The Weekly Roar

In this week’s Roar: Talk of new tariffs by February 1, the cease-fire in the Suez Canal, data from the Truckload Volume Index, how 74% of supply chain leaders view technology, and issues automation may solve in 2025.

Now in office, President Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to investigate unfair trade practices and currency policies, particularly concerning China, Canada, and Mexico. As of this writing, he hasn’t imposed tariffs, but he has indicated he will—as soon as February 1. Specifically, a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada. He also announced a new External Revenue department that will oversee the collection of duties from any countries subjected to future tariffs.

Despite a recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, CMA CGM has clarified that its decision to route the CMA CGM Columbia through the Suez Canal to Jeddah is an isolated event. No one should take this as a signal of a return to using the Canal despite the ceasefire. Carriers have stated they’ll continue closely monitoring developments and Drewry has advised carriers to hold tight. Their recommendation is to be sure of safety before resuming Suez transits, and that could take months.

As of December, the DAT Truckload Volume Index shows positive signs for spot and contract truckload activity in the US. National average spot rates were all up from November, while the national average of contract rates was mostly up for December but still down annually. Volume can be largely attributed to seasonal demand. Across the data, the biggest increase was the refrigerated TVI, up 3% in December and 20% annually.

A recent study by Descartes Systems Group reveals that 74% of supply chain leaders view technology as essential for growth—especially in light of ongoing and increasing global trade challenges. About 1,000 decision-makers across manufacturing, distribution, retail, carriers, and logistics services sectors took part in the survey and highlighted the need to focus on technological investment to address needs like labor shortages, where new and evolving workforce strategies are needed to enhance productivity and employee retention—ultimately improving supply chain operations.

Is automation going to solve some of the industry’s biggest logistics problems in 2025? Some would say yes. Automation is being used to improve supply chain visibility, mitigate fraud, and optimize electric vehicle fleets. Predictive analytics is expected to be the standard, making it possible for companies to anticipate and prevent issues such as theft and fraud before they occur. There’s also an expectation for AI to optimize and streamline non-revenue tasks, allowing human resources to focus on areas that enhance customer service and drive growth—which should improve efficiency but also put companies in a better position to adapt to changing demands across the supply chain.

For the rest of the week’s top shipping news, check out the article highlights below.