# U.S. West Coast Rail Delays and Potential Labor Disruptions - More Than Shipping

> Los Angeles and Long Beach ports are facing rail congestion, with over 41,000 containers waiting at the terminals and dwell times often above 25 days. Capacity limits at BNSF and Union Pacific, a shortage of railcars and crew, and flooding in New Mexico are slowing rail movements. Labor disruption at the ports is also a threat.

- Date: 2026-11-04 · published 2026-11-05T03:15:32.768Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/81107-u-s-west-coast-rail-delays-and-potential-labor-disruptions-more-than-shipping
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md), [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md)

## Why it matters

Slower container movement delays imports by weeks and can tighten supply chains for importers, including feed ingredient buyers. The effect on grain and feed prices is limited unless the backlog spreads to bulk rail and barge movements.

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WHEAT | 2024-12-18 | [2024 Was a Year of Labor Unrest at US and Canada Rail and Shipping Ports](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26999-2024-was-a-year-of-labor-unrest-at-us-and-canada-rail-and-shipping-ports.md) | +1.4% | -0.4% |
| WHEAT | 2023-07-10 | [Delayed container shipments affecting grain industry more than West Coast port strike \| Country 600 CJWW](https://feedsoft.ai/events/35057-delayed-container-shipments-affecting-grain-industry-more-than-west-coast-port.md) | -1.9% | +0.3% |
| WHEAT | 2024-02-02 | [Weekly highlights - What the Red Sea shipping disruptions mean for grain prices - Graintab](https://feedsoft.ai/events/31561-weekly-highlights-what-the-red-sea-shipping-disruptions-mean-for-grain-prices.md) | -1.6% | -8.9% |
| WHEAT | 2024-03-25 | [Potential rail strike would cause historic disruption of Canadian supply chains: union](https://feedsoft.ai/events/31237-potential-rail-strike-would-cause-historic-disruption-of-canadian-supply-chains.md) | -0.6% | +1.9% |
| WHEAT | 2022-09-15 | [Looming labor strike could shutdown MARC trains, create cargo disruptions at Port of Baltimore - CBS Baltimore](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39627-looming-labor-strike-could-shutdown-marc-trains-create-cargo-disruptions-at.md) | +5.5% | -9.2% |

## Sources

- morethanshipping.com: https://www.morethanshipping.com/u-s-west-coast-rail-delays-and-potential-labor-disruptions/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.