Logistics Management News

• Logistics business: PwC report indicates Q3 transportation and logisitcs M&A activity inches up
  
  Jeff Berman, Group News Editor, November 19, 2009
  Rate of activity shows growth, but future gains are tied to improving freight volumes and looser credit accessibiity.
  
• Ocean cargo/global logistics: Carrier shift in capacity reflects U.S. shipper's perception
  
  Patrick Burnson, November 19, 2009
  The competitive position of U.S. WestCoast ports was called into question during a press conference held at TheNational Industrial Transportation League annual conference this week
  
• Ocean cargo/global logistics: CMA CGM will be profitable in 2010
  
  Patrick Burnson, November 19, 2009
  Among the key measures introduced by thecarrier is the closing of secondary lines to concentrate volumes on primary routes.
  
• Supply chain software: Warehouse control systems find their place
  
  Bob Trebilcock, MMH Executive Editor, November 19, 2009
  Warehouse control systems are taking on added responsibilities inside the "four walls" these days.
  
• Logistics warehousing: A. Duie Pyle expands warehouse presence in Northeast
  
  Jeff Berman, Group News Editor, November 18, 2009
  Less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier and integrated transportation provider A. Duie Pyle has opened a new 243,000 square-foot rail-sided warehouse in Westfield, Mass.
  
• Transportation infrastructure: Senators pen letter to Majority and Minority leaders on surface transportation bill extension
  
  Jeff Berman, Group News Editor, November 18, 2009
  With no clear idea of when a long-term surface transportation authorization will be passed, a bi-partisan group of seven Senate Committee Chairs and Ranking Members penned a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to take steps towards a six-month extension on a surface transportation bill to spur job creation and economic recovery.
  
• Logistics technology: SaaS taking on a larger role in TMS sector
  
  Sean Murphy, Associate Editor, November 18, 2009
  Outside of a select few, most companies that want to use Transportation Management Systems in their supply chains will be seeking out some form of Software-as-a-Service, or "cloud" computing, when adopting new software platforms.
  
• Logistics and business news: Panjiva data shows decent sequential manufacturing growth
  
  Jeff Berman, Group News Editor, November 17, 2009
  Data released from Panjiva, an online search engine with detailed information on global suppliers and manufacturers, indicates that there was a 3 percent increase in the number of global manufacturers shipping to the U.S. market from August to September compared to a 1 percent increase during the same timeframe in 2008.
  
• Parcel shipping: UPS expects peak volume on December 21
  
  Jeff Berman, Group News Editor, November 17, 2009
  UPS expects December 21 to be its busiest day of the year, anticipating it will deliver approximately 22 million packages worldwide, which is 40 percent more than normal daily deliveries.
  
• Parcel shipping: USPS reports $3.8 billion fiscal year 2009 loss
  
  Jeff Berman, Group News Editor, November 17, 2009
  It is not a stretch to see that 2009 has been a trying year for the United States Postal Service (USPS). That has been reflected in its financials for all of this year, most recently with its recent release of fiscal year-end 2009 earnings, which revealed the USPS had a $3.8 billion net loss for the fiscal year. This loss exceeds 2008's fiscal year loss of $2.8 billion by 26.3 percent.
  
• Trucking news: Truckers, enforcement personnel applaud Ferro's confirmation as FMCSA chief
  
  John D. Schulz, Contributing Editor, November 16, 2009
  Despite opposition by safety advocates during her nomination, Anne S. Ferro was confirmed by the Senate and is on the job as the fifth full-time administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
  
• Logistics and business news: Indicators present "mixed bag" for economic outlook and recovery
  
  Jeff Berman, Group News Editor, November 16, 2009
  As has been the case in recent months, many leading economic indicators continue to present a "mixed bag," when it comes to determining how strongly the economy is recovering. This is particularly acute when looking at retail figures released by the National Retail Federation and the Department of Commerce earlier today.
  
• Global Logistics: FedEx Trade Networks expands presence in Asia and Europe
  
  Jeff Berman, Group News Editor, November 16, 2009
  FedEx Trade Networks has opened seven new freight forwarding offices in Asia and Europe. This expansion brings its total of new freight forwarding locations in 2009 to 14.
  
• Logistics news: Marsh Inc. provides details on potential impact of H1N1 on supply chain and the business world
  
  Sean Murphy, Associate Editor, November 16, 2009
  Supply chain managers need to examine what other effects a pandemic may have on key parts of a company's flow of inventory, goods and raw materials
  
• Ocean cargo/global logistics: NITL hails "Rottterdam Rules" at annual conference
  
  Patrick Burnson, November 15, 2009
  New convention has been the subject of years ofnegotiations with the U.N.Commission on International Trade Law
  
• Intermodal shipping: IANA reports Q3 intermodal volume is down 16.4 percent
  
  Jeff Berman, Group News Editor, November 13, 2009
  Among myriad indications that the economy is slowly recovering and things are getting "less worse," recent data from the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) could be viewed as another sign of that sentiment.
  
• Supply chain news: New book takes aim at supply chain risk
  
  Frank Quinn, Editorial Director, November 13, 2009
  As their operations grow more global and complex, companies are becoming increasingly worried about disruptions to their supply chains. The big challenge they encounter, says Gary S. Lynch of Marsh Inc., is identifying the potential risks and then effectively managing them.
  
• Air cargo/global logistics: Redundant inspection systems may jeopardize security, says IATA
  
  Patrick Burnson, November 13, 2009
  The International Air Transport Association called on governments and regulators to work with the industry to eliminateineffective duplication of aviation security procedures.
  
• Parcel shipping: DHL augments partnership with Retail Shipping Associates for global shipping services
  
  Jeff Berman, Group News Editor, November 13, 2009
  Global express and logistics service provider DHL Express said this week it has expanded an existing agreement with Retail Shipping Associates (RSA), a trade association representing retail shipping stores, in which RSA will act as a preferred partner for the DHL Authorized Shipping Center Network.
  
• Railroad shipping: AAR reports traffic for week ending November 7 is down 12.2 percent
  
  Jeff Berman, Group News Editor, November 12, 2009
  The Association of American Railroads said today that total volume for the week ending November 7 was down 12.2 percent compared to the corresponding week last year and 19.6 percent from the same week in 2007.