Impending East Coast/Gulf Coast Port Strike: What You Need to Know

With no immediate solution in sight, the International Longshoreman Association (ILA) representing all dockworkers on the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports is planning to strike beginning midnight October 1^st. The ILA and United States Maritime Association (USMX) are hung up with an inability to come to terms on acceptable wage increase projections over the next few years. As of now, it does not seem that any executive branch intervention is likely, and there is nothing in the immediate future to resolve the strike.

Ports from Maine to Houston, Texas will be affected which collectively handle about 50% of US containers. Anything left unloaded/offloaded after 9/30 will be left unattended and unmonitored. Special planning for reefer and hazmat shipments during this time should be considered. Congestion at East Coast and gulf coast ports is due to increase with the rush to import and export before 9/30. Equipment, warehousing, and alternative transportation options will get tighter in the affected areas in the days to come.

These strikes will mainly affect higher labor container shipments and should not affect critical oil and gas movement.

It is estimated that every day of a port trike can cause 6 days of backlog to deal with. Bookings are beginning to get canceled for affected ports, and shippers are beginning to reroute to West Coast ports. This will surely create butterfly affects for West Coast ports, warehousing, rail, and OTR modes as well.

We are ready at 1st Choice Freight to help our shippers navigate the uncertainty and complexity that comes with these types of events. We are actively helping our customers consider alternative routes and plans via the West Coast, transloading, and intermodal options. Call us today at 800-659-9178 or email us at info@1stchoicefreight.com.