Challenge: A kitchen and bath manufacturer was experiencing reduced trailer cube capacity due to the large packaging requirements of its product line. The customer wanted to increase cube capacity to reduce freight expenses.

Used Class 8 truck metrics were generally in line from June to July, with average age and miles up an incremental 1 percent each. Compared to last year, average prices were up 2 percent in July and 6 percent year to date, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research.

Yusen Logistics Russia has become a federal customs license holder within the Russian Federation, allowing it to introduce a portfolio of customs-clearance services in Russia.

Challenge: When a motor coach breaks down, time is of the essence in having the right part on hand. But as this Kentucky-based manufacturer learned, establishing an efficient inventory distribution system can be a daunting challenge, especially in the sizeable Canadian market. Shipments were chronically late, and the company's warehouse solution proved incapable of servicing the entire country. And to make matters worse, the company's logistics provider did not seem interested in solving these problems.

Challenge: A Wisconsin-based retailer of products targeted at deer hunters launched an e-commerce site as a way to expand sales to Canada. The company's small size meant that it would depend heavily on positive word-of-mouth customer referrals to help spread the word about its high quality products. But when shipments began arriving habitually late, and costs were far higher than expected, a change in logistics operations became necessary.

Inttra, an ocean-shipping electronic marketplace, has introduced Inttra Marketplace Decision Support.

APL Logistics has opened a new consolidation center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Beacon Funding Corp. has introduced an Equipment Leasing Calculator app for the iPhone.