Air

Monday, May 20, 2013

  Air freight rates out of Asia are slowly inching back up to February’s yearly high of $3.32 per kilogram, ending April at $3.21 per kilogram, a rise of $0.06 over March’s figure, according to the Drewry East-West Air Freight Price Index .    The index measures the average per-kilogram price paid by forwarders to airlines on 21 major East-West routes. Each result factors in the base rate plus any security and fuel surcharges.    February’s high-water mark came in $0.32 per kilo...

Monday, May 20, 2013

   March tonnage numbers for four airports spanning the United States paint a mixed picture of the health of U.S. airports, but the general trend is one of cargo activity decline.    Los Angeles International Airport handled 171,798 total tons of cargo in March, seeing 7,992 tons of mail and more than 163,000 tons of freight. While the mail result showed a 4.57 percent uptick, year over year, freight declined by 2.83 percent, leading to an overall decline of 2.51 percent. In the first...

Monday, May 20, 2013

   In its recently ended fiscal year, Virgin Atlantic Cargo boosted its market share on 30 routes, sometimes gaining up to 40 percent of the share of a given lane. That aggressiveness helped lead to cargo results that, despite a terrible cargo market, were basically flat when compared to the previous year.    Virgin Cargo carried 214,737 tons of cargo in the 2012-2013 fiscal year, a 0.91-percent decline over the previous year. Revenues ended the fiscal year at 230 million euros ($295...

Friday, May 17, 2013

   Maersk Line made a profit of $204 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared to a loss of $599 million in the first quarter of 2012. It said the turnaround in the financial performance was achieved through lower costs, as revenue was unchanged at $6.3 billion in both quarters, and came despite price aggressiveness.    Financial results for the world’s largest container shipping company were reported Friday morning by the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, a conglomerate whose operations...

Friday, May 17, 2013

   AES Logistics and Aljex Software said Thursday the two companies have integrated AES Logistics rates into Aljex hosted software for quick access by Aljex users.    AES is a provider of transportation services and supply chain logistics including truckload, less than truckload (LTL), ocean and air cargo service. Aljex is a provider of hosted transportation management software for brokers, carriers and other transportation providers.    "Integration with AES provides sourci...

Friday, May 17, 2013

   UPS today announced a new app for the iPad to let users easily track packages, find UPS shipping locations, and access UPS My Choice, all with enhanced mapping features.    The UPS app for iPad enables customers to track packages and find locations where they can send shipments. Additionally, the app allows users of UPS My Choice to access all of the features of the service including the ability to reroute or reschedule delivery. UPS My Choice Premium members can also view their d...

Thursday, May 16, 2013

   The Kahala Posts Group (KPG), an alliance of 10 postal administrations around the world, has signed a deal with the global trade management solutions provider Amber Road aimed at increasing their competitiveness in the international delivery market.    KPG member organizations include the Australian Postal Corp., China Post Group, Correos y Telégrafos SAE, Groupe La Poste, Hongkong Post, Japan Post Co., Ltd., Korea Post, Royal Mail Group, Ltd, Singapore Post Limited and the U.S. Po...

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

   Cathay Pacific saw cargo activity fall 0.6 percent, year over year, to 123,805 tons in April as capacity ticked up by 1.5 percent.     So far this year, cargo tonnage has fallen 1.2 percent on a 3.2-percent capacity rise.    The Asian air carrier’s James Woodrow said the cargo market still hasn’t recovered from its “major dip” in April 2011. Two years, he added, is an unprecedented period of cargo malaise.    “While our tonnage last month was almost on a p...

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

   Total revenues at LATAM Airlines inched up 1.5 percent, year over year, to $3.4 billon on the strength of the carrier’s passenger revenues, while cargo revenues fell 3.2 percent during the first quarter.    As the group continues putting together the LAN and TAM businesses, it saw operating income shoot up 149.8 percent during the first quarter to $114.2 million as operating margin rose to 3.4 percent. Net income dropped 48.9 percent, year over year, to $42.7 million.   ...

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

   Yusen Logistics (Americas) will open a new 229,000-square-foot warehouse in Chicago on May 20 that will employ 170 people.    The warehouse will include 185,000 square feet dedicated to distribution and container freight station services, a climate-controlled area of 15,000 square feet, with separate freezer and refrigerated units totaling 3,000 square feet to accommodate the company’s growing perishables customer base.    The new facility is located near the cargo entra...

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

   During the first quarter, DHL increased its revenues by 0.6 percent, year over year, to 13.4 billion euros ($17.4 billion), and before-tax earnings rose by 4 percent to 427 million euros ($553.9 million).    Net income increased by 45 percent, year over year, but net profits fell to 498 million euros ($646 million) from a total of 529 million euros ($686.2 million) during the first three months of 2012.    Frank Appel, DHL’s chief executive officer, noted these relativel...

Monday, May 13, 2013

   A third runway at London Heathrow Airport is the only way to prevent a cargo capacity crisis, according to Larry Coyne, CEO of Coyne Airways.    In a speech last week in London, Coyne said U.K. logistics firms are vulnerable to losing out on business to companies in mainland Europe if the capacity crunch is not addressed.    His speech came in reaction to the push for an airport on Thames Island in London, a proposal that calls for a two-runway airport with rail and seapo...

Monday, May 13, 2013

   The Port of Seattle promoted Kurt Beckett to deputy chief executive officer with primary responsibility for port infrastructure development and internal operations.    The move will allow Tay Yoshitani, the port’s CEO, to focus on business development, attracting new shipping lines and air services to Seattle, and advancing policy issues central to the port’s competitiveness.    “We’re facing stiff competition from ports throughout North America,” Yoshitani said in a sta...

Monday, May 13, 2013

   The U.S. Department of Transportation made it official Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration will not furlough air traffic controllers or close 149 low-activity control towers at small airports to meet new budget requirements following recent congressional action.    The Reducing Flight Delays Act allowed the FAA flexibility to move money from its Airport Improvement Program to the personnel account to cover $637 million in planned cuts that would have required cont...

Monday, May 13, 2013

   Airbus, Air Canada and BioFuelNet Canada have formed a partnership to look into the long-term production of biofuels for Air Canada, with the first assessment due by the end of the year.    The group is tasked with studying the different biofuels materials and processes, measuring the overall success of each method, and exploring any emerging technologies in the field.    Air Canada has previously operated two flights fueled by a blend of jet fuel and biomass. The first, ...

Monday, May 13, 2013

   All Nippon Airlines will resume regular, nonstop Boeing 777-300ER flights from Tokyo Narita to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on June 1.    The carrier will reintroduce Boeing 787s to the route starting in September.    ANA had been flying the Tokyo-Seattle route using 787s since October, but took the 787 out of service when the Federal Aviation Administration grounded the planes in January due to battery issues. ANA halted services to Seattle altogether in March.&...

Friday, May 10, 2013

   During the first quarter, IAG Cargo experienced a 7.2-percent hit to commercial revenue, ending the period at 270 million euros ($351.1 million).    Cargo volume declined by 8 percent, year over year, to 1.36 billion tons on a 1.7-percent decrease in capacity. Yield, however, rose by 0.8 percent, year over year.    Officials blamed weak market conditions, especially on IAG’s sluggish North American trade lane, and industrial action at Iberia earlier in the year for the p...

Friday, May 10, 2013

   UPS will add winglets to its 54-plane Boeing 767 fleet, including the five 767s currently on order, by the end of 2014.    The integrator has already installed winglets on its 747s and MD-11s; UPS’ Airbus A300-600s have similar devices attached to their wings.    The move will save each plane 4 percent of its current fuel expenditure by reducing drag during flight. The winglets also reduce noise emissions and improve performance during take off, according to a compa...

Friday, May 10, 2013

   Logistics information technology solutions provider Descartes Systems has extended its relationship with IAG Cargo to include air cargo booking through Descartes' cloud-based Global Freight Exchange (GF-X) Private Label solution.    Descartes' solution will support iagcargo.com, the carrier's free electronic booking portal for freight forwarders.    Descartes' GF-X allows air carriers to distribute real-time product, routing, capacity and rate informa...

Friday, May 10, 2013

   IAS Logistics will expand its Texas hub-and-spoke trucking operation to Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami.    No timeline for the expansion has been released.    The carrier's services currently operate from Texas' biggest airports, and in each new city, IAS will focus on building out from major airports. From the new city offerings, the IAS team will provide truck charter, integrated bonded trucking and storage, and a fleet capable of handling shipper-built ...

Friday, May 10, 2013

   The U.S. Export-Import Bank approved a final commitment for a $45.5 million loan guarantee to VRG Linhas Aereas S.A. (GOL), a Brazilian airline.    The financing will support the export of engine maintenance services by Delta TechOps (Delta), a subsidiary of Delta Airlines. This transaction will support about 400 jobs, according to Ex-Im Bank.    GOL engines will be shipped from São Paulo, Brazil, to Atlanta for heavy maintenance to be performed by Delta’s maintenance, r...

Thursday, May 09, 2013

   The Messenger Courier Association of America (MCAA) has changed its name to the Customized Logistics & Delivery Association (CLDA).    The rebranding effort was announced today by CLDA president, Rob Johnstone, at the association’s annual meeting in New Orleans.    “The name change comes as part of an overall rebranding effort to better reflect what our members do,” Johnstone said in a statement.    “Several years ago, the MCAA board began wrestling with the...

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

   Kenji Hashimoto, American Airline’s president of cargo, expressed confidence this week in the carrier’s previously announced timeline for its $11 billion merger with US Airways.    While American hasn’t commented publicly on how stringent the approval process may be, Hashimoto alluded that the carrier is confident approval will come within the stated timeframe.    “I think it’s telling that we said in February, we’re going to aim for the third quarter, and we’re still say...

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

   It’s been a little more than two years since the formation of International Airlines Group — a full merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo under a single umbrella — and Steve Gunning, head of the cargo side of the business, predicts that most of the big tasks will be accomplished by 2014.    “It’s gone really well,” he told American Shipper during a break at the CNS Partnership 2013 conference in Phoenix. “Our approach was not to announce this with a great big fanf...

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

   Purolator International, a provider of U.S.-Canada logistics services, has opened three new branch offices in Columbus, Ohio; Newark, N.J.; and Phoenix, bringing their total number of 33 branches.    The three new offices follow the addition of seven branches during 2012 in Baltimore, Charlotte, Denver, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, San Diego and St. Louis.    “Purolator’s growth comes at a time when U.S. business is increasingly looking to Canada as a source of new customer...

Monday, May 06, 2013

   During a White House news conference last week, President Obama said Congress' temporary fix of the government-wide sequester cuts to end flight delays is symptomatic of the nation's deferral of infrastructure maintenance writ large that is undermining long-term economic growth.    Obama signed legislation giving the Federal Aviation Administration the flexibility to move money from the Airport Improvement Program, which provides airport authorities with grants for infrastruct...

Thursday, May 02, 2013

   IAG Cargo is planning to order 18 Airbus A350-1000 planes, which will enter service starting in 2018 given shareholder approval.    The carrier also holds options for an additional 18 planes.    The Airbus aircraft, combined with the carrier’s recent order of 24 Boeing 787s and the possibility of an additional 18 planes, will form the backbone of IAG’s modernized fleet. The carrier has also made plans to add 12 new A380s into the mix. The B787s and A380s will start enter...

Thursday, May 02, 2013

   Virgin Atlantic Cargo has relaunched seasonal daily flights from London Heathrow to Chicago.    The routing will be flown until Oct. 26.    The Chicago flights add to Virgin’s strong transatlantic presence, which already includes daily services from London to JFK, Newark, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Washington and Orlando.     “Chicago has been an important seasonal addition to our schedule for six years and provides a faster connection for customers doing...

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

   Although air cargo activity out of Asia has cooled in the past few months, Volga-Dnepr Airlines recently delivered a 90-ton shipment of oil and gas equipment from Singapore to Turkmenistan.     Flying an Antonov 124-100 freighter on behalf of Pacific Airlift, the company had to use a special loading device to get some of the equipment, including a single 40-ton piece of machinery, on board the plane. - Jon Ross

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

   Total cargo activity at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol edged up 2.25 percent in the first quarter, ending the three-month period at 366,269 tons.    Freighter movements at the Dutch airport inched up, year over year, 0.4 percent.    During the quarter, cargo performed well year over year in January and March, but dipped in February due to the slowdown in cargo activity surrounding the Chinese New Year. Asian cargo fell by 9.5 percent, year over year, that month, but posi...

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

   After showing relatively strong numbers toward the end of 2012, worldwide air cargo activity is down 1.1 percent for the first three months of 2013, according to recent data by the International Air Transport Association.    Last month, freight tons carried fell 2.3 percent worldwide, year over year, on a 0.3 percent capacity drop.    Net activity declined, when capacity additions were taken into account, in nearly every region of the world except for the Middle Eas...

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

   President Obama has named Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx to succeed Ray LaHood as secretary of transportation.    Foxx must now be confirmed by the Senate before taking his post.    LaHood, who has served as transportation secretary since 2009, announced in late January that he would resign his post as soon as a successor was confirmed. In a letter to DOT employees at the time, LaHood noted his successes over the previous four years. The contentious pilot fatigue rulin...

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

   National Air Cargo confirmed on its Website that a cargo aircraft it operates on behalf of the U.S. military was involved in an accident departing Bagram air base outside Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, resulting in the death of all seven crew members.     The company offers charter services for cargo shippers, including the U.S. military.    National Air Cargo said the plane was bound to Dubai when it crashed on takeoff. The plane was carrying vehicles and...

Monday, April 29, 2013

   The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration suspended all employee furloughs and said air traffic control facilities returned to regular staffing levels by Sunday evening after Congress passed legislation Friday giving the agency flexibility to meet a mandatory budget cut in the face of public frustration with airport delays and flight cancellations.    Immediately upon providing relief for the airline industry, Democrats and Republicans took turns accusing each other for causin...

Monday, April 29, 2013

   TNT Express’ first-quarter results show a 4.5-percent drop in revenues to 1.7 billion euros ($2.2 billion) on weak performance in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.    In Europe and the Middle East, TNT saw increased price pressure leading to a revenue drop, but the decline could have been much worse had it not been for strong air cargo sales. Weight-per-consignment numbers showed a large decrease, leading to lower yield rates.    In China, there is a weak demand internat...

Monday, April 29, 2013

   China's air cargo volume rose to 487,000 tons in March, a 4-percent year-over-year increase on the way to a three-month finish of 1.3 million tons, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.    Year to date, Chinese air freight is 4.7-percent ahead of 2012’s activity.    The latest figures showed that new air cargo strongholds have emerged in the country. In March, domestic volume increased by 7.1 percent, but activity in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan sh...

Monday, April 29, 2013

   Officials with the International Civil Aviation Organization are currently negotiating a new lease for their headquarters in Montreal, but another suitor has emerged.     Qatar has proposed that ICAO make Doha the permanent seat of the organization, starting in 2016.    Qatar’s offer, according to ICAO’s rules, must be considered by the organization’s 191 member states at the next assembly, which will take place on Sept. 24. Moving the organization to Qatar will req...

Friday, April 26, 2013

   The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed legislation to address the Federal Aviation Administration's budget bind that had forced it to furlough air traffic controllers, slowing down passengers and cargo traveling by air.    The measure, which follows similar action taken by the Senate Thursday evening, would give the FAA leeway to move money from a grant program for airport improvements to cover personnel costs and leave air traffic controllers in their jo...

Friday, April 26, 2013

   UPS has reached a tentative agreement for new five-year contracts with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters covering its small package and freight businesses.    The new contracts must now be approved by UPS’ union employees. The current contract, which covers 250,000 UPS employees, expires July 31.    "These agreements are a 'win-win-win' for our people, customers and shareholders,” UPS’ chief executive officer, Scott Davis, said in a statement.  "The fact th...

Friday, April 26, 2013

   The U.S. Senate Thursday night unanimously passed a bill that would allow the Federal Aviation Administration flexibility to move funds between accounts and end furloughs of air traffic controllers that have caused flight delays since being implemented Sunday under a budget-cutting mandate.    The Obama administration has said its hands are tied by the sequester process that requires the FAA to pare $637 million from its budget by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, part ...

Friday, April 26, 2013

   Industry leaders concurred during testimony on Capitol Hill Wednesday that the freight transportation industry is doing a lot to make fleets greener, but said Congress could help reduce air pollution by making it easier to adopt clean energy systems and get infrastructure projects completed that reduce congestion.     Fred Smith, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of FedEx Corp., suggested a reduction in corporate tax rates would help companies ad...

Friday, April 26, 2013

   Southwest Airlines’ first-quarter freight operating revenue increased 5.4 percent, year over year, to $39 million, representing the largest revenue rise among the carrier’s three revenue streams.    Total operating revenue ended the quarter at $4.08 billion, a 2.3-percent, year-over-year rise.    While revenue in all sectors rose, the number of passengers carried fell by 1.4 percent, and load factor declined by 0.2 percent. Trips flown during the first quarter were down ...

Thursday, April 25, 2013

   UPS has acquired Budapest-based pharmaceutical logistics firm CEMELOG, a move that will help expand the integrator’s growing healthcare arm, for an undisclosed amount.    Officials expect to close the deal in the second quarter.    The 14-year-old European company boasts a number of large healthcare brands as clients and will help UPS gain a foothold in Central and Eastern Europe, according to a UPS release. The acquisition adds three distribution facilities, for&nb...

Thursday, April 25, 2013

   The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's rolling furlough of 15,000 air traffic controllers is into its fifth day and continues to slow air traffic in the United States.    Department of Transportation officials insist the workforce reductions will not compromise safety because controllers are spacing planes further apart so they can manage traffic with fewer on-duty personnel.    The trade association representing passenger carriers, as well as cargo airline...

Thursday, April 25, 2013

   Cathay Pacific Airways, Thai Airways International and MASKargo have been fined a combined $9.6 million by the High Court of New Zealand for engaging in cargo price fixing activities.    The three carriers pleaded guilty to various violations occurring from February 2000 to February 2006.    Cathay paid the largest fine, $4.3 million, for setting fuel and security surcharges on flights from India to New Zealand, among other routes. Thai, which paid $2.7 million, illegally...

Thursday, April 25, 2013

   FedEx this week released a new service aimed at the e-commerce market that allows consumers to schedule the date, location, and time of their package delivery.    The service, FedEx Delivery Manager, is offered through the company FedEx Services subsidiary.    “Customers can receive notification of FedEx Express and FedEx Ground packages en route to their homes, and can choose various delivery options,” FedEx said. “Customers can also actively track and manage the delive...

Thursday, April 25, 2013

   British union Unite has begun preparations to strike against Menzies World Cargo’s imposition of a two-year pay freeze on its staff at London Heathrow.    The union will soon take a ballot of its members to decide if a strike is the correct action to take.    According to the union, recent talks with management broke down before the parties found a resolution. Union officials said they are ready to go back to the bargaining table.    “It beggars belief that a co...

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

   Airlines, shippers and passengers are feeling the effects of the furloughs imposed Sunday on air traffic controllers by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration as part of a budget mechanism to save $637 million by the end of the fiscal year.    The sequestration process hit all discretionary spending across the government because Republicans in Congress and the White House could not agree on alternative cuts or revenue enhancements to reduce the deficit. The Department of Transpo...

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

   FedEx Express has signed a seven-year, $10.5 billion contract to provide airport-to-airport domestic transport of mail for the U.S. Postal Service.    USPS officials conducted a competitive search before awarding the contract to FedEx, which has been its express partner for the past 12 years. During the process, officials evaluated the pricing and technical capabilities, among other things, of the candidate firms. According to USPS, the new agreement will provide capacity flexibil...

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

   Cargolux took an overall loss of $35.1 million on revenues of $1.74 billion last year, showing a significant improvement over the $57 million loss the carrier budgeted for 2012.    Cargo activity finished the year at 645,759 tons.    The worldwide trend away from air cargo was the main culprit for the carrier’s loss, but officials noted they have seen tonnage improvement so far in 2013. Actually, the carrier’s Paul Helminger said beating the projected 2012 loss isn’t too...

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

   US Airways experienced 3 percent cargo revenue growth in the first quarter of 2013, compared to the same period last year, on the way to a record net profit, excluding special items, of $55 million.    During the same period last year, US Airways turned in a net loss of $22 million.    Total operating revenue grew by 3.5 percent, year over year, to $3.4 billion. The company attributes its solid performance mostly to record passenger loads.     US Airways i...

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

   Pacer International/Ocean World Lines has appointed Al Benki to senior vice president of international logistics in the United States and Europe.    He formerly served as the company’s senior vice president of international logistics for Asia and Europe.    Taking Benki’s place in Asia is Danny Yang, who will serve as managing director for Asia.    Benson Chua has become Pacer International/OWL’s managing director in China, while Andrew Luk continues to manage t...

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

   Asia-Pacific e-commerce growth could be limited by the region’s logistics capabilities, according to a new report by Transport Intelligence.    The report, Asia Pacific e-commerce Logistics 2013 , points out that the region is the world’s fastest growing e-commerce market and has the potential to become the largest market for e-commerce sales in the next few years, with 33 percent expansion in the e-commerce logistics market in 2012.    “This is a region that has long be...

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

   UPS will buy 700 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles and build four refueling stations by the end of next year, accelerating its planned growth into alternative fuel.    The new stations will be built in Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis and Dallas at a cost of more than $18 million.    The integrator currently boasts more than 1,000 LNG vehicles worldwide, and its alternative-fuel fleet is now composed of more than 2,600 vehicles. UPS’ only self-owned LNG fu...

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

   Swiss WorldCargo’s top cargo executive, Oliver Evans, has been elected to serve as chairman of The International Air Cargo Association, replacing Michael Steen, chief commercial officer of Atlas Air Worldwide.    Enno Osinga, the cargo head at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, will join Evans as his vice chairman. The appointments come with a two-year term.    The two were elected during TIACA's annual general meeting, held prior to the agency's executive summit in Dallas...

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

   Delta Air Lines generated an $85 million net profit during the first three months of the year — a year-over-year bump of $124 million — finishing the quarter with its best financial results in more than 10 years.    Operating revenue grew by $87 million, year over year.    Passenger numbers fueled Delta’s success, growing by 1.4 percent. Cargo revenue decreased by 2.4 percent, year over year, on lower yields, finishing the quarter at $238 million. Third-party maintenance...

Monday, April 22, 2013

   Lufthansa has cancelled nearly all its European flights today due to strike actions by ver.di, a German trade union.    The airline will operate 20 of the 1,650 scheduled short-haul flights on Monday, and these flights will mostly be routed out of Berlin, where the strike actions are due to end by the middle of the afternoon. - Jon Ross

Monday, April 22, 2013

   The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has officially approved design modifications for the Boeing 787's lithium battery system after giving the go-ahead for Boeing's certification plan in early March.    The final directive for a return to service for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner planes will be published in the Federal Register next week. The agency will also give aircraft operators instructions for implementing the new battery system.    In addition to other modifications...

Monday, April 22, 2013

   Shippers should expect delays receiving air cargo moving through major airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York after the U.S. Department of Transportation and its Federal Aviation Administration on Sunday began to furlough air traffic controllers as promised to make good on forced budget cuts that hit the entire government in March.        Critics said the Obama administration is using the reductions in air traffic control hours to...

Monday, April 22, 2013

   Air freight rates out of Asia continue to be somewhat volatile, dropping from $3.32 per kilo in February to $3.15 per kilo last month, according to the latest Drewry East-West Air Freight Price Index.    The March decline in rates comes after two months of steady increases. September was the last time the freight rate average hit $3.15, but if last summer is any indication of rates in 2013, pricing will continue to fall. In June and July of last year, rates came in at $3.12 per kil...