KUEHNE & NAGEL JOINS INTTRA

KUEHNE & NAGEL JOINS INTTRA    Kuehne & Nagel International AG, a global logistics services provider based in Switzerland and one of the world's largest ocean freight forwarders, has selected INTTRA to provide integration with its carrier partners and to provide shippers with Web access to K&N's full-containerload shipment services.
   The announcement marks a significant milestone in the development of INTTRA, one of three carrier-led portal companies, including GT Nexus and OOCL-owned CargoSmart. K&N is INTTRA's first major customer, and could provide INTTRA with momentum as it tries to overcome a perception that its development trails the industry's other carrier portals.
   “We believe the industry is best served by a neutral, industry-backed portal,” said Klaus Herms, chief executive officer of Kuehne & Nagel. “INTTRA is … the best portal to link us to the leading carriers, and (to give) our customers easy visibility of everything that happens in the supply chain.”
   Herms said INTTRA will offer “global visibility to all ocean cargo, creating a glass pipeline to all in-motion cargo.” K&N plans to implement the INTTRA solution in the fourth quarter.
   INTTRA said its focus will be on providing Web-based, door-to-door shipment management capabilities for shippers by linking them to carriers and logistics providers. The company says it offers tracking, booking and complete access to data. INTTRA plans to add services for contract management, shipment scheduling, exception management and shipping instructions.
   INTTRA’s ocean carrier members include Maersk Sealand, Hapag-Lloyd, Mediterranean Shipping Co., Hamburg Sud, CMA CGM, P&O Nedlloyd, Columbus Line, Crowley American Transport Line, Safmarine Container Lines N.V., ANL, and Alianca.