Important Notice: Extreme Snowstorm Expected Across the U.S. Midwest & East (This Weekend Through Next Monday)

 

Important Notice: An extreme snowstorm is forecast to hit the Midwest and Eastern parts of the U.S. from this weekend until next Monday. Because of this, the times for picking up and returning containers and delivering packages to their final destination may be pushed back. Please make plans and have realistic expectations for how long it will take to get there. We will keep a careful eye on the weather and change our plans as needed based on what is happening right now. [🙏][🙏]

Overview of the Expected Impact

This snowstorm is likely to have an effect on many important transportation routes and densely populated areas in the Midwest and East, such as major inland terminals, rail and trucking routes, and last-mile delivery networks. You might see the following in the short term:

• Less work is done at terminals and yards, and gate lines are longer.
• Road closures, slick roads, and speed limits have caused problems for trucking, which has pushed back pick-up and return periods.
• Backlogs at last-mile delivery stations that change the times of appointments and evidence of delivery;
• Possible effects on NJ and nearby nodes, which would put more pressure on the overall performance of transit.

Affected Terminals (Inland & Key Nodes)

The weather is likely to have the biggest effect on large inland terminals like Kansas, Memphis, and Dallas. New Jersey is also likely to be affected to some degree. Under harsh weather, these ports and nearby yards may have slower operations and less drayage capacity, which can make end-to-end flow even more difficult.

Affected Cities (Key Coverage Areas)

Some of the major cities that will be affected are Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

Many of these cities are either big consumer marketplaces or regional distribution centers. Heavy and long-lasting snowfall may make last-mile deliveries and linehaul connections more likely to be delayed and congested.

Affected ZIP Codes (For Quick Reference)

Here are the ZIP codes that need your extra attention so you can immediately figure out if your shipments might be affected:

• 75201 (Downtown Dallas)
• 76051 (Fort Worth)
• 73102 (Oklahoma City)
• 72201 (Little Rock)
• 37201 (Nashville)
• 38101 (Memphis)
• 30301 (Atlanta)
• 28201 (Charlotte)
• 27601 (Raleigh)
• 29201 (Columbia)
• 35201 (Birmingham)

If your pick-up and return locations, consignee and shipper addresses, or last-mile stations are in the ZIP codes above, we suggest that you prioritize a risk analysis and change your expectations ahead of time.

Recommended Actions to Prepare

We recommend that you do the following to decrease uncertainty and minimize disruption:

• If you can, organize your pick-up and drop-off times early and include some extra time.
• Set new delivery expectations for important orders, urgent restocking, or shipments that need to arrive quickly, and let consignees know about possible delays ahead of time.
• Be on the lookout for changes to appointments or time windows, as scheduled deliveries may be canceled or delayed. Please keep receiving teams informed and available.
• To avoid bottlenecks, have backup plans ready, such rerouting, putting off incoming appointments, or changing the dispatch rhythm.

Our Ongoing Updates

We will keep a careful eye on the storm and node performance, reevaluate how it affects the times for picking up and returning containers and delivering them, and change our operations as needed. Please get in touch with us if you have cargo in transit or scheduled shipments that will go via the terminals, cities, or ZIP codes listed above. We can assist you prioritize handling and cut down on possible delays. [🙏][🙏]