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

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

Almost on cue, the Teamsters (IBT) and Public Citizen jointly filed a challenge to the most recent version of the hours-of-service (HOS) rules with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on Sept. 23.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Almost on cue, the Teamsters (IBT) and Public Citizen jointly filed a challenge to the most recent version of the hours-of-service (HOS) rules with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on Sept. 23. According to John Larkin,...

Diesel prices should hold steady at $2.50 to $2.70 through the winter.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Diesel prices should hold steady at $2.50 to $2.70 through the winter. According to Logistics Management's in-house economist, Jim Haughey, U.S. business is compensating for most of the oil-supply loss caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita by...

U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner plans to retire soon.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2005... U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner plans to retire soon. Bonner notified President Bush late last month of his desire to step down, but an official retirement date has not yet been set. Speaking at a recent conference on supply chain...

Port security funding falls short.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Port security funding falls short. Congressional leaders announced that the Fiscal Year 2006 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget would provide $175 million for the next round of Port Security Grant (PSG) funding. But according to Kurt...

Intermec and Symbol finally reach a truce.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Intermec and Symbol finally reach a truce. After many months of wrestling over an intellectual property dispute involving radio frequency identification (RFID), the two companies have put legal actions on hold. Under the terms of their...

Putting safety first.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Putting safety first. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has named three motor carriers as winners of its 2005 National Truck Safety Contest. The companies--representing large, mid-sized, and small fleets--are Con-Way Western Express, A....

Itching to sound off on the Staggers Act?(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Itching to sound off on the Staggers Act? Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Roger Nober will hold a public hearing marking the 25th anniversary of the Staggers Act of 1980. The act allowed the railroad industry the flexibility to...

Three events originally planned for New Orleans have been relocated.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Three events originally planned for New Orleans have been relocated. The Association for Operations Management (APICS) 2005 International Conference and Exposition has moved to Kansas City, Mo., for Oct. 16-18 (www.apics.org). The Dangerous...

CSCMP is naming names in its newest publication, Supply Chain and Logistics Consultants Directory.(Management UPDATE: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INDUSTRY NEWS)(Directory)
October 1, 2005... CSCMP is naming names in its newest publication, Supply Chain and Logistics Consultants Directory. The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) developed the directory to help supply chain management and logistics professionals...

Visibility through the storm.(VIEWPOINT)
October 1, 2005... THERE'S VERY LITTLE that hasn't already been said concerning the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. The storm was of such magnitude that it left no person or industry in this country untouched. We weren't surprised, then, when our...

Trucking companies did not tack on noticeable increases.(TRUCKING)
October 1, 2005... Trucking companies did not tack on noticeable increases to existing fuel surcharges in August, according to the Labor Department's survey of U.S. carriers. From July to August the average transaction price charged by TL carriers increased only...

With Gulf Coast refineries recovering.(AIR)
October 1, 2005... With Gulf Coast refineries recovering, our price forecast for U.S. airlines that ship freight on scheduled flights has been upgraded because of the ever-rising cost of jet fuel. After a 3.5% price hike in July (even before the hurricanes hit)...

Prices for hauling oil and grain on the Mississippi and other inland waterways had been following a budget-busting trend line even before Katrina hit the Gulf.(WATER)
October 1, 2005... Prices for hauling oil and grain on the Mississippi and other inland waterways had been following a budget-busting trend line even before Katrina hit the Gulf. In August, average prices for freight on inland waterways increased 3.6% over...

The average price for carload transportation services increased 13.4% in August 2005 from the same month a year ago.(RAIL)
October 1, 2005... The average price for carload transportation services increased 13.4% in August 2005 from the same month a year ago. That's the fastest growth rate on record for that sector. On a month-to-month basis, carload prices were up 1.5%, which negated...

Deutsche post to buy Exel for $6.8 billion: acquisition will bring the German conglomerate closer to its goal of becoming the world's largest provider of logistics services.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
October 1, 2005... BONN/LONDON -- Deutsche Post's (DP) buying binge continues with its pending purchase of Exel, the United Kingdom's largest contract logistics company, for approximately $6.8 billion. DP's largest international acquisition follows its purchase...

Shippers learn tough lessons from Hurricane Katrina.(DISASTER RESPONSE)
October 1, 2005... WALTHAM, Mass.--With Gulf Coast ports and the surrounding transportation infrastructure slowly coming back online following Hurricane Katrina, U.S. shippers are beginning to assess the resilience of their logistics operations and are taking...

Tech tools for domestic transportation.(News Capsule)
October 1, 2005... The 2,300 participants in the annual Masters of Logistics benchmarking survey use a variety of software packages to manage domestic transportation. More than 43 percent take a do-it-yourself approach, using homegrown software, spreadsheets, or...

Oracle snaps up G-Log to strengthen logistics offerings.(TECHNOLOGY)
October 1, 2005... REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. -- Looking to build up its stable of logistics and supply chain products, Oracle Corp. of Redwood Shores, Calif., has purchased G-Log, a Shelton, Conn. based, privately held provider of logistics and transportation...

Transport challenges fuel TMS sales.(SOFTWARE)
October 1, 2005... DEDHAM, Mass. -- High fuel costs, globalization, reduced order-to-delivery cycle times, demand for better supply chain visibility, and executives' increasing awareness of transportation's importance are all driving significant growth in the...

Contract logistics company TNT Logistics will utilize Optiant's PowerChain software suite to help customers design and optimize their global supply chains.(NEW SERVICES)
October 1, 2005... Contract logistics company TNT Logistics will utilize Optiant's PowerChain software suite to help customers design and optimize their global supply chains. With PowerChain, TNT will be able to model product flows from raw materials through...

Odyssey Logistics & Technology.(NEW SERVICES)
October 1, 2005... Odyssey Logistics & Technology, a provider of logistics services to the chemical industry, now offers continuous movements and advanced outbound and inbound load scheduling for liquids. Services also include scheduled pick-up and drop off...

RoadLink USA.(NEW SERVICES)
October 1, 2005... RoadLink USA, an intermodal trucking company, now provides document images on its website to help its customers process their shipments faster and more accurately. Documents include Terminal Interchange Reports (TIRs) and signed Proof of...

U-Freight.(NEW SERVICES)
October 1, 2005... Freight forwarder U-Freight is expanding its presence in China by adding more office and warehouse space in Guangzhou and Xiamen. U-Freight also launched a sea-air service from Xiamen to North America and Europe via Taiwan, with faster transit...

Software vendor Logicor has acquired pfastship Worldwide Logistics, maker of Global Ship and pfastship 400i multi-carrier shipping execution systems.(NEW SERVICES)
October 1, 2005... Software vendor Logicor has acquired pfastship Worldwide Logistics, maker of Global Ship and pfastship 400i multi-carrier shipping execution systems. Logicor will integrate those products with its LogiCOM middleware. (www.logicor.com)

Purolator.(NEW SERVICES)
October 1, 2005... Purolator, a third-party logistics and U.S.-Canada specialist, has relocated its U.S. headquarters to Jericho. N.Y.The facility will also serve as a support center for a new billing and tracking system, which will launch this fall.

Datebook.(LOGISTICS BRIEFING)(Calendar)
October 1, 2005... Oct. 19. "Contracting for Transportation and Logistics" seminar. San Francisco. Transportation & Logistics Council. 631-549-8984 or www.transportationlogistics council.org Oct. 23-26. 2005 Annual Conference. San Diego. Council of Supply...

What you need to know about filing overcharge claims.(Bohman on PRICING)
October 1, 2005... SOFTWARE THAT HELPS CARRIERS rate shipments more accurately is being employed to a greater extent than ever before, yet some freight bills continue to contain errors that result in overcharges. In order to find and rectify overcharges, many...

Retooling the supply chain for profitable growth.(Byrne on EXCELLENCE)(Company Profile)
October 1, 2005... AFTER YEARS OF FERVENT COST CUTTING, many companies are shifting their attention to a new priority: profitable growth. Such a focus can be a positive development, but it may also pose a problem, as few supply chains are well positioned to...

J&J's deep bench: the Global Transportation Organization changed the way Johnson & Johnson viewed transportation--and groomed a diverse, talented staff in the process.(Company Profile)(Cover Story)
October 1, 2005... WHAT CAN YOU SAY about an organization that revolutionized the transportation practices of a company that did $47.3 billion in sales in 2004? You can say that it clearly deserved to win the 2005 NASSTRAC/Logistics Management Shipper of the Year...

Circumnavigating the choke points: shippers and ocean carriers are using a combination of hard work and creativity to avoid congestion at West Coast ports.(TRANSPORTATION TRENDS)
October 1, 2005... Mark Kusuplos is doing his best to avoid the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. As manager of global logistics for Guardian Industries Corp., one of the world's largest manufacturers of flat glass and a major U.S. exporter, he ships 3,000 to...

How to survive a customs audit: importers can not only survive a customs audit, they can also benefit from the experience. Two international trade veterans tell how.(GLOBAL LOGISTICS)
October 1, 2005... For most importers, the phrase "customs audit" evokes a negative image. They tend to think of audits as labor- and data-intensive efforts that inevitably lead to findings that they are guilty of negligence, liable for additional duties, or...

Standards speed global trade: by implementing standardized export processes and information systems, Fairchild Semiconductor improved trade compliance worldwide.(SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY)
October 1, 2005... Bob Scribner knew three years ago that Fairchild Semiconductor's export management software was sorely in need of an upgrade. Since 1998, the South Portland, Maine-based manufacturer had been using a solution that couldn't quite keep up with...

Shippers see inventory rising: sales growth, global sourcing, product proliferation, and transportation delays have some shippers adding safety stock.(Inventory: WAREHOUSE & DC)
October 1, 2005... When Scott Phillips looks at the stock in his distribution centers, he sees that inventory levels have crept up this year compared to last. As director of purchasing for distribution centers at Airgas Products, a distributor of specialty gases...

Shipping to Canada: new priorities on the northern border: Canada's leading logistics service providers say shippers need to be more aware of the post-9/11 changes affecting U.S.-Canada border crossings.(A Special Supplement)
October 1, 2005... For more than a century, Canadians and Americans took justifiable pride in their shared frontier, the longest unguarded border in the world. That changed utterly in September of 2001. In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks,...

Rugged forklift-mounted RFID reader.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... The RX1 forklift-mounted RFID reader combines the RX1 reader with application-specific antennae, synchronized with forklift operations to ensure that the unit reads the right items at the right time. According to the company, initially the RX1...

Drop-deck trailer offers stronger floor.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... Reinke Manufacturing Inc. has announced enhancements to its drop-deck trailer. The new features include redesigned wheel wells that no longer extend up into the floor of the drop deck. According to the company, this change will add to the...

Three-wheeled lift trucks boast AC power.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... Doosan Infracore has introduced AC power to both drive and hydraulic motors on the Pro 5 Series of three-wheeled lift trucks. The trucks feature carrying capacities of 3,000, 3,500, and 4,000 pounds. The electric motors generate more run...

Multi-line scanner enhances flexibility.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... The LS4208 bar-code scanner from Symbol Technologies is designed with a multi-line scan pattern to help customers quickly and accurately scan one-dimensional bar codes, including those that are damaged, small, or poorly printed. With its...

PC*MILER upgrade eases data management.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 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...

Decision-support software for ocean shipping.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... Rate Explorer 10.0 helps importers, exporters, and NVOCCs make ocean freight decisions based on cost and service trade-offs. The program features an enhanced Contract Manager module that supports shipment-optimization decisions. According to...

Palletizer offers speed and versatility.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... The new P45 Palletizer from Cermex offers output rates of up to 100,000 bottles per hour for small bottles. The manufacturers say this capability makes it well-suited to the demands of high-speed liquid packaging lines. The system handles two...

Access-control software for warehouse security.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... Millennium Enterprise Access Control software now features full integration with the First Line series of digital video recorders (DVRs). Requiring only a network connection, the software is able to display video in response to any alarm that...

Sorter tracks smaller products.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... Hytrol's ViperSort sorting conveyor can accurately track and divert small- to medium-sized products onto attached chutes. Using a plastic, modular cleated belt with a pusher mechanism that allows products to be diverted at right angles, the...

Low-cost inventory and order-management packages.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... Three new versions of AdvancePro 5.0 inventory and order management software from AdvanceWare Solutions are priced below $1,000, making them affordable for small to medium-sized companies. The core product is designed for use by...

Self-threader forming head speeds shrink-wrapping.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... The self-threader forming head on Lantech's new SW-5000 shrink-wrapping machine is built to produce perfectly centered lap seals without setup adjustment. It also changes over quickly with its quick-disconnect feature, say the manufacturers....

Are you ready for the next Katrina?(PARTING SHOT)
October 1, 2005... BY NOW, WE'VE ALL SEEN THE HORRIFIC IMAGES of destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. And we've heard the reports that government officials failed to heed warnings and take actions that might have mitigated the loss and damage that resulted...