Florida Caribbean Connection

   A group of shippers is partnering with the Port of Jacksonville in a voluntary initiative to reduce air pollution caused by shuttle trucks serving the Florida port and their warehouses.    The Jacksonville Port Authority said Monday it has joined the Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT), representing cargo owners, trucking companies, ocean carriers and partners such as the Environmental Defense Fund and the Retail Industry Leaders Association.    The CRT, build...

   Talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and New York Shippers’ Association (NYSA) over a local contract for New York and New Jersey dockworkers abruptly broke down Wednesday when ILA representatives walked out of the meeting at a Ramada Inn in Newark, N.J.    ILA spokesman Jim McNamara said the ILA left the meeting after a presentation by Joe Curto of the NYSA included "the same items that had been rejected for the last six months of talks we have had with...

   The average price of diesel will fall to $3.87 per gallon this year, a price drop of 10 cents compared to the average cost of diesel fuel in 2012, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.    In its Short-Term Energy Outlook, the agency also predicted an average price of $3.78 per gallon in 2014.    Diesel prices should be at their highest point in the early part of the year, with the EIA predicting prices of $3.93 per gallon in the first quarter. Tha...

   After a decline from September to October, freight activity in the United States was again on the rise, bumping up 1.7 percent, month over month, in November, according to the U.S. Transportation Department's Bureau of Transportation Statistics.    The bureau’s freight transportation services index — a measure of tons and ton-miles taken for all domestic transportation and then averaged together — showed November’s index level stood at 15.5 percent higher than the reading take...

   Gene Seroka, president of the Americas for APL Ltd., told attendees at the annual conference of the American Import Shippers Association and U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel that contract negotiators for the International Longshoremen's Association and management will meet today and Thursday to discuss local issues in the Port of New York and New Jersey.    He added that next Monday through Thursday discussions will continue between the union and U.S...

   The American Trucking Associations has seen progress on 12 of the 20 steps it proposed four years ago to significantly reduce highway truck crashes.    At that time, the organization lobbied policymakers to put these safety measures into effect.    “ATA has been a vocal advocate for making common sense, data-supported, regulatory and legislative changes to improve the safety of our nation’s highways,” Bill Graves, the organization’s president and chief executive officer,...

   The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received five license applications and changes for review.    The FMC received a non-vessel-operating common carrier/ocean freight forwarder license application from OTA America, Brea, Calif. (Dookee Kim, secretary).    The agency also received applications for a change to a qualifying individual from Carmichael International Service, Los Angeles (John Salvo, co-president); and Watercraft Mix, Hialeah, Fla. (Dmitry Poyarkov, ...

   The ocean transport software developer Global Maritime Transportation Services (GMTS) on Tuesday released a rate tool that gives users the ability to index by trade, port pairs, commodity, equipment size, and type of market rates via a 24/7 information feed.    The patent-pending software, dubbed BOTE Charts by Globe Maritime, is part of a new suite of GMTS software modules.    “Prior to BOTE Charts, indices were dated and provided little insight into actual commodity, po...

   The global non-vessel-operating common carrier CaroTrans on Tuesday unveiled an ocean freight tool to calculate the combined transportation cost for less than truckload (LTL) and less than container load (LCL) shipments for specific origin-destination routes.    The door-to-port rate application allows users to receive a variety of route/sailing options to evaluate and select transportation services based on transit time, destination arrival and cost.    Costs are c...

   APL said it will implement a $500-per-TEU general rate increase on April 1.    "During the course of 2012, APL’s transatlantic service has seen a significant decline in freight rates whilst costs have increased, resulting in an unsustainable financial performance," the Singapore carrier said.    APL said the increase is applicable on all standard dry boxes from North Europe and Mediterranean ports to the United States, Canada, Latin and Central America. - Chris...

   The software-as-a-service supply chain vendors GT Nexus and TradeCard said Monday they have entered into a merger agreement that will create one of the largest cloud-based platforms in the supply chain arena.    The merger pairs two companies with somewhat similar supply chain visibility platforms, but distinctly different strengths. Oakland-based GT Nexus’ strength lies in transportation visibility and logistics spend management, while New York-based TradeCard’s strengths are in ...

   Eastern Class I railroad CSX said Tuesday that 105 new or expanded manufacturing sites selected by shippers in 2012 on its network are expected to generate 162,000 carloads of new freight business in future years.    Many of the new or pending projects involve energy production, including ethanol and crude oil terminals, natural gas processing facilities and drilling supply locations associated with the oil-and-gas development in massive shale formations around the country. &n...

   The U.S. Transportation Command has granted a $694 million contract to 12 air cargo carriers for door-to-door transportation services for the Air Force.    The contract will commence Feb. 1 and run for one year, with options for four more one-year periods. The competitive acquisition comes with guarantees for each carrier of a minimum of $2,500.    The contracts cover an indefinite quantity of goods on an indefinite timeline, but will encompass time-definite, less-t...

   The Senate last week confirmed William P. Doyle, of Pennsylvania, to serve as commissioner at the Federal Maritime Commission for the term expiring June 30, 2013.    Originally nominated in February of last year, Doyle was one of dozens of appointments confirmed by the Senate just before the last Congress expired.    Formerly chief of staff at the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), Doyle also served as director of permits, scheduling, and complian...

   Oracle on Monday released the latest update of its Oracle Transportation Management (OTM) and Global Trade Management (GTM) systems.    The release is the 11th update of the two key supply chain modules in the last seven years since Oracle acquired transportation software provider G-Log.    On the transportation management side, the update to OTM includes enhancements to fleet management, transportation sourcing, and transportation business intelligence, including augmen...

   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday proposed two new food safety rules to help prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses.    The proposed rules specifically implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and are available for public comment for the next 120 days.    The rules, when implemented, will build on steps taken during the Obama administration, including the first egg safety rule protecting consumers from Salmonella and ste...

   U.S. Customs officers at Miami International Airport seized about 181,000 counterfeit pills of Viagra in two cargo shipments in September and December, the agency said.    The airline's cargo manifest described the shipment as "pharmaceutical products," but import specialists determined they were not legitimately produced. The domestic value of the shipments was about $3.2 million.

   Textainer said this week it has acquired 24,000 TEUs in standard dry containers from the fleet it manages for about $32.6 million.    The purchase increases the percentage of Textainer’s owned fleet to 72 percent from 59 percent at the start of 2012.    “We are pleased to end the year with another purchase from our managed fleet as we continue to execute on Textainer’s long-standing strategy to grow our overall fleet and increase the ownership percentage,” said...

   David Anderton has been promoted to the newly created position of assistant director of strategic planning and development at Port Everglades.    “David’s diverse experience and background in planning, development, grants writing and administration and state/federal legislative processes make him the ideal choice for this new position as Port Everglades begins to implement its strategic expansion plans,” said the Florida port’s chief executive and port director, Steven Cernak, in ...

   Worldwide air freight rates activity dragged in 2012 with supply surpassing demand in key regions throughout the world, depressing air freight rates in notable lanes.    For the new year, two officials in the industry don’t see much change ahead.    Gene Ota, director of product management for APL Logistics, said his clients think air freight rates will remain somewhat flat. “They’re not expecting any huge increases,” he told American Shipper . “As far as capacity and the...

   After a positive 2012, U.S. airlines have room to grow and are well positioned for a strong 2013, according to an analysis by Dahlman Rose & Co.    This growth, however, will come mainly on the passenger side, with little or no benefit from cargo.      The investment firm Dahlman Rose & Co points to a number of factors fueling growth for these airlines. Improving balance sheets, traffic in the second half of December that exceeded expectations, and curr...

   Landstar System, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based non-asset-based highway carrier, said Thursday it has concluded its decade-long litigation with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).    At issue was Landstar's compliance with federal regulations that govern the leasing relationship between motor carriers and truck owner-operators. Landstar, one of the top 10 U.S. trucking providers by revenue, relies on independent drivers and agents to provide and sell its serv...

   The trucking software provider Trimble said this week it has acquired privately-held ALK Technologies, a Princeton, N.J.-based developer of routing, mapping, mileage and navigation technologies.    The addition of ALK is aimed at extending and complementing Trimble's transportation and logistics product portfolio, including TMW Systems' transportation management solutions, PeopleNet's integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems, and GEOTrac's fleet management an...

   Hapag-Lloyd said it will offer a new weekly service to Cap Haitien, Haiti, under a connecting carrier agreement with Frontier Line.    The service will offer a weekly connection with four days transit time from the port of Cartagena, Colombia.

   Crowley Maritime Corp. has appointed Matt Yacavone to vice president of sales and chartering for its petroleum services, effective Jan. 7.    Based in Jacksonville, Fla., he will report to Rob Grune, senior vice president and general manager for petroleum services.    Yacavone will be responsible for the planning and direction of sales and chartering initiatives, overseeing development of policies and procedures, coordinating and negotiating customer contracts and develo...

   UPS has debuted a new offering for time-sensitive international heavyweight shipments.    Worldwide Express FreightSM, an extension of its Worldwide Express program, is geared toward high-value pallets weighing more than 150 pounds, shipping them on a guaranteed, day-definite basis.    The service includes overnight shipping to the United States from Asia, Europe, and Central and South America. Shipments destined for Europe from the United States and Asia-Pacif...

   The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's Michael Huerta, who was thrust into the role of acting administrator upon Randy Babbitt's resignation in December 2011, has been confirmed by the Senate as administrator.    Huerta was appointed deputy administrator on June 23, 2010.    Before joining the FAA, Huerta served as managing director of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, worked in the U.S. Transportation Department, and ran the port of San Francisco. &nb...

   The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) agreed last week to continue contract negotiations through Feb. 6, averting a strike that would have begun on Dec. 30, but there are still difficult issues for the two sides to address in the weeks ahead, including work practices in the Port of New York and New Jersey.    "There is progress," said one source, who asked not to be identified. "If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago, I would h...

   The growth of the U.S. container industry will be modest this year as the U.S. economy, led by consumer demand, continues to sputter at a weak pace, according to a forecast by TTX Co., the largest provider of railcars and fleet management services in North America.    U.S. Gross Domestic Product, the broadest measure of goods and services produced, is expected to be about 1.8 percent, Peter Wolff, director of market development, said at the Council of Supply Chain Management ...

   Recently released cargo results for the international airports at Miami, Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Angeles paint a picture of revived domestic air freight in the waning months of 2012.    This activity, in most cases, has been pushed along by a boom in mail freight.    In November, Miami saw total cargo activity of 194,117 tons go through the airport, a 4.97-percent year-over-year increase, but experienced a more significant year-over-year boost in domestic air ...

   Shutl, a third-party service that aggregates point-to-point capacity providers to offer same-hour shipping service in the United Kingdom, will make an initial push into the United States during the first quarter of 2013.    In a couple short months, consumers in New York and San Francisco will be able to order items from three major online retailers and have them delivered in no more than 90 minutes, with some items arriving at the consumer's door in less than 20 minutes.  &n...

   A coalition of shrimp producers in the Gulf region filed a petition with the U.S. International Trade Commission on Friday asking for imposition of countervailing duties on imported shrimp from seven countries because of alleged unfair subsidies.    The industry group says the governments of China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are subsidizing exporters in those countries, artificially lowering the price charged in the United States and making it di...

   LAN Cargo has launched an e-booking tool that will, according to a press release, increase efficiency and give customers access to a broader array of shipping options.    Currently, the e-booking tool is only available for shippers routing goods out of New York, Miami and Mexico, but LAN Cargo hopes to expand the coverage area rapidly in 2013.    "E-Booking allows LAN Cargo to increase its connectivity with its customers by providing them with an opportunity to view a var...

   The Government Accountability Office has undertaken a review of the U.S. Postal Service's retirement-funding responsibilities after the organization and employees argued the requirement that the USPS pre-pay into its retirement fund was the main reason the service was facing financial ruin.    The report found even though the retirement payments are placing a huge burden on the Postal Service, it should stay the course and keep paying into the retirement accounts.    Alt...

   The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 12 license applications and changes for review.     The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier/ocean freight forwarder license applications from Barker International, Naperville, Ill. (Peter R. Barker, president); Efrinsa Global Logistics, Miami (Christian Urquizo, director); Inter-Commerce Exports, Houston (James Santamaria, president); NDA Worldwide Logistics Corp., Los Angeles (Norman D. Arauz, pres...

   The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the employers of their members, represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), have agreed to extend their contract 30 days, averting a potential strike at U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports that could have begun as soon as Sunday.     George H. Cohen, director of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, made the announcement Friday morning , saying "the container royalty payment issue has been agreed upon in princip...

   An analysis of cargo and container "incidents," such as leakages, explosions, fires, and stuctural failures of flexitanks or valves, finds more than two-thirds involved dangerous goods, half including leakages and 21 percent misdeclared, said the insurer TT Club .    The company recently undertook an analysis of data collected through the  Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) of the Container Owners’ Association, a group whose members account for 52 percent of c...

   President Obama last Thursday signed legislation reauthorizing programs for the Coast Guard to carry out its mission and Maritime Administration national security functions related to the merchant marine, while setting policy for other maritime issues.     The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012  authorizes the sea service to receive $8.6 billion in fiscal year 2013 and $8.7 billion in fiscal year 2014. Congress reversed the White House's proposal to ...

   According to a FedEx survey, 36 percent of Americans will return a gift this holiday season, with more than half of the 1,000 respondents shipping the gifts back to retailers.    FedEx found the majority of these goods will be returned before the end of January, with 35 percent of those answering the survey returning items between Christmas and New Year's Day.    “Americans are increasingly streamlining their seasonal checklists thanks to the convenience of online shoppin...

   The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) director said the International Longshoremen's Association and the group trying to negotiate a new contract with them, the U.S. Maritime Alliance, have agreed to meet before their current pact expires on Dec. 29.     “FMCS Director George Cohen has called a meeting of the ILA and the Maritime Alliance in advance of the December 29th expiration of the contract extension. The parties have agreed to attend. Due ...

   Quality Distribution has appointed former U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration head Annette M. Sandberg to board director.    Sandberg has more than 20 years of public safety and law enforcement experience at federal and state government agencies. She ran the FMCSA from Aug. 1, 2003 to April 1, 2006. She also served as deputy aqdministrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from Feb, 11, 2002, to Nov. 25, 2002.    Sandber...

   RedPrairie and JDA Software Group said late last week they have completed a merger first announced Nov. 1 between the two supply chain software companies.    The merged entity, which will be branded under the JDA name and based in JDA’s current headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz., created a combined entity with revenue of more than $1 billion. The merger is designed to leverage the strengths of JDA in supply chain planning, merchandising, and pricing arenas, and RedPrairie in wareho...

   The Port of Jacksonville has received a $585,000 federal grant to install diesel oxidation catalysts on container cranes to improve the air quality in and around the port, according to information on the port's Website.    The money was awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Diesel Emission Reduction Program through a direct allocation to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which then selects projects to support. The Florida DEP grant is from a ...

   A coalition of more than 100 trade associations from around the country is asking President Obama for help in preventing a strike by members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) as the union posted a document on its Website briefing its members on preparations for a strike to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 30.    The "Strike Preparations" memo from ILA President Harold Daggett said "orders to handle containerized cargo shall not be honored," but that or...

   Recommended safety standards for container yard equipment have been published in a white paper by the insurer TT Club, the Port Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA) and the International Cargo Handling Cooperation Association (ICHCA).    The groups have identified additional safety devices that can be implemented on yard equipment, along with other operational changes in order to reduce injuries and fatalities as well as cargo, property and equipment damage.    ...

   Miami-based non-vessel-operating common carrier Econocaribe Consolidators has appointed John Kamada to manager for the U.S. West Coast region.    Based in Los Angeles, Kamada will be responsible for sales and operations in the Pacific region. Prior to joining Econocaribe, he developed full-containerload sales for Ocean World Lines.

   The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday released its final rule establishing general regulations to improve the traceability of livestock moving interstate.    "With the final rule announced today, the United States now has a flexible, effective animal disease traceability system for livestock moving interstate, without undue burdens for ranchers and U.S. livestock businesses," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement.    "The final rule meets th...

   The Jacksonville Port Authority board voted unanimously on Wednesday to select Roy Schleicher as interim chief executive officer.    Schleicher has served as Jaxport’s executive vice president since 2011 following 10 years leading the port’s international cargo marketing efforts. He has more than 40 years of maritime industry experience.  The board also initiated the process to hire an executive search firm to identify candidates to permanently fill the CE...

   CSX Transportation has shuffled some of its management on the operations side of the railroad.    Gary Bethel, currently vice president for mechanical, has been named vice president of the northern region, succeeding Craig King, who is retiring.    Frank Lonegro, currently president of CSX Technology, will succeed Bethel as vice president for mechanical. Lonegro will continue to have responsibility for CSX's implementation of the industry-wide Positive Train Control...

   The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 3.1 percent in the third quarter, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis' final estimate Thursday morning.    With more complete source data about economic activity, the agency revised upward its earlier estimate of 2.7 percent growth. In the second quarter, real Gross Domestic Product increased 1.3 percent.    An increase in consumer spending and a decrease in imports were the primary reasons for the boost in U.S. pro...

   Crowley Maritime Corp.’s liner services division has appointed Tony Otero to vice president of Caribbean services.    Otero replaces Matt Jackson, who will take on a new position in Crowley’s petroleum services Jan. 1.    In his new role, Otero will be responsible for sales, marketing and operational shipping activities throughout Crowley’s network in the Caribbean, which serves more than 24 islands, including the Bahamas, Trinidad, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Hai...

   The U.S. Transportation Department this week announced six actions to eliminate “out-of-date or duplicative paperwork, saving taxpayer dollars and reducing the workload for businesses across the country.”    DOT's announcement comes in response to an executive order issued by President Obama in May, which instructed federal agencies to examine all existing rules and requirements to make sure they are still necessary, streamlined, and up-to-date. The department developed a paperwor...

   The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received eight license applications and changes for review.     The FMC received a non-vessel-operating common carrier license application from Titan International Shipping, Coral Springs, Fla. (Roberto G. Durand, president).     The agency received NVO/ocean freight forwarder license applications from DI Global Logistics, Miami (Johan Arenas, vice president); Exclusive Global Logistics, San Diego (Hwa Y. ...

   Shipper concern over the economic fallout that would result from a strike at U.S. East and Gulf coast ports is growing, after the abrupt breakdown in contract talks between the International Longshoremen's Association and employers represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) on Tuesday.    According to USMX, at a meeting in Newark, N.J., “the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) recommended a short contract extension to keep both parties at the bargaining ta...

   The ship classification society Germanischer Lloyd (GL) said Wednesday it has developed new route-specific stowage guidelines for container vessels.    The guidelines, available to all GL-classed boxships, is meant to offer container lines additional flexibility to load more containers on deck, while maintaining required safety levels.    “With new route specific loading calculations, GL can assist container lines to accelerate cargo operations in ports and maintain a hi...

   In the first positive growth since July, the American Trucking Association recorded a 3.7-percent increase in its seasonally-adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index in November, erasing the -3.7-percent result from October.    Compared to November 2011, the tonnage index rose by 1 percent, beating a 2.1-percent year-over-year decline in October. Without the seasonal adjustment, November's tonnage result came in at 6.5-percent lower than October's result.    Hurricane Sandy...

   UPS Airlines has added more than 400 flights this week to handle the pre-Christmas rush.    The company expects to deliver 28 million packages on Thursday, the integrator's busiest day of the year. By the end of this week, the company estimates that it will have delivered more than 135 million boxes worldwide.    According to a company press release, 3 million express shipments will be processed through its hub in Louisville within 24 hours. Today, UPS expects a crus...

   Dahlman Rose & Co. has switched its outlook on the domestic airline industry from cautious to bullish, citing higher passenger and ancillary revenues, the possibility of lower fuel prices and a stability gleaned from domestic airline consolidation.    November, the analysts noted, was the worst month in the current quarter, but the industry is ending the year on the upswing.    One big factor that will affect the domestic market is the proposed merger between America...

   The logistics software company Descartes Systems Group said Tuesday that it is working with DHL Global Forwarding and other customers to spearhead the air freight forwarding industry's adoption of Cargo-XML as a new communication standard.    "Descartes manages all of DHL Global Forwarding's electronic communications with our air carrier partners," said Steve Smith, head of e-business air freight for DHL Global Forwarding, in a statement. "When the time came to upgrade our system ...

   The global supply chain information technology company Data2Logistics has moved into a new corporate headquarters in its home city of Fort Myers, Fla., the company said Tuesday.    Data2Logistics provides transportation management, carrier negotiations, request for proposal management, inbound routing, networking analysis, and pooled purchasing systems, along with freight bill auditing and payment services.    Aside from its Fort Myers headquarters, the co...