The Ten Worst-Rated Shippers

Today's Newsletter is Brought to You By Rapido Solutions Group

In today's email:

• Three Freight Headlines: C.H. Robinson announced its 2023 Carrier of the Year awards, labor disputes have disrupted Long Beach Port operations, and US warehouse rents are rising amid declining demand and a supply shortage.
• The Ten Worst-Rated Shippers: A FreightCaviar Poll
• Around the Freight Web: China's share in US low-cost imports is shrinking, Walmart announces new sustainability measures, Saudi Arabia reduces oil supply potentially leading to increased US gas prices, plus more.

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🐔 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT

🚛 C.H. Robinson's 2023 Carrier of the Year Winners Revealed. C.H. Robinson celebrated its sixth annual Carrier of the Year awards, honoring 23 outstanding contract carriers selected from its network of 96,000 for their exceptional service, operational excellence, and adoption of transportation technology. This year, for the first time, winners from Canada and Mexico were recognized in new cross-border categories.

🚢 Long Beach Port Closure: Labor Turmoil Disrupts Operations. Long Beach Port, the largest terminal in California, is set to remain closed on Monday due to ongoing labor disputes. Trucking orders for imports and exports have been canceled by Total Terminals International (TTI), the largest terminal operator in Long Beach. The disagreement between the port and the workers revolves around issues of wages, safety, automation, and pension benefits. This has led to a noticeable absence of workers, causing disruptions and exacerbating congestion. While senior staff reported for work, no union workers showed up at the Port of Oakland and many daily workers did not report at Los Angeles and Long Beach.

📦 US Warehouse Rents Climb Amid Slowing Demand. Despite a decline in US warehouse demand, rents are escalating due to constricted new capacity and stringent lending norms, with Prologis predicting a 10% increase this year; at the same time, building starts have fallen dramatically and available capital has reduced, due to the weakened market and high-interest rates.

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THE TOP 10 WORST-RATED SHIPPERS

In a recent poll conducted among our Instagram followers, we asked which shippers were their least favorite companies to pick up from or deliver to. With a turnout of 102 votes, Walmart led the pack as the least favored with 20 votes, followed closely by Amazon at 18 votes. Americold wasn't far behind with 10 votes, with the likes of Rivian, Costco, and others trailing in varying degrees.

1. Walmart: 20 votes
2. Amazon: 18 votes
3. Americold: 10 votes
4. Rivian: 8 votes
5. Costco: 7 votes
6. Kroger: 6 votes
7. Target: 6 votes
8. UNFI: 5 votes
9. Dollar General: 5 votes
10. McLane: 5 votes

Notable Mentions: Lineage: 3 votes, Food Lion: 3 votes, Tyson: 2 votes, GPI: 2 votes, & Nestle: 2 votes

AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB

🇨🇳 China's Share in US Low-Cost Imports Shrinks. US low-cost imports from China are set to drop below 50% as companies shift operations to more affordable Asian nations, marking a pivotal trade trend.

💰 Freight Founder: Ted Alling. Ted Alling, who co-founded and sold Access America to Coyote Logistics, has since embarked on diverse ventures including fostering startups through incubators and seed funds. Read more about Ted's story, here.

🟢 Walmart's New Green Initiatives. Walmart announces innovative sustainability measures. The sustainability initiatives by Walmart will be crucial for transportation providers, as they will need to adapt to these environmentally friendly practices, aligning their operations with Walmart's standards to continue their partnership.

⛽️ Saudi Arabia Cuts Oil Supply. Saudi Arabia slashes its oil supply to stabilize crude oil prices. US consumers may face higher gas prices as a result. Long-term effects depend on a possible extension.

🛤 US Freight Rail Safest Globally. Ian Jefferies, CEO of the Association of American Railroads, defends US freight rail against criticism, asserting its safety record and success backed by robust private investments."

FREIGHT MEME OF THE DAY