b'16American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comCHASSIS MANAGEMENTGSCS Arsenault warns US shippers should expect & DRAYAGE 2024 big changes in 2025DavidArsenault,PresidentatGSCEnterprises, an Oakland, California-based drayage and logis-ticscompanysaysthatUSshipperscanexpect supply chain challenges in 2025. By Stas Margaronis, AJOTDrayage and chassis management areDavidArsenault,Presi- portsmuchmoreexpensive dentatGSCEnterprises,analong with the unresolved issue fundamental to global transportation Oakland,California-basedfirmof automation.that specializes in drayage andArsenaultworriesthat Congestion, compensation, and choices impact efficiency. logistics,saysthatthelaborthe automation issue may not situationatEastCoastandbe resolved for East and Gulf By Debra Phillips, AJOTGulf Coast ports could resultCoast ports and could result in a continued shift of cargoesinalaboractionwhenthe As the last two months ofavailable. Rather than havingWhile most firms use thisto the West Coast. ILA contract deadline expires 2024 wind down, business isemployeesconstantlymoni- technology responsibly, someArsenaulttoldAJOTthaton January 15 th , 2025.booming at the ports of Lostorwhenanappointmentbook appointments when theythe 62% wage increase won byTheshifttoWestCoast AngelesandLongBeach,isopen,technologycanbebecomeavailable,althoughtheInternationalLongshore- portsprimarilybenefitsthe California. In September, thehelpful if it is used to notifythey may not be able to use allmensAssociation(ILA)inPortsofLosAngelesand Port of Los Angeles handledcarriers when an appointment(FUNDAMENTALcon- October 2024 will make cargo(CHANGEScontinued recordvolumes,andthebecomes available. tinued page 18) handling at East and Gulf Coastpage 22)NationalRetailFederation (NRF) expects volumes in the WestCoastportstoremain high as the NRF points to an extended peak season, due, in part, to online shopping andRevolutionizingthe use of gift cards.The East Coast ports reportChassis Provisioninglower volumes as they attempt torecoverfromtwohurri-canes and the first International LongshoremensAssociation (ILA) strike in 50 years. With the potential of a second strike in January, if a final agreement is not met, shippers will con-tinuetodivertcargotoWest Coast ports.Historically,theports of L.A. and Long Beach are someofthebusiestinthe nation. For the drayage com-panies doing business at these gateways,highvolumesdo not always result in increased profitability.AccordingtotheInter-modal Association of North America (IANA), most dray-agefirmsaresmallopera-tions, with less than ten units in their fleets. Inefficiencies inthesupplychainalong withexcessivedetentionatINNOVATIVE. RELIABLE.cargofacilitiescandirectly impactalreadyrazor-thinmargins.Inaddition,EFFICIENT.motorcarrierratesacross theboardhavedroppedinINTERMODAL EQUIPMENT AND FLEET MANAGEMENT SERVICESrecentmonthssubsequently impactingprofitabilityfor many providers. Fleet ManagementIT Solutionsc OngestiOnc Ontributes tOO PerAtiOnAli neFFiciencies POWERED BYAtt erminAlsFordrayagefirms,the firsthurdleissecuringan appointment at the terminals wherecontainersmustbe picked up or dropped off.Manyterminalshave varyinghourswhentrucks and drivers are allowed to be onsite, which requires careful planningbyfirmsanddriv-ers, said Matt Schrap, CEO, of the Harbor Trucking Asso- ccmpool.comciation (HTA).Headded,Inmany instances, you wait days for anappointmenttobecome'