News Briefs - Oct. 18
The Latest Headlines:
- NPTC, NCSTS Join ATA in Support of Unified Carrier Registration
- USF to Sell Forwarding Companies
- Intermodal Recovering After Dock Shutdown
- S&P Boosts Outlook for J.B. Hunt
- Natso Names Fay President
- Target Logistics Continues Expansion
- USF to Sell Forwarding Companies
NPTC, NCSTS Join ATA in Support of Unified Carrier Registration
Three major trucking groups have joined in support of a proposal to replace the current Single State Registration System with Unified Carrier Registration.They are the National Private Truck Council, the National Conference of State Transportation Specialists, and American Trucking Associations
The legislative proposal, drafted by an ATA Subcommittee, provides replacement revenue for all currently participating SSRS states and provides an allocation for non-participating states. It also includes provisions for a single, federal online system merging all federal and state motor carrier registration and information systems. Transport Topics
USF to Sell Forwarding Companies
USFreightways Corp. said Thursday that GPS Logistics, Inc. and Seko Worldwide Acquisition LLC will acquire its freight forwarding subsidiaries.USF said it will unload USF Worldwide Inc. and USF Worldwide Logistics Ltd. on or before Oct. 31 for an undisclosed sum and focus on other aspects of its business.
"This agreement will free USFreightways to concentrate on the growth and profitability of its core less-than-truckload, truckload and logistics operations," said Samuel K. Skinner, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the company.
Based in Chicago, U.S. Freightways is ranked No. 8 in the Transport Topics listing of the 100 largest trucking companies in the United States and Canada. Transport Topics
(Click here for the press release.)
Intermodal Recovering After Dock Shutdown
Rail intermodal volume began to pick up in the week ended Oct. 12, as cargo began to flow from the previously locked down West Coast docks, the Association of American Railroads reported.Intermodal is the segment of the railroad business most directly competitive with long-haul trucking.
Trailers and containers loaded during the week totaled 151,826, which was down 18.5% from the 186,402 loaded in 2001, but 13% up from previous week this year.
For the first 41 weeks of the year, total intermodal loadings came to 7,315,487, which was 3.08% above the 7,047,943 loaded the previous year. Transport Topics
S&P Boosts Outlook for J.B. Hunt
Debt-rating service Standard & Poor's said Oct. 16 it increased its outlook on truckload carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services to "stable" from "negative".The S&P ratings change took place the day after Hunt reported sharply increased earnings for the third quarter. An analyst for the ratings service said Hunt was doing better "despite the weak economy." Transport Topics
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Natso Names Fay President
Natso, the trade association for travel plazas and truck stops, named William Fay its next president, effective in December. He replaces Dewey Clower, Natso's president of 15 years, who is retiring at the end of the year.Fay currently heads the American Highway Users Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy organization that promotes the interests of highway users. Coalition members include
American Trucking Associations, as well as some individual transportation companies and truck manufacturers. Eric Kulisch
Target Logistics Continues Expansion
Target Logistics Inc. announced Oct. 15 that it acquired Cassady Air Transportation Inc., a freight forwarder serving the Columbus, Ohio area.Cassady is the third freight forwarder acquired by Target this year, and is expected to add about $4 million in annual revenues.
Baltimore-based Target concentrates on cargo shipments weighing more than 50 pounds and generally requiring second-day delivery. Eric Kulisch
