Selecting the best shipping mode is difficult in the best of circumstances. But it’s become even tougher in a market rife with skyrocketing rates, blank sailings, congestion, and delays.

Train derailments happen more often than one might expect, with several occurring globally every month. While not every derailment affects freight, when they do, disruptions are massive. 

When moving cargo within a country, shippers have two choices: rail or road. Each has its pros and cons. But in today’s turbulent transport environment, the route that appears the easiest and most direct may not always be the most cost-effective or efficient. 

You can acquire shipping quotes for free. But they will mean little more than the paper they’re printed on if you don’t provide accurate—and necessary—details upfront.

Experts call China’s zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy good for the pandemic but bad for the supply chain—and nothing could be more spot on.