Ganeral Surveyor Co LTD https://ganeralsurveyor.com/ Mon, 24 Oct 2022 19:40:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://ganeralsurveyor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/cropped-1.Stamp_-32x32.png Ganeral Surveyor Co LTD https://ganeralsurveyor.com/ 32 32 For freight companies, this year’s peak will be weak https://ganeralsurveyor.com/for-freight-companies-this-years-peak-will-be-weak/ https://ganeralsurveyor.com/for-freight-companies-this-years-peak-will-be-weak/#respond Mon, 24 Oct 2022 19:28:07 +0000 https://ganeralsurveyor.com/?p=1013 The freight industry is looking at a ‘very, very ugly’ end of 2022   Peak season, an annual event in the freight industry, serves as the most important season in the calendar for many transportation firms. Depending on mode, peak season kicks off at different points on the calendar, mostly based around the role in …

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The freight industry is looking at a ‘very, very ugly’ end of 2022

 

Peak season, an annual event in the freight industry, serves as the most important season in the calendar for many transportation firms. Depending on mode, peak season kicks off at different points on the calendar, mostly based around the role in the supply chain that a freight provider plays in ensuring that retail goods are on the shelves for the holidays.

Peak season by mode:

  • Ocean container: July through September
  • Trucking and rail intermodal: October through December 15th
  • Parcel: Black Friday through December 24th

With the peak season already completed in ocean freight, we can say with certainty that this year’s peak season will be incredibly weak.

Container ships unloading in Oakland (Photo: Shutterstock/Sheila Fitzgerald)

 

Back in June, FreightWaves reported that ocean container volumes were dropping quickly, based on data found in SONAR’s Container Atlas, which tracks bookings volumes at the point of origin. By tracking point of origin bookings, we get an advanced look at import volumes months before those containers hit U.S. ports. At the time of publication, we believed that the contraction in volumes would happen at U.S. ports by July, but we underestimated how long it would take to clear the backlog of containerships off major U.S. ports and then waiting to clear U.S. Customs.

In August, it appeared that FreightWaves’ warning was unwarranted, at least looking only at U.S. customs import volume data. That data showed the market was relatively stable and hadn’t contracted.

But maritime spot rates and container shipping lines’ actions told a completely different story.

 

Ocean spot rates and imports fell off a cliff this year

 

First, we saw container rates collapse – suggesting that carriers were rapidly losing pricing power. When we published our June piece, the cost to ship a 40-foot container from China to the U.S. West Coast was $9,630. Today the same container would be transported for $2,470 – 74% lower than just a few months ago. This happened in a backdrop of a significant number of “blank sailings” by container ship lines. The container lines will cancel voyages to pull capacity out of the market.

According to Sea-Intelligence, container lines have canceled more than quarter of sailings across the Pacific in recent weeks.

 

Freight transportation is a commodity and responds to the laws of supply and demand. The collapse in container rates reflected volumes that were quickly deteriorating.

By September, the slowdown in container import volumes was becoming too significant to dismiss, even for the most hardened skeptic. The Port of Los Angeles reported that it handled the fewest number of loaded import containers for the month of September since the Great Financial Crisis (2009). The Port of Los Angeles is the largest port in the United States.

Weak import volumes weren’t just limited to Los Angeles, but affected all the major West Coast ports. Long Beach posted the lowest September loaded imports since 2016; Seattle/ Tacoma had its worst September for loaded imports in seven years. The decline in volumes will take longer to hit East Coast ports, but it’s already starting – September was Savannah’s weakest month this year for loaded imports, down 9.8% year-over-year.

With an estimated 75% of U.S. container imports related to consumer activity, a sharp drop in volume provides an ominous warning for any mode of transportation that is further downstream and closer to the point of consumption.

How the trucking turndown materialized

The trucking industry has been struggling since the first quarter. FreightWaves predicted that a freight recession was imminent, based on the drop in truckload volumes and tender rejections in the first quarter.

The SONAR Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) measures truckload load requests from shippers to carriers, moving under contract rates. From the start of February to the end of March, it dropped by 12%.

The volume drop continued in April and May, with OTVI registering another 2.5% decline, but stabilized in June in conjunction with the summer construction, beverage, and produce shipping seasons. In June, the OTVI index registered an increase of 1%.

 

Trucks at docks. (Photo: Shutterstock)

 

A stable June provided some confidence to carrier executives that the slowdown in the earlier part of the year was just a cooling of volumes from the inflated levels of the COVID economy.

Unfortunately, the optimism at the end of June was short-lived and proved to be an anomaly in a disappointing year.

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The importance of proper packaging in an ocean freight shipment https://generalsurveyor.co.com/the-importance-of-proper-packaging-in-an-ocean-freight-shipment/ Fri, 19 Nov 2021 13:00:59 +0000 https://generalsurveyor.co.com/?p=107 From machinery and pharmaceutical equipment to bulk goods and personal effects, thousands of cargo is being transported every day across the globe. Whether you’re a first-time shipper or looking to relocate to a new country with your household goods, you will want to make sure your shipment arrives in good condition. And that means having adequate packaging to prevent damages while considering …

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From machinery and pharmaceutical equipment to bulk goods and personal effects, thousands of cargo is being transported every day across the globe. Whether you’re a first-time shipper or looking to relocate to a new country with your household goods, you will want to make sure your shipment arrives in good condition. And that means having adequate packaging to prevent damages while considering external factors such as conditions that your shipment may be exposed to and the amount of handling involved. The last thing you would want is to have your shipment arrive damaged, and left unable to file an insurance claim due to improper packaging. To understand the importance of adequate packaging and how to avoid damages, we spoke to Jose de la Roche, sales director of GLT Logistics, a third-party logistics company focusing on solutions that simplify inland freight shipping processes, to get his insights and expert tips.

1. Why is proper packaging so important?

It’s for the security and safety of the goods that you’re transporting and to avoid claims, damages, and losses. Some people try to save money on packaging without looking at the big picture. When preparing your packaging, it is really important to consider the type of cargo that you’re shipping and also its transit. If you are shipping FCL, for example, there are fewer handling points and minimal pickup and drop-off. But if you are shipping domestic LTL, there will be multiple people handling the freight. That, as well as the number of times the cargo will be loaded and unloaded from the truck, must be considered.

2. How important are labeling and padding?

They are really important. Workers at the dock, airport, or carriers and freight forwarders, do not know what commodity they are handling when loading or unloading. If you have cargo that needs to be handled differently, make sure to include labels such as ‘this way up’, ‘handle with care’, ‘fragile’, ‘do not double stack’, so that they know to handle the pallet with care. It’s also really important to have those on all sides of the crate or pallet for better visibility.

3. How often do shipments get damaged due to a lack of proper packaging?

Every day. There is a great deal of loading and unloading involved in the transportation industry. During transportation, cargo is constantly being shifted, compressed, and jolted around by external changes. And not to mention it is also exposed to changes in humidity and temperatures. It is very common for us to see packaging mistakes that will result in claims being filed. From our experience, trucking and insurance companies often deny these claims on the basis of inadequate packaging as an excuse. That’s, unfortunately, the reality of it. So to reduce the probability of having to file a claim, make sure to use proper packaging. When shipping household goods, for example, most people are reluctant to spend too much money. So they just end up buying boxes and tape at the local store and doing their own packaging and they expect to receive their goods in perfect condition. But then they get a shock when they open the boxes at destination and see something broken. The lesson here is: when you do not pack freight correctly, there are many problems that can arise.

4. In your experience, what are some of the most common mistakes made in packaging?

One of the most common mistakes is having parts of the cargo overhanging or having misaligned boxes. These may cause the boxes to fall and get damaged, especially when being handled by a forklift. We also see some people stacking too much weight on the same pallet or placing oversized cargo on pallets. Cargo that is too long, too big, or too heavy, is very hard to handle and two forklifts may sometimes even be required, hence increasing the risk of damages. Another common mistake is double stacking freight that is not meant to be double stacked or loading boxes on pallets without any shrink wrap or any other kind of proper securing.

5. What advice do you have for shippers who decide to handle their own packaging?

When shipping overseas, many shippers do not realize the conditions their cargo goes through. They prepare their cargo as if they were shipping domestic and fail to consider the international journey. International transportation is very different from domestic transportation. When shipping overseas, it is important to make the extra effort to secure and use the right type of packaging. The type of commodity must also be considered. Shipping screws or bolts differs greatly from shipping medical equipment or special machinery. When shipping expensive or fragile goods, I would recommend investing a little more in packaging to make sure goods arrive securely at destination.

6. How can a shipper go the extra mile with preparing the packaging for their shipment?

If you are shipping something that’s fragile, expensive, heavy, or oversized, it’s better to hire a company that offers professional packaging services to avoid claims and damages. It would be careless to use a $10 shrink wrap to secure palleted goods that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s one thing to want to save on packaging, but another to risk damaging expensive cargo. Do not simply do what’s standard for expensive goods. Also consider where the freight is going to, how many people will be handling it, etc. It’s not just about securing the pallet. One should also think – quite literally – out of the box to make sure freight arrives safely.

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Top 10 Ports in terms of Container Traffic https://generalsurveyor.co.com/top-10-ports-in-terms-of-container-traffic/ Sat, 19 Sep 2020 01:26:23 +0000 https://generalsurveyor.co.com/?p=110 Ports have aided the world in the migration towards large-scale trade. Cargo travels to and from nearly twenty million ports worldwide. Today, we’ll discuss the ports with the most shipping container traffic worldwide. These include the Shanghai Port, Shenzhen Port, Guangzhou Port, Hong Kong Port, Qingdao Port, Tianjin Port, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the Busan Port, Jebel …

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Ports have aided the world in the migration towards large-scale trade. Cargo travels to and from nearly twenty million ports worldwide. Today, we’ll discuss the ports with the most shipping container traffic worldwide.

These include the Shanghai Port, Shenzhen Port, Guangzhou Port, Hong Kong Port, Qingdao Port, Tianjin Port, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the Busan Port, Jebel Ali Port, and Singapore Port. If you’re interested in finding out more about these ports, keep reading!

1. Shanghai Port, China

The Shanghai Port was constructed in 1842 near the junction of the Qiantang, Huangpu, and Yangtze rivers. Due to its strategic location, it handles the majority of trade around the East Coast of China.

In 2010, it surpassed the Port of Singapore as the most crowded port in the world. Then, in 2019, it garnered traffic of 43.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).

2. Singapore Port, Singapore

Before 2010, the Singapore Port was considered the busiest port. Since then, it has been demoted to the second largest. It is responsible for 20% of the world’s shipping containers that can get to it through both the Indian and Pacific oceans. In 2018, it saw traffic up to 36.6 million TEUs.

3. Shenzhen Port, China

With 27.7 million TEUs, the Shenzhen Port comes third on the list. Numerous ports in Guangdong come under this port. Its location, along the Pearl River Delta, gives it a geographical advantage.

It can also dock over one hundred and forty ships. This port is surrounded by other bodies of water through which containers can reach it, thus accounting for the abundance of traffic.

4. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, China

The Beilun Port, Ningbo Port, and Zhenhai Port converge to form the Ningbo-Zoushan Port in China. In 2006, the Ningbo Port and Zhoushan Port merged to form what it is now, a mega-port that had 26.4 million TEUs in 2018.

Here, trade between China and ninety other countries is facilitated and carried out. Despite having less traffic than the Shenzhen Port, it has fifty more berths.

5. Guangzhou Port, China

All sea-cargo related business in the Guangdong region of China is dealt with by the Guangzhou Port. This port, called ‘the Silk Road on the Sea,’ has four thousand six hundred berths available.

The Guangzhou Port is the biggest comprehensive port in all of Southern China. Similar to the Shenzhen Port, it is in the Pearl Harbor Delta. In 2018 it had 21.9 million TEUs.

6. Busan Port, South Korea

Busan Harbor is home to South Korea’s most sizeable port: the Busan Port. In 2018 it received traffic worth 21.7 million TEUs. It was initially constructed for small-scale trade with Japan and China.

7. Hong Kong Port, China

The Hong Kong Port is one of the busiest in terms of container traffic and passengers. With its convenient geographical location in the South China Sea, this port saw 19.6 million TEUs in 2018. It is the most accommodating port with facilities that work with any size vessel.

8. Qingdao Port, China

With 18.3 million TEU of traffic in 2018, the Qingdao Port located in the Yellow Sea comes eighth on the list. It is split up into four distinct parts: Guangdong Oil, Qianwan, Dagang, and Dongjiakou. It also has deals with other ports to help to transport as well as to ship.

9. Tianjin Port, China

The Tianjin Port also called the Port of Tanggu, had 16 million TEUs in 2018. Although numerous other Chinese ports have made a list, this one is the biggest port in Northern China. It is responsible for trading between various other countries.

Aside from simply facilitating cargo, this port has also been developed to help with terminal and shipping services. Many notable establishments have agreed to supply the port with the required resources.

10. Jebel Ali Port, United Arab Emirates

The final harbor on this list is one in the United Arab Emirates, specifically Dubai. While it received only 15 million TEUs of traffic, it is the world’s hugest man-made port, and it is also the largest port overall in the country.

It was built in 1970, after most others in this list, because those in authority believed that a second port was required at the time. It has won multiple awards for how efficient it runs and is stocked for any sort of situation that could arise. Right now, it is also being utilized as a base, where the United States can dock its warships.

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The History of the Panama Canal https://generalsurveyor.co.com/the-history-of-the-panama-canal/ https://generalsurveyor.co.com/the-history-of-the-panama-canal/#respond Sat, 19 Sep 2020 01:10:41 +0000 https://generalsurveyor.co.com/?p=104 If you have ever passed through or witnessed the Panama Canal, you probably know how marvelous it is in terms of scenery and size. But if you dive deeper into its history, you’ll realize that there’s more to it than just appearance. The Panama Canal is considered a marvel in engineering and has decades of …

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If you have ever passed through or witnessed the Panama Canal, you probably know how marvelous it is in terms of scenery and size. But if you dive deeper into its history, you’ll realize that there’s more to it than just appearance. The Panama Canal is considered a marvel in engineering and has decades of stories worth telling.

In this article, we dive deep into the history of the Panama Canal, answer why Panama Canal is so important, and the mark it makes in today’s society.

Where’s the Panama Canal?

The Panama Canal is located in Panama City and connects the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Comprising a waterway that is 77 kilometers long, it serves as an important gateway for ships that are traveling to South America, saving them more than 12,875 km in their journey.

Panama Canal Creation & History: An Overview

The Panama Canal’s history can be traced back to the 16th century, when Charles V received a suggestion to build a canal in Panama to shorten ship transit times to bring gold from Peru, Asia, and Ecuador to Spanish ports. Following the suggestion, a plan to build the canal was drawn up in 1529, but wars that were going on at that time forced the project to come to a halt. The plan to build the canal was later abandoned when a Spanish bureaucrat found a new route for the transport of gold and riches.

In 1899, the United States Congress thought to observe the potential of a Central American canal by forming the Isthmian Canal Commission. The collective initiated a treaty between the United States and Panama, called the Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty, which allowed the U.S. to lease a 10-mile section of Panama territory to build the canal.

Panama Canal: When Was It Built?

The building of the Panama Canal was commenced by the United States as a second attempt after France’s failure to build their own canal in the Isthmus of Panama. The construction to build the canal was decided in the year 1906, which required the movement of over 1 million cubic yards of earth. This job involved more than 25,000 workers daily to complete the building of construction facilities.

When Was the Panama Canal Finished?

The project was completed on August 15, 1914, and was opened for commercial use.

How Long Did the Panama Canal Take to Build?

Because of the wide stretch of the Panama Canal, it took workers about 8 full years to complete construction. The project moved a total of 240 million cubic yards of earth, hence, the Panama canal cost reached a total of $336,650,000 US dollars.

What Year Did the Panama Canal Open?

The Panama Canal was opened for utilization on August 15, 1914. This was formalized through a dedication that was held a little less than 6 years after on July 12, 1920. The United States enjoyed sole ownership of the Panama Canal from 1914 to 1979.

After that, control of the canal was passed to Panama via a U.S. and Panama joint agency called the Panama Canal Commission. In 1999, Panama was granted ownership and complete control of the canal under the administration of the Panama Canal Authority.

The Panama-Pacific International Exposition

The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was created by San Francisco to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal. It was held in 1915. The exposition also celebrated the merging of the East and West regions and hoped for an improvement in international relations, which was hoped to foster an increase in commerce opportunities for the interested countries.

Panama Canal Expansion

Initially, the Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty stated that the U.S. would compensate Panama $10 million before the project and granted the latter an annuity amounting to $250,000 to begin on the year 1913. In 1939, however, the annuity was increased to $434,000 following the creation of a transisthmian highway.

In the same year, 1939, the United States authorized the construction of more locks, however, the plan was put to a pause due to the rising tensions of World War II. It wasn’t until 1955 when the U.S. was able to expand the Panama canal with a high-level bridge, which coincidentally increased the canal’s income to $1,930,000. In 1969, the Galliard section of the canal was expanded to allow for two-way traffic.

To this day, the Canal is still being developed and expanded. As of writing, the following developments have been made:

  • Improvement of Panamax ships to fit through 110-foot locks
  • Larger vessels to carry heavier and more cargo
  • Expansions to reduce traffic jams at the canal
  • Opening of new locks in the year 2016, which doubled the capacity of the canal

What Was the Purpose of the Panama Canal?

The Panama canal is one of the most strategic artificial waterways in the world that serves an important purpose for cargo transport. It cuts down the voyage of ships by providing a passageway that directly brings them to South America. This reduced travel time by over 15,000 kilometers.

Routes to North America and other South American ports have also fostered easier travel through the Panama Canal, which saved over 6,500 kilometers. On the other hand, voyages from East Asia and Europe headed to Australia were reduced by 3,700 kilometers with the use of the Panama Canal.

What is the Panama Canal Used For?

Today, the Panama Canal is used for cargo transport, primarily by the import and export industries. By allowing easier routes and faster voyages, it serves as an important gateway to access different areas of the world.

Why is the Panama Canal Important?

The Panama Canal’s importance lies in its advantages for import and export, as well as international trade relations. It serves both commercial and military importance.

Commercial Importance

The Panama Canal allows for cheaper and easier methods to transport cargo and commercial goods between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It eliminated the need for ships to sail around Cape Horn and the southernmost parts of South America to reach their destinations. From a voyage that would take 67 days to cover 12,000 miles, the Canal paved the way for a voyage of only eight to 10 hours, covering only 8,000 miles.

Military Importance

The Panama Canal had military importance in the 1900s when the U.S. provided funds and a naval blockade for Panama to use for its revolution. This led to Panama’s independence, which allowed the U.S. to form a treaty with them to build the canal. In 1999, military presence in the Panama Canal Zone was strong, especially when the U.S. military bases were closed.

Up until today, the Panama Canal is still used to transport military water vessels.

How Did the Panama Canal Impact the World?

The Panama Canal has been hailed as one of the very few projects that changed the face of the earth and created an inter-oceanic route of transport. From 1914 up until today, it is one of the most important waterways that fosters international trade and the import and export industry.

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3 Critical Tips to reduce cost when transporting heavy loads https://generalsurveyor.co.com/3-critical-tips-to-reduce-cost-when-transporting-heavy-loads/ https://generalsurveyor.co.com/3-critical-tips-to-reduce-cost-when-transporting-heavy-loads/#respond Wed, 19 Jun 2019 09:58:46 +0000 https://generalsurveyor.co.com/?p=99 Tips to Reduce Costs When Transporting Heavy Loads Shipping heavy and oversized cargo can get very expensive. But there are ways that you can reduce your costs. 1. Adjust packaging Packaging can enlarge cargo even more, and sometimes, it’s not recommended if you’re trying to save on shipping costs. However, you can adjust your packaging …

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Tips to Reduce Costs When Transporting Heavy Loads

Shipping heavy and oversized cargo can get very expensive. But there are ways that you can reduce your costs.

1. Adjust packaging

Packaging can enlarge cargo even more, and sometimes, it’s not recommended if you’re trying to save on shipping costs. However, you can adjust your packaging by reducing it, fitting more products into one container, or deflating plastic packaging. These can reduce the space taken up by your cargo and reduce costs accordingly.

2. Consider shipping in bulk

If you are a frequent shipper, you can make the most out of your shipping costs by maximizing less frequent orders. For example, consider shipping orders cargo together in bulk instead of shipping weekly. This scheduling tactic will reduce how often your ship and each shipment will cost. However, this may not be a viable choice for time-sensitive shipments.

3. Right container type

The different sizes of containers also come with other costs. Moving 40-foot containers, for example, is more expensive than driving a 20-foot unit. Hence, it would help if you were smart about the size of the container you choose.

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