The Port of Oakland is investing in new infrastructure, including mega ship to shore cranes to load and unload 18,000 teu (20-foot container unit) container ships that it expects will be arriving at California ports within the next 2-5 years.

Digital communications and transactions have vastly increased the speed and convenience of business. But this digitization has also paved the way for whole new types of threats and risks that many companies struggle to contain. In particular, middle market companies that use wire transfers to buy and sell goods directly with overseas customers and suppliers are being targeted by hackers at an alarming rate, and many are incurring serious financial losses.

According to the American Trucking Association, there is a current shortage of about 51,000 drivers, which is impacting U.S. retailers, and it is predicted to get worse in the coming years.

The cold chain for life sciences continues to undergo seismic change. In 2018, we saw an ongoing shift in the approach pharmaceutical manufacturers take to putting life-saving drugs in the hands of clinicians and patients.

Adapting to trends is crucial for success, so keep on top of industry shifts, and adjust your global shipping strategy accordingly.

In 2019, many ocean carriers will be forced to sit longer at port waiting for trucks to pick up the cargo, which will prompt some to impose emergency intermodal fees or stop door delivery in response.

The growth and disruption of the digital marketplace is hard to miss in industries like retail and entertainment. A range of companies, including Amazon, Spotify and Netflix, are replacing the traditional businesses of yesterday.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) approved the recommendations of Commissioner Rebecca Dye as set forth in her final report of the Fact Finding 28 investigation. Her recommendations also included the establishment of a Shipper Advisory Board.

Canadian National Railway is seeking to emulate its success on Canada’s west coast by establishing a bigger beachhead on the east coast by bidding, with an unidentified partner, to acquire a stake in Halterm Container terminal at the Port of Halifax.

Iron ore shipping to world markets from the Canadian Arctic region has recently spiked significantly, responding to demands from steel producers.