Severe Weather Delaying the Industry

Many courier and logistics companies are facing the nightmare that is the severe winter weather throughout the Northeast. The storm has sent some companies scrambling while others have been stopped in their tracks completely.

Firms are asking customers to be patient with services. SDS Global Logistics sent out this notice early Monday morning explaining the situation.

"Due to the extreme weather condition along the Northeast Corridor of the United States, very few of our early routes have been able to be delivered. We will keep you updated as conditions begin to return to normal. Currently we expect very limited deliveries to be made throughout the day in New York and the surrounding areas."

While it might take some time for companies to get through this rough stretch of weather before the new year, conditions are improving around the Northeast.

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks Helps the Komen Cause

In order to raise awareness about male breast cancer, a disease the American Cancer Society estimates will be newly diagnosed for approximately 1,970 men in the United States in 2010, Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks of Houston (http://www.mitlifthouston.com), the factory dealership owned by Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) (http://www.mcfa.com), launched the “Real Men Drive Pink” campaign.

As part of the endeavor, Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks of Houston built a pink electric forklift truck to raise funds to support breast cancer research.

Golden Town International, a restaurant furnishings designer and distributor to Asian restaurants throughout the United States, recently purchased the pink electric Mitsubishi forklift truck for use in their Houston warehouse. Proceeds from the sale, totaling $4,500, were donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

An Inside Look

Need more proof that Couriers do more multitasking than any other profession? Then check out the latest profile of a Canadian courier working for DHL.

www.thespec.com/news/local/article/302969--couriers-keeping-things-moving

It's an interesting look at the position from outside of the industry. Things have to keep on moving and nothing can stand in the way ... not even Christmas!

American Airlines Selects Descartes ICS Solution

Descartes (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) has announced that American Airlines Cargo, a division of American Airlines Inc., has selected its Global Filer solution to help it manage its import customs filings to the European Union’s (EU) Import Control System (ICS). The solution will assist with upcoming EU regulations regarding advanced entry declarations, which take effect on Jan. 1.

Global Filer, part of Descartes' Global Trade Compliance suite, enables collaboration between multiple parties to address customs security filing requirements across different modes of transport and for multiple countries.

“This new agreement with Descartes is a great milestone for American Airlines Cargo as it strengthens our 17-year relationship for electronic messaging and system automation,” said Richard Burkhardt, managing director of cargo operations at American Airlines Cargo. “Descartes has the in-depth understanding of the complex EU customs environment required to meet our standards for compliance with new customs security requirements.”

Global Filer offers multiple features that improve overall efficiency of customs requirements and operations including the following:

- Complete, real-time visibility into the customs status of cargo and the ability to provide this status information to logistic partners and clients, regardless of their location.

- Integration capabilities with back-office systems, optimizing data entry efforts, allowing for re-use of data and reducing the risk of error.

- One solution (as opposed to different applications) to cover multicountry requirements, allowing for a more efficient use of resources and time.

“We’re delighted that American Airlines Cargo chose Descartes to meet current and longer-term EU compliance mandates,” said Jonathan Wasserman, senior vice president, Global Trade Compliance Solutions at Descartes. “Global Filer can also increase the visibility of American’s customs operations and allow American’s users to efficiently manage data entry and monitor security to help provide even better service to American’s customers.”

Descartes’ Global Filer leverages the power of Descartes’ Global Logistics Network (GLN). The GLN enables organizations to connect to global trading partners and regulatory organizations and reliably exchange information to increase performance and drive high levels of customer satisfaction.

Promoted!

United Express System Inc. (Chicago), a total transportation and logistics solutions provider, has announced a new appointment to its management team.

Kevin P. Venechuk has joined UES as general manager based in the corporate offices in Naperville, Ill.

As general manager, Venechuk is responsible for leading and managing the United Express System business units, to include developing and implementing the business model, sales, marketing, operations and strategic stocking. Prior to joining UES in November, Venechuk was the Midwest regional sales director for Dynamex Inc., and most recently business development director for the Dynamex Corporate Development team in Dallas where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions within the transportation industry.

He has held leadership positions in both operations and sales over his career in the transportation logistics space. A versatile executive with over 30 years of experience leading, mentoring and developing world-class teams, Venechuk has partnered with outsourcing providers all over the globe. A qualified professional with a strong quality mindset, he adds a unique perspective to the UES team.

"We are delighted to have Kevin join us. He is an industry specialist and I am confident that his exemplary track record and experience will be invaluable to our business and will drive the company aggressively towards the strategic objectives we have set," Brad Westrom, UES president, said.

Gearing Up for ECA Marketplace 2011

The Express Carriers Association has released more information about the upcoming 2011 ECA Marketplace tradeshow. This year's event will take place in Atlanta from April 19 to 21 and will feature a wide range of education sessions and seminars to inform attendees.

Additional information can be found below in the press release:

ECA 2011 MarketPlace

DON'T MISS THE ECA MARKETPLACE IN ATLANTA, APRIL 19-21, 2011

REGISTER TODAY!

Last year in just 48 hours, more than 2,400 interviews were scheduled and conducted with potential business partners. For regional carriers and their shipper counterparts, there is no other conference that packs so much potential business into such a small period. Remember, carrier registration is only available to ECA Carrier members. Shippers and Vendors may attend regardless of their membership status but receive additional exposure when they join ECA.

PROFILES DUE BY APRIL 7TH.

SHIPPERS LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF INTERVIEW TABLES
We urge you not to wait, because there are a limited number of interview tables available. Shipper companies may register for an interview table at no charge! Carriers know that this event is the perfect opportunity to work with shippers and establish new long-term shipping relationships that benefit both parties. And that is why they have agreed to subsidize your attendance at the Marketplace. Better still, two of your representatives may also attend at no charge. To ensure your attendance, there is a $250.00 refundable deposit.

ATTENDING THE MARKETPLACE? MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PLACE TO STAY!
The Renaissance Waverly Hotel, Atlanta, is the host hotel for the meeting AND the location of all official ECA events. Call the Renaissance Waverly at 1-770-953-4500 or 1-888-391-8724 to make your reservation. The Waverly has reduced the room rates from $169 just for ECA Marketplace Attendees.

VENDORS SIGN UP FOR A BOOTH OR SPONSORSHIP AND ENJOY BENEFITS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
We urge you not to miss the opportunity to promote your company and its services through a Vendor booth at the MarketPlace EXPO.

Your support is crucial to this meeting, and you will be paid back handsomely throughout the year with high-profile benefits that allow ECA members to contact you easily and without delay. Remember that sponsorships and vendor booths are available on a first-come, first-served basis. But hurry. The best sponsorships sell quickly! Visit the ECA Marketplace website to sign up. Shippers and Carriers may also sign up for a sponsorship to increase their visibility at this one of a kind event.

For registration information and additional details, visit www.expresscarriers.org/marketplace.

Please contact us at (703) 361-1058 or email Fiona Morgan at fiona@expresscarriers.org with any questions. And thanks for your support of the Express Carriers Association!

You know that the ECA Marketplace is the best business-to-business show in the transportation industry for the value.

No Cold Shoulder for Teesport (England) Customers

Despite the treacherous weather conditions sweeping the United Kingdom over the last two weeks, Teesport, England (one the UK’s busiest ports) remained ‘open for business,’ in spite of being located on the North East coast of England, one of the areas hardest hit by the unprecedented and severe snow fall.

Although most of the news coverage focused on the country's airports, the United Kingdom's ports have also experienced a severe impact on daily operations as a result of the weather.

Unlike some other east coast ports that have either been operating at reduced capacity, or have been forced to close for sustained periods, Teesport has implemented a daily 24-hour snow clearing and gritting operation. This has enabled the port to continue to operate safely and service a significant percentage of customers at the port estate and along the river.

In particular, the engineering team at Teesport has been working hard to ensure sufficient resources and equipment have been available to successfully plow the snow away from roads and operational areas. The process has significantly minimized any impact the snow could have had on its daily services and access routes into and out of the port estate.

With the forecasts predicting no let up in the freezing conditions for much of December, PD Ports and its staff continue to work extremely hard to keep Teesport open for business in what has been an incredibly cold start to the winter season.

Linescape launches FRESCO Freight Rate Exchange

Linescape (Burlingame, Calif.), has debuted it FRESCO freight rate exchange for shipping containers. Company representatives say the new service raises the bar in competitive purchasing and sales for the freight forwarding sector of the industry along with buyers of freight services.

The service builds on the success of the Linescape’s online search engine for container sailing schedules, hosting schedules from more than 120 shipping lines. FRESCO connects the two main groups of visitors in Linescape’s vast user base, giving each immediate and easy access to each other for the purpose of initiating bookings and a business relationship.

Linescape’s co-founder Dimitrios Sogas said, “We bring together shippers and forwarders, requesting and offering freight rate quotations, all seamlessly tied in to our sailing schedule search engine. Users can now leverage the huge user base Linescape has assembled, and simplify the task of gathering quotes or finding new customers. With just a few simple steps, a shipper can request quotes from a much larger group of forwarders than would previously have been feasible.

“And similarly, forwarders can reach a much wider customer base, all made possible by the broad appeal of Linescape’s simple and powerful sailing schedules search engine.”

FRESCO users seeking to book a shipment on a specific route can search for a quote from many logistics providers at one time with just one request, ensuring the users receive the most competitive prices.

“And since FRESCO does not represent either party, users can be sure that they are getting the best possible offer, directly from the logistics provider,” Sogas said.

Freight forwarders and other logistics providers establish a FRESCO membership, select the countries from where they wish to offer quotations, and then start receiving rate requests by email. An added benefit for forwarders is that their company contact details are included in Linescape’s directory and appear in Linescape search results, greatly increasing their visibility to thousands of potential new customers.

Linescape Co-founder David Tarizzo noted his company “is an ideal platform for planning container bookings, where users can search and find sailing schedules and get ocean freight rates, all in one place. Linescape is a place where shippers and forwarders can do business.”

For more information, visit www.linescape.com.

FMA Plans Winter 2011 Meeting in Orlando

The Florida Messenger Association is planning for another productive winter meeting and vendor fair scheduled for January 27-28, 2011 at the Doubletree Hotel at the entrance of Universal Orlando in Orlando, Fla.

The weather forecast is calling for sunny skies mid 70’s so you folks up north need to take advantage and join us. The FMA has planned a wonderful evening of dinner and drinks along with a full day of conferences. Meeting registration forms are available by emailing info@floridamessenger.org. FMA President Larry Schwartz noted how each meeting can help network companies while educating messengers around the state.

"I hope everyone appreciates that we continue to maintain very reasonable membership dues and meeting fees in order to maintain and grow membership and meeting attendance," he said. "I look forward to seeing everyone in Orlando."

Doubletree Hotel at the Entrance to Universal
5780 Major Blvd I
Orlando, FL 32819
Reservations call : 800-327-2110 Use Code: FMA
Special rate: $119 per night (Must reserve before December 28, 2010) www.doubletreeorlando.com

Please make sure to make your hotel reservations before December 28, 2010 to take advantage of the special room rate.

For additional information about the winter meeting, visit www.floridamessenger.org.

Joing Together

Howard and Peter Schlactus and their team at KBS International Corp., along with Jeff Ice and his team, formerly with Oswald Logistics Insurance, have joined together to form Brightstone Insurance Services, LLC and the KBS-Ice Group.

With agency offices in New York, Cleveland, Los Angeles and Seattle, and a leadership team possessing more than 150 years of combined experience insuring the same day transportation and logistics industry, Brightstone is positioned to be a leader within the industry.

"Our goal is to focus on the professionally-minded firms in the industry and give them what we like to call an 'unfair advantage,'" stated Managing Director Peter Schlactus. "The ability to control major cost items, like insurance, even as you are able to offer your customers superior confidence and security, translates into a competitive edge."

Ice, managing director, added, "We have access to virtually every market, every program and every coverage enhancement available. In addition, the size of our combined entity provides ample leverage with insurance companies and enough market presence to ensure that we continue to provide our clients with the lowest rates available."

With the largest support staff in the industry, Brightstone is able to provide all clients with the service levels they deserve to prosper and deal with the many changing risks inherent in operating a business in this industry. Now, however, their team and yours will be drawing upon the combined expertise of some of the industry's most trusted advisers, including Ice, Michelle Mattoni, Howard Schlactus, and Peter Schlactus.

"While our name has changed, our commitment to the industry and our clients has not," Howard Schlactus said, the firm's third managing director. "You will still be working with the same people you have come to know and trust."

For more information, call 877-862-4755, or visit www.brightstoneins.com.

SBA to Offer Webinar on Year-End Tax Planning

It is not too late for business owners to reduce their 2010 tax bills and plan ahead for 2011. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s December web chat will focus on tax preparation for small business owners. Participants can get useful year-end tax tips and information, and learn more about tax deductions and credits that can help to reduce their taxes.

WHO: Edward S. Karl, vice president of Taxation for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), will host the December web chat on “Year-end Tax Essentials for Small Business Owners.” Chat participants can get valuable information on how to prepare now with useful tax savings tips and mistakes to avoid. Karl will answer questions on how to get the most out of year-end tax planning.

WHAT: SBA’s web chat series provides small business owners with an opportunity to discuss relevant business issues online with experts, industry leaders and successful entrepreneurs. Chat participants have direct, real-time access to the web chats via questions they submit online in advance, and during the live session.

WHEN: December 9, 2010, at 1:00 p.m. ET
Karl will answer questions for one hour.

HOW: Participants can join the live web chat by going online to www.sba.gov, and clicking “Online Business Chat.” Web chat participants may also post questions before the December 9th chat by visiting http://web.sba.gov/livemeeting/chat.

To review archives of past web chats, visit online at http://www.sba.gov/tools/monthlywebchat/index.html.

Dole Ocean Cargo Express Selects Descartes’ Customs Filings Solution

Solution to support compliance with European Import Control System (ICS) and Export Control System (ECS) regulations.

Descartes Systems Group has announced that Dole Ocean Cargo Express, a division of Dole Food Company, has selected Descartes' Global Filer to manage its import and export customs filings for the upcoming European Union (EU) regulations on advanced entry (ICS) and exit (ECS) summary declarations.

Global Filer is part of Descartes' Global Trade Compliance suite which offers a broad range of solutions that help prepare organizations around the world to meet current and long-term compliance mandates.

Global Visibility and Improved Efficiency of EU Customs Operations
Dole Ocean Cargo Express selected Descartes' Global Filer to be compliant with EU safety and security regulations and improve overall efficiency and visibility of Dole’s customs operations. Global Filer met all of Dole’s selection criteria, including the following:

- A single point of access and dashboard to manage all data entry and filing requirements for Dole’s security filings to and from its European ports.
- Complete, real-time visibility into the customs status of cargo and the ability to provide this status information to logistic partners and clients, regardless of their location.
- Integration capabilities with its back-office cargo management system, optimizing data entry efforts, allowing for re-use of data and significantly reducing the risk or error.
- One solution as opposed to different applications to cover multi-country requirements, allowing for a more efficient adoption of resources and time.

“Dole handles a substantial amount of import and export filings to and from Europe on a daily basis, so optimizing the quality and flow of information across the entire supply chain is a continuous effort and goal. Descartes’ Global Filer is a sophisticated application and the user-friendly dashboard reduces managing the complexity of EU customs processes to a minimum,” said John Trummel, vice president and general manager, at Dole Ocean Cargo Express.

“Our goal at Descartes is to help our customers be compliant with EU customs regulations,” said Jonathan Wasserman, senior vice president, Global Trade Compliance Solutions at Descartes. “In addition to ensuring compliance, Global Filer helps decrease potential errors, delays and penalties, by providing our customers with a solution that not only reduces costs, but also increases productivity and efficiency.”

‘DHL Operation Holiday Cheer’ Sends Hundreds of Trees and Holiday Items to Uplift Spirits of U.S. Troops

For the seventh straight year, DHL (Plantation, Fla.)has teamed up with the New York community to donate and deliver hundreds of holiday trees, decorations and messages of support to U.S. troops serving abroad through its ‘DHL Operation Holiday Cheer’ charitable program. The special holiday shipment will receive a send-off celebration on Monday, Dec. 6, from a New York area nursery as well as DHL’s international gateway facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

DHL has donated all transportation and logistical services for the trees and holiday items being delivered to Servicemembers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bahrain. Five hundred real trees along with lights, tinsel and holiday decorations as well as “Santa Sacks” filled with thousands of holiday cards written by New York-area schoolchildren will be transported to U.S. troops overseas.

The shipment was generously supplied through donations from New York businesses and community organizations, including Dee’s Nursery, Adelis International Security, Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, Proctor-Hopson Post 1896 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and other members of the New York metro community.

“As the specialists in international shipping, DHL is proud to leverage its international expertise and extensive global network to help U.S. Servicemembers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bahrain feel just a bit closer to home this holiday season with the delivery of this special, community-donated care package,” said Ian Clough, CEO of DHL Express, USA.

DHL has also helped honor and support U.S. Servicemembers stationed thousands of miles away through its charitable partnership with Pizzas 4 Patriots, sending thousands of care packages per year, or “slices of home” to U.S. troops serving abroad. DHL is uniquely positioned to support U.S. servicemen and women at bases on 6 continents, providing its international shipping expertise wherever U.S. military serve around the world.