Did You Know?

The Panama Canal locks are operated via gravity and utilize freshwater from Lake Gatun (85 feet above sea level) to permit transits through the canal. Each passage through the original locks expels 52 million gallons of freshwater into the Atlantic or Pacific oceans. Despite the larger size of the expanded Panama Canal locks, water saving basins result in each transit only expelling 48 million gallons of freshwater into the oceans – a 7 percent reduction over the original canal locks.

In comparison, Minneapolis Water Treatment and Distribution Services produces an average of 57 million gallons of water each day for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Sources: Panama Canal Authority, Minneapolis Public Works Department

U.S. infrastructure lags behind Panama Canal expansion

The executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition says the official opening of the Panama Canal expansion will benefit U.S. farmers, but it won’t make up for deteriorating U.S. shipping infrastructure.

Panama Canal Authority details vessel traffic through expanded waterway

Two dozen neopanamax vessels have transited the expanded Panama Canal since it opened June 26.

US exporters sail through first day of new SOLAS rule

U.S. exporters’ first day under the new requirements for providing container weights was reminiscent of the feared Y2K computer crash that didn’t happen. Terminals, shippers, ports and truckers reported smooth operations on July 1.

US truck orders plunge, driver retention improves on soft freight demand

The soft U.S. freight economy has trucking companies slamming on the capacity brakes, sending orders of new rigs to a four-year low, but making it easier for them to keep drivers hauling for them.