The Port of Montreal is experiencing congestion issues that have led to a rise in trucking charges. That’s a common problem globally, and can lead to a long-term loss of custom – for example Maersk’s withdrawal of services from Shanghai last year. Automation can help, but that’s a long-term fix. Handling through the port climbed 8% on a year earlier in the three months to February 28. Two specific problems though are the later lunar new year vs. last year (imports rose 18% in the first two months of 2018) while empty container handling surged 47%.