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

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

Keep a close watch on proposed mandatory requirements for importers.(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * Keep a close watch on proposed mandatory requirements for importers participating in C-TPAT. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is circulating a plan that calls for minimum standards for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism....

Don't look for more federal dollars for fixing roads this year.(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * Don't look for more federal dollars for fixing roads this year. Both the House and Senate approved an eight-month extension of the current funding levels for highway, public transportation, and road-safety programs. Disputes over funding...

Before heading home to campaign, Congress weighed in on the HOS dispute.(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * Before heading home to campaign, Congress weighed in on the HOS dispute, passing legislation to keep the current hours-of-service (HOS) rules for truck drivers in place for another year. Lawmakers took that action as part of a bill extending...

Another big merger between European 3PLs could be in the offing.(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * Another big merger between European 3PLs could be in the offing. Motor Transport, our sister publication in the United Kingdom, reported last month that Christian Salvesen, the third-largest third-party logistics (3PL) company in that...

Warehousing consultant John M. Hill has received a top materials handling industry award.(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * Warehousing consultant John M. Hill has received a top materials handling industry award. The Material Handling Education Foundation honored Hill with the Reed-Apple Award for his contributions to industry knowledge and education. Hill, a...

Missed the Global Supply Chain Conference last month?(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * Missed the Global Supply Chain Conference last month? You can still check out the proceedings of this annual educational forum, which was co-sponsored by Logistics Management, Supply Chain Management Review, and Modern Materials Handling....

DHL Worldwide Express may relocate its European hub as a result of a dispute over nighttime flights.(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * DHL Worldwide Express may relocate its European hub as a result of a dispute over nighttime flights. The express delivery giant has threatened to close its Brussels hub because the city government won't allow an increase in the number of...

Need to know even more about what's happening in the express package world?(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * Need to know even more about what's happening in the express package world? Then sign up for the World Mail & Express Americas conference and exhibition, slated for Dec. 6 and 7 in Miami. Although the program, which features presentations...

A new design concept could open shallower waters to barge traffic.(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * A new design concept could open shallower waters to barge traffic. The Mod 1 Hull is designed to operate in shallow drafts, such as the upper reaches of the U.S. inland waterways system, as well as in deep-draft areas such as the Gulf of...

The Chinese government has hired a U.S. company to gather data for road-improvement projects.(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * The Chinese government has hired a U.S. company to gather data for road-improvement projects. The Lansmont Corp. of California will place special instruments in hundreds of trucks throughout China. Those instruments will measure a variety of...

What's in a name? Apparently quite a lot.(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * What's in a name? Apparently quite a lot, as yet another professional group plans to change its moniker. "APICS--The Educational Society for Resource Management" will become "APICS The Association for Operations Management" starting Jan. 1,...

Do you really understand what "lean" means?(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * Do you really understand what "lean" means? In the September issue of his Warehousing Forum newsletter, consultant Ken Ackerman offers his definition for the term "lean warehousing." Ackerman writes: "Lean warehousing is the process of...

A management buyout is in the works for Arnold Transportation Services.(An Executive Summary of Industry News)
November 1, 2004... * A management buyout is in the works for Arnold Transportation Services. Current management of the truckload carrier, led by President and CEO Mike Walters, has proposed buying a 51 percent stake from Jefferies Capital Partners. Truckload...

Embrace adaptation.(Viewpoint)
November 1, 2004... TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH TOM PELLINGTON is to understand why we continue to feature today's logistics and transportation superstars on the cover of Logistic Management. His positive attitude is infectious, and his unwavering desire to drive...

The U.S. trucking industry continued to push.(Trucking)
November 1, 2004... The U.S. trucking industry continued to push average transaction prices upward at a steady pace in September as prices gained 0.4%. That marked the ninth consecutive monthly increase, ranging from 0.2% in March to 0.7% in February and May. Over...

The domestic airline industrty is still struggling.(Air)
November 1, 2004... The domestic airline industry is still struggling with low passenger volumes; as a result, airline prices dropped 2.7% in September. Looking at cargo on scheduled flights, however, we see that prices fell only 0.1%. Fuel surcharges may not be...

Shippers who move freight by water.(Water)
November 1, 2004... Shippers who move freight by water weathered a wave of mild proportions in September. As surveyed by the U.S. Department of Labor, average prices increased 2.5% from August. That was the largest monthly price hike since July 2003, when tags...

Average prices for intermodal rail service.(Rail)
November 1, 2004... Average prices for intermodal rail service jumped 1.4% in September, while carload rates grew a meager 0.1%. But when we compare prices to those charged a year ago we see a different story, with intermodal up 3.1% and carload up 4.4%. Those...

Transportation support services.(Price Trends)
November 1, 2004... In September our aggregate price index for all transportation support services fell a tenth of a percentage point from August and was up just 2.4% from September 2003. More significantly, the index stands at 101.4--meaning that prices have...

Driver shortage will boost truckload rates next year: current rate-hike estimates may be too low, says one trucking industry analyst.(News & Analysis)
November 1, 2004... A respected group of industry analysts has issued a report predicting that a shortage of truck drivers will lead to annual truckload rate hikes of 3 to 5 percent through 2007--and that estimate may be too conservative, they now say. The...

New trade pacts make compliance easier for shippers.(International)
November 1, 2004... International traders have long complained that the rules for receiving duty-free treatment under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are too complicated and difficult to follow. Even the most experienced trade experts have...

USPS still dominates domestic air market.(News Capsule)
November 1, 2004... USPS still dominates domestic air market Despite the continued decline in sales for its Priority Mail offering, the U.S. Postal Service still garnered the largest share of the U.S. domestic air market in 2003, according to the...

Supreme Court hears multimodal liability case.(Transportation Law)
November 1, 2004... The U.S. Supreme Court last month heard arguments in a transportation case that could redefine liability responsibilities in the supply chain. Because of the impact on international shipping, the nation's highest court agreed to take up a case...

Best-in-class go beyond four walls of the warehouse.(Warehousing)
November 1, 2004... A new study by Boston-based Aberdeen Group has found that when best-in-class companies offer value-added, non-traditional warehousing services, they can lower their costs while improving customer service. Most warehouses perform such...

UPS snaps up Menlo's forwarding unit.(Freight Forwarders)
November 1, 2004... In a move designed to greatly expand its overseas business, UPS last month said it had reached a deal to buy Menlo Worldwide Forwarding operations from CNF Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. The consummation of the purchase would give UPS access to...

Study finds cities are losing the race against gridlock.(Transportation)
November 1, 2004... If your trucks aren't showing up on schedule, it's probably because they're stuck in traffic. According to the "2004 Urban Mobility Report," issued by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), growing traffic congestion in cities of all sizes...

For the record.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2004... In the article, "Global Shift" in our October issue, we misspelled the name of the chief information officer of The Children's Place, His correct name is Ed De Martino. In that same article, we gave an incorrect URL for Intermart Inc.'s...

Swiss WorldCargo has signed an agreement with MNG Airlines that will substantially boost the Swiss carrier's capacity between Europe, Istanbul, and Karachi.(Services)
November 1, 2004... Swiss WorldCargo has signed an agreement with MNG Airlines that will substantially boost the Swiss carrier's capacity between Europe, Istanbul, and Karachi. The thrice-weekly flights will offer 14 main-deck and 4 lower-deck positions, plus 4...

Akerstroms.(Services)
November 1, 2004... Akerstroms of Sweden has opened a U.S. office to sell its wireless, rugged forklift computers in North America. The new subsidiary will handle the company's largest order ever, equipping forklifts in 17 of Ford Motor Company's U.S....

Greyhound Package Xpress (GPX) is expanding its same-day and next-day service, available within 350 miles.(Services)
November 1, 2004... Greyhound Package Xpress (GPX) is expanding its same-day and next-day service, available within 350 miles. GPX is working with 4SameDay Couriers, which will resell GPX service to its customers in major metropolitan markets....

Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co.(Services)
November 1, 2004... The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. will build its Logistics Center--Fontana near San Bernardino, Calif. The facility will provide transload services for all types of commodities, including lumber and steel, consumer goods, and...

CS International Logistics (USA) LLC.(Services)
November 1, 2004... Hong Kong's Cargo Services Far East, which offers transportation and logistics services in China, has entered the U.S. market. CS International Logistics (USA) LLC will be led by industry veteran Sam Schotsky. The company has 19 offices in...

APL.(Services)
November 1, 2004... APL has added the Europe-Montreal Express (EMX) to its trans-Atlantic service. EMX will serve Canadian exporters and importers as well as shippers in the U.S. Midwest. European port calls include Le Havre, Rotterdam, and Bremerhaven....

Datebook.(Logistics Briefing)(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... November 13-16. NITL 97th Annual Meeting and Trans Comp 2004. San Antonio, Texas. National Industrial Transportation League. 703-524-5011 or www.nitl.org November 15-16. "Supply Chain Management: The Truth Beyond the Promise." Arlington,...

LTLs take a closer look at weights, measures, and descriptions.(Bohman on Pricing)
November 1, 2004... For many years, the nation's less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers have faced the problem of incorrect classification descriptions, gross shipping weights, and densities (weights per cubic foot) shown on shippers' bills of lading. Such...

Global sourcing: a hallmark of the 21st-century business.(Bryne on Excellence)
November 1, 2004... Sourcing goods globally is not a new concept. Many companies have been sourcing from lower-cost countries for years. Recently, however, there has been a notable increase in the number of companies that are pursuing a global supply base, the...

Scrappy determination: Tom Pellington has ushered in a new era at the Naitonal Industrial Transportation League over the past year--and he's not about to stop now.(NITL Executive Of The Year)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2004... It would have been easy enough to present the 2004 McCullough Logistics Executive of the Year Award to this year's winner solely for his tireless logistics initiatives at Cincinnati-based scrap-metal brokerage David J. Joseph Co. (DJJ). But add...

Rail roads struggle to meet demand: railroads are working hard to upgrade service in response to a huge surge in demand. Will their efforts be enough to clear the tracks?
November 1, 2004... North American railroads are suffering from a severe case of muscle strain as they struggle to meet a record surge in demand for service this year. Through the first eight months of 2004, rail traffic was on a pace to break all previous...

Yamaha tunes up its import operations: technology helped Yamaha Corporation of America take control and conquer its import management challenges.
November 1, 2004... Picture this scenario: Customs authorities at the Port of Long Beach have placed a hold on four containers that have just arrived from Indonesia. They're part of a shipment of 50 containers, and none of them can leave the port until the four...

WMS: how much does it cost ... really? Calculating the ROI for a warehouse management system isn't as simple as you might think.
November 1, 2004... After months or even years of struggling to keep products moving into, out of, and all around your warehouse, it's finally dawned on you: You need a warehouse management system (WMS). This revelation could have stemmed from any number of...

Weighing the power options: need more efficient forklifts that cost less to operate? Be sure to check out all the power options now available.(Warehouse & DC: insights for today's distribution professionals)
November 1, 2004... Warehouse managers are under pressure to save money and make their operations work faster and smarter. "These days, everyone is trying to force out costs and improve efficiency," notes John Colborn, reach truck marketing director for the...

Challenges lie ahead for British 3PLs.(A Special Report from Analytiqa)
November 1, 2004... British third-party logistics companies (3PLs) must overcome new government regulations, labor shortages, and rising fuel prices in order to stand out in a crowded field, according to new research findings. The market research firm Analytiqa...

Making space for speed: the focus in build-to-suit DCs is changing from size to faster turnarounds.
November 1, 2004... For many years now, space has been the dominant consideration in designing build-to-suit distribution centers (DCs. The bigger, the better. More space translates into more product coming through the door and onto the racks, and that means a...

Creating a robust supply chain that prevails in a competitive market.(Global Supply Chain Conference)
November 1, 2004... Aimed at helping companies reach their supply chain potential, the second annual Global Supply Chain Conference (GSCC) gave more than 1,800 attendees the tools they needed to do just that, and then some. Sponsored by Supply Chain Management...

Reengineering the Supply Chain.(Conference Keynote)
November 1, 2004... The conference opened with a keynote presentation on "Reengineering the Supply Chain," from Michael Hammer, president of Cambridge, Mass.-based business education and research firm Hammer and Company and author of the international best-seller...

Global third-party logistics.(Logistics Management Keynote)
November 1, 2004... Over the last 10 years, the College of Business Administration at Northeastern University in Boston has regularly surveyed the third-party logistics (3PL) industry to find out what trends and issues are affecting companies working in the field....

Integrated logistics management.(Workshop)
November 1, 2004... If you thought you knew everything about supply chain logistics, think again. In this session, John Murphy, director of product marketing for G-Log, detailed a completely new way of managing and evaluating a supply chain. Known as...

The evolving role of TMS.(Workshop)
November 1, 2004... Transportation management systems (TMS) have evolved from single-point solutions designed to select carriers and route shipments, into fully coordinated, real-time communications tools. And companies are using these tools to squeeze the most...

Supply chain software: real solutions, real returns.(Workshop)
November 1, 2004... From lost inventory to costly write-offs, charge-backs for shipping errors, and decreased productivity, today's companies face myriad challenges when managing their warehouses and distribution chains, a few years ago, Rev-A-Shelf, a world...

The merging of technology and 3PLs.(Workshop)
November 1, 2004... Outsourcing has become a popular business strategy across many industries, with 3PLs standing among the companies that are cashing in on the trend. Recent surveys indicate that Fortune 500 shippers are looking to outsource the high cost of IT...

State of materials handling in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.(Modern Materials Handling Keynote)
November 1, 2004... In this keynote session, Modern Materials Handling's (MMH) editorial director Gary Forger sat down with Aberdeen Group's Chris Jones to talk about the state of materials handling in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. In particular,...

RFID: moving beyond the mandate.(Workshop)
November 1, 2004... Wal-Mart laid down the law in June 2003. By late 2005, the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer wants to be tracking all pallets and cases from its top 100 U.S. suppliers with radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. The rest of its U.S....

The changing face of the real-time warehouse.(Workshop)
November 1, 2004... Warehouses have come a long way over the last few decades, and are looked upon today as key operational elements and not just places to store product. Thanks to technology, warehouses continue to morph and today include advanced RFID,...

Leading beyond excellence: what makes a supply chain leader?(Supply Chain Management Review Keynote)
November 1, 2004... For any supply chain to operate efficiently, it must have at its cornerstone one or more leaders who can take charge, manage effectively, and take ownership of the overall process. In the keynote for the Supply Chain Advantage track, Dr. Lisa...

Demand management: the secret to supply chain success.(Workshop)
November 1, 2004... Today's companies are operating in a rapidly changing, demand-driven market where their customers hold the cards while they are expected to be able to predict demand and respond accordingly. Those companies that do the best job of capturing...

Strategic global sourcing: people, process and technology.(Workshop)
November 1, 2004... Global sourcing has become a critical consideration for supply chain executives and managers worldwide, but exactly what is sourced and how a global supply chain is managed can have profound effect on its overall success. In this session, two...

The quiet revolution in supplier management.(Workshop)
November 1, 2004... There's an underground revolution going on in the area of supplier management. Beth Enslow, vice president of research at Aberdeen Group, let the secret out during this Webcast, which focused on how supply chain initiatives can truly add value...

"Bumpless" case turner gently rotates packages.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... The Alvey bumpless case turner from FKI Logistex is designed to rotate fragile products requiring higher-speed case turning when moving into a palletizing operation. It is now available as an upgrade to most of the Alvey palletizer line,...

RFID label applicator checks tags.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... Weber Marking Systems has released its Model 5200rfid smart label printer-applicator, which rejects non-verifiable tags prior to application. The unit makes it easy to print, encode, verify, and apply pressure-sensitive RFID smart labels to...

Global trade software solution upgraded.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... Vastera has upgraded its suite of TradeSphere global trade management solutions for importers and exporters. The TradeSphere Exporter 7.5 module now delivers enhanced export management and compliance capabilities. Support for AES-DirectVPN...

Hand pallet truck offers 5-year warranty.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... Multiton MIC Corp. has released a low-profile, lightweight hand pallet truck that comes with a 5-year warranty. The 5,500-pound capacity TM55 truck is especially suited for moving heavy loads in distribution centers. The truck features a...

RFID reader works with array of handhelds.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... ThingMagic has released an RFID reader designed to work in a number of handheld devices. The Mercury4h reader is credit card-sized and less than 155mm thick. As a result, it can fit in portable data terminals, personal digital assistants,...

Insulated rubber mat keeps feet warm and dry.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... The "Boot Buddy" heated, portable rubber mat is a welcome addition in warehouses where employees must stand for long periods in cold conditions, such as at packing and shipping stations near dock doors. Made of waterproof, sealed, and...

Door features steel guidance pins.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... The TKO Jr. WelterWeight is a knockout dock door for use in warehouses that employ forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and manual loading equipment. This heavy-duty door features spring-loaded steel guidance pins and a wooden core that provides a...

Device securely lifts, moves drums.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... The Liftomatic model LD-2 drum lifter slides directly onto the forks of any lift truck, with no tools required. Liftomatic's exclusive "Parrot Beak" clamping system automatically engages the top lip of steel, fiber, or plastic drums, assuring a...

Walkie eables smoother pallet entry, exit.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... The Model 112XD walkie pallet truck from The Raymond Corporation offers improved pallet entry and exit with its extended-tip forks, which are enclosed from underneath to provide smoother travel over bottom boards and reduced fork thickness for...

RFID-enabled dock door portal.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... Symbol's DC 400 is the first EPC-enabled turnkey RFID portal design for industrial dock doors. The ruggedized design of the DC 400 was created specifically for the harsh conditions of a warehouse. The easy-to-install portal allows...

Mobile thermal printers for label printing.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... The MtP 400 series of four-inch, mobile thermal printers from Printek are designed for label and receipt printing. The MtP 400 comes in three different base configurations. One such configuration is designed to print on roll-fed receipt paper....

Crane scale has wireless remote control.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... The Xpress Crane Scale line can handle all sorts of jobs ranging from 250 to 10,000 pounds. It boasts 360-degree movement for working loads as well as a wireless remote control. Two scales are currently being offered: the Economy Crane...

Handheld designed for cold environments.(New Products)
November 1, 2004... The 7530 handheld computer from Psion Teklogix is designed for cold environments such as refrigerated warehouses and container yards. With its IP 67 and 5-96 percent RH condensing ratings, the 7530 can operate at temperatures as low as -30 C...

Waiting for Godot ... and my own "pickup bot".(Parting Shot)
November 1, 2004... Is RFID on its way to becoming a household word? In an interview in USA Today last month with columnist Kevin Maney, radio frequency identification evangelist Kevin Ashton revealed the real reason why the world should adopt RFID technology:...