Traffic World articles from May 2003

Traffic World archives from May 2003

Better late than never. (Editorial).(Editorial)
May 5, 2003... The maritime industry made great strides at West Coast ports last week when several rulings from an arbitrator cleared the way for old technology to be introduced into the job of handling cargo on the docks. Yes, I said "old technology."...

Too good to be true: ads selling software to collect refunds from FedEx, UPS suggest riches--but there are a few hitches. (Up Front).
May 5, 2003... Think you're going to get rich collecting FedEx and United Parcel Service refunds? E-mails imploring you to buy software to do just that have been arriving in in-boxes in recent weeks. But the companies whose refunds takers are supposed to...

Hitting a home run: industry applauds new hours-of-service regs; Teamsters' Hoffa, OOIDA blast government. (Washington).
May 5, 2003... The first significant rewrite of truck driver hours-of-service regulations in 64 years turns out to be an industry-friendly, manageable tweak of operations for carriers, according to many trucking officials. Not everyone was happy, however....

Public-private partnerships: and a global approach are the recommended tactics for securing the safety of cargo and cargo carriers. (Washington).
May 5, 2003... Securing the supply chain is important to the future of commerce and should be the responsibility of both the private sector and government, business leaders at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce conference agreed. In the time since the Sept. 11...

Trade fissures: globalization continues but U.S.-Europe tensions, fear of SARS complicate international trade. (Logistics).
May 5, 2003... The invasion of Iraq may be over militarily but the hostilities are far from finished. That means more uncertainty for companies already grappling with the growing complexity of international trade. These are busy times for corporate...

Global supply-chain group Exel will handle a range of ground-based and freight management services for medical equipment supplier Bayer Diagnostics. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Global supply-chain group Exel will handle a range of ground-based and freight management services for medical equipment supplier Bayer Diagnostics, part of the Bayer AG group. The 3PL will manage air freight movements from the United States...

Technology Logistics Systems Inc. (Briefs).(to perform global service logistics operations for the D.W. Morgan Co.)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Technology Logistics Systems Inc. based in Santa Clara, Calif., will perform global service logistics operations for the D.W. Morgan Co. Morgan pioneered the concept of "whole-process management" for the shipping industry. Under this model,...

Made to measure: world's largest apparel maker using NextLinx software to ease global trade.(VP Corp)
May 5, 2003... The world's largest apparel company, VP Corp., is implementing NextLinx global trade management software to help it handle its international business. The project reflects how large companies are centralizing trade compliance and aligning this...

Canada, U.S. sign memorandum.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Canada and the United States have signed an agreement on the exchange of trade information that helps to harmonize respective customs procedures and improve border security. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Commissioner Rob Wright and U.S....

AFCAP gets USAID contract: Air Force contractor RMS to handle logistics for U.S. reconstruction efforts in Iraq.(Readiness Management Support L.C.)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The U.S. Agency for International Development awarded its Iraqi reconstruction logistics contract to the Air Force Contract Augmentation Program, which allows the military and federal and state agencies to call on private companies to provide...

The Bekins Co. (Briefs).(to expand HomeDirectUSA national home delivery service)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The Bekins Co., the Chicago-based transportation and distribution services company, will expand its HomeDirectUSA national home delivery service. The business has achieved four years of double-digit growth and the company wants to more...

Zeeland, Mich.-based third-party provider Total Logistic Control won a multiyear contract from American Italian Pasta Co. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Zeeland, Mich.-based third-party provider Total Logistic Control won a multiyear contract from American Italian Pasta Co. to handle the company's Midwest distribution for brands such as Mrs. Grass, Mueller and Golden Grain. From its Munster,...

The Overseas Private Investment Corp. approved up to $200 million in financing for the construction of an international airport in Ecuador. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The Overseas Private Investment Corp. approved up to $200 million in financing for the construction of an international airport in Ecuador. The new facility will enable the country to move one of its two main airports out of the center of Quito...

Under the gun: some software companies are weathering the storm, others may not; some predict more consolidations. (Technology).
May 5, 2003... The logistics industry still is taking a beating from the dramatic dotcom highs and lows of the past few years. Some companies are weathering the storm but others may not last. For example, Arzoon, a transportation and international trade...

Online permits: one-stop website for multistate permits for special loads speeds, eases process. (Technology).(PermitWizard Online from ChoicePoint)
May 5, 2003... Companies can obtain multiple state permits for oversize, overweight and specialized loads from one website, www.permitwizard.com. Nashville-based Vital Chek Network, a subsidiary of Alpharetta, Ga.-based Choice-Point, released its web-based...

RFID grew in 2002: global market for RFID systems reached $965 million, hardware sales $89 million. (Technology).(radio frequency identification hardware )(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Sales of radio frequency identification hardware to support supply-chain management applications reached nearly $89 million in 2002, with compounded annual growth estimated at slightly more than 38 percent through 2007, according to a report...

Semiconductor specialty materials and services provider ATMI is live with ClearOrbit's Gemini Series software. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Semiconductor specialty materials and services provider ATMI is live with ClearOrbit's Gemini Series software. The software is being used to manage ATMI's receiving, inventory and shipping processes at manufacturing and distribution facilities...

Third-party logistics provider Maersk Logistics. (Briefs).(uses Vizional applications)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Third-party logistics provider Maersk Logistics will use applications from Vizional to power Maersk Logistics' supply-chain management visibility tool. Maersk will use Vizional's Adaptive Planning and Execution applications to give its clients...

J.D. Edwards & Co. (Briefs).(new Supply Chain Business Modeler)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Denver-based J.D. Edwards & Co. released a new business modeling tool, Supply Chain Business Modeler, for manufacturers and distributors. The tool consolidates data across different applications into a single data warehouse for planning, order...

MicroAnalytics released version 2.1 of its OptiSite Windows Site Location Software. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Arlington, Va.-based MicroAnalytics released version 2.1 of its OptiSite Windows Site Location Software, a distribution planning and site location modeling tool. OptiSite's software helps determine the optimum number and location of...

RedPrairie released Dock Door Scheduler, a web-based portal for managing inbound and outbound dock door activities. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... RedPrairie released Dock Door Scheduler, a web-based portal for managing inbound and outbound dock door activities. The application matches and schedules loads and helps logistics managers avoid congestion and achieve a more continuous flow of...

Food and agricultural cooperative Land O'Lakes will use GLog's transportation management software. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Food and agricultural cooperative Land O'Lakes will use GLog's transportation management software, Global Command and Control Center, to manage inbound and outbound freight operations for its Agricultural Services business. Land O'Lakes will...

The new version of Clippership, a multi-carrier shipping application that compares shipping costs across carriers and generates manifests. (Briefs).(DHL using Kewill Solutions solutions software)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The new version of Clippership, a multi-carrier shipping application that compares shipping costs across carriers and generates manifests, labels and reports, now supports DHL's new domestic services, DHL Ground and USA 2nd Day. Clippership...

Quaker Chemical Corp. (Briefs).(using ChemLogix LLC's rate benchmarking and negotiating service)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Quaker Chemical Corp., developer, producer and marketer of custom-formulated chemical specialty products, reduced its less-than-truckload shipping costs by using ChemLogix LLC's rate benchmarking and negotiating service. ChemLogix provides...

Reefer marketing: UP gears up for growth, competition in perishables market with purchase of 500 new reefer units. (Rail & Intermodal).(Union Pacific Railroad)
May 5, 2003... Increased reliability and double-digit growth in its Express Lane perishables program has prompted Union Pacific Railroad to increase the size of its refrigerated boxcar fleet by 500, serving to bolster its commitment to its transcontinental...

On message: shippers asked for consensus on how small rate cases should be brought and argued at the STB.(Surface Transportation Board)
May 5, 2003... A recent Surface Transportation Board hearing on small rate case procedures revealed that shippers may need to hone their message if they hope to make use of the guidelines that determine how to apply for and argue such a case. STB...

Railroads reject trust fund: bill to create fund for infrastructure improvement would establish sales tax on new rail cars.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The railroad industry is opposing legislation recently introduced by Rep. William Lipinski, D-Ill., to create a new rail trust fund to finance improvements to rail infrastructure, claiming it would give the government -- not the railroads --...

Retooling the gateway: increasing customer visibility on the TRRA could help St. Louis compete as gateway between East and West. (Special Report: Rail Shipper Solutions).(Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis)
May 5, 2003... For the first time in over 100 years of operation, the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis has begun offering its customers complete visibility of their cars from origin to destination. TRRA officials anticipate that the upgrade in...

Next-day, unionized: Yellow Transportation plans pilot program to test Teamsters' 'flexibility' on work rules. (Trucking).
May 5, 2003... Shippers could be a major beneficiary if a new venture planned by a major unionized LTL carrier passes muster. Yellow Transportation has confirmed plans to launch a pilot program this year to test the feasibility of offering a next-day...

America's top truckers: America's Road Team to deliver safety message in nationwide driver image-building effort.
May 5, 2003... The American Trucking Associations has chosen the new captains of its America's Road Team, a group of 13 accident-free million-mile professional truck drivers who represent the trucking industry and deliver its highway safety message to the...

TL earnings rise: despite high fuel costs, truckload carriers deliver respectable first-quarter revenue. (Trucking).
May 5, 2003... J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Lowell, Ark., the nation's third-largest truckload carrier, reported first-quarter earnings jumped to $11.2 million on revenue of $571 million, compared with $4.9 million on $510 million revenue in the year-ago...

DHL Airways' new owner? At attorney-heavy DOT prehearing, DHL Airways says new CEO Dasburg will buy company. (Air & Express).
May 5, 2003... An already lively prehearing conference at the Department of Transportation headquarters got even livelier when a DHL Airways attorney announced that a group led by new DHL Airways CEO John Dasburg plans to purchase some or all of the company....

EADS in America: Airbus parent launches North America unit aiming to outlast anti-European feelings in U.S. (Air & Express).
May 5, 2003... Brushing aside the anti-European sentiment that has permeated the United States in recent weeks, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. is working to raise its North American profile. Late last month, the company launched EADS North...

USPS awards 18 contracts: accountability, scanning requirements mean airlines will have to invest in new technology.
May 5, 2003... The U.S. Postal Service has announced its long-awaited contracts for commercial airlines. The 18 new contracts represent a drastic departure from the way the Postal Service has done business with airlines for decades. "It replaces something...

Tracking security: Smart and Secure Tradelanes network expanding in China, Americas, Europe. (Maritime).(Strategic Council on Security Technology's network)
May 5, 2003... The Smart and Secure Tradelanes network is growing, gaining new members and expanding to new ports in China, the Americas and Europe. Hong Kong-based China Merchants Holdings, a container terminal operator in Hong Kong and mainland China,...

Network leveraging: new FedEx ocean service bypasses distribution centers to compete with traditional ocean carriers. (Maritime).
May 5, 2003... FedEx Corp. now is offering a combination ocean-ground service that provides end-to-end visibility between Asia and the United States by leveraging its FedEx Freight, FedEx Ground and FedEx Trade Networks. FedEx claims that the new service,...

Operadora Portuaria de Manzanillo. (Briefs).(to use Tideworks' terminal management software )(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Operadora Portuaria de Manzanillo, the largest container terminal on the Pacific coast of Mexico, will use Tideworks' terminal management software products, Mainsail Terminal Management System and Spinnaker Planning Management System. The...

INTTRA released INTTRA-Reports. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... INTTRA released INTTRA-Reports, an online reporting tool. INTTRA-registered shippers, forwarders, consignees and carriers can access INTTRA's Industry Data Warehouse of ocean carrier information online using INTTRA-Reports. INTTRA-Reports...

China Southern Airline. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... China Southern Airline promoted Jeff Ruffolo to the position of senior advisor for international public relations.

Sea Star Line. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Sea Star Line named Carl Fox senior vice president of customer service, information technology and systems implementation.

Ryder System. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Ryder System appointed Greg Green senior vice president of strategic planning and development.

The Truck Rental and Leasing Association. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The Truck Rental and Leasing Association elected Terry Young, president and chief executive officer of Advantage Truck Leasing, its new chairman. In addition, the TRALA board of directors elected the following members as officers: Chris Culley,...

Econocaribe. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Econocaribe appointed Enrique Coello Puerto Rico terminal manager.

Menlo Worldwide Trade Services. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Menlo Worldwide Trade Services named Lori Goldberg senior manager of trade relations.

Bosch Rexroth Corp. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Bosch Rexroth Corp. appointed Steve D. Roberts senior vice president of corporate finance. Ernst Iseli was named vice president and general manager of the company's Linear Motion and Assemble Technologies unit, and Bill Demuth was named...

The Champion Logistics Group. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The Champion Logistics Group named Brian Hampton Southeastern regional manager, based in Atlanta.

Hilldrup Moving and Storage. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Hilldrup Moving and Storage named Joe Coffman director of sales.

Pilot Air Freight. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Pilot Air Freight appointed Marianne Challis district manager for its Sacramento, Calif., operations.

CP Ships Ltd. (People Watch).(International Council of Containership Operators elects Ray Miles as chairman)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Ray Miles, chief executive officer of CP Ships Ltd. was elected chairman of the International Council of Containership Operators, known informally as Box Club.

U-Freight, an international freight and logistics group. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... U-Freight, an international freight and logistics group, announced the following appointment and new hires: Richard (Rick) Keller general manager, Europe, based in Paris; Jason Lai, air freight manager, U-Freight (Guangzhou) Ltd., the company's...

Robert B. Spilling, president and chief executive officer of ISS-RioMar. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Robert B. Spilling, president and chief executive officer of ISS-RioMar and chairman of RioGroup, was elected president of the Association of Ship Brokers & Agents (U.S.A.) Inc.

Aeronet Worldwide. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Aeronet Worldwide announced the appointment of Evan Hodge as general manager for the Orange County terminal in Santa Ana, Calif.

SATO America. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... SATO America appointed Andrew Wright western regional sales manager.

CSX World Terminals LLC. (People Watch).(Robert Walker appointed vice president)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... CSX World Terminals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CSX Corp., announced the appointment of Robert Walker as vice president for CSX World Terminals in South Korea.

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young U.S. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Cap Gemini Ernst & Young U.S. named Paul Matthews director of supply chain for North America, based in Newton, Maine. Matthews will be responsible for managing the U.S., Mexico and Canada supply-chain practice.

FedEx Freight Corp. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... FedEx Freight Corp., a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., announced the following appointments: John Weston, executive vice president of sales and marketing, FedEx Freight East; Terry Bennett, vice president of sales, FedEx Freight West; Mike Moss,...

Kuehne & Nagel. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Kuehne & Nagel announced that Jim Martin of Martin and Associates will lead its media relations efforts. Jacqueline Russo has joined as vice president of fairs and exhibitions, KN USA, based in Chicago.

Lufthansa Cargo AG. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Lufthansa Cargo AG named Georg Midunsky project manager and managing director-elect of Yellow Cargo, a project Lufthansa launched to speed the takeover of cargo functions from other passenger airlines.

MSM & Associates Consulting. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Jack Bradley was appointed president and partner for MSM & Associates Consulting.

Management Dynamics. (People Watch).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Management Dynamics appointed Albert Cook director of sales operations and Tom Wyville director of mid-Atlantic sales.

DOE Diesel Price Index. (Update).(Illustration)
May 5, 2003... Update DOE Diesel Price Index (cents per gallon) National Average -- 150.8 April 28, 2003 Regional Prices for Monday, April 28 REGION 1 156.5 2 148.8 3 141.9 4 153.8 5 156.0 ...

Calendar.(Calendar)
May 5, 2003... May 3-7. Organization Management Workshop (International Bridges, Tunnel and Turnpike Assoc.), Oklahoma City. (202) 659-4620 orwww.ibtta.org. 4-6. Loss Prevention Conference 2003 Spring Meeting: Tackling Freight Loss and Damage Head...

Overcharges: too late? (Q&A).
May 5, 2003... Q: My group is conducting an intensive post-audit. We have found in some cases that our carriers did not provide for our standard discount percentage. My team has filed overcharge claims only to be denied due to a time limit of 180 days...

Omens. (The Back Page).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... We know things are bad in the job market just about everywhere, but we can't help but notice that the speaker at a Council of Logistics Management Washington area session on "Career Trends in the Supply Chain" is named Lyn Failing.

Equality. (The Back Page).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... E. Han Kim, professor of finance at the University of Michigan Business School, explained the predicament for airlines. "Everything being equal, I would say, yes, the airlines would come back, but everything is not equal," he said. "SARS is...

Screened. (The Back Page).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The Transportation Security Administration jumped into action last month to quell a brawl at a security checkpoint at Baltimore-Washington International. Two men were handcuffed and hauled away after fighting with each other and with police...

Screened II. (The Back Page).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Terrible news about those BWI baggage screeners. We hear Congress is considering a new agency to ensure security among its security forces, the Transportation Security Administration Security Administration. It'll be part of the Department of...

Synchronize your exports: UPS offers business solutions to ship with ease. (Paid Advertisement).
May 12, 2003... International shipping is obviously one of most difficult issues for businesses in a global economy. UPS has continually worked to provide innovative technology that makes global transportation easier than ever. UPS World Ease [SM] is one of...

Letters.(using financial institutions for freight payment; member of board of American Society of Transportation & Logistics)(Letter to the Editor)
May 12, 2003... Standing in the Gap It was fascinating to read Mr. Pickering's April 21 letter to the editor and his assertion that "your desire for regulation would clearly be met if only financial institutions were used" for freight payment. In fact,...

More rules. .(effects of 9/11 continue to be felt)(Editorial)
May 12, 2003... The effect of Sept. 11 still echoes across the country. The Food and Drug Administration last week issued the last two of four proposed safety rulemakings meant to protect the nation's food supply from terrorists. As usual these new...

Your prints, please: TSA, DOT begin background checks on 3.5 million hazmat drivers; truckers want new rules clarified. (Up Front).
May 12, 2003... Truck drivers who haul hazardous cargoes are going to have to get their fingers dirty to prove that their records are clean. New regulations issued by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Transportation require the...

The toll twist: organizations across the political spectrum say some toll variation is needed to fund highways. (Washington).
May 12, 2003... Voluntary toll lanes offer a highway financing alternative that could help address burgeoning congestion problems in urban and metropolitan areas, witnesses told a hearing of the congressional Joint Economic Committee. Committee Chairman...

Rein in the 'roques': legitimate movers slam solution to rid industry of 'scam' operators. (Washington).
May 12, 2003... Memorial Day traditionally opens the peak moving season, with out six of 10 moves performed between the end of May and Labor Day. That's good news for the burgeoning "rogue" or "scam" movers, who are gearing up for another peak season. The...

Search for answers: recommendations for air cargo security being drafted in secret by 14-year-old advisory panel. (Washington).
May 12, 2003... An advisory panel working behind closed doors is drafting new federal recommendations for air cargo security. The group is a subset of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, an advisory group to the Transportation Security...

Freight on the block: new online auction processes help transport buyers find options they need. (Logistics).
May 12, 2003... In deregulated markets buyers have more choice, but in order to exercise that choice they must sift through a wide array of products. So it is in transportation, where buyers are looking to new online auction formats to help them select the...

Busy standards: nearly 1 million firms in 133 countries, including Burger King in the U.S., use e-business standards. (Logistics).
May 12, 2003... Standards organizations are increasing their efforts to promulgate the use of e-business standards as tools for making supply chains more efficient. EAN International, the global supply-chain information management standards body, said it...

Mixed results: Ryder 1Q earnings up in bad economy, supply-chain unit posts profit; K&N 'stable'.(Ryder System Inc.; Kuehne & Nagel )
May 12, 2003... Ryder System Inc.'s first-quarter performance shows signs of sustained profitability for logistics tempered by the challenge of a weak U.S. economy, according to analysts James Valentine and Michael Manelli at equity research firm Morgan...

The U.S. Agency for International Development. (Briefs).(signs deal with SkyLink Air and Logistics Support )(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... The U.S. Agency for International Development chose SkyLink Air and Logistics Support (USA), New York, to reopen and manage three commercial airports in Iraq as part of its Iraqi reconstruction program. The contract, worth an initial $2.5...

Canada and the United States. (Briefs).(FAST and NEXUS programs to expand )(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Canada and the United States are expanding FAST and NEXUS, two programs that help keep traffic flowing securely and efficiently across the Canada-U.S. border. FAST, or Free and Secure Trade, allows commercial shipments to clear customs faster...

PBB Global Logistics. (Briefs).(takes part in Canada Customs' Partners in Protection program)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... PBB Global Logistics, Buffalo, N.Y, has joined Canada Customs' Partners in Protection program -- the equivalent of the U.S. Customs Service's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. PBB will work closely with Canada Customs to enhance...

Unilever, ProLogis and GENCO Distribution System. (Briefs).(new distribution center opens )(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Unilever, ProLogis and GENCO Distribution System opened a new distribution center in Mesquite, Texas. Unilever Home & Personal Care NA signed a 10-year lease with ProLogis that includes a new 442,000-square-foot facility. The Unilever Mesquite...

Flower power: proflowers is sticking with successful straight-from-the-grower strategy. (Technology).(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... San Diego-based Proflowers increased its net revenue 25 percent this Valentine's Day compared with last year's holiday and CEO Bill Strauss credits the company's direct-from-the-grower strategy. And that model won't change, he said. ...

FREIGHTlist.com. (Briefs).(launches electronic payment application)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... FREIGHTlist.com released EPAY Manager, an electronic payment application for the transportation industry. The new release includes a payment grid that allows "payers to offer flexible payment terms on each transaction and payees to select...

AIM Global. (Briefs).(plans to raise awareness of AIDC technologies )(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... AIM Global has a new direction and a new U.S. chapter. The organization is positioning itself to increase national awareness of AIDC technologies (barcode, card technologies, electronic article surveillance, data communications, radio frequency...