Tallies, totals and other trend data in the freight transportation realm (4/17/2025)

2.8 

"Freight remains caught in the crosshairs of the trade war. ... The shipments component of the Cass Freight Index was flat in March compared to February. For perspective, however, February saw a large boost driven by severe weather recovery and likely pre-tariff shipping. The rates in our data saw a notable increase of 2.8%." — officials at Cass Information Systems Inc. in an April 14 email

5 & 10

Prolonged tariffs on all auto imports into the United States along with tariffs on steel and aluminum will have a multi-billion-dollar impact on the earnings of North American automakers and suppliers, according to a report published April 14 by S&P Global Ratings. The report, "Tariffs Take The Wheel: Higher Prices, Lower Sales, Greater Risks for the North American Auto Sector," forecasts higher vehicle prices, in the 5%-10% range, for consumers and reduced domestic demand, in the 15.2 million-15.5 million range for 2025 and 14.8 million-15.1 million range through 2026 compared with prior estimates of 15.7 million-16.0 million. "Based on these updates, we believe there is a greater likelihood there could be negative rating actions or outlook revisions," said S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Nishit Madlani.

26.6

For the quarter ended March 31, the Port of Long Beach moved 2,535,575 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 26.6% increase from the same period in 2024 as "imports surged ahead of anticipated tariffs," port officials said on April 14. In March, the port moved 817,457 TEUs, up 25% from March 2024. Imports grew 25.8% to 380,562 TEUs and exports decreased 1% to 104,063 TEUs. The port also recorded its busiest first half of any fiscal year on record, with 5,267,926 TEUs moved since Oct. 1, making it the nation’s busiest port for the last six months, port officials said.

28

"Average container freight rates for Chinese exports have dropped 28% since the start of the year, posting the worst first-quarter development of the past 20 years." — posted April 2 at the website of BIMCO (Baltic and International Maritime Council), a global shipping organization that provides standardized contracts, information, research and training for the maritime industry

30, 36, 49, 64

According to an April 11 post on container tracker Vizion's website titled "Tariff Shockwave: U.S. Import Bookings Collapse After Q1 Surge," U.S. ocean container bookings in March fell 20% from January peaks, "even though volumes were still 30% higher year-over-year compared to 2024," Vizion officials said. "The most likely explanation? Shippers moved quickly to front-load shipments ahead of anticipated tariff increases." 

Then, as the tariff-related uncertainty intensified, "booking volumes collapsed in real time," according to Vizion. Comparing the week of March 24–31, 2025, to the week of April 1–8, 2025, Vizion noted sharp declines in global TEUs booked (down 49%); overall U.S. imports (down 64%); overall U.S. exports (down 30%); U.S. imports from China (down: 64%); and U.S. exports to China (down 36%).

"The message is clear: Shippers moved early to get ahead of tariffs, and then hit the brakes as conditions changed," Vizion officials said. "This behavior, visible in booking data weeks before it shows up at the port, shows just how critical forward-looking logistics intelligence has become.

"With tariffs from other trade partners currently on a 90-day pause, shippers are navigating a highly uncertain and fast-changing trade environment. The rest of 2025 is likely to bring continued volatility marked by demand swings, accelerated ordering patterns, and a re-evaluation of sourcing strategies the global response to these trade actions continues to unfold."

35

Dedicated supply chain risk management solution revenues will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 35% to 2032, rising to $5 billion, according to ABI Research, a global technology intelligence firm. The findings are from ABI Research’s Supply Chain Risk Management Solutions application analysis report, which is part of the company’s Supply Chain Management & Logistics research service. "Continuous disruption in global supply chains has pushed organizations to take a more proactive role in managing risk associated with key suppliers and logistics routes," ABI Research officials said on April 14. "No matter how granular, visibility is not enough for companies to resolve issues."

57.7

On April 17, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation released the April Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) for the $1.3 trillion equipment finance industry. The April MCI-EFI is 41.9, down from the March index of 58.1. About half of respondents' survey questionnaires were submitted before the April 2 tariff announcement. Among the results: 7.7% of the survey respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will get improve over the next six months, down from 32.1% in March; and 57.7% believe U.S. economic conditions in the U.S. will worsen over the next six months, up from 28.6% in February.

8,300

Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor marked the start of the 2025 international shipping season Friday with the arrival of the M.V. Pile, a bulk carrier owned and operated by Polish marine line Polsteam. The ship arrived at Indiana’s Lake Michigan port 19 days after departing from Port of Ijmuiden, Netherlands, and navigating the North Atlantic and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system. The M.V. Pile delivered 8,300 metric tons of specialized steel products to Burns Harbor that will be used by local manufacturers.

1.74 billion

Worldwide robotic last-mile delivery revenues will grow from $260 million in 2025 to more than $1.74 billion by 2032, according to research published April 9 by from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research. The total number of robotic deliveries deployed is expected to reach 25,000 by 2032. Robotic deliveries consist of autonomous mobile robots, and their growth is "fostering partnerships and investments across the ecosystem," ABI Research officials said.

40.1 billion

The global rolling stock market will reach an estimated value $40.1 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8% from 2024 to 2030, MarketsandMarkets™ projected in a report issued April 6. "The advancement of hybrid train technology is creating new growth opportunities in the market," according to MarketsandMarkets officials. "Hybrid trains, which combine diesel and battery or hydrogen fuel cell technology, help reduce fuel consumption and emissions compared to traditional diesel-powered rolling stock. This makes them a viable option for countries and regions with stricter emissions regulations and sustainability goals."