Author: Archive

DHL and RAC Auto Windscreens work 'through-the-night'

Posted by | Nov 20, 2007 | |

RAC Auto Windscreens, the leading automotive glazing supplier in the UK, has selected DHL Exel Supply Chain to optimize its deliveries to fitting centers across the UK.

DHL offers the company a comprehensive solution including a ‘through-the-night’ service platform that guarantees all 127 fitting centers daily deliveries of windscreens and laminate glass before 8.00am.

The re-engineered supply chain will significantly improve delivery times – leading to increased stock availability at the start of each working day and higher technician productivity at the fitting centers. The use of custom-made stillages – a steel roller cage tailored to carry windscreens and laminate glass – will drastically reduce the level of damages incurred before the introduction of stillages by DHL Exel Supply Chain.

DHL drivers will collect the windscreens from RAC Auto Windscreen’s central warehouse at Witton, Birmingham, for direct delivery or to DHL’s outbase facilities in Manchester, Avonmouth, Luton and Mossend. At these outbases the stillages will be reloaded onto rigid vehicles for onward delivery to the remaining fitting centers across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Read More

USPS to deliver 20 billion pieces of mail

Posted by | Nov 20, 2007 | |

In two short days, the U.S. Postal Service begins to deliver 20 billion pieces of mail across the country and around the world, a task that requires more than 200,000 trucks, a 30 percent increase in air cargo transport, 37,000 Post Offices and 700,000 employees.

All to make sure that holiday cheer arrives on time.

The Postal Service expects to deliver 20 billion pieces of mail between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, with the busiest mailing day set for Monday, Dec. 17. More than 275 million cards and letters should be mailed that day, more than three times the average daily volume of 82 million. Total mail volume (cards, letters, catalogs, packages, magazines) for the busiest day should approach 1 billion, up from an average daily volume of 703 million pieces.

The busiest delivery day will be Wednesday, Dec. 19. Staff at the National Operations Center report for “24-7 duty” on Dec. 1 to help navigate, literally, mail movement around the world.

In addition to the logistics of moving and delivering all this mail, the Postal Service will have extended hours at more than 7,000 Post Offices. Customers will be able to purchase stamps online or at more than 55,000 alternate access points, including banks, grocery stores, drug stores and Automated Postal Centers (APCs).

APCs handle 80 percent of the same transactions customers can conduct in a Post Office and are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for added customer convenience. Packages can be mailed regardless of Post Office hours using these self-service kiosks, located in thousands of Post Office lobbies across the country. APCs are as easy to use as an ATM, but without the fees. Many APCs let customers conduct business in Spanish.

Read More

UPS employees approve National Master contract

Posted by | Nov 20, 2007 | |

UPS employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have voted to approve a new contract negotiated earlier this fall.

The UPS National Master Agreement was approved by 65 pct of the voting employees. The union today also informed the company that there were five local supplemental or rider agreements that did not receive a majority vote.

The Master contract, which covers approximately 240,000 full- and part-time package workers in the United States, was negotiated nearly a year in advance of the current contract’s expiration on July 31, 2008, and will extend contract coverage to July 31, 2013.

“We are gratified to hear that our Teamster-represented employees have approved the new National Master Agreement,” said Mike Eskew, UPS’s chairman and CEO. “Both sides now are committed to addressing any local issues as necessary. This is part of the normal process.”

Read More

DHL ramps up for the 2007 holiday shipping season

Posted by | Nov 20, 2007 | |

DHL is ramping up its facilities and workforce across the country and around the world in anticipation of the high volume of packages moving through its global network during peak season – the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Beginning the week of Thanksgiving, DHL expects U.S. shipment volumes to grow, peaking on Monday, December 17, 2007 – its busiest shipping day of the year – when it expects a 50 percent increase over average daily volume for the first three quarters of 2007. DHL estimates average daily shipment volume in the U.S. during the month of December will be 25 percent higher than average daily volume for the first three quarters of the year.

In time for the holidays, DHL recently introduced the industry’s first prepaid, all-inclusive flat-rate box, designed to minimize time, paperwork and expense for customers shipping in the U.S. The new ShipReady(TM) box provides 2nd day delivery service, without any weight restrictions, for one inclusive fee to and from all points within the 48 contiguous states.

Read More

One year old and here to stay – The PERMANENT Stamp

Posted by | Nov 20, 2007 | |

A year ago, Canada Post introduced the PERMANENT™ stamp, a domestic-rate stamp which is always worth the going rate, regardless of when it is purchased.

The PERMANENT stamp has been a big hit by Canadians. Since its introduction, Canada Post has sold some 764 million individual stamps. In fact, in the first three months, the PERMANENT stamp achieved all-time record sales. Things evened out throughout the year, but sales still surpassed the previous year’s “total” by more than 85 million stamps. Ms. Elise Beaudette, controller at Mercedes Benz Laval, a major user of PERMANENT stamps, says she loves the new product. “For us, the permanent stamp is a fantastic tool. Not only is it always worth the going rate, but it also avoids us having to purchase 1-cent stamps when there is a rate increase. We really appreciate this Canada Post initiative as it allows us to save time and money.”

“The PERMANENT stamp was created to simplify those transactions and take away the worry of having to affix extra postage.” In fact, in 2007 Canada Post only printed 20 per cent of the previous year’s print run of the penny-stamp. This decrease has reduced inventory operations at Canada Post. It also eliminated the need for consumers to stand in line to purchase penny stamps, said Robert Waite, senior vice-president, Stakeholder Relations and Brand.

The recently issued stamps for Christmas included two PERMANENT stamps and, due to its unprecedented success, two additional PERMANENT stamps will be issued in 2008: the Celebration stamp and the Christmas stamp. The United States Postal Service followed Canada Post’s lead in issuing their “Forever” stamp on April 12th of this year.

Read More

German Federal Network Agency approves postal rates for 2008

Posted by | Nov 20, 2007 | |

The Federal Network Agency today approved the rates for 2008 for letters weighing not more than 1000g in Deutsche Post AG’s (DPAG) letter service. Approval took place under the price cap regime.

The rates for private customers remain unchanged. Rates for bulk mail, that is to say for conveyance services with a minimum of 50 letter items posted, will be subject only to ex post controls by the Agency once DPAG’s exclusive licence expires on 1 January 2008.

“Our price cap decisions have kept prices stable for private customers since 2003”, Agency President, Matthias Kurth, said. “In comparison, price levels in most European countries have increased substantially over this period, countries such as France, the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark and Portugal having granted the regulated postal companies scope to raise prices.”

Today’s approvals were preceded by a benchmarking decision in which the basis for postage was fixed for the next four years. The price level for the years 2008 to 2011 results from the difference between the rate of inflation and the rate of growth in productivity. In the 2008 price cap round both benchmarks were approximately the same, so that the price level remained unchanged.

Read More

GCC postal managements discuss pan-GCC Logistics Company and improved speed post

Posted by | Nov 20, 2007 | |

Postal managements of GCC countries reviewed the progress of the proposed pan-GCC logistics company and an improved Mumtaz (speed post) for the region, at the 19th Steering Committee meeting of Arab postal corporations held in Jeddah recently. The meeting discussed a report submitted by the task force looking into the modalities of setting up the logistics company. The meeting also discussed the progress on the standardization of purchase operations and sourcing of postal items in bulk, in addition to issues such as customs procedures, inspection and movements of parcels, more efficient electronic money transfer within GCC.

A high-level Emirates Post delegation led by Mr. Abdulla Al Daboos, Director General of Post, took part in the deliberations. Other members of the delegation were Mr. Salem Al Shaya, Assistant Director General, Operations, and Mr. Abdullah Al Fan, Assistant Director General, Development and Marketing.

The postal heads appointed a team to study ways of improving movements of parcels within the GCC and another one to prepare a common Arab agenda for the UPU Congress in Nairobi in 2008. The stressed the need for a consensus so that their demands could be incorporated in the Nairobi 2008 Postal Strategy.

The GCC postal officials also met HH Prince Khalid Al Faisal Bin Abdulaziz, Chief of Mecca region, who urged for shared expertise in efficient mail and transport services within GCC countries. The meeting also honoured past heads of GCC postal organizations and recalled their contribution to the development of postal services in their respective countries.

Read More

Microcom, IBM to automate license-plate renewals in Canada

Posted by | Nov 20, 2007 | |

Microcom Corp. and IBM have announced plans to let drivers renew their license-plate registrations at self-service kiosks throughout the province of Ontario, Canada.

James Larson, president and chief executive of Microcom, says the project will put drivers in the fast lane.

“The kiosks streamline the renewal process and help drivers avoid the agony of standing in long, slow-moving lines,” he said.

IBM sought Microcom’s help to engineer a solution that helps them automatically validate and issue serial-numbered registration stickers at ServiceOntario kiosks. The machines, deployed in about 70 locations throughout the province, are touted for being part of the largest self-service kiosk network of its kind in North America.

Microcom designed and manufactured a media printer/dispenser equipped with a laser barcode scanner for the terminals. Once a customer enters required information, the barcode-reader authenticates a registration sticker and dispenses it to the user.

The Ministry of Transportation is looking to leverage self-service technology in response to growth.

“They simply are looking to find smart and efficient ways to help tackle the increase in customer volume, while at the same time decrease costs,” Larson said.

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