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Early Bird rates still available for #Breakbulk25! Join us for the data-driven and rigorous conference program developed by Journal of Commerce journalists and analysts - subject matter experts covering international transportation and #logistics - in collaboration with senior leaders across the industry. Spend three days amongst the most specialized project and #breakbulk cargo maritime audience in the industry. Register now: https://okt.to/zZ5J63

We are delighted to announce former UN Ambassador and National Security Advisor John Bolton as the 2025 TPM keynote speaker. A former US National Security Advisory in 2018-2019, he will speak to the growing geopolitical risks to supply chains seen most recently in the attacks on shipping in the Red Sea which led to mass diversions of container ships around Africa which added 2-4 weeks to supply chain transit times. Learn more and register for #TPM25 today: https://okt.to/5lnSK3

For over a quarter century, TPM has been a venue for meetings, informal networking, relationship-building and information sharing. It has always been the right people meeting at the right place at the right time. Between now and #TPM25 on March 2-5, we will share reflections about TPM from several leaders who have attended the event over many years and are kindly willing to share their thoughts as the event approaches its 25th year. Lori's words: An operations focus throughout my international logistics career has meant very little time or opportunity for travel! This has changed in recent years, however, and I have experienced the irreplaceable benefits of spending time with my peers at various industry events. But nothing really prepared me for my first TPM. As I communicated effusively to the exceptional folks at Journal of Commerce by S&P Global, who put this stellar event together, the volume and diversity of attendees and the caliber of the speakers, presenters and panelists are unlike anything one can encounter elsewhere. Not only do attendees get to hear from and meet with respected leaders in the transportation industry, but they also get a unique audience with leaders from outside of our niche. These speakers generously and candidly share their own perspectives on world events, so critical for professionals navigating global trade. Recent years included the likes of Gary Cohn and Gen. David Petraeus. The Journal of Commerce editors who oversee and moderate the discussions always keep the dialogue focused and real. Aside from interviews with super-heavy hitters, numerous, highly relevant information sessions are also taking place. Each participant can check out the various topic “tracks” on offer to drill down into content of greatest interest and value, whether within the TPM Academy, TPM Tech, Shipper Case Studies or one of the many other tracks. To be sure, the biggest challenge is choosing between the multitude of high-quality sessions on offer throughout the four days in Long Beach. For each year that I have attended TPM, I can point to something learned or people met that became meaningful in my business. I'm hooked.

Forwarders expect freefalling ocean spot rates on the Asia-North Europe trade to bottom out in October and then climb through the remainder of the year as carriers increase blank sailings and roll out rate hikes to target demand from an early Chinese New Year. Carriers are so far expected to blank 20% of available capacity in October on Asia-Europe and at least 10% in November, according to data from visibility provider eeSea available to JOC.com Gold Subscribers on #Gateway. Carriers have so far been unable to stem the rate slide in the traditionally slow post-Golden Week period that followed an early peak season on Asia-Europe, but they are pulling hard on capacity management levers in a bid to balance supply and demand. For comparison, carriers blanked 16.5% of available capacity in September and 15.3% in August. Track developments in the Asia-Europe container trade via various pricing indices and key port performance metrics on #Gateway. Learn more: https://okt.to/rTJpF4

After a two-year-plus freight downturn, trucking companies along with their partners and customers are looking forward to heightened demand. The US Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts in September likely set the stage for not only improvements in manufacturing and housing demand that will generate freight, but also lower capital costs for companies looking to expand by acquisition. Even before September’s half-point rate cut, freight volumes were beginning to increase, as consumer spending rallied over the summer and more goods hit the road earlier than expected. All this has shippers bracing for truckload rate increases, perhaps in the fourth quarter but certainly down the road in 2025. Will demand push rates up sharply during the next round of contract talks? Or will the availability of capacity blunt rate hikes and pave a more moderate path toward growth in transportation pricing in 2025? This webcast, led by Senior Trucking Editor William Cassidy will assess those and other points, such as the growth of dedicated and private fleets and the outlook for less-than-truckload shipping. Learn more and register now: https://okt.to/BTAUeR

Early Bird rates for #Breakbulk25 are available for a limited time! Register now and join us in New Orleans April 23-25, 2025 for an in-depth conference program which delves into the most pressing challenges affecting breakbulk and project cargo shippers in North America and globally. Register now: https://okt.to/UeZ2Dl

Over a quarter century TPM has been a venue for meetings, informal networking, relationship-building and information sharing. It has always been the right people meeting at the right place at the right time. Between now and #TPM25 on March 2-5 we will share reflections about TPM from several leaders who have attended the event over many years and are kindly willing to share their thoughts as the event approaches its 25th year. Bjorn’s words: “TPM. Where do I even begin? Since 2006, I have only missed one. Which, accounting for the pandemic cancellation and including the smaller events in Shenzhen, means that 2025 will be my 23rd. Somehow, I have become part of the furniture, and for me, missing TPM would make the year feel very strange indeed. Even if I had a travel budget of zero, I’d find my way there. Because TPM is THE container shipping conference. The place to meet 4,000 industry professionals representing all the nodes in the supply chain: carriers, forwarders, 3PLs, shippers, brokers, truckers, rail operators, bankers, consultants, and press. All shipping conferences claim that they are attended by C-level executives and decision makers. In reality, very few are. But TPM really is, and for that reason alone, you can achieve in three days at TPM what would otherwise take you 3 months - and a lot more travel time and -cost! Some use TPM as the venue for their annual contract negotiations; some use it as a way to gauge where their talks with carriers or shippers will go a few months later; some use it as a learning opportunity, listening to the many excellent sessions on offer; some use it for networking - and it really is the ultimate networking opportunity in the industry. And some use it for all of those things. Because the “TP” stands for “Trans-Pacific”, many make the mistake of assuming that this is the only focus, but they’d be very wrong. The attendees are often globally focused, and the conference itself well attended by European and Asian professionals. Over the years, I have taken many team members and contacts to their first TPM. Most came thinking it was just another conference and trade show; some even came mildly annoyed that they had to go to another one of those. Every single one left TPM swearing that they would do everything in their power to never miss one again. I hope to see you there!”

Rail container dwell times in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach surged to a two-year high in September. Marine terminals operations, however, say the record volumes pushing average dwells times of ocean containers to 3.21 days have not contributed to congestion, which is confirmed by reports from the Marine Exchange which is reporting no vessel waiting offshore. Yet the rail dwells are the highest since October 2023, according to data from the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. Forwarders warn that conditions are deteriorating and they're seeing longer delays, but that conditions vary significantly among terminals. Dwell times of containers for truck and rail transport at major US ports can be monitored on a regular basis on the #Gateway, a benefit for JOC.com Gold subscribers. Learn more: https://okt.to/4U7jCz

Major roll-on/roll-off carriers reported climbing net rates in the first half even as demand for machinery and rolling stock faltered and a congested shipping market tightened capacity. Learn more: https://okt.to/hgPSED

New Release: We are excited to introduce myGateway, a new functionality to the #Gateway exclusive to Gold subscribers. This feature allows you to bookmark your most-used charts, creating your own personal dashboard. This new and easy-to-use channel allows you to quickly access charts that are most useful to you. If you are a Gold subscriber, visit the Gateway now to build your dashboard. If you are not a Gold subscriber, get your premium access now: https://okt.to/aqB3F7