Intermediaries

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

     Echo Global Logistics said it had a profit of $3.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, a 33.4 percent increase over the $2.6 million earned in the same 2010 period.    Revenue in the quarter was $162.9 million, 43.1 percent higher than in the same 2010 period.    The Chicago-based company said that for the full-year 2011 it had a profit of $12 million, 43.3 percent more than in 2010. Revenue was $602.8 million in 2011, 41.4 percent more than the prior...

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

   The international transport and logistics company cargo-partner has appointed Rakesh Suri as its new managing director India.    Suri was most recently chief operating officer at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics India, and prior to that, director and COO of HTL Logistics India.    Germany-based cargo-partner specializes in forwarding (including transportation and warehousing) for complex cargo movements.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

     U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Wednesday published a notice of proposed rulemaking that would make substantial changes to the way imported merchandise is transported inland under a bond, enabling the cargo owner to defer payment of duties until it reaches the destination port or is exported.     The primary fixes involve making the in-bond process electronic and tightening up procedures to better track merchandise and prevent diversion. In the past, CBP has...

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

     MercuryGate International, a transportation management solutions (TMS) service provider, has announced a partnership with JFE Pfe Ltd., a supply chain services provider, to create MercuryGate Asia Pacific.    MercuryGate has operated in the Pacific Rim region for some time, but said the move was to add a global face forits  TMS in the region, as well as to better support existing customers there.    Based in Singapore, MercuryGate Asia Pacific ...

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

     W.I.S. Logistics, a third party logistics (3PL) company in Wisconsin, has signed a deal to use Transite’s JaguarTMS as its transportation management system.    W.I.S. said that support for online LTL rating, carrier selection, shipment tender, bills of lading and tracing were key in its decision.    The 3PL offers a variety of services including consulting, distribution, transportation and logistics management for shippers across North America. The ...

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

     Expeditors International of Washington reported a profit for the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31 of $92.8 million, 4 percent less than the same 2010 period.    Revenue for the quarter was $1.5 billion, down 5 percent, while net revenue was $476 million, a 5 percent increase.    For the full year, the company had a profit of $385.7 million, a 12 percent increase over 2010. Revenue was $6.15 billion in 2011, up 3 percent over 2010, and net revenue was $1.9 billion, up...

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

     The shuttered transpacific liner carrier The Containership Co. earlier this month won a decision in U.S. Bankruptcy Court that could help the line recoup lost revenue from its former shipper customers.    On Feb. 10, a U.S. Bankruptcy judge in New York found in favor of Norway-based TCC in a motion filed by a group of its customers, who were seeking to have to breach-of-contracts proceedings moved before the Federal Maritime Commission. U.S. Judge Sean Lane denied the motio...

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

     Dachser Transport of America (Dachser USA) has appointed Mickey Diaz as director of U.S. air freight.    "This new position will better serve our customers, as Mickey is great asset for our shippers to meet the demands of logistics challenges faced in the U.S. market," said Frank Guenzerodt, president and chief executive officer of Dachser USA, in a statement.    Diaz will continue her responsibilities with Dachser’s Latin America development. She has been in the ...

Monday, February 20, 2012

     IAG Cargo, which combines British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo, has launched a free iPhone and Android phone application that allows customers to track air freight documented on both carriers' air waybills.    The app gives real-time tracking information on shipments via  waybill numbers and barcodes, while also allowing companies to plan their next shipments. Customers can select their origin and destination, and the app will display a wide choice of...

Monday, February 20, 2012

      SourceProcureDeliver.com (SPD), based in Mumbai, India, has launched a new supply chain and distribution platform.    The service is initially aimed at suppliers looking to enter the Indian market. SPD said companies currently face a risky choice of either shipping stock against confirmed advance paid orders or entering the market on their own without an existing order base.    SPD’s platform introduces a supplier to its target segment and tak...

Monday, February 20, 2012

   WOW Logistics has appointed Mike Gebhardt as its director of business development.    Gebhardt, previously with OHL and Saddle Creek Corp., comes to WOW with a background in the warehousing and distribution industry.    Based in Appleton, Wis., WOW is a third party logistics services firm with 7 million square feet of warehouse space in 23 locations across three states.

Monday, February 20, 2012

     Motorola Solutions unveiled its SL Series portable radio and its new XPR 5000 mobile radio to address new issues in the modern logistics environment.    The two devices fall under its MOTOTRBO umbrella that focuses on voice quality, extended battery life, and a large application developer program aimed at increased productivity and enhanced worker safety.    The SL Series weighs less than the average smartphone, and Motorola said it's aimed the slim design at...

Friday, February 17, 2012

     Third-party logistics provider Performance Team will open a container transloading facility at the Port of Charleston to shuttle cargo from ocean containers to truck trailers for distribution throughout the Southeast.    Performance Team will operate from the Wando Welch Terminal's container freight station and handle both import and export cargo.    Performance Team said transloading cargo onsite will increase its efficiency, reduce costs, and...

Friday, February 17, 2012

     The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 15 license applications and changes for review.    The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from AA Shipping, Houston (Barbara C. Mozie, president); Eagle Van Lines, Temple Hills, Md. (Christos Georgeakopoulos, vice president); J.K. Moving & Storage, Sterling, Va. (Charles S. Kuhn, president); NIT Logistics, Hackensack, N.J. (Esra Terer, corporate secretary); and TBIF, Bozeman, Mont. (Way...

Friday, February 17, 2012

   The Johannesburg, South Africa-based Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and Imperial Logistics, a logistics services provider, have launched a Supply Chain and Logistics Program to provide teaching and research in the fields of logistics, supply chain management, and transportation management.    The goal of the program is to raise awareness of supply chain management systems for firms in the Southern and greater Africa regions, and also create supply chain ...

Friday, February 17, 2012

   The Leeds, U.K.-based logistics company Torque has appointed Paul Boland as its new head of freight.    Boland has been with Torque for more than 10 years and will oversee imports, exports, air/sea, and courier services. He will also take charge of the architecture and implementation of Torque’s purchase order management system, which will be rolled out across Europe, Asia and India later this year.

Friday, February 17, 2012

   Menlo Worldwide Logistics, the logistics subsidiary of Con-way Inc., has promoted Thomas Koh to director of business development, and Chuan Peng Low to director of solutions and information technology for its South Asia organization.    Both Koh and Low joined Menlo in 2005.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

     CargoWise, a technology provider for logistics service companies, has announced a new deal with Lasso Logistics to implement its hosted ediEnterprise service.    Lasso, which operates supply chain and product services across Australia and China, said it chose CargoWise to improve efficiency in its international operations.    Lasso’s move away from legacy systems and to a technology partner that can provide software growth is part of a growing trend...

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

     Internet retailers and other e-commerce services will generate half of the United Kingdom's parcel volumes in the pre-Christmas peak within five years, according to Global Freight Solutions (GFS).    The study by GFS, a U.K. parcel and carrier manager, found the number of packages sent by e-commerce firms during November and December last year increased 15 percent from 2010.    Director Simon Veale said Web retailers accounted for 37 perce...

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Doyle    The wrong photo of William P. Doyle was included in Tuesday's edition of AS+ and AS Daily . Doyle, chief of staff at the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA), has been nominated by President Obama to be a commissioner at the Federal Maritime Commission.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

     President Obama has nominated William P. Doyle, chief of staff at the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), to be a commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission.    Obama also nominated Richard A. Lidinsky Jr., current FMC chairman, to another term. Lidinsky was first named commissioner by Obama in 2009.    If confirmed by the Senate, Doyle would replace Joseph E. Brennan, who has been at the FMC since 1999, making him the longest-serving of the...

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

   VHI Transport, a woman-owned logistics management firm based in Chester, Va., has appointed Kristy Seaton to vice president and Connie Whitley to global head of sales.    Seaton was previously the company’s supply chain director. Before that, she worked for Coca-Cola Enterprises serving in different departments including working with their supply chain and SAP functions.    Whitley has served as VHI’s vice president of sales and marketing since 2006. Prior to VHI, she wa...

Monday, February 13, 2012

   Kintetsu World Express, a Japan-based logistics service provider, has acquired a 30 percent stake in Gati Limited, paying roughly $54.25 million.    Gati's supply chain and 3PL businesses will be turned into a 70:30 joint venture called Gati Kintetsu Express. The venture will combine Gati’s 3PL and distribution in India with Kintetsu’s freight forwarding service and large customer base.    The companies said the revenue generated from the deal wi...

Friday, February 10, 2012

     OHL Solutions Inc., a large logistics services provider based in Brentwood, Tenn., has agreed to pay a $1 million civil fine and take other remedial steps for failing to properly screen cargo for explosives as a designated agent of the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana announced Wednesday.    The violations were committed by ActivAir, OHL's air freight forwarding division previously acquired from a British firm, a...

Friday, February 10, 2012

     Pacer International said it had a profit of $1.1 million in the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, 2011, compared to a loss of $1.1 million in the same period a year earlier.    Revenue in the quarter was $358 million, compared to $373 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. About $289.7 million of that came from the company's intermodal business which was up 3 percent from the same period a year earlier. On the other hand, revenue from logistics was $68.3 million, down nea...

Friday, February 10, 2012

     MIQ Logistics said Thursday it has started less-than-container-load (LCL) consolidation services from Istanbul to New York.    Kansas-based MIQ is partnering with its agent INCI Lojistik on the service to collect LCL shipments from any point in Turkey, and many points in Eastern Europe, consolidate them in Istanbul before transporting the boxes to New York for deconsolidation and final delivery.    The service can be used independently, or as a comprehen...

Friday, February 10, 2012

     Impatex Computer Systems, a U.K.-based provider of customs processing software, is changing its name to Impatex Freight Software.    The company said this reflects its main areas of developing, supplying and supporting customs and freight forwarding software, and it has not provided computer hardware for more than 10 years.    Impatex currently provides two products: ICE and NetFreight.    ICE, Integrated Customs for Europe, is a customs processing solut...

Thursday, February 09, 2012

   A former manager of a Netherlands-based freight forwarder pleaded guilty for conspiring to defraud the United States by facilitating the illegal export of goods to Iran.     Ulrich Davis, 50, a Dutch citizen of Pumerend, The Netherlands, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark, N.J. federal court on Monday.    According to court documents, Davis was the sales and business development manager for a company described in the In...

Thursday, February 09, 2012

     The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security said three companies agreed to pay a total of $35,200 in civil penalties to settle allegations that each violated the Export Administration Regulations’ antiboycott provisions.     Antiboycott regulations prohibit U.S. persons from taking certain actions with intent to comply with or support unsanctioned foreign boycotts, including providing information about business relationships with or in a boycott...

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

     The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 12 license applications and changes for review.    The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from Carlos B. Sanchez Renner, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico (Carlos G. Sanchez Renner, sole proprietor); and Marsh & Associates Signing Services, Willingboro, J.J. (Cheryl Marsh, chief executive).    The agency received NVO-ocean freight forwarder license applications from ABBA Trans, Elk Gro...

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

     Third-party logistics services provider Agility has appointed Grant Wattman as president and chief executive officer of its project logistics business.    Wattman, a 40-year industry veteran, has previously worked at CH2M Hill, Panalpina, ABB Lummus Global, GeoLogistics and Fritz Cos. He has overseen large projects in infrastructure, mining, and oil and gas.    “Agility is strengthening and developing its project logistics business, and Grant will play a major lea...

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

   Dubai-based Centre Point Logistics (CPL) has signed an agreement to support Geodis Wilson’s logistics operations in the United Arab Emirates.    Sascha Geiken, managing director for Geodis Wilson in Dubai, said, "demand for contract logistics is very high in the Middle East region.”    Dubai is used by many companies as a hub to facilitate trade and transportation of goods across the Middle East.

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

     XPO Logistics, a Michigan-based third-party logistics services provider, has appointed John Hardig to chief financial officer, effective Feb. 13.    Hardig most recently served as a managing director in the transportation and logistics investment banking group at Stifel Nicolaus Weisel. He has advised transportation and logistics companies on more than 60 mergers and acquisitions.

Monday, February 06, 2012

   Miami-based non-vesssel-operating common carrier Econocaribe Consolidators has appointed William Higgins to director of global accounts, and Erich Henninger to expands its sales in the Pacific Northwest.    Before joining Econocaribe, Higgins was owner of Genesis, a 20-year-old Houston-based NVO. Genesis was acquired by Econocaribe in 2007. Higgins will be responsible for further developing Econocaribe’s freight forwarder client base and working with the NVO’s partner Ecu Lines, ba...

Monday, February 06, 2012

     a2b Fulfillment has added multi-currency payment and refund options to its service to entice international clients that want to enter the U.S. market.    a2b, a Greensboro, Ga.-based third-party logistics provider that specializes in order fulfillment and returns processing, has integrated its systems with PacNet Services, an international payment processing company that handles currencies of more than 130 countries. The partnership allows companies to accept and rende...

Monday, February 06, 2012

     The Leeds, U.K.-based logistics company Torque has appointed Vanessa Hope as its new head of sales and marketing.    Hope will focus on growth of Torque’s customer base. She has more than 20 years of industry experience with a background in retail, brand management, and third-party logistics.

Friday, February 03, 2012

     Yusen Logistics (Americas) Inc. has promoted Mike Liantonio to senior vice president and general manager of its Transportation Division.    He previously served as the Secaucus, N.J.-based freight forwarder’s vice president of sales and operations. Liantonio, a 25-year industry veteran, joined Yusen Logistics in October 2010. Prior to that he held management roles at Momentum Transportation, Vexure, and NYK Logistics.    Joe Giudice was also promoted to senior vic...

Friday, February 03, 2012

     ODW Logistics has appointed Carl W. Neverman to regional vice president of client solutions.    In this role, Neverman will identify new commercial opportunities for ODW’s U.S. business, while maintaining several of the existing client relationships.    ODW is a third-party logistics provider with shared warehouses in Columbus, Ohio; Chicago; Milwaukee; and Chino and San Bernardino, Calif. Dedicated locations include Urbana, Ohio; Chicago; Battlecreek an...

Friday, February 03, 2012

     The German transportation and logistics company Dachser said it has opened a new warehouse in Shanghai to support growth of its contract logistics business in China.    Dachser moved from its existing Shanghai regional warehouse, in operation since 2007, to the new location to increase capacity. The new facility is located close to the center of Shanghai, directly on the G2 Beijing-Shanghai expressway and the G1501 Shanghai ring road, providing close access to the...

Thursday, February 02, 2012

   New Orleans-based customs broker and freight forwarder W. R. Zanes & Co. has announced the election of a handful of new officers.    Diane Schexnayder was elected president and chief executive officer of the company. Schexnayder, who holds a customs broker license, previously served as vice president for 25 years. She is also a past president of the International Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers of New Orleans.    William Lusk, also a licensed customs broker, ...

Thursday, February 02, 2012

   Swiss freight forwarder Kuehne + Nagel has entered an agreement to take over the specialized Australian forwarder Link Logistics International Pty. Ltd.     “We consider the acquisition of Link Logistics to be a further strategic step for the global expansion of our perishables logistics operations,” said Tim Scharwath, K+N’s executive vice president for air logistics, in a statement. “It will help accelerate our growth in this business segment and besides Europe we ...

Thursday, February 02, 2012

     Seattle-based freight forwarder Lynden International has opened an office in Brussels under a new company division Lynden International (BE).    The new location will expand Lynden’s network and the company said this will help it meet increasing demands for transportation and logistics services in Belgium's medical, pharmaceutical and other growth industries.    Lynden said it has had an agency presence in Belgium for years so it has some base in the local ne...

Thursday, February 02, 2012

     The pharmaceutical company Roche has awarded logistics contracts in Greece to Swiss freight forwarder Kuehne + Nagel.    K+N transports temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products for Roche, and usually these products are transported by air freight even over relatively short distances.    For its business in Greece, however, the drug company sought a more environmentally-friendly alternative that would reduce carbon dioxide emissions. No...

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

   Last week American Shipper surveyed shippers on the transpacific eastbound trade and the results were, as expected, quite enlightening.    But perhaps the most intriguing number to emerge from the latest Transpacific Pulse survey was this: shippers who don’t lock in their rates on the trade for the year were five times more likely to have their cargo rolled in Asia than those that did.    For all the talk about shippers and carriers and truly becoming partners, here is ta...

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

     C.H. Robinson said it had a profit $109.2 million in the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, 5.9 percent more than the $103.2 million earned in the same 2010 period.    Revenue was $2.6 for the quarter, 10.4 percent more than the $2.3 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2010.    For the full year, the company had a profit of $431.6 million, 11.5 percent more than the $387 million earned the previous year. Revenue in 2011 amounted to $10.3 billion, 11.5 percent mo...

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

   The Dutch logistics company IJS Global has appointed Sven Boekhorst as its head of global ocean freight and executive vice president.    Boekhorst comes to IJS Global from Panalpina, where he served as senior vice president of corporate ocean freight. In this newly established role, Boekhorst will be responsible for ocean freight procurement and operations, as well as development of the company's sea freight services internationally.    He will be based in Hong Kong.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

   The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received five license applications for review.    The FMC received a non-vessel-operating common carrier license application from Iris International USA, Haworth, N.J. (Chang Gil Kim, member).    The agency also received NVO-ocean freight forwarder license applications from Ashimiyu Alowanle, Rockford, Minn. (Ashimiyu Alowonle, sole proprietor); Direct Express Intermodal, Atlanta (James J. Briles III, president); and Grupo Delpa Co...

Thursday, January 26, 2012

     The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 25 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review.    The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from Advance Container Line, New York (Chris X. Chou, president); Cheryl G. Wilson, Des Moines, Wash. (Cheryl G. Wilson, sole proprietor); H.A.B. International, Miami (Harold A. Beharry, president); Omega Cargo, Medley, Fla. (Luis E. Vicent, president); Sky Link NY, Ja...

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

     Panalpina said Wednesday it has started six new direct less-than-container load (LCL) services from Shanghai to Southeast Asia.    The services will link the world’s busiest container port with Keelung, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Singpaore, and Jakarta. The service is offered through Panalpina’s in-house non-vessel-operating common carrier Pantainer Express Line.    “The six new guaranteed weekly services have been launched to meet increased cust...

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

   Pantos Logistics, a the South Korean third-party logistics company, has opened a second logistics facility at South Korea's Incheon airport, saying Incheon was the fourth biggest cargo airport by volume in 2010.    Bae Jae-Hoon, Pantos' chief executive officer, said the 45,000-square-foot facility is adjacent to its existing center built in 2005 and will bring the company to more than 105,000 square feet of capacity. He said that bringing this much space to customers...

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

     Panalpina said Tuesday it has opened a new logistics center on the outskirts of Moscow to tap into demand for high-value cargo.    The Swiss freight forwarder said it has paid particular attention to security needs for the 6,000-square-meter facility. The center is aimed at in high-tech, automotive, high-end fashion, telecommunication, and healthcare customers “looking for high quality security solutions and value-added services.”    The facility ha...

Monday, January 23, 2012

     SDV International Logistics confirmed this morning that it has bought into various parts of the FAST group of freight forwarding companies, though it declined to say how many would be controlling stakes.    The company did acknowledge that it acquired 100 percent of FAST Italy. The amount paid was not disclosed, but SDV said it hopes to keep on all 10 of FAST Italy’s staff. SDV said this move will help expand its overall Middle East p...

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

   Non-vessel-operating common carrier Troy Container Line will begin a new direct consolidation service to Liverpool and Manchester in the United Kingdom.    The service will begin on Feb. 11 with a sailing from New York to Liverpool aboard the vessel Atlantic Cartier . It is a 10-day direct call to Liverpool.    In addition to Liverpool and Manchester, the route will serve the United Kingdom’s Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bradford, Belfast, Coventry, Durham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, H...

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

   NEO Air Charter – the recently formed cargo charter broker which said it will only deal with freight forwarders – has appointed Stefan Kohlmann to joint managing partner.    Kohlmann now jointly heads the company alongside Adnan Duran, who launched NEO in October 2011.    Kohlmann has spent 23 years in air freight, initially working for MSAS (now DHL), then moving over to broker Chapman Freeborn, where he was most recently managing director of the company’s German operati...

Monday, January 16, 2012

     The U.S. Commerce Department on Friday reported that U.S. exports of goods and services in November 2011 fell 0.9 percent from the previous month to $177.8 billion.     However, the department noted that November’s exports of consumer goods ($15.7 billion) were the highest on record.    U.S. imports of goods and services increased 1.3 percent to reach $225.6 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to increase 10.4 percent to reach $47.8 billion in November. P...

Monday, January 16, 2012

     AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) said last week it has started scheduled all-cargo services to Chengdu International Airport.    The service, operated with a Boeing 747-400 freighter, adds Chengdu - the capital of Sichuan province in Western China - to ABC’s existing route between Zhengzhou, Moscow, and Amsterdam.    Chengdu is not a new destination for AirBridgeCargo or its parent company Volga-Dnepr Group.    “Many charter flights with unique cargoes have...

Friday, January 13, 2012

   The non-vessel-operating common carrier ECU Line said Thursday its India-based parent company has relaunched under a new group brand name, Avashya.    ECU Line was acquired by the Indian logistics company Allcargo Logistics in 2006, and has functioned as a subsidiary since then.    Allcargo, started in 1993 by Chairman and Managing Director Shashi Kiran Shetty, announced in September that its business units would come under the Avashya Group moniker, with Indian news outl...

Friday, January 13, 2012

   Chicago-based Coyote Logistics said it will add 400 jobs in 2012, focused on sales, operations, and technology.    The company used a visit from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to announce the hiring plans.    The Chicago Sun-Times also reported that "Emanuel and company founder and CEO Jeff Silver announced that 71 Coyote employees have volunteered to develop a new transportation, distribution and logistics curriculum for Olive Harvey College and potentially serve as 'guest t...

Friday, January 13, 2012

   A new online booking processing system, Freibos.com , has started offering services that cover price quotes, freight bookings, and transport invoices.    The system aims to allow small- and mid-sized transportation and forwarding companies throughout Europe to process more bookings and serve more clients without expanding their staffs. The system is also expected to reduce costs for companies that use these forwarders.    The new process management system l...

Friday, January 13, 2012

     The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 19 license applications and changes for review.    The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from ADS Air & Ocean Freight, Doral, Fla. (Julieth X. Zapata, operations coordinator); Besco Shippers, Philadelphia (Ludlow Harding, president); Caribbean Shipping Solutions, Stone Mountain, Ga. (Paul S. Philip, vice president of shipping operations); CTS International Logistic, Montreal (Matthew M...