Point To Point

In most people’s minds, Memphis is associated with three main things: delicious barbecue, soulful blues, and of course, Elvis’ beloved Graceland. But what’s less widely known is that the city also represents the single most significant shipping hub in the Western Hemisphere.

For all the variables of international commerce – with its endless combinations of commodities, origins, and destinations – there are still some things all shippers have in common: a desire to streamline the supply chain and reduce freight costs.

On March 1, 2022, the Felicity Ace sank in the Atlantic Ocean. Traveling from Germany to the U.S., the ship was carrying thousands of luxury cars from Volkswagen, including Porsches, Lamborghinis, and Bentleys. According to Reuters, without international cargo insurance coverage the financial losses could equal upwards of $155 million.

For over 15 years, the relationship between Averitt and Virco, an American manufacturer and supplier of school furniture and equipment, has continued to thrive and grow. From standard LTL services to dedicated fleet operations, and international forwarding, Averitt helps Virco deliver first-class delivery experience to schools and offices—even through the most challenging of times.

The United States and Canada share the longest international border (at 5,525 miles) and the strongest bilateral trade relationship (with nearly $2 billion exchanged every day) of any two countries in the world. In fact, the U.S. is by far the dominant point of origin for goods imported into Canada, with China a distant second. A key reason for that strong relationship is the relative ease of transporting goods from one country to another via truck, which is supported by more than 120 land ports-of-entry lining the border.

On January 1, 2020 Incoterms 2020 went into effect. These rules from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) establish guidelines for how shipments are handled between buyers and sellers in different countries.

On January 16th, the long-delayed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was passed by the United States Senate by a vote of 89 to 10. On January 29th, President Trump signed it into effect. This agreement, drawn up as a replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) of 1994, offers many modifications that are expected to provide an uptick in cross-border trade.