Memphis, TN: A Case Study in Resiliency

FLOODING ALONG THE Mississippi River earlier this year disrupted Memphis freight flows, impeding barge traffic and creating rail delays as carriers were forced to reroute shipments around compromised trackage. Combined with tariff uncertainties, this knocked volume expectations for local freight businesses a bit off balance earlier this year. However, 2019 is closing with more stability and a return of consistent cargo flows. Growth for the 2020s is supported by extensive infrastructure improvements under way and national growing inland port interest.

Concerns about looming tariff changes drove significant volume increases that had local providers scrambling to meet the crush. “In quarters three and four of 2018 and even in the first quarter of 2019, people were rushing to get ahead of the anticipated tariff impositions. This created an artificial peak that the local transportation infrastructure simply couldn’t handle,” said Joel Henry, president of Intermodal Cartage Co., a member of the IMC Companies family of brands. Unfortunately, logistics providers who ramped up staff and equipment levels in the expectation that the surge would continue have seen it subside. As a result, many find themselves holding surplus resources. To read more, visit The Journal of Commerce.