U.S. TERMINAL UPDATES

Terminals in the U.S. are canceling work shifts due to the low cargo volumes caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19).  There are 111 void sailings from the transpacific carriers between February – April, which includes 63 sailings during the normal factory closures over the Lunar New Year and 43 sailings due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus.  The American Association of Port Authorities says year-over-year cargo volumes in the first quarter could be down by at least 20%. The hardest hit are the terminals in Los Angeles and Long Beach, where most of the terminals have canceled shifts.  This is a very fluid situation and will likely contribute to further disruptions with increased dwell times at the ports due to congestion, displaced equipment, chassis splits and alternate container return locations.

Please see the following websites to help us all navigate this successfully:

1. Please make sure you are visiting “http://returnlocation.com/” for guidance on where to return empties for your carriers.  This website includes many different steamship lines and is a great resource of information.
2. Some terminals are closing on a day-to-day basis as they do not have import ships arriving. Please understand that this may impact where empties and exports are being returned, so have your truckers check daily for terminal status before they make arrangements to pick up or drop off loads or empties.
3. Please make sure your truckers are communicating with the carrier contacts on http://returnlocation.com/.  This website will have the most up-to-date information on the equipment flows.
4. Please note that while Noatum Logistics will do our best to appropriately align trucker and port appointment times, we are currently seeing trucking wait times and detention fees being assessed.  The expectation is that these may escalate in the coming weeks until the market normalizes.

Note:  If a terminal is open, it does not necessarily mean that they are accepting empty returns during that time.

*T18 will temporarily be closing gate and terminal operations on Fridays beginning March 6, 2020, due to ongoing volume declines.  T18 will continue to monitor volumes on a weekly basis.  When conditions improve, they will resume Friday gate and terminal operations.

** FMS Limited load in wheeled import only.

Noatum Logistics is working with our ocean carriers and will continue to send alerts as updates are received.

For more information, please contact your local Noatum Logistics (formerly MIQ Logistics) representative.