The Intermodal Association of North America reports a 2.8% year-over-year increase in total North American intermodal loadings in Q3 2025, a high since 2021. Domestic containers showed steady growth, while international containers rebounded strongly. A tightening truckload market favors intermodal. While challenges remain, the long-term outlook for the market is optimistic.
Amazon has upgraded its seller return tools, introducing a more flexible 'Returnless Refund' option. This allows sellers to set refund thresholds based on product price. A new Returns and Inventory Health dashboard provides insights into return reasons and recovery value. These enhancements help sellers better understand return patterns, optimize return management strategies, reduce operational costs, and improve customer satisfaction. The dashboard aims to empower sellers with data-driven insights to make informed decisions regarding returns and inventory recovery.
The surge in China-US ocean freight rates stems from pandemic-induced supply-demand imbalances, leading to reduced shipping capacity, port congestion, and surging demand. This intensifies cost pressures on exporters, drives up consumer prices, and disrupts supply chains. Mitigation strategies include increasing shipping capacity, optimizing port operations, strengthening international cooperation, and promoting digital transformation to stabilize the global trade chain.
The Saudi Arabia Shipping Worry-Free Express Line provides importers and exporters with a one-stop DDP service. Through customized solutions, simplified customs clearance processes, locked-in tax and duty costs, and diverse transportation methods, it helps companies efficiently expand into the Saudi Arabian market and achieve trade success. This service streamlines the process, making cross-border trade easier and more predictable for businesses looking to enter or grow within the Saudi Arabian market.
In November 2025, US rail freight saw carload traffic increase by 4.3%, while intermodal traffic declined by 6.5%. Commodities like coal experienced growth, while miscellaneous carloads decreased. Year-to-date figures still show overall growth. The rail freight industry faces both challenges and opportunities, as reflected in these economic indicators and the performance of intermodal and traditional rail freight sectors.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is cracking down on substandard CDL training providers. Nearly 3,000 institutions have been removed from the list of approved trainers for failing to meet required standards, and another 4,500 have received warnings. This initiative aims to improve truck transportation safety by ensuring drivers possess the necessary skills and eliminating fraudulent practices within the industry. The goal is to hold training schools accountable and promote safer roads for all.
New US regulations for air transport of lithium batteries will be implemented in phases starting in 2025, focusing on capacity limits, packaging testing, and label updates. From 2026, all lithium battery cells and packs must be transported at a state of charge (SOC) not exceeding 30% of their rated capacity. A new 3-meter stacking test is introduced, and labels are renamed to cover sodium-ion batteries. The FAA prohibits the air transport of damaged batteries. Cross-border e-commerce sellers need to pay close attention to the new regulations and adjust their strategies to ensure compliant transportation.
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has suspended the issuance of non-resident CDLs, creating uncertainty for the trucking industry. While the resumption of issuance is anticipated, the timeline remains undetermined. Businesses should closely monitor developments and develop contingency plans. Industry associations are actively seeking solutions to ensure industry stability and mitigate potential disruptions caused by the CDL suspension. The court ruling's impact on interstate commerce necessitates a swift and effective resolution to minimize negative consequences for the trucking sector.
Project44 data shows that blank sailings on the US-China route have stabilized after months of fluctuations, reflecting shipping companies' adaptive adjustments to the new trade normal. Stable market demand and optimized capacity deployment are key factors. Businesses need to pay close attention to market dynamics and flexibly adjust their supply chain strategies. This stability suggests a recalibration of capacity to meet current demand, indicating a more sustainable approach to managing the route amidst ongoing trade complexities.
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