IN THE NEWS: Viewpoint: Data shows Canada port strike impacting US logistics

FreightWaves
July 11, 2023
Lori Ann LaRocco

FROM THE ARTICLE: Paul Brashier, vice president of drayage and intermodal of ITS Logistics, said the strike at the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert will have a severe negative impact on the U.S. supply chain as well as Canada.

“Most of the [interior point intermodal (IPI)] freight that enters through these ports are destined to major U.S. rail hubs, including Chicago and Memphis,” he explained. “There is a high probability that a large portion of this freight will be reconsigned to U.S. West Coast ports if the vessels call on those ports prior to or after calling Vancouver or Prince Rupert.”

Brashier has been advising clients that they should immediately put contingency plans in place, not only to reroute freight into the U.S. but to also alter the mode of freight to domestic truckload in anticipation of rail congestion that will occur once the strike is resolved.

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“Depending on the duration of the strike, it could take one to three months for rail operations to return to normal,” he said.

Brashier is not the only one with this dire warning.

Read the full article here.