The U.S. port strikes caused a scramble in supply chains, but for now, they’re over. Ports are reopening, but the backlog? That’s the next challenge. Over 50 vessels are waiting to unload, with cargo piling up. It’s not a quick fix. For businesses, the strike may have ended, but the delays are far from over. Critical shipments are still stuck in the queue, which means restocking shelves and fulfilling orders is going to take more time than anticipated. Staying informed and agile is key to mitigating further disruptions.
At Cargoo, we get it. You need solutions, not stress. And fast. With strikes like this, what you do next determines whether you’ll face operational bottlenecks or go through disruption with minimal friction. Let’s talk tactics—specifically how real-time visibility and control can keep your shipments moving, even when everything else is gridlocked.
The U.S. East and Gulf Coast port strike began on October 1st, 2024, following the breakdown in talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). The strike affected 36 major ports, disrupting a significant portion of U.S. containerized trade. Ships queued, and global supply chains felt the strain.
By October 3rd, a tentative wage agreement was reached, and the existing contract was extended until January 15, 2025. While ports are now reopening, the backlog of over 50 ships waiting to unload will take time to clear.
This disruption has global effects, impacting trade routes across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. U.S. exporters, retailers, and FMCG industries face higher costs, missed deadlines, and inventory pressures. Delays, extra fees, congestion and equipment availability issues remain potential challenges as operations slowly return to normal.
This isn’t just about seeing where your shipments are. Cargoo drills into the details, giving you the power to act before the disruption hits you. Shipment affected? You’ll know about it. Port delays? You’ll have the data to adjust routes and shipments. With detailed visibility, you can tackle problems before they escalate.
When strikes hit, exceptions pop up everywhere—delayed containers, missed transshipments, and congestion at alternative ports. With Cargoo you can stay informed and act: reroute to less affected ports, move shipments to different carriers, or even delay orders strategically to minimize penalties.
Port disruptions can cost you. But the right data lets you control that cost. By rerouting through less congested ports or consolidating shipments, you can still get your goods where they need to be—without blowing your budget on unexpected air freight or storage fees. Cargoo’s allocation management tools help you optimize container space and ensure every shipment is as cost-efficient as possible, even in crisis mode.
In early 2024, amid the growing disruption caused by the Red Sea crisis, global shippers faced significant delays and rerouted vessels. In response, several shippers turned to Cargoo to manage the impact on their ocean freight operations.
Using Cargoo’s shipment filtering tools, shippers quickly identified which containers were impacted by the crisis. No guesswork—just clear insights on what was at risk. Next, with the platform’s disruption dashboard, they were able to dig deeper. Which products were about to be delayed? What orders would take a hit? With the right data at hand, they acted fast to plan around the disruption and notify carriers and suppliers of necessary amendments.
Leveraging Cargoo’s alternate routing capabilities, they explored alternative port options They connected with carriers, adjusted routes, confirmed new offers, and secured rates. Shippers were able to reroute critical shipments and avoid bottlenecks, keeping their operations moving despite the ongoing crisis.
Cargoo’s comprehensive visibility and control gave shippers the ability to act fast and make informed decisions, ensuring that their highest-priority products continued to flow, even in the face of severe disruption.
Strikes aren’t going away, but with Cargoo, neither is your ability to respond. Tactical visibility and control are your keys to navigating this. Whether it’s rerouting, consolidating, or just staying one step ahead of the chaos, Cargoo’s tools give you what you need to act decisively and keep your supply chain flowing.
