Experts Weigh in on the Shipping Crisis, Offer Tips on How to Navigate Transportation Delays and Rising Costs

Disruptions in the availability of shipping containers and routes, backlogged ports, trucking shortages, and warehouse storage fees are causing major issues for music, pro audio and live event product manufacturers, distributors, retailers and, ultimately, for consumers who face delivery delays and increased pricing on goods. NAMM Public Affairs gathered a panel of international shipping experts for a webinar to get to the bottom of this complicated and multifaceted crisis. Host Mary Luehrsen, Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations engaged Jonathan Gold, VP Supply Chain and Customs Policy, National Retail Federation, Karyn Booth, Partner and Practice Group Leader, Thompson Hine LLP and general counsel for the National Industrial Transportation League, and Armin Zertor and Carley Jones with Masterpiece International in a conversation that covers the origins of the current shipping backlog, explains where it currently stands, and provides suggestions for how to mitigate delays in receiving products from overseas. 

Suggestions for Getting Products from Overseas

• Stagger your warehouse staff hours, incentivize the warehouse staff, and document flow to facilitate faster unload and reload.
• Advanced bookings, especially for time sensitive cargo, anticipate the possibility of delays with flights and sailing schedules. The sooner you book your freight the better. Do not wait. When you have freight coming planning on returning after and event or repair, make the return booking in advance as well. Bookings can be updated and amended, better to secure space when possible.
• Be creative with your bookings, consider alternative P.O.D, for example, freight coming from EU, it may be more beneficial to consider an east coast P.O.D. and then route the ultimate destination via truck. Keeping in mind that trucking shortages are also a real issue, so it’s important to schedule the trucking in advance as well. The more notice we can give the vendors the better. Have a backup plan.
• Consider Air freight as an option vs sea freight when possible.
• Exhibitors from Europe and Middle East have the option to ship only to USA East Coast or Gulf ports and then cargo can be trucked to Anaheim.
• Shipments from Asia can be shipped to less congested ports such as Oakland, Seattle or Portland and trucked to Anaheim.
• The general service contractor will store your cargo 30 days in advance.
• The international freight forwarder will set up a storage program for minimal fees so that early shipping can be accommodated.

Take Action

1. View "Shipping Webinar: Delays and Other Updates."
2. Read Webinar Transcript.
3. Contact your representatives now and tell them to help ease supply chain disruptions by cosponsoring the Ocean Shipping Reform Act using the National Retail Federation's OSRA21 Grassroots Tool.  
4. File a complaint with the Federal Maritime Commission.
5. Communicate with your entire supply chain, including manufacturers, shippers, carriers, and storage facilities about your needs and deadlines.

Resources

H.R.4996 - Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021

National Retail Federation Press Release

Slate, “The Absolute Simplest Explanation for America’s Supply Chain Woes." 

The New York Times, The Daily Podcast, “The Great Supply Chain Disruption.”