Ports volumes in July slow despite pockets of strength. On Aug 28, 2026 Capacity constraints put pressure on cargo volume along the West Coast. August 28, 2026 2:00 PM, EDT Tractor-trailers at the Port of Long Beach in California. Long Beach had its second-busiest July ever. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg) Key takeaways: * Major U.S. container ports posted strong July volume despite year-over-year declines, with Los Angeles and Long Beach recording their second-busiest July on record. * Analysts said healthy port activity contrasted with soft domestic freight demand as shrinking truck capacity, localized constraints and tariff-driven cargo shifts supported firmer pricing. * Industry executives expect elevated activity through year-end and warned that sustained import growth could tighten drayage, chassis, warehouse and transload capacity. Cargo shipments through the largest U.S. seaports exhibited signs of summertime strength amid uneven volume and tightening capacity, experts said. "July was active around the major container ports," said Cory Petersen, vice president of sales and operations at Circle Logistics. "We saw significant freight moving through the ports and pockets of tighter truck capacity - particularly around the larger import gateways - but it was not a situation where every trucking market across the country suddenly became tight." Port of Los Angeles container volume in July decreased 5.8% to 960,464 20-foot-equivalent units from 1,019,837 a year earlier. Despite the decline, the result was good enough for the facility's second-busiest July on record. The neighboring Port of Long Beach also announced its second-busiest July ever, even as volume declined 1.7% to 928,508 from 944,232 units. "Those are extremely healthy absolute volumes, even though both ports were below last July's unusually strong comparisons," Petersen said. "From the trucking side, the more interesting dynamic is that these port volumes are occurring while overall domestic freight volumes remain relatively soft." Circle Logistics ranks No. 94 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest logistics companies in North America. Travel & Transportation The Cass Freight Index showed July shipments down 4.8% year over year, while its truckload linehaul index increased 8.6%. Descartes Systems Group in its monthly global shipping report said overall container import volume decreased 4.3% in July from the prior year to 2,508,310 units but rose 4.5% from the previous month. This sequential gain reflected typical seasonal growth, the company said, while noting that port transit delays increased across most major gateways. "July was largely consistent with what we experienced in the previous month," IMC Logistics CEO Joel Henry said. "We are not seeing widespread congestion across the country, but several markets continue to face localized terminal, appointment and equipment constraints." Henry said market indications point to potentially elevated activity that could continue through the end of the year. That said, he's keeping an eye on the Panama Canal draft restrictions, as this may prompt cargo routing changes between the East Coast and West Coast gateways. IMC ranks No. 50 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America. TT Top 100 logistics companies. Data from third-party logistics provider Traffix showed July container imports rose 4.5% sequentially to 2.51 million TEUs on peak-season momentum. The company noted that while import volume is a leading indicator for drayage demand, shifts in cargo destinations also play a role. Recent data shows that while the West and East Coasts are absorbing the most weekly freight, the Gulf Coast is quietly taking more share. "The ports and rails are stable but building pressure underneath," said Matt Brachmann, director of port services at Traffix. "Conditions at the truck level were described as 'relatively fluid,' meaning drayage, chassis and transload capacity were flowing normally in July." Brachmann warned, however, that sustained import growth can quickly translate into tighter conditions for drayage capacity, chassis demand, warehouse space and transload availability. This is especially true when vessel arrivals become concentrated. Because of that, he views July as the calm before trucking gets squeezed. "July's fluid conditions are a planning window, not a steady state," he said. "Early visibility, prearranged drayage and flexible transload are positioned as the buffer against the next squeeze." Traffix ranks No. 51 in the logistics TT100. Petersen noted that pricing is firming largely because trucking capacity has contracted, not because freight demand is exploding across every market. Shipping containers at the Port of Los Angeles. The port also had its second-busiest July in history. (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg) Shipping & Logistics "The West Coast had the most noticeable peak-season feel, particularly Los Angeles and Long Beach," he said. "A substantial amount of import freight was pulled forward earlier than the traditional peak season as importers tried to get inventory positioned ahead of changes in tariffs and other trade-related costs." Petersen noted this translated into stronger demand for drayage, transloading and outbound truck capacity around Southern California. But he pointed out that the pressure became much more lane-specific once freight left the port. He compared the results to the East and Gulf coasts, which he felt were more balanced by comparison, with activity still healthy, but with more variation by terminal, equipment pool and outbound market rather than broad congestion. "The biggest long-term takeaway from July is that the traditional freight calendar continues to become less predictable," Petersen said. "Today, tariffs, geopolitical events, inventory strategy and ocean transportation costs can move that freight forward by weeks or even months." Petersen warned that volatility is becoming normal and that the short bursts of port volume can tighten trucking capacity quickly even with a softer freight market. Nationwide, other major seaports saw July results come in below year-ago levels. * The Northwest Seaport Alliance container volume dropped 4.2% to 239,220 TEUs from 249,578. * Port Houston container volume decreased 6% to 369,899 from 392,829. * Port of Oakland container volume fell 11.4% to 179,999 from 203,147. South Carolina Ports Authority, as well as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, did not have their monthly volume numbers available at press time.

Circle Logistics strengthens leadership team with two new vice presidents. Freight brokerage and 3PL provider elevates two Pittsburgh-based leaders to oversee sales and operations growth companywide. FORT WAYNE, Ind., Aug. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Circle Logistics ("Circle"), a third-party logistics ("3PL") provider and freight brokerage, announced the promotions of Michael St. Julien to Vice President of Sales and Cody Steigerwald to Vice President of Operations. Both executives joined Circle Logistics in November 2023 and have led the growth and performance of the company's Pittsburgh branch. "Michael and Cody have played an integral part in Circle's continued growth. Their tenacity, drive for success and commitment to excellence are surpassed by none," said Karl Filhouer, vice president of sales and operations at Circle Logistics. St. Julien, who most recently served as branch manager in Pittsburgh, moves into the vice president of sales role after building and leading a high-performing commercial team. In his expanded position, he will direct Circle Logistics' sales strategy across the organization, deepen customer relationships and lead efforts to grow the company's book of business nationwide. Steigerwald, previously director of operations in Pittsburgh, becomes vice president of operations after delivering consistent service execution and operational performance for the branch. In his new role, he will oversee operational strategy companywide, with a focus on scaling capacity, strengthening carrier partnerships and working closely with key customers to uphold Circle's No Fail Service standard. Since joining Circle Logistics in late 2023, St. Julien and Steigerwald have worked together to build one of the company's top-performing branches. Their promotions reflect both their track record in Pittsburgh and the company's confidence in their ability to lead at the enterprise level. About Circle Logistics Circle Logistics is a Fort Wayne, Indiana-based third-party logistics provider offering full truckload, temperature-controlled, flatbed and final-mile transportation solutions. With 15 years of experience and access to a network of approximately 60,000 carriers, the company pairs a 24/7 in-house tracking desk with proprietary carrier-vetting and cargo-security technology to move food, beverage and other high-value freight for shippers nationwide. Circle Logistics operates debt-free, with zero institutional debt and no acquisitions. For more information, visit circledelivers.com. Media Contact