How will LA’s shipping backlog affect consumers and business owners as holidays approach?

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Cargo containers wait to be transported after being offloaded at the Port of Los Angeles, Oct 16, 2021 in San Pedro, Calif. Supply chain issues have caused shortages of goods throughout the country with cargo ships waiting off shore in Southern California to offload.

Cargo containers wait to be transported after being offloaded at the Port of Los Angeles, Oct 16, 2021 in San Pedro, Calif. Supply chain issues have caused shortages of goods throughout the country with cargo ships waiting off shore in Southern California to offload. Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock.

The ports of LA and Long Beach handle more shipping containers per ship than any other port complex in the world, and right now, dozens of cargo ships are anchored off the coast. Dock workers are hustling 24/7 to reduce the backlog, and one of them tells KCRW what it all looks like on the ground. 

As the holidays approach, many sought-after items won’t be on store shelves, but do people really need to buy so much stuff anyway? 

From this Episode:

Credits

Host:

Steve Chiotakis

Producers:

Christian Bordal, Jenna Kagel, Kathryn Barnes