Trouble at the Ports: A Freight Surge Could Be Coming

May 2, 2025

Ports are slowing down, setting the stage for a major freight surge. Learn why smart shippers are preparing now before capacity disappears.

Imports Are Slowing Down

Ports are quieter than usual — and it’s raising serious concerns. Imports are not arriving at the pace they once did. Because of this slowdown, the freight market is suffering. Rates are low, capacity is loose, and uncertainty is growing.

One warning sign is the slowdown in shipping container storage at major ports. Containers are sitting longer, waiting for cargo that just isn’t coming.

We’ve seen this setup before. In early 2020, before the massive freight surge, the market collapsed first. Right now, we are seeing the same troubling signs.

How the Cycle Works

When imports slow down, supply naturally shrinks. Carriers park their trucks. Steamship lines cancel sailings. Warehouses and shipping container storage facilities sit half empty.

At first, it feels like a normal adjustment. But demand doesn’t stay soft forever. It comes back — and when it does, it comes back fast.

By the time demand returns, much of the supply is already gone. This gap between supply and demand triggers the next freight surge.

The Freight Surge Effect

When a freight surge hits, rates spike quickly. Trucks and containers become scarce. Companies scramble to find capacity. Costs jump seemingly overnight.

Facilities for shipping container storage also fill up fast, adding even more delays. After the COVID shutdowns, we witnessed a freight surge no one was fully prepared for. Supply chains buckled under the pressure.

Today’s slow market is setting the stage for a similar freight surge once again.

What Shippers Should Do Now

Even though it feels calm now, smart companies are already preparing for the next freight surge. They are strengthening carrier relationships, securing flexible contracts, and locking in shipping container storage early.

When the market flips, both freight capacity and storage space will tighten fast. Shippers who act now will be far better positioned when the next freight surge arrives.

It’s not a question of if — it’s a question of when. Being ready ahead of time will make all the difference when the market turns.