Industrial real estate vacancy rates are declining in Chicago, Indianapolis, and other key US inland hubs, driven by the frontloading of imports and rapid data center construction. BNSF Railway has received approval to develop a 4,500-acre inland transloading hub in Barstow, Southern California, which will serve as a transfer point for ocean containers into 53-foot domestic boxes and as a staging area for international freight. The Journal of Commerce Breakbulk Shipper Index dropped again in May to 97, down 26 points since March, signaling no fast turnaround for declining multipurpose vessel (MPV) capacity. US transportation pricing is soaring, aided by frontloading and capacity cuts, while overlapping demand waves are reshaping traditional peak seasons according to Rhenus. The inland expansion reflects a structural shift in supply chain networks toward greater inland distribution capacity.
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