the most effective and economical way to export …
There are many factors involved when shipping heavy machinery. A key factor is from where its being shipped and where it s going. Countries have different regulations for all types of machineries and at Interworld Freight we specialize in all export procedures of heavy construction, industrial and farm equipment from the United States and Canada to most international destinations. We ship Tractors, Bob Cats, Crawlers, Loaders, Fork Lifts, Excavators, John Deer, Bulldozers, motor grader, rough terrain cranes and any construction machinery that exists.
Shipping heavy machinery can be done in three different ways:
Break bulk: Roll on and roll off machine into the ship. Once this unit is loaded it s strapped and braced into the ship s deck.
Dismantle machine inside a container: Dismantle machine (very important we do not cut). Unit its unscrewed from the parts in order when it arrives at destination it will be easy to put back in place.
Out of gauge containers: Machine loaded into flat rack, it is secured and braced with a tarp on top in order for unit does not get ruined.
We also offer these units to be moved door to port. We have economical inland freight that is safe, secure and very efficient.
Due to these machines being very expensive we always recommend to insure all shipments on a door to door basis.
If you need any other information, please do not hesitate to contact us. It will be a pleasure to answer any questions.
New European Airfreight Security Rules 'known shipper …
The 29th April, 2013 sees new rules on export airfreight take effect in Europe. Although specific to Denmark to start with, these changes are EU policy and, as such, will be rolled out all over Europe.
From the 29th April shippers will need to be registered in the Known Shippers EU database in order to send secured cargo from Denmark. Overseen by the national transport authorities, cargo will be x-rayed or manually checked at the airport if the shipper is not in the Known Shippers database.
Consolidated shipments
In the case of a consolidated shipment containing a mix of Known and Unknown shippers, the entire shipment will be x-rayed at the airport.
Deadlines and delays
Handling companies don t expect this change to cause any delays delivery deadlines remain the same but no guarantees are being given.
X-ray specifics
Normal x-ray machines measure 180 x 180cm. Larger cargo will be inspected manually and, if cargo is not crated or packed to allow easy inspection, delays can be expected.
For more information please talk to our experienced and knowledgable staff1.
References
- ^ talk to our experienced and knowledgable staff (www.icecargo.com.au)
Uncle Dicks Diary 21st April 1969
As I am the lucky keeper of Uncle Dicks 1969 diary, here s today s entry from back then Yes Dick Snow of Astran / Middle East run fame! Left Lebring (Austria) and arrived at Spiefeld at 1030
Crossed border into Jugoslavia and parked up waiting for Belgian drivers
Hope they are going to arrive by Wednesday (23rd April) latest
Had shorts on today
You can also find Uncle Dicks diary in Ashley Coghills awesome Astran book, The Long Haul Pioneers
Click HERE to order your copy now!
Full-time Controller Import/Export at Grindrod Limited | South Africa …
Location: Pretoria
Publish Date: 15-04-2013
Expiry Date: 2013-04-29
Description:
Job Title: Controller- Import/Export
REF: GIM/JL/Controller- Import/Export/Pretoria/120413
Recruiter: Grindrod Limited
AA/EE: Not Applicable Contract Permanent
Location: Pretoria Available: ASAP
Category: Freight / Shipping / Transport / Import / Export Basic salary range: TBA
Reporting To: Supervisor-Operations Department: N/A
Division: Grindrod (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd Grindrod Intermodal Positions: 1
Introduction
GIM, a division of Grindrod (SA) (Pty) Ltd is looking to secure the permanent services of a Controller-Import/Export in its Transport division in Pretoria.The successful candidate will be responsible for the processing of all operational and administrative functions associated with the transportation of import, export and domestic containers on behalf of customers in accordance with requirements.
Minimum Requirements
Grade 12.
Valid code 8 drivers licence.
Fully computer literate.
2 year s experience in a freight handling and logistics environment.
Good knowledge of TPT and TFR terminal operations, as well as their tariffs and rules.
Administrative abilities with particular emphasis on accurate invoicing
Ability to communicate at all levels.
Ability to work under pressure.
Job Specification
Customer Care
Serving customers and fellow employees with respect, understanding and commitment to achieve service excellence.
Responding courteously and immediately to customer queries and requests.
Ensuring that the quality rendered is of the highest standard at all times and to appreciate that work of substandard quality is unacceptable.
Movement Planning
Vessel ETA and Stack Date Schedules
Reviewing daily ETA and berthing details schedule sent from the Supervisor-Operations and noting changes reflected thereon.
Import Rail Lists
Based on the vessels ETA, progresses the receipt of vessels rail list with the Supervisor-Operations and ensuring that the same is received by no
later than the vessels arrival at the Port.
Opening of Vessel Files
Opening of vessel files based on information received by capturing list details onto CCTS.
Ensuring that import vessel files are opened.
Amendments to Rail Lists
Ensuring that action is taken on changes made to import rail lists on receipt of re-direction requests, changes in transport mode from rail to road and split groupages by informing the respective GIM office at the coast and updating CCTS. Similarly, changes made to coastal manifested containers, re-directed inland, must be updated on CCTS.
Receipt of Movement Instructions
Receiving movement instructions from customers for a specific vessel, consolidate and issue written confirmation of receipt by 15h00 daily.
Checking of movement instructions to ensure that all information necessary to proceed with operations is furnished. This will include data such as mass, container size and type, pack/unpack locations, IMCO and UN numbers if applicable, OOG dimensions etc. Progressing discrepancies in writing with customers and keeping the Supervisor-Operations advised at all times.
Ensuring that the cartage zones declared on the MI is correct, providing immediate written notification to customers when discrepancies are identified.
Receiving daily confirmation of cartage capacity from the Supervisor-Operations and planning delivery request accordingly. Referring problem requests to the Supervisor-Operations for progress and resolution.
Contacting importers and confirming delivery date and time as well as delivery addresses.
Consolidating all urgent import rail requests received from customers and issuing to the Supervisor-Operations for progress and resolution with the respective GIM office at the coastal Port of discharge.
Taking action on all long distance cartage requests by consolidating requests and handing over to the Supervisor-Operations for progress and resolutions. Following up on progress with the Supervisor-Operations.
In the case of export containers, contacting the empty release depot provided by the customer and confirming their receipt of release instructions and the availability of containers.
Processing permit applications for all LDR containers and presenting to TFR for acceptance. In instances where rail permits are rejected, providing written confirmation to customers detailing reasons. Seeking authority to rail such containers under shippers risk conditions . Where permits are issued, inform customers of permit details eg: railage dates for empty and full containers.
On receipt of imbalance and repositioning instructions from customers, discuss triangulation options as well as train requirements with the Supervisor-Operations. Assisting the Supervisor-Operations when required and ensuring that the Supervisor-Operations is updated immediately when changes occur.
In instances where empty containers for imbalance and repositioning are allocated from depots with rail sidings, contact the rail siding holder and attempts to secure siding railage.
Movement Documentation
Based on all the information received, update CCTS and produce movement orders in accordance with the supplier s requirements for the respective move types.
Updating the documentation register and handing over to the Clerk- Documentation for lodging with the respective supplier in accordance with their stipulated deadlines.
Obtaining processed documents from the service providers and distributing to the cartage department or rail terminals for planning purposes.
Ensuring that uncleared containers are documented and lodged with TFR, prior to arrival at inland terminals.
Obtaining planned documents from the suppliers via the Clerk-Documentation duly authorised and returned on CCTS and distribute to the cartage department.
Ensuring that copies of orders produced are retained on file for reference purposes. Providing immediate notification to the Supervisor-Operations in instances where authorised orders are lost, for progress and resolutions.
Based on instructions received from the Supervisor-Operations regarding long distance cartage moves, updating CCTS and providing written requests to the respective GIM office at the coastal port of load/discharge to produce and lodge ctos with TPT.
Action merchant haulage CTO s by confirming booking with the Shipping line, and issuing release authority by stamping orders presented with respective lines stamp. Retaining a copy of such documents on file for reference purposes.
Movement Monitoring
Monitoring the arrival of import containers at inland terminals by checking the daily train arrival schedules, identifying containers under the department s control, and updating CCTS with container arrival date.
Monitoring the arrival of export containers at inland terminal by processing computer enquires with TFR, reviewing daily gate in schedule or obtaining a copy of the POD from the cartage department.
Monitoring the turn in of empty containers by processing enquiries on CCTS. In instances where such tracking events are not updated by the cartage department, progressing and resolving with them or contacting the nominated turn in location to verify turn-in. Reporting all instances where empty containers are not turned in within 48 hours of delivery, to the Supervisor-Operations for progress. Where it is discovered that the customer is responsible for delays, inform the Supervisor-Operations and provide written notification to customers, with details of applicable costs.
Discussing all negative circumstances that impacts on customer s service delivery expectations, with the Supervisor-Operations and act in accordance within guidelines provided. Events that falls into this category include, strikes, de-railment, vehicle breakdowns, seal discrepancies, hijacks etc.
Producing daily tracking reports from CCTS and forwarding to customers.
Monitoring the dispatch of containers to outlying stations, and costal ports/ berths by reviewing the daily train dispatch schedules, identifying containers under the departments control and updating tracking events on CCTS.
Monitoring the arrival and stacking of all export containers emanating from inland/overborder destination by verifying seal details against RIB entries,processing entry permits and FTOs with TFR.
General Operations
Assisting the Supervisor-Operations in resolving customer complaints by investigating and providing accurate details. Observing corrective action implemented by the Supervisor-Operations to prevent recurrence.
Discussing general operational problems with the Supervisor-Operations and action in accordance with guidance.
Participating in all training programs initiated by the company.
On closing of vessels export stack, reconcile tracking log against final booking details, and identifying discrepancies. Progressing discrepancies with the customer in writing and following up until resolution is achieved.
Forwarding final vessels tracking log to GIM offices at the costal Port of load, prior to the arrival of the vessel.
Finance and Administration
Compiling volume statistics on a per vessel basis and issue to the Supervisor-Operations on closing of vessel files.
Observing all measures imposed in containing departmental overheads.
Discussing operational exceptions such as futile trips, amendments, cancellations, re-directions etc, with the supervision, on occurrence of such events and providing immediate written notification of event as well as costs to customers.
Reporting all non-recoverable costs incurred by completing the write off schedule, furnishing reasons and handing over to the Supervisor-Operations.
Observing all tariff adjustments identified by the Supervisor-Operations by internalizing details and applying correctly.
Producing cost confirmation schedules, issuing to the Supervisor-Operations for authorisation and dispatching to customers within the prescribed standards.
Based on the acceptance of the cost confirmations schedule by customers, produce invoices, check for accuracy, obtain authorisation from the Supervisor-Operations and forward to customers within prescribed deadlines. Obtaining confirmation of receipt.
Ensuring that costs associated with operational exceptions are also expeditiously invoiced to customers.
Assisting the Supervisor-Operations in ensuring that customers invoicing queries are resolved within 48 hours of receipt. Observing all procedures implemented in preventing repeat of errors incurred.
Assisting the Supervisor-Operations in resolving overcharge claims by ensuring that all details are thoroughly checked and investigated .Responding to the Supervisor-Operations within set deadlines.
Ensuring that all filing is done timeously.
Information Systems
Providing immediate notification of all malfunctions with the CCTS System to the Supervisor-Operations and logs events on his/her instructions.
Following up with the Supervisor-Operations until the resolution to the problem is achieved.
Communications/Liaisons/Meetings
Attend the following meetings:
Department Meeting weekly.
Ad hoc meetings with customers.
Ad hoc meetings with suppliers.
Should you not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, kindly consider your application to be unsuccessful.
Appointments will be in line with the company s EE Strategy.
To Apply:
http://grindrod.pnet.co.za/index.php?s=advert_view&g=4749&x=2852265&i=801&pop=1
Deadline: 29th April 2013
Los Al Outlines Concerns About Proposed Trucking Center in Cypress
Traffic, road damage and air pollution top the list of troubles that Los Alamitos officials worry a proposed 33-acre Cypress truck complex could bring to the city
Recently the Los Alamitos City Council voted 5-0 to oppose the development1. The 33-acre warehousing and light manufacturing site that industrial developer Prologis2 proposed for the corner of Enterprise and Katella will have significant environmental and human health impacts on the surrounding community, according to a letter from Los Alamitos to the Cypress.
And city officials want Cypress to address those issues in a draft report Cypress is preparing on project’s potential effects.
To read the letter in full, click the pdf under the picture on the right.
According to the letter, officials are concerned that the 134 truck bays could generate up to 1,131 trips in the morning hours and 1,080 in peak hours which would shorten the pavement life of local streets and increase traffic times.
City staffers were also concerned about the project s effect on air quality, especially because the site would be so close to Laurel Park (.62 miles away), the Los Alamitos Medical Center (.75 miles away) and the Alamitos West Care Center (.62 miles away). The last day to submit comments on the upcoming draft report is Wednesday.
At a recent meeting aimed at collecting comment on the project3 Garden Grove, Los Alamitos and Cypress residents said the project would increase traffic, damage streets and increase health risks, especially for children.
Because of the impact on local residents and because of the residents objections, Los Alamitos Mayor Warren Kusumoto said there s no amount of money the developer could pay the city to make him OK with the project.
We don t want their money, Kusumoto said.
The Los Al letter lists other concerns. The project would force traffic onto Midway and Enterprise and interfere with the commute for students and parents who use Katella to get to school, according to the letter.
Of the about 21 people who spoke on the issue at a Monday Cypress City Council meeting, most were against it, said Doug Hawkins, Cypress planning manager. He said most were also concerned with three main issues: noise, traffic and pollution.
Residents from Los Al and Cypress packed the council chamber occasionally yelling during the meeting, said those who attended the meeting. Cypress Mayor Prakash Narain, M.D., could not be reached for comment.
According to Hawkins, Assemblyman Travis Allen s district director Emanuel Patrascu spoke in support of the project at the meeting. However, Patrascu later clarified that the assemblyman did not approve or support the project but supported the goal of economic development.
He s supporting the process involved, Patrascu said. From what I ve seen of it, it s not what I would consider a truck stop.
Patrascu added that “a truck stop is usually a place where trucks stop, heavy amount of trucks coming through and stopping over night. Patrascu said he doesn t believe this project is a truck stop.
The Assemblyman wants to see what the final project looks like before deciding whether he’s in favor or against, Patrascu said.
The last day to submit comments by email, phone, fax or hand delivery before city staff begin drafting the EIR is April 10.
Emails can be sent to33acreproject@ci.cypress.ca.us, the phone number is 714 229-6720 and the fax number is 714-229-0154. For mail, address letters to the City of Cypress, Community Development Department, 5175 Orange Avenue Cypress, California, Attention Mr. Douglas Hawkins AICP, Planning Manager.
Stay Patched in! Check out some of Los Alamitos, Rossmoor and Seal Beach’s other top stories here. | Like Los Alamitos Patch on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter and sign up for the daily email with links to the latest local news.4567
References
- ^ Recently the Los Alamitos City Council voted 5-0 to oppose the development (losalamitos.patch.com)
- ^ Prologis (www.prologis.com)
- ^ At a recent meeting aimed at collecting comment on the project (losalamitos.patch.com)
- ^ other top stories here (losalamitos.patch.com)
- ^ Facebook (www.facebook.com)
- ^ Twitter (twitter.com)
- ^ daily email (losalamitos.patch.com)
Dar to host international freight forwarders conference – In2EastAfrica
Tanzania has won the bid to host an international conference for freight forwarders scheduled for June 19 21, this year.
Mr Stephen Ngatunga
The Chairman of the organising committee for the International Federation of Freight Forwarders (FIATA) Africa and Middle East Region, Mr Stephen Ngatunga said on Thursday that the meeting would see over 300 senior clearing agents and forwarders converging in the country.
As TAFFA, we are delighted to have won the bid to host the RAME conference this year, after battling for the opportunity for the past two years, he said. Mr Ngatunga said that the con- ference will bring together freight forwarders and businesspeople in both Tanzania1, Africa and the Middle East.
He said that freight forwarders were an essential component to the growth of any economy and that the conference would be a good platform to network. This conference also provides an avenue for port authorities to promote themselves and to erase the previous image of being places where cargo is lost, he said.
FIATA is an NGO representing an industry covering about 40,000 forwarding and logistics firms employing over 10 million people in 150 countries. The theme for the conference is Towards more sustainable regional freight forwarding partnerships.
Mr Ngatunga said that the conference will also serve as a tourism opportunity where delegates will get to visit the Serengeti National Park, Zanzibar2 and Mt Kilimanjaro. The conference comes at a time when Tanzania is embarking on an expansion and modernisation of ports and railways, he said, citing that there were vast opportunities for business growth to be unlocked.
The TAFFA Vice-President, Mr Edward Urio, said that though there were still a number of challenges needed to be addressed at the ports, they approved the efforts being made by the ministry of transport.
Mr Urio said that there was a time when containers carrying medicines, canned milk and vitenges as well as car parts would get lost, but this has considerably dropped. TAFFA regulates, monitors, controls and coordinates the freight forwarding industry in the country and acts as a mouthpiece for members who are licensed forwarding companies, individuals and institutions.
In December 2012, there were more than 500 companies who are licensed by TRA to practise clearing and for- warding in the country.
By MASEMBE TAMBWE, Tanzania Daily News3
Do you have a story or an article to publish? Please email us to submit@in2eastafrica.net4.
References
- ^ Tanzania (in2eastafrica.net)
- ^ Zanzibar (in2eastafrica.net)
- ^ Tanzania Daily News (dailynews.co.tz)
- ^ submit@in2eastafrica.net (in2eastafrica.net)
The Trucking Network SNOW PLOWS Sharing the Road!
Winter is still very much a part of work particularly in our cross-country travel in Canada and the United States. Flash freezing, ice rain, sudden lake effect snow squalls and Arctic air masses are reminding us of the fact we cannot control the weather. And although we are assured of spring in the next few weeks let s remember the chain-up season can extend until April 30th in some parts of our travel area! So along with weather will appear road maintenance equipment of all types. Let s remember how to share the road with them.
Every year it seems there are concerns brought to our attention by winter highway maintenance crews particularly in the northern Ontario, two lane Trans-Canada Highway region. The concerns are directed toward the truck traffic interaction with the winter maintenance equipment sharing the public highways. It seems a serious lack of consideration for the safety of the snow plow operators and the rest of the motoring public is evident by the behavior displayed by some commercial vehicle operators.
The industry believes in a good working relationship with the enforcement community. After all, we share similar interests in public safety. I am a member of the Highway Safety and Education Committee established in the Thunder Bay district which is made up of industry stakeholders in public safety. Concerned citizens such as enforcement personnel, Ministry of Transportation, Insurance representatives and transportation community members meet to discuss educational tactics for improving safe travel. As such; we are privileged from time to time to receive courtesy calls from members and enforcement regarding commercial driving safety related matters as well as positive reinforcement for our professional drivers. This courtesy affords the opportunity to deal appropriately with safety concerns in a timely fashion.
On one such occasion this winter, the Ontario Provincial Police courtesy caller relayed concerns regarding SEVERAL trucks needlessly passing and crowding snow plow efforts whereby causing an off duty officer and his family undue anxiety during their travels on highway # 17. On his trip from northern Ontario to Ottawa, the off duty officer noted transport trucks behaving dangerously when traveling at the same time as the snow removal equipment. In their haste to get ahead of the snow plows some trucks were taking chances with limited visibility and on-coming traffic! More than once the off duty officer moved to the shoulder and prepared to stop or simply stopped because he feared the worst! Several trucking companies traveling the shared highway throughout the course of that day were guilty of pushing the limits! The officer recorded truck numbers, company names, times and locations (various) before passing the information to his office. His concern was for the general public and the highway maintenance equipment personnel trying to perform their jobs safely. OPP headquarters then contacted each company to deal with their part in this unsafe matter.
The puzzling aspect to this type of (dangerous) behaviour is; considering the highway maintenance personnel are working to better the road conditions as quickly as possible why would any road user want to cause disruption to that effort? Let s not forget the high risk associated with passing highway snow removal equipment during poor weather conditions! It doesn t take much for any vehicle to lose control but large commercial units crowding passenger cars and snow plows while jockeying for a pass position is a very dangerous activity! Such action is certain to raise the odds in favour of collision or loss of vehicle control!
Think about how you, the professional vehicle operator, would feel about being followed too closely with the lights blinding you in the mirrors. Imagine the sheer anxiety of being pushed along by another heavy highway vehicle and how disconcerting it is when being passed in a poor visibility situation. We hear this exact complaint of other road users from fleet drivers often enough. Let s think about the plow operator enduring the same conditions. I am sure he or she has some tense moments when oncoming traffic appears while other vehicles are attempting to pass their snow plow!
Certainly the plow operators have their plates full concentrating on moving the snow safely out of the travel lanes while keeping the guardrails intact (never mind the grief you give them if they take out your mailbox)! Let s give them consideration. If these folks don t clear the snow or spread the salt and sand on our highways, vehicular travel would be next to impossible in the winter months. Just how much difference in your ETA do you think it would make if you follow the snow plows until they have completed their contracted portion of the clearing instead of taking a chance and passing them? I can guarantee there is far less time lost in following the highway maintenance equipment along at a safe speed and distance than there would be required to pull upright or untangle your unit if it lands in the ditch!
Every professional transport operator must live up to the responsibility of maintaining a safe operating environment for all road users, first and foremost. Transport trucks can be very intimidating to passenger vehicles, particularly in poor weather conditions. Swirling snow from trucks passing and slush being hurled on windshields can make for some anxious moments of zero visibility for passenger vehicles! In a collision with an oncoming truck, passenger vehicles do not stand a chance!
So the next time you join that lineup behind the essential snow plow remember, the professional in charge of that winter maintenance equipment with the flashing blue light is only trying to make the highway passable for all users. It becomes a dangerous venture for all concerned if you decide to push your way into the oncoming lane just so you can hurry through the lousy conditions ahead of everyone. You can move along a LOT safer with the plow in front of you and certainly much safer once it has cleared the roadway!
As representatives of the transportation industry it is important for us to appreciate the diligence of the winter maintenance crews, treat them with respect and be thankful for their efforts! Without them clearing the roadway, our job of providing safe and efficient transportation services would be next to impossible.
Written By: Dave RyansfordDirector Safety & ComplianceQuickX Transportation
Should I Insure My Shipment? | Import Export Sea Air Freight LCL …
It is always recommended that you insure your shipment(s), but the reality is that you need to consider the value of the goods, the cost of insurance, the risk involved, and any excess charges or restrictions that might apply.
If you are a business, and you are doing multiple transactions, then you should discuss this with your insurance broker who provides your other business insurance and check if your import or export transactions are included as well.
Failing that, you can get an individual policy for each shipment; but this will always work out more expensive than if your shipments are just part of your annual business insurance, or you have taken out an annual policy to cover your shipping.
For import shipments, you are responsible for insuring your shipments if they are ex works (EXW), FOB or CNF. If the shipment is CIF, then you should ask for your supplier to send you a copy of the insurance policy that covers each shipment.
For export consignments, theoretically the reverse is true. But, just consider your exposure.
A friend of mine is exporting containers on an FOB basis; so theoretically his customer is arranging for insurance on the goods. But once, one of his containers arrived at the destination, and the consignee rejected the goods (for whatever reason); so, the exporter was stuck with a container load of product (that he had already paid for) in another country, for which he then had to try to find another buyer (at a hugely discounted price) or have the cargo destroyed at his expense. So, even though the importer was technically responsible for insuring the goods, the end result is that by him not doing so, it cost him a small fortune. All of which could easily have been avoided had he insured the goods in the first place. Now, regardless of the terms of sale, this exporter insures all of his shipments.
Insurance of personal effects is something that comes up regularly. If you pack the cartons or container yourself, then you will only be able to insure your goods for total loss. Breakage or damage or theft will never be included in this case. International removalist companies may offer this as an option if you were to utilise their services on a door to door basis, but you should check.
Tags:Freight insurance1,sea cargo insurance2,why do I need insurance3
Tags: Freight insurance, sea cargo insurance, why do I need insurance456
References
- ^ Freight insurance (www.sydneyinternationalfreight.com.au)
- ^ sea cargo insurance (www.sydneyinternationalfreight.com.au)
- ^ why do I need insurance (www.sydneyinternationalfreight.com.au)
- ^ Freight insurance (www.sydneyinternationalfreight.com.au)
- ^ sea cargo insurance (www.sydneyinternationalfreight.com.au)
- ^ why do I need insurance (www.sydneyinternationalfreight.com.au)
GA Trucking Co. Closes Over Safety Issues
GA Trucking Co. Closes Over Safety Issues
ATLANTA, Ga. 
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000, and works to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries. (Photo courtesy: Adam via flickr)
Federal authorities have shut down an Atlanta-based trucking company, saying the firm failed to cooperate with safety investigators.
Southern Transportation Inc. received an order Friday forcing it to cease operations.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an arm of the U.S. Department of Transportation, says it shut down the trucking company because it failed to release copies of safety records. Authorities say the company also failed to ensure its employees comply with driver qualification requirements and failed to properly maintain its trucks.
A working phone number for Southern Transportation Inc. could not be located.
Another Atlanta trucking firm based at the same location as Southern Transportation was forced to shut down by the same agency last week due to safety concerns.
Maine's ports increase business, and biofuel companies gear up for …
Searsport: Windmill parts are unloaded because of state and federal funds that improved the port s infrastructure. Courtesy photo
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau s Foreign Trade Division, from 2000 through November 2010 Maine exports grew 56 percent. With the arrival of a new cargo shipping business to Portland, exports and imports are expected to increase.
To have a major business come to the city and to all of a sudden open up markets to businesses throughout the region, in ways that we haven t in the past, is what we worked for and hoped for, said Portland Mayor Michael Brennan.
Officials drive pillions for the port of Portland s infrastructure improvements in 09 federal grants and state bonds helped the project. Courtesy photo
Eimskip operates a fleet of 17 cargo ships in the North Atlantic and has begun to make port at the Portland International Marine Terminal every two weeks. Many small businesses can t afford to fly their goods overseas, and some have been forced to ship out of Boston. Now they can ship right here to markets in eastern Canada and Europe. Eimskip s import/export shipping service will open up markets to Maine businesses of all kinds.
The real opportunity I see here is for Maine businesses, said John Henshaw, executive director of the Maine Port Authority. It will make shipping cost-effective and open up entirely new markets. There s great opportunity for our seafood processors and agriculture sectors stemming from Eimskip s leadership in refrigerated container logistics.
If a small business only needs to ship a few pallets of goods or a lot of pallets, with Eimskip either are possible. The new availability of shipping a crate or two will encourage small business trade.
Mack Point, in Searsport Maine. The deepwater port s facilities have been enhanced with state, local and federal funds for bulk containers, storage, and to accommodate large ships. Courtesy photo
No other steamship line is servicing the area and hasn t for decades. While Eimskip, an Icelandic company, considered other ports in New England, it ultimately decided to move its North American operations from Norfolk, Virginia to Portland, Maine because of recent waterfront infrastructure improvements, the city s strong seafood and natural resource markets, and Portland s proximity to European ports.
We would have never come if it wasn t for this terminal, said Larus Isfeld, spokesman for Eimskip. His company expects to hire employees to support its Portland operations, and the new service may also create related jobs in trucking, railroads, and warehousing.
The announcement came after years of work by city officials, the Maine Port Authority, private companies, and state government. Former Governor John Baldacci s three-port transportation strategy enhanced the capabilities of Maine s three deepwater ports: Portland, Eastport, and Searsport. With voter-approved bond issues, these ports began capacity and infrastructure improvements; the Recovery Act then provided $14 million in additional funds. The funding also helped improve access to the pier and also improved cargo-handling capabilities.
Now companies like Eimskip can choose Maine over any other deepwater port to move goods and services.
We initiated a three-port strategy based upon these veins of economic development and traffic. We used the three major natural transportation routes that run through our 17 million acres of forestlands for our three-port strategy. The first in Northern Maine is serviced by Eastport. The second is the Millinocket Katahdin region serviced by Searsport, and the third is Portland, said Governor John Baldacci. We re perfectly situated for import and export opportunities. Maine is the portal to North America. In order to ship goods to North America from Europe, Maine is the most convenient entryway. Our ports are busy but not as congested as those in states to our south, and our workers are second to none. Now with the infrastructure improvements we have made, it s heartening to see that we are attracting international business.
Searsport has recently undergone a major reconstruction effort. The port received $7 million from the Recovery Act along with bond funding from the state for investments in a heavy-lift mobile harbor crane and cargo-handling equipment, which has increased import and export activities.
Maine Port Authority s willingness to support infrastructure improvements in our deepwater ports has allowed us to diversify into new product lines, including wind and biofuels, said Jim Therriault, vice president of marketing and materials handling for Sprague Energy.
Eastport, Maine, is looking forward to more companies using the port that has been enhanced with infrastructure improvements. In 2014 wood pellets will be added to their long list of exports being shipped.
Searsport principally imports liquid fuel and energy components. Ships laden with millions of barrels of petroleum and liquid bulk goods, road salt, gypsum rock, windmill components, and petroleum coke docked in Searsport s last year.
You can bring containers into Searsport where the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway meets and double-stack the containers, one on top of the other, and ship them all the way to Montreal. Containers could be shipped directly to Chicago and then on to the West Coast, said David Cole, former Maine Department of Transportation commissioner, in a previous Maine Insight s article. Cole helped integrate the changes to Maine s ports as part of the three-port strategy.
In addition, the Baldacci administration worked with train companies to extend rail services, hoping to move more goods shipped by rail and take more trucks off the roads, as the return for companies that ship by rail is greater than those that have to rely on trucks. One ton of goods can be shipped 500 miles on a gallon of diesel; by truck, it would take 83 gallons of diesel.
train on its way to tWaterville s intermodel facility has been enhanced. Photo by Ramona du Houx
Pan Am Railways is one such company that worked in partnership with the state. They helped bring the Amtrak Downeaster to Brunswick, as the company owns the tracks the train uses. In addition, improvements to Waterville s intermodal transportation facility were made, in part, with the partnership of Pan Am Railways.
Eimskip will partner with Pan Am Railways to offer cost-competitive access to North American markets.
We are very excited to be working so closely with Pan Am Railwaysthrough Portland, Maine, said Eimskip CEO Gylfi Sigf sson. Pan Am has been very helpful working with us to make this possible, and we believe that our work together is critical for success moving forward.
The potential of exporting wood biofuel energy products
In 2007 the Baldacci Administration began to encourage and highlight the potential of wood pellets as a homegrown sustainable energy source, so residents and businesses would diminish their use of oil, save funds, and help Maine s economy at home and with exporting the commodity.
Maine s natural resources have always been the bedrock of our economic growth. New innovative processes are helping to transition traditional industries for a new era, adding value to our sustainable resources, which is key for our economic development. We once fueled our mills with energy from hydropower; now some mills are creating biofuels that are bringing energy costs down and growing good jobs in our rural communities, said former Governor Baldacci.
Pan Am Railroad s CEO Peter Finch, and state officials with Governor John Baldcci in the center, cut the ribbon for rail improvements in Lewiston, which were partially funded by bonds. Photo by Ramona du Houx
All of Maine s deepwater ports have been gearing up for the burgeoning market in exporting pellets.
For the last several years, there s been a good deal of interest in the potential for exporting wood pellets, said Henshaw.
Eastport installed a conveyor system capable of handling wood pellets and other bulk commodities. The port of Eastport is the deepest natural seaport in the continental U.S. As the easternmost port in the United States, Eastport is the closest deepwater port to European markets.
That proximity gives all of Maine s ports a competitive advantage over southern deepwater ports. With less ocean to cross, the fuel costs diminish. Freight costs from the Northeast of America to Europe are favorable over the Southeast by $4 per ton, increasing to $7 per ton from the Gulf Coast.
Eastport s cargo operations include shipments of wood pulp to destinations as far away as China and shipments of dairy cows and beef cattle to Turkey and Russia.
In February, Thermogen Industries, a subsidiary of Cate Street Capital, announced that they will build a torrefied wood pellet biofuel manufacturing facility in Eastport.
Our clean fuel product, torrefied wood pellets, will be shipped overseas as an alternative fuel for coal-fired power plants that need to reduce harmful emissions, said Cate Street Capital President/CEO John Hall . Locating next to the port of Eastport would greatly reduce our shipping costs while providing new incremental business for the port.
Woodpellets manufacturing has increased in Maine dramatically since 2007. photo by Ramona du Houx
Thermogen uses biomass material that s left behind from wood harvesting operations. Its torrefaction process involves changing the properties of wood using microwave technology, not heat, which creates a black pellet that burns with similar BTU heat output and handling characteristics as coal, but much cleaner. Coal-fired power plants could burn the torrefied wood in lieu of coal to lower emissions and meet increasingly stringent environmental regulation.
Depending on the size of Thermogen s facility, it could create approximately 75 new jobs in Eastport and over 300 woods-based jobs.
Cate Street Capital, an investment group that specializes in renewable energy and green technology projects, bought the Millinocket paper mill after they consulted a study which the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) funded several years ago during the Baldacci administration, which recommended that Maine consider producing thermal, or torrefied, wood. The product has the potential to replace the use of coal. That report, with its recommendations, was key in helping the mill transition, putting workers back on the job.
The future is bright, said Cate Street Capital s Scott Tranchemontagne. We have done our due diligence and are moving forward with torrefied wood.
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree speaks at the celebration of the DownEaster coming to Brunswick. Public and private sectors worked together to make it happen.Photo by Ramona du Houx
By the end of this year, the Millinocket site is expected to start producing torrefied wood products, reaching commercial operations in early 2014. Railroad lines that were used by the former mill owners could be utilized once again.
The Eastport Port Authority asked the state to fund a rail infrastructure upgrade in 2009. But the Republican-controlled legislature and the governor didn t, although the investment would have helped ship bulk commodities like wood pellets.
Searsport is where George Soffron, CEO of Maine-based Corinth Wood Pellets LLC, the first wood pellet manufacturer in Maine, has plans to export pellets in 2014.
F.E. Wood & Sons, with their new 312,000-metric-ton wood pellet plant in Baldwin, intends to export white pellets from Portland to European markets.
They will likely be coal-fired power plants, which are using pellets to displace carbon emissions, said Tony Wood, vice president of F.E. Wood & Sons.
F.E. Wood & Sons are in the process of transforming their 130-year-old business into manufacturing pellets.
Maine has great potential for pellet export, said Wood. European markets are certainly a very exciting place to be working right now!
The mill would have capacity to make 300,000 tons a year and employ 30 workers, with more jobs in the forest and transportation chain. Part of Wood s plan is to use the Mountain Division rail link to Portland for transportation, and initial discussions to move forward with renovating the line started under the Baldacci administration.
We have done a great deal of work to activate the Mountain Division rail link, and there is a fair amount of support through the community and state legislature to see it returned to commercial activity. There are several challenges, but I believe once our facility is operating we will be able to renew our efforts to reactivate the line to our site, said Wood.
In the meantime, it is very exciting to see Portland and Pan Am making investments and improvements to service in the Portland area this has potential to improve throughput and service for our project, as well as helping to open a freight bottleneck for industries in Maine trying to reach East Coast ports and other points in the U.S.
Transportation hub improvements often lead to others. Recently, the Maine Port Authority received a $150,000 federal grant to develop a new type of ship that could help restore cargo shipping between the Portland terminal and East Coast ports.
At the same time, LePage refuses to release a voter-approved bond for more port infrastructure improvements. Eastport and Searsport could see $1.5 million and $17 million respectively from a 2012 bond package.
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