Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
August 19, 2025
Tariff Wars Crush Truckers as Major Logistics Firms Collapse
TLDR
- ITS Logistics forecasts tariff agreements will increase freight costs, offering shippers a competitive edge by leveraging spot market surges for pent-up demand.
- The ITS Logistics index tracks port volumes and trucker financial health, showing strong inbound flows to West Coast ports despite export challenges from ongoing tariff negotiations.
- Addressing trucker financial stability and tariff impacts helps maintain supply chains, ensuring goods reach communities and supporting small business survival during economic pressures.
- Port of Los Angeles had its busiest June in 117 years, handling over 892,000 TEUs as tariffs reshape global trade flows and drayage providers close.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because tariff policies and supply chain disruptions directly impact consumer prices, product availability, and economic stability. The collapse of established logistics companies like T.G.S. Logistics and GSC Logistics after decades of operation signals severe stress in the transportation sector that could lead to reduced shipping capacity, higher costs for goods, and potential supply chain breakdowns. For consumers, this means paying more for everyday products while facing potential shortages, especially during peak shopping seasons. For businesses, particularly small enterprises, these conditions threaten viability as transportation costs rise and reliable logistics partners disappear. The situation underscores how international trade policies ripple through the entire economy, affecting everyone from manufacturers to end consumers.
Summary
ITS Logistics has released its August forecast for the ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index, revealing critical challenges in global trade dynamics. The index shows export volumes remain suppressed due to ongoing tariff negotiations between the U.S. and China, while inbound volumes to the West Coast remain strong as retailers prepare for peak season. Paul Brashier, Vice President of Global Supply Chain for ITS Logistics, anticipates export surges and rising freight costs once agreements are reached, but notes current issues with day-side terminal congestion and empty container availability.
The National Retail Federation’s Global Port Tracker report confirms tariffs are reducing import volumes by 5.6% compared to 2024, increasing consumer prices and potentially leading to product shortages. Despite these challenges, the Port of Los Angeles recorded its busiest June in history, handling 892,340 TEUs with loaded imports up 10% year-over-year. However, the industry faces a growing crisis as major West Coast drayage providers like T.G.S. Logistics and GSC Logistics have ceased operations after nearly four decades, citing unsustainable market conditions that particularly impact the Port of Oakland and broader supply chain stability.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by citybiz. Read the original source here, Tariff Wars Crush Truckers as Major Logistics Firms Collapse
