Nitin Chamaria, CEO of Tranztar said: “This order from Tata Power clearly demonstrates the quality and reliability of Tranztar products. We won this order, due to our ability to offer a comprehensive solution from design to final manufacture. This allows for customisation of the product based on specific needs and applications”.

Tranztar recently launched a new ‘Curtain Sider’ model which has been especially designed to carry steel coils. This new product meets the highest global standards of safety and performance. Tranztar is also developing a similar curtain sider trailer using air-suspensions for applications in the FMCG, auto components, paper and glass sectors.

“Our trailers are successful because we offer a higher value proposition compared to locally built trailers. Tranztar trailers are specially engineered to carry higher payloads, have lower maintenance costs and offer significantly lower Total Cost of Ownership”, he added. The company has also been expanding its global sales and recently received orders for specialized trailers from Maldives and the US. Tranztar has also begun shipping trailers to Ghana based on orders received earlier this year. Meanwhile, its new transit mixer model, which debuted in the market recently, has also received a very positive response from customers.

The joint venture RCI will build a new facility to Taicang in China that will increase Cargotec’s delivery capacity. The foundation stone of the facility will be laid in June. RCI will provide leading heavy crane solutions globally and grasp growth opportunities in the Chinese and global markets. The joint venture will focus on ship-to-shore cranes, rubber-tyred gantry cranes, rail mounted gantry cranes and marine specialty cranes.

The agreement was signed on May 18 by TPG group president Tian Chang Song and PSA group CEO Tan Chong Meng in the presence of TPG chairman Yu Ru Min and PSA group chairman Fock Siew Wah.

So far, PSA has invested in two of the port’s container terminals, namely Tianjin Port Pacific International Container Terminal (TPCT) and Tianjin Port Alliance International Container Terminal (TACT).

These two facilities have a total of 10 berths that can handle the biggest containerships. This makes “Tianjin Port one of the preferred ports of call for mega containerships in the northeast Asia region,” said the joint statement.

TPG president Tian Chang Song said: “Both organizations recognize the tremendous potential of Tianjin Port as a major container hub in the Bohai Rim to support the further development of industries and hinterland investments in northeast China. Together, TPG and PSA aim to ensure that Tianjin Port will be a world-class facility for global container shipping.”

Integration was the central theme of this year’s Top 100 Logistics IT Providers market research report, so it is no surprise that IQMS made the list. Unlike many other ERP providers, IQMS’ software, EnterpriseIQ, is a total ERP and MES system, with no third-party, bolt-on programs. The scalable, comprehensive system delivers completely integrated transportation and logistics tools for real-time business intelligence, transparent analytics and a proactive response to supply and demand challenges.

“When selecting this year’s Top 100 Logistics IT Providers, Inbound Logistics editors looked for technology providers that solved specific logistics challenges, but also acted as change agents by helping to transform overall business operations,” said Felecia Stratton, Inbound Logistics editor. “Selections were based on how transformative logistics IT solutions impact all business activities and drive integration across internal processes as well as external processes for vendors and customers.”

Through modules such as customer and vendor portals, quality tools to satisfy even the most stringent requirements and two-way MES and ERP communication, IQMS has elevated shipping management to a higher level. Recently, IQMS released Shipping Manager, a FedEx® and UPS®certified module that allows users to access up-to-the-minute rates, accurate shipping charges and package tracking, all without ever leaving the EnterpriseIQ ERP system.

“Too often, transportation and supply chain challenges are not considered as important as other hurdles of the business, so manufacturers are forced to rely on third-party software as a bolted-on solution,” said Glenn Nowak, vice president at IQMS. “At IQMS, our shipping management tools are embedded in our core ERP system and completely integrated with every aspect of the business, helping our clients serve their customers faster and more efficiently at the global level.”

Global supply chains and their businesses are under enormous pressure from rising commodity prices, globalization of clients, labor disruptions, natural disasters and constantly changing regulations. The key challenge facing any business today is to mitigate against these industry drivers and to survive and prosper in an increasingly volatile market.

The European Supply Chain and Logistics Summit tackles the most prevalent supply chain issues facing the European market. The summit agenda stimulates learning through interactive roundtable discussions, panel debates and case studies which ensure you leave with the skills required to overcome such issues currently affecting your supply chain. SIEPA will take this opportunity and present Serbia as an excellent investment location along with the possibilities of Serbian suppliers.

Sliver joined Interide Logistics on October 4th, 2010, where he landed multiple truckload and LTL accounts with national food, chemical and cabinet manufacturers. Prior to that, Sliver owned and operated Drake Transnational Carriers, a 48-state truckload carrier. He also served as a consultant and faculty member for a Dallas-based logistics school. More recently, Drake directed the growth of brokerage agent programs at Classic Carriers and BNSF Logistics, adding $15 million annualized revenues and managing in excess of 23 agent offices.

“We’re very excited to have such an experienced leader for our agent development initiative,” said Sean Snow, President of Interide Holdings. “Drake’s experience, skills and ability to mentor new agents will be critical as we continue to grow as a company. His rapport with agents and customers is exceptional, and his knowledge of the business is second to none.”

Nick has more than 12 years of management experience in the logistics and supply chain industry with a significant focus on freight forwarding. Early in his career, he worked for a major consumer packaged goods manufacturer managing dock scheduling for 100-120 outbound shipments per day. More recently, he has worked for 3PLs and transportation providers in roles that have included Freight Broker, Dispatcher/Freight Broker and Operations Manager. Nick majored in computer information systems at SIU Edwardsville.

Based in the St. Louis metropolitan area in Sauget Illinois, FW Logistics is a full-service freight forwarder with more than 30 years’ experience in all phases of logistics for general, food-grade and hazardous materials. The firm is a brick and mortar multi-modal logistics provider serving domestic and international clients.

The A332 freighter is scheduled to fly twice weekly into Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City with the recommended route from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) – Bangkok (BKK) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL).

The introduction of this network offers connectivity onwards from the hub to other stations around the world from Sydney, Shanghai, Taipei, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Surabaya, Tokyo, Osaka, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Sharjah.

“In order to expand our presence along the Intra-Asia network, the flight to Ho Chi Minh City is one of the strategies to tap the growth of the Asian market,” said Mohd Yunus Idris, Acting Chief Executive Officer of MASkargo.

He added, Ho Chi Minh City which has registered a steady cargo business growth has a large market share, hence, MASkargo plans to provide a speedy and better logistics solutions as well as continuously support the Ho Chi Minh City trade and economy through increasing our capacity and routes along the Intra-Asia network destinations.

Adding on, “The strategic addition of Ho Chi Minh City into MASkargo’s route network signifies the growing importance of the Vietnamese market and its trade relations with Asian countries.”

With the launch of its service to Ho Chi Minh City, MASkargo will seek commercial partners to help provide an extensive network and service coverage required. Moreover, this will enable network expansion into the region in response to changing market conditions.

Indian Oil Petronas Pvt. Ltd., a joint venture Co. of Indian Oil Corporation Limited IOCL) and Petronas Malayasia is setting up LPG Import/Export terminal at Ennore Port with a tankage capacity of 30,600 Metric Tonne and the construction is in progress. The estimated cost of the project is about Rs 497.83 crore.

The LNG terminal is expected to be completed by March, 2016 and the LPG terminal is expected to be commissioned by August, 2012, subject to clearance from Costal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) and Ministry of Environment & Forests

The Union Shipping Minister, G.K Vasan wrote to the Rajya Sabha that as per Indian Ports Act, 1908, the development of Minor/Non-Major Ports vest with respective State Governments.

The Minister further stated that by the end of March, 2012 the existing capacity of Major Ports was 689.83 million tonnes per annum. As per 12th Five year plan the capacity of Major Ports will be increased to 1229.24 million tonnes per annum by the end of March, 2017. In the year 2012-13, 25 Projects have been identified for award at various Major Ports in the country under Public Private Partnership mode.

CINO V2 is a multi-echelon inventory optimisation (MEIO) software application that enables a step change in the way inventory is managed through a complex network.

“By combining MEIO with optimised routing and sourcing technologies, CINO V2 is able to calculate optimum inventory policies to ensure customer service target levels are achieved at the minimum cost” says Nick Newby-Ricci, Business Development Manager – EMEA at Barloworld SCS. “It can also help to quickly evaluate the impact of unplanned events and model alternative plans to mitigate risk, as well as manage constraints and support lean or agile strategies.”

CINO V2 software helps businesses to achieve greater transparency and the ability to model end to end inventory flows, so they are able to reduce working capital and consistently realise targeted service performance levels.

“In the current economic climate many businesses face the challenge of how to deliver the level of service that customers require in order to compete effectively” adds Nick Newby-Ricci. “Traditional approaches to inventory management are not capable of calculating inventory policies that enable the service level that customers demand with an acceptable level of working capital.”

Multimodal is the UK and Ireland’s leading freight transport and logistics exhibition and has evolved into an annual one stop shop for shippers who need to find ways of optimising their supply chain and transportation flows and suppliers of transportation services. Attending Multimodal provides the opportunity to compare suppliers, strategies and modes and network with cargo owners.

NOL said that in the first quarter of 2012 it achieved about US$100 million of cost savings under its ongoing programme and it is on track to achieve US$500 million worth of savings for 2012. The savings were primarily through reduced fuel consumption and improved operational costs.

NOL is also undertaking an organisational restructuring that will result in an additional annual savings of about US$70 million from 2013 onwards.  The company said that its organisation structure around the world will be streamlined to shorten decision cycles and respond better to market changes and evolving customer needs.

NOL’s supply chain management business, APL Logistics, reported a 7% increase in first quarter revenue.  Core EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) in the logistics business was US$13 million.

“There were positive signs in the first quarter – the freight rate increases in March and growth in the Logistics business,” said NOL Group CEO Ng Yat Chung.  “But we must continue to aggressively manage our operating costs, and streamline our organisation for greater efficiency.”

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) is to open a new independent air cargo handling operation at Stockholm Arlanda Airport on June 1, 2012.

The world’s largest air cargo handling organization has signed a long-term agreement with airport operator Swedavia. WFS is locating its operation in a 3000-square-meter airside warehouse fully equipped with all the features required to deliver a modern, fast and professional handling product.

The move is the next step in WFS’ expansion in Scandinavia. In 2006, it entered the Nordic air cargo market with the opening of a newly-build cargo centre in Copenhagen. Since then, it has further expanded its handling facility with 5000 square meters of additional warehouse and office space and now handles some 70,000 tons of flown and trucked cargo a year in Denmark for over 50 airlines.

This newest WFS station will be connected to, and fully integrated with, the WFS road feeder network that links all WFS European stations. Using dedicated truck services, it offers airline customers extensive online and off-line connectivity.

Martijn de Regt, who has over 20 years experience of working with the leading freight organizations Panalpina and ASP Logistics, will head up the new Stockholm operation. He will work closely with WFS’ General Manager for Scandinavia, Thomas Petersen.

Chennai is an important market for Cathay Pacific, which has been operating flights to the city since June 2008. Together with sister airline Dragonair, a total of 35 passenger flights and 35 freighter flights per week between Hong Kong and the four major gateways of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai & Bengaluru are in service.

Tom Wright, General Manager South Asia, Middle East and Africa said: “We are delighted to announce the increase in frequency of our flights between Chennai and Hong Kong. This will enable us to provide passengers with greater flexibility for travel from Chennai to Hong Kong and onward to other destinations, specifically Mainland China, Asia, North America and Australia.

Also, Cathay Pacific will soon commence two new weekly freighter services to Hyderabad.

The service will operate on the Hong Kong-Delhi-Bangalore-Hyderabad-Hong Kong route every Thursday and on the Hong Kong-Chennai-Hyderabad-Hong Kong route on Sundays. The move makes Cathay Pacific the first airline to offer air cargo services linking Hyderabad with east and north Asia.

Captain Kaustubh Dalvi, Director of Business Development for Jade Logistics, an operating division of Jade Software Corporation, says that the new office will help address the market opportunity in the region and strengthen Jade’s position.

“Over the last 18 months, we’ve achieved significant growth in the Middle East, so it has become a strategic location for Jade.

“The office is also an important step that brings us closer to our growing customer base.”

Jade has developed long term relationships with key industry players such as Gulftainer and Milaha (formerly Qatar Navigation Port Services), where Jade’s terminal operating software is being implemented at the Port of Doha.

“Our partnership with Gulftainer is strategically important for us as we continue to invest in the region,” says Captain Dalvi.

Mr. Peter Richards, Managing Director of Gulftainer commented: “We are very pleased to have been in partnership with Jade during these past three years.

“Jade has been a great support to Gulftainer, providing first class maintenance and extensive on-site training seminars for our people. We have built our reputation on reliability and productivity and Jade’s products help us maintain this reputation,” says Mr Richards.

Jade has also appointed Yatin Naik to its Dubai office. Yatin will be focussed on supporting existing customers in the region and helping implement new sites.

“Yatin comes to Jade with a wealth of industry experience and knowledge of managing complex multi-terminal and mixed cargo ports,” says Captain Dalvi.

Jade Logistics helps ports in New Zealand, Brazil, Doha, Italy, Iraq, Georgia, UAE, USA and Poland to improve the efficiency of managing containers and other cargo with its Master Terminal product.

Hobson Enterprises, Crowley’s local St. Kitts/Nevis representative for FCL liner shipments, will now also serve as the company’s logistics agent, providing customers with a single point of contact for Crowley’s FCL, less-than-container-load (LCL) and air cargo services from the U.S. They will also be able to assist customers with other value added services such as warehousing, cargo consolidation, distribution and more.

“The inclusion of services to St. Kitts and Nevis offers further expansion of Crowley’s footprint in the Caribbean,” said Carlos Rice, vice president, logistics.  “While individually these Caribbean islands may represent small markets, together they create a sizable territory for Crowley with unlimited growth potential.”

Bourque Logistics’ RAILAcct® software is a robust railcar maintenance management system that standardizes and automates shop scheduling, repair estimate/invoice approvals, shop performance reporting, maintenance project management, budgeting, and ERP-integrated payment process. In addition, BL provides seasoned staff to help its customers effectively manage railcar maintenance.

Watco Compliance Services offers a wealth of knowledge to provide a uniform and standardized approach to railcar compliance with a broad range of technical specifications, legal, regulatory and safety rules with applicable engineering specifications and regulations.

“In addition to our day-to-day support for shopping and repair management, our clients require additional expertise in the areas of railcar engineering, regulatory compliance, and safety,” said Steve Bourque, president of Bourque Logistics.  “Our joint effort with Watco will provide our clients these important compliance services integrated into the shipping and repair management process and its data integration using our RAILTRAC®, RAILAcct®, and YardMaster® systems.”

“Watco Compliance Services is dedicated to creating the safest railcar fleets in the industry,” said Jim Rader, senior vice president of Watco Compliance Services.  “By combining our expertise in safety and regulatory compliance with Bourque Logistics’ state of the art management systems, we can provide our customers the best of both worlds.”

Cargotec is supplying anchor-handling/towing solutions for two 59m anchor-handling tug/supply vessels, a 56.2m anchor-handling tug, and five 50m towing/utility vessels. Positioning mooring solutions are destined for two 100m/300-person accommodation/work barges, two 85m subsea maintenance/work support vessels, a 60m diving support vessel and two 105m subsea operation vessels.

“Most of the system components are established designs, and we have combined them to meet the needs of a particular ship type,” says Francis Wong, Cargotec’s sales director for offshore winch solution. “This ensures that each solution is well integrated and helps a ship type fulfil its specific functions. It also enhances a vessel’s efficiency, safety and eco-friendly credentials throughout its entire lifecycle.

“We clearly see OSV demand coming back strongly in Asia, the Middle East, West Africa and South America at the beginning of 2012, and the market outlook is even promising,” Mr Wong says.  “With Cargotec’s strong global sales and service networks and leading technologies, we are prepared for the growth of the offshore market.”

Developed with the latest IT solutions, the Control Tower will provide customers with significant advantages through this unique approach, allowing them a full and comprehensive overview of their operations and movement of goods, optimizing transport and costs and thus improving supply chain efficiency.

This investment will allow CEVA in Turkey to constantly monitor its countrywide operations 24/7, using 600 cameras connected to the Control Tower. This system makes it possible to promptly identify problems and prepare real-time reporting for all processes, covering more than 1,200 trucks daily, delivering further value to our customers, who can rely on a transparent, timely service.

Aslan Uzun, Managing Director of CEVA in Turkey and the Balkans, explained that 60,000 truck trips each month and all CEVA’s home delivery services across Turkey are managed through the Control Tower in Istanbul. “This Control Tower represents a breakthrough in Turkey in our approach to become the strategic logistics partner of choice, since it guarantees superior services to customers while increasing our ability to optimize costs, volume utilization and route planning,” said Aslan Uzun. “This hub represents a pioneering supply chain solution in the Turkish logistics sector which will allow us to reach a higher level of excellence; a vital component in our journey to become the most admired supply chain company,” concluded Aslan.

As with the Control Towers already implemented in Italy and Spain, this hub consists of three main areas with specific functions:

Red Area - dedicated to monitoring overall transport optimization including the network of national and international transports and financial targets. This enables robust management of the entire transportation process.

Blue Area - dedicated to planning and flow optimization. Here planning, utilization and monitoring of all line hauls and home delivery distribution take place, including load optimization

Grey Area – composed of two teams; security, monitoring critical parts of warehouses and high volume product shipments, and Full Truck Load (FTL) GPS monitoring and alarm systems for any unusual activity such as theft, accidents or route changes.

Speaking before the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, Subcommittee on Children’s Health and Environmental Responsibility, Mitch Jackson emphasized the corporate Practical Environmentalism philosophy, explaining, “it should be economically viable; it should be aligned with the core strategic business objectives; it should involve and motivate team members, and it should be responsible to the communities in which it operates and serves.” The FedEx EarthSmart program encapsulates these building blocks.

Representatives from Intel Corporation, GE Power and Water, Procter and Gamble and Eastman Chemical Company also testified, discussing voluntary corporate environmental responsibility efforts to reduce environmental footprints, drive innovation and increase profitability through improving efficiency of water, energy and natural resource use.

Twenty percent of the FedEx Express diesel vehicle pickup and delivery fleet has already been converted to more efficient and cleaner emission models that comply with 2010 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency diesel emission standards.

“Although we are less than halfway to the end date we set for ourselves, we have achieved 80 percent of our vehicle fuel efficiency goal as of the conclusion of fiscal year 2011, compared to our original baseline set in 2005,” said Mitch Jackson, staff vice president of environmental affairs and sustainability, FedEx Corp. “As a result, we are reevaluating our 2020 goal to potentially raise the standard we originally set out to achieve.”

“Thanks to this team effort, we have converted 20 percent of our pickup and delivery fleet to cleaner and more fuel efficient models,” said Dennis Beal, vice president of global vehicles, FedEx Express. “By pursuing the most promising avenues of advanced technologies, enlisting multiple experienced manufacturers and optimizing our vehicle operations, FedEx is reducing fuel use and emissions faster than expected.”

The company’s significant progress is the result of a number of initiatives:
• Upcoming addition of 87 all-electric trucks to its green fleet bringing the all-electric vehicle count to 130.
• Acceleration of its efforts in fuel conservation through the purchase of vehicles with right-sized engines like the Sprinter vans manufactured by Mercedes-Benz. By the end of FY13, FedEx will have more than 11,000 such vehicles in service, more than 35 percent of its U.S. pick-up and delivery fleet. Each Sprinter-type van is about 70 to 100 percent more fuel-efficient than the original truck it replaces.
• Addition of 114 Reach composite-body trucks manufactured from advanced materials by Utilimaster on an Isuzu Motors chassis with an appropriately-sized engine. The lower weight design, along with the engine, is expected to save up to 35 percent in fuel over most conventional walk-in vans.
• Testing of FedEx Ground hybrid hydraulic parcel delivery vehicles that can reduce fuel usage by 40 percent.
• Testing of six standard delivery vehicles retrofitted with all-electric drive trains from various suppliers, including AMP, Smith Electric and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation.

The new FedEx all-electric (EV) vehicles are being deployed in the next few months in numerous locations which include California (the San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and the Central Valley); suburban Washington, D.C. (Rockville, M.D.); New York City and several locations in Texas. In Chicago, FedEx is testing electric trucks from several manufacturers head-to-head in daily service to accelerate the development of the vehicles and the EV industry.

Additional all-electric trucks are being prepared for deployment in Asia and Europe, where FedEx Express currently operates all-electric trucks in London and Paris.

Fleet users present an added advantage for all-electric technology, since electric trucks can operate during the day and charge overnight when utilities have spare capacity. FedEx Express is currently working with General Electric and Columbia University on a project in New York City to optimize charging facilities for all-electric trucks.

“Electric drivelines have a tremendous potential, and we are seeing the benefits of integrating them into our fleet, but the technology is still in the early phase of the development cycle,” added Beal. “That’s why we are aggressively working with several truck manufacturers to fast-forward their products’ performance curve and affordability.”

The system was first introduced by Meritor WABCO in 2005 and combines Roll Stability Control (RSC) and yaw or rotational control. ESC can reduce the risk of vehicle instability while on slippery surfaces or taking evasive action, limiting the likelihood of jack-knife and drift-out conditions. If a potential rollover risk is detected, tractor-trailer speed is reduced through engine control and application of the engine brake, tractor and trailer foundation brakes. Currently, Meritor WABCO has installed more than 150,000 SmarTrac stability control products on commercial vehicles in North America.

“At Meritor WABCO, we take extreme pride in putting safety first and have long been at the forefront of ESC technology in North America,” said Jon Morrison, president and general manager, Meritor WABCO. “We continue to develop leading technology that will help our customers save lives, save property, and make our highways safer. We agree with NHTSA’s recognition of the benefits of ESC technology.”

JLR has increased the value of UK supply contracts by £1 billion, in addition to the £2 billion supply contracts it awarded to more than 40 UK suppliers in March 2011. These suppliers provide components, facilities and services to support the Range Rover Evoque production line at Halewood on Merseyside.

JLR today also confirmed that a new logistics facility in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, will open this summer to support the global sales success of both the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander 2.

JLR’s logistics provider, DHL, will manage this purpose-built automotive logistics site to enhance its existing operations at JLR’s Halewood plant, creating around 300 new jobs.

Dr Ralf Speth, CEO Jaguar Land Rover, said, “Today’s announcements demonstrate JLR’s JLR’s strong products and clear ambition for continued growth. The demand we have seen across the globe for the Range Rover Evoque means we are able to significantly increase what we spend with our suppliers, which is great news for the UK economy, and the thousands of jobs JLR supports in its supply chain.  Our commitment to the North West will also be enhanced with the new logistics facility and this will support the future success of both our Freelander 2 and Range Rover Evoque models.”

Paul Dyer, Managing Director of DHL Supply Chain’s automotive services in the UK and Ireland, commented, “We are delighted to continue our support for JLR’s ever-growing expansion plans. As the UK’s North West region is fast becoming a major supply chain hub for the automotive industry, this new facility will greatly enhance the next stage of the company’s development and future success.”

The SuiteApp will allow customers to price compare from their existing carrier network, as well as, have access to one of the largest carrier networks. The On-Demand TMS SuiteApp plans to provide complete multi-modal transportation management functions to help NetSuite customers achieve freight spending savings and ROI. LeanLogistics and NetSuite customers can achieve freight spend savings averaging between 10-20 percent upon deploying the TMS application.

NetSuite’s SuiteCloud is a comprehensive offering of cloud-based products, development tools, and services designed to help customers and commercial software developers take advantage of the significant economic benefits of cloud computing.

The complete SuiteCloud offering includes NetSuite’s multi-tenant, always-on SaaS infrastructure and the NetSuite Business Suite of applications which cover accounting, enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and Ecommerce.

Working with NetSuite
The partnership looks to provide NetSuite customers with the On-Demand TMS SuiteApp (via SuiteScript Managed Bundles) to ensure standardization and upgrade-proof integration to NetSuite’s Order-to-Cash and Procure-to-Pay ERP processes.

The On-Demand TMS SuiteApp is designed to enable customers to realize immediate financial benefits through implementations focused on each customer’s specific logistics challenges, while providing real-time visibility into supply chain operations and network collaboration across thousands of shippers, carriers, suppliers and customers.

“The LeanLogistics On-Demand TMS SuiteApp can help NetSuite customers enhance the efficiencies of their logistics and supply chain operations,” said Guido Haarmans, Vice President of Developer Programs and Business Development at NetSuite. “The robust functionality and true multi-tenant deployment model of the On-Demand TMS SuiteApp combined with LeanLogistics’ leading reputation for client success makes the alliance between LeanLogistics and NetSuite a natural fit.”

It’s no wonder the 2012 F-150 took top honors from Truckin’ Magazine. The F-150 offers everything a truck owner would want, including an available 3.5L Twin-Turbo EcoBoost® V-6 six speed automatic, with an impressive 365 horsepower and 420 lb. ft. of torque.

What does that mean for the driver? The F-150 hits 0-60 in 6.4 seconds flat.

In addition, the available 20-inch wheels and sporty appearance make the F-150 stand out against the competition. The Sony® stereo helps provide a great soundtrack to the daily drive and SYNC gives you command of the cab.

With up to an EPA-estimated 22 hwy mpg, it’s no wonder this truck is Truckin’ Magazine’s Top Pick.

The Global Supplier Summit was attended by the largest suppliers to Accuride and its subsidiaries representing the areas of Raw Materials, Logistics, MRO and Indirect.

The suppliers received an update on the Company’s strategy and key initiatives to “Fix and Grow” its business operations in order to understand their role in supporting the strategy’s timely execution. In addition, the Summit participants received updates on Accuride’s strategic plans for Procurement, Logistics and Distribution, Inventory Control and Planning, and Supplier Quality and Development.

“As a critical element of our commitment to deliver more dependable performance for customers, Accuride is building a more robust and efficient Supply Chain capable of achieving consistent and predictable levels of excellence,” said Mary Blair, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Management for Accuride. “This Summit meeting was an important step in renewing and strengthening collaboration with our largest supplier partners by setting clear targets for their performance and development, while engaging them more deeply in the key initiatives underway to ‘Fix and Grow’ Accuridein 2012 and beyond.”

Global Supplier Quality Manual
As part of its Supplier Quality and Development initiative, Accuride also rolled out its new Global Supplier Quality Manual that included revised performance metrics covering the areas of criteria for selection as a supplier, new product launch, production processes, and continual improvement.

AFN, which has won numerous industry and workplace awards, including being named one of the “Top 100 Workplaces in Chicago”, is on track to add almost 50 percent more staff in 2012. According to Kira Meinzer, Vice President of Human Resources, “The logistics industry is booming and we’re aggressively hiring high energy self-starters with an entrepreneurial spirit for positions in human resources, procurement and operations. All offer growth opportunities at a great company in a growth industry and the ability to shape one’s own career.” AFN offers employees many benefits including ongoing training, a casual dress code, an onsite fitness center and a generous rewards package.

AFN uses sophisticated analytics to help manufacturers and retailers get products on store shelves in the quickest, safest, greenest and most cost-effective ways possible. The company works with 8 of the largest 10 retailers in the U.S. and was recently named to the 2012 List of “100 Great Supply Chain Projects” by Supply & Demand Chain Executive in recognition of its leadership as a premier solution and service provider in the industry.

Through its employees, AFN actively supports several Chicago-based charities, including Children’s Memorial Hospital and Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation and is involved in many other community efforts such as Earth Day, LifeSource Blood Drives and toy drives during the holiday season.

“DHL Global Forwarding’s choice for Brucargo strengthens the status of the cargo area and Brussels Airport as a key employment platform in Belgium. Brussels Airport is our country’s second economic driver, providing 20,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs. Through this 27 million euro investment in this new logistics platform, DHL Global Forwarding is reinforcing our strategy to focus on the specific logistics needs of our various key industry sectors”, says Jean-Claude Delen, CEO DHL Global Forwarding BeNeLux & France.

Meeting the most stringent air freight safety requirements and complying with the TAPA standards, the new ‘state-of-the-art’ logistics center will be ideally situated in this strategically important region, providing the best infrastructure for DHL Global Forwarding’s air freight activities.

The new building provides dedicated areas such as a 1,750 m2 temperature-controlled area with the highest GDP standards to meet the needs of our life science customers and customers with other particular requirements. In respect to Deutsche Post DHL’s GoGreen environmental protection program, this investment represents a green investment for DHL Global Forwarding, involving the deployment of environmental technologies including solar panels installations and water recovery systems.

Arnaud Feist, CEO Brussels Airport says:  “We are very pleased that a key partner such as DHL Global Forwarding did choose again for Brucargo and Brussels Airport. The extensive freight capacity available on our many long-haul passenger and freight flights with Brucargo’s unique geographic location are definitely key assets.”

Schenker Khimji’s L.L.C. offer customers a single point of contact within Oman for the global DB Schenker network for their logistics requirements and will connect their suppliers and customers around the world. Martin Hackl, so far the DB Schenker Logistics delegate in the country, took over the responsibility as Managing Director of the new company.

Peter Glatz, CEO of DB Schenker Region Near Middle East and Africa commented, “We see a big potential in Oman to become another hub in the Middle East. This market is growing steadily, with new ports and airports being established. This joint venture will enhance our strong position in the GCC region (Gulf Cooperation Council).”

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mary Neff as our new vice president of supply chain,” said Mr. Powers. “Mary managed the recent move of our corporate headquarters to Long Island City, NY, including change management initiatives for 1,000 crewmembers. Her procurement and operations leadership will be an incredible advantage to JetBlue as we continue into our second decade of providing award-winning service.”

Ms. Neff has a long history of leading major corporate initiatives using her extensive project management expertise. Since joining JetBlue in 2006, Ms. Neff has held various positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently she served as director, operations program management office (PMO). Previously, she held the positions of program director, airports & system operations and director, airport programs. During her tenure, she has led the airline’s 2010 conversion to a new reservation platform leading all airports-related activities. She also played a crucial role in JetBlue’s move to Terminal 5 at JFK Airport in 2008.

“I am excited to take on this new role to streamline efficiencies and improve turnaround times, while generating value and quality performance levels. By ensuring reliability and continuity, we ultimately enhance the overall customer experience.  I look forward to providing sourcing leadership and the best return on investment possible for JetBlue’s operations,” said Ms. Neff.

Ms. Neff began her aviation career with Delta Air Lines 12 years ago working her way through the enterprise holding such roles as regional manager, corporate real estate, strategic sourcing manager, and general manager worldport, compliance & continuous improvement.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1bUcv)

The GlobalTranz award program recognizes suppliers for exceptional performance and quality. To determine award recipients, GlobalTranz agents and representatives rated carriers on six key criteria: on-time pickup, on-time delivery, driver courtesy, claims and damages, billing accuracy and customer service.

“Carrier awards programs measure what matters most to a company’s success,” said Jim Ferguson, vice president of sales and marketing for Holland. “We are gratified by this prestigious recognition and honored that GlobalTranz has recognized our regional expertise in next-day deliveries, quality handling and on-time performance.Holland employees will continue to focus on providing exceptional freight services for GlobalTranz and its customers.”

Holland ranked best among carriers in the central region, and Reddaway was recognized as the top performer among western carriers in the GlobalTranz annual carrier awards program.

Schenker Namibia (Pty) Ltd. is now representing the global DB Schenker network with 2,000 locations in more than 130 countries. “The focus of the activities is on looking forward to exponential growth in the Namibian market whilst maintaining good relations with existing customers by providing reliable and cost efficient world class logistics services”, says Peter Glatz, Regional Director NME/Africa.

“I am proud that all current employees of Desert Logistics remain with us,” says Fritz Kaufmann, Managing Director, Schenker Namibia (Pty) Ltd. and of former Desert Logistics. “We plan to grow and expand our market share.”

Services provided include Air and Ocean Freight, Freight Forwarding (Road and Rail), Customs Clearing, Warehousing and Distribution, Courier Services, and Ground Handling. The new DB Schenker subsidiary is based in Windhoek and has an office in Walvis Bay.

“We recognize that cost pressures and logistics challenges are ongoing concerns for many suppliers and retailers,” said Carla Cooper, chief executive officer of Daymon Worldwide. “The availability of certified compliant carriers, the time required to book and monitor loads, and the need for competitive rates are just some of the supply chain issues our partners must deal with on a daily basis. By combining the sourcing expertise of Daymon with the transportation sourcing, proprietary technology, and comprehensive network of carriers from Echo, Daymon Global Logistics will be able to provide a streamlined, one-stop solution, for our partners.”

Echo maintains a network of over 24,000 carriers, which will now be available to Daymon Global Logistics at market competitive rates, along with a customized web portal to provide increased visibility and control of the supply chain. “Daymon supplier and retail partners will now have the ability to leverage our proprietary technology and take full advantage of a transportation and logistics management team to meet the individual needs of eachDaymon partner,” stated Doug Waggoner, CEO of Echo Global Logistics.

The GlobalTranz award program recognizes suppliers for exceptional performance and quality. To determine award recipients, GlobalTranz agents and representatives rated carriers on six key criteria: on-time pickup, on-time delivery, driver courtesy, claims and damages, billing accuracy and customer service.

“We take special pride in this award because it is presented for surpassing the high standards of performance set by GlobalTranz,” said Steve Selvig, vice president of sales and marketing for Reddaway. ”Our relationship with GlobalTranz is built on providing the best regional transportation services available backed by superior customer service. This award reflects our commitment to making every shipment a priority. Congratulations to the entire Reddaway team for their efforts.”

GlobalTranz ranked Reddaway best in the west; among central carriers, Holland ranked as the top performer in the annual carrier awards program.

This is the second time Reddaway has received top honors from GlobalTranz. In 2009, GlobalTranz named Reddaway its regional carrier of the year.

To determine award winners, Echo surveyed more than 400 associates, grading carriers based on service metrics such as timeliness and claims performances, as well as standards that include ease of doing business, customer service and creativity.

The award reflects Southeastern’s excellence in the industry and commitment to a continuous quality improvement process. Southeastern strives to satisfy every customer completely through measuring all aspects of its business. “The review process includes daily data monitoring and working with customers and employees to address any issue that becomes apparent through this data,” stated Echo Global Logistics’ Vice President of LTL Carrier Relations, Mark Redini.

“We are honored to have received this award from Echo and value the outstanding relationship we have developed over the years,” said Southeastern’s Senior Vice President Mike Heaton. “This recognition highlights the commitment of Southeastern and our employees to serve Echo and all of our third-party logistics customers.”

“With a growing focus on the international business market, we’ve seen an increase in demand for travel to the Middle East and the surrounding regions,” said Fred Reid, President, Flexjet. “This alliance with Qatar Airways — an award-winning airline that shares Flexjet’s passion for customer service — is an ideal way for us to provide a global aviation solution to our customers. It’s a win-win.”

“We are extremely pleased to be launching this new programme and are confident that it is an attractive product offering for individuals and large multi-national companies alike,” said Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Airways. “The new service is yet another enhanced product offering by Qatar’s national carrier,” he added.

According to Andy Ahern, CEO of Ahern and Associates, the transportation industry as a whole has seen a marked shift towards consolidation as a result of several factors including increased government regulations and a spike in demand. “With the current mandates of CSA compliance and Hours of Service, and shippers demanding more technology, it is becoming increasingly difficult for small to medium sized carriers to survive.  Additionally, large trucking companies are having a very difficult time filling their customers’ needs due to the fact that there are not enough trucks or drivers.”

Ahern also explained, “Therefore, it is a  very interesting business dynamic, because the larger companies need to continue to grow, and expand their footprint to service their customers’ needs, and the smaller companies are having a very difficult time competing, because they don’t have the working capital and technology to grow their business.”

Given the rapid pace and need for consolidation in order to survive, Ahern is seeing no sign of slowing, “We’re continually approached by carriers, logistics, and warehousing companies of all sizes for advice on an exit strategy or to help match them up with larger publicly held companies or private equity firms looking to expand their footprint in transportation.”

Just recently, Ahern and Associates celebrated a hallmark event in serving the transportation industry for 25 years.

With an expanding number of sales channels, which includes department store concessions, street stores, Boshiwa 365 outlets, flagship stores, an online retail business and a fast-growing wholesale distribution operation, Boshiwa needed an integrated and efficient supply chain solution to support its extensive distribution network. Following a comprehensive vendor selection process, Boshiwa selected Manhattan Associates and its WMS as its preferred supply chain platform. The Manhattan solution will enable Boshiwa to utilise space, people, inventory and equipment optimally, fulfil orders faster and more accurately, and enhance overall service levels provided to customers.

“Our decision to choose Manhattan Associates’ WMS is based on its global leadership position in the industry and its proven track record in serving retailers throughout China and the wider Asia Pacific region,” said Wang Lei, IT director at Boshiwa. “As one of the leading retailers of children’s products in China, we realised the importance of a strong and integrated warehouse management solution to help us meet our customers’ increasing and ever-changing requirements.”

The solution deployment is already underway and is expected to be completed in the coming months. In the early part of the implementation, Manhattan Associates’ professional services team analysed Boshiwa’s logistics environment and then worked with the Boshiwa team to provide a strategically optimised system configuration to meet the demands of its supply chain. The team also designed a series of training programs for several hundred Boshiwa employees to familiarise themselves with the Manhattan technology.

The deployment of the Manhattan WMS will enable Boshiwa to process up to 50,000 orders per day with orders being delivered to stores on a next day basis.

With an automated picking and packing capability, Boshiwa will also be able to boost inventory accuracy to almost 100 per cent. Furthermore, the integrated system should improve productivity by eliminating manual counting and streamlining the flow of goods throughout the supply chain. With the improved on-shelf availability that the Manhattan system will provide, Boshiwa will be able to improve service levels for customers at the same time as enhancing relationships with suppliers.

On March 19, 2012, UPS and TNT Express jointly announced conditional agreement on a recommended all-cash offer of EUR 9.50 per ordinary share for TNT Express (the “Offer”).

The Offer values 100% of the issued and outstanding TNT Express ordinary shares at approximately EUR 5.16 billion. UPS will finance the Offer by using approximately EUR 3.7 billion of available cash on its balance sheet and approximately EUR 1.46 billion in debt through existing credit facilities.

In line with regulatory requirements, UPS will submit a request for approval of its Offer Memorandum to the Netherlands Authority for the Financial markets later today. The Offer Memorandum is expected to be published and the Offer is expected to commence during the second quarter in accordance with the applicable timetable.

For the past five years, Forbes has identified the most transparent and trustworthy public businesses using a proprietary quantitative and qualitative analysis developed by GMIRATINGS (GMI), an independent international financial analytics firm. The analysis assesses the quality of corporate accounting and management practices that are most likely to prepare companies for financial turmoil and decrease the likelihood of negative events such as litigation, bankruptcy filings and poor stock price performance.

“To be included among the nation’s top public companies on such a prestigious national list is quite an honor,” said David Congdon, president and CEO of Old Dominion. “We have always put our people first and doing so has ensured the long-term success and sustainability of our company. Earning a coveted ranking like this helps validate that we’ve been doing business the right way, not only for our investors, but for our family of employees at Old Dominion.”

More than 8,000 companies were examined for one year leading up to the compilation of the Top 100 list.

Every quarter, GMI assigned each company an accounting and governance risk score, or AGR, based on the firm’s proprietary assessment model. Old Dominion was included in the Mid-Cap group of companies and maintained an average AGR of 89 for four quarters.

To qualify for the list, companies had to meet specific standards throughout the evaluation period including: a market cap of $250 million at the time the list was compiled; specific AGR ratings over a period of time; high ranking on GMI’s Equity Risk Ranking; and a low likelihood of financial distress according to the research firm’s bankruptcy risk model.

Chris Young will manage Old Dominion’s industry-leading IT department and OD-Technology, the company’s branded technological solutions division. He succeeds Ken Erdner, who is retiring after 16 years with the company.

“The OD-Technology brand has propelled to the top of the industry in the past few years thanks to the leadership of Ken Erdner and the dedication of the IT team,” said Chip Overbey, Old Dominion’s senior vice president of strategic business development. “We are confident that, as a member of senior management, Chris will continue this legacy by driving the technological initiatives of our company with vision and passion.”

For the past three years, CIO magazine has honored Old Dominion as a recipient of the CIO 100 Award. The award recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology.

In March, Old Dominion was honored by Mastio & Company as the No. 1 National LTL carrier as part of the company’s 2011 Value and Loyalty Benchmarking Study. Old Dominion received outstanding scored for its use of technology.

Old Dominion in March was also named as one of America’s 100 Most Trustworthy Companies by Forbes magazine. The annual recognition is awarded to publicly traded corporations that have consistently demonstrated transparent, conservative accounting practices and solid corporate governance and management.

Young joined Old Dominion in April 2010 and has served as the director of SAP Applications for the past two years. Prior to joining the company, he spent 11 years in various technology leadership positions at United Guaranty in Greensboro, N.C.

A Rochester, New York, native, Young earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Information Systems from the University of Pittsburgh.

He will be based at the company’s headquarters in Thomasville.

Located at 975 Pacific, the eight-door service center will allow the company to effectively manage sustained growth in west central Minnesota and eastern South Dakota. The facility, which covers two acres, will employ eight people.

The addition is part of a $90-120 million investment Old Dominion is committing to real estate purchases and expansion projects in 2012. The Benson Service Center will serve Old Dominion’s growing base of customers and will enhance service offerings to customers throughout the region.

“Opening a facility in Benson will allow us to enhance our coverage throughout west central Minnesota and parts of South Dakota so that we can effectively meet the steady increase of customer demands in the area,” said Tom Gilmore, manager of the Old Dominion Benson Service Center. “As we continue to grow, the new service center will help keep our promise to our customers on delivering them with the outstanding service they demand.”

Strategically located between Interstates 29 and 94, the Benson Service Center’s coverage area includes nine Minnesota cities (Benson, Alexandria, Willmar, Marshall, Morris, Granite Falls, Redwood Falls, Litchfield and St. Joseph) and two in South Dakota (Aberdeen and Milbank).

Chief Operating Officer Pekka Vauramo has been appointed Executive Vice President, Marine as of August 1, 2012. He will continue as Deputy to CEO. President and CEO Mikael Mäkinen will act as the Head of Marine business area from May 14-August 1, 2012.

Olli Isotalo, currently Executive Vice President, Marine, has been appointed Executive Vice President, Terminals as of May 14, 2012.

Unto Ahtola, currently Executive Vice President, Terminals, will transfer to a new role as Executive Vice President concentrating on development projects from May 14, 2012. He continues to report to Mikael Mäkinen.

Pekka Vauramo, Olli Isotalo and Unto Ahtola will continue as members of the Executive Board.

“We are determined to grow as a global market leader in cargo handling solutions. With these changes, we can utilise the best experiences and competences within our top management and support both Marine and Terminals business areas, which are in different phases of development. In Marine, we aim for further profitable growth in Asia and in Terminals for improved profitability and successful execution of its growth strategy within port automation. As a company we have to be agile to constantly develop and focus – key success factors in this changing environment,” says Mikael Mäkinen.

The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Government of Japan during his visit to New Delhi, met the Minister of Shipping on January 12, 2012 and held preliminary discussions on infrastructure development, i.e., construction of new berths, terminals and creation of other facilities in Chennai and Ennore Ports.

• Kevin Smith, based in Chattanooga, Tenn., captured the top spot in the Tank truck class.
• Jerry Williams, domiciled in Valdosta, placed first in the Twins class.

Smith and Williams will go on to compete at the American Trucking Associations’ 2012 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC), known as the “Super Bowl of Safety,” August 7-11 in Minneapolis, Minn. In addition, each state winner will be recognized by FedEx as part of its safe driving initiative, The Chairman’s Challenge. 

• Mike Whitehead (Sioux Falls) captured the top spot in the Tank Truck class for his fifth state title. He also posted the highest scores for the written exam and pre-trip inspection portions of the competition. Mike was awarded the Grand Champion title for achieving the highest score among the winners of all classes.
• Chad Vermundson (Sioux Falls) took home the first-place trophy in the 3-Axle class. He also posted the highest score on the driving course.
• Troy Swenson (Watertown) finished first in the 5-Axle class for his fifth state title.

Whitehead, Vermundson and Swenson will go on to compete at the American Trucking Associations’ 2012 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC), known as the “Super Bowl of Safety,” August 7-11 in Minneapolis, Minn. In addition, each state winner will be recognized by FedEx as part of its safe driving initiative, The Chairman’s Challenge. 

• FedEx Freight driver Rusty Pederson, based in Wilmington, captured his third state title, this year in the 3-axle class. He also took home the Grand Champion title for achieving the highest score among the winners of all classes.
• Fellow FedEx Freight driver Billy Tuell earned his first state title in the Twins class. Billy is also domiciled in Wilmington.
• J.R. Argo, a driver for Travis Boardman Inc. domiciled at the FedEx Ground station in Salisbury, Md., captured first place in the Step Van class for the second year in a row.
• FedEx Freight drivers Keith Moreno (New Castle) and Louis Lockard (Wilmington) posted second-place finishes in Twins and 4-Axle classes, respectively.
• Lori McKamey, a driver for Q&D Trucking and Josh Lineweaver, a driver for Travis Boardman Inc., finished second in the Step Van and Straight Truck classes, respectively. Both are domiciled at the FedEx Ground station in Salisbury, Md.
• Sweeping the Step Van class with a third-place finish wasJoe LeBlanc. Joe is a driver for Desperado Trucking, domiciled at the FedEx Ground station in Salisbury, Md.
• Michael Conaway, owner of D&C Courier, Inc. domiciled at the FedEx Ground station in New Castle, finished third in the Straight Truck class.

Pederson, Tuell and Argo will go on to compete at the American Trucking Associations’ 2012 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC), known as the “Super Bowl of Safety,” August 7-11 in Minneapolis, Minn. In addition, each state winner will be recognized by FedEx as part of its safe driving initiative, The Chairman’s Challenge.

“The entire team of drivers representing FedEx is dedicated to safety. It is an integral part of everything they do,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and CEO, FedEx Corp. “The performance of these participants at the Georgia championship is a testament to their commitment to safety excellence.”

The Georgia State Truck Driving Championship is an opportunity for professional truck drivers to demonstrate their driving skills and safety expertise. The event includes a difficult driving skills test, pre-trip inspection and written examination covering vehicle operation and knowledge of federal safety regulations.

In 2011, 115 driving professionals from 45 states representing FedEx Freight, FedEx Ground, FedEx Express, and FedEx Custom Critical qualified to compete at the National Truck Driving Championships by winning their respective state’s competition and driving accident-free for at least one year. One FedEx competitor captured the National Champion title in the Step Van class. In addition, FedEx drivers earned nine additional top-three finishes in their respective vehicle classes.

His Highness (H.H) Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

The Group’s 2011-12 Annual Report the company posted a AED 2.3 billion (US$ 629 million) net profit, with dnata marking its highest ever profit in 52 years of operation. Despite fundamental challenges, the Group’s revenue reached a record high, climbing to AED 67.4 billion (US$ 18.4 billion) an increase of 17.8 percent on last year’s results. The Group’s cash balance grew by 9.5 percent reaching a strong AED 17.6 billion (US$ 4.8 billion).

“Achieving our 24th consecutive year of profit and maintaining an upward growth trajectory is an achievement that belies the industry norm,’ said His Highness (H.H) Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

“Throughout the 2011-12 financial year the Group has collectively invested close to AED 14 billion (US$ 3.8 billion) in new products. This investment has garnered new customers and increased our international presence. Successful business growth is not a matter of luck, it is the result of sustained and calculated investment. Every dirham that we earn is strategically ploughed back into our business and it is this foresight that has allowed the Group to maintain such strong and consistent profitability.”

Despite a difficult operating environment, the Group continued to invest in and expand on its employee base, increasing its overall staff count by more than 10 percent.

During the year Emirates received a staggering 22 new aircraft, its highest in any single year, funded by a wide variety of financing structures.  With an increased fleet, Emirates further invested in its network by adding 11 new destinations and increasing capacity to 34 cities, a record for the airline.

Reaching a record profit, data stayed true to its proven acquisition strategy, gaining a majority stake in online travel agency, Travel Republic Ltd and a 50 percent interest in Wings Inflight Services in South Africa. Importantly the results for 2011-12 highlight that 55 percent of dnata’s revenue is derived from its international operations, an increase of 17 percentage points over last year.

In the 2011-12 financial year Emirates’ fuel bill increased by 44.4 percent over last year to reach AED 24.3 billion (US$ 6.6 billion). With operating costs increasing by 24 percent compared to a revenue increase of 16.2 percent over last year, Emirates bore the brunt of the crippling cost of fuel for nearly one year, before reluctantly introducing a fuel surcharge on all tickets.

In addition to the cost of fuel Emirates had an operationally challenging year with the political unrest across the Middle East and North Africa affecting flight schedules. By keeping a tight focus on operations and modifying capacity and schedules Emirates was able to maintain profitability.

Highlighting its sound financials, Emirates launched its highly successful US$ 1 billion bond in June last year and despite many traditional financing partners suffering from the Eurozone debt crisis, the bond was well received by global investors reflecting confidence in the Emirates business model. In addition to this, Emirates repaid a Singapore Dollar 250 million bond in full that matured in June 2011. The bond, listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, was originally issued in 2006 with a five year term.

Emirates revenue reached a record high of AED 62.3 billion (US$ 17 billion) growing by 14.9 percent when compared to the 2010-11 financial year. Despite this strong revenue growth, the stifling cost of jet fuel impacted Emirates’ bottom line with the airline’s profit sitting significantly lower than the previous year at AED 1.5 billion (US$ 409 million) representing a decrease of 72.1 percent over last year’s record results.

With this move many commercial and supporting departments of Air France-KLM Cargo and Martinair Cargo at Schiphol will be brought together.

The Transport building is a very modern, environmental friendly, sustainable and state of the art building where Martinair colleagues already reside. The climate for instance is controlled with a modern, energy saving system and meets the requirements of the international BREEAM certificate. BREEAM is a method to assess the sustainability performance of a building.

Not all departments will move to Schiphol East.  The operational departments and the Benelux Market organization (Sales and Customer Service) will stay at the warehouses at Schiphol Center.

The overall transaction is valued at approximately $750 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Caterpillar would retain a 35 percent equity stake. Other terms are not being disclosed. The closing of the transaction is pending customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals and consultation with employees and employee representatives, in accordance with local, country and regional employment practices.

“The sale of the third party logistics business would be a key step in the execution of our enterprise strategy. This event enables Caterpillar to increase its focus on our core business that aligns with our strategic business model,” said Stu Levenick, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for Customer & Dealer Support. “We believe the transaction with Platinum will set the third party logistics business on a path for continued growth and success.”

Over the past 25 years, the third party logistics business has provided outstanding logistics service to more than 50 customers worldwide in a number of different industries. As part of the agreement with Platinum, the third party logistics business will continue to provide logistics services for non Cat branded parts including FG Wilson, Perkins, Solar, as well as for Caterpillar Japan.

Platinum Equity Partner Jacob Kotzubei said the investment is a perfect fit for Platinum given the firm’s significant experience in executing carve-out transactions and operating logistics businesses.

“We have a lot of experience owning and operating businesses that provide complex supply-chain solutions,” said Kotzubei. “We know what customers expect, and we share Cat Logistics’ commitment to the highest levels of service and dependability.”

“We are excited about this opportunity to partner with Platinum Equity. We are confident we have chosen the right partner to focus on the third party logistics business and grow it to build long-term value,” said Steve Larson, vice president of Caterpillar and chairman and president of Cat Logistics. “We also thank our third party logistics employees for their commitment and dedication, which has enabled Caterpillar’s third party business to become a global leader in service parts logistics. As the transaction is finalized, we are committed to working closely with Platinum to ensure a seamless transition so customers continue to receive the high level of service and value they have come to expect.”

“We are delighted to be part of this important platform, gaining immense insight from industrial, technological and regional government organizations about facing up to the challenges of future urban development. As a leading logistics company, DHL is cooperating with governments in mega cities across Europe and Asia to develop innovative urban logistics solutions and smarter city infrastructures,” says Martin Wegner, Vice President Research & Development at Solutions & Innovation, Deutsche Post DHL.

At the Logistics Forum, one panel session will also feature practical examples of cities which are addressing issues of urban logistics and undertaking the process of strengthening systems already in place or implementing new systems, such as DHL’sGoGreen program. The key elements of this program are fleet and network optimization, improved energy efficiency in buildings, implementation of innovative technologies, the mobilization of employees, and the involvement of subcontractors and customers. The final session of this year’s congress will be chaired by Martin Wegner and Florian Lennert, Academic Director, Intelligent City InnoZ, London School of Economics and Political Science. All results from the day’s sessions will be included in a roadmap to help cities assess the role of urban logistics in strengthening their resilience.

“The electrification of the RTGs at LCB1 will enhance Port of Laem Chabang’s leadership position within environmental performance and make the port a role model for other ports in Thailand and elsewhere in the region” stated LCB Container Terminal 1, CEO Niels T. Hansen.

The conversion of RTG power from diesel to electricity is made possible through flexible automatic power connections linking the RTGs to a conductor rail. Conductix-Wampler will be installing more than 2.5 km of conductor rails at the terminal to accommodate the electric power link. By reducing diesel fuel consumption in the existing RTG engines, the terminal is projected to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 1,300 tons annually.

Diesel-powered RTGs account for approximately 20 percent of all CO2 emissions from terminal operations.

If adopted nationwide, the emission-reductions would be considerable. There are currently a total of 158 diesel-powered RTGs in operation at Thai ports. The Port of Laem Chabang in the Chonburi Province on the Gulf of Thailand was the 4th busiest container port in Southeast Asia and the 21st busiest worldwide with 5.7 million TEUs handled in 2011.