Shipping containers are used to safely and quickly transport goods. These containers are piling up at our docks due to the current trucker shortage. This creates a larger problem because these containers that are normally emptied and returned for more goods are sitting waiting to be delivered. This causes a problem for the next shipment because the containers aren’t being returned in their normal time frame.
This container shortage has now caused inflation in the prices of the containers. According to Porter of Lloyd’s List, a 20-foot container has increased from $1500 in 2019 to $3000 in 2020 to $4000 today. China holds the world’s largest shipping container manufacturing companies and is attempting to increase production to assist with the issue.