Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall in Texas early Monday as a Category 1 hurricane, has significantly affected logistics operations in the Houston area. The storm, with winds reaching nearly 80 mph, hit the coastal community of Matagorda, Texas, approximately 100 miles from Houston, according to a USA Today tracker updated on July 10.
The hurricane caused power outages for over 2.5 million homes, flooded highways, and left debris, disrupting both lives and business operations. Despite Beryl weakening to a tropical depression, the initial impact led to delays across various freight modes. Here’s an update on the current situation:
Maritime Shipping
The storm disrupted Texas ports at the beginning of the week, according to Paul Brashier, VP of ITS Logistics, who spoke during a DAT weekly market update. While multiple ports have resumed normal operations with ongoing recovery efforts, the Port of Houston faced a more significant impact, remaining closed on Tuesday to assess and repair damages. As of Wednesday, the port has announced extended gate hours to facilitate container movement.
Air Cargo
Approximately 1,700 flights were canceled on Monday at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), causing disruptions in domestic air cargo. Cargo hubs also shut down on Monday. Although flights delayed by the storm have since resumed, carriers are working through a backlog of cargo.
Last Mile Deliveries
FedEx reported hazardous conditions in Southeast Texas, particularly in Houston, with ongoing delays for inbound and outbound shipments. UPS confirmed similar delays, noting that its facilities would provide services as conditions permit. The Houston UPS air freight office operated without electricity on Tuesday, but normal operations were expected to resume by Wednesday.
Trucking
The storm caused winds, flooding, and debris, tightening truckload capacity in Gulf Coast markets, especially for van and flatbed freight. Some truckload carriers operated in the Houston region during the storm, but those with routes through impacted areas halted transport. Power outages have kept many shipper facilities closed, further contributing to delays.
Rail
Railroads BNSF and United Pacific initially halted or delayed operations but have slowly resumed services in affected areas. BNSF’s Pearland Intermodal Facility has reopened for ingates and pickups, with train flows resuming through its Houston complex. Union Pacific restored most impacted track segments, except for those in the Galveston area, but power outages have affected signal systems and train fluidity, leading to expected delays.
As recovery efforts continue, logistics operations in the Houston area are gradually returning to normal, although some delays and challenges persist.
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