The prospect of a strike hangs over East Coast ports as talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and port employers continue to stall, possibly upsetting freight, trucking, and shipping operations just before the crucial holiday season. The total number of East Coast port employees that could strike could affect 45,000 workers.

Freight Disruptions: Five of the ten busiest ports in North America could closed as a result of a strike, which would affect the movement of commodities. Bottlenecks caused by this interruption would cause the arrival of necessary holiday items to be delayed, resulting in higher expenses for retailers as they try to find other shipping options.

Trucking Industry Strain: Trucking companies may experience an excessive demand for their services due to a backlog of freight at certain ports, while other ports receive nothing. When vehicles wait to pick up cargo that cannot be unloaded, this may result in increased transportation costs, longer delivery times, and other effects down the supply chain. Furthermore, according to the American Trucking Associations, the sector may not be able to handle unforeseen spikes in demand brought on by port closures.

Shipping Difficulties: Shipping companies are already booked solid for the holiday season. Strike-related delays may force many businesses to use air freight or other pricey substitutes, which would raise delivery costs even more and even increase prices that they eventually pass on to customers.

During one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year, a strike might have a large impact on relationships between suppliers and retailers, disrupt logistics, and raise costs. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen.