Prime Freight’s summary of a July 2022 viewpoint column by FreightWaves. Read the original for the full story.
In July 2022 a new round of mandatory Covid testing in several Chinese provinces, triggered by the BA.5 variant, threatened to slow the trucking that feeds China’s export ports.
Under China’s dynamic zero-Covid policy, many areas required residents, including truck drivers, to take two tests within three days. Seko Logistics’ Akhil Nair explained that drayage is the first link to suffer, because raw materials and finished goods move between districts before reaching a port. Each result could take one to three days, and drivers entering another province could be tested again, so a one- or two-day truck move could stretch to about a week. Districts also turned away drivers from outbreak areas, leaving fewer usable trucks.
The column pointed to Guangdong, which produces about 30% of China’s exports, and to a Henan steel mill shut for several days. The only relief was softer demand, with forward orders for goods such as furniture and appliances down 20–30%.
What it meant for shippers
When inland trucking in China slows, cargo can miss its booked sailing even while the port itself runs normally. Building extra days into pickup and cut-off planning, and staying in close contact with origin agents about local testing rules, were the practical responses at the time.