Freight Pulse & Law Update: Dockworkers Strike 113 Ports in 22 Countries, November Ocean Rate Hikes Look 'Doomed,' and FedEx Freight's First Standalone Quarter Splits LTL Base Rates

Friday, Oct. 30: Dockworker action, falling ocean rates and diverging LTL pricing create separate shipper risks.

Which ports saw strikes?

Dockworkers struck Friday at 113 ports in 22 countries, opposing arms shipments through commercial ports, per gCaptain. Organizers estimate 52,000 containers worth $2.8 billion could be delayed; disruption varies by port.

• 24-hour strikes hit France, Italy, Greece and Türkiye; ILWU Local 10 joined actions in Oakland and San Francisco.

Why are November ocean hikes at risk?

Drewry’s World Container Index posted its steepest weekly transpacific drop since June 2025: Shanghai–Los Angeles fell 6% to $7,514 per 40-foot container and Shanghai–New York fell 5% to $9,631, per The Loadstar.

• NRF forecasts November U.S. imports down 11%; the Nov. 1 GRI is $2,000-$3,000 per FEU.

• Gemini quotes $3,000-$3,400 versus MSC’s $4,500 target; Maersk’s U.S. inland fuel surcharge rises to $215 Nov. 1.

What did FedEx Freight report?

FedEx Freight’s first standalone report covers a one-time four-month transition ending Sept. 30, not a standard quarter. Ex-fuel yield rose 5.1% at Old Dominion and 3.6% at XPO, but just 0.3% at FedEx Freight: divergent underlying LTL pricing.

• XPO fuel-surcharge revenue rose 66.5% to $323 million.

• Negotiate base rate and fuel separately; check each diesel index and reset cadence.

What should shippers do next? Hold spot ocean bookings into early November, lock 2027 contracts while space improves, and recheck parcel and inland quotes: UPS set a 5.9% average GRI for Dec. 21, and Covenant Logistics’ CEO expects double-digit truckload rate hikes in 2027, with manipulated ELD records a capacity risk.

Regional coverage: Lanta Logistics supports 3PL Maryland and Mid-Atlantic fulfillment from its Glen Burnie warehouse along I-95, from Maryland to New England.

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Sources:gCaptain · The Loadstar · ForwarderNews · Logistics Management · FreightWaves. Strike impact estimates are organizers’ figures and have not been independently verified.