On June 16th, 2022, President Biden signed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act into law. The law, which represents the first major shipping legislation to come out of Washington in over twenty years, is ostensibly designed to help the U.S. ocean logistics industry remain competitive in a global logistics marketplace increasingly dominated by super-sized carrier alliances. However, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act(OSRA) of 2022 takes bold regulatory actions unexpected by many shippers. With regulatory bodies squaring off against ocean shipping mega-corporations for the first time in over twenty years, what do shippers need to know?

Maintaining a commitment to safe and on-time delivery to customers with fast turnaround times lies at the heart of e-commerce transportation and shipping services. According to a study by Accenture, "The pandemic greatly accelerated online commerce growth. During the lockdown, the percentage of all brands' sales that were made online nearly doubled from 34% in 2019 to 65% in 2020. Of those online sales, a higher percentage came through marketplaces (38%) than brands' online stores (27%). But, that 27% is quadruple what brands sold through their sites in 2019." Almost every importer will have to deal with shipment delays at some point. Knowing how to mitigate delays and monitor shipping KPIs can help shippers improve on-time delivery. 

As the recovery from the global pandemic continues, there is plenty of talk about capacity shortages, driver shortages, inventory shortages and all manner of other deficiencies throughout the international freight chain. One thing not mentioned often enough is the growing issues of shipping container shortages in many regions. Shipping containers are the lifeblood of world trade as every item, product, or part that ships out gets loaded into a container. However, recent trends and habits among shippers and carriers have led to extreme shortages and delays. As reported by The Washington Post, “The worst choke point is in Southern California at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, where 62 container ships carrying toys, electronics, furniture and other goods lie at anchor waiting for an unloading berth. The floating queue, virtually unknown before the coronavirus pandemic upended global supply chains, has doubled since mid-August.” 

International freight shipping is the movement of cargo across international borders. International shipping has distinct rules and regulations meant to guarantee the safety of exports and imports across the world. The two typical modes are air transport and ocean transport.  Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is up to the freight owner to weigh various options and make an informed decision.

Although many people see freight shipping as a complex process, it often depends on your preparedness and the people you are working with. In this article, we'll explain the basics on how to ship freight internationally. 

The importation and exportation of goods is a lucrative business that comes with a number of challenges. Importers always have to grapple in choosing options that won’t jeopardize their businesses. They always look for alternatives that won’t require them to pay instant duty for storing goods. In this article, we'll analyze the differences between a foreign trade zone versus a customs bonded warehouse. 

Whether you run a business or you're at home, a late shipment of an expected product or item can be frustrating. For businesses, it could delay the launch of a series of products. For homeowners, they may rely on that item or set of clothes for the next day. Despite the frustration, shipments delays can be excused on some occasions. The following are a few reasons why delays may happen:

Every day, large amounts of goods are transported around the World. With so many chemicals, oils, cars, and other important goods being transported, companies want these goods to be protected. Freight and cargo damage occurs periodically, due to multiple factors. While it is unlikely that you will be able to stop every mistake along the supply chain, there are some things that you can do to prevent the goods from being damaged.

International freight shipping and storage is a major industry that continues to grow exponentially each year. The logistics behind moving freight is complex and heavily dependent on many contingent factors. There are some basic factors that go into each potential freight move. Port City Logistics has put together a compilation of frequently asked questions served to briefly explain the fundamentals of international freight movement.

The journey of freight contents from manufacture to marketplace is an interesting and complex process. Typically, with more than a few exceptions, what follows is a general idea of what happens to ocean freight on its journey.