FreightTech_org

📢 Transport Week 2025 moderators 🗣 #1 We are pleased to welcome Sebastian Wróbel, Co-founder and co-host at ETA.fm who will be one of the moderators at the #TransportWeek conference. 🆕 See you on 18-19 March 2025 in the new venue of our conference ➡️ Pomorski Park Naukowo-Technologiczny Gdynia / Pomeranian Science and Technology Park Gdynia! DAY 1️⃣ ➡ market news and industry trends: 'Europe - a leader or a follower?' DAY 2️⃣ ➡ 3rd edition of the Baltic Ports for Climate Conference organized in cooperation with the Baltic Ports Organization *** REGISTER NOW! *** REGISTRATION OPEN UNTIL 12 MARCH *** Programme DAY 1 ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dT_xYFKM Programme DAY 2 ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eRB9E_E3 Registration ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dVyYtrVx #transportweek #annualconference #balticportsforclimate #networking #bpo #bsr #balticsea #balticsearegion

#TPM25 has ended. I will download all the insights for the upcoming days and weeks. Though there are a lot of tensions in the air, remember there is always another vessel on the horizon, “Supply Chain will find its way” was one of the final words from Lars Jensen at the “Lunch with Lars” Peter Eric Mark thanks for organizing such a insightful event 🙏 Lars Alan it’s always a privilege to exchange thoughts with you face to face again 🙏 Mariana Estelle Anastassia Marianna Zvi Erik Fabio it was a pleasure finally meeting you in person ❤️ I can’t name everyone here but I'm grateful for all the conversations we’ve had 🙏 #amongfr8

Some key takeaways from Peter Tirschwell conversation with Peter Friedmann at #TPM25 🔴Section 301 Tariffs and Immediate Trade Disruptions Rapidly evolving tariffs under the current administration create uncertainty for BCOs and FFCs, particularly in agriculture. Retaliatory measures (e.g., China’s 20% tariff on soybeans) disrupt supply chains without warning. “China has imposed tariffs on specific companies… effective immediately. She’s got 47 containers of logs ready to go and doesn’t know what to do.” 🔴Chinese Shipbuilding Penalties and Capacity Constraints Proposed penalties on carriers using Chinese-built ships threaten to reduce port calls and capacity, directly impacting export/import reliability. “Carriers will suspend more calls… capacity pulled out of the market. Same pushback for where they’ll be similar pushback.” 🔴Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Independence at Risk Potential consolidation of the FMC into the Maritime Administration risks losing its role as a neutral regulator, destabilizing carrier-shipper dynamics. “You could reduce all these agencies from five commissioners to three… FMC supposed to be neutral, but that’s not what they do at the Maritime Administration.” 🔴Labor Union Influence on Port Operations Union priorities (e.g., longshoremen opposing automation) may conflict with efficiency needs, creating bottlenecks for FFCs. “The longshoremen… support trade measures not necessarily to their benefit. Unless they all want to work in a tourist office.” 🔴Agricultural Export Vulnerabilities Fresh produce exporters face severe value loss due to port delays, emphasizing the need for reliable last-mile logistics. “If any glitch occurs… they turn the temperature down and freeze beef. You lose 70% of its value.” 🔴Carrier Consolidation and Reduced Competition Fewer ocean carriers increase dependency risks for BCOs and limit negotiating power for FFCs. “Every year, fewer ocean carriers… consolidation means easier to work with them, but fewer options.” 🔴Real-Time Shipping Data Gaps Lack of transparency in ship schedules (e.g., blank sailings announced last-minute) disrupts supply chain planning. “Carriers decide to blank sailings five days before… airlines tell you if a plane is late, but carriers say, ‘Call the terminal.’” 🔴Retaliatory Tariffs on Strategic Goods Sudden tariffs on critical exports (e.g., logs, soybeans) force BCOs to halt shipments, requiring FFCs to reroute urgently. “China announced midnight tariffs on logs… Washington senators are worked up because this happened now.” 🔴Need for Niche Ports in Export Logistics in the US Ports like Oakland are critical for perishable exports, but underinvestment threatens specialized supply chains: “Oakland is the last port call… if disrupted, beef turns frozen, destroying value. We need niche ports.” #amongfr8 thoughts?

It was just too long for a post. 2nd bite from #TPM25 thoughts? #amongfr8

#TPM25: Just listened to the interview of Soren Toft from MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company Soren addressed several critical topics in his interview, offering insights into challenges and opportunities in the shipping industry. 👉Impact of Proposed USTR 301 Tariffs on Chinese-Made Vessels - Toft highlighted the potential financial impact of proposed tariffs on Chinese-made vessels, estimating costs between $500,000 to $1.5 million per port call. These costs could increase freight rates by 20–25% on certain routes, such as those from Asia to the U.S. - He warned that if these tariffs are implemented in their current form, carriers might need to withdraw services from some ports or pass costs onto customers, creating significant disruptions for BCOs and freight forwarders. 👉 Diversification of Sourcing Away from China - Toft noted a tangible shift among customers toward diversifying sourcing locations, moving away from heavy reliance on China. Countries like India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Turkey, and parts of Africa are becoming more prominent sourcing hubs. - This trend reflects a broader strategy to mitigate risks associated with tariffs and geopolitical tensions. 👉 Port Congestion and Infrastructure Challenges - Port congestion remains a critical bottleneck. Toft emphasized that even with sufficient ships, inefficiencies at ports can destabilize supply chains. - He pointed out that U.S. ports operate at only about 60% of their potential due to limited 24/7 operations and lack of automation compared to European and Asian counterparts. 👉 Schedule Reliability and Customer Expectations - Addressing the industry's low schedule reliability, Toft explained that MSC prioritizes delivering containers on time over ship punctuality. This approach aligns with customer needs but may lead to delays in vessel schedules. - He expressed optimism about improving reliability through MSC's expanded network and point-to-point services. 👉 Decarbonization and Fuel Transition - On sustainability, Toft stressed the industry's progress in adopting dual-fuel ships but lamented the lack of clear global regulations on future fuels. - MSC has invested heavily in LNG as a transitional fuel but called for global consistency in decarbonization policies to guide long-term investments. 👉 Growth Opportunities in Emerging Markets - Despite global challenges, Toft sees significant growth potential in regions like Africa, India, and Latin America due to expanding middle classes and economic development. - He emphasized MSC's continued investments in fleet renewal and infrastructure globally to capitalize on these opportunities. 👉 Potential Network Adjustments - If tariffs or regulatory changes make certain routes uneconomical, MSC may redeploy capacity to more profitable trades. This could disrupt existing service patterns for freight forwarders and BCOs relying on specific routes or ports. #amongfr8 #thoughts?

On my way to #TPM in #LA, I’m a first time commer. „They” told if I wanted to go for a single shipping conference this year, that’s the one. My plan is definitely not to go to a single one but how could I miss it after such statements from the biggest thought leaders of the industry? I am slightly worried though…. I’ve never been to the West Coast and my first visit to East Coast on the summer of 2001 ended up being truly pivotal for the World… (short disclaimer: I left NYC at the end of August, what came after that we all know 😞). There is a huge tension in the air nowadays. Who knows what future brings and I am definitely curious to learn what’s my American Friends point of view is. BTW I had to get my boarding pass printed and stamped, last time I’ve seen the printed version was in Miami, seriously #US? With all the technology you develop? Flying to US is the only route where I can used American Apple Wallet for that? #StayTunned I’ll try to pass some news instantly. #amongfr8

3 weeks ago we did a survey about communication channels in Freight Forwarding world. First of all thank you to over a hundred respondents 🙏 Key Insights that were grabbed: 👑 Dominance of Email Clients: Outlook is a dominant choice for professional email communication in the freight forwarding industry. The variety of versions (Office 365 vs. older versions) indicates diverse IT environments. 📱 Preference for Instant Messaging Apps: WhatsApp appears to be the most popular instant messaging tool for professional use. Microsoft Teams is also gaining traction as a collaboration platform. 🎢 Diverse Communication Needs: The mention of tools like Salesforce and internal customer care software highlights the integration of communication within operational systems. 🌐 Global Representation: The survey captures input from professionals across all continents, ensuring diverse perspectives. Any more thoughts when you look at the graphs? #amongfr8

#FridayContest ;) In how many companies acquired by DSV - Global Transport and Logistics have you worked? I did 3: #DFDS, #UTi and DB Schenker #amongfr8

Finally end of home office. I've hated working "from home" since my first year in sales without a branch in my city (circa. 2010). As much as I love the freedom of creating distributed teams, which is extremely valuable in ventures such as FreightTech_org, I am just not the person who can spend a whole day at home (in a productive way, of course). So the time has come, and finally #FTO has moved into Pomorski Park Naukowo-Technologiczny Gdynia / Pomeranian Science and Technology Park Gdynia and I have a first roommate Marcin Kulawik :) And "yes", there is a plan to set up a small recording studio for ETA.fm - Trade 2 Freight Broadcast here, too 😁 🎙️ 🎧 I have a gut feeling that great things will be launched to the market from this 30sqm. Anyone crossing by, feel free to come in for a coffee! :) #amongfr8

🎮 From Tetris to Tetrixx: How Two Founders are Stacking Up Supply Chain Success Just had an insightful conversation with Emilie Annweiler and Arnaud R. from TetriXX on FreightTech_org 📺 channel! 🚀 These two brilliant minds are revolutionizing freight invoice auditing and empty container repositioning from Singapore. Their journey? A perfect blend of Arnaud's 30-year freight forwarding expertise and Emilie's computer science innovation background. What caught my attention? Their AI agent processes freight invoices with mind-blowing precision - capturing 104 data points from PDFs and automating 80% of straight-through processing to finance. The ROI? A solid 2-6% reduction in overbilling! 💰But here's the game-changer: They're not just about cost savings. Tetrixx is tackling the massive empty container repositioning challenge while providing granular CO2 emission calculations. Finally, someone addressing both operational efficiency and sustainability! 🌱 The most compelling part? Their human-in-the-loop approach ensures context-aware decisions, combining AI power with human expertise. No more tedious manual audits - just strategic decision-making where it matters. Love their focus on excellence over quantity. In a world obsessed with scaling, Tetrixx proves that a small, driven team can create a massive impact on supply chain optimization. #FreightTech #SupplyChain #AI #Sustainability #Innovation #LogisticsTech