SMEs in the freight squeeze: Insider survival tactics from 30-year ocean veteran Stephanie Loomis

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, host Mike King is joined by ocean freight executive Stephanie Loomis, who brings over 30 years of industry experience at major logistics providers including DHL, DB Schenker, Kuehne + Nagel, and Rhenus. Fresh from the TPM25 conference in Long Beach, Stephanie and Mike break down the key takeaways from the event and analyse the seismic shifts happening across the global container shipping industry. They dive into the evolving liner alliance structures, exploring how MSC’s independent strategy, ONE’s excellence, and Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s Gemini Cooperation are reshaping service offerings. Stephanie also unpacks the pressure mounting on small and mid-sized shippers and forwarders, explaining why the days of smaller players securing rates comparable to BCOs may be over—and what SMEs must do to stay competitive. The conversation moves to the outlook for transpacific freight negotiations, examining the impact of Red Sea disruptions, market softening, and spot rate volatility. With tariff uncertainty ever present, Stephanie provides crucial insights into how forwarders and importers should structure their contracts to balance MQCs, visibility, and spot market flexibility. As policy changes threaten to drive up shipping costs, the discussion turns to President Trump’s US shipbuilding push, the controversial $1.5M per-port call fee set to be imposed on Chinese ships, and the geopolitical implications of China’s dominance in vessel construction. More specifically, can the US realistically rebuild its maritime and manufacturing sectors, or will these policies backfire on American shippers and consumers? Rounding off the episode, Stephanie and Mike explore the role of technology in driving efficiency across the supply chain, from digitalization to AI-driven logistics solutions. Tune in for a fast-paced, insight-packed discussion on what lies ahead for ocean freight buyers in 2025. Key Topics Discussed: Takeaways from TPM25: What’s changing in container shipping? Carrier strategies: MSC, Maersk-Hapag, ONE’s primacy and the future of alliances The growing divide between large BCOs and SME freight buyers Transpacific rate negotiations: What importers need to know Tariff uncertainty and how forwarders are managing the risk US shipbuilding ambitions: Reality check or political posturing? How tech and AI are reshaping logistics and freight procurement This episode is sponsored by Ontegos Cloud. Learn more at Ontegos Cloud. Listen now on all major podcast platforms, YouTube, and http://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com. Follow The Freight Buyers’ Club and Mike King on LinkedIn for more insights and industry updates!