Supply Chain Research

Container line MSC has flagged operating limits imposed by rail operator BNSF on routes from LA / Long Beach to Chicago and has warned that “may very well spread to other ramps”. Containerized freight handling by BNSF across its network climbed 14.7% year over year in the four weeks to July 14, well ahead of the 7.7% growth for all Class 1 railroads. Seaborne imports to Los Angeles and Long Beach that were destined for the Chicago region (250 mile radius) climbed 32.3% year over year in Q2’21 and by 17.6% compared to Q2’19. Shipments handled by MSC climbed 3.4% in Q2’21 versus Q2’19 whil...