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Friday, November 05, 2010

Railroad volumes for the week ending October 30 showed continued year-over-year improvement, according to data released by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Carload volume at 292,884 was up 6.3 percent year-over-year, but down compared to the weeks ending October 23 and October 16 at 302,855 and 303,664, respectively.

With more than three-quarters of 2010 in the books, many of the industry events that comprise what could be called the “fall travel season” have come and gone. But one big event is now less than two big weeks away. The name of that event? Well, it depends on whom you ask. It is sponsored by three well known organizations: the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL), the Intermodal Association of North American (IANA), and the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). At the end of the day, many people call it TransComp.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Earlier this week, the United States Postal Service (USPS) rolled out new prices for various services, which are scheduled to take effect on January 2, 2011, pending approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. In its announcement, the USPS said it is rolling out new flat-rate products, as well as offerings geared specifically to consumers and shippers, respectively.

Global real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) noted in a recent research report that even through the economic downturn has lowered global cargo levels, as well as lower demand for logistics space around United States airports, airport real estate is potentially well-positioned for future growth.

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was up 25.3 percent in August 2010 compared to August 2009, increasing to $68.0 billion, according to data released by the United States Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

FedEx announced earlier today that its FedEx Express subsidiary will acquire the logistics, distribution, and express businesses of India-based AFL Pvt. Ltd. and its affiliate Unifreight India Pvt. Ltd. Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close by February 2011, were not disclosed.

The Institute of Supply Management’s (ISM) Non-Manufacturing Report on Business for October continued the momentum it showed in September. The ISM’s index for measuring the sector’s overall health—known at the NMI—was 54.3 in October, a 1.1 percent gain from September.

While surfing through the cable news channels on Election Night, it became pretty clear that Congress would be turning from a Democratic-led entity to a divided one, with Democrats retaining a slim margin in the Senate and Republicans making a strong showing in the House to take control. Given the possibly unprecedented level of political acrimony in recent years, it is no surprise that things went the way they did last night. So, the big question now becomes, what happens now?

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

UPS announced that new rates will kick in, effective January 3, 2011. Company officials said that 2011 rates will include a net increase of 4.9 percent for UPS ground packages and a net increase of 4.9 percent on all air express and U.S. origin international shipments.

Following the recent attempt by terrorists to send explosives to the United States on cargo and passenger planes, Massachusetts Representative Edward J. Markey (D) said he plans to introduce legislation requiring 100 percent screening of all cargo on cargo planes.