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

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

Hey, this stuff is actually working!(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... Researchers at the Information Technology Research Institute of the University of Arkansas have found a 16-percent reduction in "out-of-stocks" and a reduction in excess inventory at Wal-Mart stores that use RFID with electronic product codes...

Diversions pump up Mexican ports.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... According to a news feed into LM's website, Iogisticsmgmt.com from Business News Americas, Mexican ports handled 1.55 million 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers in the first nine months of 2005, a 12.3-percent increase over the same...

Global sales are rising, yet global operations strategies are failing.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... That's what the global consulting firm Accenture found when it surveyed 160 sales, marketing, and supply chain executives at U.S. companies with revenues exceeding $1 billion. Accenture's researchers learned that U.S. businesses expect sales...

Global Supply Chain Conference (GSCC) 2006 is ready to roll November 7-8.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... * Global Supply Chain Conference (GSCC) 2006 is ready to roll November 7-8. Now in its third year, the GSCC is the most comprehensive event of its kind. On those two days, leading executives and practitioners from around the world will explore...

Crisis averted.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... Shippers breathed a sigh of relief as China and the European Union (EU) resolved a trade dispute over clothing imports. Earlier this year, the EU's 2005 quotas were abolished under a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement, according to...

IBM goes back to school, teaming with Penn State University to build and operate a new Supply Chain Laboratory at Penn's Smeal College of Business.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... IBM goes back to school, teaming with Penn State University to build and operate a new Supply Chain Laboratory at Penn's Smeal College of Business. The new lab, opened on Oct. 28, is outfitted with IBM hardware and will double as a classroom...

After 50 years, the NMFTA takes full control of the NMFC.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... Beginning this month, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) will publish and sell the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) in-house. The NMFC, known as publication NMF 100-AF, is considered to be the industry standard...

And this year's 2005 "Connie" Awards go to ...(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... And this year's 2005 "Connie" Awards go to... James Capo, chairman and CEO of the United States Maritime Alliance; Peter J. Gatti, Jr., executive vice president of the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL); and Rudiger (Rudy) Mack,...

What in the World is the Global Supply Chain?(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) answers that question in a new, 40-minute DVD by that title. Created for use in classrooms, career programs, and training programs, the DVD educates viewers about the supply chain...

Make 'em stick.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... Ever think about the fact that RFID labels can be removed and reused without your knowledge? MIKOH Corp. has, which is why the company has developed "Smart&Secure," a proprietary technology that detects when an RFID label has been tampered with...

Tireless, fearless advocacy.(VIEWPOINT)
November 1, 2005... IF YOU ATTEND INDUSTRY EVENTS on a regular basis, I can guarantee that you've crossed paths with Mike Regan, the recipient of the 2005 NITL Executive of the Year Award. You've probably sat in on one of his presentations or have heard him take...

Last month we reported that prices charged by long-distance truckers increased by only 0.1% for TL carriers and fell 0.3% for LTL from July to August.(TRUCKING)
November 1, 2005... Last month we reported that prices charged by long-distance truckers increased by only 0.1% for TL carriers and fell 0.3% for LTL from July to August. One astute reader asked if carriers had absorbed the skyrocketing cost of diesel fuel. The...

In the first three quarters of 2005, we've seen a sharp inflation acceleration for airfreight service on scheduled domestic airlines.(AIR)
November 1, 2005... In the first three quarters of 2005, we've seen a sharp inflation acceleration for airfreight service on scheduled domestic airlines. In the second and third quarters of 2005, prices were up compared to the same period last year by a respective...

Thank Hurricane Katrina for this one-month price hike. Prices for shipping on inland waterways jumped 20.4% from August to September, according to Labor Department surveys.(WATER)
November 1, 2005... Thank Hurricane Katrina for this one-month price hike. Prices for shipping on inland waterways jumped 20.4% from August to September, according to Labor Department surveys. But the short-term disaster doesn't account for the whole problem...

Intermodal traffic on U.S. railroads.(RAIL)
November 1, 2005... Intermodal traffic on U.S. railroads may have hit some weekly records this fall, but railroads that carry those trailers and containers haven't been cashing in with big price hikes. In fact, according to transaction-price surveys by the...

Initial results for OffPeak program appear promising: PierPass reports that more than half a million truck trips have been diverted from peak daytime traffic hours since July 23.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
November 1, 2005... LONG BEACH, Calif. -- When PierPass introduced its OffPeak program earlier this year, it met with controversy and skepticism from shippers and transportation providers alike. (See "Shippers plan to avoid PierPass fees by diverting cargo," July...

IBM and Maersk develop intelligent tracking device.(TRADE SECURITY)
November 1, 2005... ARMONK, N.Y. -- IBM and Maersk Logistics, a subsidiary of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, have developed a wireless container-tracking device and an architecture for data-sharing networks--without using radio frequency identification (RFID). ...

RFID approach depends on industry.(News Capsule)
November 1, 2005... A survey of more than 500 companies found that "slap and ship" RFID applications prevail in industries that are subject to compliance deadlines. Other industries are more likely to integrate RFID with current business processes. ...

Stand-alone trade-compliance market "disappears".(GLOBAL TRADE SOFTWARE)
November 1, 2005... BOSTON -- Just as global trade management reached the "Top 5" priority list for most shippers, the stand-alone trade-compliance and documentation software market has virtually disappeared. In the past year, JPMorgan Chase, TradeBeam, and UPS...

Is SOA the answer to supply chain software limitations?(SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY)
November 1, 2005... BOSTON -- The days when companies purchase expansive--and expensive--technology applications may be coming to an end, according to a new report from Aberdeen Group. In its "Service-Oriented Architecture Benchmark Report," the research firm...

For the record.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2005... Due to a technical error, two companies were omitted from the list of winners in the Truckload/Household Goods category of the Quest for Quality (August 2005). Bekins Van Lines and United Van Lines were also winners in that category, logistics...

Yellow Transportation.(NEW SERVICES)
November 1, 2005... Yellow Transportation has launched Expedited Direct, a door-to-door air service for shipments weighing between 50 and 7,000 pounds. Customers can choose one-, two-, or three-day service with delivery by noon or 5:00 p.m. to points in the U.S.,...

National Retail Systems.(NEW SERVICES)
November 1, 2005... Retail logistics specialist National Retail Systems is expanding on both coasts, adding 800,000 square feet to its Los Angeles distribution center and leasing 18 acres of property in Northern New Jersey to build a trailer/container yard. In...

The new "Hold for Pickup" option from APX Logistics and the U.S. Postal Service gives consumers the option of picking up parcels at a nearby post office.(NEW SERVICES)
November 1, 2005... The new "Hold for Pickup" option from APX Logistics and the U.S. Postal Service gives consumers the option of picking up parcels at a nearby post office. Customers are notified by telephone when a package has been shipped and when it is ready...

Horizon Lines.(NEW SERVICES)
November 1, 2005... Horizon Lines is deploying 900 high-cube "Reefer Plus" refrigerated containers with enhanced insulation and stronger ceilings and floors. Designed to detect unauthorized entry, each is equipped with a new type of door-lock cam with a...

DSC Logistics.(NEW SERVICES)
November 1, 2005... DSC Logistics' Chicagoland Logistics Center has been certified and activated as a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ). Imported merchandise entering an FTZ does not clear customs until it leaves the zone for domestic distribution. Benefits include lower...

Datebook.(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... Nov, 17. 4th Annual Northeast Cargo Symposium. Boston. Coalition of New England Companies for Trade, www.conect.org or 508-481-0424. Nov. 28-Dec. 2. 34th Annual Meeting. Miami. National Association of Chemical Distributors. 703-527-6223 or...

LTL fuel surcharges are not all alike.(Bohman on PRICING)
November 1, 2005... IN THE WAKE OF Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, diesel fuel prices shot up to record highs, with the national average price for a gallon of diesel fuel skyrocketing by 34.6 cents per gallon between September 26 and October 3. Just about every...

How procurement leaders master global sourcing.(Byrne on EXCELLENCE)
November 1, 2005... Early in 2005, we discussed global sourcing--developing strategies, capabilities, and processes for acquiring materials from the best resources. regardless of location. Since then. the number of global sourcing advocates and practitioners has...

Mike Regan sounds off: the 2005 NITL Executive of the Year is a frequent speaker at industry gatherings--both on the podium and off. His extensive knowledge, commitment to education, and willingness to speak out on pressing issues has earned him the respect of shippers and carriers alike.(2005 NITL EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2005... If you've attended a logistics and transportation event in the past 20 years, the chances are good that you've met Mike Regan--or have at least heard his confident voice booming from the back of a crowded conference room. He's the guy who...

Air cargo pricing: no simple matter: many factors influence the price you pay for air cargo shipments. Here's a rundown of the basic considerations.(TRANSPORTATION TRENDS)
November 1, 2005... With the price of fuel skyrocketing, transportation costs are on everyone's minds. Perhaps nowhere else is that pressure felt more keenly than in the airline industry. Airlines' costs are going through the roof, and shippers have to wonder:...

Perfecting the dialogue: a successful shipper-forwarder relationship depends on both sides clearly communicating from the start.(GLOBAL LOGISTICS)
November 1, 2005... Once upon a time--only a decade or so ago--the shipper-freight forwarder dialogue was all about getting the lowest rates. The freight forwarder was perceived to be the power player in the relationship, negotiating deals with carriers and...

Cutting through the noise: many technology vendors are touting cargo-security solutions these days. Shippers need to decide which will best achieve their security goals.(SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY)
November 1, 2005... In the aftermath of September 11, there was an understandable rush to deploy all kinds of high-tech security solutions, from handheld radiation detectors to shipment-tracking software. At the same time, a host of cargo-security programs kicked...

A DC for the Jetsons: Stop & Shop's new automated distribution center takes the grocery chain from a manual operation into the Space Age.(Automation / WAREHOUSE & DC)
November 1, 2005... If George Jetson were to land his space ship in Stop & Shop's newest distribution center, the Space Age dad from the 1960s cartoon series would feel right at home. That's because the 1.3 million-square-foot DC is one of the most automated in...

European ports tackle congestion: like their counterparts in North America, EU ports have found it difficult to keep up with swelling import volumes. Here's a look at the steps some of them are taking to keep cargo flowing.(A Special Supplement)
November 1, 2005... An unprecedented convergence of external and internal forces have been brought to bear on European ship operators, terminal owners, and port authorities over the past two years, challenging their ability to provide shippers with the expeditious...

PC*MILER upgrade eases data management.(NEW PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2005... ALK Technologies Inc. has released PC*MILER FleetCommander 19, an upgrade of its visualization tool for tracking and managing transportation fleets and drivers. According to the company, fleets using PC*MILER FleetCommander benefit from...

Let's liberate the diamond lane.(PARTING SHOT)
November 1, 2005... TRAFFIC WAS SNARLED ON ROUTE 84 southbound to Hartford, Conn., the other day, but my way was free and clear in the diamond-marked high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lane. Whenever there's at least one other passenger in my car, I take advantage...