Intermodal Briefs: ITS Logistics, Port of Prince Rupert


ITS Logistics

ITS Logistics, a Nevada-based third-party logistics (3PL) firm, has released its latest report forecasting port container and dray operations for the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf regions; ocean and domestic container rail ramp operations are also highlighted for both the West and East inland regions.

While December import volumes declined through the end of 2025—despite growth in new trade lanes from Southeast Asia—the “forthcoming Supreme Court ruling on the Administration’s tariffs could drive a rebound in time for Lunar New Year,” according to the ITS Logistics Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index report for January.

Paul Brashier, Vice President of Global Supply Chain, ITS Logistics (ITS Logistics Photograph)

“Port congestion remains low into the new year, with isolated issues of empty return appointment availability being reported, especially at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach,” ITS Logistics Vice President of Global Supply Chain Paul Brashier said Jan. 15, when the ITS report was issued. “However, volumes to the Southeast and Northeast regions are increasing due to new trade lanes opening from Southeast Asia, as well as the reopening of the Red Sea.”

According to ITS Logistics, U.S. container imports came in at 2,227,316 TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) in December, up 2% month-over-month but down 5.9% from 2024 levels. “Full-year 2025 volumes came in 0.4% below 2024 totals, officially erasing hopes that early-year frontloading would preserve annual growth margins as import demand weakened throughout the third and fourth quarters,” the 3PL firm said. “Import volumes from Southeast Asia posted modest but notable gains in December, led by Vietnam, where volumes increased 5.4% month-over-month and 21.5% year-over-year, per Descartes System Groups. This trend reflects shippers’ ongoing efforts to mitigate tariff exposure by diversifying origin strategies, even as overall demand remains constrained.”

Pre-Lunar New Year shipments are also beginning to move across Transatlantic shipping lanes toward the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest, though volumes are expected to fall below historical norms, according to ITS Logistics. “Elevated tariffs, persistent inflation, and higher costs are putting downward pressure on consumer demand, limiting the scale of traditional Lunar New Year shipping surges,” the firm said. “Shippers and carriers are watching closely for the Supreme Court’s pending decision on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs, which have driven Chinese import volumes down an estimated 28%.”

“If the IEEPA tariffs were to be removed from all imported goods, there would certainly be an increase in imports,” Brashier noted. “Especially for goods recently being sourced in higher-tariffed countries.”

Outside of the ports, ITS Logistics said, “inland transportation markets are facing separate and increasingly complex uncertainty tied to state-level enforcement actions of non-domiciled commercial drivers’ licenses (CDLs) and learners permits (CLPs).” California has extended the cancellation deadline for approximately 17,000 non-domiciled CDLs through March 6. “The state faces an active lawsuit brought by the Sikh Coalition alleging that many license cancellations stem from clerical and administrative errors, leaving affected drivers with little recourse or means to reinstate their licenses,” ITS Logistics said. “The Sikh community represents roughly 40% of the California carrier pool, according to the North American Punjabi Trucking Association, raising the risk of disproportionate capacity loss in one of the nation’s busiest drayage markets.”

Tennessee in early January also announced that it will issue notices to approximately 8,800 CDL holders requiring proof of citizenship or lawful U.S. presence, documentation that was not required when their licenses were originally issued, according to ITS Logistics. The affected population, it noted, represents roughly 5% of the state’s carrier base, who must present documentation by early April.

“North Carolina may be the next to follow with a similar announcement, after recent Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audit findings revealed that 54% of sampled non-domiciled CDLs issued by the state were in violation of federal guidelines,” ITS Logistics reported. “FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said that notice has been sent to the state with the expectation that North Carolina ‘will act expeditiously to achieve substantial compliance.’ This motion could mean more CDL cancellations and a further shrinking of the capacity pool.”

Further Reading:

Port of Prince Rupert

(Courtesy of PRPA)

“Sending a Supply Chain Salute to Prince Rupert Port Authority for a strong 2025 powered by teamwork across the gateway,” CN wrote in a recent LinkedIn post. “From terminal operators to customers to the dedicated workforce, this year’s success shows what collaboration can achieve! CN is proud to help keep the momentum moving with reliable rail service and key infrastructure investments, including progress on our Zanardi Rapids Bridge expansion that will build capacity for the future.”

The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) on Jan. 14 announced that the Port of Prince Rupert handled 26.3 million tons of cargo in 2025, up 14% from 2024, during what it called “a historic period of infrastructure investment and development.” Intermodal traffic through DP World Prince Rupert’s Fairview Container Terminal rose 20% year-over-year to 885,797 TEUs, “bolstered by robust volumes in the second half of 2025,” according to PRPA.

Demand for Canadian energy products remained steady, PRPA said, with AltaGas’ Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal shipping nearly 2.4 million tons of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) to markets in Asia, representing a six% increase year-over-year. Pembina’s Watson Island LPG Bulk Terminal handled 506,159 tons, which PRPA said marked a 1% increase. Volumes through Drax’s Westview Wood Pellet Terminal went up 3%, with close to 1.3 million tons of biofuel flowing through the facility, PRPA added.

According to the Port Authority, “another solid crop year” led Prince Rupert Grain Terminal to increase its exports of western Canadian agricultural products by 8% compared with 2024. Total coal export volumes rose 18% at Trigon Pacific Terminals, with metallurgical and thermal coal rebounding, up 26% and 21%, respectively.

(Courtesy of CN)

The Port of Prince Rupert also made progress on several projects, which PRPA said “account for more than C$3 billion in capital investment and will begin coming on line in mid-2026 to further diversify exports, maximize supply chain efficiency, and grow overall cargo volumes.” They include:

“Our 2025 performance reflects the consistent commitment of the Prince Rupert Gateway’s workforce, terminal operators, CN, and customers,” PRPA Interim President Kurt Slocombe said. “The depth of collaboration between all Gateway partners to unlock capacity, provide greater speed to market, and actively diversify the $60 billion in trade that flows through our Port annually is second to none.”

Further Reading:

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