February 24, 2015 - The U-Freight Group (UFL) welcomes the news that Australian wine exports to China have almost recovered to levels recorded before Beijing’s austerity measures severely dented volumes, and believes it will be a major boost for the company’s specialist wine logistics services in the country.

Data released earlier this year by the Australian Grape and Wine Authority (AGWA) indicates that total Australian wine exports in 2014 increased by 8 percent to 40 million litres, with bottled exports almost recovering to levels recorded before the full effects of the austerity measures took hold in 2012.

The booming trade is expected to grow even faster this year following November's bilateral trade agreement between Australia and China. Once fully implemented, the agreement will remove China import tariffs on a range of Australian agricultural products, including wine.

The AGWA reported that the AUD2 to AUD4 segment was the key driver of the turnaround, increasing by 15 percent to 20 million litres.

For Hong Kong — which scrapped all duties on wine imports several years ago — Australian exports by value in the ultra-premium segment grew 127 percent to AUD42 million.

UFL chief executive officer, Simon Wong says: “Old World or New World, as a product, wine is perishable and U-Freight has much expertise in handling such traffic, which is also high value and requires specialised handling.

“While the Group handles wine shipments throughout its network, special investments have been made to support the growing wine business in China.

“One of UFL Logistics’ facilities in Hong Kong has been officially approved by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) for the provision of commercial wine storage, which means we are officially able to provide commercial wine storage services within this warehouse at Kwai Chung.

“At our Shanghai logistics centre at Pudong Airport, we also offer a sophisticated wine tasting suite where buyers and sellers can sample wine; as well as comprehensive wine storage facilities with sophisticated temperature and humidity control mechanisms.”

• TRAXENS develops innovative container monitoring, geolocation and multimodal coordination systems
• With this investment, CMA CGM introduces Big Data into the transport industry
• CMA CGM will offer its clients unique tracking solutions and real-time data collection from all over the world

The CMA CGM Group is pleased to announce that they have contributed to the capital increase of French startup TRAXENS.  

Two other investment funds – CAAP Création (Crédit Agricole Group) and S.C.R. Provençale et Corse (BPPC Group) – are also part of the initiative.  

This capital increase will be dedicated to financing new research and development programs, as well as industrialization.  

With 90% of the world’s commercial products being carried by sea, maritime transport is the main mode of transportation. CMA CGM, third largest shipping company in the world, carries over 12 million containers every year. The Group carries all types of products around the globe by sea, and by developing land and logistics solutions.  

CMA CGM constant research for high-valued innovative solutions motivated the Group’s decision to reinforce its investment in the startup TRAXENS. With this cooperation, CMA CGM places itself as a precursor in the Big Data implementation in the transport field, and will offer its clients unique tracking solutions and real-time data collecting from all over the world.

Elie Zeenny, CMA CGM Senior Vice President, Group IT Systems, declares: « With this technology, CMA CGM brings the shipping industry into a new era. In a world where information is the key, we are taking a significant step ahead. We will now be able to collect data in real-time, which is equally important to us and to our clients. Containers are becoming “connected devices”.  

In 2015, TRAXENS will equip the first CMA CGM containers with this innovative patented technology. It will now be possible to know in real-time not only a container’s position, but also its temperature, the vibrations it will be subjected to, any attempted burglary, the presence of traces of specific substances in the air or even the regulatory status of the cargo.

Michel Fallah, Founder and President of TRAXENS, notes: « We are very grateful to CMA CGM for supporting us and bringing their expertise from the very beginning of the TRAXENS adventure. It allowed us to develop a high-valued and unique solution that is attractive to all transport companies and to reunite a group of solid and active shareholders which includes the investment arms of large national banks”.  

About CMA CGM

CMA CGM, founded and led by Jacques R. Saadé is the world’s third largest and France’s top container shipping company. Its 445 vessels call more than 400 ports in the world, on all 5 continents. In 2014, over 12 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were carried. CMA CGM has grown steadily and continues to offer its clients new and innovative sea, land and logistics solutions. Present in 150 countries with a network of 650 agencies the Group employs 20,000 people worldwide, including 2,400 in its headquarters in Marseille.

READING, Pa., Feb. 25, 2015 – Penske Truck Leasing (“Penske”) has opened a new truck rental and full-service truck leasing office in Melbourne, Australia, located at 488 Blackshaws Road, Altona North, Victoria 3025. The hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. For truck rental and leasing information call 1-300-GO-PENSKE or visit www.pensketruckrental.com.au. The new office is co-located within the Penske Power Systems facility (formerly MTU Detroit Diesel), a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
 
“We have seen a positive response to our truck rental and leasing services since opening in August 2014,” said Don Mikes, Senior Vice President of Truck Rental for Penske. “This is our second office in Australia and we anticipate opening three additional locations over the next 12 months.”
 
Penske currently operates an expanding commercial truck rental fleet of late-model prime movers from MAN and Western Star. The newly opened Melbourne location rents MAN TGS 540 and TGS 480 6x4 sleepers (b-double rated), Western Star 5800 6x4 sleepers (b-double and road train rated), and new to its fleet offering at the Melbourne location are Freightliner Coronado 6x4 day cabs (b-double rated).
 
In addition to commercial truck rental, Penske has also introduced full-service truck leasing that provides trucking companies with custom vehicle specifications, vehicle acquisition, routine preventive maintenance, over-the-road breakdown service and vehicle legalization. In Australia, Penske Truck Leasing offers a wide array of vehicle types for full-service leasing from MAN, Freightliner and Western Star.
 
Penske Truck Leasing has provided full-service leasing, fleet maintenance and truck rentals to commercial truck fleets in North America for 46 years. The company presently operates and maintains a fleet of more than 200,000 vehicles in North America.
 
About Penske Truck Leasing
Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., headquartered in Reading, Pa., USA, is a partnership among Penske Corporation, Penske Automotive Group and General Electric Capital Corporation. A leading global transportation services provider, Penske operates more than 200,000 vehicles and serves customers from more than 1,000 locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Product lines include full-service truck leasing, contract maintenance, commercial and consumer truck rentals, used truck sales, transportation and warehousing management and supply chain management solutions. Visit http://www.GoPenske.com to learn more.
 
About Penske Automotive Group
Penske Automotive Group, Inc., (NYSE:PAG) headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is an international transportation services company that operates retail automotive and commercial vehicle dealerships principally in the United States and Western Europe, and distributes commercial vehicles, diesel engines, gas engines, power systems and related parts and services principally in Australia and New Zealand. PAG employs more than 21,000 people worldwide and is a member of the Fortune 500 and Russell 2000. Visit www.PenskeAutomotive.com for more information.
 
Penske Power Systems
Penske Power Systems, a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, is a leading distributor of diesel and gas engines and power systems, representing some of the most innovative and well-respected brands in the industry, including MTU, Detroit Diesel, Mercedes-Benz Industrial, Allison Transmission and MTU Onsite Energy.  Penske Power Systems offers products across the on- and off-highway markets in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific – including trucking, mining, power generation, construction, industrial, rail, marine, agriculture, oil & gas and defense and supports full parts and aftersales service through a network of branches, field locations and dealers across the region.

The world’s growing appetite for food and drink, as well as many other temperature sensitive products such as photographic film, chemicals and pharmaceutical drugs, has increased the need for more efficient and ecological methods of storage and shipping in the cold store chain sector. Intermodal Asia 2015, which takes place from 24-26 March in Shanghai, is the number one place to find out all the latest news and information on the cold store chain and reefer containers, which will be in the spotlight at this year’s event.

In the UK alone, the amount of food and drink bought has been steadily increasing by more than three per cent each year for the last decade, and much of this will be stored and shipped cold.

Setting global growth aside, there are concerns over the use of greenhouse gas refrigerants, an issue that will be covered at Intermodal Asia 2015.

The shipping industry is seeing many changes to legislation, in particular with the use of HFC refrigerants in reefer containers.

Holger König, Director of ref-tech engineering, will present a conference session titled ‘Natural refrigerants in reefer containers’, which will compare available alternatives to HFCs, and will discuss the results of an operational mode risk assessment and a safety concept for flammable refrigerants.

“Intermodal Asia is the perfect forum to discuss environmental issues facing the whole reefer industry. The HFC greenhouse gases emission reduction debate is a global political discussion in line with the developments of new environmentally friendly technologies for reefers, necessary to continue the world trade boom in chilled food exports” says Holger König. “Solutions to reduce emissions will be a key success factor for companies in the future. The whole industry is working on sustainable technologies and the refrigeration industry has been focussing on this issue for years already.”

This topic has been previously discussed at Intermodal Europe and is an increasingly important issue. These kinds of ecological projects are long term investments for shipping companies and this session at Intermodal Asia 2015 is expected to be well-attended as businesses seek the latest information.

The conference session is part of a Cold Chain Logistics Forum, which will also feature a conference presented by Edward Goh, Director of Marketing, Container Refrigeration, Carrier Transicold, who will be speaking on ‘Practical Solution Using Natural Refrigerants for Containers’.  The Forum will also feature a presentation from Karen Benedek, Managing Partner, Primaira, entitled ‘BlueZone air cleaning’.

A number of exhibitors will also be displaying products and services for the cold chain industry including, MCI (Star Cool), CIMC, Singamas, CXIC, Daikin and Emerson Climate Technology. CIMC (China International Marine Containers) will be showcasing its reefer unit range in the Container Park at Intermodal Asia 2015 – including units from its Yangzhou Tonglee Reefer and its Qingdao CIMC Reefer Container Divisions.

In the food and drink industry where cargo is highly perishable, it is vital to get the right type of storage and shipping for specific application needs.

Attending Intermodal Asia 2015 will provide one of the best ways to discover what solutions and products are available in the current market.

To exhibit or speak at Intermodal Asia 2015, or to find out more, please contact Sophie Ahmed on sophie.ahmed@informa.com or + 44 (0) 207 017 5112. Visit www.intermodal-asia.com for further information.

FORT LAUDERDALE,  Feb. 26, 2015 – Total Quality Logistics announces its eighth Moves That Matter gift. TQL will present a $1,000 check to the Humane Society of Broward County as part of the Moves That Matter campaign.
 
Moves That Matter benefits non-profit organizations who use the truckload transportation industry to move items that will help those suffering or in need. TQL employees, customers or carriers can nominate non-profit organizations with whom they have worked to help move an important load of freight.
 
The Broward County Humane Society and TQL partnered to help transport items related to the 2015 Walk for the Animals fundraiser, a mile-long stroll for people and pets along the New River and through downtown Fort Lauderdale. The check presentation will take place at Huizenga Plaza Saturday, Feb. 28, during the annual walk.
 
“Not only is the Moves That Matter gift valuable in a monetary sense, but the ease of transporting items for the event is a real weight off our shoulders,” said Leslie Jablonski, Walk for the Animals coordinator. “We’re hopeful beyond this we can develop our partnership even more.”
 
“We are aware of the many needs of the communities where we operate,” said Kerry Byrne, TQL president. “The Humane Society of Broward County reaches about 150,000 people and places about 9,000 pets with new families every year. We’re happy to support that kind of effort. TQL is fortunate to be in a growth mode, allowing us to create jobs and help worthwhile organizations like this.”
 
Any TQL employee, customer or carrier who has had the honor of being a part of a move that mattered for a qualified 501 (c) (3) is asked to share their story by emailing MovesThatMatter@tql.com. Full program details and eligibility requirements can be found at www.tql.com/Moves-that-Matter.
 
To learn more about TQL’s philanthropic efforts or events going on at TQL across the country, please visit the company on the web at tql.com.
 
About TQL
Total Quality Logistics is the second-largest freight brokerage firm in the nation with 29 offices in 16 states. TQL connects customers needing to move full truckload freight shipments with carriers that have the capacity to move them. TQL is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has more than 3,100 employees across the country.

Basel, February 26, 2015 - Panalpina is expanding its controlled air freight network by adding a full-freighter service to Brazil. As of March, Panalpina will not only operate scheduled charter flights from Hong Kong to Huntsville, but also from Huntsville to São Paulo. The extended service is part of the recently renewed long-term agreement between Panalpina and Atlas Air. It offers scheduled main deck capacity to South America from the US and a record transit time of less than 40 hours from Hong Kong to São Paulo.  

“Our customers in the US have a need for fast and efficient connections to Brazil. The new set-up with Atlas Air, where we switched one of our wet-leased aircraft to 200 scheduled charters per year, allows us to meet this demand effectively,” explains Lucas Kuehner, global head of Air Freight at Panalpina.  

As of 3 March 2015, Panalpina will initially operate two flights per week from Huntsville to Viracopos, São Paulo, with dedicated scheduled charters using Atlas Air 747-400 freighters.  

The direct service from Huntsville to São Paulo, called Brazil Wings, has been specifically designed for customers in the Midwest and in parts of the Southeastern United States. The new service is tailored to companies that manufacture heavy machines and equipment for agriculture and mining. Brazil, with its large agricultural and mining industries, is an interesting market for these companies, but getting the goods there can be challenging. So far, the companies had to export via large, congested airports with limited freighter capacity.  

“We offer an alternative – scheduled main deck capacity to Brazil from an uncongested airport that puts high priority on cargo,” says Roberto Schiavone, head of Air Freight for the region Americas at Panalpina. “Export cargo can be easily trucked to our unique air freight gateway in Huntsville. There we offer an airside facility and short distances. This allows for fast expediting and full control on the ground. In addition, customers benefit from cargo consolidation and customs clearance services.”  

Panalpina provides road feeder services from over ten major US cities to Huntsville on a daily basis. From the Chicago area, with its important manufacturing base, transport to Huntsville takes as little as 16 hours. Panalpina also manages import customs clearance and delivery to the final destination in Brazil, thus providing a full door-to-door service.  

The freighter flights from Huntsville to São Paulo connect seamlessly with the freighter flights coming in from Hong Kong. As an extension of the recently announced twice-weekly Hong Kong-to-Huntsville service with Atlas Air charters, Panalpina can now offer one of the fastest transit times from the Far East to South America. “We can fly cargo from Hong Kong to Viracopos via Huntsville in less than 40 hours,” says Matthias Frey, global head of Panalpina’s controlled air freight network.  

“The new service to Brazil showcases what we can offer to customers,” adds Kuehner. “We route our flights and offer freighter capacity to suit particular customer requirements. We address unmet needs and offer end-to-end solutions.”

About Panalpina

The Panalpina Group is one of the world's leading providers of supply chain solutions. The company combines its core products of Air Freight, Ocean Freight, and Logistics to deliver globally integrated, tailor-made end-to-end solutions. Drawing on in-depth industry know-how and customized IT systems, Panalpina manages the needs of its customers' supply chains, no matter how demanding they might be. The Panalpina Group operates a global network with some 500 offices in more than 70 countries, and it works with partner companies in a further 90 countries. Panalpina employs over 16,000 people worldwide who deliver a comprehensive service to the highest quality standards – wherever and whenever. www.panalpina.com

U.S. imports for the month of January were 12 percent lower than January of last year, so it’s no wonder the top NVOs’ imports also declined. The top 100 NVOCCs (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) for the month decreased in imported TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) by 8.9 percent from last January and another 9.3 percent from December. The giant drop in imports can be partially blamed on the mess happening at West Coast ports. Extreme backups and delays have created a 29% decline in imports at Pacific ports compared to January of 2014.

Not surprisingly, nearly every top NVO declined in imports from either December or last January. Expeditors International actually increased in imports from December by less than 1 percent but declined in volume from January by 4.1%. The company’s imported TEUs for January totaled over 36,500 and which makes it the leading NVO so far this year. Blue Anchor Line was the second largest NVO for the month. It decreased in imports by nearly 10 percent from December, but was one of the few NVOs to increase from last January by over 13 percent. Other prominent NVOs like Christal Lines and Orient Express Container Company posted declines from both December and last January. See all of the January 2015 stats in the free report below. 

Download the Top 100 NVOCCs Report (in xlsx format)

To search Zepol’s import statistics for Free Click Here.

About the 3PL News NVO Update

This is a 3PL News exclusive report created and written by Zepol Corporation. Zepol provides search access to over 130 million U.S. import and export bills of lading. The data excludes shipments from empty containers and shipments marked as freight remaining on board, and may contain other data anomalies. For more information on Zepol’s platform visit www.zepol.com.

HOLMDEL, NJ (February 25, 2015) -- The Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII) is seeking nominations for the 2015 annual Connie Awards to be held in Long Beach, CA, and the New York area. Named for the container, the Connie Award has been presented every year since 1972 to deserving industry leaders making extraordinary contributions to the containerization and intermodal industry, as well as trade and transportation.  

"With last years' recipients Robert Curry, Sr. of California Cartage and Claudio Bozzo of MSC, we will select the same caliber of recipients for this years' awards," said Michael DiVirgilio, CII President.  

The September 29, 2015 Connie dinner in Long Beach, CA will be held at the Renaissance Long Beach. Deadline for nominations is May 1st, 2015. Nominations are also being sought for the Connie luncheon on December 7th, 2015 in Newark, NJ, with a deadline for nominations by August 1st, 2015.  

Criteria of Connie recipients are those who have made outstanding contributions to the containerization and intermodal industry, including those involved with rail, shipping, ports, importers and exporters, 3PLs, technology, government officials and the media. To nominate a person, contact CII Executive Director, Barbara Yeninas, at execdir@containerization.org or call 732-817-9131. CII is seeking a brief justification of the nomination.  

In addition to the awards, CII presents scholarships to deserving students studying logistics or transportation.

About Containerization & Intermodal Institute

Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII), a non-profit organization founded in 1960, promotes industry awareness, preserves the history of intermodalism, and engages scholarly interest in the field by organizing educational conferences and seminars, serving as an information resource, providing networking opportunities, offering career guidance, arranging internships and facilitating scholarships. For more information, visit www.containerization.org.

Lucy Dunn (dunn@searchprofessionals.net) | 27 February 2015

The peak season of hiring is here. After strategies have been set, plans been made, new years (Gregorian and Lunar) celebrated, companies usually look to hire or rehire (due to the natural turnover) the people that will actually carry out these strategies and plan in the heat of the competitive market. A hiring manager, will have plenty of opportunities to interview candidates during your career. Many experts and senior leaders would agree that interviewing is the most important skills one needs to master to be a true success. Not only does it help the company to grow sustainably, no one person can change a company alone but by hiring highly qualified people who are well-suited to the company, job longevity and loyalty are created. This is the best possible legacy to have associated with your name and it also helps you find successors so that you can promote up the career ladder. Admired by many, Google has a unique hiring culture, and some techniques are certainly very specific to the technology industry because their war for talent is more fierce than most other industries today, however there are some fundamentals which I believe to be applicable in non-tech industry. After recently read “How Google works”, here are some of their hiring best-practice which might help you in your next interviews:

• “The herd effect”. The best workers are like a herd, they like and tend to follow each other. The brilliant wants to work with the brilliant. If you can afford to hire a few stellar candidates, very likely that similar caliber will take notice and be willing to take a call if not immediately follow suit. It is like “one stone hit multiple birds”
• Hire learning animals. Companies want to grow and be profitable. In order to have a growing company, the best way to make sure it happens is to hire “learning machines”. These are the individuals who seek to understand how the work product comes into existence so that they can constantly be adjusting to maximize the end result. “It is a lucky man who wins one deal, it is a wealthy man who can learn from his success and repeat it”. These employees are the most likely to embrace or even welcome changes and challenges, rather than fighting it. In today’s economic climate, these employees should be highly sought-after, because companies benefit from these people’s opportunity/growth mindset. They believe that their qualities can be modified and cultivated. These are the true growth drivers. Some would argue that they merely want an operator, or customer service agent who can repeat the same tasks day in day out. The problem is, that may satisfy and fulfil your current need if you have understood all the possible needs but that is never realistic. Taking a longer view, do you really want someone who will settle for the current level of responsibility, challenge, and opportunity for years to come? Few great performers (at any level) would want to do the same thing from the time they left college until retirement, hence you need to be hiring candidates who have more to offer and you need to be show them by your actions that you also have their best interests at heart. Looking for learning animals even if they don’t have the specific skill for a certain job can help you to find highly motivated and success-proven candidates from within, which could also work beautifully as one of your retention strategies.
• Another best practice is to looks for “passionate” candidate. Employees who ARE passionate most likely don’t say “I am PASSIONATE”, not even in the interviews. So how can you as an interviewer, tell if someone is passionate about doing the job/anything? A skilled interviewer need to be able to look for the traits which indicate passion. Things like persistence, grit, seriousness, and the boy language when a candidate is talking about what is important or what they are most proud of. Most of us didn’t start out successful, but passionate employees will do the important tasks, even if they are difficult and often work on them for a long time. If they are not successful the first time, and he/she will learn from the experience/failure. These are the kind qualities you should be looking for in candidate. Another way to assess their passion is to ask about their hobbies, what they do in down-times. If they like to engage in activities which require time, patience, dedication, sweat, physical endurance, mental agility… etc, it would be a very good indication about how passionate they are in life and that is often a pretty good indicator about their prospective on work and everything else.
• Look beyond your “usual suspects”. You know where your competition is working and successful and you want their staff because they can easily “plug and play”. Yes it is a good starting tactic to look for people with the same job title or area of responsibility, however, there are other equally brilliant minds who might not necessarily be doing the same job, or working at your competitors. Successful managers usually set a wider aperture in order to capture the rare-finds and the results often result in long term company contributors. What are the key attributes that your company needs may be more important than a particular knowledge base.

Depending on the type of interview, the level of candidates, the function and scope of the responsibilities of the job, the hiring manager will need to be flexible and adopt different approaches in order to make the best assessment of each hiring situation and this is why it is important to keep training yourself to be a “learning animal.”

What works best for you? What doesn’t work so much? I would love to hear your experience.

Clear information on maximum truck weights and lengths will help shippers load bigger and help carriers increase compliance.

TORONTO, CANADA – February, 27, 2015 – Big Truck Guide.com has launched a new service this month that will change the way that shippers look at equipment that rolls into their yard and make carriers more compliant with size and weight regulations.  The launch of a paid membership area on Big Truck Guide provides access to detailed information on gross weights, payload estimates, axle weights, and dimensions for 27 commonly used truck types across all US states and Canadian provinces.  Shippers can check the state that they operate in and find the most optimal truck for their load.  Carriers and truck drivers can ensure compliance and look for above average weight allowances to satisfy shippers.

The truth is, well informed carriers and shippers in many states already utilize trucks that are much heavier than 80,000 lbs, and have trailers longer than 53’. Payloads of 50,000 lbs or more are possible today, with current regulations. The problem has always been that carriers may know some regulations that allow them to operate at heavier payloads and with longer trailers, but no one has ever been able to easily query all legal sizes.

With Big Truck Guide, shippers and carriers can easily identify the 28 states in the US that have weight limits over 80,000 lbs for trucks with a tri-axle trailer.  Or if there is a need to operate turnpike double combinations, shippers and carriers can quickly reference all states where turnpike doubles are permitted and the payloads available to operate in each state.  These are just a couple of the situations where Big Truck Guide can help increase your payloads and reduce your shipping costs.

Big Truck Guide has created a proprietary database that is available to query using online tools for only $19 per month.  The Sample Detailed Truck Information tool shows all gross weights, axle weights, and dimensions across every state and province. The Gross Weight by Truck Type tool gives a quick comparison of the greatest allowable weight for each truck type in each state, and maps these possibilities. The State Information page gives a written description of all applicable truck regulations in each jurisdiction.  Shippers and carriers are now able to easily find out what trucks are available, how much weight can be loaded on them, and maximize the use of their equipment.

​Third Party Logistics Company Selects Experienced Leader to Bring Consulting Expertise to Supply Chain Management and Strategic Planning Operations

March 4, 2015 (Dallas, TX) – Transplace, a leading provider of transportation management services and logistics technology, today announced that Brooks Bentz has joined the organization as president of Transplace Consulting Services, thereby formally launching its North American consulting services practice. Bentz will report directly to Transplace CEO Tom Sanderson.

"We are pleased to have a recognized industry expert with the track record and talent of Brooks join the Transplace leadership team,” said Sanderson. “We have provided world class consulting services to customers in the past, and the addition of Brooks leverages these strengths, providing exceptional growth opportunity and enhanced credibility for our consulting practice. Combining his background and experience with the deep and proven logistics expertise of Transplace will deliver an industry-leading logistics consulting, analytics and market intelligence practice.”

Bentz brings more than four decades of experience in transportation and logistics, and has held a number of senior leadership positions. Prior to joining Transplace he spent 21 years with Andersen Consulting/Accenture, where he was a managing director in supply chain management, responsible for supply chain transportation.  He also served as a vice president of intermodal for Burlington Northern Railroad, where he developed BN America, the company’s domestic container operation. He was president and CEO of Ameritrans Corporation, the 3PL subsidiary of IU International.  He was also CEO of Trans-Star Trucking, a regional LTL/TL motor carrier.  Prior to that he was general manager, intermodal, for Boston & Maine Railroad, and founder, as well as COO of BMX, B&M’s motor carrier subsidiary. He is an adjunct professor of supply chain in the graduate transportation program at the University of Denver and a member of the board of directors.

“I am delighted to join the Transplace team,” said Bentz. “The opportunity to build a market-leading consulting services practice by leveraging Transplace’s deep talents and legacy of exceptional customer value creation is professionally thrilling.”

To learn more about Transplace and why the company is continually named a Top 10 3PL visit www.transplace.com or vote for us here.

About Transplace Transplace is a North American non-asset-based provider offering manufacturers, retailers, chemical and consumer packaged goods companies the optimal blend of logistics technology and transportation management services. The company’s services and capabilities include Transportation Management Services, Intermodal, Brokerage and SaaS transportation management (TMS) solutions supplemented by consulting services, supply chain network planning and design, and transportation procurement. The company is recognized among the elite 3PLs for its proven ability to deliver both rapid return on investment and consistent value to a customer base that includes many of the largest shippers in the world.

Follow the Transplace Industry Blog: http://blog.transplace.com

- Shanghai to Atlanta direct, all-water routing bypasses U.S. West Coast congestion -
 
Clark, New Jersey, March 4, 2015 - CaroTrans, a leading global NVOCC (non-vessel operating common carrier) and ocean freight consolidator, today announces a new all-water LCL (less than container-load) import service from Shanghai to Atlanta via the Port of Savannah.  It is a 32-day transit.  Freight is deconsolidation at CaroTrans’ Atlanta CFS (container freight station) for timely cargo availability.  Expedited distribution services are available to Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee.
 
“We continuously adjust our global network to respond to customer demand.  With this new Shanghai to Atlanta service, we provide customers with an important alternative to congested U.S. West Coast gateways.  This service is our 67th direct Asia to U.S. import service,” said Greg Howard, CEO of CaroTrans.  CaroTrans global network includes import services from Japan, Korea, Europe, UK, India, Sri Lanka, Middle East, Oceania, South America and South Africa to the U.S.
 
CaroTrans Teams offer dedicated, personalized service at origin and destination to support their customers’ transportation needs.  In addition, CaroTrans offers e-commerce tools that provide access to critical shipment data to ensure supply chains stay on track.  These include EDI and Web-based tools, such as cargo tracking and online Freight Release which expedites cargo availability.
 
CaroTrans has a comprehensive U.S. network including 14 U.S. offices and 23 CFS positioned throughout the U.S. dedicated to the reliable, secure handling of global shipments.
 
About CaroTrans
 
Established in 1979, CaroTrans International is one of the world’s leading NVOCCs providing global LCL, less-than-container load, and FCL, full container load services.  CaroTrans has a network of offices in Asia, Europe, South America, Oceania, and the United States, along with strong local partners, to offer a global reach that is truly unique.
 
The CaroTrans suite of Web-based and EDI-enabled e-commerce tools include - booking, ocean and inland rates, sailing schedules, and tracking.  They are an essential part of CaroTrans’ commitment to delivering faster, more efficient freight management solutions.  For import shipments, CaroTrans Online Freight Release solution provides logistics service providers with direct control of the release of their customers’ cargo.
 
CaroTrans is a people driven company with dedicated and knowledgeable team members who engage customers with passion and experience on a local level.
For additional information, visit: www.carotrans.com

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - March 2, 2015 - FORTUNE has named CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) one of the World's Most Admired Companies, according to a recent survey.

CSX achieved high marks in numerous categories, including quality of products and services, long-term investment value and social responsibility. The company ranked second in the trucking, transportation and logistics industry. This is the fifth consecutive year that CSX made the list. 

"Being named one of FORTUNE's World's Most Admired Companies is a testament to CSX's vision to be the safest, most progressive North American railroad," said Michael J. Ward, chairman and chief executive officer, CSX Corporation. "I'm proud of our customers who support our business and our employees who work every day to provide freight transportation service vital to the global economy."   

The company's recognition by FORTUNE comes on the heels of recent accolades, including a top spot on G.I. Jobs' 2015 Top 100 Military Friendly Employers list and recognition as a "Best Place to Work in IT" by IDG's Computerworld.

FORTUNE's World's Most Admired Companies survey, conducted annually, evaluates corporate reputation based on nine key business attributes. The list is voted on by executives, directors and analysts across all industries. More information on the list is available at: http://fortune.com/worlds-most-admired-companies/. 

About CSX CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides. It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and small farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).

JERSEY CITY, NJ (March 3, 2015) -- In light of the strong growth potential of the Intra-Asia trades, Evergreen Line is implementing service enhancements for its services to/from the Southeast Asian markets. The carrier will launch its new Taiwan-Shekou-Malacca Strait Service (TSS) later in March and will also introduce a dedicated Taiwan - Hong Kong Service (THK). 
 
Evergreen will deploy three ships of 1,600 TEU on the TSS service, connecting Taiwan, Southern China, Singapore and Malaysia. The start of this weekly service will be marked by the inaugural sailing from Kaohsiung on March 19th. The port rotation will then follow as Hong Kong - Shekou - Port Klang - Penang - Port Klang - Singapore - Tanjung Pelepas - Kaohsiung.
 
This new service string will not only provide an efficient link for regional trade but also connect into the global networks of Evergreen Line and its alliance partners via hubs at Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tanjung Pelepas.
 
In addition, this month will be the start of the THK Service. Employing a 1,200 TEU vessel, the weekly service will have a port rotation of Taichung, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong and Taichung with its maiden voyage from Hong Kong on March 25th. 
 
The goals of this move are to improve service frequency between Taiwan and Hong Kong and to increase connectivity to Evergreen's global network. Moreover the service will provide a 'Blue Way' coastal feeder option between Taichung, Taipei and Kaohsiung, thereby significantly reducing the demand for trucking across Taiwan. This arrangement is in line with Evergreen's environmental policy to contribute to the sustainability of natural environment.

CHICAGO, March 6, 2015 – Today CDM Media, the leading provider of C-level executive technology summits, announced an exclusive partnership with 3PL News, the premier interactive marketing platform for the logistics and supply chain industry, for its upcoming promotion of the CIO Transportation Summit being held March 24 -25, 2015 at the Swissotel in Chicago, IL.

CDM Media summits are intimate invitation-only conferences for C-suite executives and industry leaders across all regions and verticals. Unlike typical tradeshows designed to attract hundreds, CDM Media’s event hosts just forty to fifty leading senior executives in their field. This format ensures that each individual is guaranteed the delegates they interact with are true peers who can provide parallel insights, based on size of company and seniority of role. In keeping with this intimate focus, Summit sponsorships are similarly limited with no more than a dozen partners being allowed to participate in the program. CDM Media is excited about this partnership and looks forward to working with 3PL News and its constituency to improve an already world-class event.

About 3PL News

3PL News is an interactive marketing platform for the logistics and supply chain industry, enabling service providers to take advantage of the newest interactive marketing opportunities. Launched in Long Beach, California, next to the largest port complex in the US, 3PL News has a global reach, including a recently expanded presence in Greater China. 3PL News will not only keep you up to date with the industry dynamics and global supply chain management trends, but can also help spread the word about the latest developments at your organization. We can produce a consistent stream of marketing content for your company " including social media-friendly videos, case studies, and a myriad of online marketing campaigns " to support your global marketing efforts, drive engagement with new customers, create buzz across all marketing channels, and generate leads. For more information visit http://ww.3PLNews.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/3PLNews.

About CDM Media

CDM Media is a leading B2B technology marketing and media firm, producing C-level executive events all over the world. CDM Media specializes in technology summits and custom events for C-level executives from Fortune 1000 companies, together with major technology solution providers. These events are driven by industry, region, organizational role and current hot topics, enabling attending delegates to address current issues and trends, learn from one another, network and generate key takeaways. CDM Media is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York City and Cardiff, U.K. To learn more, visit www.cdmmedia.com.

Global Sourcing and Collaborative Supply Chain Management Platform Enables Brand Companies and Overseas Suppliers to Improve Product Innovation, Reduce Compliance Risks and Shorten Time to Market

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, March 2, 2015 – Amber Road (NYSE: AMBR), a leading provider of global trade management (GTM) solutions, announced today that it has acquired ecVision, a cloud-based provider of global sourcing and collaborative supply chain solutions for brand-focused companies.

ecVision helps many of the largest brand companies in the world to effectively manage their relationships with product suppliers, raw material vendors, product testing and social compliance audit firms, and global logistics companies.  Driven by the need to get the right products to market faster and respond to ever shortening ‘seasonal’ cycles, retail brand companies must collaborate with their suppliers and tier-n material vendors to speed innovation and manage product compliance with fine-tuned control over costs.

“U.S. and European-based brand companies are under constant pressure to bring new products to market faster,” said Kevin O’Marah, Chief Content Officer at SCM World.  “It’s all about accelerated merchandise innovation and rapid, profitable execution.  More effective collaboration with Asian-based manufacturers is key to that equation.  Where ecVision helps drive these benefits on the front end of the process, Amber Road picks it up at point of shipment to ensure compliant, cost-effective global delivery to the brand or retailer.  It’s a very synergistic union.”

The ecVision Suite currently focuses on the following four primary business areas:

Vendor and Production Management – allows global brands to efficiently on-board new suppliers, monitor capacity, manage purchase orders and raw material orders, as well as monitor production status.

Material and Product Management – helps brands, their suppliers and tier-two material suppliers to collaborate and deliver more innovative products, by efficiently managing the sampling and testing processes, planning, forecasting and reserving raw materials and sourcing finished good production.

Risk and Quality Management – helps to ensure that what is produced meets international regulatory testing requirements, brand specifications and social compliance standards with comprehensive functionality to manage component and product testing, auditing and finished goods quality inspections.

Shipment and Logistics Management - provides a platform to document, manage and monitor all logistics activities from in-factory carton label creation, advanced shipping notice generation, carrier booking and tracking, and invoicing through receipt into the warehouse.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, with company-owned operations in China and the U.S., ecVision has automated the collaboration between brand companies and their suppliers in over forty countries under a SaaS business model with long-term subscriptions.  Representative ecVision customers include Li & Fung, PVH Corporation, Coach, Brown Shoe Company and VF Corporation, with underlying brands such as Calvin Klein, Timberland, The North Face and Tommy Hilfiger, among many others.  

“This acquisition delivers value for Amber Road customers by providing new global supply chain capabilities to increase product innovation while balancing product compliance risks and costs with shorter product lead times,” said Jim Preuninger, CEO of Amber Road.  “It expands our solution footprint by providing more services at origin, where the global supply chain begins, and strengthens our value proposition in key industries.  This combination extends our leading presence in the Asia Pacific region which continues to be a strong growth market for us.  Finally, this union gives us another significant differentiator in the marketplace. We believe Amber Road is the only international cloud-based supply chain vendor offering such an expansive suite of capabilities.”

“We’ve seen an increased focus on trade compliance and global logistics on the part of our customers over the past few years,” said Thomas Ng, Founder and CEO of ecVision.  “Combining these capabilities with our platform in a fully integrated fashion will be a real game-changer.  We’re delivering on a vision for retail that has long been aspirational but never realized.  We are also very excited to expand our sales and marketing reach by leveraging Amber Road’s larger and more established presence across North America and Europe. I look forward to joining the Amber Road senior management team and executing on our combined vision.”

Under the terms of the transaction, Amber Road has acquired ecVision for a net cash amount of approximately $24 million, as well as up to $9 million over the next two years providing for an earn-out provision based upon achievement of certain revenue milestones and employee retention.  The transaction is being financed with cash on-hand and a new $20 million term loan with KeyBank N.A.  The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc. served as financial advisor to ecVision in this transaction.

Conference Call Information

Amber Road will host a conference call on Monday, March 2, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) to discuss the acquisition of ecVision, including the expected financial impact.  To access this call, dial 888-417-8533 (domestic) or 719-325-2452 (international).  The conference ID is 9309570.

Additionally, a live webcast of the conference call will be available in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s web site at www.AmberRoad.com.

Following the conference call, a replay will be available at 877-870-5176 (domestic) or 858-384-5517 (international) from March 2, 2015, 8:00pm EST to March 9, 2015, 11:59pm EST. The replay pass code is 9309570. An archived webcast of this conference call will also be available in the “Investor Relations” section of the company’s web site at www.AmberRoad.com.

About ecVision

ecVision offers a cloud-based supply chain collaboration platform that optimizes product lifecycle and supply chain processes. The enterprise platform, ecVision Suite™, reflects the standardized business processes from design to delivery, creating a single collaborative solution for private label brands, retailers and their trading partners. With increased visibility and workflow, users can improve their reaction time to demand changes, shorten product lifecycles, lower product and materials costs, and improve sourcing and logistic efficiencies. Learn more at www.ecvision.com.

About Amber Road

Amber Road’s (NYSE: AMBR) mission is to dramatically change the way companies conduct global trade. As a leading provider of cloud based global trade management (GTM) solutions, we automate import and export processes to enable goods to flow across international borders in the most efficient, compliant and profitable way. Our solution combines enterprise-class software, trade content sourced from government agencies and transportation providers in 145 countries, and a global supply chain network connecting our customers with their trading partners, including suppliers, freight forwarders, customs brokers and transportation carriers. We deliver our GTM solution using a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model and leverage a highly flexible technology framework to quickly and efficiently meet our customers’ unique requirements around the world.

For more information, please visit www.AmberRoad.com, email Solutions@AmberRoad.com or call 201-935-8588.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements, including statements regarding our ability to integrate ecVision, identify substantial risks and uncertainties and relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” and similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. These statements are only predictions and may be inaccurate. Actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider various factors, including the risks outlined in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including, without limitation, our periodic and current SEC reports. These factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, our future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements may differ from our expectations. Other than as required by law, we do not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, even though our situation may change in the future.

GEODIS has united the commercial identity of its varied operations under a unique brand, reaffirming its position as a leader in the global freight transport and logistics sector. The existing brands, Geodis Calberson, Geodis Wilson, Geodis BM, Geodis Logistics and Geodis Supply Chain Optimization will disappear to be replaced by one stand-alone brand, GEODIS.

GEODIS sees the initiative as an opportunity to reaffirm its ability to offer a comprehensive end-to-end supply chain management service to its customers in 120 countries. This will be delivered through its five lines of business: Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express and Road Transport. The new branding also includes a revitalized logo and slogan, illustrating the GEODIS promise of performance and growth. The phrase reflects the GEODIS mission to help its customers succeed by overcoming logistical constraints: ”We logistic your growth”

Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO of GEODIS, in announcing the new strategy said, "The evolution of our new brand will unify the constituent parts of our group and will clarify our common mission. This new brand architecture was designed with our clients’ needs for simplicity, efficiency and consistency at its core. It is a unique brand that bears the same promise for all of our lines of business. "

The new visual identity, including a modernized logo, signifies a common thread running through all the services offered by GEODIS. The brand architecture will be gradually rolled out from March, appearing on all buildings, vehicles, uniforms and communications across GEODIS. To give life to the new brand identity, an advertising campaign (which will include print media, TV, web and airport display advertising) will be launched in March in the French market as well as in Germany, Poland, China and the USA through 2015 and 2016.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com Supply chain operator and subsidiary of SNCF Logistics, GEODIS is a global European company (4th logistics provider in Europe). Through its ability to overcome logistical constraints and coordinate the different steps of the logistic chain (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding (air and sea), Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, Road Transport), the Group is the growth partner for its clients and offers them tailored solutions. With over 30,000 employees in 67 countries, the Group constantly innovates to improve its performance and its customers’ one. GEODIS reported in 2013 a €6.9 billion in revenue.

03 Mar 2015 - Supply chain software provider Datex recently announced its technology partnership with Wavelength Logistics, a third party logistics provider with dry, temperature controlled and cold storage warehouse facilities across North America.

Because of the wide variety of goods that Wavelength Logistics handles and stores, the third party logistics provider required a highly flexible, reliable system that could handle, track and accurately process any type of inventory.  The award winning supply chain software by Datex handles high volumes of transactions without issue and can be customized at a fraction of the cost of other WMS systems. 

Datex FootPrint WMS can meet the needs of any type of inventory from food and pharmaceutical, serialized and lot controlled products to bulk goods and those requiring specialized handling or storage, frozen or ambient conditions.  The audit trail functionality helps provide detailed documentation useful for proof of regulatory compliance.

Seamless integration with material handling systems, shipping carriers, scales, ERP, MRP e-commerce and other software systems was another consideration.  Other factors included having multiple deployment methods such as Cloud and on premise and having a warehouse management system that is EDI ready and supported by EDI specialists that are experienced in dealing with Big Box retailers.

“Today shippers place high value on having access to the latest technology and expect that their third party logistics provider has the technology in place” explained Alissa Gutierrez, Director of Strategic Business Development for Wavelength Logistics.  “Datex has the WMS that helps to meet the needs of our business now and in the future.  With Datex FootPrint WMS our business is better able to compete successfully to win new business and can fulfill current needs such as e-commerce and omni-channel retail.”

About Datex

A Microsoft Gold Partner, Datex provides flexible, reliable supply chain technology solutions to make businesses more profitable. In successful operation since 1978, Datex has helped companies operate more efficiently and productively using state-of-the-art technology including Microsoft based supply chain software, mobile devices and services including EDI and mobile device management services. The Cold Storage Edition of Datex FootPrint WMS can be used with RF or RFID solutions to provide complete real time inventory visibility and tracking.  Datex software includes functionality specifically developed for temperature controlled environments and helps facilitate CFIA, USDA and IARW compliance.  Datex FootPrint WMS for cold storage enables the handling, staging and real time billing of value services tasks such as stretch-wrapping, packaging, breading and other value added services and includes a 3PL Billing Wizard so that billing can be set up in minutes.  Datex FootPrint WMS relies on workflow to power accurate, efficient productive business processes.  Using a workflow based warehouse management system enables companies to fast track implementations, save costly professional fees and valuable time.   For more information on Datex supply chain technology solutions, please visit the Datex website.  For more information, please contact Laura Olson, Director of Sales and Marketing at 800.933.2839 ext. 243 or via email at lolson@datexcorp.com.

About Wavelength Logistics

Wavelength Logistics provides seamless end-to-end 3PL and technology services to help simplify the supply chain.  With warehouse facilities across North America, Wavelength Logistics can handle any type of inventory and has ambient, temperature controlled, refrigerated and frozen (cold storage) warehouses.  Powered by state-of-the-art Datex supply chain software, Wavelength Logistics can provide the real time product visibility and traceability your business needs.  Experienced in dealing with Big Box retailers and Tier 1 manufacturers, our company can provide customized 3PL services, EDI and integrations to other systems to ensure that your e-commerce and omni-channel retail fulfillment needs are met.

More News from Datex: http://www.datexcorp.com/supply-chain-software-developer-datex-welcomes-new-3pl-wms-client-mid-atlantic-cold-storage

Appointed Official Freight and On-site Handling Contractor at ADIPEC in 2015 and 2016  

LONDON – Mar. 9, 2015 – Agility, a leading global logistics provider, has been awarded a contract by dmg::events to manage international freight and provide on-site handling services for the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in 2015 and 2016. Both events will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center in UAE.  

ADIPEC is a major global trade show and conference for oil and gas professionals. The 31st edition of ADIPEC will be held from Nov. 9-12. As the official freight and on-site handling contractor, Agility Fairs & Events will be responsible for assisting exhibitors and their contractors with logistical requirements and shipping of exhibits to and from the ADIPEC events.  

Julie Allen, Operations Director of dmg::events for the Middle East, said: “We have worked with Agility on ADIPEC for the past three years and have been impressed by their impeccable ability to manage every eventuality in a timely manner with patience and professionalism, including handling freight in places you would not think possible with some very challenging pieces of equipment. They truly go above and beyond to help pull together such a successful show, and not without a smile and a sense of humor. “

“ADIPEC is a world-renowned event in the oil and gas industry, and our involvement as the preferred logistics service provider is testament to our successful track record in supporting numerous trade events organized by dmg::events,” said David Richards, Managing Director for Agility Fairs & Events UK. “We look forward to making ADIPEC yet another successful event.”

• Flexible groupage system with no fixed costs: With E-Groupage forwarders can create their own individual groupage networks with the click of a mouse and sell consignments from the 15th of March
• From the 10th of April per app and online: shippers will be able to see the networks created and be able to compare the service offers
• A free showcase for transport services: Distribution services set up in over 100 regions, 600 more in the pipeline

(Ulm, 5th of March 2015) E-Groupage, the first online platform for international groupage networks in Europe, starts its regular transport operations on the 15th of March 2015 and shippers will be able to view the networks created starting the 10th of April. With this Colo21 AG is systematically expanding its "car-sharing agency for international groupage" launched in October. Following the successful testing of the system with a pilot customer and up to 2,000 groupage consignments daily, all registered forwarders will be able to enter into partnerships with transport companies via E-Groupage and ship consignments from the 15th of March. By mouse click they can select partners who have signed up for linehaul or the distribution of consignments in a particular region. By the end of February, in more than 100 regions distribution offerings had been set up. "Over 600 more distribution locations are in the pipeline," says Jörg Frommeyer, Chairman of the Management Board of Colo21 AG. "On the 15th of March, we will be activating access for forwarders, who want to sell more groupage shipments with E-Groupage, by building a flexible and transparent network and showing the result to shippers.“

For from April onwards and with their public access, shippers can see at any time via www.colo21.net, which carriers are offering groupage networks and what run times there are in individual countries. A forwarder can also let his shipper see the quality of his network via an Opex score. Opex stands for Operational Excellence. The Opex score is the result of an independent quality management system, where Colo21 checks each consignment in the system in real time to see whether and to what extent the services promised are delivered. The Opex score is specified as a value on a scale of one to five. The open access does not show what transporter a forwarder is working with, or what prices have been agreed. A shipper can only make freight agreements directly with a forwarder, and never directly with COLO21.

"The original function of E-Groupage was that carriers could set up flexible and quality-driven groupage networks without any risk and transporters could market spare transport capacity. With the shipper tool, E-Groupage now gives forwarders a free, unique marketing function", says Jörg Frommeyer, Chairman of the Management Board of Colo21 AG. "They can show existing and prospective customers what they have to offer and also how good they actually are.“

No fixed costs: only performance-based payment Presenting one’s own service on the E-Groupage platform is free of charge for all partners. "There are no fees for transport companies offering their services and none for forwarders showing their networks", explains Frommeyer. They only pay commission fees based on performance. Colo21 also looks after the clearing between the partners. "The commission costs are fixed from the outset and can therefore be clearly calculated." Colo21 assumes the delcredere risk. “The transport partners receive a credit note from us once they have delivered the shipment and sent proof of delivery”.

Goal for 2015 one million groupage consignments via E-Groupage "The target group for E-Groupage is mainly small and medium-sized forwarding agencies and forwarding companies and also forwarding partner networks," says Frommeyer. "With E-Groupage these partnerships can expand their offer to other specific countries, or act in their home market as transit or distribution partner." The company is confident it will be brokering one million shipments with E-Groupage by 2015.  

About Colo21

COLO21 AG develops and operates innovative, Internet-based forwarding solutions. The aim is to establish new business models for developing logistics chains with which customers can increase their quality and profitability. COLO21 offers its services exclusively to forwarding agencies and transport companies. The company is based in Ulm and was founded in early 2014 by Jörg Frommeyer and André Probst, who also make up the Executive Board. They are supported by a team of IT professionals for the development of applications as well as logistics engineers for process management. Through its cooperation with the University of Ulm COLO21 has access to the latest technological developments.

The supervisory board of the company is made up of three members: Dr Ulrich Müller-Steinfahrt (Chairman), professor for logistics and supply chain management at the University of Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Dr Reinhold von Schwerin (Deputy Chairman), professor for computer science at the University of Ulm and director of the Steinbeis Consulting Centre "Analytical Consulting, Engineering and Software", and Dr Paul Wittenbrink, professor for transportation and logistics at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in Lörrach. Colo21 is an abbreviation for "Co-Loading in the 21st century". For further information, please visit www.colo21.com.  

Background: how E-Groupage works

The IT platform E-Groupage operates like a car sharing agency where passengers choose drivers according on their price-performance ratio. It brings together forwarders looking for transport capacity (sending partners, SP) and carriers offering capacity in the groupage business (transit partners, TP, or distribution partners, DP). The system features several distinctive traits. "We work as a neutral intermediary and the service is only available for transportation service providers," says Frommeyer. "Original shippers are able to see the offers of an SP, but can not connect to any TP or DP." A concrete mediation works as follows: Via browser an SP chooses from the E-Groupage platform specific companies that take over linehaul or distribution for a specific groupage shipment. The transport partners have previously filled in an electronic form and, in addition to their corporate data, they have entered, for example, on which routes they have how much capacity when, and at what prices they can carry in what period of time. "The system automatically converts this into a business card with attached performance specifications, which is posted on the E-Groupage website for free." If an SP in the E-Groupage system sends a request for cooperation to a TP or DP, these may reject the request at any time. In this case, the SP does not get to see the prices and quality commitments made by the TP or DP. "E-Groupage is not an anonymous platform: our partners always know who they are working with," says Frommeyer. If a TP or DP has basically nothing against the contact, they must actively consent to the cooperation and thus give the SP access to his offer. "Only then can the SP ask whether TP or DP can accept a concrete consignment. If the transport partner agrees, the contract is concluded.“

Innovative smartphone app enables real-time GPS-based shipment tracking Forwarding companies have two options to document the transfer of liability and as basis for quality control. Either they use their own system of scanning at every interface, and then provide the information to E-Groupage, or they use the smartphone application ColoTrace developed by Colo21. For the latter, all they need is an Internet connection and a driver with an Android mobile phone. The driver simply downloads the free app from the Google Store and is then ready for use. For each consignment the dispatcher loads a ColoTrace ID number from the system. He links his consignment with the respective ID number and sends the consignment order to the driver's ColoTrace App. The driver scans the consignment on takeover with the application and then automatically leaves a clearly defined track in the E-Groupage system until delivery has been made. The position of the mobile phone linked to the consignment is automatically retrieved every five minutes by the system and displayed to the dispatcher. "He can accurately locate the shipment on Google Maps when needed and even share this information with his client," explains Frommeyer. This system is also available to users without regular fixed costs. The dispatchers buy ColoTraces packs - just like when you top up a prepaid cell phone. Depending on the number of purchased ColoTraces the price per shipment varies between 10 and 30 cents. "This will also allow small businesses without a large in-house IT infrastructure to participate in E-Groupage and to offer 100 percent transparency and security without investment in own IT."   Solving the problem of critical mass For the sending partners E-Groupage also means that they can build up a groupage network independently from the problem of critical mass. While conventional forwarding systems are only profitable from a certain volume on to ensure minimum utilisation of hubs, linehauls, pick-up and delivery tours, this system can be used profitably by hauliers for even one single pallet. "Before you accept the forwarding order from the shipper, with E-Groupage you will know in a few minutes, if, when, at what cost which carriers will handle the consignment," says Frommeyer.