American Shipper

   Members of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association allege the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is sharing pre-employment screening results illegally by giving employers driver safety data.    The drivers filed a class-action lawsuit Wednesday alleging that the data the FMCSA shares goes “far beyond its statutory authority,” according to an OOIDA press release. The […]

   In Vancouver, Canada, the carrier said that “an increase in volumes diverted away from U.S. West Coast, coupled with limited allocation in rail cars to U.S. corridors, has resulted in significant congestion and increased dwell times.”

   The project will improve access to the terminal gate complex and enhance the movement of new vehicles between BMW’s processing facility and the vessel-berthing area. The road improvements are being funded by cargo facility charges.

   An array of sensors that provide ships and other users in the Port of Jacksonville with real-time tidal and weather information was dedicated Wednesday.    The Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) is designed to save money, improve safety and enhance research regarding conditions in the St. Johns River.    The $2.8 million PORTS system […]

   Costamare, an Athens-based company that owns and charters containerships to liner companies, said it had net income in the second quarter ending June 30 of $27.4 million, compared to $30.6 million during the same period in 2013. Voyage revenue in the quarter was $123.5 million, compared with $100 million in the second quarter of […]

   The Piracy Reporting Center of the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau is raising the alarm about an increase in small tanker hijackings.    While the overall number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships reported to the piracy center was down in the first six months of 2014 — 116 […]

   Roadrunner Transportation Systems of Cudahy, Wisc., said it has acquired Integrated Services, Inc., of Kokomo, Indiana, a regional logistics provider primarily focused the automotive industry, for $13 million.    In 2013, Integrated Services generated revenues of approximately $21 million.

   “As I commented this past spring when preliminary cargo figures began rolling in, we’re really entering a great period here at the Port of Philadelphia,” said Charles G. Kopp, chairman of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority.

   Port Freeport in Texas recently received two new post-Panamax cranes from Shanghai.    Both cranes will occupy a portion of Berth 7 at Velasco Terminal. They stand just under 300 feet from the ground and can lift up to 75 tons.    “The cranes will allow us to attract new services and business to […]

   Cargolux Airlines will take delivery of its 10th Boeing 747-8 freighter on July 25.    Dirk Reich, the carrier’s president and chief executive officer, said that the delivery of the plane will help bring the fleet average age down to 5.8 years.    “Apart from the increased fuel efficiency and reduced noise footprint, the […]

   Pantos Logistics has acquired a 20,000-square-meter warehouse at Massvlakte next to Port of Rotterdam.     The warehouse will allow Pantos to further expand its distribution business in Europe.     The company currently operates 90 distribution centers worldwide, including 11 in Europe, and has developed networks in European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, France, the […]

   Non-vessel-operating common carrier Vanguard Logistics Services has established Vanguard Turkey Lojistik Hizmetler A.S., providing both import and export less-than-containerload services.    The NVO has provided services in Turkey through a partnership with JMS for many years. The JMS employees will transition into the Vanguard Group, expanding Vanguard’s brand, operations and network to the Turkish […]

   Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash.,  said the proposed rules are “a step in the right direction,” but added that regulators and industry officials are not done working “to ensure that crude oil can be transported safely by rail.”

   Norfolk Southern officials said the railroad broke a record for net income during the third quarter, generating $562 million, a 21-percent, year-over-year rise.    Income from railway operations experienced a 22-percent increase to $1 billion.    Coupled with those record earnings, NS’ operating ratio improved by 5 percentage points, as operating revenues rose 9 […]

   After four consecutive months of improving truck tonnage, the American Trucking Associations’ For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index inched down by 0.8 percent in June.    “June was one of those months where the data doesn’t quite match up with the anecdotal reports from fleets,” Bob Costello, ATA’s chief economist said in a statement. “We had […]

   In the second quarter, Delta Air Lines’ cargo revenue fell 1 percent to $230 million, on what officials said were “lower freight yields were partially offset by higher volumes.”    Cargo revenue fell 5 percent during the first six months of the year, when compared to the same period in 2013.    Total operating […]

   “We plan to pursue the targeted expansion of our activities in the Korean market and leverage the close logistical connection to Greater China, the U.S. and Europe for our customers,” Dachser Korea’s managing director, Roman Muller, said.

   The damage, which is expected to take three months to repair, will not slow cargo operations, but may require ships to be moved to alternative berths, according to port officials. Larger biodiesel tankers that use the pier will require help.

   Crowley is reportedly “in talks to acquire Horizon Line’s port facilities in San Juan and its service between the mainland and Puerto Rico,” according to the publication Caribbean Business, which cited unnamed sources.    However, Crowley Spokesman Mark Miller said, “Our plans have not changed. We are building two new, LNG-powered ConRo ships at […]

   Foreign shipping lines are resuming container service to Iranian ports.    “Thai Wan Hai Company became the first foreign shipping line that resumed operation in Iran after its ship berthed in the Southern Iranian Shaheed Rajayee port on Tuesday morning,” reported Iran’s FARS News Agency. Wan Hai is headquartered in Taiwan, but has subsidiaries […]