Traffic World articles from January 2006

Traffic World archives from January 2006

Freight frameworks: anyone looking for political pronouncements and policy statements can find both in abundance in Washington. If you want wisdom, you have to look elsewhere.(Editorial)(Editorial)
January 30, 2006... That was certainly evident last week when Rod Widdows, CEO of containership line APL, walked through a gate at the White House with a few of his friends in tow. Those friends included senior executives from Nike, Dell, Pier One, Target,...

CNF capped a record 2005 with a 31 percent jump in net profits from continuing operations in the fourth quarter.(Weekly Perspective)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... CNF capped a record 2005 with a 31 percent jump in net profits from continuing operations in the fourth quarter, collecting $53.9 million in earnings on strong growth at the Con-Way Transportation regional LTL business. Con-Way's revenue...

Norfolk Southern's profits hit a record $362 million in the fourth quarter.(Weekly Perspective)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Norfolk Southern's profits hit a record $362 million in the fourth quarter, an increase of 37 percent last year. For the year, profits hit a record $1.3 billion, 39 percent better than 2004. NS Chief Executive Officer Wick Moorman...

Ford stalls.(This Week)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... The automotive supply chain is sputtering with Ford's announced plans to lay off thousands and close 12 facilities by 2012. The nation's No. 2 automaker said last week the restructuring plan, which includes 30,000 layoffs and the plant...

"Concerns over inventory continue to exist".(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... The United States is lagging the rest of the world in terms of growth of PC shipments. Worldwide PC shipments jumped 15.3 percent last year, the Connecticut-based Gartner research firm said. However, shipments in Europe, the Middle East...

Raising road taxes: FedEx Freight's Duncan says transportation needs higher fuel tax.(Cover Story)
January 30, 2006... When a trucking CEO calls for higher fuel taxes, you know it's bad. That's what FedEx Freight President and CEO Douglas G. Duncan did in a Jan. 20 speech in Washington, adding his voice--and the weight of one of the nation's largest...

Mead reports out: influential DOT inspector general resigns, transport expert will join private law firm.
January 30, 2006... Kenneth Mead, who issued a long string of surprises in often-scathing reports during nine years as inspector general at the Department of Transportation, saved his biggest surprise for last. The veteran IG abruptly announced last week...

Indiana falls back.(time zone setting)
January 30, 2006... Tuckers in Indiana won't have to worry about resetting their watches as much due to a time zone Change for the state. The U.S. Department of Transportation is moving eight of 17 Indiana counties that asked for a move to the Central time...

Seeking the big picture: Brookings Institution report says nation needs systematic, multimodal approach to transportation.(Government & Regulation)
January 30, 2006... The Brookings Institution is joining the call for a national transportation policy, saying the country s economy is at risk if it fails to look at the big picture in freight transportation. The authors of the report released this month...

OOIDA launches hours challenge.(Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association of America)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... The Owner-Operator Independent Driver's Association fired the first volley in a new court challenge to the hours of service rules for truck drivers. OOIDA filed a petition for review, the first step in a new HOS legal fight, in the D.C....

The pig pursues RFID: regional Piggly Wiggly grocery chain uses EDI, data services, RFID to compete against big box 'wolves'.(Logistics & Technology)(radio frequency identification device)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
January 30, 2006... Let other companies squeal about retailer radio frequency identification mandates. At Charleston, S.C.-based grocery chain Piggly Wiggly, "we believe in technology to compete," said Rachel Bolt, assistant director of information...

Fashioning logistics networks: $3.3 billion apparel maker turns to direct source-to-store logistics networks to speed delivery of goods.
January 30, 2006... Polo Ralph Lauren works as hard at keeping a cutting edge supply chain as it does anticipating fashion trends. The $3.3 billion New York City-based apparel maker must sew together 350-plus contract manufacturers supplying multiple brands...

Fairchild turns to logistics.(Logistics & Technology)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... For Fairchild Semiconductor, improved logistics management is central to efforts to withstand a slumping chip business. Fairchild reduced its internal inventories more than 20 percent and its sales inventories more than 16 percent last...

RedPrairie buys RFID, WMS provider.(Logistics & Technology)(warehouse management systems provider Marc Global Holdings)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... RedPrairie purchased Marc Global Holdings, an Atlanta-based radio frequency identification and warehouse management systems provider, for an undisclosed sum. The combined company, operating under the RedPrairie name, will be able to...

OH Logistics hires vice president of acquisitions.(Logistics & Technology)(Ozburn-Hessey Logistics appoints Shad Weaver )(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Ozburn-Hessey Logistics named Shad Weaver to the newly created position of vice president of acquisitions, with the goal of targeting acquisition opportunities for the company, the Nashville, Tenn.-based third-party logistics provider said....

Ryder scores Toyota contract.(Logistics & Technology)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Ryder System won a contract from Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America to support Toyota's new assembly plant in San Antonio. Under the contract announced Jan. 23, Ryder will provide lead logistics management and operations services...

Hellmann teams with SCM Global.(Logistics & Technology)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Miami, partnered with SCM Global Logistics, a Houston-based minority-owned business which claims expertise in the delivery of specialized logistics services. "Corporate purchasing from minority businesses has...

Trusting, and verifying, C-TPAT: cargo's major cross-border security is preparing to move into a new era of certifiable change.(Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism)
January 30, 2006... In the world of cargo security since September 11, the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism is the venerable old man of government-private sector programs. But that doesn't mean it isn't learning some new tricks. Under fire...

IG to DOT: keep receipts: Post-Katrina audit finds DOT overpaid Landstar, which returned $33 million, for emergency transportation.(Transportation: Trucking)
January 30, 2006... Hurricanes Katrina and Rita blew windfall revenue--perhaps $240 million, according to some reports--to Landstar System. But federal investigators said the Jacksonville, Fla.-based company didn't overcharge the federal government for emergency...

Demand up, not drivers: truckload carriers struggle to fill cabs, shippers trailers as demand rises; truckers expect 'modest' rate hikes.(Transportation: Trucking)
January 30, 2006... Capacity remains tight as demand rises and drivers remain scarce for truckload carriers rolling into 2006. That means shippers pinched by higher rates shouldn't expect quick relief. The most recent round of truckload earnings reports...

Duncan adds support for EOBRs: FedEx Freight CEO endorses electronic onboard recorders, despite cost concerns.(Transportation: Trucking)(electronic onboard recorders)
January 30, 2006... High-priced electronic onboard recorders aren't just for the big boys--or at least they shouldn't be, says FedEx Freight President and CEO Douglas G. Duncan. Trucking companies of all sizes should use them, whether the government...

Gast tapped to head New Penn.(Transportation: Trucking)(YRC Regional Transportation appoints Steven D. Gast )(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... YRC Regional Transportation moved quickly to replace the head of its New Penn Motor Express operating unit following the announced departure of Stephen O'Kane as president. YRC named Steven D. Gast president and CEO of New Penn, its...

Schneider changes leasing program.(Transportation: Trucking)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Schneider National said it is changing its owner-operator tractor leasing program in response to the rising fuel costs. Under the Owner-Operator Lease program, offered through the Schneider subsidiary Schneider Finance, all new units...

Navistar on S&P credit watch list.(Transportation: Trucking)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Standard & Poor's placed Navistar, the parent company of International Truck and Engine, on a credit watch list after the truck manufacturer missed the filing deadline for its fiscal 2005 annual report. Standard & Poor's Ratings Services...

Hub enters dray fray: largest IMC acquires Comtrak to build more business, compete in international drayage.(Transportation: Rail & Intermodal)
January 30, 2006... Hub Group is banking on its $48 million purchase of a Memphis, Tenn., logistics company to gives it a toehold in the $5 billion international drayage market. Considered the largest U.S. intermodal marketing company with 2004 revenue of...

UP gained efficiency in 2005: record yield evidence that railroad is getting firmer grip on operations, service.(Transportation: Rail & Intermodal)
January 30, 2006... Union Pacific Railroad generated record revenue and profits in 2005, a feat UP attributed to a more fluid network that's allowing the railroad to make more money per carload. For the full year, UP reported a net profit of $1 billion on...

NS names Moorman chairman.(Transportation: Rail & Intermodal)(Norfolk Southern appoints Charles W. Moorman )(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Norfolk Southern named Charles W. "Wick" Moorman to succeed David R. Goode as chairman, effective Feb. 1. Moorman, Norfolk Southern's president since 2004 and CEO since last year, will continue in those positions. Goode will remain as a...

CN reports solid 4Q, full year results.(Transportation: Rail & Intermodal)(Canadian National Railway)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Canadian National Railway reported $373 million in net income and $625 million in operating income in the fourth quarter, up 14 percent and 19 percent, respectively, from the same period in 2004. Its fourth-quarter operating ratio was a...

CSX resumes gulf service.(Transportation: Rail & Intermodal)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... CSX began local rail service on its Gulf Coast line, which has been under repair for five months after being shut down by Hurricane Katrina Aug. 29. Service through the entire area is expected to be restored beginning in early February. ...

CSX, BNSF show record profits: strong demand and streamlined operations cited as driving 49 percent 4Q earnings increase.(Transportation: Rail & Intermodal)(Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.)
January 30, 2006... Two of the nation's four biggest railroads posted record earnings in the fourth quarter due to improved operations and continued strong demand for freight capacity. CSX, which includes revenue from its CSX Intermodal subsidiary, earned...

World on the brink: health care, military flights top talks between pilots, World Airways management as deadline nears.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)
January 30, 2006... Behind the wild ride in World Airways' labor negotiations is the pilots' belief that parent World Air Holdings might over time shift its more lucrative military passenger flights to a nonunion sister company, leaving World Airways with...

FedEx buys in China: purchase of agent Datian adds domestic scale; company to retain forwarding, distribution business.(Transportation: Rail & Intermodal)
January 30, 2006... In buying out its Chinese partner for $400 million, FedEx Express is converting a 50-50 joint venture in China into a wholly owned subsidiary in the world's fast-growing air freight market. It was the latest in a fast-developing series of...

Pilot tops $300 million.(Transportation: Rail & Intermodal)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Forwarder Pilot Air Freight was a $300 million company for the first time in 2005, on strength in its international shipping division plus "continued success in its domestic network" and an expanded product line. Pennsylvania-based Pilot...

Up in the air: industry experts see UPS strike as unlikely, but some shippers still remain cautious.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)
January 30, 2006... Despite strong assurances from UPS that it will reach a new contract with pilots without having cargo service disrupted, and despite a federal mediator's move to block a pilots' union move toward confrontation, shipper sources say some...

EGL, OAG ink Web deal.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... EGL Eagle Global Logistics and OAG Inforwarding signed a deal for ECL to use the technology vendor's Web-based information application for air freight rates in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Web site, OAG said, has more than 1.2...

JAL rejoins Cargo 2000.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... JAL Cargo, the freight unit of Japan Airlines, rejoined the Cargo 2000 freight forwarding management system six years after it left the group it helped found. JAL Cargo's Shigeo Akiba, vice president for planning and marketing, said his...

Correction.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)(Correction Notice)
January 30, 2006... ASTAR Air Cargo, a U.S. carrier that contracts to the DHL parcel network, is meeting regularly with its pilots in normal labor talks but is not in federal mediation as Traffic World reported Jan. 23. Ray Lutz, ASTAR's senior vice president...

Long Beach's quiet climb: more workers, larger ships, PierPass killed congestion in 2005; Port ready for 'moderate' growth in 2006.(Pier-Pass program)
January 30, 2006... Richard Steinke will remember 2005 as the year the Port of Long Beach rebuilt its business after a shipping season marred by congestion while handling a record number of containers. Steinke, executive director of the port, expects...

Hapag-Lloyd to open Tampa headquarters.(Transportation: Maritime)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Hapag-Lloyd Container Line is adding two regional management centers--South Europe and Latin America--as part of its ongoing integration of its recent acquisition of CP Ships. The Latin America base will be in Tampa, Fla., covering Mexico...

NYK breaks records at Long Beach.(Transportation: Maritime)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... NYK Logistics handled a record 97.5 million cartons of retail goods for domestic transport at the Port of Long Beach in 2005, an increase of 30 percent over 2004. The cartons moved through the facility on-time at a rate of 99.8 percent....

Portland boxes plummet: despite 42 percent drop in containers in 2005, officials at Oregon port optimistic about 2006.(Transportation: Maritime)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... The Port of Portland, Ore., saw its container volume plummet nearly 42 percent last year to 160,479 TEUs, its worst showing since 1987. Despite last year's dismal results, port officials are optimistic about prospects for 2006, confident...

P&O inks agreement with Florida Port.(Transportation: Maritime)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... P&O Ports North America reached an agreement with Florida's Tampa Port Authority to operate terminals at the port for general and refrigerated cargo. At the same time, the two parties said P&O Ports will also operate the recently...

CNF.(appoints Gary N. Frantz )(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... CNF, San Mateo, Calif., the parent of Con-Way and Menlo Logistics, named Gary N. Frantz director of corporate communications, bringing him back to the company he earlier worked with for 10 years. The 25-year industry veteran worked for the...

Schneider National.(appoints John Ferguson)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Schneider National, Green Bay, Wis., named John Ferguson general manager for Canada at the truckload and logistics operator. Ferguson had been at PBB Global Logistics for 18 years and is a director of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters...

NAL Worldwide.(appoints Gwen Hassan )(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... NAL Worldwide, Westmont, Ill., hired Gwen Hassan as vice president, general counsel and secretary. Hassan most recently worked for Federal Signal, where she was corporate counsel since 2002. Before that she was a corporate attorney for...

GE.(People)(appoints Eric LaBat)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... GE named Eric LaBat to the new position of chief marketing officer of its Rail Services unit. Previously, LaBat held other positions in the company's Rail Services unit. Before joining GE, LaBat spent 15 years with Union Pacific Railroad and...

Lynden International.(appoints John Kaloper )(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Lynden International, Seattle, promoted John Kaloper to vice president for the Northwest region and LaDonna Blackwell to the new position of business development director for Russia-CIS. Kaloper has been with Lynden since 1984, most recently...

TrueDemand Software.(appoints John Raudabaugh )(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... TrueDemand Software, Los Gatos, Calif., named John Raudabaugh to the RFID services company's advisory board. Radabaugh was vice president of systems implementation at Albertsons and led the retailer's RFID implementation. TrueDemand also...

Watkins Motor Lines.(appointment of Scott Kamman, Greg Brooks and Derek McClenathen )(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Watkins Motor Lines, Lakeland, Fla. promoted Scott Kamman, a 21-year transportation industry veteran, to district manager at its Midwest district. Kamman formerly was manager of break bulk in Schaumburg, Ill. Greg Brooks, a 25-year...

AIMS Logistics.(promotes Jana Simmons )(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... AIMS Logistics, Collierville, Tenn., an international freight payment and transportation services company, promoted Jana Simmons to director of operations. Simmons will be responsible for all domestic operations for AIMS payables, including...

UniGroup.(appoints Randall C. Poppell)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... UniGroup, Fenton, Mo., the parent of United Van Lines, Mayflower Transit and other transportation-related companies, said Randall C. Poppell, chief information officer, will take on the additional role of senior vice president of strategic...

Hasbro.(appoints Brian Goldner)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... Toy manufacturer Hasbro, Pawtucket, R.I., named Brian Goldner chief operating officer. Goldner, who joined Hasbro in 2005, will oversee worldwide product development and the global supply chain.

BAX Global.(appoints Andrew Mitchell)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... BAX Global named Andrew Mitchell director of logistics business development for Asia-Pacific at the company's regional headquarters in Singapore. Mitchell has 15 years of experience in pharmaceutical logistics and most recently was regional...

TW calendar.(Calendar)
January 30, 2006... JANUARY 30-31. 2006 Railway Security Forum & Expo (AAR, ASLRRA, APTA and RSI), Washington. www.railway.com. 31. 98th Annual Dinner, keynote speaker Gov. Bill Graves, President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations (Traffic...

Logistics seminars & courses.(Calendar)
January 30, 2006... 30-March 20. Customs Broker Prep Courses, Correspondence Course, 8-weeks (Customs & Trade Solutions). (609) 896-2210 or smricher@ctsiadvisors.com. 29-Feb. 1. WFLO Institute, Training Course: Materials Handling Module; Information...

National & regional averages: January 23, 2006.(DOE Diesel Price Index)
January 30, 2006... United States $2.472 East Coast $2.516 Midwest $2.423 Golf Coast $2.432 Rocky Mountain $2.435 West Coast $2.608 Note:...

Carrier denies damage claims.(Q&A)
January 30, 2006... Q: Our small package carrier has declined damage claims due to insufficient packing. We use a double-wall corrugated carton, with a bursting point of 375 lbs. We also double tape all seams and openings. We package 44 lbs. of flour, used...

Lusty.(The BackPage)(highway trust fund)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... If only the highway trust fund had an acronym as good as the leaking underground storage tank trust fired has, perhaps it could get a little more respect in Congress. Yes, the LUST trust fund actually exists. And HTF just doesn't compare.

Disoptimized.(The BackPage)(Federal Railroad Administration's Joseph Boardman plans on improving the performance )(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... It's good to hear that Joseph Boardman is set on improving the performance of the Federal Railroad Administration but does he have to abuse the English language while he's at it? He calls his effort an attempt to "operationalize" the FRA....

Ads.(American Trucking Associations warns against Full Throttle's advertisement )(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... The country's TV advertising execs are after trucking again. The American Trucking Associations is warning about a commercial for an energy drink called Full Throttle set to air before the Super Bowl. USA Today says the ad shows a can of the...

Jobs.(The BackPage)
January 30, 2006... CareerBuilder.com recently ranked the country's top 25 jobs for 2006 and truck driving came in at No. 18. Most shippers rank it No. 1.

Time out.(The BackPage)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... The Department of Transportation hasn't gone far enough for some transport execs in resetting the time zones for some wayward Indiana counties. FedEx chief Fred Smith still wants the four mainland U.S. time zones reduced to a more air...

Flight patter.(United Airlines' pilots strange welcome)(Brief Article)
January 30, 2006... The United Airlines captain on Flight 620 from Chicago O'Hare to Washington Reagan National Airport Jan. 14 was quite blunt in his welcome to passengers: "I know you have a choice of many bankrupt airlines. Thank you for flying United."

Security charts: the Transportation Security Administration took time from its busy reorganization schedule this month to meet publicly with members of the transportation industry. The result was not pretty or very encouraging for anyone with a stake in supply chain security in the country.(Editorial)
January 23, 2006... The meeting of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee came as shippers and carriers remained in a holding pattern over a comprehensive air cargo security rule, waiting out a delay like frustrated travelers trapped at a snowbound airport....

Manufacturing output.(production data)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Manufacturing output in the fourth quarter saw its largest quarterly spike in nearly six years, after two quarters of depressed figures. Despite the strong finish to 2005, economists from the National Association of Manufacturers predict...

Diesel prices.(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Diesel prices dipped 3.6 cents for the week ending Jan. 16, erasing the previous week's spike. The Energy Information Administration said diesel prices slipped to $2.449 a gallon, up near 50 cents from a year ago, but down significantly from...

Buyers beware.(predicting an economic slowdown in retail trade)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... The National Retail Federation has a somewhat dour outlook for 2000, predicting an economic slowdown and stingier consumer spending that will dampen retail growth. After a stronger-than-expected 2005, the retail group predicts consumer...

Faced with a slow telecom industry recovery, Nortel, one of the world's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturers, is shaking up its supply chain leadership.(Northern Telecom Ltd. appoints Don McKenna and Mike Zafirovski)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Faced with a slow telecom industry recovery, Nortel, one of the world's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturers, is shaking up its supply chain leadership. The goal, says Nortel, is to make its supply chain "a competitive...

Flying into turbulence: shippers tighten belts and look for alternatives in case major cargo carriers face job actions, disruption.(Cover Story)
January 23, 2006... With a host of U.S. air cargo carriers locked in labor disputes as 2006 gets under way, shippers are bracing for what could be a turbulent year in the air but one they're hoping doesn't leave them grounded. "I'm not panicking," said a...

Hawley's hello, goodbye? TSA leader on short list to succeed Bonner, modal chiefs face security reorganization.(Transportation Security Administration's Edmund Hawley to be appointed by Bureau of Customs and Border Protection)
January 23, 2006... There's a collective groan coming from the cargo industry with growing word that Transportation Security, Administration head Edmund "Kip" Hawley is on the Bush administration's short list to succeed Robert Bonner as head the Bureau of...

Sanborn tapped for MARAD post; president nominates veteran maritime executive to head MARAD, picks Nason to run NHTSA.(president George W. Bush appoints David Sanborn to Federal Maritime Administration; and nominates Nicole Nason to lead National Highway Transportation Safety Administration)
January 23, 2006... President Bush last week picked several nominees for top transportation posts in the federal government, led by David Sanborn, his choice to be the next maritime administrator. If confirmed, Sanborn would move to the Federal Maritime...

Shippers want a seat.(Aviation Security Advisory Committee conference)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Shippers want a seat at the table at the Aviation Security Advisory Committee. The National Industrial Transportation League is stepping up its push for a voice on the ASAC, a key advisory board to the Transportation Security...

Pilots seek HOS changes.(Air Line Pilots Associations wants regulators to rewrite hours of service rules)
January 23, 2006... Following moves to adjust work rules in trucking and rail, airline pilots want regulators to rewrite antiquated hours of service rules to cut flight time for cargo pilots. The Air Line Pilots Associations lists pilot fatigue as one of its...

Airports back DOT plan.(Department of Transportation policy to ease foreign investment restrictions)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... American airports are backing a government proposal to ease restrictions on foreign investment and control of U.S. air carriers. The Department of Transportation policy "would further the objectives of reducing government involvement in...

Air cargo security rule 'this year'.(Government & Regulation)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Already more than five months late on issuing a comprehensive air cargo security rule, the Transportation Security Administration is being circumspect about when the air cargo industry should expect a final product. At a recent industry...

States eyeing fuel indexing.(Government & Regulation)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Even as transportation experts are debating new ways to fund highways, states are eliminating the progressive fuel taxes that some consider to be a critical part of road investment for the future. Last month, Wisconsin's Democratic Gov....

Winding up for a pitch: logistics consolidation can mean big opportunities for smaller 3PLs; Icat looks for 'unhappy' shippers.(Logistics and Technology)(Icat Logistics)
January 23, 2006... In the shadow of mega-mergers, smaller logistics providers are hoping consolidation will drive business their way. They're looking for more than crumbs from the table. Icat Logistics, Linthicum, Md., is counting on unhappy customers of...

Metro moves on RFID; German retailer ready for limited RFID tag roll out this spring, system-wide use of tags in 2007.(Radio Frequency Identification)
January 23, 2006... For at least one big retailer, 2006 promises to be the year of RFID. Europe's largest retailer Metro AG expects vendors to deliver supplies tagged at pallet or box level by April, and to have inventory moving through its supply chain...

Phone coverage slipping.(mobile phones logistics costs)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Shipping of the mobile phones that fattened logistics channels in recent years will level off in 2006 and for the foreseeable future, research group iSuppli said. After nearly doubling between 2002 and 2005, mobile phones will grow just...

Clothing gets tagged.(Avery Dennison Retail Information Services supplies radio frequency identification tags )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Avery Dennison Retail Information Services will provide radio frequency identification tags at "sharply discounted rates" to members of the American Apparel & Footwear Association. For shippers, it's the latest sign that prices in the...

Back to logistics basics: forecasters say 'blocking and tackling' at forefront as shippers see options reined in.(Logistics and Technology)
January 23, 2006... Let others obsess over consolidations, mega-merger backlash and the future of radio frequency identification technology. For most shippers and their service providers, 2006 will be a year of sticking to the basics, say several experts. ...

TNT sells French stake.(to Norbert Dentressangle)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... TNT, in the midst of a huge restructuring of its logistics operation, signed an agreement to sell a portion of its French logistics subsidiary to Norbert Dentreseangle. The sale of the contract logistics operations and some of...

Portland port eyes logistics growth.(Logistics and Technology)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... The Port of Portland may be struggling to recover lost containership traffic, but the Oregon port is pressing ahead on logistics-focused business. The port this month approved a lease for a local developer and an equity manager to build...

Contracting for value: rising costs have shippers pressing LTL carriers to show greater value--but truckers say value can be a two-way street.(Special Report: LTL UPDATE: ADDING VALUE)(less than truckload )
January 23, 2006... The most surprising thing about last year's relentless increases in diesel prices may have been that shippers and carriers faced the record growth in fuel costs without the sort of major outcry that could have spelled crisis for the freight...