Logistically Speaking

Logistically Speaking is back for its third season!  In this this episode, Cameron and Scott examine the end of de minimis duty-free treatment that took effect August 29, 2025.  Their guest is Ryan Tanner, Senior Director of Compliance at Flexport. Ryan discusses the dramatic shift from the 2016 $800 threshold that processed over 1 billion packages annually to the current landscape requiring dutie...

In this episode of Logistically Speaking, Scott Case and Cameron Roberts sit down with Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association , at AirCargo 2025 in Dallas. Brandon shares his insights on the current state of the air cargo industry, critical challenges facing forwarders, and emerging opportunities in a changing global landscape. This episode was recorded on Sunday, March...

In this episode of Logistically Speaking, hosts Scott Case and Cameron Roberts welcome Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, to discuss: The upcoming TPM (Trans-Pacific Maritime) Conference and its significance for the port industry Long Beach's initiatives in sustainable cargo movement and zero-emission technologies Adapting to larger vessel sizes and improving port infrastructure The imp...

In this episode of Logistically Speaking, hosts Scott Case and Cameron Roberts sit down a day after President Trump's second inauguration to discuss the flurry of Executive Orders and trade rhetoric with Carlos Sesma, Senior Partner at Mexican law firm Sesma, Sesma & McNeese. The conversation explores the complex interplay between politics, trade, and regional economic integration. Key Topics Disc...

In this episode of Logistically Speaking, co-hosts Scott Case and Cameron Roberts sit down with Paul Bingham, Director of Global Intelligence and Analytics, Transportation Consulting for S&P Global Market Intelligence, to dissect the potential impact of sweeping new tariff proposals following the November 2024 U.S. presidential election. The discussion centers on how proposed tariffs - ranging fro...

De minimis, originating from Section 321 of the Tariff Act of 1930, has evolved from its humble $5 threshold (equivalent to $85-90 today) to become a cornerstone of modern e-commerce imports. While the 2015 Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act's increase to $800 grabbed headlines, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) notes that the average de minimis shipment value remains around $55-6...

In this episode of Logistically Speaking, hosts Scott Case and Cameron Roberts sit down with Eric Johnson, Senior Editor of Technology at the Journal of Commerce, to discuss the current state of technology in the supply chain and logistics industry. They explore what innovations are truly transforming the sector versus those that may be more hype than substance. Key topics covered: The evolution o...

In this edition of Logistically Speaking, Cameron and Scott look back on the NCBFAA's GTEC Conference in Chicago held July 28 - 30, 2024, and discuss a variety of issues and topics that were covered at the event. They spent time discussing the new  FMC rules , an interesting case in Georgia over demurrage and detention fees and a reminder about the importance of having the basics in place if you'r...

If it's an election year, there are three certainties you can expect from Congress: 100% of House members are focused on getting re-elected. 33% of Senators are focused on getting re-elected. Probably less than 10% of the country has any belief they'll do something meaningful and significant for the country, other than getting out of DC to stump for their jobs. Increasingly, though, the two major...

Despite having recorded episode 04 talking insurance, at the time we spoke no one could have imagined that a containership would strike and destroy bridge, essentially shutting off an entier port from commerce. Yet that is what happened when the Dali struck a support pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, taking down the bridge and causing loss of life and billions of dollars in dama...

If a butterfly flaps its wings in Asia, a wave crashes against the coastal United States some period of time later, or so the adage goes. Since the attack in Israel last October, besides what is transpiring inside of Gaza, all eyes have been on the Red Sea. The Houthi rebels, whose history in Yemen goes back much further than most people are aware, have made targeting shipping interests a means to...

On January 1st, drayage carriers who service the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were faced with a new requirement that, while on its face seems to be a push towards better quality of life for workers and communities around the ports, it couldn't be more misguided. According to the Journal of Commerce: "...California's  Advanced Clean Fleet regulation requires that effective Jan. 1, all n...

Featuring: Host Scott Case, Position : Global Host Cameron Roberts, Roberts & Kehagiaras Guest Deputy Administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta, Panama Canal Authority ___________ If you're in the maritime or logistics business, of course you know about the Panama Canal. The evolution of global maritime activities, both commercial and military meant that when the Canal first opened in 1914, containeriz...

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the US government have regulations which are designed to prevent the importation of goods made with forced labor. The original forced labor process involved placing a country, industry or individual manufacturer on a list and goods which intersected with those were subject to a "Withhold Release Order" - and importers were responsible for demonstrating to CB...