Freight Pulse & Law Update: Port Congestion Eats 1.7M TEU as Jones Act Waiver Tightens

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Shippers should plan for tighter effective capacity, higher transpacific costs, and more compliance checkpoints through early fall. Congestion, Panama Canal draft limits, Jones Act procedures, DOT brake inspections, and PHMSA hazmat changes will affect routing, documentation, and delivery reliability.

Why is container capacity tightening?

Sea-Intelligence reporting indicates port congestion is absorbing approximately 1.7 million TEU of global container capacity. June delay absorption reached 5%, roughly 2.8 percentage points above the pre-pandemic baseline.

Recent rate movement reflects that pressure:

• Asia–U.S. West Coast rates: up approximately 9% week over week

• Asia–U.S. East Coast rates: up approximately 3% week over week

• Asia–Europe rates: cooling

• Panama Canal Neopanamax draft: 48 feet on August 26; 47.5 feet on September 3

The Panama Canal Authority advisory says transit slots remain stable, but lower drafts may force lighter loading and carrier surcharges.

What does the revised Jones Act waiver require?

The emergency waiver now runs through November 15, 2026, but foreign-flag movements face voyage-by-voyage approval. Before a voyage, operators must submit a Vessel Availability Request. MARAD conducts a market survey, U.S.-flag operators receive 24 hours to respond, and shippers must document vessel availability.

Review MARAD domestic-shipping resources before booking affected cargo.

How should shippers prepare for DOT and PHMSA changes?

CVSA Brake Safety Week runs August 23–29, focusing on brake drums and rotors. Vehicles with brake-related out-of-service violations cannot travel until repairs are completed. Verify carrier maintenance and brake readiness before the blitz.

The PHMSA final rule, effective September 3, removes burdensome hazmat rail reporting requirements while preserving core safety obligations.

Book capacity early, budget surcharges, and track regulatory exposure. Lanta Logistics supports third party logistics providers and supply chain management companies with 3PL fulfillment services, 3PL Maryland and Mid-Atlantic fulfillment from a food-grade warehouse and Hazmat certified 3PL at our Glen Burnie warehouse. Combine FlowOps real-time visibility, logistics software, a warehouse management system, and inventory management for ecommerce. Contact Lanta Logistics to strengthen execution before disruptions reach customers.