Panama’s Supreme Court has ruled that a long-standing port concession linked to a Chinese-affiliated company operating at the Panama Canal is unconstitutional. This paves the way for a change in control of the key waterway, something U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted needs to happen. The decision affects a subsidiary of Hong Kong–based CK Hutchison Holdings and has drawn objections from Beijing.  Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said port operations at Cristobal and Balboa will continue without disruption during the transition, with oversight by Panama’s maritime authority. A local subsidiary of A.P. Moller–Maersk will temporarily manage the facilities until a new concession process is completed. (More at: FreightWaves,“China company will give up Panama Canal ports… “ by Stuart Chirls, 1/30/2026)

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United Parcel Service (UPS) is moving forward with a significant operational restructuring in 2026, announcing plans to reduce its workforce by up to 30,000 roles. UPS leadership said the company expects to cut roughly 25 million operational work hours as part of the transition away from Amazon-related business. The workforce reduction will focus on variable operational positions. UPS also plans to introduce a second voluntary separation program for full-time drivers. In addition to labor adjustments, UPS has already identified 24 facilities slated for closure in the first half of 2026, with more potential closures under review later in the year. Looking ahead, the company is also increasing its investment in automation, aiming to streamline operations and improve efficiency across its network.  See more at: www.cnbc.com “UPS to cut additional 30,000 jobs in Amazon unwind, turnaround plan, by Laya Neelakandan, 1/27/2026)

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An Arctic air mass is set to drive sharply colder temperatures across much of the United States this weekend, bringing widespread operational challenges for the trucking and logistics industry. Forecasts call for single-digit to subzero highs in the Upper Midwest, with wind chills reaching –30°F or lower.  Southern regions face unusually cold conditions as well. The extreme cold increases the risk of equipment failures and service disruptions. Diesel fuel gelling, reduced battery performance, thicker engine oil, and low-performing brakes or hydraulics may lead to higher rates of breakdowns and delays. Additional impacts include reduced tire pressure, slower loading and unloading of temperature-sensitive and liquid cargo, increased driver safety concerns, and higher fuel consumption. Collectively, these conditions are expected to strain capacity and disrupt schedules. See more at: freightwaves.com “Subzero temps will freeze U.S. trucking this weekend,” by John Paul Hampstead, 1/21/2026)

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CMA CGM announces plans to resume container service via the Suez Canal for certain front and backhaul voyages between the United States (East Coast) and India/Pakistan.  This sets the stage for a larger return of container ship service in the Red Sea region in 2026.  Utilizing the Suez Canal on key trade routes can shorten overall transit times by up to two weeks compared to the longer voyage around the Cape of Good Hope. The CMA CGM Verdi will be the first vessel to complete a service loop when it sails from Karachi to New York in mid-January 2026.  Other large container shipping leaders, such as Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are yet to announce their own timelines for routing larger vessels via the Suez. See more at: container-news.com “Red Sea container service returns via Suez Canal,” by Antonia Saratsopoulou, 12/6/2025)

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Hapag-Lloyd celebrated the christening of its newest 24,000 TEU container ship, the Wilhelmshaven Express, during a ceremony at the Port of Wilhelmshaven on October 28. The vessel marks the completion of a 12-ship series built by South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, which began with the Hamburg Express in 2024. The Wilhelmshaven Express measures 399 meters in length with a gross tonnage of 229,380. The vessel also features 1,500 reefer plugs to support temperature-controlled cargo.  Built as part of Hapag-Lloyd’s new generation of dual-fuel ships, the Wilhelmshaven Express and her sister vessels were designed from the keel up for LNG operation. The Wilhelmshaven Express will sail on Hapag-Lloyd’s East-West service, connecting ports across Europe and Asia.  See more at: bairdmaritime.com “Hapag-Lloyd christens final 24,000TEU ship….by Gareth Havelock, 10/29/2025)

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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has removed five electronic logging devices from their approved list after determining they no longer meet federal technical requirements under hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. Carriers currently using these deauthorized systems must immediately switch to compliant alternatives or temporarily revert to paper logs to track driver hours. Fleets have a 60-day grace period—ending December 16, 2025—to replace the revoked devices with approved ELDs. After the deadline, drivers using non-compliant systems will be subject to enforcement actions, including being placed out of service under Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance guidelines. FMCSA indicated that vendors whose devices were revoked can…(See more at: freightwaves.com “FMCSA removes five ELDs, warns fleets to…,” by Noi Mahoney, 10/17/2025)

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