Supply chain

Freight and infrastructure capacity will be at the top of the agenda at the National Industrial Transportation League’s Spring Policy Meetings in Chicago May 23 and 24.

HELP Inc. is strengthening its support of cargo theft recovery efforts by delivering CargoNet theft alerts through the PrePass system to roadside enforcement officers at nearly 300 truck inspection facilities in more than 30 states.

Kerry Logistics has deployed three hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) as part of a pilot program under the auspices of Hong Kong’s government.

Kane Is Able has named Gary Griffith its new senior vice president of business development and marketing.

ORBCOMM, a global provider or machine-to-machine solutions, has unveiled four asset-tracking and monitoring devices for the transportation and logistics industry.

The U.S. and Tunisia have launched an initiative to support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, boost trade and promote economic growth.

CEVA Group reported its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the first quarter of 2013 were €31 million (about US$39.8 million), plummeting 53 percent from $84.8 million in the first quarter of 2012.

DAF Trucks has selected DB Schenker in Brazil as its logistics service provider.

Rebecca Blank, U.S. acting commerce secretary, has wrapped up her week-long Latin America trade mission in Panama, which highlighted the importance of the U.S.-Panama bilateral trade relationship.

Workforce Florida has made available a $2 million Quick Response Training Challenge Grant for employers in Florida’s logistics and trade industry, according to Chris Hart IV, president and CEO of the statewide work force policy board.

Port Logistics Group has added more than 1.1 million square feet of warehouse space to its City of Industry Retail Distribution Campus in California with the opening of two new facilities.

Brazil has amended its import regulations regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy, paving the way for the ban on imports of breeding cattle and beef from the European Union to be lifted.

Pennsylvania’s Gov. Tom Corbett has awarded more than $6.7 million in Act 13 funding to 18 organizations making the switch to natural gas for their heavy-duty fleet vehicles.

Five Below, a merchandise retailer for the teen and pre-teen markets, has opened a new $2 million distribution center in the former Mazda building in Olive Branch, Miss.

Katoen Natie has opened a 25,000 square meter (about 269,098 square foot) warehouse complex for the management of goods to be directed to Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States in Muuga Harbour in Estonia...

President Obama has signed a presidential memorandum that will cut the time it takes to review and approve major infrastructure by months and even years.

Argentina has requested World Trade Organization consultations with the European Union regarding measures imposed by the EU and its member states that affect the importation and marketing of biodiesel.

Contrans reported its net income in the first quarter of 2013 was C$4.8 million (about US$4.7 million), falling 9.4 percent from $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2012.

A Government Accountability Office report criticizing a pilot test of Transportation Worker Identification Credential biometric readers does not diminish the justification for TWIC as a port security tool, a Coast Guard official said.

Amber Road, a New Jersey-based platform that automates and streamlines global trade, has been selected by the Kahala Posts Group, an alliance of 10 postal administrations around the world...

The Department of Justice’s investigations into bribery have gotten more aggressive as the U.S. partners with other countries and U.S. companies expand globally.

A bill to create a presumption that port and parcel delivery drivers are employees and not contractors and allow allegedly misclassified drivers to sue for damages is up for a vote Monday in the New Jersey General Assembly.

The government of Canada has invested in the Atlantic Gateway to improve the supply chain efficiency and competitiveness of transportation in New Brunswick...

Transnet has concluded a two-year wage agreement this week covering all of its employees in the bargaining unit, represented by the Satawu and Utatu-Sarhwu unions.

FedEx Trade Networks has broken ground at its future residence, the Riverview Solar Technology Park in Tonawanda, N.Y.

Janel World Trade reported a net loss of $289,060 in its fiscal second quarter ending March 31, 2013, an improvement from a net loss of $397,831 in the same period last year.

Damco’s profit slipped on increased revenue in the first quarter as the global freight forwarding and logistics group saw air freight tonnage soar while ocean container traffic stalled.

Transport Corp. of India reported its group net profit in fiscal year 2012-13, which ended March 31, 2013, was $12.86 million, jumping 17 percent from $11 million in 2011-12.

DHL Supply Chain plans to invest €10 million (approximately US$13 million) to expand its presence in Vietnam over the next couple years.

Logwin has moved its Vietnam warehousing and logistics operations into a new facility close to Hanoi, which will serve the country’s northern region.

The Japanese economy grew 0.9 percent in the January-March quarter from the preceding quarter, or at an annualized pace of 3.5 percent, in real terms, the Cabinet Office said in a preliminary report on May 16.

The Australian government has unveiled the next phase of its $60 billion road and rail infrastructure investment program as part of its 2013-2014 budget, inviting private investment via public-private partnerships.

Kent Bicycles has opened a distribution center in Savannah, Ga., with plans to move more than 1.3 million bicycles, or 7,000 20-foot-equivalent units, a year through the Port of Savannah.

U.S. manufacturing and agricultural exports to Colombia are on the rise, as the trade agreement between the two nations reaches its one-year mark, according to Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis.

Members of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee have passed the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act in a 36-10 vote.

Despite its efforts to boost grain yields for the 10th consecutive year, China — the world's largest rice consumer — is expected to become also the largest rice importer in 2013/14, according to a newly released report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Federal Maritime Commission voted 3-2 to move forward with changes to rules governing non-vessel-operating common carriers and freight forwarders.

PostNord reported its net profit in the first quarter of 2013 was 185 million Swedish krona (about US$27.8 million).

Japan’s Hitachi Transport System Ltd. acquired a stake of about 87 percent in U.S. logistics firm James J. Boyle & Co. as part of efforts to further expand its global operations.