UPU Congress – debating society
UPU Congress – debating society
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Romanian Post Office exceeds fuel budget
The Romanian Post Office spent around 5.4 million RON (1.5 million euros) on fuel in the first 5 months of the year, 4 pct more than the budgeted expenses, although its vehicle fleet declined, by 82, to 1,039, according to company information. Most companies with sizeable vehicle fleets exceed budgets allocated for fuel acquisition, amid an over 20 pct increase in the price of fuel since the beginning of the year, generated by the rise in oil prices on international markets.
At the end of last week, the oil barrel came very close to the 150 dollar-mark, with experts saying it could even exceed the 200 dollar-mark by the end of this year.
According to the quoted sources, fuel expenses amounted to around 5.5 million RON in the first five months of the year, while this year they reached approx. 5.4 million RON. Despite having exceeded the sums budgeted for this year, the company intends to boost its vehicle fleet.
“The Romanian Post Office has started the necessary procedures towards renewing its vehicle fleet. 727 vehicles will be acquired in leasing, 613 utilities and 114 cars,” said the quoted sources. The Romanian Post Office recorded turnover worth 312.8 million euros last year, compared with 231.2 million euros reported in 2006. The company’s net profit reached 9.6 million euros last year, up from the 7.9 million euros reported in 2007.
This year, the company expects a 40 pct turnover increase against 2007.
The Romanian Post Office dominates the mail market, where it holds a 95-96 pct share, but has only 13 pct of the courier market.
Read MoreCanada Post gets new marketing leader
Canada Post has appointed Stewart Bacon as its first chief sales and marketing officer.
The new role is a “statement about the importance of customers and serving customers” and was created to help ensure that customer relations are properly managed, said Bacon.
Canada Post employs approximately 70,000, 90 pct of which are involved in mail delivery, and “in the minds of many employees, the customer was not front and centre,” said Bacon, who adds that this is a problem Canada Post is attempting to rectify.
Bacon hopes to increase the relevance of “our postal business to both businesses and consumers,” and to make sure “people continue to think that getting mail delivered to you is the best way to get communications.”
Bacon will oversee approximately 1,400 employees in the customer service department, billing and accounts receivable, sales department and call centres in Winnipeg, Ottawa and Fredericton. He will report to Canada Post president and CEO, Moya Greene.
Bacon worked in sales and marketing at IBM and Philips Electronics in Montreal, before joining Canada Post as regional vice-president in 1994.
Last week, VANOC and Canada Post also announced that Canada Post has been named an official supplier for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Read MoreFedEx Hybrid-Electric Fleet Passes Two Million Miles
FedEx Express, announced that its hybrid truck fleet has surpassed 3.2 million kilometers, or more than two million miles of revenue service.
On average, the FedEx Express hybrid vehicles improve fuel economy by 42 percent, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 30 percent and cut particulate pollution by 96 percent.
With 10 new hybrid vehicles to be introduced into its European operations in June, FedEx Express is making strategic investments in projects that will help drive the development of new innovative technologies for the industry.
FedEx is committed to effective environmental management through investment in new technology and making its infrastructure and operations more efficient.
The FedEx Express hybrid vehicles are part of a broader sustainable transportation strategy, which includes the use of cleaner-technology vehicles, efficient-sized vehicles, optimized route restructuring and new fuel-efficient aircraft. In addition, FedEx Express is a founding member of CAREX, an association which promotes the development of a high-speed freight rail network within Europe, using existing rail links to deliver express cargo to Europe’s major trade points, thus reducing noise and carbon emissions.
Read MoreAn Post to seek EUR 30m in subsidies to meet cost of universal role
An Post will seek annual subsidies of some EUR 30 million to meet the cost of its universal service obligations (USOs) once the Irish postal market has been liberalised in 2011.
In its response to the “Public Consultation Process on the Decision to Fully Liberalise the Postal Sector EU-wide”, the postal provider argued that post-liberalisation, it will still be expected to carry out its universal role and should therefore receive subsidies in order to do so.
Otherwise, the postal provider will be at a disadvantage to competing new entrants who will be able to “cherry pick” the more lucrative parts of the postal service.
Although over 60 per cent of the Irish market is currently open to competition, the small letter market has not yet been liberalised, but is due to do so in accordance with EU law by 2011.
It is this section of the market in which An Post fulfils its USO by delivering post at a uniform tariff to every address in the State, regardless of whether it is economical or not.
The postal provider currently estimates that the cost of fulfilling this is between 0.3 per cent to 5.4 per cent of postal turnover, which would represent an annual cost of potentially in excess of EUR 30 million for An Post. In order to determine exactly what the rate should be, An Post has commissioned an independent study to determine the net benefit or cost of the USO, which is due to be published during the summer of 2008.
It is not yet clear how the cost of the USO will be funded. However, it may be that post-liberalisation, An Post will no longer have full responsibility for fulfilling USO, as in its submission to the consultation process, postal regulator ComReg said that the designation of a single universal service provider may not be appropriate.
Read MoreDHL introduces GoGreen service to China
DHL will introduce its GoGreen Express service in 17 countries across the Asia-Pacific region this year. The service is created for customers who are looking for an eco-friendly shipping option. In China, the carbon-neutral service will begin in July.
The GoGreen Express service was first launched in January 2007 in Europe at the World Economic Forum in Davos to help the forum achieve its carbon neutral commitment. Participants at the meeting were provided with the opportunity to ship event materials via the carbon-neutral package delivery service.
In addition to that, DHL is also stepping up its use of low emission and energy efficient vehicles for its pick-up and delivery services in China.
DHL-Sinotrans, a 50-50 joint venture between DHL and China National Foreign Trade Transportation (Group) Corp, has bought 43 delivery vans that meet the stringent Europe IV emission standard.
Over the past two decades, DHL-Sinotrans has developed the largest network of international express delivery firms in China by covering more than 400 cities. It operates over 1,800 vehicles.
China is one of DHL’s fastest growing markets by contributing 25 percent of its revenues in Asia Pacific and 10 percent of the global sales. DHL maintained annual growth rate of 35-45 percent in China in the past years.
Read MoreGLS Germany upgrades vehicles for more safety
GLS is equipping all its new lorries with special reflection markings for safety reasons in order to increase the visibility of vehicles in road traffic during night.
To minimize this risk, the company is pasting up the backside or long side of trailers and trunks with retro-reflecting stripes on purchase or varnish renewals. Up to now, the EU directive 2007/35/EG does only apply to newly produced vehicles in Germany. With effect from 2011, all vehicles over 7,5 tons will have to be equipped with reflecting markings. In some states of the EU like Italy and Poland, this is already obligatory for all heavy vehicles.
“As we purchased new transport vehicles in Germany last year, we equipped them with reflecting material straight away”, said Klaus Conrad, managing director of GLS Germany. “High quality of transport services should not negatively impact the road safety. With the retro-reflecting markings we increase the visibility and thus minimise the risk”, he added.
Read MoreTDG signs contract with DHL to equip Boeing 757 fleet with UFI
TDG Aerospace, manufacturer of safety solutions for the commercial aviation industry announced that DHL has selected its UFI STC ST01950LA as an approved method of compliance and terminating action to FAA airworthiness directive AD 2008-11-07. TDG’s patented UFI is a single compact unit that fulfills all required functionalities of the latest B757 AD, including automatic shut-off for the center tank fuel pumps and installation of secondary pump control relays.
The company’s patented UFI fault detection system protects aircraft electrical systems and components from faults in critical areas, such as fuel boost pump motors and related wiring. In fuel boost pump applications, TDG’s UFI device provides comprehensive electrical fault protection and fuel boost pump automatic shut-off for center tank fuel systems. Additionally, the UFI unit provides a redundant relay solution to prevent un-commanded operation of the pump in the event of a failed control relay. TDG’s UFI system is the only single installation available that provides comprehensive protection against potential ignition sources identified by Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 88 system reviews.
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