Why Are US Ports Still Congested in 2022? | What's Going on With Shipping?

[@JDHitchman]

My observation is that most media outlets just report on headlines without actually knowing anything about what they are reporting on. It is most obvious when they report on an area that you are familiar with and they say things that are simply not correct. I know we don't get that misinformation here. Thanks Sal!

[@ElDJReturn]

I really appreciate your insight, honesty, and activism for change in the shipping industry. I'm very glad I found your channel as someone that works in purchasing. Thanks for opening my eyes into this part of global trade and the impacts that a select number of corporations have on every person on this Earth.

[@sweetaunttea2124]

I used to work for PMA... what a nightmare process

[@seymourpro6097]

One problem with the Panamax route is the throughput limit in ships per day. The water in the central Panama lakes is insufficient for drinking water for the whole country and unlimited passage throughput. The only way out of this is to pump huge volumes of water uphill at each lock pound so that water is actually used two or three times but this increases the price dramatically. When the dug the new canal they had space to dig a bigger cut but not the water to use it.

[@alexandermckay8594]

In 6 weeks the Xmas rush starts. The supply chain is so f$cked.

[@ginog5037]

The recession will take care of that...

[@ivanoranrof9577]

Many thanks for the intro to international shipping. I knew somebody had to be paying attention to these things!

[@wgowshipping]

Glad to help!

[@kyleroth1025]

Thank you Dr. Sal. It’s been too long for me to send you the thanks. Keep up with the shipping news.

[@sudasummers9111]

Informational as always! Thanks

[@lizbethartemis4886]

thank you. great program.

[@vsamdol95]

Squeezing steamship lines for more pay. Otherwise the top handlers aren’t producing. The clerks aren’t answering. Side handlers aren’t offloading while port operations get priority. So, truckers must wait 4 hours before closing transaction. It’s clear automation is inevitable.

[@PheOfTheFae]

Thank you for this thorough explanation!

[@jimrichardson8852]

Imagine that, bureaucrats and politicians telling lies, well, I never... Good job, Sal.

[@claytonbrown7100]

Great video as always Sal. Can you please clarify for your viewers exactly how marine terminals operate. The media and politicians talk about terminals being closed or not being open 24 hours. I work at one of the terminal at the Port of LA and what people don't realize is that many times a terminal is 'closed', meaning no gate ops for truckers. However, that doesn't mean stevedoring work isn't taking place. Vessel and on-dock rail operations are still happening and the only time terminals are truly idle is during the three hour 'hoot' shift between second and first shift. And even during that time, the yard and equipment is being prepped, refueled, etc.

[@wgowshipping]

Clayton...I will be sure to clarify that as you are exactly correct. Just because gates are not open, a lot of work is being done.

[@ginog5037]

@@wgowshipping Exactly lots is being done behind the closed gates. Sal we know their is an issue when they start painting the ships in camouflage. Rather than anchoring them out of sight...lol

[@donalddodson7365]

Certainly underscores the difficulties with political silos guarding their lobbyists and stakeholders. A global system without actual global perspectives. Money talks, walks and ... floats. 🙂 Thank you Professor.

[@roberttagg67]

The latest neuPanamax canal ship dimensions (they have been getting gradually bigger) I believe are now 370m x 51.2m, with a draft of 15.3m or about 50 feet. That can accommodate 14,000 or 15,000 TEU ships.

[@wgowshipping]

They do keep adjusting. The initial limit was about 12k but it is now close to 15k.

[@justinmaxwell86]

Hey Sal, thank you for the free education. You got a follow and like out of me. I have one question, do you think East coast US port railway companies will benefit (like csx) will benefit from the congestion (= more product to move)? I’m invested heavily in Zim but want to start buying rail companies like Union Pacific, though it’s expensive as of now, and figured if ships are diverting to the east coast those rail companies could benefit. Your thoughts?

[@jwjames1278]

Thanks sal!

[@hogger51]

Sal, The Union Pacific railroad apparently continues to object to the CP-KCS railroad merger because it will divert container traffic to Vancouver and Prince Rupert ports. Their objection includes that the Canadian govt subsidizes these ports. It occurs to me two things: 1) Maybe the UP (and BNSF) ought to spend more of their management time optimizing the movement of containers out of the US west coast ports; and 2) Maybe we should be providing additional strategically targeted tax dollars to our ports as the Canadians may be doing, if that will improve their efficiencies. Good videos! Really enjoy your perspective on things.

[@Dennis-vh8tz]

My first thought is that the UP argument is disingenuous. While US ports aren't subsidized by the federal government, are they not subsidized by their state, county, and municipal governments instead?

[@Dennis-vh8tz]

The recent Surface Transportation Board indicate that UP, and to lesser extent NS, CSX, and BNSF, are unable to run their own networks efficiently. First, it seems unlikely that they would know how to service a port efficiently. Second, they have an incentive to maximize the efficiency of their overall network, even if that causes problems and delays at the port. I think the ports should have their own rail links to large inshore distribution yards where there is lots of space to sort and store containers, and interchange them with railroads and trucks.

[@hogger51]

​@@Dennis-vh8tz You have a good idea there Dennis. Yes, some sort of intermodal yard away from the ports, with access for any railroad in the area to originate their stack trains, plus any and all trucking that desires to pick up containers. Dedicated trains pulled by a short-line railroad would then shuttle containers back and forth as needed between the ships and this yard where containers would be unloaded for short-term and long-term storage. I bet there would be huge resistance and big turf battles between all the players if this was ever attempted.

[@hogger51]

@@Dennis-vh8tz Yes, I am sure they do, partially offset by grants and other monies from the feds?? I am sure Sal has insight into port funding.

[@GilmerJohn]

Well, Southern California has a LOT of customers so unless the Canadians pay the shipper to sent Southern California via Canada, the ships will still call at California ports. It's a coin cost as to whether the Canadians can take some loads to Chicago. This "Free Trade" nonsense really has to go. It's reasonable to have "reasonable" tariffs on imports. At one time, tariffs made a major contribution to the federal budget.

[@josephalexander3884]

Thank you for your excellent evaluation.

[@deemushroomguy]

Hey Sal, hope all is well and you enjoyed the 4th of July weekend! Also, I'm finding myself looking forward to seeing the next episode on your channel. Have an excellent Monday!

[@wgowshipping]

Be out tomorrow!

[@deemushroomguy]

@@wgowshipping Schweet! Thanks, Sal.

[@noybennun9588]

I must say, I go to SUNY Maritime College (just like you did) and I’m learning soooo much from you. You should consider coming back as a professor. You have a natural ability to explain complex things in such an easy to understand way. Thank you! Also, sorry to hear that your dog died recently :/

[@natemay4474]

Thank you for the info very informative

[@BillSawyerPlus]

There's just not enough Rail capacity and warehouse space to put it all.... so it lingers.

[@ginog5037]

Another informative video Sal, much appreciated. Asia to Europe to the US unbelievable, now I know why it's takes even longer. Is their still a trucker shortage in the US, at one point they needed 80k?

[@easymoney8535]

Still a huge shortage of drivers. To see why look for a video from "Last Week Tonight - Trucks."

[@ginog5037]

@@easymoney8535 OK, also their a pilot shortage now...

[@easymoney8535]

@@ginog5037 ??? Plot?

[@ginog5037]

@@easymoney8535 lol

[@easymoney8535]

@@ginog5037 If you cared at all, you really should check out that video.

[@bernarrcoletta7419]

Thanks!

[@wgowshipping]

Thank you so much!

[@Dennis-vh8tz]

I suspect that the dwell time fees/fines haven't been implemented is because if they were there would be political hue and cry from shippers who are getting hit with fees arising from problems with railroads and trucking that the shippers have no control over. This would make both large lawsuits, and meddling from all levels of government, inevitable. The ports, and the state and local governments running them, know they would get caught in the storm. I think the best way to reduce or eliminate port congestion would be dedicated port rail roads, owned and operated by the ports so that they are fully integrated with the port operations, to run containers as efficiently as possible from each port to large inland distribution centres seem like an obvious solution.

[@xpkareem]

Everybody over ordered thinking that demand would go up forever. Things are going to get messy.

[@Lakridza67]

Hey from Melbourne, Australia.🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🦘

[@fanbutton]

That might be what they charge for a container, but that is not what they are getting because people are sending the goods back for being overdue.

[@Franklin-pc3xd]

Hey Sal - great updtate, as always. Just finished listening to a recap of the loss of the El Faro - which was owned by a Jones Act carrier named Tote Maritime (privately held?) I noticed they're still in business. I was double tasking while listening to the story but from what I was able to capture it seems as if Tote was a pretty negligent operator in terms of compliance on several levels. In checking, it appears they're still in business - which seems odd. How do they get away with that and stay in business??? In checking, I see Totem (based in Jacksonville) is owned by SaltChuk out of Seattle. Seems like this Totem outfit started out with an interesting idea with their RORO's and the chasi'd container idea - but then really kind of screwed things up with multiple modifications and, in the process, lots of skirting certification rules - kind of playing a shell game with the ships. Anyway - it would make an interesting case study - seems a pretty disgraceful example of a Jones Act outfit. The perception is that a Jones Act carrier is subjected to higher standards, but the history of this outfit appears more like a banana republic type deal.

[@yayyoou5026]

I wanted to ask question about Evergreen the one that got stuck in the United States whatever happened to that people that were supposed to get charged extra for their mistake getting stuck in the mud did they get charge for their shipping

[@wgowshipping]

They had to post a bond to get their cargo. The final costs have yet to be determined as the investigation is still underway.

[@AFP557]

I love Sal calling out BS

[@sortasurvival5482]

If we arent expirting as much, what effect will that have on gdp?

[@sortasurvival5482]

Or is it an effect of weakening gdp?

[@justinhaase8825]

This entire situation sounds deflationary. Retail store are already sitting on overstock in certain consumer items…and a ton of this stuff isn’t even in port yet… Essentials will rise, non-essentials will get cheaper.

[@Halli6163]

Sal I’m still waiting for your merch to drop…

[@southothehighway]

Time to focus on the Christmas seasonal peak.

[@stevevanmeel5647]

0ne thing that's not mentioned is that all of the west coast longshoreman contracts are expiring this year. I work at the Canadian west coast ports we have seen a serious drop off in the container traffic. You can be sure the media will twist the facts and paint the longshoremen as the cause of the delays.

[@cameroniveson2361]

My two cents !! Sal I think they could give a shit bigest example I am a truck driver I just drove from just before Flagstaff Arizona to ratone Colorado that's like five hundred miles or bit less train tracks congested the entire way container on cars ,empty lumber cars oil car ,coal cars ect all contesting the track hell clear to and five locomotive per group of cars I'm seeing this all over not just there it's all sitting not moving

[@luderickwong]

shall i understanding the problem as deliberately using wrong size container carrier? just like what happens the everxxx block the port ways of you know where. they know how deep the port is, and they know how deep the carrier needs.

[@thomaskosarek9973]

Americans sent their manufacturing offshore. At what point do execs say "enough" and start bringing manufacturing back to America? Any reporters looking at this aspect?

[@generalsupreemo9776]

At what point do power mad bureaucrats ease up? A factory can be built overseas in a year, here it takes three just for permits. Wake up!

[@davefroman4700]

This economy, has outgrown our infrastructures ability to cope with it. Globalization is not going to be the path forward. Localization of production and consumption is going to the path forward. And automation and technology are going to have a lot to do with that.

[@Dennis-vh8tz]

And rising wages in China, especially for skilled labour and knowledge workers.

[@davefroman4700]

@@Dennis-vh8tz China are the leaders in automation. They are not worried about replacing manual labor because they are upskilling their work force at a phenomenal rate.

[@dantheman3022]

Globalisation is THE ONLY WAY FORWARD .......... If you want to close up shop join the amish coommunities and see how that works out for you !!!! Japan and china had your train of though in the 1800 (closed borders to foreigners) and all that happened was they eventually lost out on technological advances. Japan were smart and opened up and thats how they became a major economy. A country on its own simply does not have all the resources to produce everything !!!

[@GoldPicard]

Automated yard dogs in ports, rail heads, DCs, and factories are coming because it makes sense since they're all controlled access facilities so you can control the traffic they have to face. And I foresee port cranes becoming automated not to long after if not before the yard dogs because of the simplicity of their tasks.

[@PlanetFrosty]

The cancellations/reduction on semiconductors by Apple and others changes a number outlooks I’m finished electronics out of China. TSMC has taken a hard view on contracts, but it’s not an even picture. Durable goods like washing machines and similar are also getting component cancellations. This suggests to me that there is plan for big drop. You are very right on US Exports and Carriers will be disappointed on US Exporters with possibly more leverage over carriers they don’t anticipate and FBI will come knocking. I expect innovation will break through coming from US creating more exports over the next 18 months, but I suspect they will be calling on the DOJ door too.

[@k53847]

So, how will the changes to CA law about prohibiting leased trucks from working for carriers impact this?

[@chrislaarman7532]

I can't remember any recent news on strikes in European ports. I would have missed quite some headers in RSS-feeds. Labor shortages, yes! Everywhere... The protests that draw global attention are those by farmers here in the Netherlands (and Belgium). They try to win support for their case by disrupting traffic. Their case is about nitrogen.

[@wgowshipping]

www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/06/24/choi-j24.html

[@chrislaarman7532]

@@wgowshipping Thank you, Sal! I gladly stand corrected. :-)

[@ccswede]

What about moving Gulf of Mexico traffic to Corpus Christi.

[@predatorprey2]

Last year we had major congestion at LA/LB ports. This year seems to be a little bit more spread out to many ports. We’ve for example shifted 100% from LA/LB to Hou and we’re starting to see delays there recently. Do you think the delays it will be as bad as last year considering that ships are going to many ports instead of mostly 1?

[@jradcliffe4968]

That's one way to insure that foreign products don't make it the store shelves . Shipping cost rising , foreign products price on the rise .go figure !

[@hemaccabe4292]

What does that mean, shippers won’t take US cargoes?

[@stevepailet8258]

Figure that the real reason that ports are congested is that To MUCH crap was ordered after to many shut downs here and abroad happened. Only so much was being consigned to various outlets so they freaked out and ordered massive amounts of said CRAP that is now causing an over supply of CRAP. There is a massive boom in building warehouse space and not enough trucks to get it to these new warehouses. So between the glut of imports ordered and being shipped with no real way to move this glut out of the ports due to lack of trucks and drivers you now get to tell us why there is congestion at ports. OBVIOUS to me there is way to much CRAP being imported.

[@GilmerJohn]

I truly like your choice of words.

[@traverseguy07]

How is it legal for a terminal or port authority order ships offshore? It isn't their prerogative to do that. I would figure that only the US Coast Guard or CBP can force vessels off shore. Either way, If the ships are more than 12nm off shore they have no authority to push them further out. The only thing I can think of is if the ships don't listen to the those who don't have the authority, then those authorities play dirty pool and make them wait or unload them slower or have pilot issues, etc.

[@generalsupreemo9776]

It was done under air pollution regs I reckon. The long arm of the bureaucrat.

[@mymusicstore1]

The terminals had/has no say in the ships waiting anchored further out.

[@GilmerJohn]

@@mymusicstore1 -- In theory, perhaps. In reality, it's move out or lose your turn.

[@geezzzwdf]

Well ...i'll tell ya , I know I know as much as Sargent Scholtz, But it does seem like there is about to be an invention yo ;; ..that will get everything running smoothly

[@cabls]

perfect

[@jimbergen5232]

Good clever folks foresaw this just like an actuary, thus the shipping to the East Coast. Sal, do you think this will effect the longshoremen bargaining leverage on the West Coast they might have thought they had - I mean lesson their argument for higher wages? It looks like they are not in the position to say they are invaluable'; what if they are last offered " take this or else " and they strike? I think this is why you see the push towards the East Coast for shipping. I think most people live on the East Coast, so it might be good. Just imagine if we were like Germany who only makes and buys their own goods.....

[@vtht65]

How about a story on how the Port of Virginia has it together in spades.

[@wgowshipping]

A good friend of mine works there and they are a great model and the most efficient port in the US.

[@Pyle81]

We used to ship a TON of bearings threw the Port of Virginia and even when we showed up with a Flat Rack with a Over Dimensional set of custom bearings for a mining machine somewhere Africa. They where MORE than helpful to get it off the truck and spotted so it wouldn't miss the ship where it was going. Yes it took a while, But I completely understand that due to the size if this piece it wasn't something they normally deal with on a daily basis (11.7 Wide)

[@captiannemo1587]

Why? Because they never got uncongested.

[@deemushroomguy]

Oops! No sound, Sal.

[@deemushroomguy]

While I appreciate the effort, I don't read lips.

[@deemushroomguy]

...Although I think the title makes the goof amusing, as I'm thinking that's how the meetings went when the bosses asked for ideas. *Total silence*

[@wgowshipping]

It is playing.

[@deemushroomguy]

@@wgowshipping Thanks.

[@martineastburn3679]

Politics on the west Coast and they in theory got some funding to increase Throughput. Have they done anything ?

[@deargodhelpus5046]

I heard the opposite that the containers are no longer there??

[@wgowshipping]

No longer where?

[@madpete6438]

Ah the rumour mill - not to be relied upon.

[@chriscraven33]

Truckers stay away from LA because taxes, regulations, ports not open 24 hours and most of all traffic. They get paid by the mile and if they are stuck in traffic their not making money

[@linmal2242]

That is onehelluva houseplant that you have in the background! Watch out that it does not attack you when you're not looking !!

[@madpete6438]

Nice analysis as always..... Be interesting in the next few months - with Boris gone in the UK - Brexit is going somewhere unknown and that will have an effect on Europe and the UK as well. Do you think the Ship Owners will start charging Shippers for the dwell time off ports ? Either way, it is a homogenisation of quite a few contributing issues, and there are more interesting times ahead. As always, looking forward to the next installment. BTW The Ukrainians put up their flag on snake island again..... That war is moving in a strange direction which will, no doubt, feed into this mess (How much, who knows)..

[@chrislaarman7532]

Don't expect much change in the UK, and don't expect it to happen soon, either. (I'm in the Netherlands, but I'm subscribed to the KZbin channel "A Different Bias".) As Phil (from that channel) points out, an election is due within the Tory party. Up through the penultimate round, the voting is limited to the Tory Members of Parliament. The ultimate round is all party members choosing between two final candidates. So this may take some time, during which Johnson stays on. The newly elected party leader will automatically be the new Prime Minister, but general parliamentary elections are due before some day in 2024. According to Phil, there are no clear favorites yet, and the winner will actually be a puppet (my word, not Phil's) again of a certain group of backbenchers who favor a no-deal Brexit. The key problem will continue to be the Northern Ireland Protocol, and solutions seem impossible (in the sense of "mutually exclusive"). Ukraine: Romania has just repaired a railway stretch that somehow allows freight (think: grain) from Ukraine to be loaded into barges. (This repair does not amount to eliminating differences in track gauge.) I also just read something about the water level in the river Rhine (West-European barge highway): it's far lower than normal for the time of year.

[@madpete6438]

@@chrislaarman7532 Interesting - Thanks for that matey.

[@The_New_IKB]

@@chrislaarman7532 I wonder if they will lay gauntleted duel gauge track to the romanian ports?

[@chrislaarman7532]

@@The_New_IKB I don't /know/, but I don't think so. That is my personal impression, based on my perception of how Spain (broad gauge) handles links with France (standard gauge). Also, be aware that a "level playing field" (no monopolies, no undercutting) is a cornerstone of EU-law and -policies. So, once you find a way of claiming with the EU that you're facing unfair competition, you may expect them to side with you. This could include modes of transport against each other. Besides, the EU has a budget for "leveling up" weak regions. These are approaches that could get you dual-gauge track or improved port facilities after all... By the way, here is the link to my source (in German): bahnblogstelle.com/184955/nach-gleisreparatur-in-rumaenien-bahn-frei-fuer-ukrainisches-getreide/ UPDATE: According to (again in German) bahnblogstelle.com/185024/europas-bahnen-bauen-hilfe-fuer-kiew-aus-spurbreite-vor-angleichung/, Ukraine intends to adjust its railway gauge. - My comments: (1) Don't hold your breath. (2) It's not only a matter of track gauge. European railway stock (apart from passenger rail sets) tends to feature old-style couplings (after canceling a general replacement in 1978), the former USSR railways use an American-style coupling, and Europe is once again intending to replace buffers-and-chain with "Scharfenberg" couplings.

[@roccodiconza7367]

UNIONS

[@SubTroppo]

Short answer to the question posed in the question in the title: The American power-elite in the form of corporations, prefers to see cheap foreign workers in employment than American workers earning good money. It is a functioning class-war. nb The term 'class-war' is taboo because those who are exceptionally engaged in it are are winning it.

[@GilmerJohn]

Oh, the "power-elite" love the class war when it serves their purposes. The like to pit the US middle class against US factory and retail workers.

[@Truckingskills101]

I'm not sure I really understand because you claim in one breath that the rates are not going to go back down to $1,500 and then you say unless we go into a recession well we are going into a recession and I know you're the professor and I'm the truck driver that pulls out of the ports but I can tell you we're going to go down to $1,000 shipping rates because I'm actually looking for 340 foot containers for my house and of course the shipping rates and volume play a large role in the prices of empty containers for me to purchase the guy I'm going to is a good friend that I haul into and out of all the time and he says wait until December or January at the latest when they realize how bad everything's falling off of a cliff and I'm going to be able to pick up containers for $900 a piece now that isn't exactly tied to the shipping rate but it's close we containers for $100 to ship four times I can buy containers for $2,000 even less $1,800 of course when it was thousands of dollars to ship with a container I couldn't buy a container for personal use for less than thousands of dollars so I think you're completely wrong I know you're the guy that knows all this stuff but I'm actually going to put this comment on my Google calendar and come back and look at it in December because I'm going to be looking to buy containers December for some projects at my house

[@wgowshipping]

Hank. So I am discussing ocean freight rates not going back down to $1500. I should have been more clear, that I don't expect that rate to be repeated again unless there is more than a recession collapse of ocean shipping volumes - which is not happening right now. We are still seeing record levels in ports. In term of containers, we are seeing an issue with excess containers. This has to do with the fact that nearly all containers are built be three firms in China and they have been flooding the market with boxes due to the demand. We will see an excess in boxes soon for purchase. Let's be clear, just because I have a degree, it does not mean that I know everything or even smart for that matter. I am only given my perspective based on my observations and analysis. There are many factors at play in the intermodal transportation system. What you are seeing on the ground trucking is not the same perspective from the ships. What I attempt to do, is increase the visibility between the two, particularly from the ship perspective. Thanks for writing and watching. Sal insurancemarinenews.com/insurance-marine-news/huge-container-excess-a-possibility-in-2023-report/

[@seachanforcongress1789]

thank you for speaking truth to power, helping inform public about our industry, imagine if we fixed the system with a strong hyper-localized domestic economy, first revitalize littorals, barging, tugs, fishing, rail, metallurgy, then can move to deep sea as yards, dry docks, ports have new life back in them we need to review history, Mahan's plea for supporting domestic maritime manpower and trades industry - the globalized system's latest hickup shown vulnerabilities owing to China's zero covid policy, we need to empower our communities not maintain profits for big$ carriers like momma Maersk #theGreatRefund

[@obsidianjane4413]

The record profits are gross profit in USD. Increasing prices and fees are inflating just like the rest of the economy, so its misleading to say "XYZ made record-profits blah blah blah". Adjust for inflation and profits are flat or falling.

[@wgowshipping]

Not when it comes to the leading container lines. Their profits are at record levels according to their own reporting.

[@petervankas1352]

The great man sighed EXO 13848 in 2018 the rest is history

[@HelloNotMe9999]

BECAUSE NOBODY IS EMPTYING THE GARBAGE (aka “empty containers”)!

[@hfdg3]

No stream

[@wgowshipping]

I just checked and it is playing.

[@williamlloyd3769]

For some reason, video notification arrived a couple of minutes before content was able to play. We are always chomping at the bit for your latest content!

[@deep6301]

Not a problem getting our container ship full of America's petroleum to China.

[@TheFunkybert]

Ahhh Americans Consume consume consume This will be her downfall

[@dantheman3022]

The more cluttered the ports ......... The more inflation creeps in due to shortages of everything............. If you think inflation is bad now...............just wait............

[@tonyak8354]

Casual work is slower than 2 tortoises goin' at it

[@BedeMeredith]

is it cheaper to make new non refrigerated containers in china than the cost of shipping them back empty?

[@mymusicstore1]

Where do you think they're made?

[@jockojohn3294]

Why? Because it's planned.......

[@constitutionloversue]

Who the owner of the port? Maybe it's being done on purpose

[@georgesmith8113]

👍👊😎

[@nealrcn]

Just thinking out loud. 2022 will be the not so much talked about apex for baby boomer retirements. So all the poeple who work at the port who are 65 or older are thinking of retirement or have retired. Baby boomer are on a magnitude so much larger than any generation within the USA. The next generation mine is by far the smallest,