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Stuart Chirls

Stuart Chirls is a journalist who has covered the full breadth of railroads, intermodal, container shipping, ports, supply chain and logistics for Railway Age, the Journal of Commerce and IANA. He has also staffed at S&P, McGraw-Hill, United Business Media, Advance Media, Tribune Co., The New York Times Co., and worked in supply chain with BASF, the world's largest chemical producer. Reach him at stuartchirls@firecrown.com.
Nov - 2024 -
08 November
Stuart Chirls

Lockout looms in Montreal port labor dispute

As a strike by longshore workers cripples container handling, Port of Montreal employers plan to lock out union employees.

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Stuart Chirls

East Coast port contract talks to resume

The United States Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen’s Association are scheduled to resume bargaining next week on a new master contract covering 45,000 workers at 36 East and Gulf Coast ports.

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07 November
Stuart Chirls

Montreal port calls on Trudeau to end strike

As a strike by dockside workers disrupts container handling, Montreal’s port chief executive calls on Ottawa to force union employees back to work.

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Stuart Chirls

Lockout stalls more container ships outside western Canada ports

Ships are waiting at anchor after port employers at Vancouver and Prince Rupert on Monday locked out union forepersons after contract talks broke down.

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06 November
Stuart Chirls

Hapag-Lloyd bets big on green newbuilds

Hapag-Lloyd’s dual-fuel-powered container ships will replace older vessels and reduce emissions.

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Stuart Chirls

Reports claim Houthis make Red Sea vessel attacks a $2B business

An extensive study by a U.N. panel found that Yemen’s Houthi rebels are taking in as much as $180 million a month in protection money from shipowners.

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05 November
Stuart Chirls

MSC adds Florida port call

The Swiss container carrier MSC said it is adjusting the port rotation on its United States to South America east coast service.

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Stuart Chirls

Lone container line undeterred by Red Sea attacks

Alone among major liner operators, CMA CGM of France has maintained scheduled voyages between Asia, the Mediterranean and North America ports via the turbulent Red Sea.

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04 November
Stuart Chirls

Montreal port employers pressure striking union

Employers at the Port of Montreal say they will suspend salary guarantees for striking longshore workers who have shut down two container terminals.

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Stuart Chirls

British Columbia ports face shutdown in labor contract dispute

The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association representing ocean carriers and terminal operators plan to lock out union forepersons after the International
Longshore and Warehouse Union rejected a final contract offer.

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01 November
Stuart Chirls

China boosts Matson net in Q4

Ocean shipping and logistics services provider Matson saw improved third quarter profits as higher China and domestic freight rates offset mixed container volumes. Operating income was $227 million for the […]

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Stuart Chirls

Demand, disruptions supercharge ONE results in Q2

Ocean Network Express posted soaring results in the second quarter on strong demand in the major trades, an early peak season in the U.S. and attacks on the Red Sea trade route.

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Stuart Chirls

Maersk Q3 profits rise despite modest container volume gains

The parent of container liner operator Maersk turned in quarterly revenue and profits higher than a year ago as attacks on Mideast shipping led to higher operating costs – and higher rates for shippers.

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Oct - 2024 -
31 October
Stuart Chirls

ONE Q2 earnings: First look

The ONE alliance of container vessel lines posted second-quarter revenue on an early peak shipping season thanks to attacks on a key Mideast route and looming East Coast longshore strike.

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Stuart Chirls

Maersk Q3 earnings: First look

The parent of Maersk container line said strong demand for shipping services and higher ocean freight rates fueled growth across all businesses as it raised estimates for full-year results.

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Stuart Chirls

Trinity Industries Q3 earnings: First Look

Trinity Industries, which builds tank cars, covered hoppers and other freight cars saw lower revenue but higher profits on better railcar lease rates and improved efficiencies.

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Stuart Chirls

ILA says Clean Port grants a ‘big win’ for union jobs

Newly announced federal spending on zero-emission equipment and infrastructure at container ports won the approval of the International Longshoremen’s Association.

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30 October
Stuart Chirls

Millions in funding for key Montreal port commodity

Transport Canada is funneling millions of dollars to expand grain-handling facilities at the Port of Montreal.

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Stuart Chirls

Greenbrier Q4 rolls on higher railcar deliveries

The builder of autoracks, intermodal stack cars and other railcars turned in a strong finish to fiscal 2024 despite challenges in the North American market.

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29 October
Stuart Chirls

International freight drives Q3 intermodal gains

International container volume gains more than doubled domestic traffic in the third quarter, according to the Intermodal Association of North America.

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Stuart Chirls

ONE adds Jaxport-East Asia services

The ONE vessel alliance plans to add a new East Asia string to the Port of Jacksonville’s modernized SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal.

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Stuart Chirls

Savannah container imports up 17%

Overall volume helped maritime terminals of the Georgia Ports Authority to their second-busiest September on record.

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28 October
Stuart Chirls

Dockworkers expand strike at Montreal port

Canada’s second-busiest port is bracing for another protest by 1,200 longshore employees who have been refusing overtime work since Oct. 10.

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Stuart Chirls

DSV posts first pretax profit since 2022

Despite a first-half lull in domestic network demand for logistics services, the world’s largest forwarder saw overall volume growth in the third quarter.

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Stuart Chirls

Zim adds new Mediterranean-US East Coast direct services

Zim Integrated Shipping Services is restructuring its Cross-Atlantic services connecting Mediterranean ports with North and South America.

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25 October
Stuart Chirls

Report says Russia aided Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping

Russia conveyed Iranian data to help Houthi rebels in Yemen attack commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

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Stuart Chirls

East Coast port employers, longshore union to resume contract negotiations

East Coast ocean carriers and terminal operators will resume bargaining with the International Longshoremen’s Association on a new contract in November.

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Stuart Chirls

Hapag-Lloyd revises earnings forecast on Red Sea disruptions 

German transportation provider Hapag-Lloyd reported preliminary nine-month profits and raised its full-year forecast as vessel diversions pushed up shipping rates.

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Stuart Chirls

FEMA awards $2.6M security grant to Port of Long Beach

Funding from FEMA will help protect operations and infrastructure at the second-busiest U.S. container hub.

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24 October
Stuart Chirls

Arbitrator tabbed for CPKC-TCRC rail contract talks

An arbitrator has been appointed to oversee contract negotiations between Canadian Pacific Kansas City and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.

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Stuart Chirls

New contract in sight for CN, Teamsters

CN and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference have scheduled mediation for early 2025 as the sides move closer to a new collective bargaining agreement.

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Stuart Chirls

Union Pacific Q3 earnings: First look

Union Pacific Corp. in the third quarter saw double-digit gains for income and earnings on modest carload volume improvement and lower fuel prices.

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23 October
Stuart Chirls

CPKC Q3 earnings: First look

CPKC saw single-digit gains in freight volumes in the third quarter, but the operating ratio climbed as a brief lockout of union employees hit network operations.

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Stuart Chirls

Video: Freighter capsizes and sinks in Dakar after being hit by bulk carrier

A Greek-owned freighter capsized and sank after being hit by a bulk carrier in Senegal’s port of Dakar.

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Stuart Chirls

Port of Long Beach hits record container volumes

The second-busiest U.S. container gateway moved record levels of cargo in September and in the third quarter on diversions ahead of an East Coast work stoppage and continued demand for holiday merchandise.

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Stuart Chirls

Strong ocean container market boosts Maersk guidance

Strong third-quarter volumes have the world’s second-largest ocean container line upgrading its forecast for higher full-year returns.

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22 October
Stuart Chirls

Roaring volume drives record for Port of Los Angeles

An early peak shipping season, strong economy and resilient consumer spending boosted container volume to a record quarter at the Port of Los Angeles.

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Stuart Chirls

CN revenue up 3% on rebound from wildfires, work stoppage 

Canadian National Railway posted third-quarter revenue slightly better than a year ago as operations appeared fully recovered from destructive wildfires and a labor dispute that briefly shut down the railroad.

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Stuart Chirls

Containers lagged ocean shipping gains in 2023, UN report finds

A record number of port calls by container ships presages higher forecast growth for the sector, according to a U.N. report.

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21 October
Stuart Chirls

ONE, DP World box up hope for breast cancer awareness

Ocean Network Express and terminal operator DP World created a message on a dockside canvas during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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Stuart Chirls

Tariffs ‘a tax on consumers,’ says NRF chief

Importers with the National Retail Federation fear a second Trump administration could hurt business with higher tariffs on consumer goods.

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18 October
Stuart Chirls

Roaring volume drives record for Port of Los Angeles

An early peak shipping season, strong economy and resilient consumer spending boosted container volume to a record quarter at the Port of Los Angeles.

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Stuart Chirls

New Orleans port railroad opens bulk transloading park

Port-owned New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and logistics specialist Heniff Transportation Systems have opened a new state-backed transload facility aimed at dry and liquid bulk customers.

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17 October
Stuart Chirls

Rail a key to 10 million-TEU Charleston forecast

Portwide expansion and upgrades for ship, rail and truck have Charleston, South Carolina, officials eyeing annual capacity of 10 million TEUs for the fast-growing Southeastern maritime hub.

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Stuart Chirls

Union Pacific, Vena powering up railroad’s business

While hedge funds wring savings from other Class 1 railroads, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena says his line can win new business with service and “operational excellence.”

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15 October
Stuart Chirls

Florida port gets $9.5M in Milton storm funding

SeaPort Manatee near Tampa, Florida, is slated to get millions of dollars in emergency state funding to help recover from the effects of Hurricane Milton.

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14 October
Stuart Chirls

Longshore union halts overtime at Port of Montreal

A partial work stoppage at the Port of Montreal follows a three-day strike earlier this month by union dockworkers at Canada’s second-busiest port.

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10 October
Stuart Chirls

Georgia’s Brunswick port expands ro/ro capacity

The Georgia Ports Authority is positioning the Port of Brunswick to be the leading ro/ro gateway on the U.S. East Coast, investing millions in expansion and harbor upgrades.

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07 October
Stuart Chirls

Ports reopen as union warns on contract talks

Container handling resumed this weekend at dozens of ports on the East and Gulf coasts following a brief strike by dockworkers as the International Longshoremen’s Association and shipping lines prepare to resume bargaining.

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04 October
Stuart Chirls

Analysis: Biden, ILA score wins in port strike, but larger issues remain

President Biden claims a major victory late in his term while the International Longshoremen’s Association negotiates a curious compromise after months of talking tough on the docks.

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03 October
Stuart Chirls

Port strike ends as ILA, USMX agree on hefty wage hike, contract extension

Port employers have come to a tentative agreement with unionized dockworkers on a 61% hourly wage increase, ending the three-day strike that shut down major East Coast container ports.

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Stuart Chirls

1 million TEUs could soon be stalled outside strike ports

While tens of thousands of unionized longshore employees picket at ports along the East and Gulf coasts, the number of container ships waiting outside major maritime hubs continues to grow by the day.

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Stuart Chirls

Union chief says he has received death threats during dock strike

While tens of thousands of unionized longshore employees picket at ports along the East and Gulf coasts, union leaders say they have received death threats during a work stoppage that has shut down vital container imports.

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02 October
Stuart Chirls

Port employers open to negotiations — without ILA pre-conditions

Shipping lines say they’re open to resuming contract negotiations with the International Longshoremen’s Association, which has shut down container imports at major East Coast ports.

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Stuart Chirls

Schenker sale to DSV approved

Switzerland-based DSV added to its stable of logistics providers, buying Schenker from the debt-laden German national railway.

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Stuart Chirls

What shippers need to know about the port strike and cargo insurance

Shippers and a wide range of port-related businesses will be affected by the International Longshoremen’s Association strike that began Tuesday at maritime hubs from Texas to Maine.

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01 October
Stuart Chirls

Port strike could throttle imports from cars to bananas and vaccines

The first port strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association since 1977 would bring a halt to an array of goods flowing through East and Gulf Coast maritime hubs.

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Sep - 2024 -
30 September
Stuart Chirls

Port employers say they have exchanged new contract offers with longshore union in bid to avert strike

Ports from Texas to Maine are bracing for a midnight strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association, the first since 1977, that will bring billions of dollars in seaborne trade to a halt.

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29 September
Stuart Chirls

Port strike still on schedule, union says

Barring last-minute developments, the International Longshoremen’s Association said it plans to follow through on plans to strike at ports throughout the East and Gulf Coasts and bring container and ro-ro handling to a standstill.

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28 September
Stuart Chirls

Analysis: Port poker and the East Coast dock strike

From the White House on down, everyone has different strategies and different expectations when it comes to the port labor dispute.

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26 September
Stuart Chirls

Port employers seek NLRB injunction against longshore union

With a strike by East and Gulf Coast dockworkers just days away, port employers on Thursday asked the National Labor Relations Board to order the International Longshoremen’s Association to resume contract negotiations.

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25 September
Stuart Chirls

Ports detail strike contingencies

Facing an Oct. 1 strike deadline by the International Longshoremen’s Association, ports and other waterside logistics providers along the East and Gulf coasts are advising customers to brace for a shutdown of the container business.

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24 September
Stuart Chirls

Port of New York-New Jersey details strike operations plan

Container traffic at the second-busiest U.S. port complex will come to a halt Oct. 1 absent a new contract covering 45,000 union longshore workers from Texas to Maine.

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23 September
Stuart Chirls

Apparel, shoe importers plead with Biden to intervene in dock strike

A work stoppage by 45,000 union longshore workers set for Oct. 1 would bring waterside commerce to a halt at ports from Texas to Maine.

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20 September
Stuart Chirls

Port of Los Angeles sees busiest month outside pandemic

The Port of Los Angeles handled 960,597 twenty-foot equivalent units in August, a 16% increase over the previous year and the busiest month ever outside the pandemic. Eight months into […]

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18 September
Stuart Chirls

Intermodal powers to record volume

U.S. railroads see the highest weekly intermodal traffic since the pandemic, and ongoing supply chain issues could aid further gains as a threatened longshore strike creeps closer.

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Stuart Chirls

Maersk: Q4 container demand to remain strong

Continued robust demand for container shipping services could help balance supply and demand, the world’s second-largest vessel operator said, easing strains despite disruptions across the global supply chain.

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Stuart Chirls

Indiana port adds rail capacity, eyes container traffic

Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan increases rail capacity by 250 cars and adds hundreds of feet of new dock for expanded all-water cargoes.

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17 September
Stuart Chirls

Report: Biden won’t block dock strike

A shippers’ coalition on Tuesday asked the White House to help restart stalled contract negotiations and said President Biden should be prepared to intervene to prevent a strike.

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16 September
Stuart Chirls

Employers: Still time for East Coast port deal

East and Gulf Coast port employers insist a new union contract is still within reach before an Oct. 1 strike deadline, and urged the International Longshoremen’s Association to return to the bargaining table.

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Stuart Chirls

Salvage begins on burning tanker attacked in Red Sea

Salvors began towing the Greek-flagged tanker Sounion, still burning from attacks by Houthi militia in late August. The vessel became a symbol of civilian shipping targets that have led container and other vessel operators to detour around the region.

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13 September
Stuart Chirls

Schenker buy makes DSV a forwarder colossus

German railway Deutsche Bahn is selling its Schenker logistics unit to DSV of Denmark in a deal that will create the world’s largest forwarder.

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12 September
Stuart Chirls

Millions in cash and stock await new NS CEO

Norfolk Southern in a filing detailed salary and stock awards that signal it expects Mark George to be a long-term chief executive.

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Stuart Chirls

Report: DSV wins Schenker bidding

Schenker has been sold, but not to the U.S. private equity group vying for control of the German logistics provider. Transport provider DSV of Denmark has emerged as the winning […]

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Stuart Chirls

Bills could help small railroads build new track, bridges

New bills in both the Senate and House of Representatives would upgrade the 45G tax credit for inflation and expand trackage covered under the program.

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11 September
Stuart Chirls

Could East Coast port strike spread to West Coast?

The International Longshoremen’s Association has adopted a resolute stance in negotiations with East Coast port employers from Maine to Houston. There’s speculation that sympathy work stoppages could spread to West Coast container gateways.

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10 September
Stuart Chirls

What to know about ILA demands in potential port strike

No talks are scheduled between employers and the International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents unionized workers at ports on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts. Bargaining has stalled over technology and pay issues.

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09 September
Stuart Chirls

China-designed vessel would top all containerships

China State Shipbuilding Corp. said it has received approval in principle for a liquefied natural gas dual-fuel vessel of 27,500 twenty-foot equivalent units, the largest boxships afloat.

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Stuart Chirls

Port of Montreal begins key rail bridge rehab

The Montreal Port Authority is spending more than $42 million to restore and upgrade the Pie-IX rail bridge, a project that will also help a port-based sugar refiner boost capacity.

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06 September
Stuart Chirls

Union reps back East and Gulf Coast dock strike

International Longshoremen’s Association representatives unanimously backed President Harold J. Daggett’s call for a coastwide strike at ports from Maine to Texas on Oct. 1.

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05 September
Stuart Chirls

LA port terminal getting $52 million for on-dock rail

In the latest move to strengthen the largest U.S. container gateway, a key Port of Los Angeles terminal will receive $52 million to upgrade its on-dock rail capacity.

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02 September
Stuart Chirls

Portland Terminal 6 aid ‘urgently’ needed, report says

A new plan calls for public-private investment in the Port of Portland’s money-losing Terminal 6, the state’s only international container facility.

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Aug - 2024 -
30 August
Stuart Chirls

CSX appeal fails in container terminal antitrust suit against Norfolk Southern

In a lawsuit dating back to 2018, CSX accused rival Norfolk Southern of jacking up rates for dockside access to the East Coast container gateway.

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29 August
Stuart Chirls

Schenker sale could create US logistics powerhouse

A New York-based venture capital firm and European transport specialist are vying to acquire Schenker, the logistics unit of German national railway Deutsche Bahn, which could shake up the market for logistics services in the U.S.

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Stuart Chirls

Early peak fuels intermodal rail gains

Intermodal outpaced most U.S. rail carload shipments as shippers raced to get end-of-year retail merchandise through import gateways ahead of disruptions in the global supply chain.

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28 August
Stuart Chirls

Supply chain sees unexpected impact from Canada rail ramp-up

Despite peak season stress, supply chain bottlenecks failed to materialize during the recovery from the brief lockout of union employees by CN and CPKC.

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Stuart Chirls

Minnesota DOT seeks comments on freight plan

Minnesota’s federally mandated State Freight Plan identifies key areas for investment in the statewide transportation system to ensure goods movement that is safe, efficient and sustainable.

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27 August
Stuart Chirls

Union pact averts India port strike

A nationwide strike by port workers in India threatened further stresses to a global supply chain struggling with congestion and delays.

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Stuart Chirls

NY-NJ ports enjoy record month

The Port of New York-New Jersey was the latest gateway to benefit from the early peak shipping season as importers stocked up on holiday inventory to circumvent a host of supply chain issues.

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Stuart Chirls

Analysis: Trudeau flip-flop gives Canada railroads win over unions … for now

The railroads got what they wanted in Canada’s contract dispute: binding arbitration.

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26 August
Stuart Chirls

Canada railroads look to restart as union returns to work

It could take the two largest Canadian railroads a week or more to recover from the effects of a shutdown that briefly stalled billions in freight including transborder trade with the United States.

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23 August
Stuart Chirls

CSX adds more union agreements

Eastern railroad CSX said it had come to tentative agreements with seven more unions ahead of scheduled collective bargaining, just days after it announced five early deals with unionized workers.

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Stuart Chirls

NS, BNSF reach early contracts with unions

The agreements were announced just days after CSX completed early deals with its unions as labor flexes its newfound strength with employers following the pandemic.

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Stuart Chirls

Port of Los Angeles adds Calhoun to leadership team

The Port of Los Angeles has named Erica M. Calhoun deputy executive director overseeing the city of Los Angeles Harbor Department’s Administrative Bureau.

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Stuart Chirls

Union Pacific adds peak surcharges in Southern California

As eastbound import traffic continues to grow, Union Pacific announced surcharges for its premium EMP and UMAX services out of the Southern California gateway.

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22 August
Stuart Chirls

North Carolina Railroad Co. awards grant for rail-served battery gigafactory

Natron Energy plans to build the first U.S. sodium ion battery plant, thanks to investment by the state-owned rail corridor and other public/private economic development organizations.

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Stuart Chirls

Railroads, unions trade charges as shutdown begins

CN and CPKC early Thursday locked out 9,300 union employees, bringing trains to a halt in a move that could disrupt supply chains throughout North America.

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Stuart Chirls

CN, CPKC lock out union rail employees

CN said it received no response from Teamsters after making a final contract offer in a bid to avoid service disruption.

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21 August
Stuart Chirls

Logistics providers say Canada rail strike would ‘paralyze ports’

While contract talks between Canadian National, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and union employees continue, a rail shutdown would reverberate through the supply chain connecting Canada and the U.S.

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20 August
Stuart Chirls

Canada labor minister meeting with railroads, union to head off work stoppage

Amid lockout and strike notices, contract bargaining continues as Ottawa makes a push for both sides to come together on a new rail labor contract.

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