An effort focused on national domestic freight initiatives was introduced this week by United States Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood.

As if navigating the Great Recession, earthquakes, tsunamis, terrorist threats, revolutions, volcanos, and high fuel prices over the past 24 months wasn’t enough, along comes the European economic crisis to tug on the wings of world’s leading air cargo carriers.

Company officials said that this new, twice-weekly flight will augment transit times into Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, Australia by at least one day.

Covering roughly 13 acres, company officials said the hub can process up to 20,000 documents and 20,000 parcels per hour.

At a time when the economic recovery has clearly hit a soft patch and the economic road map remains highly uncertain, the road to recovery is being paved for future success.

The logistics industry has yet to climb back to the profitability it hit in 2007–the precipice from which it dropped during the recession. According to the report’s author and industry analysts, it may be a while until the overall industry hits full stride again.

As the International Air Cargo Association readies itself for the Annual General Meeting in Beijing next week, analysts will be able to examine one of the few bright spots in global aviation.

Company officials said that the majority of these aircraft are currently parked and not in revenue service, adding that it will take a non-cash impairment charge of $134 million, which is $84 million net of tax and recorded in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2012.

With the ongoing consolidation of air carriers, shippers are growing concerned about losing old relationships while having to forge new ones. Fortunately, freight intermediaries are helping them stay on course.

TSA officials said that this agreement will result in better communication sharing, stronger security, and more efficient air cargo transportation between the U.S. and the EU, which represents more then 1 million tons per year going to and from each continent and 20 percent of all EU outbound air cargo.