Tag: Domestic

Union wary of Postal Service’s plans for KCK center

Posted by | Jul 9, 2007 | |

A union leader has criticized the U.S. Postal Service’s proposal to close a facility in Kansas City, Kan., that employs 300 people. John Savala, president of National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 297, said a recent public hearing on the matter left him and his organization frustrated.

The postal facility in question is a processing and distribution center at 5215 Richland Ave. The Postal Service has proposed consolidating its operations into a bigger facility in Kansas City, Mo.

The Postal Service has indicated that no layoffs would occur as a result of any consolidation. About 240 employees would be transferred to the Missouri center, and the remaining workers would leave through attrition.

Richard Watkins, a Postal Service spokesman for the Mid-America District, said changing economic conditions were forcing the Postal Service to adapt and make its own changes. The proposal to close the Kansas City, Kan., center is part of a national study by the Postal Service evaluating its operations.

The volume of the Postal Service’s most profitable product, first-class mail, has dropped 22 percent since the late 1990s, Watkins said, while costs continue to rise. As first-class mail volume declines, it makes sense for the Postal Service to examine consolidating operations from a leased facility to one it owns that has nearly 500,000 square feet of available capacity, according to Watkins.

Watkins said a study had shown that nearly USD 5.7 million could be saved annually by combining the operations.

Read More

Pitney Bowes hails Singapore Post for new meter discount on postage

Posted by | Jul 9, 2007 | |

Pitney Bowes Inc. is praising Singapore Post for the post’s recent implementation of a postage discount for mail that is processed using a postage meter. This move, effective July 1, makes Singapore Post one of a growing number of national posts around the world that are passing lower transaction costs on to customers who use meters.

In announcing its decision, Singapore Post joins Royal Mail (UK), La Poste (France), India Post, An Post (Ireland), Norway Post, Finland Post, Sweden Post and others in offering some form of discount or rebate on some or all segments of metered mail.

These posts have decided to offer discounts because postage meters help them avoid the equivalent of millions of dollars in costs required to design, print, distribute, sell and account for postage stamps. The discount offered to meter users provides an incentive for mailers to switch to the high-tech devices, because postage is usually one of the largest expenses a mailer faces. Switching more mail to postage meters helps mitigate higher postage costs.

Discounts of this kind stimulate efficiency and innovation in the sector, a key objective not just for mailers and posts but also for independent postal regulators around the world.

Pitney Bowes has argued for many years that posts in more nations should implement discounts of this type.

Read More

New wireless system launched for UK couriers

Posted by | Jul 6, 2007 | |

BT and NetDespatch, today announce the launch of a new mobile application which will help distribution and logistics companies to operate more efficiently. BT-NetDespatch Mobility is a comprehensive, cost-effective managed solution that enables companies and remote workers to benefit from real-time mobile computing.

BT-NetDespatch Mobility has been designed for use by delivery drivers, couriers and other mobile workers. It provides a robust wireless data communication link between remote workers and those in the office, offering live access to the full range of NetDespatch hosted applications. For example, users will be able to capture signatures and provide real-time Proof of Delivery (POD), utilising browser-equipped GPRS handheld computers.

BT-NetDespatch Mobility has been designed from the ground up to integrate with customers’ legacy systems and takes into account different ways of exchanging data. The new solution is part of an integrated suite of web-based software developed to drive distribution business efficiency and profitability. It is a fully functional managed solution comprising system design, development, hosting, management, web-based administration, support, airtime and handheld devices.

Read More

UPS receives additional tax breaks for Worldport expansion

Posted by | Jun 28, 2007 | |

United Parcel Service Inc. again has received tax breaks from Kentucky to help offset some of the costs of the USD 1 billion expansion project under way at its Worldport air cargo hub at Louisville International Airport.

UPS was approved by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority for USD 2.5 million in state sales tax refunds during its June 28 meeting in Frankfort. The refunds are related to construction materials purchased as part of the Worldport expansion project.

At yesterday’s KEDFA meeting, the package-delivery giant submitted the second of what will be three applications for such tax credits, according to Mike Mangeot, public relations manager for UPS in Louisville.

The company was approved for USD 15 million in sales tax refunds a year ago. The third application is planned for next year.

UPS announced its Worldport expansion plans in May 2006. UPS received preliminary approval for USD 31.6 million in tax incentives for up to 10 years when the project was announced. Those incentives were based on job creation. The expansion of Worldport is expected to create 1,284 full-time jobs and 3,787 permanent part-time positions.

UPS already is one of the largest employers in Kentucky, with more than 20,000 workers.

The project began last summer and is on schedule, Mangeot said. The first phase is expected to be finished in 2009 and the entire project in 2010.

Read More

FedEx Domestic Time-Definite Service takes off in China

Posted by | Jun 28, 2007 | |

FedEx Express has now made its iconic next-business-day service available to customers throughout China. Since FedEx began its next-business-day service on 28 May, coverage has expanded from 19 to more than 30 cities, while 48-hour day-definite service is offered in more than 200 cities and counties. As a result of increasing customer demand, the number of cities being served continues to expand rapidly.

“Businesses in China have been waiting for FedEx to make this time-definite service available,” said David L. Cunningham, Jr., president, Asia Pacific, FedEx Express. “We have seen healthy and encouraging demand from our existing international customers and potential new customers. Since we began operations less than a month ago, thousands of domestic express packages have already passed through our hub in Hangzhou.”

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

What's the future of the postal USO?

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