RENO, Nev., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ITS Logistics today released the April forecast for the ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index. This month, the index reveals that frontloading continued through March, with the expectation that the industry should see strong import volumes through April as containers with front-loaded inventory, which was loaded by April 9th, reach the U.S. In addition, throughout May and possibly into June, import and export volumes should see a cliff event similar to the impacts felt during the immediate COVID response.
“This cliff event is set to occur as excess frontloaded inventory is utilized and shippers stall sourcing efforts until they have a clearer understanding of where and how they can minimize the tariff cost impacts on their goods,” said Paul Brashier, Vice President of Global Supply Chain for ITS Logistics. “Industry professionals can also expect trucking capacity, available container storage, terminal congestion, and chassis availability to tighten through April as frontloaded inventory is absorbed into the U.S. supply chains. Ports and ocean carriers not servicing export shippers are already experiencing similar empty termination issues as seen in the post-pandemic era.”
As of last week, CNBC reported that the frontloading of imports into the U.S. economy directly corresponds to a steep decline in new freight order activity in every region across the U.S. and a steep quarterly decline in Chinese …