American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves recently cast doubt on the ability of Congress to pass a bill in the near future reauthorizing federal surface transportation programs. Optimism for a new spending blueprint increased after the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this month approved a two-year, $85 billion bill funding highway maintenance, safety […]
Maersk Line said it will suspend its ICON service between the Indian Subcontinent and Europe from early February, and will link the region to Europe via Colombo calls by the AE7 and AE1, two of its existing Asia-Europe “daily” loops.
The Chilean liner carrier CSAV has sought to dispel rumors that it plans to sell its container shipping business after the line lost $890.9 million through the first three quarters of 2011. The steep loss, compared to a $218.9 million profit in the same period in 2010, came even as the line’s revenue […]
The National Industrial Transportation League, the nation’s largest shipper group, on Wednesday asked Congress to quickly consider and apply the terms of a recently appointed Presidential Emergency Board on both rail management and labor if the parties fail to reach agreement in the next two weeks. In a letter to all 535 members […]
DHL has announced Chizoba “Chizzy” Nnamchi, formerly of 3M, has been appointed chief executive officer of its Global Forwarding for Central Africa. In his new role, Nnamchi is responsible for the air and ocean freight in Ghana, Angola, Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo where there is a strong focus on […]
Global logistics provider Kuehne + Nagel has won a contract to manage inbound logistics for Bonfiglioli’s new assembly plant in Chennai, India. Bonfiglioli, Bologna, Italy, makes power transmission and control systems.
Washington Notebook
O’Malley Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is scheduled to arrive in India Monday with representatives from 43 companies, educators and state officials on a six-day trade mission to Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. Prior to arriving in India O’Malley and Christian Johansson, secretary of business and economic development, will make a brief stop in […]
Member container lines in the Canada Transpacific Stabilization Agreement said last week their currency adjustment factor will be 7 percent effective Jan. 1. The 10 members generally announce the currency surcharge more than one month before it goes into effect. CTSA members are APL, COSCO Container Lines, Evergreen Line, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant […]
Heavy equipment maker sharpens view on cargo in transit. By Chris Gillis Is it actually possible to lose sight of a 15-foot-tall, 60-ton bulldozer? It happens to big equipment shippers in their supply chains more often than most would admit, and until several years ago, Caterpillar, a manufacturer of some of the world’s largest earth […]
When it comes to shipping, Caterpillar thinks big. One of its largest and most challenging shipments in its product portfolio is the 797 mining truck. The truck chassis and engines are sourced from a plant in Decatur, Ill., while the massive buckets are made in Monterrey, Mexico. When fully assembled, these trucks […]
In March, Caterpillar began considering its “strategic options” for its third-party logistics operation, including a potential sale or structuring it as an independent business within Cat Logistics. “The third-party logistics business has been a high performing operation within Caterpillar, serving more than 50 customers worldwide in a number of different industries,” said Steve […]
Competition, strengthening relationships and enhancing port finances are priorities. By Eric Kulisch The new strategic plan for the Port of Los Angeles being fleshed out by Port Director Geraldine Knatz and her staff focuses on three priorities: competition, strengthening relationships with stakeholders and enhancing the port’s financial wherewithal. Knatz told the Board of Harbor Commissioners […]
(partial list): Southern California International Gateway – the Port of Los Angeles released its draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the BNSF near-dock intermodal facility in September and will hold public meetings on the project Nov. 10 and 16. Union Pacific International Container Transfer Facility — the railroad is expanding the facility’s capacity and installing […]
Five-year-old Clean Air Action Plan reduced emissions from cargo-handling operations. By Eric Kulisch November marked the fifth anniversary of the San Pedro Bay ports’ adoption of a landmark Clean Air Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy to reduce air pollution and associated health risks. Under the plan, the ports pledged not only to reduce overall emissions […]
Port of L.A. protects property from encroachment by non-maritime uses. By Eric Kulisch The Port of Los Angeles is in the process of formulating a development plan for interior sections of Terminal Island to protect it from encroachment by non-maritime uses that don’t depend on water transportation. In the past five years the port has […]
The American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index increased 0.5 percent in October after rising a revised 1.5 percent in September 2011. The not-seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 118.5 in October, which was 0.8 percent below […]
The first sailing of FESCO Russian Pacific Line’s new direct all water service to Vladivostok departed the Port of Tacoma Tuesday. The service will use roll-on/roll-off vessels, as part of its direct fortnightly service to Vladivostok and other points in the Russian Far East. Breakbulk, project, and ro-ro cargoes–including trucks, trailers and […]
The information service Alphaliner says there is “no immediate relief in sight for carriers engaged in the war of attrition on the Far East-North Europe trade” in what it says are “unprecedented” low rates. It says negative base rates have been offered on the Asia-Europe trade since September and only a mild recovery expected in […]
The American Club said Wednesday it is seeking a 5 percent increase in all classes of premium (mutual and fixed-premium) for both protection and indemnity P&I and freight, demurrage and defense insurance for the 2012 policy year that starts on Feb. 20, 2012. The club said there is no expectation of any unbudgeted supplementary calls […]
