Back in 2010, ironically about the same time as Greece agreed to the EU backed bailout program, “Get him to the Greek” was a rock (hardly Greek) comedy. But at this moment in time, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and indeed most of the leaders in the EU [especially Francois Hollande, President of France], would simply like to get past the Greeks and move on.
Agricultural exporters and truckers attending the Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) annual meeting in San Francisco expressed anger and frustration about losses and delays incurred during the recent cargo handling slow down at West Coast ports.
The Port of Wilmington hosted a scenic port tour for Congressman David Rouzer (R) and Bill Shuster (R), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to help assess the progress and needs of the port.
Agricultural exporters attending the Agriculture Transportation Coalition conference in San Francisco will hear a warning about losing more harbor truckers who drive their exports to U.S. ports from Ken Kellaway, president of RoadOne Intermodal Logistics.
John Amos, former global transportation director for Bechtel Corporation, former Chairman of the Board of The (NITL) National Industrial Transportation League and an organizer of the Breakbulk Europe conference in Antwerp says that shippers have been the “’the victim” of the recent West Coast labor slow down.
The effort to unionize Southern California harbor truck drivers took an unexpected turn on May 4th when Saybrook Capital, prime investor in Total Transportation Services, Inc (TTS) - an opponent of unionization of drivers, announced that it has started a “sister” company supported by the Teamsters Union.
The Teamsters Union began picketing four trucking companies at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and may have discouraged terminals from allowing the companies to make pickups and deliveries.
A spokesperson for the ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) said that the ILWU Longshore caucus composed of 90 members ratified the ILWU contract with the Pacific Maritime Association by 78%, sending the contract to the full membership for final ratification vote.
Not only are ports along the U.S. East Coast benefiting as shippers look for options to congested West Coast gateways, but opportunities also await in the Caribbean and Mexico as near-sourcing of products for American consumers is likely to accelerate.