Blank Sailings, Backlogs & BS: Ocean Freight is Jammed Up Again

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

🚢 Intro – When the Boats Stop, So Does the Freight

Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water… here comes another round of ocean freight chaos. This time, it’s all about “blank sailings” — industry-speak for when scheduled cargo ships just don’t show up. Poof. Canceled. No boat. No boxes.

It’s happening across key U.S. routes, especially those linking us to Asia and Europe. And the ripple effect? You guessed it — it’s coming for truckers, drayage drivers, warehouses, and rail yards across the country.

Let’s break it down so drivers understand what’s coming, what’s slowing, and what you can do about it.

⛔️ What the Heck is a Blank Sailing?

A blank sailing is when a cargo ship that was scheduled to depart... doesn’t.

The reasons vary — low demand, port congestion, repositioning vessels, or even labor disruptions. But the outcome is the same: no container movement.

Imagine 10,000 containers sitting in Shanghai waiting for pickup… and the truck never shows up. That’s what this is — just on an ocean scale.

🌏 Asia & Europe to U.S. Routes Getting Hit Hard

Maersk, MSC, and other ocean carriers have canceled dozens of sailings this quarter alone:

Asia–West Coast: Dozens of blank sailings out of China, Singapore, and South Korea.

Asia–East Coast (via Panama): Getting hit with delays up to 3 weeks.

Europe–East Coast: Congestion in Rotterdam and Antwerp causing cancellations and schedule shifts.

The U.S. ports affected most:

Los Angeles / Long Beach

New York / New Jersey

Savannah

Charleston

🚛 How This Wrecks Life for Truckers

Let’s keep it 100 — truckers always end up dealing with the mess freight forwarders and carriers create.

1. Delayed Appointments & Pickups
Containers that were “guaranteed” to arrive by Friday now won’t show until next week — maybe. And who’s stuck rescheduling the haul? You are.

2. Random Last-Minute Loads
Suddenly, a container that wasn’t supposed to arrive hits the port early, and now it’s an urgent “hot load” that pays garbage.

3. Less Volume = Cutback on Local Work
Less freight at the port means less drayage, fewer yard jobs, and lower demand for short-haul guys.

4. Carrier Games at the Port
Ocean carriers are using blank sailings to manipulate freight rates — driving prices up even when demand is soft. Meanwhile, truckers are still getting offered $300 loads with 3-hour wait times.

🧠 Why Are They Doing This?

Ocean carriers are protecting their profits, plain and simple.

When container volume drops, instead of accepting lower rates, they cancel sailings to reduce capacity and drive rates back up. That’s not a theory — that’s business.

It’s like Uber turning off half its drivers so surge pricing kicks in.

And while they’re manipulating the market, truckers and small carriers are left scrambling, unpaid, or overworked.

📊 The Ripple Effect is Real

Here’s what we’re already seeing:

Dwell times increasing at U.S. ports as ships get “bunched up”

Rail intermodal loads dropping in LA and Chicago

Shippers delaying contracts because they don’t know when their freight will land

Smaller carriers getting boxed out while big brokerages lock in the few loads available

It’s not just about containers. It’s about confidence — and right now, supply chains are nervous all over again.

📣 What Can Truckers Do?

You can’t control ocean freight, but you can adjust your playbook:

1. Diversify Your Freight
Don’t rely solely on drayage or port work. Mix in regional or dry van if possible.

2. Watch Blank Sailing Calendars
Sites like Maersk, FreightWaves, and Port Authority reports publish blank sailing notices. Use ‘em.

3. Charge for the Chaos
Last-minute loads? Late containers? Add accessorial charges. Your time matters.

4. Build Direct Shipper Relationships
The more middlemen in your supply chain, the more you suffer when things go sideways.

💥 Bottom Line – Same Ocean, Same Game

Ocean carriers are playing chess while truckers are being used as pawns. And it’s time to flip the board.

The blank sailings aren’t going away. In fact, they’re a strategy — not an accident. And if truckers want to survive (and thrive), they’ve got to outthink the system, not just outdrive it.

✅ Call to Action

Don’t wait until your port work dries up to figure out your backup plan.

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