[The Great] Port Strike [of October 2024]

[BKop16]

OMG did it just blow up today like COVID 2. Every guest has water, paper towels and diapers.

Anyone else getting slamed? My SD was running drive up orders.

 

[Ringwraith917]

My mom told me I should get toilet paper. I think she's a little over-anxious

 

[Noiinteam]

Here we go again!

 

[redeye58]

My mom told me I should get toilet paper. I think she's a little over-anxious

Yeah, not like there's old Montgomery Ward's catalogues to use as back-up

 

[gsa4lyfe]

Targets been preparing for it and isn’t super worried as long as it doesn’t last over a month and if that’s the case there’s a lot more problems. This time of year most retailers already have 70-80 of their holiday Q4 freight in the DCs. We did get the below communication around what target is doing to help ease any potential backlog at the DCs.




Due to the likelihood of an East Coast Port strike, carrier rerouting contingencies are driving early DC arrivals of Q4 import POs, creating critical capacity pressure on our GSCL network
To problem solve this issue, ~6.5M cartons will need to be prepositioned into stores over the next few weeks (SEP W5 - ОСТ W3), resulting in an expected -1,300 trailer Adds
SEP W5 - OCT W1
These prepositioned cartons into Stores are intended to mitigate DC inbound backlogs, storage capacity, and outbound backlog risks during NOV - DEC peaks sales weeks, where delayed actions could jeopardize Target's Q4 season.

 

[Noiinteam]

We were told today our dc is dumping everything they have asap.

 

[BKop16]

Targets been preparing for it and isn’t super worried as long as it doesn’t last over a month and if that’s the case there’s a lot more problems. This time of year most retailers already have 70-80 of their holiday Q4 freight in the DCs. We did get the below communication around what target is doing to help ease any potential backlog at the DCs.




Due to the likelihood of an East Coast Port strike, carrier rerouting contingencies are driving early DC arrivals of Q4 import POs, creating critical capacity pressure on our GSCL network
To problem solve this issue, ~6.5M cartons will need to be prepositioned into stores over the next few weeks (SEP W5 - ОСТ W3), resulting in an expected -1,300 trailer Adds
SEP W5 - OCT W1
These prepositioned cartons into Stores are intended to mitigate DC inbound backlogs, storage capacity, and outbound backlog risks during NOV - DEC peaks sales weeks, where delayed actions could jeopardize Target's Q4 season.

Good stuff. My store has been getting crushed with fulfillment (130 to 150% of forecast for two weeks). Now added trucks on top of peak presentation makes me feel like we're drowning.

 

[jenna]

We were told today our dc is dumping everything they have asap.

That means -- they are sending as much merchandise to the stores as possible?

 

[jenna]

Due to the likelihood of an East Coast Port strike, carrier rerouting contingencies are driving early DC arrivals of Q4 import POs, creating critical capacity pressure on our GSCL network
To problem solve this issue, ~6.5M cartons will need to be prepositioned into stores over the next few weeks (SEP W5 - ОСТ W3), resulting in an expected -1,300 trailer Adds
SEP W5 - OCT W1
These prepositioned cartons into Stores are intended to mitigate DC inbound backlogs, storage capacity, and outbound backlog risks during NOV - DEC peaks sales weeks, where delayed actions could jeopardize Target's Q4 season.

What is a PO?

so, does this mean Q4 merch will be sent early? across all depts?

 

[jenna]

Good stuff. My store has been getting crushed with fulfillment (130 to 150% of forecast for two weeks). Now added trucks on top of peak presentation makes me feel like we're drowning.

Are you getting OT?

 

[gsa4lyfe]

That means -- they are sending as much merchandise to the stores as possible?

See my response. They are front loading key categories to stores to make room at the DC for incoming pre positioned freight.

 

[gsa4lyfe]

What is a PO?

so, does this mean Q4 merch will be sent early? across all depts?

No just the below as of now

• -Circle Week Grocery
• -Circle Week Home Care
• -Storage
• -Toys (D86, D87, 204, & 323)
• -Halloween

 

[jenna]

See my response. They are front loading key categories to stores to make room at the DC for incoming pre positioned freight.

explain, please.

 

[gsa4lyfe]

explain, please.

Pre position is the term used when they send things earlier than anticipated. Essentially they off loaded a lot of extra freight at the docks to prepare for the strike meaning they need more room at the DCs than they have to house the extra freight. In order to make room they are sending things earlier than we need them essentially.

 

[redeye58]

I remember having freight pods in our parking lot during a shipping glut some years back.

 

[jenna]

Pre position is the term used when they send things earlier than anticipated. Essentially they off loaded a lot of extra freight at the docks to prepare for the strike meaning they need more room at the DCs than they have to house the extra freight. In order to make room they are sending things earlier than we need them essentially.

thanks.

 

[BKop16]

Are you getting OT?

I got a couple of hours last week for the first time all year. But nothing crazy.

 

[BKop16]

To problem solve this issue, ~6.5M cartons will need to be prepositioned into stores over the next few weeks (SEP W5 - ОСТ W3), resulting in an expected -1,300 trailer Adds
SEP W5 - OCT W1

We might need that many adds for toilet paper and water replenishment! 🤣

 

[Zxy123456]

People definitely panic buying paper products at my store. Rumor is both Sam’s and Costco are sold out.

 

[Captain Orca]

Idiots.

 

[gsa4lyfe]

If they actually paid attention paper products comes from the US and Canada….

 

[Luck]

What is a PO?

so, does this mean Q4 merch will be sent early? across all depts?

Purchase Order.
Standard industry term, used to (you guessed it) order items from other companies.

Its the orders Target makes to, say Pampers, to aquire material for the DC which is then distributed in-network to Target stores.

 

[jenna]

thanks. I rarely hear any news from my own store, and rely on thebreakroom and reddit to stay up-to-date.

Like to know what we are getting into. 2020 was miserable.... and then the after shocks in 2021 (?) were just as bad -- all the over-ordered merch dumped onto already over worked stores.

 

[Captain Orca]

Local neighborhood blog, Costco yesterday was sold out of t-paper. Frightening how foolish and uninformed people are and scary it will never end. Their roasted chickens are still 4.99.

 

[BKop16]

@gsa4lyfe

Any hints on how much diapers paper and water is avaliable at the dc's to send to stores? Do they have the capacity to add even more trailers right now?