The supply chain software company JDA has become such a fixture in the world of major retailers and manufacturers that it’s easy to forget the company also has a major presence in the third-party logistics provider market. But there’s room for growth, the company said, evidenced by its decision earlier this year to […]
UPS’s use GT Nexus order management system emblematic of way forwarders seek best-of-breed solutions. For a company that proudly points to the fact that it has invested $1 billion in technology for 15 years in a row, use of an outside software vendor might seem anathema. But it’s also a sign of the […]
It was the biggest news in the container shipping business for a year. The world’s three largest container shipping companies — Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Co. and CMA CGM — announced in June 2013 that they would enter into a long-term vessel sharing agreement (VSA) on all three of the major east-west container trades—Asia-Europe, […]
Ocean shipping consortium urges tougher oversight of air pollution rules. Several large ocean shipping companies have tentatively agreed to collaborate on ways to ensure regulatory authorities enforce new international requirements on sulfur emissions from commercial vessels, which could lead to divisions between haves and have-nots over the proper involvement of government. The issue […]
At the age of 12, I harbored dreams of a career in the NBA. Alas, topping out at 5-foot, 8-inches and lacking a dependable jumpshot, playing point guard professionally, it turns out, wasn’t really my core competency. Now this may be a little controversial, but there are lots of 5-foot, 8-inch point […]
Container carriers experience another difficult year with soft demand, excess capacity. 2013 was another tough year for the liner shipping industry, with the container operations of 15 public companies examined by American Shipper losing an aggregate $530 million. While some companies—most notably, the world’s largest container carrier Maersk Line, with an operating profit […]
By Walter Kemmsies, chief economist, Moffatt & Nichol One concerning aspect of the economic recovery that is taking place in the United States and other major economies is that inflation has been running well below 2 percent, the target rate in both the United States and Europe. This has been discussed and analyzed […]
Air cargo still faces significant challenges, and in many cases these issues are similar to problems the industry confronted years ago. In the International Air Transport Association’s 2014 Annual Review, released during the organization’s annual General Meeting in June, it highlighted the financial struggles of airlines, safety and security as some of the […]
Increased volumes of fresh fruits and produce destined to Asia, reshaping air freight. South American exporters of perishables have long been suppliers to the U.S. market, but they have more recently begun to extend their supply chains for delivering these commodities to new markets across Asia. While shipping fruit, such as blueberries and […]
U.S. container security program moves forward, relies more on technology and outsourcing. After lengthy preparations, the Port of Aqaba in Jordan has joined U.S. Customs’ Container Security Initiative, becoming the 58th participating port in the program. The move comes as CSI transitions into a hybrid operational model and some politicians continue […]
The peril of not declaring the value of cargo in a bill of lading was illustrated in a recent court decision (Outokumpu Stainless USA v. M/V Vegaland. et al. U.S. District Court, S.D. Texas. No. 13-66. May 13.) that grew out of damage to a piece of equipment for a steel mill during an […]
The P3 Network was an interesting concept, although unsettling to many shippers when first announced by the three largest liner carriers – Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co. and CMA CGM – earlier this year. The three carriers, grappling with absorbing the next-generation mega-containerships to enter the world’s fleet, promised the P3 Network would […]
Rotunda Capital acquires majority stake in third-party warehousing, fulfillment services provider. Private equity firm Rotunda Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in Amware Logistics Services, a provider of third-party warehousing and fulfillment services headquartered in Eagle, Colo. Amware’s president, Vincent Gulisano, will become chief executive officer of the company, and Rotunda Capital […]
In early June, Gene Seroka, APL’s former head of commercial in the Americas region, was officially appointed the new executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. His selection by the L.A. City Council was applauded widely by industry representatives. He replaced Geraldine Knatz, who announced her retirement as L.A. port director last […]
Global trade compliance doesn’t evolve as noticeably or quickly as fashion changes with the seasons. However, the fashion brand Gitano was forever transformed almost overnight by the powerful effect of enforced trade compliance. Gitano, a designer of jeans had been a thriving apparel manufacturer until the company’s executives pleaded guilty to charges of […]
The U.S. International Trade Commission recently voted to continue an investigation, first announced in May, of imported 53-foot dry containers used to move intermodal cargo within the United States. The ITC said there is “a reasonable indication that the establishment of a U.S. industry is materially retarded by reason of imports of 53-foot […]
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has implemented a revised enforcement strategy for the Importer Security Filing which provides for local discretion at the port level based on infrastructure and staffing resources. The agency says the strategy provides a more standardized approach which will permit headquarters to better analyze non-compliant ISF filings and educate violators. […]
By Beth Peterson How often do you toot your own horn? My guess is not very often. If you’re anything like me, you spend your evening making a list of everything you need to do the next day and when you arrive at work in the morning you get side-swiped by the latest issue […]
Forwarders urge U.S. to properly test all supply chain scenarios before issuing new air cargo security rule. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection should resolve lingering issues associated with an ongoing demonstration program for collecting advance shipment data to guide selective pre-departure inspections of U.S.-bound cargo before publishing a rulemaking requiring […]
By Biju Kewalram Many words have been written about how information accompanying the freight is as important as the physical movement of cargo, and it’s true…
