Freight Pulse & Law Update: Record Port Congestion, Dutch Dock Strike, and CBP's New Supply Chain Visibility Push

Global freight conditions are tightening. Port congestion, labor disruption, and rising truckload tender rejections are increasing the risk of delays and sharper rate movements, while a new CBP proposal could expand importer data obligations.

Why are ocean and truckload markets tightening?

Global container capacity waiting at ports has reached a reported 11.13 million TEU, driven by typhoons in Asia and vessel bunching. Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Zeeland dockworkers also staged an eight-hour strike today, September 4. ECT Rotterdam and other terminals are expected to need several days to clear the resulting backlog.

• Rotterdam vessel wait: approximately 1.18 days before the strike

• ECT and Euromax: expected operational closures during the action

• U.S. tender rejections: above 14%, the first move above that level since early August

• Market signal: supply-led tightness means small demand increases could trigger outsized rate moves

Kuehne+Nagel’s port operational update details the Rotterdam disruption and continuing Asia congestion.

What does CBP’s new visibility proposal require?

CBP’s September 2 ANPRM, docket USCBP-2026-1058, does not yet create new requirements. It seeks comments on expanded supply chain disclosures, including:

• Foreign export declarations, invoices, packing lists, and certificates of origin

• More complete party identification, including MIDs and global business identifiers

• AI-enabled traceability technology to detect illegal transshipment

• Potentially different treatment for CTPAT participants

Comments are due December 1, 2026. Importers should begin mapping documentation ownership and supplier data now.

What should freight operators do next?

Review routing buffers, carrier alternatives, and inventory exposure. The CVSA Brake Safety Week ran August 23–29, 2026; Brake Safety Day recorded a 14.3% brake-related out-of-service rate.

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