Traffic World articles from July 2005

Traffic World archives from July 2005

Peak oil: diesel fuel prices offered shippers and carriers a mid-summer respite last week after the prices, and the transportation world's ability to absorb higher costs, appeared to reach a boiling point. After a nearly two-month run-up, the average U.S. price of diesel was about one-and-a-half cents less than it was the week before.
July 25, 2005... Since truckers burn about 665 million gallons of fuel, the decline meant truckers, and presumably shippers, saved more than $1 billion last week. While some may be wondering where to invest those savings, the operators on the West Coast...

Even as Congress.(Weekly Perspective)(highway bill)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Even as Congress moved toward final approval, finally, of a $286 billion, six-year highway bill last week, attention was turning to what happens next. States, highway planners and others are looking for the winners in this year's bill...

American Commercial Lines.(barge operator files for public offering)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... American Commercial Lines, the country's largest barge operator, filed for an initial public offering, cementing a recovery for a company that has restructured its finances and leadership. The Jeffersonville, Ind.-based carrier, which emerged...

Vancouver's strike waves.(truck driver's strike raises concern)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... With a truck driver strike at Canada's largest port stretching into its fifth week and little progress reported in negotiations, the impact of the strike is spreading and some say it may be felt long after the strike ends. The strike at...

Web-only extras available at www.trafficworld.com/extra.(THIS WEEK AT TRAFFIC WORLD ONLINE)
July 25, 2005... * The complete text of Department of Homeland Security Security Michael Chertoff's speech outlining changes to the deaprtment * Surface Transportation Board filings regarding Class I railroads' fall peak plans Daily news and information...

"With store and kids depending on us, late delivery was not an option.".(delivery services speed up)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Shippers and carriers had to work a bit of their own magic to meet the blistering demand for the latest "Harry Potter" book, which was released July 16. In the first 24 hours after its release, the book sold a record 6.9 million copies...

Whose driver shortage? As large truckload carriers struggle to fill cabs, smaller carriers see opportunity for growth in hiring drivers.(Cover Story)
July 25, 2005... As shippers brace for peak season delays, one trucking company's driver shortage may be another company's opportunity. The $64,000 question: Is there actually a driver shortage or simply a shortage of jobs potential drivers would want? A...

USPS debuts tracking: Postal Service readies online package-tracking system, the 'missing component' in its network.(Government & Regulation)
July 25, 2005... The U.S. Postal Service is taking the guesswork out of shipping by mail. Looking to close a long-standing gap with its private competiion, the USPS this month will start rolling out technology that will let customers track packages and other...

Public citizen seeks HOS investigation.(Government & Regulation)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Interest groups that oppose the current hours of service rule for truckers asked the Department of Transportation's inspector general to investigate a meeting where the head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration allegedly...

UPS, in the mail.(Government & Regulation)(United Parcel Service of America Inc to bid for US postal service's pact)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... UPS, long a heated competitor of the U.S. Postal Service, says it will bid to carry expedited postal traffic if the USPS opens its contract for bid once the enormous and lucrative pact with FedEx expires in 2008. "Yes, we do (plan to...

DHS planning to plan: freight security initiative has title, intentions but shippers are anxious for specifics.(Government & Regulation)(Department of Homeland Security)
July 25, 2005... Shippers looking for details of the secure freight initiative" announced as part of the Department of Homeland Security reorganization are finding there's not much to the initiative beyond the title. Homeland Security Secretary Michael...

Peters to leave FHWA: NHTSA chief resigns, Bush nominates two to fill other DHS jobs following Chertoff's reorganization.(Government & Regulation)(Federal Highway Administration)(National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration)
July 25, 2005... Transportation and homeland security officials are doing the job shuffle. Two Department of Transportation agency heads left, and there are new nominees for jobs at the Department of Homeland Security created by Homeland Security Secretary...

Portugal joins CSI.(Government & Regulation)(Lisbon port joins Container Security Initiative)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... The Container Security Initiative added Portugal to its participating countries. That means U.S.-bound cargo moving through the Lisbon port will be pre-screened and targeted for inspection if deemed suspicious. The Customs and Border...

Waterways see smooth passage: house approves funding for inland waterways, Senate action expected after August recess.(Government & Regulation)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... The inland waterways industry is shifting its attention to the Senate now that the House approved a bill that would provide record waterways funding to revamp the locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River system. The Senate, however,...

Grocery costs get spoiled: grocery manufacturers amend logistics strategies to keep lid on prices despite rising transport costs.(Logistics & Technology)
July 25, 2005... Here's a logistics-related math problem: soaring fuel prices have helped push transportation costs for members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association up 23 percent in the last three years yet food prices haven't changed much at all. In...

PWC buys GeoLogistics: now worldwide, Kuwaiti company eyes big growth, GeoLogistics management to remain in place.(Logistics & Technology)
July 25, 2005... Kuwait-based PWC Logistics took a big step in redrawing the world's logistics services map with its purchase of GeoLogistics, the large but long-troubled forwarder. The $454 million purchase ends GeoLogistics' attempt to revamp its...

NAL buys SIRVA.(Logistics & Technology)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Venture capital-backed NAL Worldwide will buy the business assets of SIRVA Logistics from North American Van Lines in a transaction expected to close by July 31. No terms of the deal were released by Lake Capital Partners, the Chicago...

DP Partners plans biggest park.(Logistics & Technology)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Industrial developer DP Partners will break ground this summer on a 360,000-square-foot distribution center in central New Jersey as the cornerstone of what will eventually be the company's largest business park. LogistiCenter at Logan,...

Seiple resigns at ProLogis.(Logistics & Technology)(Ted Antenucci replaces John W. Seiple Jr)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... John W. Seiple Jr. will resign as president and CEO of ProLogis's North American operations, a position he has held only since January, effective Dec. 31. The move will come upon completion of ProLogis's merger with Catellus Development,...

Apparel DC will be built to suit.(Logistics & Technology)
July 25, 2005... Industrial property developer The Allen Group will break ground in the next couple weeks on a $43 million, 817,000-square-foot distribution facility in Visalia, Calif., for one of the world's largest apparel companies. VF Corp.'s Outdoor...

AMB development worth $222 million.(Logistics & Technology)(AMB Property Corp to develop distribution facilities)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Industrial real estate owner and developer AMB Property went on a second-quarter expansion binge, starting 3.9 million square feet of new distribution facilities, worth an estimated $222 million. AMB bought the 559,000-square-foot AMB...

Polishing Emerald City: growing trade is putting new strains on Seattle's inbound logistics infrastructure and bringing new responses from freight transportation planners.(Special Report: LOGISTICS HUBS: SEATTLE)
July 25, 2005... Joyce Stevenson's drivers have one of the most spectacular views in the country when they are waiting at rail crossings, with Mount Rainier looming on one side and Puget Sound on the other. But that is not the view she is interested in. ...

Softer, but steady: slower demand doesn't mean downturn, truckload carriers say; J.B. Hunt, Landstar see strong growth.(Transportation: Trucking)
July 25, 2005... Largetruckload carriers noted a softening of business during the second quarter. But with shippers and carriers anxious to see which way the pricing-capacity pendulum is swinging, the truckers said no downturn is underway as they reported...

Estes stretches with purchase: buy of GI Trucking builds scale, scope; Richmond trucker foresees strong growth.(Transportation: Trucking)
July 25, 2005... Express Lines is taking a big step into new territory with its purchase of GI Trucking. The Richmond, Va.-based LTL carrier not only is adding geographic coverage but formally staking its claim as a large multiregional player, and moving...

Allied on the edge: bankruptcy threatens nation's largest car hauler, despite new loan agreements with creditors.(Transportation: Trucking)(Allied Holdings may soon declare bankruptcy)
July 25, 2005... Troubled autohauler Allied Holdings obtained a seventh amendment to loan agreements with its lenders, but said it cannot rule out declaring bankruptcy soon. The Decatur, Ga.-based company is the leading North American car hauler, with...

SCS's quarterly split: Saia soars, lifting SCS revenue 10 percent, but sister company Jevic hits a few potholes.(Transportation: Trucking)
July 25, 2005... Helped by revenue and tonnage increases at its Saia Motor Freight Line subsidiary, SCS Transportation reported second-quarter revenue of $271.9 million, up 10 percent from the same period last year, and net income of $5.8 million, a 6 percent...

Billings Transportation expands to Memphis.(Transportation: Trucking)(Billings Transportation Group)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... LTL carrier Billings Transportation Group, Lexington, N.C., opened a terminal in Memphis, Tenn. "The recent Memphis opening reflects a strategic move that is part of our overall plan to expand our geographical coverage and continue to...

Rails ready for peak: CEOs tell STB investment, planning have them in better position for a strong fall shipping season.(Transportation: Rail & Intermodal)(Surface Transportation Board)
July 25, 2005... Top executives North Ameriaca's biggest railroads predict another strong peak season but are confident they're better equipped to handle it than they were a year ago. In fall-peak planning strategies submitted to the Surface...

Gross-border booster: Tex-Mex Railroad will get $50 million loan from federal government to upgrade track, yards.(Transportation: Rail & Intermodal)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... A push to move morecross-border freight on rail received a nudge from the federal government when it awarded the Texas Mexican Railway a $50 million loan to overhaul track and increase train speeds. The Federal Railroad Administration...

Taking over trailers: 3PL cites railroads' decision to exit trailer management as a reason why it got in.(Transportation: Rail & Intermodal)(General Freight Services)(Vermont Railway)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... General Freight Services is entering the trailer fleet management business to ensure it has enough capacity in place to handle its fall peak shipping requirements. The Atlanta-based 3PL is leasing "several hundred" 53-foot rail trailers...

FedEx follows Asia shifts: move to Guangzho hub will close Subic Bay, region's economy, trade tilting toward China.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)
July 25, 2005... Barely more than a year after the Philippines' role in global supply chains looked secure after FedEx Express extended its lease at Subic Bay, the China juggernaut hit. FedEx showed dramatic evidence of the impact China's rapid trading...

Portals seeking 'critical mass': addition of American, Continental seen boosting e-bookings through portal in United States this year.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)(Cargo Portal Services)
July 25, 2005... The addition of Continental Airlines and American Airlines to online booking portal Cargo Portal Services should help the portal gain the "critical mass" it needs to increase online bookings this year. Adding the two carriers is...

Emirates delivers freighters.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)(Emirates SkyCargo modifies its planes)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Emirates SkyCargo took delivery of the first of three converted A310-300 freighters and said it will use the planes on regional routes out of its Bubai base. The twin-engine widebody is the first owned freighter for Emirates, which has...

China Cargo adds freighters.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)(China Cargo Airlines acquires two aircrafts)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... China Cargo Airlines is set to add its first 747-400 extended-range freighters, adding widebody capacity to the country as forwarders and shippers rush to keep up with the country's fast-growing trade demand. The airline, confirming an...

Pilots, carriers see turbulence: UPS pilots get highlights of latest company offer, FedEx has 'facilitator' in move to Washington.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)
July 25, 2005... UPS pilots' union ratcheted up the pressure on the carrier even as the talks were recessed, while FedEx gears up for another round of talks in Washington next month. The Independent Pilots Association mailed its 2,500 UPS pilots...

Southwest bellies blossom.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)(Southwest Airlines reports profits)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Southwest Airlines appears to be on pace for one of the best cargo years in its history even amid signs of an airline industry slowdown. The Dallas-based carrier reported $33 million in operating revenue from freight in the second...

Lufthansa adds Nagoya.(Transportation: Air & Expedited)(Lufthansa Cargo AG to add freight flights)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Lufthansa Cargo will use an agreement with its WOW alliance partner Japan Airlines to expand service in Japan with freighter flights to the new airport at Nagoya. The carrier will begin operating the twice-weekly MD-11 flights with 95...

Delays spur peak concerns: sporadic rail, port backups on East, West Coasts worry shippers as peak season gets underway.(Transportation: Maritime)
July 25, 2005... For H.E.B., the import peak season is off to a rough start. The San Antonio-based food retailer says its containers have been delayed for five days or more on the Union Pacific Railroad system. Paul Mulhern, H.E.B.'s corporate traffic...

Computer glitch snarled terminal traffic.(Transportation: Maritime)(International Transportation Services Terminal)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... It wasn't a shortage of berths, labor or rail equipment that triggered congestion at the International Transportation Services Terminal in Long Beach, Calif., over the July 8 weekend. Instead, it was a computer upgrade intended to speed boxes...

ILA fights back: attorney rips civil racketeering lawsuit against ILA, says government is ignoring the union's reforms.(Transportation: Maritime)(International Longshoremen's Association)
July 25, 2005... A lawyer for the International Longshoremen's Association blasted a civil racketeering lawsuit to oust top ILA readers and appoint a trustee to rid the union of organized crime, calling it the Justice Department's "nuclear option." ...

Hanjin freight rate index up in May.(Transportation: Maritime)(Hanjin Shipping Company Ltd)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Hanjin Shipping, Asia's fourth-largest container line, says its freight rate index rose in May, helped by growing demand in the United States and Europe for products made in China and other Asian countries. The index, calculated by...

Mitsubishi launches second ship for Hatsu.(Transportation: Maritime)(Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launches Hatsu Sigma)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched the Hatsu Sigma, the second in a series of 107,024-TEU S-type container vessels the shipyard is building for the Evergreen Group. The vessel will be operated by London-headquartered Hatsu Marine. ...

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.(Suzanne M. Te Beau is the chief counsel)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta appointed Suzanne M. Te Beau chief counsel for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Te Beau was a DOT policy adviser on safety, hazardous materials, transit, rail and agency...

Cryogenic Transportation.(Vernon R. Ingham is president of gas company)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Cryogenic Transportation, Easton, Pa., named Vernon R. Ingham president and chief operating officer of the gas industry transport specialist. Ingham was director of fleet and logistics for Air Liquide's East Coast industrial gas activities.

Matson Navigation.(employees promoted)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Matson Navigation, Oakland, Calif., promoted Matt Cox, who has been chief financial officer since 2001, to executive vice president and chief operating officer. Cox is a 20-year transport veteran who spent 12 years at APL before joining...

Ward Trucking.(Ed Slater is promoted to service center manager )(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Ward Trucking, Altoona, Pa., promoted Ed Slater to service center manager in Pittsburgh. A 20-year company veteran, Slater had been operations manager at the regional LTL carrier's Pittsburgh center.

Hawaiian Airlines.(Rick Fall is senior director of cargo sales )(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Hawaiian Airlines named Rick Fall, a 34-year airline industry veteran, senior director of cargo sales and service. Fall had been Asia-Pacific cargo sales director for Continental Airlines for seven years and worked in passenger sales before...

Associated Global Systems.(Anthony Degani is district service manager)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Associated Global Systems named Anthony Degani district service manager in Chicago. Degani had been a distribution manager at Eagle Global Logistics and earlier worked in trucking, first for Roadway Express, then at Preston Trucking and Towne...

National Xpress Logistics.( Maureen Flynn is vice president of sales)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... National Xpress Logistics, Glenside, Pa., named Maureen Flynn vice president of sales. A 20-year sales and marketing veteran, she had been vice president of marketing, specializing in affinity marketing, at MBNA America Bank.

Exel.(Chuck Bushell is vice president )(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Exel named Chuck Bushell vice president of sales for the Midwest/Northeast United States for the global logistics provider. He had been vice president of national accounts for Pacer Global Logistics.

Ryder System.(Charles R. Patton is the vice president)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Ryder System, Miami named Charles R. Patton vice president for compensation and benefits. He was most recently at Office Depot as a vice president for human resources.

Portland's Horowitz seeks containers.(Barry Horowitz is general manager of Port of Portland )(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Who better to help the Port of Portland win back container trade than a logistics veteran who has spent a significant part of his career moving goods through the Oregon port for one of the country's largest shippers? The port tabbed...

TW calendar.(Calendar)
July 25, 2005... AUGUST 2. Highway Transportation Committee Meeting (The National Industrial Transportation League), Toledo, Ohio. (703) 524-5011 or www.nitl.org. 3. Railroad Transportation Committee Meeting (The National Industrial Transportation...

Logistics seminars & courses.(Calendar)
July 25, 2005... JULY 26-27. Introduction for Beginners in Global Logistics (California State University), Long Beach, Calif. (562) 296-1170 or www.uces.csulb.edu/citt. 27. The Secrets of Negotiating Freight Rates (NEXCO), New York City. Contact...

DOE diesel price index.(Update)(Illustration)
July 25, 2005... DOE Diesel Price Index National & Regional Averages: July 18, 2005 United States $2.392 East Coast $2.412 Midwest $2.361 Gulf Coast $2.331 Rocky Mountain $2.430 West Coast...

Assigning liability for blocking, bracing.(Q & A)
July 25, 2005... Q I Who is responsible for truckload blocking and bracing--the carrier or the warehouse that loaded the trailer? The situation is that 14 boxes were loaded into a trailer. They showed up at destination with signs of a load shift. The...

Secure.(The BackPage)(Michael Chertoff 's security plan for air travelers)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... To anyone who travels to Washington, the most important part of the security plan set out by Homeland Security Secretary Michael "I'm Not Tom Ridge" Chertoff was that the 30-minute rule at Reagan National Airport was dropped. That rule...

Insecure.(The BackPage)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Headline in a recent edition of The Onion, the satirical newspaper--"Report: Unreleased Harry Potter Book More Secure Than U.S. Trains."

Railing.(The BackPage)(Amtrak's food and beverage service receives funding from General Accounting Office )(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... The General Accounting Office is offering new material for those following what we like to call the Congressional Muffin Caucus--legislators concerned with Amtrak's food and beverage service. A July 11 letter from GAO notes what Amtrak calls...

Hold.(The BackPage)(DHL Danzas Air & Ocean is in U.S. C-TPAT program and the Canadian PIP programs)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... DHL Danzas proudly announces that it's in the U.S. C-TPAT program and the Canadian PIP program on its telephone hold message. It's enough to make us long for the days of good old elevator music.

Delivered.(The BackPage)(parcel delivery)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... In an extremely unscientific test of parcel delivery, we received packages the same recent week from the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS (sorry DHL). Two of the parcels arrived before the expected delivery dates. The third? The delivery...

Moo.(The BackPage)(cow struck near Oxford station)(Brief Article)
July 25, 2005... Tough train going in the United Kingdom, where a passenger train recently struck a cow a few miles from the Oxford station. Now, just imagine if that cow had been on a track in front of a train carrying hazardous materials within, say, two...

Secure freight.(Editorial)(Editorial)
July 18, 2005... In Iooking to spin the reorganization of the Department of Homeland Security last week before the plan was released, one department official told a newspaper that the effort would not merely "rearrange the deck chairs."' That would be...

Diesel prices.(Weekly Perspective)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Diesel prices continue a record-breaking climb, with prices hitting a fresh record of $2.408 a gallon for the week ending July 11. Prices jumped 6 cents last week, as diesel prices hit a record for the third week in a row as oil prices...

Truck drivers.(Weekly Perspective)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Truck drivers at the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex are being urged to stage a oneday work stoppage July 23 to protest new overnight shifts under the PierPass program. Reuters cited an unsigned leaflet, saying drivers are angered...

Reeling in retail.(This Week)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Retailers from WaI-Mart to Nerdstrom enjoyed a busy and profitable June, clearing out summer inventory in arder to make way for an influx of fall merchandise. And judging by the National Retail Federation's demand outloek, it's going to...

The channel will not be deep enough for post-Panamax vessels.(This Week)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... The gap between the current state of Oregon's Port of Portland and its future as an international trade gateway is three feet. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished the first seven miles of a 106-mile, $150.05 million project to...

Remaking security under fire: London attack prompts new strategies, priorities in U.S. security efforts.(Cover Story)
July 18, 2005... The shock waves from the terror bombing of London's transit system are reverberating across Washington, raising new security fears just as Congress and regulators prepare to set new anti-terror strategies and priorities. The bombings...

Mineta's Alaskan model: Transportation Secretary sees Alaska Railroad as model for Amtrak; others say comparison is unfair.(Government & Regulation)
July 18, 2005... The Alaska Railroad calls freight the "bread and butter" of its operations, has a passenger base anchored by cruise ships and works to keep moose off its tracks in the winter. Amtrak carries only passengers, after terminating its mail and...

Shipper reps lambaste liability: Attorney Augello says FMCSA plan is misguided, eliminating BMC-32 would cost shippers dearly.(Government & Regulation)(Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
July 18, 2005... Attorneys representing shippers are gearing up to fight a proposal that would end mandatory minimum insurance coverage for truckers, arguing that the only thing certain about potential savings is that they will come at the expense of the...

Shippers plea, confidentially: groups seek expanded use of private contracts to cover NVO groups in maritime agreements.(Government & Regulation)
July 18, 2005... Shippers and ocean forwarders who won confidential contracting want the Federal Maritime Commission to expand the rights in the maritime world. The National Industrial Transportation League led several groups and companies in asking the...

Small shippers, big plans: 'new shippers' pose challenges for international 3PLs as technology helps smaller companies go global.(Logistics Service Providers)
July 18, 2005... Third-party logistics providers face new challenges as accelerating globalization draws more and smaller businesses into the world economy. The Internet and related telecommunications technologies laid the groundwork that enables a new...

Physik rolls out SSA ERP systems.(SSA Global Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Precision measuring technology vendor Physik Instrumente of Germany will deploy SSA Global's extended enterprise resource planning system to consolidate applications on one information infrastructure platform. In addition to SSA's ERP...

Pilot marketing offers 'Freightspeak'.(Pilot Marketing Services )(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... London-based freight specialist Pilot Marketing Services launched a new copywriting and translation service to improve companies' English language presentations. "Freightspeak" claims it will translate any language into English, or...

MPI Label partners in Mexico.(MPI Label Systems partners with Wal Mart Stores Inc, and Ego Mexico to distribute RFID equipment)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... In its first foray outside the United States, MPI Label Systems partnered with two Mexican distributors to sell its radio frequency identification technologies in Latin America. "With Wal-Mart making it mandatory for even more of its...

Delivery notice system saves time.(SEKO Air Freight Inc. and Prairie Systems Inc. developed a technology to automate telecommunication)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Seko and Prairie Systems' new text-to-speech automated delivery notification system aims to take some of the stress off customer service personnel calling customers about booked shipments and deliveries. "By providing a tool that makes...

Rock-It buys Rogers Worldwide.(Rock-it Cargo USA Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... Project-oriented freight logistics company Rock-It Cargo USA boosted its position in the global trade fair and exhibitions business by acquiring shipping and customs broker Rogers Worldwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but...

Knowledge is power: new technology helps carriers improve pricing models; shippers must analyze date before negotiating contracts.(Special Report: LOGISTICS: NEGOTIATING CONTRACTS)
July 18, 2005... Today's small package contracts are more complicated and difficult to analyze than ever before. This has greatly affected all modes of transportation for both commercial and residential business. Before we get into the biggest issues...

Negotiating strategic alliances: how to adjust your approach when bargaining with a partner who's key to your strategy.(Special Report: LOGISTICS: NEGOTIATING CONTRACTS)
July 18, 2005... Some business partnerships are more important than others. This is especially true in in supply chains, where producers of key components can be irreplaceable Consider the relationship between two hypothetical companies, Brattlebury,...

Deliver today, not tomorrow: growing industrial demand for same-day distribution drives revenue growth for Dallas-based Dynamex.(Transportation: Trucking)
July 18, 2005... Next-day delivery service may be the hottest thing in trucking, but for some freight, tomorrow isn't soon enough. Same-day deliverer Dynamex is beefing up its sales force to capitalize on what it sees as a "large opportunity"--growing...

Reddaway workers ratify contract: new USF Reddaway-Teamsters pact includes pay increases, guarantees for union employees.(USF Reddaway negotiations with International Brotherhood of Teamsters)
July 18, 2005... Teamsters at USF Reddaway ratified a four-year contract with the western regional LTL carrier, although not all were pleased with the agreement. The Teamsters said workers by a vote of 347 to 174 approved a contract that includes annual...

Saia, Jevic wage 2Q struggle with costs, volume.(Saia Motor Freight Line Inc.and Jevic Transportation Inc. sales effect the ranking of SCS Transportation )
July 18, 2005... Higher-than-expected costs at Saia Motor Freight Line and lower-than-hoped volume at Jevic Transportation hurt SCS Transportation in the second quarter. Saia, an LTL carrier based in Duluth, Ga., was weighed down by $2.5 million in...

Next-day's fast start at yellow.(Yellow Transportation Inc. is growing fastly)
July 18, 2005... Some six months after it was launched, Yellow Transportation's next-day delivery service is the company's fastest growing business segment. "It's doing very well. It's slightly exceeded my expectations," said James L Welch, Yellow...

New England's N&B Express closes.(Northampton & Boston Express)(Brief Article)
July 18, 2005... The Northeast reports another trucking casualty. Deerfield, Mass.-based LTL carrier N&B Express reportedly closed, with the loss of more than 70 jobs. Executives of the company, founded in 1928 as Northampton & Boston Express, could...