Freight Cargo Map of the United States

- / N2N / – I have an acquaintance who owns a small, non-asset third party logistics (3PL) company.  He is constantly complaining to me about how cutthroat the transportation business is and how his customers and vendors are always cheating him out of money.  He spends a great deal of time trying to collect money and often ends up having to sue companies in order to get them to pay.

I’ve been involved in the transportation industry for a little over three years now and I can tell you that my experience has been exactly the opposite of that of my friend’s.  In three years I haven’t had a single customer stiff me for so much as a penny.  Sure, there’ve been a few slow-pays, but that’s to be expected.  In these 3 years I’ve met a lot of good people and I now consider many of them to be friends.

As a consultant that helps companies get C-TPAT certified my primary customers are importers, NVOCC’s (non vessel operating common carriers / international freight forwarders), U.S. Customs Brokers and Cross-Border Highway Carriers.  I also offer a program called “C-TPAT Compliant” for those companies that aren’t eligible for C-TPAT certification such as draymen, customs bonded warehouses, domestic trucking companies, most 3PL’s and domestic shipping and distribution companies. I think that’s a pretty good cross-section of the industry.  Even so, I’ve never encountered anyone who’s tried to cheat me.

Maybe I’ve just been lucky or maybe I’m just plain naive.  But what about you?  I’d be very interested to hear about your experiences.  I’m sure there are probably a lot of horror stories out there, but I’ll bet there are also some nice stories about transportation companies watching out for each other and stepping up to do the right thing.

——

Jeff Platts is the president of Combination Sales, Inc., a consulting firm with locations in California & New York.  Jeff can be contacted at 714-788-1531 or jeff@combinationsales.com.

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management.  contact@nation2nation.net.

“Some companies choose to pursue C-TPAT Certification all on their own.” said Jeff Platts, the C-TPAT Consultant who helped Airlift obtain their certification. “Achieving C-TPAT Certification is a difficult and challenging process. A good consultant can really help smooth the way.”

With its headquarters located near LAX, Airlift (USA), Inc. has offices and affiliates in the U.S., Asia, India and the UK. Airlift is led by its president, Ganesh Murthy. The company expertly coordinates shipments all over the world. Mr. Murthy can be reached at 1-877-724-7543, or by e-mail at ganesh@airliftusa.com.

Jeff Platts, a C-TPAT Consultant, is the founder and president of Combination Sales, Inc. as well as the publisher of nation2nation.net. Jeff can be reached at 714-788-1531, or by e-mail at jeff@combinationsales.com.

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.net.

“Our revenue and earnings growth are exceeding original expectations, primarily due to better-than-anticipated growth in FedEx Express and FedEx Ground volumes,” said Alan B. Graf Jr., FedEx Corp. executive vice president and chief financial officer. “Our package volume growth rates in our first quarter are continuing at a pace similar to our fourth quarter. Of particular benefit to our earnings is the continued strong demand for our higher-margin FedEx International Priority® (IP) package and freight services, with IP package volumes expected to grow more than 20% again this quarter. Customers are favorably responding to our superior service offerings, the capabilities of our unparalleled global network and the best-in-market cut-off times we now offer from numerous points in Asia.”

With the improved outlook, FedEx is also planning to fully restore the company match for 401(k) plans at all FedEx companies effective January 1, 2011. The cost of this restoration is included in the company’s earnings outlook.

FedEx will release the details of its first quarter results on September 16, 2010.

Corporate Overview

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $35 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 280,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements, such as statements relating to management’s views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions in the global markets in which we operate, legal challenges or changes related to FedEx Ground’s owner-operators, new U.S. domestic or international government regulation, the impact from any terrorist activities or international conflicts, our ability to effectively operate, integrate and leverage acquired businesses, changes in fuel prices and currency exchange rates, our ability to match capacity to shifting volume levels and other factors which can be found in FedEx Corp.’s and its subsidiaries’ press releases and filings with the SEC.

Source = Business Wire

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

Since 2008, TrafficLand has worked with Caltrans to serve video from 167 traffic cameras in the agency’s Riverside district. With the addition of the 104 cameras in Los Angeles and 243 in Orange County, TrafficLand will be able to provide seamless, live traffic camera coverage from over 500 cameras across the greater Los Angeles metropolitan region.

“We are pleased that Caltrans is expanding its relationship with TrafficLand in partnership with LACMTA,” said Lawrence Nelson, CEO of TrafficLand. “Our partners understand the importance of TrafficLand’s patented Image Engine® technology and dedicated network infrastructure in delivering a sustainable solution, which is critical during the demand spikes that occur with traffic incidents and weather emergencies. Our reliability becomes even more important when you consider how fast the demand for live traffic video is growing across technology platforms.”

About TrafficLand

TrafficLand is the largest authorized aggregator and distributor of live traffic video in the U.S. with over 8,000 traffic cameras, in more than 200 cities on its network. TrafficLand’s patented Image Engine™ technology provides single-source access to live traffic video from its national network. Video formats and services offered by TrafficLand support mobile applications, traveler information websites, broadcast traffic reporting, navigation devices and a dedicated service for DOTs and public safety agencies to aid traffic management and emergency response.

Source = Business Wire

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

C-TPAT COMPILANT LOGO

Once the bill has been passed CBP will have 60 days to define the criteria for non-asset logistics providers.

There is certain to be a rush of logistics companies to become C-TPAT Certified after the passage of this bill. Logistics providers should strongly consider becoming C-TPAT Compliant immediately, because this will make certification a substantially easier and faster process once it is available.

Here’s the full bill:

111th CONGRESS, 2d Session, H. R. 5619

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 28, 2010

Mr. OWENS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security

A BILL

To amend the SAFE Port Act to provide for the eligibility of certain third party logistics providers for participation in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN THIRD PARTY LOGISTICS PROVIDERS FOR PARTICIPATION IN C-TPAT PROGRAM.

(a) In General- Section 212 of the SAFE Port Act (Public Law 109-347; 6 U.S.C. 962) is amended by inserting after ‘contract logistics providers,’ the following: ‘non-asset based third party logistics providers that arrange international transportation of freight, including motor carrier brokers of property licensed by the Department of Transportation,’.

(b) Effective Date-

(1) IN GENERAL- The amendment made by subsection (a) takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and applies with respect to applicants seeking to participate in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (‘C-TPAT’) program on or after the date on which the regulations published pursuant to paragraph (2) take effect.

(2) REGULATIONS- The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner responsible for United States Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security, shall publish in the Federal Register criteria for participation in C-TPAT program of non-asset based third party logistics providers described in section 212 of the SAFE Port Act, as added by subsection (a), not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Security, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

The 214,000 square-foot facility is to be built on Rt. 83 (Ivanhoe Road) north of Peterson Road in Grayslake, IL. Expected to open in late 2011, the facility will join four others in serving the ground shipping needs of Chicagoland, featuring the latest automated material handling technology for sorting packages and dispatching up to 130 vans per day to make deliveries in the area. The workforce at opening is projected to include more than 200 full-time and part-time employees and could grow to almost 500 when the facility is operating at full capacity.

The new FedEx Ground distribution center is part of an ongoing nationwide network expansion and transit time acceleration plan to boost daily package volume capacity and further enhance the speed and service capabilities of its network. Since embarking on the expansion plan in 2002, FedEx Ground has opened nine new hubs featuring the most advanced material handling systems and expanded and/or relocated more than 500 local facilities. The network enhancement plan has resulted in accelerating ground service delivery by one day or more in more than half of the United States. FedEx Ground now delivers more than 50% of packages in two days or less and more than 80% of packages in three days or less. Additionally, average daily package volume has increased by more than 50% from 2.1 million in 2003 to more than 3.3 million today.

“Enhancing our distribution capability in the Midwest is an important step in our ongoing efforts to increase the size, speed and efficiency of our network,” said James T. Primm, vice president of the Central Region for FedEx Ground. “This new facility will enable us to meet the growing demand of local shippers and transport shipments across the country.”

Several local government agencies, including the Village of Grayslake, Lake County, the local school districts and fire protection district all worked together to enable FedEx to develop this site. The collaboration among all the partners reflects their commitment to bringing jobs to Lake County, and bolstering economic development.

About FedEx Ground

FedEx Ground specializes in cost-effective, small-package ground shipping, offering dependable business-to-business delivery or convenient residential service. With a network of more than 500 distribution hubs and local pickup-and-delivery terminals, FedEx Ground has a workforce of more than 70,000 employees and independent contractors who use more than 20,000 motorized vehicles to deliver over 3.5 million packages daily throughout the United States and Canada. The company reported annual revenue of $7.4 billion in fiscal year 2010.

Corporate Overview

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $35 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 280,000 employees and contractors to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements, such as statements relating to management’s views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions in the global markets in which we operate, new U.S. domestic or international government regulation, the impact from any terrorist activities or international conflicts, our ability to effectively operate, integrate and leverage acquired businesses, the impact of changes in fuel prices and currency exchange rates, our ability to match capacity to shifting volume levels and other factors which can be found in FedEx Corp.’s and its subsidiaries’ press releases and filings with the SEC.

Source = Business Wire

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

Semi-truck accidents can be life-changing or life-ending for the victims involved. Catastrophic injuries are all-too-common, and fatalities often result, due in no small part to the huge size disparity between commercial trucks (weighing an average of 60,000 to 80,000 pounds) and passenger vehicles (usually weighing between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds).

As Accident Rates Increase, More Injuries and Deaths Follow

When drivers don’t comply with regulations, accidents occur. The blanket term “safety or maintenance violation” covers a wide range of negligent, careless or reckless behavior on the part of truck drivers, truck owners (if a different party) and commercial trucking companies.

Driver-specific activities include:
1) Forging driver logs to indicate that mandatory rest periods were taken
2) Becoming extremely fatigued, thus causing delayed reaction time or falling asleep behind the wheel
3) Distracted driving such as eating, talking on a cell phone, texting or using the radio to communicate with other drivers instead of focusing on the road
4) Driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
5) Operating the tractor-trailer while taking prescription or OTC medications like painkillers or cold medicines that cause drowsiness
6) Inexperience
7) Inadequate training
Trying to comply with unrealistic compensation programs that actually encourage driving too fast for conditions and not taking enough rest breaks
9) Overloading the trailer, thus making it harder to control and top heavy, which could encourage it to tip
10) Improperly loading or securing cargo inside an enclosed trailer, which could result in sudden weight shifts that cause the driver to lose control
11) Failing to adequately secure cargo on a flatbed trailer, which could result in unexpected debris on the roadway (this can lead to single-car or chain-reaction accidents that can be nearly as catastrophic as semi versus passenger vehicle accidents)
12) Driving too fast for weather conditions like heavy rains, high winds and snow
13) Driving too fast for road conditions, particularly on steep grades, sharp curves, blind intersections and areas known for ice accumulation or falling rocks
14) Failing to drive defensively (watching out for other drivers, cutting them off, running them off the road or forcing them to take evasive maneuvers that could by themselves result in an injury-causing accident)

Company and Owner-specific causes:
15) Not adhering to mandated maintenance schedules
16) Forging maintenance logs to pass inspections on otherwise unfit rigs
17) Failure to service vital safety components like brakes, warning lights, steering mechanisms, trailer hook-ups (“coupling devices”)
18) Letting trucks leave for delivery runs with bald, bulging, under-inflated or over-inflated tires that can “blowout” at highway speeds, possibly causing the driver to lose control
19) Not properly training drivers or preparing them for road and weather conditions, aggressive drivers and handling mechanical system failures
20) Insufficient engine upkeep, which may lead to anything from a loss of power (affecting everything from steering and braking to windows and communication) to fire hazards… failure to check vital engine fluids like oil and transmission, brake and power steering fluid

While any one of these reckless behaviors can easily cause an accident, many of them coexist, escalating and complicating an already hazardous situation. Often, neither the trucker nor the trucking company is singularly responsible for a collision – the negligent actions of both, when compounded, result in sometimes irreparable harm to unlucky motorists who happen to be in the vicinity (some would say “in the wrong place at the wrong time”). News reports from around the country are filled with tales of tractor-trailers overturning, jackknifing, crushing smaller vehicles and running over pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.

Due to a number of factors, North Carolina has one of the highest rates of tractor-trailer crashes in the country – in fact, a recent nationwide survey ranked it sixth nationwide. Some of the reasons for the increased incidence of accidents in the state include:
- Prime location between Southern shipping ports and Northern commercial centers
- An ever-increasing volume of traffic
- Easy access to several interstate highways including I-77, I-85, I-40 and I-26
- A number of major thoroughfares high in the mountains (where dense fog can emerge suddenly, there are steep grades, rock slides can occur and ice can quickly accumulate on road surfaces)
- The fact that there are more than 100,000 miles of publicly traversed roadways in the state

If you are involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer, it is highly likely that you will be seriously injured or that you will tragically lose a loved one. Should you fall victim to the careless or negligent actions of a trucker or trucking company, seek the advice of a skilled personal injury attorney with experience handling these difficult cases.

Article provided by Nagle & Associates PA
Visit us at www.carolinatrucklawyer.com

Source = 24-7

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

“The President’s statement indicates that he clearly understands the national security and economic threats associated with our escalating dependence on foreign oil. He has pledged to get America off Middle East oil in ten years, and his recognition of natural gas as a domestic transportation fuel, particularly in heavy duty fleet applications, is the only way we can meet that goal.

“Natural gas is the first part of the solution since it’s the only domestic resource available that can immediately replace foreign oil as a transportation fuel in heavy-duty trucks. Converting heavy-duty trucks and high-fuel use commercial fleet vehicles to natural gas can reduce our OPEC dependence now while we wait for technology to produce the vehicles of tomorrow. I’m encouraged by the President’s commitment to signing energy legislation by the end of this year—if he is successful in this effort, he will be the first president in 40 years to make good on a promise to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

Currently, there is bipartisan legislation in both the House and Senate that would advance the use of natural gas. H.R. 1835 and S. 1408 (The NAT GAS Act) and The American Power Act, unveiled last week, all contain language that would replace foreign oil/diesel/gasoline with cleaner, abundant domestic natural gas in America’s heavy duty fleets.

About the Pickens Plan

Unveiled on July 8, 2008 by T. Boone Pickens, the Pickens Plan is a detailed solution for ending the United States’ growing dependence on foreign oil. That year, when oil prices reached $140/barrel, America was spending about $700 billion for foreign oil, equaling the greatest transfer of wealth in history. That figure has decreased some while oil prices have retreated, but the U.S. is still dependent on foreign nations for nearly 70 percent of its oil, representing a continuing national security and national economic threat. The plan calls for expanding the use of domestic renewable resources, such as wind and solar, in power generation and using our abundant supplies of natural gas as a transportation fuel alternative to OPEC oil.

More than 1.6 million people have joined the Pickens Army through the website www.pickensplan.com, which has had over 20 million hits. For more information on the Pickens Plan please visit our website www.pickensplan.com.

Source = Business Wire

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

Volcano Eruption in Iceland

Due to the closure of major airports within Europe, effective immediately, FedEx Express has announced it is not accepting deferred international freight shipments bound for Europe. This embargo does not affect freight shipments to and from other countries and applies only to Europe. FedEx continues to monitor the situation closely and is positioning its operations to resume service as soon as major airports in Europe open. FedEx Express is trucking shipments within Europe.

Source = FedEx

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

What makes Cargo Success unique? (what separates us from the pack – what do we have, that others don’t):

1. You can post Private and Public listings
2. Describe your loads in detail
3. Choose to receive “online quotes” (along with attached authorities) or “quotes over the phone”
4. Allows you to specify your rules and policies ahead of time and avoid any discrepancies (required equipment and logistics specifications, required licenses, minimum insurance coverage, late & delay fees, etc.)
5. Automatically monitors and stores your complete interaction between you and your Carriers
6. Allows the Carriers to retract their quotes with a single click of a mouse

** Ultimately, you cover your freight in an “auto-pilot mode” and without a single phone call!

“Online” Quotes (the new way)

• It gives you (Shipper/Broker) an option to post load Privately (open only to your preferred Carriers) and Publicly (open to all registered Carriers with Cargo Success)
• Describe your load in detail, post it and let it generate online quotes (you can end it early at any time)
• By describing your load in detail, your listing is in an Auto-Pilot mode – receives quotes unattended, while you focus on other and more productive tasks; consequently, your listing will only generate quality quotes (receive quotes only from Carriers who fulfill your load requirements and fully agree with your terms and conditions)
• Carriers can “Retract Bids” without ever calling you on the phone (if a truck becomes unavailable, whatever the reason)
• Once your listing closes, review the received quotes and assign the load to a “Carrier of Your Choice”

** Carriers love to see loads described in detail. Knowing your complete load-requirements ahead of time they can decide if they can do your load or not and subsequently submit their quotes (they are extremely happy not to waste time calling you if they do not have available trucks, or have trucks without adequate equipment or don’t agree with any of your terms or policies).

“Over the Phone” Quotes (the traditional way)

• If you prefer to be called on the phone, you can choose the option to display your phone number on your load-listing. In this case the Carriers will not be able to submit online quotes, but instead the only available reference of contact will be your phone number shown on the page. Even then, due to your detailed load description, your correspondence with your carriers will be much quicker and more efficient. They won’t ask you to describe your load again (because you have already done that); instead, they will just quickly give you their quotes verbally.

Auto Capture
• Our system automatically documents your complete correspondence with you carriers (all your postings, online received quotes with their attached authorities, etc.) and saves it for your future reference.

Note: Shipper/Broker’s membership with Cargo Success is completely fee.

Nation2Nation publishes articles of interest to professionals involved in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Import Export, International Trade, Border Security, Transportation, Transportation Safety, Trucking, Railroad, Air Freight, Maritime and Cargo Management. Contact Jeff Platts at contact@nation2nation.com.

This post was submitted by Kim Ban.