U.S. Transportation Secretary Names Maritime Industry Advisory Panel

The United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has announced the appointment of 29 members to the new Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC), established to advise the department on matters relating to marine transportation.

“Shifting some of our freight from the highways to open inland waterways is a fuel-efficient, cost-effective way to move goods and reduce roadway congestion,” said Secretary LaHood. “The recommendations developed by the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council will help us increase transportation efficiency, improve the environment and grow the economy.”

The Department will task the MTSNAC with developing recommendations on establishing new marine highway services and port infrastructure development, among other issues.

“The experience brought to bear by this diverse panel is impressive,” said Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. “These maritime experts have a lot to contribute. I look forward to their advice as we tackle the industry's most pressing challenges."

In creating the MTSNAC, the department sought members with exemplary experience in serving on other government and industry maritime advisory panels. Members were nominated through a full and open process published in the Federal Register.

The new members are:
• Sarah Dunham, Director, Transportation and Climate Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
• John Parrott, President, Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc., Federal Way, Wash.
• Craig Philip, President and CEO, Ingram Barge Lines, Nashville
• Thomas B. Crowley, Jr., President and CEO, Crowley Maritime Corp., Oakland, Calif.
• John Kaltenstein, Marine Program Manager, Friends of the Earth, San Francisco
• David Moseley, Assistant Secretary, Washington State Department of Transportation, Ferries Division, Seattle
• Genevieve Boehm Clifton, Manager, Office of Maritime Resources, New Jersey Department of Transportation, Trenton, N.J.
• Alice Cheng, President, Cheng Solutions, LLC, Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Jeffrey Platt, Chief Operating Officer, Tidewater Marine, New Orleans
• Fred Harris, President, NASSCO, General Dynamics, San Diego
• Jerry A. Bridges, Executive Director, Virginia Port Authority, Norfolk, Va.
• Timothy L. Byrd, Director, Global Logistics, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company Inc., Wilmington, Del.
• Michelle Noble, International Trade Operations Leader for North America, Proctor and Gamble, Cincinnati
• Faye Stewart, President, Faye Stewart Transportation Services LLC, Glendale, Ariz.
• Judith A. Druskovich, Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Traverse City, Mich.
• Omar Benjamin, Executive Director, Port of Oakland, Oakland, Calif.
• James Lyons, Director and CEO, Alabama State Port Authority, Mobile, Ala.
• Adolph Ojard, Executive Director, Port of Duluth, Duluth Seaway Port Authority, Duluth, Minn.
• James R. (Randy) Richardson, Executive Director, Port of Memphis, Memphis, Tenn.
• John Baker, President of the Great lakes District Council, International Longshoremen's Association, Cleveland
• Mark Locker, Administrator, Office of Maritime and Freight Mobility, Ohio Department of Transportation, Columbus, Ohio
• Ron Mitchum, Executive Director, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, Charleston, S.C.
• Gary Gallegos, Executive Director, San Diego Association of Governments, San Diego
• Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President, Seafarers International Union of North America, Camp Springs, Md.
• Thomas J. Simmers, President and CEO, Ceres Terminals Inc., East Brunswick, N.J.
• Rick Larrabee, Director, Port Commerce Department, Port of New York/New Jersey, New York, N.Y.
• Joseph M. Mabry, Executive Vice President of Logistics and Distribution, Lowe’s Companies Inc., Mooresville, N.C.
• Mark Barker, President, Interlake Steamship Company, Richfield, Ohio
• Margaret Vaughan, Representative, U.S. Exporters Competitive Maritime Council, Houston

TMSi Logistics Acquires Griffin Global Logistics

TMSi Logistics, a distribution, technology and integrated logistics provider in Portsmouth, N.H., has acquired Griffin Global Logistics, a third-party global supply chain company that offers international and domestic transportation, customs brokerage and compliance, supply chain management, multiclient warehousing and distribution, and information technology services.

This acquisition will enable TMSi to increase exposure and market share in the West Coast region, and will provide more opportunities to serve the supply chain needs of several Fortune 500 companies. According to a release, Griffin Global Logistics has an excellent reputation for providing customized solutions in the high-tech electronic, aftermarket automotive, industrial supplier, sporting goods and apparel industries.

Through the acquisition, TMSi Logistics will now have a greater network of resources to solve customers’ tactical logistics issues. Specifically, the acquisition will enhance TMSi Logistics’ multiclient warehousing services, technology solutions and add international transportation and related global services to their service portfolio.

Ron Cain, Chairman and CEO of TMSi Logistics, said “This acquisition is expected to facilitate TMSi’s entry into new markets and participation in international transportation bids. Griffin shares our unwavering dedication to achieving and maintaining a values-driven, performance-based culture that delivers results, and we look forward to the success that the partnership will bring to both companies.”

According to Russ Romine, President of Griffin Global Logistics, “Griffin has and continues to be a reliable and trustworthy multi-facility global third-party logistics solutions provider. The recent acquisition further demonstrates the commitment of both companies to continuing growth, including both domestic and international expansion.”

For more information, visit www.tsmilog.com.

Aug. 17 CM Webinar Postponement

Dear Courier Magazine webinar participants:

Due to a scheduling conflict with our webinar presenter, the Courier Magazine webinar, “Technology to Enrich Your Enterprise,” has been postponed to Wednesday, Sept. 21. The webinar will begin at 2 p.m. Central time and will feature Michael Armanious of Datex (Clearwater, Fla.).

Further information about the presenter and the session’s topics is still to come.

Thank you for your understanding and support of Courier Magazine.

Vincent Brennan
Editor

Ride to Recovery Effort

A prominent industry figurehead is soliciting help from his fellow expedited delivery professionals for a good cause. Bruce Ross of Express Air is participating in a 530 mile bicycle ride in September to remember the fallen police, fire, civilian and military personnel that died in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

All of the proceeds for the ride will benefit the "Ride 2 Recovery" program that helps wounded warriors progress through physical therapy with bike rides. The full release is listed below:

REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11th – I need your help…

I am writing directly to my annual Air Cargo Conference brethren to help with this worthy cause in remembrance and in support. Yes, it is Bruce again with one of his crazy rides for charity. But I think this is one of the most important ever.

This September 11, the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack, I have the honor of participating in a 530 mile bicycle ride starting at Ground Zero, then to the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA, and continuing to the Pentagon Memorial in Washington, D.C. This ride is in remembrance of our fallen police, fire, civilian and military personnel who died as a result of this attack on America.

All proceeds from this ride are going to help our wounded warriors with their recovery through physical therapy by introducing bike riding. Due to amputations and disfigurement, many of these heroes could not ride if it wasn’t for the “Ride 2 Recovery.” Bikes are custom made to accommodate their injuries giving them freedom and purpose. They have so many success stories of giving our soldiers a second chance.

In order to make this ride successful, I really need your help in raising sponsorship and support for this event. The goal is for each rider to raise $3000, $1 for each victim of the 9/11 attack.

Please go to the link below and assist our wounded warriors and remember the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Just put in my name (Bruce Ross) and make your donation. Every little bit helps, so please give what you can. Remember 9/11 – and remember our heroes. We can’t do this without you.

www.ride2recovery.com/sponsor-a-rider.html

Thanks for your help and support.

Bruce Ross

www.ride2recovery.com/sponsor-a-rider.html

Report: Logistics Market Snapshot Tracks Industry Growth

The Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics (Savannah, Ga.) released an industry snapshot in July documenting progress for the trucking, rail, air freight, ocean freight and warehouse and distribution sectors of the logistics industry.

Based on the report’s findings, the trucking market appears strong. After declining for the previous two months, over-the-road trucked shipments rose 1 percent in June. Surface transport-related trade between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners increased 12.1 percent in April when compared to the previous year, which marks the 17th consecutive month of increases. Heavy-duty truck sales increased 68.3 percent in May, which was the fastest growth rate in 17 months. The trucking industry added 4,400 new jobs in June, with a workforce increase of 3.3 percent. Economists expect orders for heavy-duty Class 8 trucks to total 21,200 units, an 11 percent decrease from the previous month, but a 35.3 percent increase from the previous year.

The report shows an 11.6 percent increase in United States Freight Rail Traffic from June 2009. Greenbrier Companies (Lake Oswego, Ore.) reported revenue increases of 153 percent in fiscal year 3Q, but posted a net loss of $3.3 million after paying a $10 million debt. Railroad employment increased by 745 employees from April to May.

The report notes that global air freight fell 4.3 percent in May when compared to the previous year, but rose 1.2 percent from April. The International Air Transport Association (Montreal, Quebec) expects 2011 airline net profits of $4 billion, which is 78 percent lower than last year.

The report states that the U.S. imported more than $67 billion of cargo via ocean in May, an increase of 7 percent from the previous month, and exported $48 billion, a 27 percent increase from 2010. The Port of Brunswick posted its highest monthly volume ever in May. Year-to-date steel imports increased 20.6 percent, reflecting a steady improvement in the market with strong demand and pricing. Drewry Maritime Research (London) predicts east-west ocean freight rates will drop 20.8 percent in 2011.

According to the report, the U.S. average industrial vacancy rate was 9.3 percent in the warehousing and distribution sector. Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas (Chicago) is investing $10 million to move its American headquarters from Chicago to Norcross, Ga. The new headquarters will include a warehouse. Kuehne + Nagel (Schindellegi, Switzerland) handled nearly 10 percent of the world’s air and sea freight business. The top 10 freight forwarders’ business accounted for 44 percent of the market.

For more information, visit logistics.georgiainnovation.org.

Report: Companies Place Demand Planning/Forecasting as a Supply Chain Function

Lifework Search (Westport, Mass.) associates found that more than half of all companies believe that the planning/forecasting function should sit under supply chain, according to a recent study.

Lifework Search associates surveyed the company’s network to determine where the demand planning/forecasting function should sit within an organization. Associates discovered that more than half of companies placed the function under supply chain. Twenty percent of the remaining respondents categorized the function under sales, followed by 9 percent with finance and 5 percent with marketing. Fourteen percent of respondents stated “other.”

“This has long been a controversial topic in the forecasting world,” Lifework Search Managing Director Jason Breault said. “We speak with dozens of demand planning professionals daily, and many are still unclear as to where demand planning should sit. Even while presenting at a recent Institute of Business Forecasting conference, when the question was asked, there didn’t seem to be a clear consensus.”

For more information, visit www.lifeworksearch.com.

Mitsubishi’s Mobile Site Gives Customers More Flexibility

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks (Houston) implemented a new mobile website, allowing customers to access forklift product information and connect with local dealers from their mobile devices.

The mobile site features Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks product information, such as forklift specifications and brochure downloads, a local dealer search function and access to finance information and promotions. The site’s Cost Control Basics section provides tips for minimizing costs and maximizing the efficiency of their forklifts.

“We’re pleased to introduce the new Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks mobile website,” Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks Marketing Vice President Jeff Rufener said. “More and more, people are on the go these days, and the mobile website will make searching for a new forklift or finding a local dealer even easier than before.”

For more information, visit www.mitforklift.com or http://m.mit-lift.com on your mobile device.