Traffic World articles from July 2001

Traffic World archives from July 2001

Scraping Bottom.(Great Lakes suffer low water levels)(Column)
July 30, 2001... Lowest water levels in century limit capacity, push up costs for Great Lakes carriers Already clobbered by a soft steel market and high fuel costs, the Great Lakes shipping industry is being hammered this summer by some of the lowest...

Intractably Locked.(railroad versus captive-shipper debate)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... GAO summarizes rail, shipper differences but study is light on independent analysis The General Accounting Office's most recent look at the captive-shipper versus railroad debate and the Surface Transportation Board's role in solving it...

Let the Sun Shine.(Surface Transportation Board)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... STB's Burkes seeks open meetings over objections of Chairman Morgan Describing "a time of suspicion and mistrust," Surface Transportation Board member Wayne Burkes said sunshine is an appropriate disinfectant and challenged STB Chairman...

Mexican Stand-Off.(Mexican trucking)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Some say it's about free trade, others say safety, but all agree Mexican trucks are a hot issue "Poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States," bemoaned the country's turn-of-the century president Porfirio Diaz. If the...

Hazmat Training.(hazardous materials training required by Department of Transportation)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Most training program directors in the logistics and transportation fields would rather have too many students than too few. But how do you handle 4 million potential trainees? That's how many people in the United States are required by...

Market of One.(Reflect.com allows personal creation of products)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Here's a question to ponder while you're in the shower: if there are about 3 billion women on the planet and no two are alike, how come there only a handful of shampoo types? If your answer is that it's because manufacturers are unable to...

Upturn Still Elusive.(cargo airlines)
July 30, 2001... CNF's Con-Way, Emery and Menlo all drag in 2nd quarter with cargo volume declines "It's been a long time since this industry as a whole has faced anything like what we've seen over the past few quarters," said Gregory L Quesnel,...

Round-the-Clock Service.(UPS Logistics Group)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... UPS Logistics lockbox lets customers drop off, pick up parts on a 24-7 basis The self-service warehouse is a step nearer. UPS Logistics Group is introducing lockbox facilities that enable service parts customers to drop off and pick up...

TNT Wins CNH Deal.(TNT Logistics, Case New Holland Group)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Logistics outsourcing pact expands TNT's business in Latin America TNT Logistics, part of Holland's TNT Post Group, has won a $30 million, three-year logistics outsourcing deal from Case New Holland Group. Under the terms of the...

Coming Together.(outsourcing of logistics in Europe)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Consolidation, technology remold logistics market; outsourcing is fast-growing trend in Europe The adoption of new web-enabled technology by logistics providers and the demands of multinational corporations for pan-European marketing and...

Prologis Expands in Asia.(to run distribution hub for DHL in Japan)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Prologis signs 20-year pact to run distribution hub in Japan for DHL Prologis has expanded in the Japanese property market with the signing of a 20-year lease by DHL Japan for a 196,000-square-foot distribution center. The lease is the...

Balancing Act.(rail carriers, shippers praise Canadian Transportation Act Review Panel report)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... CTA review praised for including views of both sides of rail regulation issues It's rare that you find both rail carriers and shippers praising the same report from the government. But that was the case when the results of the Canadian...

Tunnel Trouble.(Baltimore tunnel accident, CSX liability)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... CSX liability for Baltimore tunnel accident hinges on NTSB report Did a CSX train derailment in a Baltimore tunnel cause a water main break or did old, faulty pipes cause the CSX train to derail? Depending on the outcome of a National...

The Kiwis are Coming.(exports from New Zealand)(Statistical Data Included)
July 30, 2001... New Zealand pushes for greater global exports, plots course toward lucrative U.S. market Russell Crowe won't be the only brand-name export to the United States if New Zealanders get their way. The island country is aggressively pursuing...

The Final Connection.(Australian transcontinental railroad)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Australian transcontinental railroad gets go-ahead for completion The railroad that was nicknamed "from nowhere to nowhere" is finally going somewhere. On July 18 work finally commenced on a northsouth rail link across the Australian...

Have We Hit Bottom Yet?(trucking company revenues)(Statistical Data Included)
July 30, 2001... Yellow earnings off 38 percent, CF hit hard; ABF, USF down; Overnite best half in 7 years Second-quarter LTL earnings, with the exception of a bang-up quarter posted by Overnite Transportation Co., reflected the economic slowdown despite...

One of Their Own.(Joe Clapp nominated to run Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Truckers applaud Clapp FMCSA nomination, say public will greatly benefit from his savvy The organized trucking lobby is applauding President Bush's nomination of Joe Clapp to run the two-year-old Federal Motor Carrier Safety...

Waterfront War Drums.(European dock workers to protest increased port competition plans)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Europe's dock workers promise to protest EU plans for increased port competition After years of relative calm, European dock workers are preparing demonstrations for the second half of September to protest proposals by the European...

Barging In?(technology comes slowly to inland waterways)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Electronic charting still a ways off as technology slowly affects waterways What do barges and grandmothers have in common? Neither immediately comes to mind as a user of technology. But just as granny may be zipping off an e-mail at the...

Perez at Long Beach Helm.(Carmen Perez to be Port of Long Beach president)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Carmen Perez voted Port of Long Beach president, her third time at board post The Port of Long Beach has appointed a new president, replacing Dr. John Kashiwabara. Carmen Perez, a 10-year board member and the second woman to serve on the...

Major Disappointment.(air cargo companies' financial data)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 30, 2001... Big airlines fall behind in 2nd quarter; small carriers fare better in downturn The cargo divisions at the U.S. majors struggled mightily in the second quarter with only the smallest airlines managing to make more money than last year....

No Recovery in Sight.(United Parcel Service of America Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 30, 2001... UPS is riding out the economic storm but lowers earnings estimate for 3Q United Parcel Service showed some bruises in the second quarter that weren't apparent in the first as the global economic downturn continued to spread. Net income...

Emery, UPS Win Ford Business.(customs clearance)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Miles Group, Livingston International also among companies selected to fill Expeditors' shoes Emery Worldwide, two United Parcel Service subsidiaries and Livingston International have inherited the Ford Motor Co. customs clearance...

CF Airfreight.(two new European sales centers open)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... CF Airfreight has opened two new European sales centers in London and Amsterdam. CF'S London facility includes warehousing and distribution services along with core air freight forwarding capabilities. CF'S Amsterdam facility is close to both...

Siemens awarded BAX Global.(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Siemens awarded BAX Global preferred carrier status for U.S. heavy weight expedited shipments. The two-year contract, which began in May, covers heavy freight for all Siemens' companies including the information and communications,...

The Federal Aviation.(penalty against American Airlines Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking a $285,000 penalty against American Airlines for violating federal crew rest regulations. Crew rest has been an area of contention between American, its pilots and the FAA over the agency's...

DHL Japan signed.(new lease for distribution facility)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... DHL Japan signed a 20-year lease on a new 196,000-square-foot distribution facility outside of Tokyo with ProLogis. The new build-to-suit facility is ProLogis' first air cargo development in Japan and will be DHL's largest distribution center...

Lexington Institute.(U.S. Postal Service losses)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 30, 2001... Lexington Institute is predicting that the U.S. Postal Service will report much lower losses for fiscal 2001 than originally projected. Earlier this year USPS said losses could reach $3 billion, but now expects them to be closer to $1...

USF Worldwide.(USF Worldwide wins contract for United Kingdom's Royal Air Force fleet)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... USF Worldwide, the freight forwarding arm of USFreightways, won an aircraft parts and support equipment contract for the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force fleet of Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. The RAE has leased four of the military transport...

Emery Worldwide.(receives award from Lomas Bayas copper mine in Chile)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Emery Worldwide won a two-year air and ocean forwarding contract from Lomas Bayas, a copper mine in northern Chile. The contract calls for Emery to handle the air transportation of materials from the United States and Canada to the mine,...

On the Bright Side.(Manugistics Group Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 30, 2001... It was sweaty and stormy in Orlando but Manugistics is on sunny side of the street The Manugistics Group's annual conference recently wound up in sweaty, stormy Orlando. Fortunately the conference did not reflect the weather. It was...

Dole Fresh Flowers.(contract with EXE Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Dole Fresh Flowers is using EXE Technologies' Exceed warehouse management software to improve "speed-to-market, increase inventory accuracy and improve customer service," said a spokesperson from EXE. Dole Fresh Flowers is a division of Dole...

LaPlata.(Southern Maryland Oil contracts with GeoCom)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... LaPlata, Md.-based Southern Maryland Oil will use GeoCom's transportation management software to optimize heating oil deliveries. Atlanta-based GeoCom estimates SMO will save up to 12 percent on delivery costs by using its TMS Router...

Yellow Global.(new online service)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Yellow Global, international service provider for Yellow Corp., has a new online quoting, booking and shipment tracking solution at www.yellowglobal.com. The solution, called Global OBTSM, is available 24-7 on the site. The technology was...

International freight.(U-Freight Group)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... International freight and logistics services company U-Freight Group will give its customers the ability to check on shipment status wirelessly. Customers will be able to check proof of arrival and proof of delivery information on a Palm...

Freightgate purchased.(CargoPolicy)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Freightgate purchased the assets of CargoPolicy, an online cargo insurance agency. The company also appointed CargoPolicy President Lawrence R. Graf Ill as director of business development. Freightgate plans to fully integrate CargoPolicy's...

Intelligent transportation.(Odetics Inc subsidiary tens)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Intelligent transportation systems technology provider tens, a subsidiary of Odetics, received $5.5 million in cash plus the conversion of approximately $4.2 million in debt in exchange for Iteris Series A preferred stock. As part of the...

Building materials.(Owens Corning contracts with Digital Freight)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Building materials producer Owens Corning signed a one-year contract with Digital Freight for freight transportation procurement across five of its business units: Insulation, Composites, Exterior, Roofing and Cultured Stone. The company...

Airborne Express.(Airborne Freight Corp. online service)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... www.airborne.com Airborne Express recently launched its Small Business Center. Users can access the center from Airborne's home page under "Small Businesses." The pages appear to be well laid out with links for online billing, electronic...

CS Integrated LLC.(web site needs improvements)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... www.csicold.com Refrigerated warehouse and distribution center operator CS Integrated LLC launched a new website last month. CSI is an affiliate of ProLogis. Although well laid out, CSI has some content issues. The most important:...

FreightStats.(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... www.freightstats.com FreightStats officially opened its doors June 15. It looks like a load matching site to us. The site offers free matching for truck, air, parcel, rail and ocean shipments. There is also a posting board where we saw...

People Watch.(various companies)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... Towne Air Freight Inc. appointed Joe Schulte manager of its new Atlanta terminal, its first in Georgia. Robert Perry joined Lufthansa Cargo as marketing manager in the United Kingdom and Ireland and Ray Wood was appointed customer...

Loving it.(CSX Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 30, 2001... "It's a wall of smoke," The Washington Post quoted one Rush Loving Jr., a rail consultant, of a recent derailment that basically closed Baltimore one day. "It's like a big black snake filling the mouth of the tunnel?' What's ironic is Loving...

Hurry Up.(more research and studying needs to go into approving highway construction projects)(Brief Article)(Editorial)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... When it comes to highway construction, well-intentioned environmental laws actually can increase pollution from cars and trucks, according to a recent report. That seems counterintuitive but I have to look no further than my bedroom window to...

Longing for the ICC.(household moving company complaints to the Interstate Commerce Commission)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Consumers are smoking hot with 'limited recourse' as mover complaints pile up in Washington agencies Caroline Smith (not her real name) thought she had planned everything just right for her recent move to one of the leafy suburbs...

Delayed No Longer.(Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... $100 million loan to I&M Rail Link ends 3-year dispute over eligibility A $100 million low-interest government loan approved last week by the Federal Railroad Administration assures that regional I&M Rail Link will remain independent and...

Tank Car Tempest.(tank-car shippers being charged fee they say violates Interstate Commerce Commission shipper-carrier agreement)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Captive shippers say storage charges imposed by BNSF violate agreement Nothing frosts captive shippers more than railroads claiming line-haul rates are declining while simultaneously imposing accessorial charges that increase total...

The American Road and Transportation.(environmental justice lawsuits)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... Builders Association has asked the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia to block the ability of individuals to bring so called environmental justice lawsuits aimed at delaying or preventing road-building projects. Earlier this...

The Department of Transportation.(international aspects of the contract and common carriers distinction)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... The Department of Transportation is two years late in meeting a congressional directive to eliminate the distinction between common and contract carriers. So long as the distinction exists, only common carriers are required to obtain and...

The National Industrial.(National Industrial Transportation League Norfolk Southern ruling)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... The National Industrial Transportation League has parsed Norfolk Southern's defense of the railroad's intended closing of a Pennsylvania freight-car repair shop and found the railroad wanting. Pennsylvania lawmakers and NS unions contend the...

Striking Gold.(Anchor Food Products Inc.'s cost-saving inventory management system)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Anchor Food Products refines inventory management and saves millions The alchemy of Internet-based supply-chain collaboration can turn inefficiency into gold. It helped Anchor Food Products sustain a 20 percent growth rate without...

Lessons in Collaboration.(more companies are using vendor-managed inventory)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... For vendor-managed inventory to succeed, all collaborators in the chain must benefit Many companies were seasoned supply-chain collaborators long before the Internet arrived. A lesson learned from this experience is that even though the...

Demand Drivers.(automobile industry trying to expand use of Internet)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... The mass exodus of car buyers to online sales channels has yet to materialize. Most consumers use the Internet to test-drive deals before signing on the dotted line in dealers' sales offices. Still, the auto industry continue to refine the...

E-Supply-Chain Integration.(electronic data interchange technology is most popular electronic commerce supply chain integrator)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Today's business-to-business world offers shippers and carriers an exciting, if often complex, array of new and innovative options for increased end-to-end supply-chain integration. These advances for value-added supply-chain management...

Circuit Breakers.(analyst Vinay Asgekar believes that financial institutions could assist the semiconductor industry with inventory ownership)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Financial institutions may help semiconductor makers mitigate inventory management risks Supply-chain management may need a new type of third-party provider: financial institutions. Vinay Asgekar, industry analyst at Boston-based AMR...

Logistics, Swiss Style.(Swisslog Holding wins logistics contract with Wal-Mart)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Swisslog wins Wal-Mart warehouse contract, plans to expand services in United States Supply-chain services group Swisslog has been chosen by Wal-Mart Inc. to help design and implement a highly automated refrigerated distribution center...

Logistics at SMSU.(Southeast Missouri State University)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... As the only school in Missouri that offers a degree program in logistics, Southeast Missouri State University gets first crack at a lot of top-notch students. Upon graduation, those students in turn get first crack at lots of great jobs with...

Lukewarm Reception.(ocean carriers)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... Ocean carriers offer more technology to shippers, but no one's jumping for joy People always seem to want what they can't have. This maxim applies to shippers too. Although ocean carriers are providing new technology tools to their...

SynQuest Restructures.(reducing about 16 percent of workforce)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Supply-chain software firm to cut work force to lower costs, expects to report 4Q loss Supply-chain planning software company SynQuest is reducing its work force by about 16 percent to lower operating costs and improve flexibility, said...

Working as One.(ShipLogix and nPassage)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... ShipLogix, nPassage combine to form SLX, new transport management solution Collaborative Internet-based transportation management software companies ShipLogix and nPassage have combined to form a new corporation called SLX. SLX has...

Aviation exchange.(Cordiem launches initial commercial services)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... Aviation exchange and application services provider Cordiem launched its initial commercial services last month. "Cordiem's current capabilities support trading and collaboration for complex aircraft parts and systems as well as general...

Distribution Technologies.(establishes Dedicated Logistics)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... Distribution Technologies, a provider of transportation, distribution and supply-chain management services, formed Dedicated Logistics, a new operating company focused on providing customized solutions. Frank Wagner, president of DisTech,...

SupplyWorks.(raises equity capital)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... SupplyWorks raised an additional $19.2 million in equity capital. New investor Longworth Venture Partners led the round. Other investors were previous investors North Bridge Venture Partners and Atlas Venture, and a second new participant,...

The viaLink Co.(launches new online trade promotions tool)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... The viaLink Co., Dallas, introduced a new online tool far trade promotions. Trading partners can collaborate and negotiate pricing structure using the Internet-based tool, part of syncLink, viaLink's core data synchronization service. New...

Online grocer HomeRuns.com.(closes down July 12, 2001)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... Online grocer HomeRuns.com folded July 12. The company took its website off the Internet, with no contact information other than an address. The message on the site is simple: "Regrettably, HomeRuns.com has discontinued its online grocery...

Another Casualty.(Gilbert Express, trucking concern, files bankruptcy)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Owner-operators worry Gilbert Express bankruptcy means loss of 'several' million dollars in pay The brutal operating environment in the truckload sector has claimed another victim. Gilbert Express, Linden, N.J., filed for bankruptcy...

Never Too Early.(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... Highway users look to Alaska's Young as savior in early bid to win support for TEA-21 encore Total spending for highway programs by all levels of government is expected to hit $126.2 billion this year, the Federal Highway Administration...

'Absolutely fabulous'.(May Peters, Designate for Federal Highway Traffic Safety Adminstrator)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... May Peters, the first female Federal Highway Traffic Safety Administrator-designate, doesn't have to search too far for a friend in Washington to help guide her through her Senate confirmation process. "She is a consummate professional...

Fuel Fight.(fuel surcharge for truckers)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Owner-operators back attempt to create mandatory fuel surcharge for truckers The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is lauding reintroduction of the mandatory fuel surcharge legislation by Reps. Nick J. Rahall, D-W. Va., and...

Ruan Transportation.(to supply carriage services for Holsum Bakery)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... Ruan Transportation Management Systems, Des Moines. Iowa, has been selected to provide dedicated private carriage services for Holsum Bakery in Arizona. RTMS will shuttle products to the bakery's main plant in Phoenix from two other baking...

In an acquisition that will boost.(American Trans-Freight buys Cheetah Transportation from Celadon Group)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... In an acquisition that will boost its annual revenue over the $100 million mark, American Trans-Freight, Morrisville, Pa., has acquired Cheetah Transportation, Mooresville, N.C., from Celadon Group, Indianapolis. By purchasing Cheetah, ATF...

Atlas Buys Polar.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Citing value of rights to Japan, profitable forwarder takes on struggling cohort Atlas Air, an airline that has prided itself on the simplicity of its business plan, is muddying things up a bit with the purchase of Polar Air Cargo. Atlas...

Emery's Ugly Second.(Emery Worldwide eliminates 900 positions and reduces fleet in restructuring plan)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... North American operation leads the way down to $25.3 million quarterly loss The second quarter couldn't have been uglier for Emery Worldwide. Before the $207.7 million in charges taken to pay for Emery's restructuring announced last...

Aircraft Stair Safety Probed.(FedEx Corp. worker Syed Hussein died due to staircase safety issue)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Following death of FedEx ramp worker, pilot union pushes for improvements The FedEx Pilots Association is pushing for safety improvements in the way aircraft stairs are staffed and maintained following the death of a ramp worker in...

Capital Cargo International.(files counter suit against Pegasus Aviation)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 23, 2001... Capital Cargo International has filed a counter suit against aircraft lessor Pegasus Aviation refuting Pegasus allegations in its $33 million suit against Capital. Pegasus, in its lawsuit, claims that Capital not only owes the company back...

Coyne Airways.(offers freight forwarders charter options to fill aircraft)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... Coyne Airways is looking to freight forwarders to fill its aircraft normally kept busy with dedicated charters. Putting a positive spin on a market that has suffered this year, Coyne is now offering a "risk sharing" charter option to freight...

Team Worldwide.(ISO 9001 certification awarded)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... Team Worldwide is now ISO 9001 certified. The Winnsboro, Texas-based forwarder started the quality management process in January and the certificate was awarded May 31.

Yellow Freight System.(introduces time-definite service in Mexico)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... Yellow Freight System has expanded its time-definite service, Exact Express, to Mexico. Yellow offers door-to-door, door-to-broker and door-to-airport service via air or ground depending on shipment urgency. Yellow's door-to-door service...

The FedEx Pilots Association.(delaying vote on proposed merger with the Air Line Pilots Association)(Brief Article)
July 23, 2001... The FedEx Pilots Association will delay its vote on whether to merge with the Air Line Pilots Association, pending disagreement on a few key issues. The independent union has been in discussion with ALPA for the last several months and had...

Saturday mail deliveries.
July 23, 2001... Saturday mail deliveries are safe for now, following a July 10 U.S. Postal Service board of governors meeting which decided against a five-day delivery schedule to cut costs. The board is continuing to look at the cost savings derived from...

Customers of Sir Speedy.
July 23, 2001... Customers of Sir Speedy and PIP Printing have been given special discounts for overnight shipping through a new partnership with Airborne Express. Similar to FedEx's deal with Kinko's and United Parcel Service's placement of drop boxes inside...

Going Public.
July 23, 2001... Do new BNSF intermodal initiatives ignore small and midsize IMCs? Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway recently began posting ramp-to-ramp intermodal rates in more than 200 of its lanes and posting the pricing on the Internet. But BNSF's...

Luring intermodal shippers.
July 23, 2001... Aiming to lure potential freight off the highways and on to the rails, the Transportation Intermediaries Association recently wrapped up its third quarterly shippers outreach meeting, in Memphis, Tenn. TIA, along with partners Burlington...

Canadian Changes.
July 23, 2001... Transportation law review expected to bring revision on merger oversight, but not rail access The Canadian Transportation Agency was expected to make public July 18 the results of its final report to Minister of Transport David...