I am confused about the supply chain

This post inspired by TheRedneck's post. If you haven't read it, here it is-well worth the read.


www.abovetopsecret.com...


So, after reading said post, I got to thinking...yes, it is scary when I do that...about an article I read in February. No, my memory is not that good, I looked at the date when I found the article.

It is a story about how the ports are already backed up, and negotiations aren't the best with the union. And the contract runs out June 30th.

How much of the blame being placed on Abbott is to divert from the main source of supply chain issues...slow and maybe to close in a strike ports?

I understand the security at the border, especially after the above post. But to strangle the ports at the expense of the people seems wrong to me.

www.freightwaves.com...

Not the Pit because, well let's face it...name calling and fighting between the "two sides" does not solve the problem. But discourse does.

a reply to: theatreboy

If you reroute to other ports you have to use the Panama canal. A lot of the newer ships won't even fit. (Amazon is investing in other ports however to revamp them)

They tried switching to a 24/7 schedule, but it doesn't really help if truckers don't want to pick up in the middle of the night.

Also, online shopping for even the most trivial goods after covid have changed consumer habits. Instead of getting stuff at local stores that all had dedicated logistics that consolidated a lot of flow, now we have this chaotic web of stuff bouncing everywhere. That's put an incredible demand on truck traffic for items less than $10 when people typically used to make more expensive (and fewer) purchases online.

Here's a good WSJ documentary on it. It's about an hour but a really good watch. I'd embed the video, but I'm on mobile. WSJ doc

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
If you reroute to other ports you have to use the Panama canal. A lot of the newer ships won't even fit. (Amazon is investing in other ports however to revamp them)

Every containership in the world can fit through the Panama Canal since they built the third set of locks which is why Port Newark/New York is now the second busiest in the country.

a reply to: theatreboy

If you Google (or Bing or whatever) "California laws affecting supply chain" you'll see a ton of news articles stating what may happen to the supply chain from a year ago.

California put together a bunch of new laws and regulations that directly and indirectly affect the supply chain along California ports.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Ahhh, you're right. I was going off of old memory.

Well, if they could handle the volume on that third lock it would help dilute distribution.

a reply to: CriticalStinker

Here you go ...

a reply to: theatreboy

Another aspect that people are talking about is basically twofold. First is that many rail lines are picking up the slack as the ships are redirected to the southern and east coasts. I invite you to check some of "Wide world of trains" videos from the Dunkirk area of New York (my old stomping grounds), wall to wall intermodal trains. Part of this is also there are now far more semi trailers being shipped by rail.

The other part that you'll see is concern about fertilizer shipments by rail are supposed to have been cut by 20% in order to relieve congestion on the rails. What nobody talks about is that there are two causes for that - the increase in intermodal rail shipments in the east and (of course) the government is telling the rail companies to shorten the trains so they don't block crossings for so long.

The entire system is a mess right now and the blame lies squarely with the supreme idiot of all the idiots, the idiot that came up with the just in time supply chain. Anyone who works in any type of manufacturing industry knows what I'm talking about - everyone go home, the supplies are held up.

a reply to: billxam

The other part that you'll see is concern about fertilizer shipments by rail are supposed to have been cut by 20% in order to relieve congestion on the rails. What nobody talks about is that there are two causes for that - the increase in intermodal rail shipments in the east and (of course) the government is telling the rail companies to shorten the trains so they don't block crossings for so long.

Russia did put its own version of Sanctions by not exporting fertilizers to unfreindly countries over Ukraine.

With that in mind that could have major consequences for Europe and some smaller countries.

Key elements left out of the whole story..

Diverting assets at a moment notice.

When a railroad has 10 runs scheduled back to back. And each segment has tie ins,..

If the govt reallocates that line for something, reasons and all, that creates back log.

Like a busy highway.. how much extra troubles a road closure and escort makes things...