Logistics Management (Highlands Ranch, CO) articles from March 2004

Logistics Management (Highlands Ranch, CO) archives from March 2004

Motor carriers should stop inflating class ratings for mixed commodity shipments, says the National Small Shipments Traffic Conference (NASSTRAC), which represents small package and LTL shippers.(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * Motor carriers should stop inflating class ratings for mixed commodity shipments, says the National Small Shipments Traffic Conference (NASSTRAC), which represents small package and LTL shippers. NASSTRAC objects to a provision in the...

Two key lawmakers want to make intermodal equipment providers responsible for chassis liability.(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * Two key lawmakers want to make intermodal equipment providers responsible for chassis liability. Senators John McCain of Arizona and Ernest Hollings of South Carolina have filed legislation that would require equipment providers to assure...

Atlantic and Gulf Coast dockworkers are optimistic that they'll reach agreement on a new labor contract.(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * Atlantic and Gulf Coast dockworkers are optimistic that they'll reach agreement on a new labor contract. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents employers, carriers, and...

Port authorities, on the other hand, are worried they won't get money they need for maintaining waterways.(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * Port authorities, on the other hand, are worried they won't get money they need for maintaining waterways. The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) says the Bush Administration's proposed FY '05 budget won't pay for critically...

The Food and Drug Administration has joined the rising chorus of groups advocating RFID tags.(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * The Food and Drug Administration has joined the rising chorus of groups advocating RFID tags. A recent FDA report says tagging pharmaceutical products with radio frequency identification devices will improve tracking and tracing and would...

Be on the lookout for Logistics Management's Quest for Quality ballots.(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * Be on the lookout for Logistics Management's Quest for Quality ballots. Each spring, LM mails surveys to selected groups of readers, asking them to rate the performance of their transportation, warehousing, and logistics service providers....

Menlo Worldwide is the latest U.S. logistics provider to forge ties in China.(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * Menlo Worldwide is the latest U.S. logistics provider to forge ties in China. Menlo Worldwide Logistics said last month that it has formed a strategic business partnership with Guangdong Postal Logistics, a subsidiary of the Guangdong Postal...

Motor carriers are doing their part to help improve the nation's air quality.(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * Motor carriers are doing their part to help improve the nation's air quality. Schneider National Inc., UPS, FedEx, and DHL are among the charter members of the Environmental Protection Agency's new SmartWay Transport Partnership program. That...

Get the impression that more traffic jams than ever are holding up your shipments?(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * Get the impression that more traffic jams than ever are holding up your shipments? A new study confirms shippers' suspicions that highway gridlock has worsened. A study released last month by research firm Cambridge Systematics reports that...

If you need help in managing today's growing demands for better cargo security, the National Cargo Security Council is the place to turn.(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * If you need help in managing today's growing demands for better cargo security, the National Cargo Security Council is the place to turn. The group's mission is to assist shippers, carriers, port authorities, and other supply chain...

A well-known third-party logistics provider has a new name.(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * A well-known third-party logistics provider has a new name. USCO Logistics of Naugatuck, Conn., has taken on the name Kuehne & Nagel Logistics Inc. to reflect its new ownership. Kuehne & Nagel, the Schindellegi, Switzerland-based global...

The inventor of the first narrow-aisle lift truck has passed away.(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * The inventor of the first narrow-aisle lift truck has passed away. Christian D. Gibson, who had worked for industrial truck maker Raymond Corp. as an engineer for 36 years, died in January at the age of 89. Gibson designed the first...

Bamboozled by logistics buzzwords?(Management: an executive summary of industry news)
March 1, 2004... * Bamboozled by logistics buzzwords? You can cut through all the jargon with the Glossary of Supply Chain Terminology by Philip Obal, president of software research firm Industrial Data and Information Inc. (IDII).The 420-page book includes...

Innovate to win.(Viewpoint)
March 1, 2004... AS AN ADVOCATE FOR MORE INNOVATIVE THINKING in U.S. business, I don't think I could have picked a better time to jump on board as chief editor of Logistics Management. These days, we're seeing a new breed of logistics innovator...

Recent price trends in transportation services.(Price Trends)
March 1, 2004... LESS-THAN-TRUCKLOAD Shippers of less-than-truckload (LTL) freight were hit by a cumulative 3.9% price increase between May and September 2003. With Consolidated Freightways out of the picture, there was less pressure on the remaining LTL...

Focus on labor.
March 1, 2004... Average hourly earnings in the transportation sector stood at $16.36 in January. A 3.1% annual increase in transportation wages in 2003 represented the best gain since the year 2000, when wages grew 3.4%. LTL drivers saw their average hourly...

Customs delays requirement to name "actual shipper" for ocean imports: industry groups representing ocean shippers, carriers, forwarders, and consolidators unite in their opposition to new rule.(News & Analysis)
March 1, 2004... The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has agreed to delay enforcement of a rule requiring ocean carriers to electronically submit the names of the "actual shipper" of containerized cargo destined for the United States. The delay is...

Global forwarder network offers shipment monitoring.(Freight Forwarders)
March 1, 2004... Airfreight forwarder Pilot Air Freight will lead a team of 30 international freight forwarders in forming the World Freight Alliance (WFA), a worldwide network that will allow shippers to use a Web site to monitor shipments carried by all of...

Railroads hop on the bulk bandwagon.(News Capsule)
March 1, 2004... Railroads hauled more covered hoppers than any other type of rail car in 2002. Hopper cars typically carry bulk commodities like grain and powders that can be discharged through vents below the car. Covered hopper 29.7% Box car ...

DOT index weighs transportation's importance to the economy.(Washington)
March 1, 2004... When U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange last month, it signaled the beginning of the trading day and the introduction of a new tool for weighing transportation's overall importance to the...

FedEx, UPS tap Postal Service's core competency.(Parcel Delivery)
March 1, 2004... The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has reeled in two unlikely users for its "Parcel Select" service, the package-delivery program designed to take large-volume shippers and consolidators "the last mile" at an economical price. Over the past...

DHL and Lufthansa Cargo have announced that they will begin joint operations on five intercontinental routes beginning later this month.(Services)
March 1, 2004... DHL and Lufthansa Cargo have announced that they will begin joint operations on five intercontinental routes beginning later this month. The shared network will feature four to five weekly flights via Lufthansa's MD11 freighter aircraft. DHL...

Seefried Properties Inc.(Services)
March 1, 2004... Seefried Properties Inc. will construct a 253,000 square-foot logistics facility near Chicago O'Hare International Airport for EGL Eagle Global Logistics. The cross-dock facility will contain a 30-foot clear height, 58 dock doors, and 34...

BestTransport.(Services)
March 1, 2004... BestTransport's new professional services group will offer carrier assessment, carrier acquisition, and shipper collaboration services. The group will help shippers work more effectively with existing carriers, find new ones, and collaborate...

Exel.(Services)
March 1, 2004... Exel has opened a new Supply Chain Hub at the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore. In addition to warehouse operations, the 285,140 square-foot facility houses the company's Asia-Pacific headquarters and Singapore office. Exel operates...

Pitt-Ohio Express.(Services)
March 1, 2004... Pitt-Ohio Express now offers next-day service from Chicago to all points served by the LTL carrier's Allentown, Pa., terminal, including numerous locations in Eastern Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and Northern New Jersey.

Matson Integrated Logistics (MIL).(Services)
March 1, 2004... Matson Integrated Logistics (MIL) has completed the purchase of TransAmerica Transportation Services Inc., a specialist in truck and intermodal brokerage. This acquisition will strengthen MIL's presence in the Midwest while expanding the...

Datebook.(Logistics Briefing)(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... Mar. 16-19. "World-Class Logistics and Supply Chain Strategy" course. Atlanta, Ga. The Logistics Institute. 404-385-3501 or www.pe.gatech.edu Mar. 22-24. "Preparing Hazardous Materials for Transportation by Motor Vehicle, Advanced...

LTLs want more information on unitized mixed loads.(Bohman on Pricing)
March 1, 2004... Shippers are tendering more unitized shipments of mixed commodities to less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers each year, As that volume has grown, so, too, have carriers' difficulties in accurately calculating charges for such shipments. The...

Closing the gap between strategy and results.(Byrne on Excellence)
March 1, 2004... Last month we examined the connection between supply chain mastery and marketplace performance. In that column, we explained how recent Accenture research demonstrated that supply chain excellence is being rewarded--that supply chain leaders in...

How Gillette concentrates on the customer: when the consumer products giant reoriented its supply chain around customer value, it improve service while cutting inventory.
March 1, 2004... Two years ago, Boston-based Gillette Co. re-engineered its internal processes and organizational structure to focus on bringing value to its customers. "We oriented ourselves around the 'value chain' that starts and ends with the product on the...

Wanted: partners in security: Homeland Security's second in command, Asa Hutchinson, says the federal government wants to enlist shippers in the fight against terrorism.
March 1, 2004... In 2002, Congress created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a huge new federal agency tasked with safeguarding the nation. The creation of DHS, which combined 22 agencies under one roof, represented the largest reorganization of the...

A little more pay, a lot more work: salaries and levels of responsibility both rose in 2003.(20th Annual Salary Survey)
March 1, 2004... If you're a logistics manager, two things will stand out when you look at the results of LM's 2003 Salary Survey: you're making more, and you're doing more. The majority of logistics professionals who responded to our annual survey--some...

By landrail & sea: as intermodal services improve, more companies are finding real value in this shipping option.
March 1, 2004... LIKE MOST COMPANIES, ConAgra Foods, Inc., is always on the lookout for ways to reduce costs and boost its bottom line. A few years ago, the Omaha, Neb.-based manufacturer of consumer brands such as Armour, Banquet, Chef Boyardee, and Egg...

3 key software trends: if you want to make sure you're investing your technology dollars wisely, then here's what you need to keep in mind.
March 1, 2004... We won't name names, but not long ago, a very well-known sportswear maker took a financial hammering when its supply chain software failed to properly manage its inventory and deliveries. The multimillion-dollar debacle--splashed across...

Who are your workers ... really? Security-conscious managers should conduct the right kind of background checks on prospective hires. Here's how.(Warehouse & DC: insights for today's distribution professional)
March 1, 2004... When an airline handling company with warehouses in the Midwest and Southeast was plagued with cargo theft, its insurance firm called in Pinkerton Consulting and Investigations to find out what was going on. In the course of its investigation,...

Target zeroes in on import warehouses.(Case study: target stores)
March 1, 2004... As PART OF ITS NEW DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY, Minneapolis-based Target has opened a dedicated warehouse for handling foreign-made products arriving on the U.S. East Coast. Located in Suffolk, Va., not far from the port of Hampton Roads, the 1.5...

Total tracking and visibility star in port security: seaports are taking a proactive stance when it comes to protecting their facilities, cargo, and employees from terrorist threats.
March 1, 2004... As U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell prepared to open the shipping container, the crowd standing around him held its collective breath, waiting to see if the electronically-sealed container would sound a loud alarm. The alarm indeed was...

Super Sack protects heavy loads.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... With a capacity of up to 4,400 lbs., the Super Sack is suitable for storing and carrying products with high bulk densities, such as heavy metal powders. It is made of 100-percent polypropylene, which is FDA-acceptable for food contact, and can...

Heavy-duty lift truck hauls up to 8.5 tons.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... Boasting a 17,000-lb. maximum payload, the C17000 is a four-directional reach truck with an LP gas engine. With its narrow-aisle configuration and four-way maneuverability, it can operate in as little as eight feet of space. A low-profile load...

Conveyor solution straightens packages.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... Intralox's new singulating system directs clusters of packages, cases, and boxes into a single file, preventing the side-by-side orientation that can block accurate scanning. Installing two Series 400 Angled Roller belts next to each other...

Handheld PC offers RFID capability.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... The JETT*ce handheld computer now comes with an integrated radio frequency identification (RFID) reader capable of reading and writing to most industry-standard 13.56 MHz RFID tags and "smart" labels. The system's antenna can be moved to...

Affordable package handling system.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... The Star system handles returns processing, sortation, and order-fulfillment applications. It handles sortation of a variety of package shapes and sizes at up to 100 pieces per minute, and also offers automatic product feeding and labeling...

Industrial lift handles up to 150 lbs.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... This light and compact double-scissor lift can lift up to 150-lb loads up to 70 inches high. When lowered, the unit stand just 6 inches to 7 inches high. It lifts via a gearbox-driven screw. Table sizes range from widths of 15 inches to 24...

Thermal transfer coder for generic packaging.(New Products)
March 1, 2004... The SmartDate 3 128c is a wide-area continuous printer for printing high-quality graphics, bar codes, instructions, and more in an area measuring 5 inches by 5 inches or smaller. It features real-time date coding, 300 dpi printing, and a wide...

Why outsourcing isn't always the best answer.(Parting Shot)
March 1, 2004... OUTSOURCING REMAINS ALL THE RAGE in logistics. Every day, it seems, we hear about another company that's furloughed its distribution department and hired a third-party logistics company (3PL) instead. Under pressure to cut costs, companies...