Labor Disruption Averted
CP Rail Customer Bulletin
https://www8.cpr.ca/cpcustomerstation/bulletin/view?id=11590  April 20, 2018
 
Customer Advisory: Labour Disruption Averted
This evening, we reached an agreement with both the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference-Train & Engine (TCRC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), which averts the potential work stoppage of 12:01 am Eastern time tomorrow, April 21, 2018.
As such, CP’s embargoes for shipments routing to and from CP Canadian locations has been cancelled effective immediately. CP will immediately begin to execute a safe and structured start-up of its train operations in Canada.

Customer Advisory: Intermodal Terminal Gates Open During Work Stoppage
Dear Valued Customer,
 
During the embargo which begins Saturday April 21 at 00:01, intermodal terminal gates will remain open, in so far as practicable and so long as capacity permits, in order to reduce the impact of the work stoppage by CP’s unionized employees represented by the TCRC and IBEW.
 
If at origin, customers will be able to request pick up or ingate containers until terminals have reached their capacity. Private perishable protective service equipment and international reefers are excluded and will not be allowed in the terminals at this time as they require fueling/monitoring.
 
If a container has arrived at its destination terminal, customers will be able to request delivery or pick up containers from the terminal.
 
CP will not be providing over-the-road train service during the work stoppage.
 
CP will communicate to customers when terminals are nearing capacity to avoid loads being turned away at the gate.

Update-CP Canadian Network shutdown due to TCRC & IBEW strike
Canadian Pacific (CP) has received notice from the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference – Train & Engine (TCRC), and by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) that members of the respective unions will be withdrawing their services to operate freight and passenger trains and to maintain CP’s signaling systems in Canada, effective 0001, Saturday, April 21, 2018.
CP has commenced and will continue to execute a safe and structured shutdown of its train operations in Canada.
An embargo application for shipments routing to and from CP Canadian locations is now in place to be effective 0001, Saturday, April 21, 2018. This embargo applies to:

• All shipments originating in Canada which are billed to any Canadian or US destinations
• All shipments originating in the United States which are billed to any Canadian destinations
• The embargo can be rescinded at any time.

CP will continue to bargain in good faith with the TCRC and the IBEW and remains committed to achieving a win-win solution for the company and the two unions. CP urges both unions to work closely with the company and federal mediators to achieve a positive outcome as soon as possible.
For up-to-date information on specific impacts to your shipments or other problem resolution inquiries please contact Customer Service at 1-888-333-8111. You can also reach Customer Service through the Log an Issue tool on Customer Station or via email at customer_service@cpr.ca.
Thank you in advance for your continued patience and support.
James Clements
Vice-President, Strategic Planning and Transportation Services
Canadian Pacific

Teamsters and IBEW unions give strike notice to CP Rail
Job action now possible within 72 hours
The Canadian Press · Posted: Apr 18, 2018 9:16 AM ET | Last Updated: an hour ago
Two unions representing about 3,400 workers at Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. have formally served the company with 72-hour notice of their intent to strike.
The notice comes at a difficult time for the railway, which is under pressure from shippers to move backed-up grain shipments and supply more locomotives to the pipeline-constrained oil industry in Western Canada.
Both the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, representing about 3,000 CP Rail engineers and conductors, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, with about 365 signal and communications workers, cite a lack of progress at the bargaining table.
Absent a negotiated settlement, the unions say their workers will walk out at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday.
The company confirms it has received the strike notices but says it is committed to achieving a “win-win solution.” It says it presented the Teamsters with new three- and five-year agreement options on Monday and plans to present the IBEW with three- and five-year options today.
Both unions reached a tentative deal with Canadian National Railway Co. last month for new contracts for about 1,700 CN Teamsters workers and over 700 IBEW members.
Teamsters workers voted 94.2 per cent and IBEW workers voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action against CP Rail earlier this month.
“Serving a strike notice is part of the bargaining process that unions must follow if they want to be able to strike,” said Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel in a statement.
“We remain committed to achieving a win-win solution and urge the two unions to work closely with us and the federal mediators to achieve a positive outcome as soon as possible in the hours leading up to the deadline.“
Canadian Pacific workers voted 94.2 per cent on April 6 in favour of strike action to support their contract demands. (CBC)

Major Congestion in North China, Korea and Japan Due to Severe Fog
The heavy fog is still delaying many containers.
For example, the triangles below are ships in Shanghai at anchor waiting because the fog is too heavy and there is no place to dock in Shanghai.
Congestion exists throughout China, Korea and Japan.

HEAVY FOG IN YANGTZE RIVER AREA AND SHANGHAI PORT
Heavy fog hit Yangtze river area and Shanghai port from 27-March, reducing visibility and stranding ships.
Expected that the recent sea fog will continue to 2-Apr.
Shanghai maritime safety administration has implemented traffic control over the Yangtze River waterway and Shanghai port for several days (beginning in March 27th), and is expected to have a serious impact on the Yangtze river barge and the ship at Shanghai port. More than 1550 ships in the Yangtze River channel have been trapped at the ports along.
As of April 2, Shanghai port is still closed, continuing to control the ship entering into. According to the prediction of the observatory, the heavy fog may continue to 2-Apr. It will take time for normal port operation to recover after heavy fog. Therefore, it is expected That there will have a continuous impact, some sailing will be delay or canceled accordingly. It will also affect the ETD for the port of Loading which on same sailing and behind of Shanghai port, all POD’s ETA,  etc…

New York/New Jersey Ports Closing Early 3/7/18, and Closed for 3/8/18
PNCT’s gate will close at 2:00 PM. Terminal will be closed tomorrow (3/8) and reopen at 6 AM on March 9th. Free time extended for boxes not in demurrage.
Due to deteriorating conditions from the winter storm, APMT will be shutting down gate operations at 1:00 PM.  Stay tuned for further update.  Stay safe.
With accumulation & freezing temps expected overnight, all PONYNJ container terminals will be CLOSED on Thursday, March 8, 2018 for clean up. Stay safe!

Update on Trucking/Drayage in US
Equipment / Chassis Related Issues:
Many service locations are currently experiencing a severe chassis shortage. This shortage affects shipments that have been dispatched and scheduled. This shortage also affects appointments, cutoffs and Last Free Days. As chassis are released on the same day as equipment pick up, in many cases, no one knows in advance if a chassis can be secured until the day of the appointment.
Additionally, many parts of the country are getting snow and/or ice, which has begun to affect shipments.
Electronic Logging Device (ELD): The passing of the deadline for complying (December 2017) has changed the way trucking is being done (and regulations enforced), and is having a significant negative impact on driving time. Initial reports by truckers are that ELD has impacted their driving time by 20-40 percent, and more in some cases. This means that, essentially, 20-40% of the ability to move a container has been removed from the market. In addition, layover fees are being charged more frequently and more consistently by trucking companies. Combine these changes with the increased volumes that have been on a steady incline since mid-Fall, 2017, and we can anticipate that problems will continue. Beginning in April, per ELD requirements, drivers will not only be fined for going over hours, but they will receive points against their commercial driver’s license (CDL).
Please note that due to all the factors that are creating a significant impact on trucking options, if there is a problem with a trucking move, the ability to immediately resolve the problem is hampered as well. BOC will do the best we can to rectify any issues you may have and get you the best results possible.
Please contact your BOC Representative if you have any questions.