The second big storm to hit the east coast in a week is still slowing down freight carriers; Delaware still is under a state of emergency that precludes most trucks from traveling in the state, including I-95. Package delivery services suspended service to some affected areas, including Maryland and the District of Columbia and many trucking firms with hubs in the mid-Atlantic had to shut down operations.
However, another storm is brewing in Europe, one that is man-made; customs workers in Greece are slated for a three-day strike next week, protesting budget cuts by the Greek government. That will cut off any seagoing traffic going into the country and cut off interstate transport coming from Turkey and the rest of the Middle East from its main land route with the EU.
The Greek government has run a massive deficit and has implemented an austerity plan to close the deficit, which includes a pay freeze for government workers, including the striking customs workers as well as only replacing 20% of retiring workers. The large deficit has put downward pressure on the Euro, as Greece has the Euro as its currency; the rest of the EU is debating whether to do anything about the Greek government’s deteriorating financial position.
Without any outside help, budget cuts are the government’s best solution, but one that angers the unions that helped put the current government into office. That will mean trucking logistics will be made very problematic in the weeks to come as militant public-sector unions protest having to bear the brunt of the country’s budget woes.
Sources: http://www.capegazette.com/storiescurrent/…/updates12.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8508688.stm
http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping…-next-week_1283
http://www.breakbulk.com/content/?p=1219