As imports boom, warehouses fill up, and businesses face a storage shortage

Oct 1, 2020
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handled record amounts of imports in August. Meanwhile, warehouse rents increased by 10% from this time last year.
Warehouse space is shrinking as the holidays approach.
Virginie Goubier/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. ports busier than ever as East-West shipping rebounds

Sep 9, 2020
Fueled by pandemic-driven online shopping and holiday buying, goods are flowing in after a dip.
Containers are offloaded at the Port of Los Angeles, the nation's busiest port which was relatively quiet during the early months of the pandemic.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Shipping in the age of COVID-19

Apr 1, 2020
How a Mississippi barge business is navigating the coronavirus outbreak.
A tug pushes a barge down the Mississippi River through St. Paul, Minnesota.
Karen Bleier/AFP via Getty Images

Air freight prices surging in a "perfect storm"

Mar 24, 2020
Loading up passenger planes with cargo is not an easy thing to do, physically or economically. But it's happening.
Air freight is directional. A lot more comes to the U.S. from China than the other way around.
Amdrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

A customs broker battles the effects of COVID-19

Feb 24, 2020
Gretchen Blough of Erie, Pennsylvania, explains how business out of China has "screeched to a halt."
A deserted street in Shanghai on Feb. 6.
Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images

Shipping costs likely to rise as new clean-air rules kick in for vessels on January 1

Dec 26, 2019
By how much shipping costs and the price of diesel will increase is up for debate.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Six fewer shipping days till Christmas puts pressure on UPS, FedEx and USPS

Dec 5, 2019
This year's late Thanksgiving has put shippers on alert. They're reminding customers to send their gifts early.
UPS has sent emails and social media messages about shipping deadlines. Above, a UPS worker sorts packages in San Francisco.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Record number of returns expected this holiday season

Nov 29, 2019
Online returns are costing retailers more than ever. In-store returns, however, create an opportunity for a shopper to buy something else.
Retailers are feeling pressure to have a smooth returns process, in addition to fast shipping.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Farmgirl Flowers' limited "menu" approach is a blooming success

Nov 28, 2019
CEO Christina Stembel was turned down more than a hundred times for capital before deciding to use her own money and strategy.
Christina Stembel is founder and CEO of Farmgirl Flowers.
Courtesy of Farmgirl Flowers

Amazon sacrifices profits for faster shipping

Oct 25, 2019
The company's spending a lot of money to make sure you get your meat thermometer the same day you order it.
Two-day shipping used to be Amazon's signature. Now, its competitors offer the same.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images