The eastern U.S. has two major ocean ports located in New York and Miami, but soon a third might be added to that following the impending plans for the Savannah port expansion in Georgia. Located right on the Savannah River with access directly to the Atlantic Ocean, the port of Savannah just experienced its busiest February ever with numbers continuing to rise in terms of freight entering and exiting the city.
At the end of March 2021, it was announced by the Georgia Ports Authority Board that a $205 million expansion had been approved. This unprecedented growth was undertaken with the aim of increasing the capacity for shipping containers by 20 percent. This means major changes to supply chains and truckload capacity on the East Coast.
Knowing how to leverage the Savannah Port Expansion to your business’s advantage could be a major key in your ability to import or export the goods you plan to sell in a more profitable manner. Read more below to learn more about the expansion and what effect it will have on America’s east coast shipping.
Savannah, Georgia is a city located near the state’s border with South Carolina in the southeastern United States. It could be considered a great entry point into the region in general but some additional geographical features really elevate it over other cities. The Savannah River, which the Port of Savannah resides on, has a direct outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. This allows cargo ships to easily enter and leave this port with easy access to other parts of the eastern and southern U.S., or to accommodate freight that is coming or going via ocean liner from international locations.
While it might not rival the Ports of Miami or New York-New Jersey anytime soon, Savannah gives America’s east coast another strategic spot and is looking to expand its ability to send and receive shipping containers.
While the Port of Savannah expansion has already been announced, it will still take some additional time for it to be fully realized. The first phase of the planned expansion will begin in September 2021, with the second phase to commence at a later date
Therefore, this is becoming an increasingly important point of entry for freight shipping. If you’re importing goods to then sell in the U.S., more and more of those will end up in Savannah. The trucks required to pick up will meet the incoming freight in Savannah and then distribute it throughout North America as needed.
Depending on where your freight is going and if you’d like the possibility of your freight being in and out of ports faster, the Port of Savannah expansion could be a boon for your business. An additional 650,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEU) will be able to be held within the terminal’s yard. This proactive approach by the Georgia Ports Authority comes after seeing container volumes in 2020 that they didn’t expect to see until 2024 at the earliest.
With the pickup in shipping containers reaching Savannah, and the growth in capacity in the next few years, that means the Georgia city will have a much better chance of accommodating the increase, including your products as well.
Atlanta is just a 4-hour drive away and is an important hub in the region. This is because of its large population, which could be a natural spot for your commodities and a strategic place to either store your products in warehouses or further distribute them out of the southeast hub. Atlanta is just a 4-hour drive away and is an important hub in the region. This is because of its large population, which could be a natural spot for your commodities and a strategic place to either store your products in warehouses or further distribute them out of the southeast hub. USA Truckload Shipping recently published an article about shipping companies in Atlanta, which provides you with a great opportunity to learn more about booking freight in the Big Peach.
In fact, the growth of the Port of Savannah gives another option to the east coast, which houses 118 million (or one-third) of America’s total population. From Maine to Florida, that’s a large area with lots of consumers to further gain market penetration.
Once all your goods arrive in the Port of Savannah, you might be wondering how to deal with getting them exactly where needed. Luckily, this shouldn’t be any different in terms of the mechanics of normal truckloads coming out of any other port.
But a refresher on what constitutes the best value for your transportation can never hurt. Here are some key elements that a freight shipping company should be able to offer its customers at a high level:
The former points are all great aspects for any shipment of your products, not just from the Port of Savannah. In this particular case, knowing the ins and outs of how to get goods from this terminal in Georgia by truckload to any location in North America. Savannah is practically on a pair of major U.S. interstates: I-95, which goes north as far as Maine and south to Miami, Florida, and I-16, which can connect shippers with Atlanta, itself a major hub for business in the southeastern United States.
Now that you’re well versed on what the Savannah Port Expansion can mean in positive terms for your business, pair it by having R+L Global Logistics handle all of your freight needs. With a proven track record of excellence with delivering full truckloads and a myriad of other supply chain services at your disposal, you’ll be able to supercharge the transportation of your goods as soon as they reach the port.
With industry-best customer service, a 99.5 percent on-time delivery rate and real-time freight visibility, we make it easier than ever for our customers to trust R+L Global Logistics with the lifeblood of their operations and be able to concentrate more in other areas.
Besides being able to book a truckload, R+L Global also offers more in the field of logistics, including:
So when you’re in position to take advantage of the Savannah Port Expansion, get a free quote from R+L Global Logistics. Talk to one of our friendly and knowledgeable representatives to find out how we are the best value proposition in the business by calling (866) 353-7178 today.
R+L Global Logistics
315 NE 14th St., Ocala, FL 34470