Eric Bratton
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Tightening Truck Capacity Is Reshaping Shipper Strategy: Why Mini-Bids, Dedicated Capacity and Intermodal Are Gaining Ground
Truckload pricing is rising even as freight demand remains uneven. Here is how mini-bids, dedicated capacity and intermodal are reshaping shipper procurement.
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The July 24 Tariff Reset: What Importers Must Audit Now
The 10% global surcharge expired July 24, but a new Section 301 regime immediately replaced broad import-cost exposure. Here is the entry audit importers need now.
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Carrier & Broker Risk · Freight Markets · Maritime, Ports & Drayage · Regulation, Infrastructure & Risk · Shipper StrategyU.S. Strikes Three Iranian Oil Tankers as Hormuz Traffic Stays Constrained—The Freight Cost Exposure
Two additional tanker attacks and below-average Hormuz traffic expose U.S. shippers to fuel, insurance and capacity costs—even without a full closure.
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Freight Markets · Maritime, Ports & Drayage · Regulation & Safety · Regulation, Infrastructure & Risk · Shipper StrategyJones Act Waiver Extended—but Foreign-Vessel Access Now Requires Case-by-Case Approval
The Jones Act waiver continues through November 15, but foreign-vessel voyages now require cargo eligibility, a MARAD vessel survey and Department of War approval.
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The Next Freight Squeeze May Be Inland: Intermodal Demand Is Testing Rail Capacity
Stronger ocean volumes are feeding into a less flexible inland network. Union Pacific’s capacity actions suggest some shippers could encounter tighter allocations and higher costs before a nationwide rail bottleneck…
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Truck Freight Prices Fell in July—But Remain 10.9% Above Last Year
Truck freight cooled in July but remained sharply higher than a year earlier as water freight continued climbing. The real procurement signal is to separate linehaul, fuel and accessorials before…
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Maersk’s 22% Rate Increase Sends a Warning to Importers: Ocean Pricing Power Is Holding
Maersk’s Q2 results show average loaded Ocean rates up 22% as volume grew and utilization hit 96%—a warning that importers should secure capacity and control accessorial risk now.
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Panama Canal Surcharges Reach Asia–U.S. East/Gulf Freight as Draft Limits Tighten Again
Panama Canal draft limits fall to 48 feet on August 26 and 47.5 feet on September 3 as carrier surcharges reach Asia–U.S. East and Gulf Coast shippers. Here is what…
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Rail & Intermodal · Regulation & Safety · Regulation, Infrastructure & Risk · Technology & OperationsCourt Upholds Two-Person Freight-Train Crew Rule, Raising the Bar for Rail Automation
The Eleventh Circuit preserved the FRA’s two-person freight-train crew rule—a strategic constraint on rail automation and labor models, not an immediate capacity shock.