With the US on the brink of a large-scale dockworkers' strike, much is at stake for shippers, global trade and supply chain operators. A shutdown of 36 key ports along the Atlantic seaboard and Gulf Coast from midnight on October 1 could disrupt over half of the nation’s containerised imports and exports, with worldwide ramifications.

In this episode, recorded just hours before the strike action was due to begin, we break down the supply chain chaos that has built through September, explore the strike’s potential impact on global shipping, and examine how businesses are scrambling to mitigate disruptions.

Guests also weigh in on the ILA-USMX negotiations, the expected effects of a strike on freight rates (air and ocean) and US Presidential elections, and the ripple effects on retailers, shippers, and international trade.

GUESTS:

Stephanie Loomis, head of ocean freight, North America, Rhenus

Peter Sand, chief analyst, Xeneta

Mike Steenhoek, executive director, Soy Transportation Coalition

Jon Gold, VP of supply chain and customs policy, National Retail Federation

Credits: Created, hosted and produced by Mike King for The Loadstar www.theloadstar.com

In this sponsored episode of the Loadstar podcast, we dive deep into the world of AI and its transformative potential for the supply chain industry. Is the buzz surrounding AI warranted, or is it just another passing trend? Host Mike King sits down with Greg Kefer, Chief Marketing Officer at Raft, the world’s largest logistics AI platform, to separate fact from fiction. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping global supply chains, from routing cargo to automating processes and improving efficiency. Greg shares insights from his extensive experience at GT Nexus, Slync, and Raft, to illuminate how AI is becoming a true game-changer.

The conversation covers current applications of AI in logistics, future possibilities, and how shippers, forwarders, and carriers can adapt to this evolving technology.

Credits: Created, produced and edited by Mike King for The Loadstar www.theloadstar.com

This podcast has been sponsored by Raft, the world's largest logistics AI platform https://www.raft.ai/