Two publications by Nick
Operational decisions and market context
Cases / Choices / Next steps
Practical customer questions, operational trade-offs and actions for your next shipment.
Explore Freight Notes
Nick / Freight Notes
For 1,046 cartons across four SKUs, compare palletizing in China, direct floor-loaded delivery and U.S. transloading. Match factory loading with warehouse receiving and trucking.
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Nick / Freight Notes
On a shipment from Huangpu via Yantian to Baltimore, the critical date was when the loaded containers could be received at origin.
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Nick / Freight Notes
The warehouse has finished unloading. The container and chassis still have a journey to complete. A clear handoff helps you understand the bills that follow.
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Nick / TPT WEEKLY
The W44 China–U.S. ocean freight review covers weekly SCFI percentage changes, the November demand outlook, and developments at Los Angeles and Long Beach.
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Nick / TPT WEEKLY
US rate declines narrowed as booking space began to ease. Larger OOCL shipments can request spot reductions, subject to volume, sailing dates and carrier approval.
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Nick / TPT WEEKLY 2026 W42 · October 12–18
SCFI rates on both US coasts edged lower as capacity returned after Golden Week. Backlogs still occupy near-term space; fresh cargo will determine how quickly reductions progress.
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Nick / TPT WEEKLY 2026 W41 · October 5–11
Transpacific spot rates held near pre-holiday highs. The outlook remains downward, with post-holiday cargo and returning usable capacity determining the pace of reductions.
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Nick / TPT WEEKLY 2026 W40 · September 28–October 4
Elevated transpacific rates can persist after the turning point. Summit outcomes still need implementation, while usable capacity may recover after Golden Week.
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Nick / TPT WEEKLY 2026 W39 · September 21–27
SCFI US coast rates edged lower before Golden Week, but workable space remains constrained. New bookings after the holiday will test how long elevated rates can hold.
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Nick / TPT WEEKLY 2026 W38 · September 14–20
USWC gains accelerate while USEC increases slow. MSC’s planned Emerald cancellation puts the focus on replacement sailing dates and space available for new bookings.
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Nick / TPT WEEKLY 2026 W37 · September 7–13
The outlook for September US imports has been revised sharply higher, while transpacific spot rates continue to rise. On September 11, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) reached USD 7,339/FEU for US West Coast base ports and USD 10,479/FEU for US East Coast base ports, up 1.34% and 1.50% week on week, respectively.
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Nick / TPT WEEKLY
Panama has eased one draft restriction, but the risk premium remains. A 40HQ cost model shows when a West Coast discharge plus rail move to the U.S. East Coast becomes commercially viable—and what file rate to ask the carrier for.
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