In case you didn’t know, we’ve been publishing a lot of articles about the boom in shipping volume and economic developments occurring in east coast ports. You should really check them out. Not only are these articles diving into issues regarding the eastward shift in port volume, but also how Inland Port Greer plays a prominent role in these economic developments. This article takes a closer look at why shippers are turning to South Carolina as their port of choice for all their containerized ocean freight.

The modern logistics landscape is often changing and uncertain. It's important for shippers to stay on top of changes to find the best logistics opportunities and advantages. The latest shift is a volume boom at the North Carolina Port of Wilmington, with fiscal year 2022 (ending in June) having “a record high and 27% year-over-year increase,” with approximately 2.8 million tons coming through.

As shippers continue to search for reliable port capacity in the face of a dynamic logistics environment, many are turning to North Carolina. In the fiscal year 2022, the Port of Wilmington saw a staggering 2.8 million tons of general cargo, breaking previous volume records and showing a 28% YoY increase, according to WilmingtonBiz. 

Did you know that South Carolina Ports are some of the busiest shipping terminals in the United States? In 2022, SC Ports moved almost 2.8 million TEUs, which is a 1.5% increase YOY. The Port of Charleston moved a record 1.5 million containers last year alone. The increased volume of freight moving through this strategic terminal points to a larger boom in South Carolina’s economy, as global retailers and manufacturers are expanding their operations, opening up new facilities, and capitalizing on the state’s economic investment in the ports. The South Carolina Department of Commerce secured more than $10bn in total investment funds last year from companies operating in South Carolina. Currently, there are over 120 new projects being worked on, producing 14,000 new jobs for the region. 

Shipping managers are always looking for means to improve their supply chains. They often consider logistical factors like how to improve route optimization, expedite shipping times and reduce potential supply chain disruptions, and lower their overall transportation costs. Some shippers partner with a fully-integrated, single-source logistics provider to simplify their operations, relying on experienced 3PLs with value-added services to help streamline their supply chain.

If there’s one thing that shipping managers have in common with each other, it’s their unified dislike for supply chain disruptions. Shipping delays are detrimental to customer success and your bottom line, and they can happen at just about every touchpoint along a shipment’s journey. From increased vessel dwell time and demurrage at the port to the drayage provider delayed in picking up the container; understaffed warehouse and transloading facilities taking too much time unloading the truck, and poor route optimization resulted in a missed delivery appointment at the end destination. Most of the time, these delays are caused by a lack of communication, and because most shippers have a tendency to silo their transportation providers with specific roles. The idea is that multiple parties can manage the complexities of logistics and prevent disruptions by sharing the work. The drayage provider does the drayage, the transloading is done by someone else, and the OTR capacity is drawn from some other random service provider. The problem is, none of these companies talk to one another, and tracking and tracing requires communicating with three different reps, and sending a ton of emails in search of a status update.

Drayage may constitute only a small portion of a shipment's journey, but it is a vital element of the transportation industry still the same. Over the past couple of decades, drayage shipping and the drayage market have undergone several changes, with advances in technology driving an evolution in how companies arrange and coordinate drayage for their cargo.

Drayage can be one of the most frustrating aspects of moving freight. Shippers would think that moving freight a short distance wouldn't be a complicated endeavor, but drayage can take much coordination. Additionally, drayage fees can add up quickly, turning a short distance into a costly part of the shipping process.

Let’s cut to the chase; drayage fees stink. They can seriously increase costs for shippers, and it often feels like there’s nothing you can do about them. That a short haul can rack up so many fees makes drayage even more frustrating.

In the midst of peak shipping season, global shippers are busy preparing themselves for the onslaught of holiday orders needed to supply the vast North American consumer landscape. And what they cannot fit in their stores, shippers turn to 3PLs with warehouse and distribution services to provide replenishment when it’s needed most. Some of the most dependable transportation providers out there are ones that have their own brick-and-mortar warehouse facilities, and can provide the middle-mile distribution to ensure supply chains run smoothly no matter what the shipping season might be. This article is intended to inform readers about the variety of extra services that some 3PLs provide shippers on a regular basis.