• TPM24
  • March 3-6, 2024 | Long Beach Convention Center

Ari Ashe

S&P Global

Senior Editor-Intermodal Rail and Southeast Ports, Journal of Commerce

Ari Ashe joined the JOC in 2018 and reports on the Southeast US ports, intermodal, and trucking, while co-chairing the programming committee for the JOC Inland Distribution Conference. He has nearly 15 years of journalism experience. He began his career with WTOP-FM in Washington, DC, a 24/7 all-news radio outlet, where he won an Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative journalism in his role as the commuter transportation beat reporter. In 2016, Ashe moved to Transport Topics, a publication of the American Trucking Associations, covering trucking, railroads, and ocean carriers, including quarterly earnings reports and economic news affecting the industry. He holds two bachelor’s degrees from George Washington University and a master’s in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University.

Sessions With Ari Ashe

Monday, 27 February

  • 03:50pm - 04:35pm (PST) / 27/feb/2023 11:50 pm - 28/feb/2023 12:35 am

    Transloading: Re-Engaging Old Strategies

    Since 2020, transloading has grown significantly in popularity among shippers, but much of the new business was about getting freight to distribution centers quickly, a speed-to-market play. Lost in the shuffle were more traditional benefits of transloading: converting four 40-foot containers into three domestic containers, or five 40-footers into four domestic containers. Such a conversation may save a shipper money, but also increase the productivity of a distribution center with more cargo going into each dock door. As supply chains normalize from the frenetic pace of the last two-plus years, how can shippers rethink transloading and reintroduce some of the traditional benefits back into their supply chains? Where does transloading make sense and where does international intermodal have an advantage? This session will feature representatives from companies that are investing in transloading on the East, Gulf, and West coasts who will discuss potential new solutions for shippers. 

Tuesday, 28 February

  • 10:30am - 11:15am (PST) / 28/feb/2023 06:30 pm - 28/feb/2023 07:15 pm

    TPM Academy: Managing the Intermodal Move

    Every year, more than 18 million containers and trailers of all sizes are sent on North American trains. In the international intermodal space, more than 16 million TEU of cargo is sent on the rails annually. Trains are critical to the flow of cargo across North America, whether it’s an international shipment traveling between Los Angeles and Chicago after arriving from Asia, or a domestic intermodal load with no nexus to the international supply chain. There are multiple advantages to using trains, including environmental benefits, extra capacity, and cost savings often to the price of long-haul trucking. For all these benefits, however, there are also drawbacks, such as inconsistent service, not enough available chassis, and potentially no cost savings at all. This TPM Academy session will begin with the basics of the pros and cons of intermodal rail, the differences between international and domestic intermodal, the key questions to judge whether intermodal is the right solution for your supply chain, and what the latest research shows on the value of intermodal to the average user. 
  • 04:00pm - 04:45pm (PST) / 01/mar/2023 12:00 am - 01/mar/2023 12:45 am

    Marine Chassis: Will We Reach Equilibrium in 2023?

    For the second consecutive year, chassis shortages disrupted the supply chain and prevented shippers from getting their containers delivered in a timely fashion. The problem was acute in Chicago, Dallas, Memphis, Kansas City, and several other smaller markets. As import volumes decline, however, could the equipment problem resolve itself? Will a decline in imports and higher production out of chassis manufacturers to pump out more chassis lead to a balance in the middle of the supply-and-demand curve? How do we ensure there won’t be an overcorrection with too many chassis built for yesterday’s surge that collect dust in today’s slowdown? And will truckers gravitate toward owning their chassis rather than rely on third parties? In this session, we will explore these questions and what it means toward ensuring chassis are no longer a headline story in 2023.