Logistics Management (Highlands Ranch, CO) articles from August 2005

Logistics Management (Highlands Ranch, CO) archives from August 2005

A controversial fuel surcharge provision was dropped.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... A controversial fuel surcharge provision was dropped from the final version of the highway bill. When federal lawmakers approved a $286 billion reauthorization bill for road and transportation infrastructure projects just before their August...

Truck tonnage slipped in June.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... Truck tonnage slipped in June, raising concerns that the economy may be slowing. The Truck Tonnage Index tracked by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) slipped .2 percent, to 114.8. For the first six months of the year, the index was 2.7...

Trans-Pacific ocean carriers will impose fuel surcharges.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... Trans-Pacific ocean carriers will impose fuel surcharges for inland container moves. Effective Aug. 15, members of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) will assess a fuel surcharge of $137 per container for intermodal shipments. The...

Three acquisitions changed the logistics landscape.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... Three acquisitions changed the logistics landscape last month. Northeast regional LTL trucker Estes Express Lines bought Los Angeles-based carrier G.I. Trucking, gaining 46-state coverage for its LTL and truckload services. In another...

CSCMP's top award will go to Dr. Martin Christopher.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... CSCMP's top award will go to Dr. Martin Christopher. The professor of marketing and logistics at Cranfield University in the United Kingdom will receive the 2005 Distinguished Service Award from the Council of Supply Chain Management...

Transportation spending relative to the cost of goods sold is on the rise.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... Transportation spending relative to the cost of goods sold is on the rise. Our 14th annual Masters of Logistics survey, which benchmarks distribution costs and practices, found that transportation expenses as a percentage of the cost of goods...

Short-sea shipping may get a boost if a proposed bill becomes law.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... * Short-sea shipping may get a boost if a proposed bill becomes law. Last month, Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) introduced H.R. 3319, which would exempt from the Harbor Maintenance Tax any cargo that moves by vessel along U.S. coastlines. If passed,...

Your purchasing organization could be an award winner.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... * Your purchasing organization could be an award winner. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) is accepting applications for the first annual R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management. The award will honor...

If you're importing products in wooden crates, get ready for a Customs crackdown.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... * If you're importing products in wooden crates, get ready for a Customs crackdown. Starting Sept. 16, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin enforcement of a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulation governing imports of wood...

Want to learn more about logistics outsourcing?(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... * Want to learn more about logistics outsourcing? Then consider picking up Logistics and Manufacturing Outsourcing: Harness Your Core Competencies. Written by Tompkins Associates consultants, the book discusses how to create and maintain...

Transportation education at its best.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... * Transportation education at its best. That's what will be on the agenda at Delta Nu Alpha's annual Transportation Education Conference, slated for Sept. 15-17 in Milwaukee, Wis. The organization will offer educational sessions headed by such...

Who uses the services of 3PLs?(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... * Who uses the services of 3PLs? A survey of 20 leading third-party logistics providers (3PLs) conducted by ARC Advisory Group found that 78 percent of the 3PLs' revenues came from manufacturers. Most of their clients were automotive,...

Two steamship lines have launched trans-Pacific service to Central America.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 1, 2005... * Two steamship lines have launched trans-Pacific service to Central America, providing an alternative to clogged U.S. West Coast ports. Maersk Sealand and CP Ships both started new services linking Asia and Central America this spring. Maersk...

Research results you can use.(VIEWPOINT)
August 1, 2005... IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE that I begin this month's column by thanking the more than 2,000 readers who took the time to participate in this year's Quest for Quality survey. It's this insightful input from Logistics Management's readership that...

Average prices charged by U.S. trucking companies rose 0.5% in June.(TRUCKING)
August 1, 2005... Average prices charged by U.S. trucking companies rose 0.5% in June. Prices were up a higher-than-expected 5.7% in the second quarter of 2005 over the same period last year. The driver behind that trend can be found in the less-than-truckload...

The Bureau of Labor Statistics' survey of U.S. airlines' scheduled flights shows another 0.5% price hike in June.(AIR)
August 1, 2005... The Bureau of Labor Statistics' survey of U.S. airlines' scheduled flights shows another 0.5% price hike in June. That's the fourth consecutive monthly price increase. All told, in the second quarter of 2005, airline prices were up 6% from...

Price escalation among U.S. ocean and barge carriers.(WATER)
August 1, 2005... Price escalation among U.S. ocean and barge carriers peaked in the third quarter of 2003 at 20.1%, and it's been steadily sliding downhill ever since. By the first quarter of 2005, average industry prices were growing at an annual rate of just...

After jumping off-track with a one-month price hike of 3.5% in May, pricing for rail shipments in boxcars settled down in June with a 0.2% price increase.(TRUCKING)
August 1, 2005... After jumping off-track with a one-month price hike of 3.5% in May, pricing for rail shipments in boxcars settled down in June with a 0.2% price increase. Buyers of carload rail service saw different levels of increase, depending on the type of...

North Atlantic ports get ready for influx of Asuan cargo: infrastructure investments will help ports retain their positions as major cargo gateways.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
August 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- A number of East Coast ports are eyeing costly infrastructure-improvement plans that will help them handle the increasing shift of Asian cargo away from the West Coast. That shift, spurred by port and rail-yard congestion, could be...

Container trade outgrows world economy.(News Capsule)
August 1, 2005... Annual growth in containerized ocean shipments has consistently outpaced growth in global GDP over the past decade. Economists at the consulting firm Global Insight expect that trend will continue for at least the next three years. ...

Consumer-goods companies confront high transportation costs.(TRANSPORTATION COSTS)
August 1, 2005... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new study of consumer-products manufacturers provides more evidence that rising transportation costs are eating into logistics budgets. The "GMA 2005 Logistics Survey," commissioned by the Grocery Manufacturers Association...

Warehouses wrestle with worker turnover.(WAREHOUSING)
August 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- High rates of turnover among workers continue to plague warehouses, making it the top issue for management, according to the results of a new study. The "2005 Warehouse Benchmarking Report," issued by the Warehousing Education and...

Despite hype, few truckers offer dynamic routing.(TECHNOLOGY)
August 1, 2005... Dynamic rerouting of less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments has become a premium service that many carriers talk about, but few offer. That's because modest demand for the service makes it economically unfeasible for most motor carriers to do so....

Con-Way launches Mexican service network.(MOTOR CARRIERS)
August 1, 2005... ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In an effort to establish seamless LTL transportation between the United States and Mexico, Con-Way Transportation Services Inc.'s Mexican operating company, Con-Way Mexico Express, has opened a network of six logistics...

International air cargo volumes soared in 2004.(AIR FREIGHT)
August 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- International airfreight shipments moving to and from the United States soared last year, with both tonnage and value posting double-digit gains over figures for 2003, according to The Colography Group. The Atlanta-based research...

For the record.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2005... In the July 2005 article, "Ten tips for faster picking," a reference to a 400-percent increase in picking productivity achieved by Calendars.com inadvertently implied that the company had worked with a consulting firm with which it was not...

Kuehne + Nagel.(NEW SERVICES)
August 1, 2005... With the introduction of three new, door-to-door products, Kuehne + Nagel aims to satisfy growing demand for controllable airfreight processes. KN Express (express with automatic performance guarantee), KN Expert (consolidation via selected...

Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) will become a subsidiary of Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK).(NEW SERVICES)
August 1, 2005... Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) will become a subsidiary of Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK). The deal will allow NYK to expand its air cargo business within Asia and between Asia, Europe, and North America. The acquisition will strengthen competitiveness...

Global logistics service provider BDP International and GENCO, a third-party logistics company, have formed an alliance to offer integrated domestic and international services.(NEW SERVICES)
August 1, 2005... Global logistics service provider BDP International and GENCO, a third-party logistics company, have formed an alliance to offer integrated domestic and international services. BDP will offer U.S. ground logistics services through GENCO, while...

MCA Solutions'.(NEW SERVICES)
August 1, 2005... MCA Solutions' consulting practice will assist shippers in creating high-performance supply chains. A team of consultants will identify opportunities to improve supply chain performance through better coordination, asset utilization, and...

OH Logistics.(NEW SERVICES)
August 1, 2005... Third-party provider OH Logistics has opened two new, multi-client distribution campuses in Riverside, Calif., and Seattle, Wash. The new locations will offer fulfillment services and will utilize OHL's proprietary Synapse WMS software....

Datebook.(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... Sept. 10-14. "Partnering for Solutions" Forum and Exposition. Alexandria, Va. National Defense Transportation Association. www.ndtahq.com/forum.htm or 703-751-5011 Sept. 12-14. "Logistics and Operations in the Supply Chain" course....

Signature service on home deliveries will cost you extra.(Bohman on PRICING)
August 1, 2005... EFFECTIVE JULY 11, two FedEx Corp. subsidiaries--FedEx Express and FedEx Ground--began delivering packages to residences without securing a signature. If you want to obtain one, it now costs you extra. This policy change is intended to...

Supply chain management: helping merged companies connect.(Byrne on EXCELLENCE)
August 1, 2005... AFTER SEVERAL QUIET YEARS, the merger and acquisition scene is heating up. The headlines are once again brimming with M&A announcements, such as Cingular and AT&T, Procter & Gamble and Gillette, and Harrah's and Caesars. Of course, M&A...

Clinching the quality pennant: which carriers and third parties provide the best service? For the 22nd year, our readers name their top picks.(22ND ANNUAL QUEST FOR QUALITY AWARDS)
August 1, 2005... In baseball, only one team in each league can clinch the pennant. The Quest for Quality survey, by contrast, found 120 providers of logistics and transportation services who earned quality pennants. These are the companies that scored the most...

Highway hall-of-famers.(NATIONAL LTL)
August 1, 2005... The ranks of national less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers have grown smaller this past year. First Yellow Transportation and Roadway Express joined forces, then that combination acquired fellow LTL carrier, USF Corp. Later on, UPS bought...

Regional champs.(NATIONAL LTL)
August 1, 2005... Regional truckers top a shipper's lineup when they excel in on-time, damage-free movements in their service territories. One typical comment from a reader: A regional LTL exemplifies excellence in this category when it delivers shipments...

Heavy hitters.(TRUCKLOAD)
August 1, 2005... When it comes to quality, some truckload carriers know how to step Lip to the plate and hit home runs. They'll go the extra distance to make that special delivery happen or keep a promise to meet a delivery window. "When I talk about...

Fan favorites.(RAIL/INTERMODAL)
August 1, 2005... If the results of the Quest for Quality are any gauge of progress, railroads may be starting to get back on track when it comes to service. The overall scores for standard rail service jumped this past year, rising from 28.60 to 31.51, and...

Maritime MVPS.(RAIL/INTERMODAL)
August 1, 2005... Since the days of sailing ships, maritime shippers have prized ocean carriers that have fast, reliable vessels that meet their schedules, regardless of trouble on the high seas. That clearly hasn't changed over the centuries, as ocean shippers...

Airfreight aces.(AIR CARRIERS)
August 1, 2005... Airlines and air express carriers soar high in the opinion of readers when they offer first-class service. "Regardless of my spend with a provider, I need to be treated like the most important customer they have," wrote one survey respondent...

Fantastic forwarders.(FREIGHT FORWARDERS)
August 1, 2005... Freight forwarders provide a vital link in the movement of goods throughout the supply chain. To be a most valuable player on a shipper's team, these service providers must exhibit a number of stellar attributes. As a basic requirement,...

All-star 3PLs.(THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS)
August 1, 2005... Logistics managers want a third-party logistics (3PL) company on their team that can put a steady, knowledgeable hand on the controls of their distribution operations. An excellent 3PL offers "coordination with carriers on complaints,...

DHL: crashes the party: DHL put UPS and FedEx on notice when it entered the North American market. It's unclear how the newcomer will affect pricing and market share.(TRANSPORTATION TRENDS)
August 1, 2005... Two years after DHL Express made its splashy entry into the U.S. market with its $1 billion acquisition of Seattle-based Airborne Express, the integrated carrier has elbowed its way to a 6 percent share of the domestic parcel business. DHL...

Customs ACEs the IT test: Customs' Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) will revolutionize the way importers and exporters do business with the government. Here's an update on what's happened so far, and what's coming in the future.(GLOBAL LOGISTICS)
August 1, 2005... It's been a long time coming, but ACE, the Automated Commercial Environment, is finally a reality. Well, part of it is, anyway. The new information management system developed for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was proposed...

Is do-it-yourself the right thing to do? More WMS buyers are opting to handle system integration themselves rather than hire an integrator. There are pros and cons to both approaches.(SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY)
August 1, 2005... It looks like America's passion for the do-it-yourself or "DIY" lifestyle now extends past the home and garden and right into the business world, where an increasing number of companies are opting to integrate software with their own enterprise...

Get ready for RFID: planning to implement RFID in your warehouse? Here's how it will affect your layout and labor needs.(RFID: WAREHOUSE & DC)
August 1, 2005... When WM-Mart asked 100 of its top suppliers to tag shipments with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags by January of this year, not everyone was optimistic that it could be done. But eight months into the program, Christi Gallagher,...

Overnight sensations: regionals focus on next-day service: regional LTL carriers are working hard to give shippers the reliable, next-day service they need.
August 1, 2005... Not too long ago, many shippers were opting for low-cost, deferred delivery of their less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments. Those days are over, though, and the need for speed is dominating the LTL industry. Carriers increasingly are finding...

Single-use recorder monitors in transit.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The MadgeTech Transitemp-EC in-transit temperature recorder is a low-cost, single-use device that lets users monitor temperature fluctuations for up to 90 days during the shipment or storage of goods. A green light-emitting diode (LED) signals...

Intelligent tracking system.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... A hosted wireless location and tracking service called Sherloc uses high-performance, assisted GPS technologies to support the tracking of goods in transit. It also is designed for use by field service and delivery fleets. Powerful yet...

Technology service program helps manage ocean contracts.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Global Freight Analytics, a managed technology service program, provides integrated contract management and performance analysis for ocean transportation. The system is designed to help shippers manage the execution of their ocean freight...

Roll-up and swing door security lock.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The Rig-Lok security lock for trucks offers easy installation and superior protection for roll-up and swing door configurations. The action of the trigger and hocking mechanism is smooth, and requires no effort beyond closing the door. ...

Lift truck reduces fatigue.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The NR3000 Series 24V Reach Track improves efficiency and enhances performance in the warehouse with its spacious operator compartment, multifunctional control handle, and alternating current (AC) drive system. The new lift truck includes...

High-security lock improves trailer security.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Transport Security Inc.'s new Enforcer Adjustable Lock #1217 provides maximum security for trailers and containers. The lock allows for 1/2-inch locking increments, resulting in a tight fit on almost every container and trailer, and can be...

Customized RFID starter kits.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Ready to implement RFID? The Kennedy Group offers 10 custom RFID starter kits to assist first-time users in complying with RFID mandates in accordance with their specific needs, budgets, and timetables. The starter kits include bundled...

Software upgrades fleet profitability and performance.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Mobitrac 2.0 fleet management software upgrades the original Mobitrac 1.0 platform, adding patented real-time predictive modeling and dynamic analytic capabilities. The software uses an on-demand, subscription-based model that can be deployed...

Longer extended-length container.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Ropak's extended-length container is longer than ever, with a 78-inch x 48-inch footprint and three available heights: 25, 33, and 34 inches. The reusable, collapsible container can carry loads weighing up to 2,000 pounds and can be stacked up...

Corrugated pallet cuts shipping costs.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The Quantum Pallet, manufactured from corrugated board, helps companies cut shipping costs. The sturdy, lightweight pallets are at least 75 percent lighter than wooden pallets and thus dramatically reduce freight charges, according to the...

Trailer tracking system for refrigerated trailers.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... GE's VeriWise Asset Intelligence trailer tracking system is now available for use with refrigerated trailers. The system originally was designed for use with standard, dry-freight equipment. The trailer tracking system helps shippers...

Explosion-proof lift trucks offer reliability.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The latest generation of explosion-proof, three- and four-wheel counterbalance lift trucks from Sichelschmidt combines an attractive appearance, ergonnmic design, reliability, and low cost of ownership. The trucks, which are especially useful...

Software for multi-site environments.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... A. Maze Enterprise software, a distribution planning and execution solution, can give customers greater visibility and control of their local pickup and delivery operations. The system combines simulation, performance management, territory...

Pallet guard decreases damage.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The Pallet Dawg pallet guard significantly decreases the incidence of pallet damage, the manufacturer says. The guard redirects a lift truck's impact force in order to prevent damage to the first crossboard of the pallet and minimize wood...

Mobile computers with speech-recognition capability.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... New version of the MC9000 mobile computer are enabled with speech-recognition capabilities. These computers are designed for customers that require hands-free operation for speech-recognition and voice-prompted applications in warehouses and...

Revolving shelves save storage space.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... Rotabins are circular, revolving steel shelves that can be divided into triangular bins and mounted in stacks on a vertical axle. The bins, which operate on the "lazy susan" design, save space and allow one stationary person to pick small...

Modular pick-to-light system is user-friendly.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The EasyPick Trak3 modular pick-to-light system for picking and order-fulfillment operations features improved ergonomics and diagnostic tools, says the manufacturer. Trak3 devices snap into the track at the pick face with no cable connections...

Single-antenna RFID tag functions worldwide.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The new Rafsec OneTenna radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is designed to function in every region of the world, using a single antenna design. The placement of the integrated circuit guarantees optimum performance in a certain region,...

Flighted lift keeps production moving.(NEW PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... The Flighted Lift is an indexing lift designed for either vertical storage or for buffering product. It is ideal for situations where production surges or peak production periods cause backups. Fly incorporating a Flighted Lift into the...

Want lower diesel prices? Preserve competition.(PARTING SHOT)
August 1, 2005... EVEN THE STRONGEST PROPONENTS of free trade found this one tough to swallow: State-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) wanted to purchase Unocal Corp., the ninth-largest U.S.-based oil and gas producer. One of a handful of remaining...