Freightlines of November
A distinct rhythm defines the season's final push. The ports report steady flow, the air lanes convey palpable tension, and warehouses achieve a strategic, half-full staging.
November is a month of quiet intensity: containers clear the docks just ahead of winter, trucks roll toward the last mile, and planners simultaneously track a dozen moving targets before the country takes its breath.From emerging tariff tremors to critical air capacity constraints, the season’s lines of commerce carry both urgency and resolve.
It is the month when the supply chain accelerates its movement, achieving complete synchronization.
Pour a cup, take a pause, and allow this Cargoccino to deliver the essential stories shaping the logistics flows that keep November moving.
Truck Tariffs or Trade Blueprints?
The U.S. just placed 25% tariffs on heavy-duty trucks and parts, plus 10% on buses, under Section 232.
Companies that build or assemble in the U.S. earn a five-year offset, rewarding domestic production. It’s a blueprint for reshoring, not just a barrier.
Importers relying on foreign engines or castings should reassess sourcing before the next 232 wave hits.
Source: REUTERS
China’s Port Fee Pause
China suspended port fees on U.S.-linked ships for one year, echoing Washington’s tariff cool-off.
It’s a rare goodwill gesture that trims voyage costs but leaves pilotage and handling untouched.
Source: AJOT
Retailers Sell More, Ship Less
Holiday sales could top $1 trillion, yet import volumes are set to fall nearly 20% YoY in December, per NRF and Hackett Associates.
Retailers stocked up early, wary of tariff shifts and softer consumer mood after the shutdown.
Takeaway: The prevailing strategy for 2025 is clear: Success will belong to the nimble, not the over-stocked.
Source: NRF
DHL Feels the De Minimis Squeeze
After the U.S. scrapped the $800 de minimis exemption on Aug 29, DHL’s U.S.-bound volume fell 32% YoY in Q3. Low-value e-commerce shipments are now paying duties, squeezing small cross-border sellers.
Action Item: As B2C imports shrink and B2B holds steady, it is critical to revisit Incoterms and Importer of Record (IOR) setups.
Source: Supply Chain Dive
Government Reopens, Air Lanes Recover Slowly
After forty-two days, the U.S. government is on its way back to work.The Senate voted 60–40 late Monday to end the record shutdown, with eight Democrats joining Republicans to pass a short-term funding bill that keeps agencies running through January 30. The package secures full-year funding for SNAP benefits and other key programs while the House prepares its final vote.
Air travel will take longer to normalize. Air traffic controllers, unpaid for six weeks, are returning to reduced staffing and strained schedules. The FAA cut flight capacity by up to ten percent at forty major airports during the shutdown, a measure that will take several days to unwind.
Financial markets lifted on the news. Commodities stabilized. Contracts and logistics lanes began to reopen. The system is turning again, but gradually, one schedule, one shift, one runway at a time.
☕ What’s Brewing at BlueCargo? ☕
.png)
Join us this Thursday (11/13) for a joint webinar with the Harbor Trucking Association:
“Detention & Demurrage After the Vacatur: What Truckers Must Do Now”
The Maritime Professor®, Lauren Beagen, will be our Guest Speaker.
Practical insights. Legal clarity. Real stories from the road.
Register HERE
Last Sip: Think Beyond Thanksgiving
Success in peak season is defined by foresight. Operations teams must recognize that one early alert or verified invoice can save thousands, while one missed ETA can incur the same amount in penalties and delays.
To manage costs and secure continuity:
- Maximize Visibility: Isolate minor delays to prevent costly escalation into major supply chain disruptions.
- Mandate Communication: Enforce continuous, transparent updates across all logistics partners to eliminate the cost of informational silos.
- Enforce Accountability: Conduct rigorous, dynamic audits of all fees to actively protect margins against erroneous charges.
BlueCargo unifies operational data with financial systems, enabling rapid decision-making before costs materialize from unnecessary delays or incorrect billing.
👉 Book an AI Freight Audit Consultation
₊˚⊹⋆🍁⋆⊹˚ ₊ ₊˚⊹⋆🍁⋆⊹˚ ₊ ₊˚⊹⋆🍁⋆⊹˚ ₊ ₊˚⊹⋆🍁⋆⊹˚ ₊
Explore more Cargoccino posts and articles on our blog.
