Author: Archive

HSE24 contracts logistics out to DHL

Posted by | Dec 17, 2004 | |

DHL, the logistics subsidiary of German postal service operator Deutsche Post, has won a contract to carry out logistics services for the teleshopping channel Home Shopping Europe (HSE24). It will take responsibility for all logistics activities for the teleshopping provider with effect from 2006, and is investing 35m euros in a new logistics centre, which will create 250 new jobs. Management estimates turnover of an eight-figure sum. The number of parcels which will be forwarded under the contract is estimated at up to 40,000 daily, or six million each year.

Rival teleshopping channel QVC, for which DHL had provided a similar service, recently switched to Hermes Logistik, a subsidiary of mail order group Otto, as a logistics service provider. Hermes Logistik estimates that it will forward 10 million parcels annually for QVC.

Read More

Behind the scenes at the FedEx nerve centre

Posted by | Dec 17, 2004 | |

At 1.30am on Wednesday, managers at FedEx’s main US package handling facility at Memphis airport faced a difficult decision in the middle of their busiest week of the year. Parcel sorting was supposed to finish for the night at 2.07am, leaving enough time to get items to their final destination anywhere in North America before lunchtime. But two inbound FedEx aircraft from California were running late, meaning their cargoes risked being stranded in Tennessee.

“We have to weigh up the cost of leaving those packages behind against the cost of holding up the whole operation to wait for them,” said Marla Waldheim, a systems administrator. “If the outbound aircraft are held back too long, some might miss their landing slots and then the delays start rippling through the system.”

Read More

FedEx paints rosy picture as profits soar

Posted by | Dec 17, 2004 | |

FedEx, the package delivery giant, painted a rosy picture of the world economy yesterday when it announced a four-fold increase in second quarter net profits and increased its earnings guidance for the year.

Fred Smith, chairman and chief executive, reported “very strong momentum” across the company and said global and US economic conditions remained “favourable” as businesses replenished inventories and invested at a “healthy pace”.

Mr Smith said the Christmas retail season was looking strong with FedEx having handled 8.1m packages on its busiest day of the year last Monday – 1m more than last year and ahead of its 7.7m target. Rapid growth in e-commerce was among the factors behind FedEx’s strong performance as more people had goods delivered to their homes after ordering on the internet.

Read More

Jamaican Postal service now offers international Express Mail Service

Posted by | Dec 17, 2004 | |

Jamaica Post (the Post & Telecommunications Department and the PostalCorporation of Jamaica) has introduced Express Mail Service (EMS), a totally new international courier service in collaboration with postal administrations in other countries. This service is the answer to the need for individuals and organisations to send packages overseas via a cost-effective, safe, reliable delivery service.

Countries Available

The initial service will be confined to the Caribbean (Antigua, Barbados, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia), Canada, thes United States (Miami, New York) and the United Kingdom. Successful negotiations with these postal administrations have resulted in specific arrangements for all Express Mail Service items to be expeditiously processed, as the Jamaican postal administration has established bilateral contracts that ensure the speedy processing of all items that enter the designated countries.

Read More

Putting a first class stamp on the Royal Mail

Posted by | Dec 17, 2004 | |

Adam Crozier, chief executive of Royal Mail, says: “The first thing I do every day is check how we performed last night. Any mail centre that failed to meet quality of service targets is on a conference call with me to explain what happened and whether they have a plan to put it right.”

The introduction of private sector disciplines was one of Mr Crozier’s first actions on being appointed to run the UK’s state-owned postal company just before Christmas two years ago. Then, Royal Mail was losing Pounds 1m a day. Now, it is making a profit of Pounds 1m a day.

As Royal Mail tackles its busiest time of the year, with households sending sacks of cards and presents, there is optimism that it is starting to show signs of a turnround.

Read More

Royal Mail to shell out GBP60m for post strike

Posted by | Dec 17, 2004 | |

Royal Mail has pledged to pay nearly GBP60m in compensation to businesses as a result of the disruption to mail services caused by last year’s unofficial industrial action. The company, which has already paid out more GBP50m, will return an extra GBP7m. The move comes as the postal operator claims UK firms have escaped the latest round of price hikes, with the freezing of rates for bulk business mail services Mailsort 2 and 3. First-class stamps will rise by 2p to 30p in April. But Postwatch chairman Peter Carr has poured scorn on the claims: “Once again, Royal Mail is increasing revenues by asking small businesses to pay more for stamps. These are the customers least likely to be offered a competitive alternative. Meanwhile, those most likely to be offered a competitive alternative will see price decreases.”

Read More

Pos Malaysia to expand courier service business to Southeast Asia

Posted by | Dec 17, 2004 | |

Pos Malaysia & Services Holdings Bhd intends to expand its courier service business to the 1.2 bln usd market in Southeast Asia and beyond, the Star reported.

It cited Pos Malaysia Managing Director Ikmal Hijaz Hashim as saying the business is a major growth area for the company, as its courier service PosLaju National Courier already accounts for 20 pct of group sales.

Read More

TPG in focus as Dutch govt approves postal market liberalisation

Posted by | Dec 17, 2004 | |

TPG NV shares were slightly lower in line with broader market sentiment as the Dutch government formally approved plans to liberalise the country’s postal market, dealers said.

This means the Dutch market will be fully liberalised in 2007, if the UK and German postal markets are also opened up.

Further, stamp prices for consumers will remain unchanged until that time, while TPG’s competitors and customers will be treated equally in terms of rates and conditions.

TPG welcomed the news, calling government support an important step for the future of the postal market in the Netherlands and for TPG.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

Have you noticed a decrease of non-EU inbound parcel volumes since the implementation of the new €3 charge?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!


View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest