Our Cargo Services team attended the TPM23 conference hosted by industry publication leaders from the Journal of Commerce. This annual conference is the premier event for global logistics, freight and supply chain leaders. Here’s a summary of the Top 10 conversations we heard. The content and conversations were focused on what’s happened related to pricing over the past two years, coupled with the predicted future capacity influx. A 9% capacity increase over the next two years is projected, while demand is predicted to stay flat. Carriers have cash in the bank, and they will be using that mon ..read more

Jefferson Clay Director of global sales After three years doing business over the phone and Zoom, our Cargo Services team is back on the road traveling to client sites and meeting with global partners. Late last year, I traveled to both India and Turkey. We wanted to learn more about India manufacturing and see what’s evolving in Turkey. Both regions are being discussed as growth markets for suppliers. Here’s what I wanted to accomplish, and here’s what I gained from it. India manufacturing has been talked about for a decade or more. It’s a new frontier for U.S. importers seeking to move busin ..read more

Recent national headlines tell the story of a freight turnaround. The historic number of ships at the Port of LA/Long Beach waiting to unload is down. Spot rates are falling. And empty containers are being rotated and rebalanced into the supply chain. We remain cautiously optimistic. Keep in mind, the industry overall still is not back to its pre-pandemic rhythm. Continue to be strategic when planning shipping in your supply chains, and stay close to your Cargo Services professional team for guidance and advice. Keep flexibility in your supply chain. While the industry is trending in the right ..read more

While complete shipping recovery is still months away, by all indications the industry is moving in a more positive direction: rates are easing, congestion is lessening, turn times are getting quicker and chassis/containers are being restocked. Here is a summary of reports we’re reading and what we’re hearing related to fourth quarter freight forwarding trends. PORT CONGESTION: Shipping demand is predicted to ease through the fourth quarter. Simply said peak season came early, in May and June, as shippers worked ahead of congestion. We all remember those record number of ships waiting to berth ..read more

Disruptions continue to impact freight movement. Planning for unforeseen circumstances can help to keep goods moving through supply chain bottlenecks. Ask partners these questions to uncover creative solutions before shipments leave the dock. 1. Can more providers and/or carriers be added to your supply chain? A single transportation option severely limits supply chain shipping options. Space availability is king. Require suppliers to work with companies that have options. Ask these questions: Can a different forwarder be selected? Can exit/entry ports be chosen? Can the shipment be packed ..read more

July, 28, 2022 Freight forwarding industry challenges continue, and the Cargo services team remains dedicated to servicing our client accounts through continued communications and being accessible to answer questions. Stay close to your account manager and call if you need anything. Vessel wait times at ports continue (see the chart to the right from HamburgSud), shipments moving inland are delayed, and the challenge to balance empty containers around the world remains. Cargo owners in Dallas, Chicago, and Memphis are waiting longer for trains to arrive from Southern California. Here’s what’s ..read more

Now in its 16th year, Books for Youth is a statewide program that gives 25 age-appropriate books to Indiana foster youth. In 2009, Cargo Services was asked to join the program and has proudly partnered alongside the NFL Indianapolis Colts since. “Foster children often have little to call their own. And study after study proves reading is a key to lifelong success. If we can give these kids something of their own that also provides an educational opportunity, we’re providing an experience to help move foster children toward a successful adulthood,” says Cargo Services co-owner and CFO Steve Fug ..read more

Graduating from high school is a life accomplishment for any student. Graduating from high school when you have grown up through the foster care system is an extraordinary achievement that must be celebrated. “Life may have placed obstacles in the path of these youths – but they overcame those challenges by staying focused on their studies and their future academic and career goals,” says Steve Fugate, CFO Cargo Services (pictured right). Eight years ago, Cargo Services and the Indianapolis Colts began an initiative to create a Graduation Celebration foster youth graduating high school. Workin ..read more

Our team continues to work with partners to manage shipments, providing creative solutions during this time. Here are the latest port congestion updates. U.S. consumer demand continues to drive record import volumes as a much-heralded shift in spending from goods to services has failed to materialize. Data show U.S. retail sales in January increased 4.9% year over year, while retail inventories in December, the latest available data, rose 3.7% year over year, according to data provider Trading Economics. China: COVID-19 is impacting dockworkers, trucking and in turn port conditions. In Shangha ..read more

Jefferson Clay Director of global sales After three years doing business over the phone and Zoom, our Cargo Services team is back on the road traveling to client sites and meeting with global partners. Late last year, I traveled to both India and Turkey. We wanted to learn more about India manufacturing and see what’s evolving in Turkey. Both regions are being discussed as growth markets for suppliers. Here’s what I wanted to accomplish, and here’s what I gained from it. India manufacturing has been talked about for a decade or more. It’s a new frontier for U.S. importers seeking to move busin ..read more