The United States transport and logistics sector is experiencing a marked slowdown as President Donald Trump's tariff measures continue to weigh on import activity. Major ports have reported sharp declines in inbound cargo, with October data showing van, flatbed and refrigerated load rates falling on both monthly and annual terms, according to the DAT Truckload Volume Index.
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Ken Adamo, DAT's chief of analytics, said the third-quarter and October downturn reflected firms drawing down earlier stockpiles amid tariff uncertainty, noting that the traditional peak holiday season appears "virtually non-existent". Government figures released after a shutdown showed imports in August falling by $18.4 billion month on month, narrowing the trade deficit.
The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have recorded significant drops in Chinese shipments, with industries such as electronics, furniture and toys among the hardest hit. Analysts at Vizion expect December imports to decline 16.6% year on year, describing a "structural goods recession" driven by weak demand, a stalled housing market and ongoing tariff volatility.
Lower container utilisation and reduced volumes are already affecting jobs across rail, trucking and port operations. Tariffs on Indian goods have further strained trade, with Indian exports to the US declining sharply in 2025.
Source: www.msn.com
