Technology Briefs - July 6 - July 10
The Latest Headlines:
- Schneider Adds Net Exchange to Procurement System
- Stonier Revenues Up 60% in 2Q
- N.M. to Fund Job Training for Fuel Generation
- Struggling Tech Companies Lead Job Cutters
- Mitsubishi Working on Aluminum Truck Chassis
- Stonier Revenues Up 60% in 2Q
Schneider Adds Net Exchange to Procurement System
Schneider Logistics has selected Net Exchange for part of its transportation procurement system, called SUMIT CVA, the company said Monday.The system, the press release said, is aimed at giving shippers a strategic approach to low-cost, long-term freight contracts.
Net Exchange's framework, the release said, lets shippers benefit from a multi-round auction in which carriers bid on the business by dynamically revising price and service lane combinations to match the shipper's needs.
Schneider Logistics is a subsidiary of Schneider National, which ranks No. 6 on the Transport Topics list of 100 largest trucking companies. Transport Topics
(Click here for the press release.)
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Stonier Revenues Up 60% in 2Q
Stonier Transportation Group, based in Jacksonville, Fla., posted second-quarter revenues of $15.5 million, up 60% from the same period last year, the company announced Monday.Stonier, a privately held company, does not disclose earnings. However, a spokesman told Transport Topics profits in the quarter rose faster than revenues.
Stonier is a freight forwarder and transportation management provider.
Thomas Piatex, president and chief executive officer, credited intermodal growth with most of the improvement, noting that the company and its rail and truck partners are handling nearly 250 loads each week.
In the first six months of the year, Stonier, reported revenues of $28 million, up 45% from last year. Transport Topics
N.M. to Fund Job Training for Fuel Generation
The New Mexico Industrial Development Board on Monday awarded $130,470 to Mesofuel Inc., a company formed to build systems that generate hydrogen gas from natural gas and other hydrocarbon fuels.The funds, the company said, are for job training.
Ned Godshall, chief executive officer and a founder of Mesofuel, said the hydrogen fuel cell market is expected to undergo tremendous growth in the near future.
“The hydrogen economy, “ Godsall said, “is widely considered to be key to solving future worldwide energy demands.”
Mesofuel, focused on introducing low-cost hydrogen generators, can make hydrogen fuel, which can be used by a wide variety of engines, including those that power trucks, more widely available. Transport Topics
(Click here for the press release.)
Struggling Tech Companies Lead Job Cutters
One-third of all U.S. job cuts announced in the first half of 2002 came from technology companies, the Associated Press reported Monday.As trucking becomes more and more dependent upon technology for elements of the business ranging from maintenance to logisitics, the fortunes of technology companies have become more important to truckers.
Technology companies have cut 243,200 of the 735,527 total jobs lost in all industries since January, according to a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.
Although the number of tech job cuts is down 23% from last year, technology's share of the total is nearly on track with last year's pace.
The computer industry saw its announced cuts in the first six months almost 26% below last year, although it did see a dramatic surge in the second quarter.
Most stock market analysts see little chance of a rebound in telecom before 2004, AP said. Transport Topics
Mitsubishi Working on Aluminum Truck Chassis
Japan's fourth-largest automaker said it is working on a new "large-sized" truck chassis made of aluminum, Bloomberg reported Monday.Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is developing a new chassis that would make a truck lighter, thus increasing fuel efficiency, Bloomberg said.
Truck makers in Japan are boosting their spending on research and development, hoping to increase fuel efficiency before new diesel emissions standards go into effect in that country in 2005, Bloomberg reported. Japan is looking for a 70% reduction in particulate emissions in three years.
DaimlerChrysler AG owns 37% of Mitsubishi. The company is also working on an aluminum bed for a truck and is planning to mass produce its aluminum truck to offset the increased cost of replacing steel with aluminum, Bloomberg said. Transport Topics
