Service Update – All Modes
There are no service disruptions reported by any of the modes at this time.
Rail
CP Update Carload Servicefor week of June 15:
CP is running under normal operating conditions across its system.
CP Carload Asset forecast this week:
Demand remains balanced across most fleets with increasing demand being seen in Centerbeams. Velocity is improving on the railroad which will assist in order fulfillment.
Ocean Freight
The inability to conduct regular crew changes has emerged as one the most critical issues facing the global shipping industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The International Maritime Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has taken the unprecedented step of telling the world’s seafarers to stop working if their employment contracts have expired and they are awaiting repatriation home. The full article can be found at
Trucking
TransCore Link Logistics thinks the worst of the spot market recession may already be over as Canada’s spot market load volumes took a dive in April, with overall load volumes on down 56% from March and 38% year-over-year. Details on the recent trends in volume and capacity can be found at http://cantruck.ca/loadlink-worst-of-cnd-spot-market-downturn-likely-over/
Air Cargo
American Shipper reports that Airfreight rates continue to normalize this month on the main trade lanes from China to the U.S. and Europe as demand softens from the peak in mid-May, according to freight forwarders and airline analysts. The full American Shipper report can be accessed at the first red bar below.
Supply Chain Commentaries
AAR Canadian Rail Traffic Data – Week 24
North American rail volume for the first 24 weeks of 2020 was 14,915,723 carloads and intermodal units, down 11.9% compared with 2019. Canadian railways reported 72,127 carloads for the week, down 15.5%, and 64,378 intermodal units, down 8.6% compared with the same week in 2019.
For the first 24 weeks of 2020, Canadian railroads reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,328,572 carloads, containers and trailers, down 7.8%. The detailed statistics for week 24 can be found at the second red bar below.
Truck News Report: COVID-19 Impact on Merger Activity
COVID-19 has caused potential merger activity in the Canadian trucking industry. The Truck News report can be found at the third red bar below.
FMA Government Relations
FMA has continuing communications with Transport Canada Surface Policy and Marine Policy officials and with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
FMA Office Operations
FMA staff are primarily working from home. If you need to talk with us, please call me at 613-294-4569.
Updates are on the FMA Website
The FMA COVID-19 updates continue to be uploaded to the website and there is a link to them on the home page at www.fma-agf.ca .
The FMA updates focus only on the impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains.
Information and questions from members are encouraged and will be useful in our continuing outreach to FMA members and in our communications with the government and with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. All individual company information will be kept confidential.