Anxious European importers turn to trucks to get Chinese goods

HAMBURG, Germany -- Shoe distributor Hamm Market Solutions had to be sure this year's fall/winter collection would arrive in Germany from its supplier's factory in southern China's Guangdong Province in time -- or face having to dispose of 84,000 pairs of casual footwear at a steep discount.

Werner Prigandt, the company's logistics chief, knew it would be risky to move the shoes by sea, Hamm's usual method, given widespread delays from congested ports and a shortage of shipping containers.