The end of another month means the beginning of another exciting and informative LILLY Newsletter! In this July 2015 edition, we have 4 articles you don't want to miss. I look forward to reading your thoughts in the comments. I sincerely enjoy hearing from all of you, and we reply to every comment, so don't be shy!

As always, it's a pleasure working with you!

-Nelson R. Cabrera
LILLY + Associates International

Research into Automated Ships Moving “Full Steam Ahead”

Will Rolls Royce finally bring their futuristic designs to life and build the first unmanned cargo vessels? The company recently unveiled a $7.3 million project that has the potential to increase revenue and efficiency, while simultaneously reducing shipping costs.

Chassis Woes Characterize Yet Another Busy Shipping Season

Will we have another busy season filled with congestion and frustration? Consider this: over the past 4 years, the volume of goods entering the United States has increased 11%, while the number of chassis available to truckers has only increased 2.7%. Some ports are teaming up to implement chassis-sharing, but will it be enough? Will your shipments be affected?

California Bridge Collapse Adds to List of Delays for West Coast Shippers

A crucial bridge on Interstate 10 recently collapsed, adding as many as 100 extra miles to diverting shipments. This major East-West transportation route connects Southern California to the nation’s interior states, with more than 25,000 vehicles traveling on the interstate every day, a third of which are commercial trucks carrying cargo.

Freight Rates Climb as Shipping Demand Exceeds Trucking Capacity

Werner Enterprises reported strong Q2 profits thanks in part to limited trucking capacity in many parts of the country and continued economic growth. This perfect storm of market conditions is forcing shippers to shell out extra cash to reserve cargo space. Will other truckload operators follow in Werner’s footsteps, or are these favorable conditions too temporary to trust?