The Asia-U.S. route is the world's major shipping route, and it's becoming pricier by the minute. As shipping appearance negotiated contracts in April, observers expected sharp increases. Members of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement, or TSA, a 13-line consortium, were advised to increase rates by $285 per 40-foot container. The TSA estimate volume between Asia and the U.S. will rise more than 10% this year, and that's on top of 2004's 14.4% rise.

With U.S. ports blocked, Canada is moving to make Vancouver the top entry point for Asian goods into North America. To that end, the Canadian Pacific Railway plans to expand its tracks in western Canada by 12%, to accommodate an extra 400 freight cars a day.

In the meantime, back in the States, truckers' workday hours are a source of tension. Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.), whose district is home to Wal-Mart, just tried to legislate 16-hour days for truckers (with an unpaid two-hour break), up from 14 hours with a three-hour break. Public protection groups and unions scuttled the plan, but Boozman vows to fight on.