in Texas to EV battery plants in Tennessee. It looks like progress. Yet, if success is measured […]
Proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger draws praise, skepticism ahead of STB Filing
With an expected December 1 date for the application regarding the historic $85 billion proposed merger between Class I railroad carriers Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, there was no shortage of opinions regarding the deal at the RailTrends conference in New York last week. RailTrends was hosted by Progressive Railroading magazine and independent railroad analyst […]
Domestic intermodal holds key to future growth as trade uncertainty and long-term declines persist, says intermodal expert Larry Gross
The state of the North American intermodal market could be described as somewhat bifurcated, based on a presentation at last week’s RailTrends conference in New York by noted intermodal expert Larry Gross, president of Gross Transportation Consulting. RailTrends was presented by Progressive Railroading magazine and independent railroad analyst Tony Hatch. Gross explained that international and […]