Outsourced Logistics

M+R Forwarding Implement’s Trade Tech’s 10+2 SolutionHong Kong – March 5, 2009 – M+R Forwarding, a leading worldwide logistics provider based in Hong Kong, announced today that it has implemented Trade Tech’s new full-service Importer Security Filing(ISF) solution designed to meet the data reporting regulations enacted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s 10+2 Rule for its customers throughout Asia, effective immediately.Using Trade Tech’s workflow management tools, M+R Forwarding is combining its in-depth knowledge of the Asia-USA trade with Trade Tech’s latest technology to maximize supply chain efficiency and fulfill the ISF filing requirements.By collaborating with Trade Tech, M+R Forwarding has full access to all ISF input at origin. Furthermore, M+R has built-in its Asia export shipment workflow to collect the required data from both the shipper and importer, ensuring the ISF filing can be completed 48 hours before the ship’s departure. This allows M+R to stay in control of the entire ISF filing process and provide a comprehensive solution to its customers.

Trade Tech clients have access to applications and data anywhere in the world, and receive the latest versions of the applications every time they log on to the Trade Tech network – there are no software downloads required.Trade Tech has been providing a full-service solution for AMS to its NVOCC customers since the inception of the 24 Hour Rule. Trade Tech currently services over 350 NVOCC customers through its overseas customer service and data input centers.For more information, please contact Chad Sprecher at: chad.sprecher.sha@cn.mrspedag.com

CHERRY HILL, NJ, March 5, 2009 – Charles “Shorty” Whittington, Chairman of the American Trucking Association, Michael Sansolo, retail food industry consultant, and Dan North, chief economist with Euler Hermes ACI are among the slate of speakers at the AmeriQuest Transportation Industry Symposium April 16-18 at The Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, The event gathers top-ranking private fleet, truckload carrier, and rental and leasing executives for intensive discussions aimed at positively impacting each company’s performance now and in the future.

Other speakers to present during the three-day conference are Richard A. Epstein, a law professor with the University of Chicago, and Michael Gallis, America’s leading expert in large-scale metropolitan regional development strategies.

ATA’s Whittington talk is entitled “What’s Ahead for the Transportation Industry” and will give Symposium participants a complete look at the trends, challenges, and opportunities facing leaders in the industry at present and in the years ahead. Sansolo, former Senior Vice President of the Food Marketing Institute, will speak on “Going Green: Where Sustainable and Profitable Meet.” The talk gives a look at how retailers around the world view issues impacting environmental readiness, with the goal of educating listeners on how the alignment between better business practices and environmental measures can be critical to future success.

North, whose macroeconomic analyses have been featured on ABC, CNBC, and FOX Business Network, will speak on the “State of the Economy,” giving valuable insight into the condition of the current economy and what it means for businesses in 2009 and beyond. “The Employee No Choice Act” is the presentation by Epstein, the James Parker Hall Distinguished Service Professor of Law at the University of Chicago. He will address the profound changes the Obama administration’s overhaul of employee law as it relates to unions may bring to employers, including matters such as card check, compulsory arbitration of first labor contracts, comparable worth, and statutes of limitations.

“Our Future Economy, Transportation, and Environment in the Global Network” is the title of Gallis’s presentation, which will focus on four main categories of change, including the integration of the global network, a new global economic geography, the new economy, and the environment. He will provide insight into the status of the U.S. infrastructure that will help Symposium participants prepare for the future.

In addition to the slate of speakers, the AmeriQuest Transportation Industry Symposium will feature three panels addressing the topics of the state of the industry, the capital and credit markets, and supply management.

A detailed agenda is available at www.ameriquestcorp.com/symposium.

To register to attend the event or for more information, go to www.ameriquestcorp.com/symposium or contact Kate Barnes at 856-382-4701 or e-mail kbarnes@ameriquestcorp.com.

About AmeriQuest Transportation Services

AmeriQuest is a leading provider of comprehensive fleet management services. By leveraging the strength of over 700,000 vehicles, AmeriQuest delivers savings, expertise, and opportunities to its private fleet and truckload carrier members. AmeriQuest provides supply management services, asset management services, material handling services, financing, technology products, and outsourced transportation management services such as full service leasing, integrated logistics, and contract maintenance. More information can be found at ameriquestcorp.com.

BELLEVUE, Washington – Trade Tech, a major supplier of web-based supply chain and transportation applications and service solutions, announced today that it has created a full-service Importer Security Filing (ISF) solution designed specifically for Customs House Brokers to solve all challenges associated with the new time-sensitive data reporting regulations enacted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s 10+2 Rule. “The key issue for ISF this year will be on-boarding the more than 300,000 importers in the United States and the more than one million corresponding exporters that work with them around the world,” said Bryn Heimbeck, Trade Tech’s CEO. “It’s an issue of time. There are only eleven months until mandatory compliance is the law and at that rate, more than one thousand importers per day need to become ISF compliant.” Through Trade Tech’s workflow management tools, brokers have full access to all ISF input and can review or add additional information to the ISF in the event that the shipper is unable to provide critical data such as the HTS number or bond number. “This keeps the broker directly involved in the process while assisting with the data input and customer service at origin,” said Heimbeck. “Since so much of the 10+2 data originates with shippers, we have created a ‘virtual back office’ to ensure there are no delays in reporting ISF data and that every container gets loaded.”  Trade Tech provides both logistics software and service, processing over 30,000 bills of lading per month for over 350 NVOCCs around the world. By leveraging its global office structure and its offshore data input centers, Trade Tech’s 10+2 solution takes advantage of both the strength and robustness of its software products and its overseas presence to ensure that exporters (the key to timely reporting of 10+2 data) can be reached when needed to ensure timely compliance with the new regulations. “What we’ve created is the only ‘full service’ ISF compliance product available on the market today,” said Heimbeck. “We are not talking about just a software package, but a vehicle for solving all 10+2 issues by communicating directly with shippers at their locations during their workday. What’s happened is the collection of commercial shipment information is moving closer to the beginning of the time line in the import process. This means the data collection window has been positioned in a very short time-critical slot – just 24 to 48 hours between container loading and the 24-hour cut-off time before vessel loading begins. There are a number of software-oriented 10+2 solutions on the market today, but the reality is that a U.S.-based broker needs to be able to leverage a neutral customer service organization that can reach out to ensure exporters’ participation in ISF, while allowing customs brokers to contribute their own domain expertise.” According to Heimbeck, the ISF regulations have created specific new challenges for Customs House Brokers:  1)      Brokers need to provide an ISF solution for their importers in order to stay competitive.2)      Brokers who are not able to do so will be at risk of losing their customers to a broker with an effective ISF solution.3)      In order to provide an ISF solution that allows for timely filing of all data elements required by 10+2, brokers must work directly with shippers, who are located on another continent and in a different time zone. Regional proximity to the shipper will be essential for brokers to remain competitive in this new environment. “To create an effective 10+2 solution for brokers, there are three major issues that have to be addressed: direct contact with the shipper, the timing of data filing requirements, and the need for a feedback loop in order to deal with any hold messages issued by U.S. Customs in response to the data filing, which are all covered by our full-service 10+2 solution,” noted Heimbeck. Direct contact with the shipper: Brokers must be able to contact the shipper directly to receive relevant 10+2 data for Customs filing, which  includes challenges such as:a)      Time Zones – the shipper is located on another continent, many time zones away from the United States.b)      Language – the shipper may not speak English.c)      Physical proximity – brokers are based in the United States while shippers are based overseas. “A delay in receiving 10+2 data from the shipper will result in the broker having to contact the shipper in their language during their workday in order to avoid costly hold orders caused by delays in filing 10+2 data in the allowable time frame,” said Heimbeck.  Timing of data filing needs: Ten data elements must be filed with U.S. Customs 24 hours before the cargo loads on board the vessel. This creates a challenge because of the time zone difference between the United States and foreign ports.  a)      Because most shipping vessels sail on the weekend, 65% of all AMS data is input between 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time Thursday night and midnight Pacific Standard Time on Friday night.b)      All administrative corrections are made in the last two hours before the CY cut-off between 1:00 AM and 8:00 AM Pacific Standard Time.c)      Brokers without a local overseas presence at the foreign port will need to be ready to work through the night on Thursdays and Fridays to bring all ISF data into their systems and file with U.S. Customs, or cause the shipment to suffer delays. “The presence of a local back office at the foreign port will greatly reduce the amount of time a U.S.-based broker has to spend ensuring all ISF data is filed in time for the 24-hour cutoff before sailing,” said Heimbeck, “while still allowing them the capacity to review and add data, which is solely within their domain expertise.” Need for a feedback loop “The solution must be capable of addressing ‘hold messages’ that result from administrative error in real time at origin if cargo is going to move smoothly without delay,” noted Heimbeck. “A broker that can effectively catch hold messages and resolve them prior to loading will be invaluable to clients who would otherwise suffer massive financial losses should their goods be unable to ship in a timely manner.  Brokers have full access to all ISF input through Trade Tech’s workflow management tools and can review or add additional information to the ISF in the event that the shipper is unable to provide critical data.”  Heimbeck says the combination of Trade Tech’s international office structure, with nine overseas offices in Asia and Europe, and its data input and operations centers, allow customs brokers to fully leverage Trade Tech’s technology in servicing their customers’ origin-oriented needs in order to comply with 10+2.About Trade Tech:

Trade Tech is an Internet-based supply chain and transportation solutions company owned and operated by industry professionals. Trade Tech is an Application Service Provider (ASP), which licenses and delivers applications in seven key areas, including:Ø      10+2 Rule Solution ProviderØ      Cost optimization / PricingØ      Transportation ManagementØ      Supply chain / Purchase order visibility (tracking and tracing) Ø      Sales / OperationsØ      AccountingØ      AMS/ACI and security related to ocean and air transportation, including all Cargo Security Filing requirements.  Founded in 1997, Trade Tech’s applications help link shippers, importers, Customs House Brokers, consignees, NVOCCs, carriers, truckers, warehouses and forwarders, so that everyone in the community has visibility to the movement of goods throughout the supply chain. Trade Tech clients have access to applications and data anywhere in the world, and receive the latest versions of the applications every time they log on to the Trade Tech network – there are no software downloads required. 

Trade Tech has been providing a full-service solution for AMS to its NVOCC customers since the inception of the 24 Hour Rule. Trade Tech currently services over 350 NVOCC customers through its overseas customer service and data input centers.

 Media Contact: Melissa Bradley/ bradleycomm@frontiernet.net/ 928-854-1721