California-based drone manufacturer, Matternet, plus DHL's "parcelcopter" prototype unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), both plan to begin testing their airworthiness with actual payloads in the next two months.
The new year is here, and bringing some important changes for the freight industry. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been preparing to do away with various different registration numbers, in favor of a more simplified Unified Registration System (URS). The first stage of its implementation already began in December, and the second one is to be rolled out later this year.
SeaLand, an ocean carrier specializing in the intra-Americas market, has created a service between the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern and central regions of the U.S.
IAG Cargo has added three routes to its service in Latin America. Beginning in the summer of 2016, the carrier will operate direct flights from London Gatwick to San Jose, Costa Rica and Lima, Peru.
Despite its history of political unrest and military juntas, the nation of Thailand is emerging as a major Southeast Asian logistics hub that could be worth nearly $100bn in revenue over the next few years, according to a December 2015 study released by worldwide consultants Frost & Sullivan.
Manufacturers frequently ask themselves, "What if...?". What if a typhoon hits a major supplier in Asia and disrupts shipments? What if port workers go on strike in Long Beach? What if customers have expectations of order fulfillment within two days and you're losing sales to competitors? What if my inventory levels aren't sufficient to meet future demand for a product? What if I'm carrying excessive amounts of inventory that may turn to waste?
Ocean freight rates for cargo moving under contracts on the major East-West trade routes saw another reduction in the last quarter of 2015, according to Drewry's Benchmarking Club, a closed user group of multinational retailers and manufacturers who closely monitor their contract freight rates.
