Truck drivers can anticipate more freight hauling opportunities at the Port of Miami, as the South Florida Container Terminal recently ushered in a weekly Medgulf service.
The West Med route makes South Florida its first port of call after stops such as Tangier, Genoa, and Valencia, before trekking to Gulf of Mexico facilities. The trade route service is expected to include six vessels and the CMA CGM Navegantes docked at the South Florida Container Terminal for the first tie on Oct.19.
“Miami’s business center strength and Florida’s growing consumer market are creating excellent business opportunities for supply chain planners. We’re excited to welcome the new CMA CGM Medgulf service and also announce the next phase of our terminal improvement plan,” South Florida Container Terminal managing director Hugh Healey reportedly said.
The flow of cargo through Miami has steadily risen since the height of the pandemic. Officials anticipate a 3 percent year-over-year gain, despite recent retail slowdowns. Last year, the port enjoyed a 17.56 percent increase after handling 1,254,062 TEUs. That was a 187,324 TEU increase over 2020.
The Port of Miami injects upwards of $43 billion into the Florida economy, while creating about 334,500 jobs, and plenty of opportunities for independent truckers and fleet drivers. Global trade routes have been retooled since the economic disruption experience during the health emergency. Manufacturers are also reportedly repositioning plants closer to key markets, such as the U.S. Officials in South Florida see these changes as a boon for the port.
“Nearshoring is a new trend, taking a lot of manufacturing that’s going on in Asia, China, Vietnam, and bringing it closer to the Western Hemisphere, to Mexico, Latin America. That is good because geographically Miami is situated perfectly to go after all these new cargos,” Hydi Webb, director and CEO of PortMiami reportedly said. “We’re looking at seeing a lot more of the North-South trade increasing through the Port of Miami.”
Proactive measures are being taken to prepare the port for the influx of containers. A dozen zero-emissions rubber tire gantry cranes have been ordered. The port expects delivery during the second quarter of 2023. Based on efficiency metrics, the 12 electric cranes would ramp up capabilities by upwards of 300,000 lifts annually.
Touchless gates were installed two years ago. The time truckers spend navigating the terminal has been reduced due to weigh-in-motion scales, with assistance from clerks and mechanics.
Miami is typically the first Florida port to offload goods and materials from Asia and Latin America. It also stands as a logical first stop for vessels traveling through the Panama Canal. The Miami Customs District handles a total trade volume that exceeds $100 billion annually and growing.
Sources: cma-cgm.com, miamitodaynews.com, miamidade.gov
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