Tariffs, Tankers & Terminal Takeovers
Good morning! ☀️
Hope your coffee’s strong this morning because supply chain chaos is coming in hot. Trump just doubled tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50% in response to Ontario’s 25% surcharge on U.S. electricity—because what’s a trade war without a little escalation? Meanwhile, over in Texas, Corpus Christi Stage 3 just shipped its first LNG cargo, giving the U.S. energy sector another big boost. And if that wasn’t enough, TFI International just scooped up another former Yellow terminal in Fayetteville, NC, continuing the post-bankruptcy land grab.
Between trade tensions, energy surges, and LTL shake-ups, today’s supply chain news is moving fast. Buckle up—because smooth sailing? Yeah, that’s not on the schedule. ⬇️
“Boredom is a lack of crazy. It’s a lack of creativity. Invention. Innovation. If you’re bored, blame yourself.”
Tariff Wars & Supply Chain Whiplash—Brace Yourself
The U.S.-Canada trade battle just went up a notch. Trump is doubling tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%after Ontario hit U.S. electricity exports with a 25% surcharge. The fallout? Markets tanked—the Nasdaq had its worst day since 2022, and CEO confidence just dropped to its lowest level since 2020. Meanwhile, Ontario is threatening to cut energy exports altogether, which could send power costs soaring for U.S. manufacturers, warehouses, and cold storage facilities.
📦 Why It Matters:
Steel, aluminum, and electricity are the backbone of supply chains—higher costs mean pricier trucks, trailers, and infrastructure. Add in tariff uncertainty, and this trade war could slow down logistics, tighten margins, and create more headaches for shippers and carriers.
🔥 Hot Take:
One day you're quoting freight, the next, you're paying double for equipment and sweating your warehouse's electricity bill. If this keeps up, "trade war mitigation" might just become a required skill in logistics.
Corpus Christi LNG Expansion Powers Up
Big moves in U.S. energy—Corpus Christi Stage 3 just shipped its first LNG cargo in February 2025, marking another milestone for Cheniere Energy. This expansion, which started production in December 2024, adds seven liquefaction trains and will boost total capacity to 3.1 Bcf/d once fully online in 2026. That makes it the second-largest LNG export facility in the U.S., right behind Sabine Pass.
📦 Why It Matters:
More LNG exports = more freight, more port congestion, and more supply chain headaches (or opportunities, depending on your angle). If you're in logistics, expect increased demand for specialized transport, shipping capacity, and infrastructure support.
🔥 Hot Take:
U.S. LNG is having its moment, and logistics better buckle up. More fuel moving means more demand, more complexity, and more supply chain chaos. Whether you’re hauling the gas or dealing with the ripple effects, the energy boom is here.
TFI Expands While Cutting Back—A Strategic Freight Play
TFI International just snagged another former Yellow terminal, this time in Fayetteville, NC, for $700K. The deal adds 17 doors, 4,000+ sq. ft., and nearly 4 acres to TForce Freight’s network. While it’s a smaller move compared to Knight-Swift’s 170-door bid, TFI has already picked up two more Yellow sites in Kentucky and California for $16M.
But here’s the twist—TFI’s CEO is also in full cost-cutting mode, saying the company’s U.S. LTL operation is “too fat” amid falling volumes. Meanwhile, TFI just scrapped plans to move its HQ to the U.S., after pushback from major investors.
📦 Why It Matters:
LTL carriers are in "survival of the fittest" mode—expanding where it makes sense, but trimming the excess to stay profitable. If you’re a shipper or broker, expect ongoing shifts in capacity, pricing, and network efficiency.
🔥 Hot Take:
TFI is playing freight chess—grabbing terminals while leaning out operations. The real winners in the post-Yellow shake-up? Whoever can balance growth with efficiency.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for March 14, 2025, from iLevel Logistics Inc.