The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
April 30, 2025
NDTA – CAS
Surface Force Projection Conference
Register Today!
Early Bird Discounted Registration Fees Available until Thursday, May 1
Education, Deployment, and Sustainment Readiness are the key reasons for our meeting at the SFPC! Don’t miss this great opportunity to join the Surface Force Projection Conference (SFPC), June 10-12, 2025! Early bird discounted registration rates are available until Thursday, May 1, 2025. […READ MORE…]
Empty Container Glut Could Cause Congestion, but BNSF and UP Say They’ve Got Capacity
By Bill Stephens
(Trains.com) With a trade war under way — and tariffs as high as 145% on goods made in China — the number of containers bound to the US from China has dropped precipitously. Container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd, for example, has seen its China-US bookings drop by a third since tariffs were imposed on April 2, and shipping lines are canceling sailings from Chinese ports.
“It’s my prediction that in two weeks’ time, arrivals will drop by 35% as essentially all shipments out of China for major retailers and manufacturers have ceased, and cargo coming out of Southeast Asia locations is much softer than normal,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said. […READ MORE…]
US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy unveiled the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) new Automated Vehicle (AV) Framework as part of his transportation innovation agenda. The new framework will unleash American ingenuity, maintain key safety standards, and prevent a harmful patchwork of state laws and regulations.
“This Administration understands that we’re in a race with China to out-innovate, and the stakes couldn’t be higher,” US Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy said. “As part of DOT’s innovation agenda, our new framework will slash red tape and move us closer to a single national standard that spurs innovation and prioritizes safety.” […READ MORE…]
Editor’s Picks
Nationwide Doorstep Delivery Getting Closer for Commissary Customers
(Military Times) Commissary officials are getting close to awarding a contract for the doorstep delivery of groceries,” said John Hall, director of the Defense Commissary Agency.
“We need this. Our customers want and need this contract,” Hall said at an American Logistics Association meeting in Richmond, Virginia. According to the contract solicitation documents, delivery service would be available to eligible customers living within a 20-mile radius of commissaries in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
Army Opens Modern Projectile Loading Facility to Expand 155 mm Artillery Production
(U.S. Army) The US Army and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems opened a new load, assemble and pack facility for 155 mm high explosive artillery projectiles in Camden, Arkansas, reinforcing the Army’s strategic effort to expand production capacity, restore the defense industrial base, and strengthen deterrence through sustained investment in readiness.
According to the Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll. “The Army remains committed to delivering relevant munitions at speed and scale to our Soldiers, the joint force, and allies and partners. It is not lost on us that a key component of victory on the battlefield starts in our production facilities.”
C-17 Refuels Off a Commercial Tanker for First Time in AMC History
(Air & Space Forces) Air Mobility Command, responsible for the Air Force’s airlift and tanker fleets, got some refueling help of its own from a commercial provider for the first time earlier this month.
The milestone came when a KDC-10 tanker owned by Omega Air Refueling passed fuel onto a C-17 over California on April 10. The airlifter came from the 62nd Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which used a Pacific Air Forces contract to task the mission.
Navy Secretary Presses Shipbuilding, Sailor Welfare During First Overseas Trip
(Stars and Stripes) YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, on his first trip abroad since taking office last month, is seeking deeper cooperation from Japanese shipyards as he advances shipbuilding as a priority for the service. Phelan touched down Monday in Tokyo, where exploring options for joint ship repair and shipbuilding ventures with Japanese shipyards topped his agenda. “One of my main priorities is readiness, and so being able to repair ships here obviously improves readiness,” he said.
Replacement Truck Tire Prices to Rise in May Due to Tariffs
(Transport Topics) Market observers say fleets can expect more replacement tire price hikes in the coming weeks and months as tariffs on rubber imports and all goods from some of the top tire exporting countries to the United States are passed through to customers. Thailand is the top-ranked producer, supplying about 35% of the world’s natural rubber. The rest of the top five largest producers comprise Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and China.
S&P Global announced an agreement to acquire the Automatic Identification System (AIS) data services business of ORBCOMM Inc. The AIS business is a leading provider of satellite data services used to track and monitor vessels, enhancing maritime visibility and delivering critical insights that support business intelligence and decision-making for government and commercial clients worldwide.
UPS announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Andlauer Healthcare Group Inc., a leading North American supply chain management company headquartered in Canada, offering customized third-party logistics and specialized cold chain transportation solutions for the healthcare sector.
Maersk Says It Has Maintained All Trans-Pacific Sailings Despite Tariff, Trade Uncertainty
Maersk said on Tuesday that it has maintained all its scheduled trans-Pacific sailings to date, albeit downsizing some vessels, despite the uncertainty caused by US import tariffs and the trade war between the United States and China.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.