Tuesday, December 07, 2010

November rail volumes were up compared to the same period in 2009, according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). The AAR reported that monthly rail carloads for November—at 1,137,626—were up 4.5 percent year-over-year.

Diesel prices were up for the first time in three week, rising 3.5 cents to $3.197 per gallon for the week of December 6, according to data from the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Monday, December 06, 2010

FedEx recently announced it will up its rates for its FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery units by an average of 4.9 percent, which will take effect on January 3, 2011.

Data published by ACT Research, a provider of data and analysis for trucks and other commercial vehicles, and freight transportation forecasting firm and consultancy FTR Associates indicated that preliminary data for Class 8 trucks is showing signs of very positive growth.

The White House announced late last week that the United States and Korea have reached a resolution regarding issues relating to the U.S.-Korea trade agreement. White House officials said that the agreement is an integral part of President Obama’s efforts to increase opportunities for U.S. businesses, farmers, and workers through improved access for their products and services in foreign markets and also supports the Administration’s goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015.

The future of two of the few remaining ocean carrier cartels may be determined when the Federal Maritime Commission meets this week.

Friday, December 03, 2010

The Institute of Supply Management’s (ISM) Non-Manufacturing Report on Business for November remained on the growth path it has been on for nearly a year. The ISM’s index for measuring the sector’s overall health—known at the NMI—was 55.0 in November, a 0.7 percent increase from October.

Netherlands-based TNT NV, a provider of mail and couriers services and the fourth largest global parcel operator, said it plans to “demerge” operations by separating its Express and Mail operations into two independent companies. Company officials said that the main reasons for an internal separation are the increasingly divergent strategic profiles of the two units and the limited existing synergies between them.

The nation’s supply chain may be at risk if new sources of energy are not tapped in the near future, said the American Petroleum Institute

Railroad volumes for the week of Thanksgiving ending November 27 showed steady year-over-year improvements, according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR).