The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
March 12, 2025
Surface Force Projection Conference
The National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) and Christopher Newport University’s Center for American Studies (CAS) jointly present the NDTA-CAS Surface Force Projection Conference (SFPC): “Challenging the Joint Force Deployment Status Quo – Improving the Large-Scale Deployment Model,” June 10-12, 2025.
The SFPC brings together government and industry logistics and transportation experts, members of the Joint Logistic Enterprise, to examine a wide range of challenges associated with deploying forces and moving sustainment to the point of need. During this time, we will build relationships and trust, examine deployment challenges, look for solutions, educate and collaborate and find ways to improve readiness and transportation capability. […READ MORE…]
Remembering Francis “Frank” Owen McDermott
Mr. Francis “Frank” Owen McDermott, an NDTA member since 1968, passed away Nov.19, 2024. Frank was NDTA’s General Counsel for more than 55 years, providing expert legal opinion on matters of importance to the association and national defense. In 2018, Frank received the Joseph A. Torsani Memorial Award for Lifetime Service and Achievement in recognition of his invaluable guidance and support to NDTA.
Frank loved NDTA deeply and considered his service at NDTA as a service to his country. NDTA is here today, after 80 years, in large part due to Frank’s guidance and encouragement. He was a national treasure whose legacy made an indelible mark on the US warfighter, the transportation industry, and the defense efforts of this nation. As Frank crosses the largest ocean of all, we will carry on with his heritage in our hearts.
A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 3305 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, Va., on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 2 p.m. For more details, click here.
2025 NDTA Foundation Scholarships
NDTA is excited about the education and professional development of our nation’s future logistics and transportation leaders and is offering four scholarship opportunities for members and their children.
- Program A – for currently enrolled college students
- Program B – for soon-to-be high school graduates accepted at an accredited institution
- Program C – for currently enrolled, distance learning college students
- Program D – The Denny Edwards Graduate Scholarship for graduate (master’s degree) students
All scholarship winners will receive a unique opportunity to join our Industry Connect Program (ICP), which links interested students with an industry mentor to help them bridge to the future. More information can be found here.
To learn about the scholarship qualification details and how to apply, go to https://www.ndtahq.com/foundation/, call us at (703) 751-5011 or send us an email at ndtahq@ndtahq.com. Read student testimonials from previous scholarship recipients to learn about the impact it has had on their studies. […READ MORE…]
Pentagon Wants to Buy 10 Cargo Ships to Bolster Aging Logistics Fleet
Courtesy Video, defense.gov
Air Force General Randall Reed, Commander of US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), is calling for the purchase of 10 used cargo ships to bolster the aging fleet that supports American military operations overseas. He made the request in a prepared statement at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, March 5.
He expressed concern about the advanced age and declining readiness of the Ready Reserve Force, which is critical for positioning equipment and supplies from the US during conflicts or crises. According to General Reed, the median age of the fleet’s 46 roll-on/roll-off ships is 47 years, with 14 ships being 50 years or older, some steam-powered. This aging fleet poses risks to USTRANSCOM’s ability to rapidly deploy forces and equipment globally when needed. […READ MORE…]
Your Source
Trump Hails ‘Reclaiming’ of Panama Canal After BlackRock-led Group’s Deal to Buy Stake
By Clare Jim and Scott Murdoch
(Reuters) US President Donald Trump has hailed a deal led by US firm BlackRock to buy most of the $22.8 billion ports business of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, including assets it holds along the Panama Canal.
The deal will give the US consortium control of key Panama Canal ports amid White House calls to remove them from what it says is Chinese ownership. It also risks heightening tensions between the US and Panama, which have tussled over Trump’s claims about the Canal. […READ MORE…]
Your Source
Trade Tensions Put American Crop Exports in Jeopardy
(Transport Topics News) With China and Canada already hitting back against President Donald Trump’s tariffs and concerns over more retaliation in the works, agriculture traders are now watching for potential cancellations on crop contracts that would put nearly 8 million tons of American corn sales at risk. The issue stems from outstanding grain sales that were booked but not yet shipped – and could lead to canceled contracts. […READ MORE…]
Your Source
Trump Grants One-Month Tariff Exemption for US Automakers
(Transport Topics News) President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption on his new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada amid fears that the trade war could harm US manufacturers. The announcement came after Trump spoke with leaders of the “Big Three” automakers — Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.
He said, “We are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA,” referencing the North American free trade agreement he renegotiated in his first term. […READ MORE…]
Your Source
Ocean Carrier CMA CGM Commits $1B for US Air Cargo Operation
By
(FreightWaves) CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping line, will open an air cargo hub in Chicago for its cargo airline division and deploy five factory-built Boeing 777 freighter aircraft, operated by American pilots, as part of a $20 billion US shipping, port and logistics investment plan announced after the company’s top executive met with President Donald Trump on Thursday, March 6, at the White House. […READ MORE…]
(Transportation.gov) The US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy urged Washington, DC, leaders to restore greatness to our Nation’s Capital with a focus on improving the safety and security of the city’s transportation systems. In a series of letters, Secretary Duffy urged DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) CEO Randy Clarke to prioritize improvements to passenger security, crime reduction, and roadway safety. […READ MORE…]
Stay Flexible in a Convoluted Market, Experts Tell Ocean Shippers
By
(FreightWaves) The prospective return of the world’s largest container operators to the Red Sea-Suez Canal route is good news for most of the Middle East, but it could signal leaner times for ocean transport providers, an analyst says.
“The opening of the Red Sea will lead to a drop in container [purchase] prices and freight rates and a massive surge in container availability, putting pressure on NVOCC [non-vessel operating common carriers] in that region,” said Christian Roeloffs, chief executive of marketplace Container XChange. […READ MORE…]
Layoffs Hit Over 14,300 Workers Tied to Freight Sectors in US, Canada, Mexico
By
(FreightWaves) A massive wave of layoffs, closures and furloughs has hit workers and companies tied to the manufacturing, distribution and freight sectors in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Since Jan. 20, there have been 14,357 job cuts, according to media reports and Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices. Major food processors and distributors Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors, Cargill Inc., Archer-Daniels-Midland Inc., Foster Farms, and Perdue Farms all reported significant job cuts. […READ MORE…]
NDTA’S US Virtual Chapter Meeting
Topic: Disaster Response and Preparedness
with Greg J. Ramoni, Team Rubicon Operations Manager
Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025
Time: 2 PM to 3 PM EST
Location: MS Teams Webinar (link below)
Click here to join the webinar
Guest speaker Greg J. Ramoni has a wealth of experience in disaster response and preparedness and will share his insights on engaging and supporting disaster efforts. Greg’s background includes overseeing Team Rubicon’s operations for seven states, from the Tennessee River Valley to the US northern border, and from the Mississippi River east to the Appalachian Mountains. He also serves as Team Rubicon’s Exercise Director and EOC Manager, supporting preparedness exercises and EOC activations for large-scale disasters.
We encourage all NDTA members and interested parties to attend this informative session to learn from a leader in the field of disaster response and preparedness.
Editor’s Picks
Safety Board Calls to End Helo Flights on Route of Fatal DC Crash
The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded that the separation distances allowed between helicopter and airplane traffic on the route where a US Army helicopter and a commercial passenger collided in midair on Jan. 29 near Washington “pose an intolerable risk to aviation safety.”
As a result, the NTSB is recommending helicopter flights be immediately prohibited on “Route 4,″ where the fatal crash occurred.
Coast Guard Infrastructure Crisis: Maintenance Backlog Soars to $7 Billion as Facilities Deteriorate
(gCaptain) The US Coast Guard is facing an infrastructure crisis, with maintenance backlogs reaching $7 billion as of June 2024, according to a new US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. This is a dramatic increase from the $2.6 billion reported in 2019.
The agency’s nearly 40,000 shore infrastructure assets, including critical facilities like boat stations, piers, and operational buildings, are in “mediocre to fair” condition, according to the Coast Guard’s 2023 internal assessment.
Norway Says It Will Keep Supplying Fuel to US Navy After Company Calls for Boycott
(Reuters) NATO member Norway will continue to supply fuel for US Navy ships, the country’s defense minister said after a call from a private marine fuel supplier to stop doing so in response to the apparent breakdown in US-Ukrainian relations.
“We have seen reports raising concerns about support for US Navy vessels in Norway. This is not in line with the Norwegian government’s policy,” Norway’s Defense Minister Tore Sandvik said in a statement. “American forces will continue to receive the supply and support they require from Norway,” he added.
Trump to Launch New White House Office Focused on Shipbuilding
(NavyTimes) As part of his national address on March 4, President Donald Trump promised to establish a new office of shipbuilding within the White House to revitalize the industry and bolster American naval strength. The vow — which came during the national security section of Trump’s two-hour speech — was included among broader plans to “boost our defense industrial base” for America.
Marines Want New Class of Aviation Support Ships
(USNI.org) With the impending retirement of the aging Wright-class, the Marine Corps wants a new class of aviation logistics support ships, according to the 2025 aviation plan. The Marines currently have two aviation support ships that serve as floating repair stations with detachments of embarked Marines that can perform up-to-depot-level maintenance on Marine aircraft. Dubbed the Aviation Logistics Support Capability/T-AVB Next, the Marines seek to improve their intermediate sustainment abilities as well as those of stand-in forces with the new platform.
Space Development Agency Delays Next Launch Amid Supply Chain Woes
(DefenseNews) The Space Development Agency will push the launch of its next satellites until late this summer — another setback due to vendor delivery delays.
“With the added challenge of late supplier deliveries, it has become clear additional time is required for system readiness to meet the Tranche 1 minimum viable capability,” the agency said in a statement.
AIT Worldwide Logistics Recognized on Forbes’ “America’s Best Midsize Employers” List
Forbes magazine has once again named AIT Worldwide Logistics to its annual list of America’s Best Midsize Employers. The global freight forwarder previously appeared on the list in 2022. AIT ranks at or above the industry average score in all six survey categories: image, workplace atmosphere and potential for development, diversity, wage/salary, working conditions, and workplace.
ARA Introduces “N-Drive” Autonomy
Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) has announced the launch of N-Drive, a full-stack autonomy solution for unconstrained environments. With security, flexibility, and interoperability in mind, N-Drive is designed to achieve zero human intervention in off-road environments, setting a new standard in autonomous performance and reliability.
N-Drive has been tested in nearly every terrain on earth using advanced simulation tools. By eliminating the need for human oversight, N-Drive is set to revolutionize both commercial and military applications, where safety and efficiency are paramount.
Radiant Logistics Acquires Transcon Shipping
Radiant Logistics, Inc. today announced it has acquired Transcon Shipping Co., Inc., a California-based, privately held company that combines decades of excellence in ocean freight forwarding services with a complementary portfolio of air freight and other transportation services from strategic gateway locations in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.