by Ryan Markiewicz | Sep 26, 2024 | Berlin's Wall
Hi everyone,
Hallie and I are starting our two-week Great Lakes Viking Cruise. And while it is just a vacation (no work stops), I thought some of you might like to follow our travels.
We have taken several Viking cruises in Europe, Asia, and South America, which were all great, but we figured that it might be different and fun to see more of North America. This cruise goes from Duluth, Minnesota, where we are today (the blue dot on the left), and ends up in Toronto, Canada, with many stops along the way. So…if interested, happy to journal the trip.

The cruise goes from Duluth, Minnesota and ends in Toronto, Canada
Duluth is a pretty town. It has become more of a “hip” place than its past as a port city, like many port cities–reinvented a new culture to deal with the changing economy/times.
Very pretty waterfront, as you can see.
It’s also where Bob Dylan was born (as Bob Zimmerman) before moving to Hibbing, Minn., an hour and a half from here, which is where he embarked for NYC at 19 to meet his hero, Woody Guthrie, as he lay dying and began his journey to become the Bob Dylan who kind of changed the world back in the day (those of you old enough to remember will agree) 😉
Anyway, I’ll keep this updated as the cruise commences and hopefully will have some fun and interesting sites and stories to share (and hopefully no big storms so I don’t get tossed overboard again on this trip!)
Onward! -JB

Like Erie and all port cities, Duluth has a lighthouse

And as Erie has beautiful sunsets over our lake, Duluth has beautiful sunrises over Lake Superior

I’ve seen lots of drawbridges but never a lift bridge like this. The whole road rises up to let the ships through

Don’t know for sure, but I’d bet back in the day when Duluth was mostly known as an iron ore port, the water fountains here did not have ones for dogs too hahaha

The Viking Octanis. Our home for the next two weeks. Onward!
by Ryan Markiewicz | Sep 17, 2024 | Global Logistics Alerts

Alert Message (9/17/24):
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced final modifications concerning the statutory four-year review of the tariff actions in the Section 301 China tariffs. After review, there are several updates to strengthen the actions to protect American businesses and workers from China’s unfair trade practices. The updates improve the effectiveness of the tariff actions in achieving the objectives of the investigation while considering other actions that could be taken and the effects of the tariff actions on the U.S. economy.
For more information, please visit https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2024/september/ustr-finalizes-action-china-tariffs-following-statutory-four-year-review
If you have any questions about the tariff updates, the Logistics Plus Customs and Compliance team is here to help.

by Ryan Markiewicz | Sep 13, 2024 | News
Chris Dennis, Managing Director for Logistics Plus (LP) Canada, was featured on the Business Spotlight program, which is produced in partnership with WPSE Money Radio. Business Spotlight is a monthly 30-minute program that airs regionally and streams globally.
In this month’s Logistics Plus segment, Chris discusses his background, the solutions offered by the Canada team, collaborating with the team at our Global Headquarters in Erie, navigating different rules and regulations, and more.
You can listen to a replay of the interview on the Logistics Plus Podcasts page or by clicking below on our LP Radio channel on Spotify.
by Ryan Markiewicz | Sep 11, 2024 | News
The Logistics Plus (LP) Aero team successfully completed an urgent air charter project from St. John’s, Canada, to Georgetown, Guyana, on September 8th, 2024. The team was tasked with transporting oil production equipment for a key client in the oil industry. The air charter was swiftly organized using an AN-12 aircraft, chosen for its optimal capacity considering the cargo’s overall dimensions (533x255x186 CM) and weight (4250 kg) while also being the most cost-effective solution.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, the LP Aeroâ„¢ team meticulously planned the operation, ensuring the cargo was delivered safely and on schedule. Photos from this project can be seen below.

To learn more about Logistics Plus Air Charter solutions, please visit logisticsplus.com/lpaero. You can contact the team by emailing aero@logisticsplus.com.

by Ryan Markiewicz | Sep 9, 2024 | News
Logistics Plus Customs Brokerage Manager Gretchen Blough appeared on NPR’s Marketplace summer series (9/6/24) titled “My Analog Life” to comment on how technology has changed people’s jobs. Gretchen described how she was required to use fax machines to scan documents ten years ago and the challenges that came with it.
Listen to her comments online at https://www.marketplace.org/2024/09/06/a-banker-a-customs-broker-and-a-real-estate-agent-share-analog-memories/?_thumbnail_id=1167643Â or by clicking below.
Marketplace® is a nonprofit news organization on a mission to raise the economic intelligence of the country. For more than 30 years, they have helped people become smarter about the economic forces that touch their daily lives through the unorthodox story, the casual conversation, and the unexpected angle on the news.