News
Dispatch Alerts & Rate Updates
Independent, third-party alerts on port congestion, appointment delays, and spot rate movements across major US West Coast lanes.
Top Stories
2026-06-25
Transpacific Spot Rates Jump 29% Week-on-Week as Carriers Push July BAF Ahead of Schedule
Far East-to-US West Coast spot rates surged 29% week-on-week and East Coast rates rose 25%, with carriers reporting full ships for weeks ahead as shippers frontload before July bunker surcharge increases.
2026-06-24
Transpacific Spot Rates Jump Again on June 18: Shanghai-LA Up 10% to $5,142/FEU
Shanghai to Los Angeles spot rates rose 10% to $5,142/FEU and Shanghai to New York rose 15% to $6,769/FEU in the week of June 18, as carriers run 10-15% blank sailings into an already fully booked frontloading window.
2026-06-24
US-China Deal Freezes Combined Tariff at 30% for 60 Days; New Board of Trade Opens for Comment
The June 11 US-China trade deal holds the combined 'fentanyl' and 'reciprocal' tariff rate at 30% and pauses higher tariffs for 60 days, while a newly agreed US-China Board of Trade has opened a public comment period on tariff reductions for non-sensitive sectors.
Latest
2026-06-28
Drewry: Blank Sailings Stay Low at 3% Even as Peak-Season Rates Keep Climbing
Drewry's June 26 tracker shows only 24 blank sailings across the next five weeks, but transpacific rates remain firm as demand and frontloading keep space tight.
2026-06-28
Port of Long Beach Backs Green Truck Corridor Linking Long Beach and Mexico
The Port of Long Beach highlighted Bali Express Services' cross-border clean-truck corridor, with 32 CNG trucks, 6 EVs, and another 40 cleaner trucks planned this year.
2026-06-28
Long Beach Approves $1.05B Budget Built Around Rail, Zero-Emissions, and Pier B
The Port of Long Beach approved a $1.05 billion budget, with 55% tied to capital investment and $571.8 million of FY2027 spending aimed at major infrastructure projects.
2026-06-28
Port of Los Angeles May Volume Rises 17% to 840,165 TEUs
The Port of Los Angeles handled 840,165 TEUs in May 2026, with imports up 26% and year-to-date volume still 1.4% ahead of last year.
2026-06-28
Amazon Expands LTL Freight Service Beyond Its Own Network to Any Destination
Amazon Supply Chain Services now offers LTL freight to third-party warehouses, DCs, and retail partners, opening a service once limited mainly to inbound Amazon flows.
2026-06-26
Drewry's World Container Index Jumps 5% to $4,166/40ft on June 25 Update
Drewry's June 25 World Container Index reading rose 5% week-on-week to $4,166 per 40ft container, with the increase concentrated on transpacific lanes as rates approach June 2025 highs.
2026-06-26
Panama Canal Reinstates 15.9-Meter Draft Restriction, Carriers Bring Back Cargo Weight Limits
The Panama Canal has reimposed a 15.9-meter draft restriction, prompting carriers to reinstate cargo weight limits on vessels routing through the canal to the US East Coast and Gulf, adding a new capacity constraint on top of already-tight transpacific capacity.
2026-06-26
Section 232 Metals Tariffs Cut to 15% for Select Categories and Trade-Deal Partners
The US has adjusted Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper, reducing the rate to 15% (from 25%) for agricultural, industrial equipment, and HVAC categories, with additional relief for countries that have signed recent trade deals with the US.
2026-06-26
USTR Proposes 25% Tariff on Most Brazilian Goods Over Digital Trade and Deforestation Practices
The US Trade Representative has proposed a 25% tariff on most Brazilian goods following an investigation into Brazil's trade practices, including digital trade barriers and illegal deforestation, marking a new tariff front beyond the China-focused actions that have dominated 2026.
2026-06-26
Port of Long Beach Authorizes $58.2M for Zero-Emission Cargo Equipment
The Port of Long Beach's Board of Harbor Commissioners approved $58.2 million to purchase zero-emissions cargo handling equipment, cleaner harbor craft, and a zero-emission locomotive, funded in part by a California SWIFT grant.
2026-06-25
LA/Long Beach Vessel Congestion Hits Near-Zero Despite Record May Volumes
Port of LA's median vessel wait time has fallen to 0.08 days and Long Beach truck turn times are averaging 55 minutes, even as LA processed 840,165 TEU in May, up 17% year-over-year.
2026-06-25
Pentagon Adds Alibaba, Baidu, and BYD to Expanded 188-Company Chinese Military List
The Pentagon's June 8 update to its Chinese military companies list now includes Alibaba, Baidu, BYD, and Unitree Robotics, banning direct DoD contracts from June 30 and indirect supply-chain procurement from June 2027.
2026-06-25
Amazon's FBA New Selection Program (2026) Launches July 30 With Bigger Fee Credits
Amazon's FBA New Selection Program relaunches July 30, 2026 with expanded inbound-placement fee credits, 90 days of free storage on the first 100 units per new ASIN, and reduced referral fees on the first $25,000 in sales per new ASIN for 365 days.
2026-06-25
Prime Day 2026 Runs June 23-26, Weeks Earlier Than Amazon's Usual July Slot
Amazon's 2026 Prime Day ran June 23-26, breaking from the typical July timing and compressing sellers' inbound, advertising, and inventory prep window by an estimated two to three weeks.
2026-06-24
LA Hits 840,165 TEU in May, Long Beach Up 16.4% in June — But Rail Is Now the Bottleneck
Port of LA processed 840,165 TEU in May (+17% YoY) and Long Beach posted its best June on record at 415,677 TEU (+16.4%), but easing vessel congestion has shifted the chokepoint to rail loading and drayage.
2026-06-24
FMCSA Non-Domiciled CDL Rule Could Pull Up to 194,000 Drivers From Port Drayage
FMCSA's Non-Domiciled CDL Final Rule is removing eligible drivers concentrated in port drayage — up to 194,000 nationally — while chassis utilization near 94% has already pushed box dwell times past 20 days at major gateways.
2026-06-24
Amazon's 2026 FBA Capacity Model Caps Individual Sellers at 15 Cubic Feet, Adds ASIN-Level Limits
Since January 1, 2026, Amazon has replaced quarterly storage limits with a monthly cubic-feet capacity model — individual sellers are capped at 15 cubic feet, professional limits depend on IPI and sales history, and individual ASINs now face 90-day supply caps.
2026-06-23
Transpacific Rate Spike Ahead of BAF Reset
Shanghai-to-Los Angeles spot rates jumped 31% to $4,565/FEU and Shanghai-to-New York rose 20% to $5,505/FEU as carriers front-load a BAF reset ahead of the July contract cycle.
2026-06-23
IEEPA Tariff Refund Update
IEEPA duties collection stopped Feb 24, 2026 and first refunds reached Treasury May 5, but a new Section 122 tariff — now 15% on all countries — replaces the lost revenue stream.
2026-06-23
HTSUS Modifications and Enforcement
HTSUS provisions changed for select tariff lines effective June 8, 2026, while DOJ's new white-collar focus on trade fraud raises the stakes for inaccurate HTS classification.
2026-06-23
LA Port Executive Addresses Tariff and Trade Disruption Risks
Port of LA container volumes held 5% above last year's pace even as Supreme Court tariff rulings and Middle East-linked trade risks drove front-loading and elevated carrier surcharges.
2026-06-20
DOT Launches American Supply Chain Sovereignty Initiative to Connect Ports, Carriers, and Retailers on One Data Dashboard
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a new USDOT initiative at the Port of Los Angeles to build a high-visibility freight dashboard linking ports, ocean carriers, railroads, and retailers, with legislation requested in this year's NDAA.
2026-06-20
Intermodal's 48% Cost Advantage Over Truckload Drives Fastest Modal Conversion Pace in Years
Truckload spot rates have climbed to $3.08 per mile against intermodal's $1.61 per mile, an approximate 48% cost gap that is pulling freight onto rail at the fastest pace seen in years as truckload capacity tightens.
2026-06-20
ONE Adds $2,000/FEU Peak Season Surcharge as MSC and Hapag-Lloyd Push June 1 GRIs Above $5,700/FEU
Ocean Network Express confirmed a $2,000 per 40-foot container peak season surcharge on transpacific eastbound cargo effective June 1, while MSC and Hapag-Lloyd general rate increases pushed Mediterranean and Black Sea quotes past $5,700 and $5,200 per FEU respectively.
2026-06-20
Drewry World Container Index Jumps 23% in a Single Week as Frontloading and Hormuz Disruption Compound
The Drewry World Container Index rose 23% in one week as tariff-driven frontloading during the US-China truce window collided with sustained Strait of Hormuz disruption, with further rate actions already filed for mid-June and July 1.
2026-06-20
USTR Proposes New 12.5% China Tariff Following Section 301 Forced-Labor Investigation
The U.S. Trade Representative has proposed an additional 12.5% tariff on Chinese goods stemming from a Section 301 forced-labor investigation, even as China's overall effective tariff rate has declined to 24% from earlier 2026 peaks.
2026-06-19
Strait of Hormuz Disruption Still Holding 10.7% of Global Container Fleet Capacity, Recovery Pegged at 4-6 Months
Three months after conflict halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, vessels including six Maersk ships remain stranded in the Persian Gulf as carriers wait out a recovery DHL estimates will take 4-6 months.
2026-06-19
Asia-U.S. Ocean Rates Give Up 2026 Gains as West Coast Prices Tumble 21% to $1,916/FEU
The Freightos Baltic Index shows Asia-U.S. West Coast container rates falling 21% in the latest week to $1,916 per FEU, with East Coast rates down 10% to $3,457 per FEU as a pre-peak lull sets in.
2026-06-19
State of the Industry June 2026: Spot Rates Outpace Contract Rates as Tender Rejections Hit 4-Year High
FreightWaves' June 2026 State of the Industry report finds spot linehaul rates briefly crossed above contract rates for the first time since 2022, with tender rejections climbing to 5.7%, the highest in four years.
2026-06-19
Port of LA Approves $3.4 Billion FY2026/27 Budget While Forecasting 7% Lower Cargo Volume
The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners approved a $3.4 billion annual budget for FY 2026/27, based on a forecast of 9.3 million container units — 7% below the current fiscal year's forecast.
2026-06-19
Freight-Sector Bankruptcies and Layoffs Continue Piling Up Across June 2026
Trucking companies, truck dealers, and logistics providers across multiple states continue filing for bankruptcy protection in June 2026, including a 177-truck cross-border carrier, as carriers cut costs amid persistent margin pressure.
2026-06-17
Freightos: Ocean Rates Level After June 1 GRI Spike, Mid-Month Increases Still Possible
Freightos's June 16 weekly update shows transpacific spot rates leveling after June 1 GRI/PSS pushed USWC prices up $1,600/FEU, with mid-month carrier increases still possible.
2026-06-17
ITS Logistics June Index: Drayage and Intermodal Brace for July Surge as NTI Hits All-Time High
ITS Logistics June Port/Rail Ramp Index flags all regions at elevated concern. SONAR's National Truckload Index hit a record $3.83/mile; drayage price increases expected in July.
2026-06-17
CMA CGM Announces $4,000/FEU Peak Season Surcharge on All Transpacific Containers from July 10
CMA CGM has announced a $4,000/FEU peak season surcharge on all transpacific containers effective July 10, 2026 — the largest single PSS announcement of the current peak cycle.
2026-06-17
Transpacific Rates Double as Early Peak Season Drives Shippers to Intermodal to Cut Costs
Trans-Pacific container rates have doubled as an early peak season takes hold, while intermodal volumes rose 10% YoY in May as shippers seek fuel cost relief from rail alternatives.
2026-06-17
Tariff Volatility Pushes 72% of Trade Professionals to Cite It as Top Risk, Spurring Regional Supply Chain Resets
A FreightWaves survey finds 72% of trade professionals cite US tariff volatility as the top regulatory risk in 2026, double last year's 41%, as companies accelerate regional sourcing shifts.
2026-06-15
Asia-West Coast Spot Rates Roughly Double Since March, Now $2,800-$3,400/FEU
Transpacific spot rates from China/East Asia to the US West Coast have climbed to $2,800-$3,400 per FEU, roughly double early-March levels.
2026-06-15
Peak Season Surcharges Add $500-$2,000/Container on Top of Carrier GRIs
Carriers are layering peak season surcharges of $500-$2,000 per container on top of general rate increases, with the combined effect varying by contract.
2026-06-15
LA/Long Beach Drayage Holds Stable as TMF and Clean Truck Fund Rates Continue
Port of Long Beach truck turn times remain near 55 minutes with no active dwell fees, while the Traffic Mitigation Fee and Clean Truck Fund Rate continue to apply per move.
2026-06-15
Inland Rail Ramps Report 53-Foot Domestic Chassis Shortage Despite Marine Chassis Surplus
Inland intermodal ramps are reporting shortages of 53-foot domestic chassis even as 40-foot marine chassis remain widely available, extending dwell times.
2026-06-15
Inland Empire Handles ~2M Import Truck Moves Annually Across 625M+ sq ft of Warehousing
The Inland Empire's industrial base of over 625 million square feet of warehousing supports roughly 2 million import truck moves per year from West Coast ports.
2026-06-15
Far East–US West Coast Spot Rates Hit $6,178/FEU on June 15, Up 4.8% in One Week
Xeneta's June 15 weekly update puts Far East to US West Coast spot rates at $6,178/FEU, a 4.8% week-on-week increase, with July bunker surcharges adding ~$500/FEU.
2026-06-15
Port of Long Beach Posts Third-Busiest May on Record as Imports Surge 40% Year-on-Year
Long Beach handled 842,030 TEUs in May 2026 — its third-busiest May ever — with imports up 40% YoY to 418,851 TEUs, driven by tariff-driven frontloading.
2026-06-15
Trump EO 'Strengthening Customs Enforcement' Sets 90-180 Day Compliance Timeline for Importers
A June 3 executive order directing CBP reform introduces supply chain certification requirements and tighter importer-of-record rules, rolling out over 90-180 days.
2026-06-15
USTR Announces Tariffs on 60 Countries Over Forced Labor; Section 301 Opens on Brazil and 16 Others
The USTR has announced new tariffs on 60 countries determined to have insufficiently addressed forced-labor imports, while Section 301 investigations open on Brazil and 16 partners.
2026-06-15
July Bunker Adjustment Factor Update Signals ~80% Surcharge Increase, Adding ~$500/FEU
The quarterly Bunker Adjustment Factor reset in July is expected to add approximately $500/FEU to ocean freight costs, with contracted shippers reportedly accelerating May-June sailings.
2026-06-13
Alert: ONT8 Inbound Appointments Slipping 2-3 Days as Peak Season Volume Builds
Amazon ONT8 (Ontario, CA) is showing extended appointment lead times for LTL and FTL inbound, driven by rising West Coast import volume.
2026-06-12
LAX/LGB Spot Rates Hold Steady Below $600/FEU as Carriers Add Capacity
Spot ocean freight rates from Asia to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach remain in the Fair band this week, with carriers deploying extra loaders.
2026-06-11
West Coast Port Volumes Surge Amidst Early Peak Season and Surcharge Implementation
A key SoCal gateway reports 8.2% YoY TEU growth as new $600-$900/FEU peak season surcharges take effect July 1 amid rising booking rollovers.
2026-06-10
Oakland Port Container Dwell Times Climb to 4.8 Days as Ag Exports Compete for Yard Space
Import container dwell at the Port of Oakland is up roughly a day from late May levels, with export reefer staging adding pressure to terminal yards.
2026-06-09
Seattle-Tacoma Vessel Bunching Strains Berth Windows Through Mid-June
Three vessel arrivals compressed into a 48-hour window at the Northwest Seaport Alliance are pushing some calls to anchor wait of 1-2 days.
2026-06-08
Chassis Shortage Alert: Inland Empire Pools Running Below 70% Availability
Chassis pool availability across Inland Empire drayage yards has dropped below 70%, with street-side wait times for chassis swaps extending.
2026-06-07
BNSF SoCal Rail Ramp Dwell Extends to 3.2 Days on Intermodal Volume Uptick
Average rail dwell at BNSF's Southern California intermodal facilities has crept up to 3.2 days as eastbound intermodal volume builds ahead of peak season.
2026-06-06
Carriers Signal July 1 GRI of $300-$500/FEU on Asia-West Coast Lanes
Early GRI notices for the July 1 effective date point to increases of $300-$500 per FEU on Asia to West Coast routings, consistent with seasonal peak timing.
2026-06-05
Three Transpacific Sailings Blanked for Late June, Two Alliances Affected
Carriers have announced three blanked sailings on transpacific loops calling LAX/LGB and Oakland for the final week of June, citing schedule recovery.
2026-06-04
SoCal Drayage Rates Tick Up 4-6% as Fuel Surcharges Reset
Per-move drayage rates out of LAX/LGB to Inland Empire destinations have risen 4-6% this month following a quarterly fuel surcharge reset.
2026-06-03
Inland Empire Warehouse Rates Firm Up to $0.78-$0.92/sq ft as Vacancy Tightens
Asking rates for Class A distribution space in the Inland Empire have edged higher as available vacancy drops ahead of peak season inventory builds.
2026-06-02
CBP Exam Referral Times at LAX/LGB Stretch to 3-5 Days for Flagged Containers
Containers selected for CBP exam at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are seeing referral-to-release times extend to 3-5 days amid staffing constraints.
2026-06-01
Empty Container Return Backlog Builds at Oakland as Export Bookings Lag
Empty container return appointments at Oakland terminals are booking out 2-3 days as available return slots fall behind the pace of import discharges.
2026-05-31
Long Beach Terminal Yard Density Hits Summer Peak as Import Volume Builds
Yard density at Long Beach terminals has climbed to roughly 92% of capacity, with appointment slots tightening into late July.
2026-05-30
LA/LAAX Rail Cutoff Times Pulled Forward by Up to 6 Hours Ahead of Peak Volume
Several Los Angeles area rail ramps have moved container cutoff times earlier by up to six hours, tightening windows for late-arriving drayage.
2026-05-29
Peak Season Surcharges Confirmed for August Departures on Asia-West Coast Lanes
Multiple carriers have confirmed peak season surcharges of $300-$600 per FEU for August departures on Asia-West Coast routes.
2026-05-28
Vessel Bunching at Seattle-Tacoma Eases Slightly as Berth Wait Times Drop to 1.5 Days
Average berth wait times at Seattle-Tacoma have fallen from 2.8 days to roughly 1.5 days as earlier vessel bunching begins to clear.
2026-05-27
Oakland Adds Two Empty Container Return Locations as Backlog Persists Into July
Two additional empty return locations have opened near Oakland as the empty container backlog continues into July, though wait times remain elevated.
2026-05-26
Inland Empire Warehouse Vacancy Falls Below 4% as Q3 Pre-Leasing Accelerates
Inland Empire warehouse vacancy has dropped below 4% heading into Q3, with asking rates firming on big-box space over 500,000 square feet.
2026-05-25
CBP Exam Referral Rate Rises at Oakland, Adding 2-4 Days to Affected Containers
CBP exam referral rates at Oakland have increased, with affected containers facing 2-4 additional days of dwell while awaiting inspection.
2026-05-24
Transpacific Capacity Additions Pull Spot Rates Down 8% Ahead of PSS Implementation
Added transpacific capacity has pulled spot rates down roughly 8% in mid-July, even as carriers prepare to implement August peak season surcharges.
2026-05-23
SoCal Drayage Driver Availability Tightens as Peak-Season Hiring Lags Demand
Drayage driver availability across Southern California has tightened, with on-ground reports of longer dispatch wait times for next-day moves.
2026-05-22
Port of LA Terminal Extends Weekend Gate Hours to Manage Pre-Peak Volume
A Port of LA terminal has added weekend gate hours through late July, giving drayage providers extra pickup windows ahead of peak season.
2026-05-21
Reefer Plug Availability at Tacoma Drops to 75% as Cherry Export Season Peaks
Reefer plug availability at Port of Tacoma terminals has fallen to roughly 75% as cherry export volume peaks, slowing export container positioning.