What would happen to trucking if a solar storm knocked out GPS?
A major astronomical event is taking place across parts of the U.S. right now, and it has the potential to wreak havoc on GPS. That raises questions about the trucking industry’s reliance on GPS and what would happen if truckers lost navigation today.
The event in question is one of the most powerful solar storms to be forecast in the past 20 years. It is occurring across the continental U.S., and it has the astronomy community abuzz with excitement. The storm watch began Friday and will remain in effect until Sunday.
High port volumes expected for 2024’s peak season
The nation’s top seaports should continue to expect elevated import levels this year as strong levels of consumer spending persist, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said in a forecast this week.
The organizations forecasted that loaded import volumes at the top 12 container ports will remain above 2 million TEUs through October 2024, marking the highest sustained volumes in years.
Read More Here Supply Chain Dive
U.S. container import volumes rise in rebound after China’s Lunar New Year
The latest data from Descartes found that U.S. container twenty-foot-equivalent unit (TEU) import volumes increased 3% between March and April, as well as 9.3% year-over-year.
That was partially the result of Chinese imports into the U.S. rebounding after the lull brought on by China’s Lunar New Year. In total, Descartes estimates that China was responsible for roughly 34% of U.S. container imports in April, primarily driven by “consumer-oriented” goods.