Author: Archive

Royal Mail special delivery prices to go up (UK)

Posted by | Mar 14, 2008 | |

Royal Mail is to make changes to it’s Special Delivery service by reducing the insurance cover to GBP 500 maximum and introduce a Special Delivery High Value service for items of higher value.

Postcomm has responded to Royal Mail’s request that it be allowed to modify it’s current Special Delivery Next Day service by introducing a new ‘high value’ service and lowering the maximum compensation value on standard Secial Delivery items from GBP 2500 to GBP 500. The request was initially centered around the transit of jewellery items but has now been modified to appease concerns raised by Postcomm and others.

Postcomm organised a consultation based on the original proposal and 318 responses were received which included concerns from jewellery suppliers, the British Hallmarking Council, foreign exhanges suppliers, and even QVC the TV shopping channel. The biggest response was from those involved in the sale and supply of jewellery who felt that being forced into using the SDHV service would be costly and discriminatory.

The original application was made in 2006/7 and included a request to increase SDND from GBP 4.10 to GBP 8.90 but concerns by the jewellery industry that items requiring reworking and therefore posting numerous times would simply become unprofitable.

Royal Mail’s proposal that a Special Delivery High Value (SDHV) service be introduced that would still have the GBP 2500 compensation protection but a delivery target of 3pm, also raised concerns over postal workers safety in transporting such goods. Postcomm also felt that singling out jewellery would be unfair as other goods of similar value would effectively be on a cheaper tariff so Royal Mail was asked to look again at their proposal and come up with a less discriminatory scheme.

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Over USD 17 million wasted on FedEx planes

Posted by | Mar 14, 2008 | |

U.S. Postal Service facilities in California and three other Western states incurred USD 17.8 million (U.S.) in unnecessary costs by using FedEx Corp. aircraft to ship mail that could have been moved by truck, rail or passenger plane, auditors found.

The post offices, which account for 14 per cent of all U.S. mail volume, also paid FedEx to sort mail when they could have done so themselves or prepared the mail properly before giving it to FedEx.

Facilities in these states, including Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii, could save the Postal Service about USD 45 million over the next 10 years by minimizing use of FedEx planes and services, said the Feb. 19 report displayed this week on the agency’s website.

The report’s findings come as the Postal Service, a government agency required by law to set rates to cover costs, tries to cope with a possible USD 2 billion loss this year after a USD 5.1 billion deficit last year.

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U.S. Postal Service extends wireless vehicle management contract

Posted by | Mar 14, 2008 | |

I.D. Systems Inc. announced that the U.S. Postal Service has signed a contract extension to continue using its Wireless Asset Net industrial vehicle management system in postal distribution facilities nationwide.

During the initial three-year contract period, the system was installed in 80 facilities. The contract is set to expire at the end of the first quarter of 2008. The extension covers the period through Dec. 31, 2010.

The Wireless Asset Net consists of “intelligent” wireless devices (vehicle asset communicators) installed on powered industrial vehicles, such as lift trucks and pallet movers; a wireless communication architecture; and client-server software for access control, utilization analysis, real-time location tracking and other functions.

According to I.D. Systems, the system restricts vehicle access to trained, authorized operators and provides electronic safety inspection checklists. It also automatically uploads vehicle data, provides reports on vehicle utilization and alerts managers to vehicle problems in real time. This allows managers to schedule maintenance according to vehicle usage rather than on a calendar basis and determine the optimal time to replace equipment, said the company. The system also ensures equipment is in the right place at the right time.

“This contract extension reflects the significant economic benefits our wireless technology has generated—and continues to generate—for the U.S. Postal Service,” said Jeffrey Jagid, I.D. Systems’ chairman and chief executive officer. “We look forward to helping the Postal Service further achieve greater efficiencies, lower costs and a safer work environment as it continues to roll out our technology throughout its U.S. distribution operations.”

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UPS to acquire Romanian Trans Courier Service SRL

Posted by | Mar 13, 2008 | |

UPS today announced it has agreed to acquire its authorized service contractor in Romania, Trans Courier Service (TCS) SRL and will take 100% ownership of the company.

The acquisition agreement marks a logical extension of a successful business relationship that dates to 1990, when UPS first offered its service to customers in Romania through Romtrans SA, TCS’s parent company. TCS has been UPS’s authorized service contractor in Romania since it was founded as a separate entity in 2000.

UPS expects to complete the transaction in the second quarter of 2008, subject to customary closing conditions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

As a result of the acquisition, UPS in Romania will be able to solidify its premium service offering to customers and improve its already high levels of service quality in one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU.

The Bucharest-based TCS has been UPS’s service provider in Romania, offering customers a suite of international delivery services through a strong nationwide network backed by advanced shipping systems and technology as well as an experienced workforce. TCS’s customers include some of the most recognized brands in Romania across a broad range of industries. TCS operates facilities in Bucharest, Timisoara and Constanta and connects to UPS’s global network with a flight operating between Bucharest and Cologne every weekday.

UPS has enjoyed solid growth in Romania over the years and in 2007 recorded a 10% gain in export volume growth compared to the prior year.

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DHL France launches flights from Paris-Vatry and presents innovations

Posted by | Mar 13, 2008 | |

DHL Express announced at this week’s French transport and logistics fair SITL that it will start operating flights from the cargo airport at Paris-Vatry at the end of March. It also presented innovative new services at the leading French event.

DHL and Paris-Vatry airport officially signed an agreement at SITL for the first DHL planes to operate at the airport. From 31 March 2008, a Boeing 757 and an ATR 72 will operate two daily routes from Paris-Vatry, linking it with Milan (Bergamo), Manchester (East Midlands) and northern Spain (Vitoria).

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DPD expands express services to international destinations

Posted by | Mar 13, 2008 | |

German parcels carrier DPD announced today it will expand its year-old domestic express services to international destinations over the coming months following a successful of for the new product.

DPD will start to offer international express between Germany and the Benelux states in May, and also offer domestic express within the three countries. Further countries neighbouring Germany will be added later in the year.

“The express services with delivery by 08:30, 10:00, 12:00 or 18:00 that we re-positioned in 2007 have made a superb start,” commented CEO Arnold Schroven. “We have gained 15,000 new express customers and volumes have increased by 60%,” he disclosed. Schroven said he expected double-digit growth rates for express shipments again this year.

DPD had achieved a very high delivery quality rate of 99.6% for express items, based on its highly-efficient transportation network with direct traffic between nearly all German depots, Schroven emphasised. Quality would play an important role in the future, and new express services would be intensively tested before being introduced, he added.

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Institute of Couriers recognises DHL's Stephen Deverson

Posted by | Mar 13, 2008 | |

DHL is delighted to announce that Stephen Deverson, Director of Sales for DHL Same Day has been recognised as a Fellow by The Institute of Couriers (IOC). The Fellowships recognise individuals at the top of their industry. Stephen was personally chosen and invited to support the Institute for the Sameday Delivery Profession at the inauguration of the Institute of Couriers. Stephen was awarded his fellowship in recognition of his exceptional professional skills, knowledge and contribution to the Sameday Delivery Industry.

Stephen received his fellowship and was gowned by the President of the Institute of Couriers Viscount Falkland in a ceremony at the House of Lords in London on 7th March. Stephen said: “It’s a real honour to be recognised by the industry in this way and the fellowship reflects DHL’s high commitments to industry standards particularly in its Same Day service.”

The IOC, which is open to all in the industry, aims to establish itself as the national standard for those who work in the industry. The Institute aims to promote ‘professional and safe practises’ in serving the industry and its customers as well as promotes awareness of best practices for individuals to improve their skills and qualifications.

Stephen Norris, Vice President of the IOC as well as the former Minister of State for Transport said: “We are very proud of Stephen Deverson because he is one of the brood of Logistics professionals who are raising standards in the industry.”

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