P.M. Executive Briefing - Aug. 8

Emery Worldwide, Pilots Renew Contract Talks In Attempt To Avert Strike

Contract talks have gone on for more than 27 months, with no success. Emery is now facing a Thursday deadline to respond to a request to go to arbitration, the union told Bloomberg. Emery's pilots last month voted to authorize a strike if negotiations fail. Transport Topics

Charleston, Savannah Ports Battle For Shippers

Charleston was the third-largest U.S. container port in 1999 and Savannah, which handles a little more than half the container freight volume Charleston does, was ninth.

Environmentalists expressed concern that the shipping wars between the two ports would lead each to advocate for deeper navigational channels, which would harm local wildlife, the article added. Transport Topics

New Emission Requirements For Trucks In California Nears A Vote

The committee, according to the Sacramento Business Journal, drew up the plan that calls for soot traps being installed on all diesel powered commercial trucks. Reducing diesel particulate emissions by 75% in 2010 and by 85% in 2020 could mean a cost of $1,900 to $9,500 per truck for retrofitting, the Business Journal reported. The entire board is scheduled to vote on the proposal at its Sept. 28 meeting.

Although diesel emission reduction has become a hot issue as of late, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported Monday that air quality in the nation continues to improve. Among the major pollutants to show a reduction in the past 10 years are soot concentrations, down 18%, and sulfur dioxide concentrations, down 36%. Transport Topics

Hub Group, Cysive Inc. Put New Shipment Tracking System On Net

Hub Group customers will now have the option of accessing their accounts online and viewing the status of shipments, reducing the need for telephone or fax usage. The company said it intends to increase its Web-based offerings in the near future. Transport Topics

LoadFone Will Allow Drivers To Find Loads Via Wireless Web

LoadFone will allow truck drivers to search in more than 60,000 cities across the United States for freight using Web-enabled cell phones, the company said.

"Our goal is to give the over-the-road trucker the advantage of choosing from tens of thousands of loads, where he does business, without the requirement of a laptop and a modem connection; without pumping money into a kiosk – and without deadheading to one of the relatively few truckstops with a load monitor," said LoadSource President Brian Johnson. Transport Topics

National InterBank Launches On-Line Banking For Truckers Through PNV.com

Through this service, called PNV Personal Banker, drivers will be able to:

• pay bills
• transfer funds
• receive PNV credit and debit cards for purchasing products on-line and off, and
• receive no-fee, high-interest checking and savings with no minimum balance.

Nuclio Will Manage FreightWise E-Marketplace

Nuclio, a management service provider, will provide monitoring, tracking and site management for FreightWise, the company said.

FreightWise is an on-line marketplace for buyers and sellers to connect for their transportation needs, such as matching and tracking loads. Transport Topics

Study Shows Cargo Port Could Be Profitable In Providence, R.I. Area

The study is part of a state strategic planning process that looks to create a master plan for Quonset Davisville Port and Commerce Park, according to the article.

Part of this plan would include a container facility – 110 acres in size, made to handle approximately 410,000 TEUs per year – the article said. Transport Topics