Month in Review – November 2025
Maritime
November 1: Port of Montreal Accused of Violating Its Obligation to Consult the Public – La Presse (translated from French)
Did the Montreal Port Authority circumvent its legal obligation to consult the public in its efforts to obtain Ottawa’s approval to build a port terminal in Contrecœur? An environmental group is calling for an investigation and the suspension of a compensatory measures project for an endangered species.
On October 9, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) published a “notice of decision” on its website indicating that the proposed compensatory measures for the copper redhorse in the Verchères Islands were “not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.” These compensation measures are part of the steps taken by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) to obtain authorization from the federal government under the Species at Risk Act to build a port terminal in Contrecœur.
This would lead to the destruction of part of the essential habitat of the copper redhorse, a unique fish species in the world threatened with extinction.
The decision notice states that it took into account, among other things, “comments received from the public.” The Impact Assessment Act does indeed stipulate the obligation to consult the public in such circumstances.
In an email sent to La Presse this week, the MPA’s Director of Communications, Renée Larouche, indicated that a consultation period began on April 29, the date on which a notice of intent for the compensation project was published on the Impact Assessment Agency’s website. The MPA also stated that it had received no comments from the public since the publication of its notice.
La Presse then pointed out to the Port Authority that its document posted online on April 29 contained no reference to a public consultation and gave no instructions on how to submit comments on the project.
November 11: Houthis Declare Suspension of Red Sea Attacks, But Maritime Security Experts Urge Caution – gCaptain
The Houthi militant group in Yemen has announced a suspension of maritime operations against Israel and formally ended its naval blockade of Israeli ports, marking a significant shift in Red Sea shipping security.
The announcement came through a formal letter sent to Hamas’s military wing, Kata’ib al Qassam, by newly appointed Houthi Chief of Staff Yousef Hassan Al Madani, who assumed the role following the death of his predecessor, Mohammed Al Ghamari, in Israeli airstrikes. The move indicates that attacks against vessels previously targeted for calling at Israeli ports have now ceased.
Maritime security experts are urging caution despite the declared pause. Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group, emphasized that the risk reduction should not be mistaken for complete elimination.
“As of 11 November, the risk of Houthi attacks against shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and broader region is significantly lower,” Kelly noted. “However, despite the declared pause, the Houthis retain the capability to conduct missile, drone, and USV attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea.”
In his letter, Al Madani reaffirmed Houthi support for Hamas and the Palestinian cause while making explicit the conditions under which attacks could resume.
November 12: Middle East Tensions Preclude Carriers’ Suez Return – Seatrade Maritime News
Ongoing events in Gaza and the West Bank appear to be enough to persuade most shipping lines that a return to the Suez Canal route will need to be postponed until there is certainty about the route’s safety.
Israeli attacks on Gaza targets since the ceasefire began last month have been almost daily, according to the Palestinian Authority, while the November 11 settler violence on the West Bank may yet persuade the Houthi movement to rescind its ceasefire.
A letter from major general Yusuf Hassan al-Madani, the Houthi military’s chief of staff, warned that hostilities could return if the conflict escalates again.
November 13: Maersk’s “Reliability Premium” Sparks Backlash from Smaller Shippers as Gemini Network Eyes Paid Priority – Breakbulk News
Maersk is weighing the introduction of a “reliability premium” for cargo shipped via its high-performing Gemini Cooperation vessels, a move that has ignited a wave of concern among smaller logistics operators and freight forwarders. The idea, first hinted at by Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc, would effectively charge extra for guaranteed schedule dependability, a commodity becoming increasingly rare in global shipping.
For now, the company insists no surcharge has been finalized. Yet the mere suggestion of monetizing reliability – something many shippers already consider part of the service – has touched a nerve across the logistics community.
November 14: After Months of Turmoil, China–U.S. Blank Sailings Settle Down – Supply Chain 24/7
Blank sailings on major China–U.S. trade routes have finally started to calm down after a rough stretch earlier this year, according to new data from project44. After months of spikes tied to tariff changes, carriers appear to be settling into new trade patterns as demand levels out.
Blank sailings between China and the U.S. are down sharply from their peak in the spring. Project44 reports an 82% drop from April’s high point, a sign that carriers adjusted too far earlier in the year as importers rushed to move goods before new tariffs took effect. Cancellations on U.S.-to-China routes also fell, dropping 83% from their May high.
Throughout 2024, blank sailings ranged from 10 to 32 per month in each direction. That all changed in 2025, when carriers began cancelling sailings at a much faster pace. Cancellations jumped in April, May and June as importers pulled orders forward and carriers tried to match lower demand. Another smaller spike followed in September as new tariff actions loomed.
November 16: Suez Canal Upbeat About Traffic Rebound as CMA CGM Boxships Make Transit – The Maritime Executive
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) is optimistic that transits are gradually returning to normal after the canal witnessed the passage of three mega ships operated by CMA CGM in a span of one week.
Just a day after the UN Security Council overwhelmingly voted to renew sanctions against the Yemeni Houthis’ who have been waging attacks on commercial vessels, forcing them to avoid the Red Sea, SCA now believes the situation is easing and mega ships are making transits through the canal.
November 19: More Cargo, Less Cash: Why Shipping’s Recovery Is a Mirage – Trans.info
Global container carriers moved more cargo in the third quarter of 2025, signalling a clear recovery in trade flows after the turbulence earlier this year. Yet the improved demand has not translated into stronger profitability. Instead, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM all reported a similar pattern: higher volumes, lower average freight rates and elevated operating costs, resulting in weaker year-on-year earnings.
The three companies succeeded in lifting volumes – supported by network redesigns, stronger regional trade and operational improvements – but the amount earned per container continued to fall. At the same time, cost pressures stemming from Red Sea rerouting, bunker prices and trade volatility weighed on transport margins across their fleets.
November 25: National Strike Again Closes Belgium’s Ports and Halts Inland Cargo Ships – The Maritime Executive
Belgium’s three main labour unions banded together in what is likely the largest of the strikes over the past 10 months, protesting the country’s austerity budget. Ocean-going shipping and inland cargo operations ground to a halt along with trains, airports and many services, with union officials saying the strike was expected to culminate on November 26, in a nationwide effort that could paralyze Belgium.
The strike spread to shipping on November 25 as the operator of the pilot boats at Vlissingen, which is responsible for transferring Flemish pilots to seagoing vessels to guide them to and from the ports, joined the strike. It meant that pilots were unavailable to move ships along the Scheldt, effectively suspending all arrivals and departures from Antwerp and Ghent. As of that evening, the operators of the Zeebrugge Traffic Centre also joined the action. The port of Zeebrugge was effectively blocked.
Port officials warned that a backlog was quickly developing. They said it could take several days to resume full operations.
Trucking
November 3: Hackers, Crime Rings Team Up on Cargo Theft, Report Finds – Transport Topics
Hackers are infiltrating trucking and freight companies in a scheme to steal and sell cargo shipments, a growing campaign that could end up costing companies and consumers billions of dollars, according to new cybersecurity research.
Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Proofpoint Inc. said it has “high confidence” that the hackers are working with organized crime groups to pull off the cargo thefts. The attackers are particularly targeting trucking carriers and freight brokers, seeking to infect their computer networks with tools that provide remote access, with the ultimate goal of hijacking cargo.
The stolen cargo is likely sold online or shipped overseas, according to the report.
“It has this sort of ripple effect across the entire ecosystem, from the ships that deliver them to the ports, that get picked up by the truckers, that get sent to businesses, and then ultimately onto consumers,” Proofpoint senior threat intelligence analyst Selena Larson said, highlighting that these types of cyberattacks have impacts far beyond just the companies that are compromised. “It is a full-scale supply chain threat.”
November 3: Familiar Challenges Top Trucking Survey, Even as New Issues Emerge – TruckNews.com
An annual survey of trucking’s most critical issues found familiar topics at the top, with the economy finishing first overall, and compensation again being the most significant concern among drivers. There were also four new entries among the top 10, illustrating the complexity of the always-evolving freight transportation industry.
The 2025 survey included 4,200 stakeholders across North America. Respondents represented motor carrier executives and personnel (46.7%), professional drivers (29.8%) and other industry stakeholders (23.4%), including suppliers, driver trainers and law enforcement.
ATRI’s full report includes suggested strategies to tackle each challenge, and separate lists for drivers and carriers.
November 11: DC Court Blocks FMCSA’s Non-Domiciled CDL Rule – FreightWaves
The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s interim final rule (IFR) heavily restricting non-domiciled commercial driver’s licences has been put on temporary hold.
In response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of truck driver Jorge Rivera Lujan, a long-time CDL holder, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ordered that FMCSA’s rule be stayed pending a further order by the court.
“The purpose of this administrative stay is to give the court sufficient opportunity to consider the emergency motions for stay pending review and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the
With a stay in place, state driver’s licensing agencies presumably can resume issuing and renewing non-domiciled CDLS until the court decides whether to reject the lawsuit or issue a permanent stay, which could take weeks.
November 14: Quebec Imposes a Mandatory $10,000 Training Program to Become a Truck Driver, the Industry Fears an Orchestrated Shortage – Le Journal de Montréal (translated from French)
Small transportation companies fear a driver shortage and soaring costs in the industry as prospective truckers will have to pay up to $12,000 for mandatory training starting December 15.
Each year, approximately 5,800 new Class 1 driver’s licences are issued by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). Anyone who has held their driver’s licence for 36 months is eligible to obtain this heavy vehicle licence.
From now on, the class 1 licence will be reserved for those who successfully complete the Road Safety Education Program (PSEP) or who obtain the Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) in truck transport.
“How is a company with 25 trucks going to pay for that?” asks Benoît Therrien of Truck Stop Québec. “They’ll never be able to afford a trainer who will provide 125 hours of training.”
Steve Bourgeois, owner of SMSN Formation in the Montérégie region, fears that the next generation of drivers will disappear. “The sons of truckers, those who have been driving since they were young, they are already very good and they won’t pay $10,000 to take a course,” he says. “We’ll be shooting ourselves in the foot.”
November 17: AI Reshaping Trucking Operations as Carriers Face Challenges – TruckNews.com
Artificial intelligence is moving rapidly into mainstream trucking operations, and it is already reshaping how maintenance, planning and safety decisions are made.
Bison Transport associate vice president of network analytics and development Dave Fulawka and Thomas Solutions president Nicholas D’Amico told attendees at the Ontario Trucking Association’s recent annual conference in Toronto that fleets adopting the technology early will be far better positioned as economic pressures intensify.
Fulawka explained that much of his work now involves using an agent interface tied to a large language model. Bison uses Microsoft Copilot, which gives it a private environment where interactions remain secure.
He demonstrated how he feeds natural-language queries into the system and lets it process tasks that previously required hours from analysts. While the model can return “hallucinations” or incorrect answers, he said rerunning or refining the query typically fixes it, and recent work showed AI recommendations that closely matched manually calculated results.
D’Amico said Thomas Solutions began its digital shift five or six years ago when the fleet had no AI, no e-logging and no dash cameras. After implementing forward-facing and driver-facing cameras, the company began pairing video with telematics and analytics.
He said preventing incidents before they happen became a major focus, and the fleet reduced fuel costs by 15% to 30% depending on vehicle, laneway and run.
November 25: Ontario Proposes Tougher Fines, Suspensions for Commercial Vehicle Drivers – TruckNews.com
Ontario is preparing to sharply increase penalties for commercial vehicle offences, including distracted driving and speed limiter violations.
This is part of a broader legislative package aimed at cracking down on dangerous drivers across the province, according to a news release. The measures form part of a sweeping road safety initiative that also includes new roadside suspensions and lifetime bans for the most serious offences.
November 26: Ontario Expands Roadside Emissions Enforcement – TruckNews.com
Ontario is expanding its emissions enforcement by equipping roadside officers with the same testing technology used in DriveON inspection centres, allowing them to conduct full diesel emissions checks on commercial vehicles on highways across the province.
The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) said in a letter to stakeholders that the move strengthens its transition of emissions legislation from the Environmental Protection Act to the Highway Traffic Act and builds on on-road inspections that began in 2021.
Ministry officers have already been conducting visual checks for visible smoke, tampering and damaged emissions components. With the enhanced technology, roadside capabilities now include opacity testing to measure exhaust pollutant density and on-board diagnostic testing to confirm diesel emissions control systems are working properly.
CIFFA Advocacy, Communications, Activities
November 5: CIFFA Comments on November 4 Federal Budget 2025
CIFFA has weighed in on the federal government’s Budget 2025, announced on November 4.
November 17: CIFFA Heads Canadian Mission to Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference in Hong Kong
On behalf of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, CIFFA led a Canadian mission to attend the 15th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) in Hong Kong, organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). The conference ran for two days, November 17 and 18, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, under the theme “Collaboration and Growth in the New Trade Landscape.” Side visits to various logistics facilities were also organized for the Canadian contingency.
This year’s ALMAC focused on three key trends: supply chain diversification, sustainability and green energy, and innovation and technology. The two-day conference – with the theme “Collaboration and Growth in the New Trade Landscape” – gathered over 80 distinguished speakers, including government officials and industry leaders, to discuss trends and opportunities and promote high-quality development in logistics and supply chain management. Also see HKTDC press release.
November 27: CIFFA Asks Minister Responsible for CBSA to Address Deteriorating Situation at Our Borders
CIFFA sent a letter on November 27 to Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, asking him to address the deteriorating situation at our borders, which is severely impacting trade. Foremost among the issues are the severity and regularity of system outages linked to CBSA. CIFFA asked for timely and focused attention to this matter.
CIFFA recognizes that the trade challenges facing Canada are significant and seeks to collaborate with the minister on solutions.
