Weaker and smaller pallet networks will eventually go to the wall, according to Jim Scanlan MD of The Hazchem Network who previoulsy founded fortecand the Pallet Network.
The model would evolve as the larger privately owned membership networks bgun opening their own corporate depots, especially in metropolitan areas. No merges between networks were likely, however, as member hauliers would then have overlapping postcodes.
FedEx Freight said it is improving its ocean less-than-container load service by combining its mainland administrative and delivery systems with those of its Puerto Rican operating company, Caribbean Transportation Services. The LTL carrier says the consolidation of systems with CTS will simplify the process for shippers and improve overall efficiency. “By providing speed, precision, end-to-end visibility and a single invoice, it simplifies things for the customer. We believe it’s a value proposition,” said Dennie Carey, senior vice president of marketing.
Read MoreIf the US Postal Service has its way, “the check is in the mail” excuse will no longer be valid. The company that sent you the bill could verify whether you’re bluffing through a bar code on the return envelope scanned by the Postal Service. That tracking system, which starts this month, is one way the Postal Service is making first-class mail such as bills and personal correspondence more valuable, in a world full of e-mail and electronic documents. The Postal Service says a financial institution will test the system in July by using the new bar code. The customer will track mail as it winds through the Postal Service’s 283 processing and distribution centers across the country. Currently, mail is mostly scanned at the beginning and delivery points. By year’s end, all letter mail could be tracked at Postal Service facilities. The Postal Service will add commercial customers throughout 2006.
Read MoreFedEx will sign an agreement early next month to make Guangzhou’s Baiyun Airport its second Asia-Pacific hub, according to a source close to the negotiations.
Under the agreement, the Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Authority would spend up to 1. 5 billion yuan (HKD1. 4 billion) to build a warehouse and a cargo runway for FedEx’s use. Provided the deal is approved by the State Council and the General Administration of Civil Aviation, construction of the FedEx hub would start in August next year.
The target date for completion is October 2008.
FedEx would only say it is considering how best to expand its hub operations in Asia and exploring a number of ways to ensure flexibility in future.
Last year, FedEx signed a framework agreement with Guangzhou’s new airport with the intention of making it its sole Asia-Pacific hub.
Read MoreUPS today unveiled a technology enhancement that automatically notifies customers of every package in the UPS system moving toward them, providing a new tool to better manage the demands of business. The software technology opening a new “window” into the UPS system is called UPS Quantum View Inbound and represents the most recent addition to the UPS Quantum View suite of visibility services. Quantum View Inbound provides proactive notification of UPS air express, ground and international packages that are en route to the receiver’s location.
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