Inside America’s broken supply chain

This is one of those articles with lots of distracting pictures. But here are a few examples of problems that might be responsible:

Software:

[T]he United States is “decades behind” foreign ports in getting carriers, terminals and shippers to provide each other access to commercial data for planning purposes, said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. Concerns over data privacy, business secrets and security have resulted in a fragmented approach. Individual ports operate as separate fiefdoms rather than as part of a national system.

Infrastructure:

With more money, the port [of Los Angeles] could have expanded channels, fortified wharves and improved road and rail links, he said

One shortcoming: The lack of a direct rail connection to the distribution centers for companies such as Amazon and Nordstrom 75 miles east in California’s “Inland Empire.”

Advocates of a rail link say it would eliminate from Southern California’s freeways thousands of daily truck trips and ease port congestion by moving millions of containers off the docks. But the railroads doubt the financial case.

Trucks:

[N]ew tariffs have made Chinese models unaffordable at a time when domestic makers struggle to fill orders.

Railroad labor:

Used throughout the industry, PSR is “intended to benefit customers” by providing more predictable service, according to Union Pacific.

But union representatives and regulators question the associated job cuts. Union Pacific’s 31,000-person payroll is more than one-third smaller than it was in 2015, part of a broader shrinkage across all major railroads.

“You take that many people out of the workforce, I don’t see how it could but impact service,” said Martin Oberman, chairman of the Surface Transportation Board. “What’s happening is just stripping down the workforce.”