Tag: North America

Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee focus on measurement

Posted by | Aug 8, 2007 | |

With Overall mail volume up a mere 0.2 percent from the third quarter of last year, the US Postal Service is stepping up its initiatives to improve performance.

Glen Walker, CFO of the USPS, announced the company’s financial results Washington last week at the Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee meeting.

He reported that First-Class Mail was down 1.3 percent; Standard Mail up 1.8 percent; Periodicals down 2.7 percent; Express Mail down 1.3 percent; Priority Mail down 2.4 percent; and packages down 0.3 percent.

Walker attributes the lackluster results to the postal increase this spring.

The Postal Service has mailed about 1 billion direct mail pieces this year to educate small businesses, large commercial businesses and consumers on the importance and effectiveness of a direct mail piece. It’s part of a multichannel marketing approach that uses direct mail, Internet and television ads. So far, online-shipping service awareness has risen to 55 percent this year, up from 25 percent in 2004. Awareness of free package pickup was at 10 percent in 2004 and is now at 45 percent. Awareness of non-retail window revenue was 25 percent this year, up from 16 percent the year before.

Since on-time delivery is big during the holiday season, the USPS sent out holiday shipping and mailing guide, with 35 percent recalling getting the guide and 58 percent of those finding it helpful.

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Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. 2Q07 Net Income Totals USD 43.2 Million, Up 304 pct

Posted by | Aug 8, 2007 | |

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings reported sharply higher earnings for the second quarter of 2007 compared with second quarter of 2006. This reflects a continuing improvement in aircraft utilization due to proactive asset management, sustained operational execution, the positive impact of Continuous Improvement initiatives, increased AMC charter demand, and reduced net interest expense.

Earnings for the quarter included a substantial tax benefit related to DHL Express’ investment in Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc., in which DHL acquired a 49 pct equity interest (including a 25pct voting stake) in exchange for USD150 million in cash; USD75 million was received at closing in late June, with the balance scheduled to be received in 2008.

For the June 30, 2007 quarter, AAWW earned USD 43.2 million, 304 pct more than in the second quarter of 2006. Earnings per diluted share equaled USD 2.01, nearly four times the year-ago level. Revenues for the quarter totaled USD 370.4 million, with operating income of USD3 1.2 million and pretax income of USD25.2 million. Net income reflected a tax benefit of USD 18.0 million, which was driven by a net tax benefit in connection with the DHL transaction that reduced income tax expense in the quarter by USD 27.7 million, or the equivalent of USD1.29 per diluted share.

The Company recorded a deferred gain of USD 151.4 million in the quarter as a result of the DHL transaction. The gain will be recognized as income in the period in which the blocked-space agreement between Polar Air Cargo Worldwide and DHL commences, which is scheduled to occur no later than October 31, 2008.

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UPS, Teamsters close to withdrawal deal

Posted by | Aug 8, 2007 | |

United Parcel Service of America Inc., Atlanta, and Teamsters Central States, Southeast & Southwest Areas Pension Fund, Rosemont, Ill., reached an agreement on the company’s potential withdrawal from the USD 20.7 billion fund, according to a letter the International Brotherhood of Teamsters sent to local union offices.

Norman Black, UPS spokesman, and Central States officials Mark F. Angerame, CFO, and William J. Nellis, attorney couldn’t be reached for confirmation.

“The specific terms of the agreement are being finalized by the company and fund,” according to a letter by James P. Hoffa, Teamster president and chairman of the Teamsters National United Parcel Service Negotiating Committee, and Ken Hall, co-chairman of the committee.

Any agreement between UPS and Central States “cannot be implemented unless it is accepted by the (Teamsters) negotiating committee and ratified by the members,” the letter said. “In short, the existence of the agreement between Central States and UPS does not mean that UPS is free to withdraw from Central States and establish a new, jointly administered Teamster pension plan for its employees.”

The Teamsters committee still awaits official notification of the agreement, according to the letter.

UPS is the biggest contributor to the Central States fund, and its employees account for the largest number of Teamsters members.

UPS contributes to 20 other Teamsters jointly trusteed plans covering UPS employees.

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USPS: Postal service performance scores at record levels

Posted by | Aug 8, 2007 | |

National on-time performance scores for the delivery of First-Class Mail were at all-time highs in the third quarter of fiscal year 2007 for all three of the categories the Postal Service tracks. Overnight service was 96 percent on-time, up from 95 percent the same period last year. Two-day service was 93 percent on-time and three-day service was 91 percent on-time.

First-Class Mail performance, presented today during the Postal Service Board of Governors meeting, is measured independently by IBM Global Business Services. The process measures First-Class Mail from the time it is deposited into a collection box or lobby mail chute until it is delivered to a home or business.

Five Postal Service districts led the nation with a 97 percent on-time score for overnight delivery. They are the Dakotas (comprised of North and South Dakota and northwest Minnesota), Greensboro, (the northern and eastern part of North Carolina), Big Sky (the state of Montana), Louisiana, and Northland (most of Minnesota and part of Wisconsin).

During the same period, national residential customer satisfaction was at 92 percent, as measured by the Gallup Organization. Eight Postal Service districts earned scores of 96 percent or better for customer satisfaction. They are Albany (comprised of the northern, eastern and central portions of New York state), Maine, Southeast Michigan, Massachusetts, Western New York (including Buffalo and Rochester), Greater Michigan, Dakotas, and Hawkeye (most of Iowa and the Quad-City communities of Illinois).

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United States Postal Service Extends Exclusive Contract with RELM Wireless

Posted by | Aug 8, 2007 | |

RELM Wireless Corporation today announced that its exclusive supply contract with the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been extended for a second time through July 14, 2008.

The original contract, executed in July 2005, was for one year and has two remaining one-year renewals at the option of the USPS. Under the terms of the contract, RELM Wireless became the exclusive provider of two-way portable radios and accessories to USPS installations throughout the United States and its territories and possessions, including main and associate post offices, administrative offices, training and technical centers, and headquarters. Structured as an exclusive requirements contract, all USPS two-way radio requirements in these categories are provided by RELM. The contract does not specify purchase dates or quantities of equipment, and is terminable by either party upon 180 days’ written notice.

RELM President and CEO David Storey commented, “We have effectively supported the two-way radio communication needs of the United States Postal Service for over two years. We are committed to further expand this very important relationship.”

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