US ports are delayed. Florida can move them forward

In AESOP’s timeless f story, the proud rabbit challenges the slowly moving turtle to race. But as the story progresses, the rabbit takes a nap, the turtle endures, and, to everyone’s surprise, the underdog wins.

When viewed through the lens of today’s global port system, there is something unexpectedly relevant to the story. For decades, the United States was run to be confident, dominant, and coast-run past successes. Meanwhile, countries like China and Singapore played the role of turtles, quietly constructed, refined, automated, and ultimately surpassed us.

Think about this. When it comes to container port efficiency, US ports don’t even fall below the top 25. China avoids container ships within half. Shanghai’s automated megaport Yangshan ranks number one globally. By 2040, Singapore has invested more than $20 billion in the TUAS Port, the world’s largest fully automated terminal. It moves 65 million containers, often called 21 feet equivalent units or TEUs, each year, with minimal human intervention.

In contrast, the highest ranked US port in Charleston, South Carolina is outside the top 50. The largest, Long Beach, California and Los Angeles, are often categorized as the bottom third of the efficiency rankings. We are literally 10 years behind.

That delay brings results. There are rising consumer prices, delayed supply chains, and lost opportunities for American businesses. Worse, it measures global leverage to others when geopolitical dynamics are already changing.

But what if Florida could be a turning point?

Florida’s geography is positioned as a natural logistics hub connecting North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. Ports such as Everglades, Tampa and Jaxport have been modernised in recent years, but are yet to reach the potential. They are waiting for the catalyst. That catalyst may be automated.

This is not just about robot cranes and autonomous trucks. It concerns data harmony, predictive logistics, and AI-driven port management. In short, it is a nearly smarter, faster, more resilient infrastructure that can handle the volatility of world trade.

Automation brings something else: sustainability. Smarter port operations result in lower emissions, fewer delays and less congestion. In a state of ecologically vulnerable like Florida, it is not just an efficient play. It’s a moral play.

We know there is resistance. Naturally, unions are worried about their jobs. But automation doesn’t eliminate the work – it changes it. Just as Forklift changed warehouse jobs and computers, this transition, which changed office work, could potentially bring a highly skilled, salary role when invested in training and transition programs. Florida’s workforce reskills must work together in cooperation with going back the port.

Imagine “The Port of The Future,” a Florida-based pilot program. Integrate advanced AV systems, real-time data dashboards, AI scheduling and a secure cloud logistics platform. It could become a national model for modern port operations. Investment isn’t just about making a profit for Florida. It will pass through all inland logistics networks, from railroads to trucking to warehouses.

The US cannot continue napping, but others move forward. Florida is a spark that rekinds America’s dominance in global trade, with vision and urgency. Technology is ready. The opportunity is authentic. And the stakes are rising.

It’s time to learn from stories. The turtle didn’t win just because the rabbit stopped. He won because he didn’t stop moving forward.

Neither should be.

Jeff Brandes is a former Florida Senator with a focus on transportation and infrastructure policies. Lee White is president of Lee White Consulting and former Director of Corporate Transportation Systems at UPS, leading the company’s autonomous transportation initiative.