Hapag-Lloyd CEO predicts early peak season for ocean shipping

Hapag-Lloyd’s annual report for 2023 and financial results for Q4 reveal exactly how challenging the ocean container market has been for the largest steamship lines. The report, which the German container ship line released Thursday, notes that Liner Shipping revenues dropped 48.5% to 17.7 billion euros ($19.2 billion) from 2022 to 2023, and earnings before…

DOT confirms boost in West Coast container imports

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced on Wednesday it is gaining ground on its ability to help importers and container vessel operators navigate shifts in freight flows with new information it is publishing from inland rail terminals and warehouses. The increase in timely ocean container import data being supplied by private industry into the U.S….

Georgia bill would restrict truck-crash lawsuits against insurers

A bipartisan measure that would largely protect insurers from being sued directly after crashes involving trucks is on its way to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature or veto. The state House of Representatives passed the bill 172-0 on Monday after the legislation passed in the Senate by a vote of 46-2. Backers say…

Hydrogen mania at key energy conference in ’23 more tempered in ’24

HOUSTON — At CERAWeek’s energy conference in 2023, hydrogen was all the rage. The fuel that is seen by many as eventually the only real pathway for the Class 8 trucking sector to join the energy transition away from petroleum was coming off a legislative victory in Washington with the passage of the Inflation Reduction…

Industry study pegs electric truck grid buildout at $1 trillion

WASHINGTON — Companies representing all segments of the trucking industry are warning of a staggering $1 trillion price tag that they claim sets up a roadblock to the Biden administration’s push to decarbonize the industry. A study released on Tuesday commissioned by the Clean Freight Coalition (CFC), whose members include the American Trucking Associations, LTL…