Logistics

North American Rail Traffic Generally Up in June

July 11, 2012

The Association of American Railroads reported U.S. rail carloads originated in June 2012 totaled 1,140,271, down 1.3 percent compared with June 2011. Intermodal volume in June 2012 totaled 996,022 containers and trailers, up 49,168 units or 5.2 percent compared with June 2011. The June 2012 average weekly intermodal volume of 249,006 units is the highest average for any June on record and the third-highest for any month, behind August and October 2006.

Preliminary Class 8 Orders Remain Weak for June

July 11, 2012

FTR Associates

FTR Associates has released preliminary data showing June Class 8 truck net orders at 16,195 units, the lowest month for orders since September 2010. Preliminary order numbers are for all major North American OEMs.

Modern Design Trends for Direct to Consumer Fulfillment

July 11, 2012

SupplyChainBrain

Because the DC is an expensive - but indispensable item - the CEO needs to be on top of operations that fulfill directly to customers' homes, says Matt Kulp, director, distribution and fulfillment, St. Onge Company, an engineering services company.

Chubb Group Teams With FreightWatch to Bolster Cargo Security

July 11, 2012

The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies

The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has joined with FreightWatch International to offer customers additional protection against cargo theft. Under the arrangement, FreightWatch will grant customers of Chubb transportation insurance a 10-percent discount on real-time shipment-tracking services.

North American Freight Shipments in June Were Positive, But Only Slightly

July 10, 2012

Cass Information Systems

The trend in North American freight volumes continues to follow the path of general malaise that the economy is experiencing, according to Rosalyn Wilson, senior business analyst at Delcan Corporation. The number of freight shipments in June was up a scant 1.3 percent from the previous month, while at the same time total freight costs declined 0.1 percent. The economy has been flat for several months and is even beginning to trend downward in terms of new orders and manufacturing output. This slowdown on manufactured goods is putting downward pressure on freight.

Voice Beyond Multi-Modal

July 10, 2012

SupplyChainBrain

The evolution of voice technology now includes an integration of graphical data visually displayed, says John Reichert, TECSYS marketing director. The combination is quicker and more beneficial than one might think.

Oman Air Looks to Beef Up Its Airfreight Operations

July 10, 2012

AirWaves

Oman Air is planning to ramp up it airfreight service. The CEO of the sultanate's flagship carrier is planning to turn Muscat into a major cargo transport hub.

Epicor Readies Update of App for Human Capital Management

July 10, 2012

Epicor Software Corp.

Epicor Software Corp. has developed a new version of Epicor HCM, its application for human capital management. Version 5.7, due to be released this summer, is built on a global framework and Web services, the company said.

Surface Transportation Bill Passes. Where Do We Go From Here?

July 9, 2012

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Give Congress credit for finally coming to agreement on a new surface transportation bill, after months of acrimonious debate and nine extensions of the old funding law, known as SAFETY-LU. The fact that the Senate and House of Representatives could agree on anything at all is, I suppose, reason to applaud, especially given the toxic atmosphere that chokes the political scene today. And this new measure is something more than a "kick-the-can-down-the-road" effort, given that it maintains current highway funding levels until September 2014.

World's Appetite for More Planes Grows, Boeing Says, But New Freighters Aren't in Demand

July 9, 2012

Air Cargo World

Boeing's latest fleet forecast predicts a doubling of the world's fleet of aircraft in the next 20 years, generating demand for 34,000 new planes, at a cost of $4.5tr. At the same time, officials said the demand for freighters will remain sluggish over the next two decades and revised downward their previous forecast. Even so, freighters will nearly double to 3,200 by 2031.