by logisticsplus | Feb 13, 2020 | News
Coronavirus Service Alert
The coronavirus outbreak in China has been causing a ripple effect across global supply chains over the past several weeks. As a global logistics provider, Logistics Plus is uniquely positioned to have our hand on the pulse of this situation. Below are several key status updates and insights as of February 17th, 2020.
On February 10th, most of China resumed work. In Shanghai, millions of people returned to work, but most are still working from home. Those who go outside are obligated to wear medical masks and protective gear. Places where people gather such as factories and public parks are closed or have limited operations until February 20th. Major highways in the highly infected cities are also shut down.
The government has blocked cities which are more seriously affected by the virus like in Wenzhou and Hubei Province to avoid further infection. No one can go back to work in these cities until further notice is given from the government.
Air Freight Updates:
- American Airlines – Suspended flights until late April
- Austrian Airlines – Suspended flights until the end of February
- Delta Airlines – Suspended flights until late April
- Qatar Airways – Suspended flights until further notice
- United Airlines – Suspended flights until late April
- Virgin Atlantic – Suspended flights until late March
- Many more
Ocean Freight Updates:
- Most carriers are not returning to work until February 17th. Major challenges include the introduction of blank sailings, port omissions and potential capacity reductions by carriers due to factory closures and low demand.
- All major seaports however remain open and operational. Warehouses across China have opened, but most with limited staffing.
- Drayage has resumed on a very limited basis and predominantly only in the major cities. Most require advanced bookings and have reported extended transit times due to driver shortages.
- Drayage costs have been impacted the most because of the virus, as ports are congested, and capacity is tight.
Trucking Updates:
- Inter-city and inter-Province trucking services remain at a standstill.
- Many drivers haven’t been able to return to their place of work, due to travel restrictions.
- Many drivers can’t leave their living quarters to go to work, due to movement restrictions.
- Various cities have introduced lock-down procedures to restrict movement of non-local citizens, especially in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Therefore, drivers aren’t accepting shipments to or from those places, as there are quarantine risks for them.
- The overall shortage of drivers remains a challenge.
Rail Updates:
- The China – Russia border remains open as the Ministry of Transportation in Russia explained that the Decree from the Russian Government does not apply for cargo trains.
- There is currently no impact on rail freight crossing borders to and from China for the time being.
If you are shipping to, from, or within the impacted areas, delays are expected. If you have any questions, or need help making specific shipping arrangements, please contact your designated Logistics Plus representative. If you don’t know who that is, you can contact us online at www.logisticsplus.com/contact-us or by calling 1.866.564.7587.
Yuriy Ostapyak
Director of Global Operations
yuriy.ostapyak@logisticsplus.com
by logisticsplus | Jan 14, 2019 | News
Global Trade Alert Message:
Due to the current government shutdown, several links to online government resources are temporarily broken or disabled. This may include links to government resources that are posted on the Logistics Plus website. We are aware of these issues and we apologize for any inconveniences.
by logisticsplus | Nov 2, 2018 | News
North American Alert:
Attn: LTL Shippers & eShipPlus Users,
Current events with UPS Freight is threatening to cause delays throughout the less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping industry across North America.
As previously communicated, UPS Freight and the Teamsters Freight National Bargaining Committee recently concluded a round of discussions on October 25, 2018. UPS Teamster employees will go to their local union hall to cast ballots between November 7-11, but, at this point, UPS does not have an extension in place to the current UPS Freight contract. As a precaution, so that customers don’t get caught with freight sitting on its docks should there be a labor strike, UPS Freight is temporarily suspending pickups until the new labor agreement is in place. As such, Logistics Plus has temporarily suspended UPS freight as an available option in eShipPlus until UPS confirms they have returned to normal operations.
Please be advised that the resulting influx of freight and shortage of capacity, on top of the already peak manufacturing and retail shipping seasons, is already starting to cause delays in pickups and transit with the other LTL carriers; and some carriers are warning that they may have to limit pickups in certain areas, especially at locations that they have not historically been servicing.
Please be advised that the team at Logistics Plus will work to keep all our customers’ freight moving despite these challenges. However, some pickup and delivery delays will be inevitable. We are asking all our customers to please add extra lead time to upcoming shipments until the situation has normalized. Please contact NADOPS (Logistics Plus North American Division) if you have any questions or to communicate any urgent situations or issues so our operations specialists can help provide the best solutions available.
Thank you for being a Logistics Plus customer. We appreciate your business and your patience as we work through this service disruption.
by logisticsplus | Oct 10, 2018 | News
The National Hurricane Center expects a storm surge along the coast of Florida and Alabama. Flooding is expected due to heavy rainfall and could cause flash flooding from the Florida Panhandle region into portions of Georgia, the Carolina’s, and southeast Virginia. Damaging hurricane force winds are likely along the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend, and Nature Coast, where a storm surge warning is in effect.
Due to Hurricane Michael, multiple terminal and port closures are expected across the red highlighted areas on the map shown here. Depending on the path and timing of Hurricane Michael, more terminals may be effected in the coming days. If you are shipping to, from, or within the impacted areas, delays are expected. If you have any questions, or need help making specific shipping arrangements, please contact your designated Logistics Plus representative (or if you don’t know who that is, you can Contact Us online or by calling 1.866.LOG.PLUS).
You can view all of the latest details regarding Hurricane Michael on the National Hurricane Center Website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/hurricane/michael
by logisticsplus | Sep 13, 2018 | News
The National Hurricane Center expects a storm surge along the coastlines of South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, with potential water swells as far north as Maryland. Freshwater flooding is expected due to heavy rainfall. Damaging hurricane force winds are likely along coastal areas and could spread inland into the Carolina’s and Virginia, and potentially Northern Georgia.
You can view all of the latest details regarding Hurricane Florence on the National Hurricane Center Website: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Florence
Port Operations
Norfolk:
In the last 24 hours, the forecast for Southeastern Virginia has improved significantly. Heavy rain and tropical storm force winds are possible, focused on Friday, September 14 – Saturday, September 15. The forecast for the next 24-36 hours – through Thursday night, September 13 – offers manageable conditions for cargo operations. Per the U.S. Coast Guard, the main shipping channel remains closed at the Virginia Capes. No vessels are currently entering/exiting the port. In the interest of customer service and cargo accessibility, The Port of Virginia announces the following:
Thursday morning, September 13:
- TRUCK GATES RE-OPEN at all six Port of Virginia cargo terminals – observe normal/posted operating hours
- No TRS reservations required – open hours at all terminals
- No empty reefer movement in or out of NIT
- PPCY/RSA remain CLOSED – all empties routed to the marine terminals
- Please consult the matrix
- PCY chassis yard – OPEN
Friday, September 14:
- Operating status to be determined and announced by midday on Thursday, September 13
NC Ports:
The Port of Wilmington and the Port of Morehead City are currently closed to all vessel traffic. NC State Ports Authority continues its Hurricane Preparation Plan and is taking all necessary steps to protect cargo, facilities and equipment.
Wednesday, September 12:
- NC Ports’ terminals in Wilmington and Morehead City are CLOSED to commercial truck traffic, however, tenants have access to both Ports but must complete any storm preparations by 17:00.
- Access will only be granted through Wilmington’s South Gate (Container Gate).
Thursday, September 13 through Saturday, September 15:
- No access of any kind will be permitted at either Port facility as of 12:00 am Thursday, September 13 through Saturday, September 15.
- Once Hurricane Florence passes, and the Port facilities can be evaluated, they will communicate plans concerning re-opening.
Savannah:
Port is open but will continue to track storm.
Baltimore:
Gates are potentially open Thursday, September 13. The vessel channel will remain closed due to channel swells, but the gates remain open.
Rail Updates
CSX Transportation (CSXT):
CSX is enacting comprehensive storm preparations as Hurricane Florence approaches the U.S. mainland. Precautions are being taken to protect rail traffic and assets in advance of this storm. Post-storm recovery planning, including holding trains at intermediate points across the network, is actively underway for rapid restoration of service and infrastructure once the weather moderates and conditions begin to improve.
Portsmouth, VA:
- The CSXT-served Portsmouth, VA terminal closed Tuesday, September 11, at 1700 and will remain closed through the storm.
Charleston, SC:
- The CSXT-served Charleston, SC rail terminal will close Wednesday, September 12, at 1700 and remain closed through the storm.
- Final train arrivals and departures to/from Charleston will be aligned to the terminal closure and subject to change as more information becomes available.
Savannah, GA:
- Closing rail ramp gates to Savannah as of Sept 12 1900
- At this time, all other CSX Intermodal Terminals are maintaining normal gate hours, subject to change as more information becomes available. Customers should expect an interruption in train service for traffic in the mid-Atlantic / I-95 corridor as the storm approaches and continuing as the storm moves through the region.
Norfolk Southern (NS):
- As of Sept 10, there is an inland embargo – stop acceptance of cargo at all inland points feeding into Norfolk, and the rail is closed in Charleston as of Tues Sept 11 17:00.
Trucking Update
Truck power after 12:00 EST today Sept 12, will be limited to non-existent due to road closures and limited staff at warehouses, ramps, etc. This covers Coastal Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and likely Georgia. Should Maryland be affected we will be updating with more information to come.
