East Coast Port Strikes: Gain Visibility and Control the Chaos

Dockworker strikes across North America’s east and gulf coasts are impacting major hubs including the Port of New York and New Jersey, the Port of Savannah, and the Port of Charleston. As the strike disrupts operations at these major ports, its ripple effects will be felt across the entire North American logistics network as vessels reroute, causing slowdowns in the movement of goods and exacerbating port congestion.

What Is the Expected Impact of the Strike?

With the strike directly impacting several of the busiest ports in the United States, the repercussions are expected to be significant. Cargo volumes will pile up, leading to delays in container movements, extended vessel anchor times and bottlenecks throughout the supply chain. As fewer containers move through the affected ports, vessel schedules will become increasingly unpredictable and lead to vessel bunching and increasing port congestion levels elsewhere in North American.

With East Coast ports tied up in labor strikes, West Coast ports such as Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Seattle will likely see an increase in volume as shippers seek alternative routes. Canadian ports like Vancouver may also experience a surge in vessel traffic. While these ports can absorb some of the shipments, they already deal with their own congestion issues and seasonal peak loads, meaning the additional cargo may be difficult to move.

The Timing Couldn’t Be Worse for Retailers

The timing of the strike is designed to make businesses hurt, and is particularly concerning for retailers as they gear up for the important Q4 holiday shopping season. This period, which spans Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the December holiday rush, is the busiest time of the year for retail, and disruptions to the flow of goods can have a major impact on inventory levels and OTIF performance.

Retailers rely heavily on well-timed shipments during Q4 to stock shelves with in-demand products. A major strike during this period is likely to contribute to stock shortages, delivery delays, increased logistical costs and missed sales.

How Long Will the Strike Last?

Predicting the duration of the strike is difficult. For supply chain managers, this uncertainty adds a layer of complexity to already strained operations, as they try to plan for both immediate and (potential) long-term disruptions.

Navigating the Strike’s Impact on Your Supply Chain

Given the uncertainty surrounding the strike and its effects on supply chains, having real-time visibility into your logistics operations is more important than ever. Visibility tools like Beacon facilitate automated freight tracking and alerts, seamless document management and the sharing of live order and shipment updates with warehouses and customers so they're never in the dark.

With the right visibility platform, shippers can respond quickly to disruptions, identify and control risks, and keep their supply chains moving smoothly amidst a chaotic backdrop.