Lessons learned in 2016 from Hanjin

Can you believe that another year is coming to a close? 2016 was full of surprises for shippers and supply chain professionals. Many of the stories that dominated headlines this year will impact us all in different ways. From the future of international trade to promises to fix U.S. infrastructure, the year was certainly one that will go down in the transportation management history books. Let's take a look at four of the top stories that 2016 will be remembered for.

The recent decision by voters in the United Kingdom to leave the European Union has created a cloud of uncertainty throughout the shipping and logistics world about what the so-called "Brexit" means for international shippers. Our Vice President of International Solutions, Charlie McGee, recently sat down to discuss the repercussions for US shippers. His thoughts on the subject may surprise you.

Nearly a decade after the initial groundbreaking, the Panama Canal's expansion of a third set of locks is set to open to container ships (and specifically mega-ships) on June 26th. 

Leaders and cargo movers from across the international shipping industry were out in full force this year for the Journal of Commerce's 16th TPM (Trans-Pacific Maritime) Annual Conference in Long Beach, CA. In the thick of it all wa

s Charlie McGee, Averitt's vice president of international solutions.

After four days of making the rounds and sitting through discussions to size up the industry's concerns and outlook for 2016, McGee delivers his three major takeaways from 

TPM:

Customer Testimonial: Supply Chain Success In The Retail World

Craig Barnell, General Manager of Connecticut-based Fishers Finery, utilizes the services of Averitt Express on many different levels. From importing to warehousing and delivery, "The Power of One" gives Barnell the peace of mind that comes from the knowledge that he has: One Contact. One Invoice. One Partner.

Ups and Downs of Ocean Rates

2015 WILL LIKELY BE RECORDED AS THE MOST VOLATILE YEAR IN THE HISTORY OF CONTAINERIZED OCEAN SHIPPING.

During the peak of the West Coast ILWU/PMA labor dispute that was reached in February of 2015, backlogs and congestion reached from both shores of North America all the way back to the containers stacked up in Asia awaiting a slot on a vessel that had been long delayed by the gridlock on the West Coast and the sheer volume that was diverted and moving via East and Gulf Coast ports, container rates had skyrocketed to a level never seen before.  Many desperate shippers were willing to pay almost any price to get their cargo moving.

Do you ship to or from Canada? If so, you know there’s no shortage of paperwork and shipping rules involved when shipping across the U.S-Canada border. In fact, it can be easy to miss something - and many cross-border shippers do, inevitably causing delays and service failures. How can you avoid common cross-border shipping mistakes when moving goods to and from Canada? Here are five tips to get you started: