Tag: USA

FedEx reported to buy US Watkins

Posted by | May 24, 2006 | |

FedEx is preparing to buy Watkins Motor Lines, the largest privately held LTL carrier in the country, according to a published report. The Memphis Commercial Appeal, citing unnamed sources, said the companies were planning to announce as soon as June 1 a purchase that could be worth some USD1 billion and add 139 terminals and a network that stretches across the country to its FedEx Freight trucking business. FedEx officials did not immediately return calls for comment. Watkins had an estimated USD1.01 billion in revenue last year and was the No. 15 trucking company in the United States based on revenue, according to the consulting firm SJ Consulting.

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Lockheed Martin awarded contracts to improve US Postal Service mail processing system

Posted by | May 24, 2006 | |

Lockheed Martin has been awarded two contracts totaling USD9 million from the US Postal Service (USPS) to upgrade and increase the processing capability of the Remote Computer Reader (RCR) system. The Remote Computer Reader upgrade will provide additional capacity to handle processing during peak periods. The additional capacity will allow the USPS to sort more mail and create more flexible mail processing options, which are extremely beneficial during the holiday season.

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E-Commerce Sales in ’06 to Jump 20 Percent to USD 211.4B: Shop.org Study

Posted by | May 23, 2006 | |

Online retail sales this year are projected to grow 20 percent to USD 211.4 billion when including travel, according to a new study from Forrester Research for Shop.org.

The numbers, published in Shop.org’s 2006 State of Retailing Online report, are projected at USD 138 billion if travel is excluded. The same growth drivers figure this year as in years past.

“I think one of the key factors is the new categories or the more categories that people are shopping,” said Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, Washington, DC.

“For 2006, the two fastest growing categories are pet supplies and cosmetics and fragrances,” he said. “These aren’t the biggest categories, but they’re the fastest growing. It illustrates the fact that customers are increasingly comfortable of buying in new categories and especially those you don’t normally associate with online retail.”

Computer hardware and software, at USD 16.8 billion, is the largest non-travel category projected this year. Autos and auto parts is next, with USD 15.9 billion. Apparel and accessories follows with USD 13.8 billion.

Pet supplies and cosmetics and fragrances are expected to post growth rates of more than 30 percent this year — more than any other category measured by Forrester.

The study of 174 retailers — not all of them members of Shop.org or its National Retail Federation parent — found that retailers increasingly are investing in multichannel integration. However, customer security is a major concern for those surveyed.

That said, e-commerce is set to get more recognition as a major revenue source within multichannel retailers.

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UPS, FedEx optimistic about 2006 despite challenges

Posted by | May 22, 2006 | |

UPS Inc. and FedEx Corp. told investors here (the Bear Stearns Global Transportation Conference) they see the rest of the year being at least comparable with and probably superior to the boom that was 2005. However, they also said they grappled with continuing operating challenges. Both rivals are dealing with labor issues. “The economy is steady now, but will be more challenged going forward,” UPS Chief Financial Officer Scott Davis said, referring to difficulties that could be caused by rising energy prices and interest rates. “But we think the small-package sector will grow faster than the economy,” he added. James Hudson, a FedEx vice president, said he thinks business could be particularly good because “we’re expecting industrial production to grow by 3.7% this year, up from 3.2% last year.” He also said he sees 2007 as a “stable” year.

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Volumes push UPS to expand US air hub

Posted by | May 18, 2006 | |

UPS is to invest at least Dollars 1bn in an expansion of its main air hub in Louisville, Kentucky, highlighting rapid growth in express delivery services.
Mike Eskew, UPS chief executive, said the investment was necessary to cope with the surge in parcel volumes generated by increased global trade. Express delivery companies have been taking an increasingly important role in the global economyas manufacturers and retailers shift towards super-efficient “just-in-time” supply chains. “We anticipate strong growth in global trade to continue for years to come,” said Mr Eskew.

UPS plans to increase the sorting capacity of its Louisville hub by 60 per cent to 487,000 packages an hour by 2010, with work beginning later this year.

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