Outsourced Logistics

A Virtual Back Office Designed to Communicate Directly With Shippers

BELLEVUE, Washington – Trade Tech, an integrated global application service provider for the transportation and logistics industry, has created a full-service Importer Security Filing (ISF) solution designed specifically for shippers and Customs House Brokers to solve all challenges associated with the time-sensitive data reporting regulations enacted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s 10+2 Rule.

“There is now 100% compliance required for all imported cargo with a fine up to $5000 for each violation, so it’s more important than ever for shippers to have a solution in place,” said Bryn Heimbeck, Trade Tech’s CEO.

Trade Tech provides multiple services for ISF filings incorporated through the Automated Manifest System (AMS) portion of its integrated solution as a stand alone or full service application. By leveraging its global office structure and its offshore data input centers, Trade Tech’s ISF solution takes advantage of 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.

Customers 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. “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.”

One such customer is JAS Forwarding (USA), Inc. “Trade Tech saves us a great deal of time in our ISF filings,” said Laurie Arnold, regulatory compliance officer for JAS Forwarding (USA), Inc. “We used another application previously and at that time we were not able to see or enter the AMS information, so we continually had to resend corrected information to try and obtain the match which caused a lot of additional work on our part. With Trade Tech’s solution, our US-based users enter the project filing for the ISF and attach an ISF template. Trade Tech then inputs the ISF filing and we receive back confirmation and the CBP result. It is an easy solution for JAS and it helps us to see the AMS filing and be able to match the ISF to the AMS giving us the results we are looking for which is an AMS-ISF match. This saves time for us as we don’t have to ‘chase’ down the AMS information from the steamship lines.”

According to Heimbeck, the ISF regulations have created specific new challenges for Customs House Brokers and other parties responsible for the ISF filings:

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 is 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.

“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. “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.”

Heimbeck says the combination of Trade Tech’s international office structure, with 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 integrated global application service provider for the transportation and logistics industry and is owned and operated by industry professionals. It also is an ERP for the freight-forwarding and NVOCC community, licensing and delivering applications in eight key areas, including:

 Cost optimization / pricing

 Transportation management

 Rate management

 Supply chain / purchase order management and visibility (tracking and tracing)

 Sales / operations

 Accounting

 AMS/ACI and security related to ocean and air transportation, including all Cargo Security Filing requirements, including Smart Border

 10+2 Rule Solution Provider

Founded in 1997, Trade Tech’s applications link shippers, importers, Customs House Brokers, consignees, NVOCCs, carriers, truckers, warehouses and forwarders, providing visibility of the movement of goods throughout the supply chain. Trade Tech clients enjoy access to the latest applications and data anywhere in the world every time they log on to the Trade Tech network – without any software downloads.

SANTA FE SPRINGS, California – Weber Logistics, a leading third party logistics and supply chain management provider, announced today that it has hired Mike Accomando as vice president, transportation services effective immediately.

Accomando is responsible for leading Weber’s Transportation Division which includes a wide-variety of services, including temperature-controlled and dry LTL, same-day and truckload services, as well as pool distribution, cross-docking/transloading, port drayage, logistics and nationwide transportation. He oversees more than 100 employees and also manages Weber’s customer service team, service center, and fleet of more than 350 refrigerated and dry vans and trailers.

He joins Weber with more than 28 years in the industry and most recently worked for R+L Carriers as regional director, operations based in Houston. He was responsible for providing daily oversight, leadership and direction for 13 LTL terminal locations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, as well as revenue growth, service, cost, productivity, and profitability.

Accomando held the position of vice president, operations for Daylight Transport responsible for the strategic direction and daily oversight of all Daylight Transport terminal operations, line haul functions and agent activities at facilities located throughout the United States and Canada, including LTL, truckload and logistics.

He also worked for Con-way Freight as central region manager and service center manager. During this time, Accomando was selected as part of a functional design team involved in the joint venture project with APL logistics to create the Ocean Guaranteed service offering which resulted in $2.3 million of additional revenue.

Accomando spent 17 years with Consolidated Freightways holding a variety of positions, including terminal manager, division sales manager, assistant terminal manager, manager of training, freight operations manager, account manager, and operations foreman. Some of his responsibilities included overseeing operational and sales direction, asset utility, and maintenance of equipment. He was responsible for the direction, strategic planning, staffing, budgeting and development of the Houston based sales force and grew sales by double digits in his region over a 2-year time period.

“With the economy improving, clients are moving more freight and we must be responsive to their needs,” said Herb Callahan, Weber’s senior director, human resources. “Mike is a perfect fit for Weber with his strong background in transportation sales and operations, as well as training expertise. He will assist our clients with capacity issues, state regulations and service standards to provide them with the best delivery options available today.”

About Weber Logistics

With 86 years of experience, Weber Logistics has evolved into a nationwide provider of logistics solutions. Weber’s expertise includes non-asset based freight management, temperature sensitive asset-based LTL and TL services, dedicated and shared warehousing, distribution, cross-docking/pool distribution, transloading, network optimization modeling and analysis, retail compliance, order fulfillment, material handling, supply chain management, real estate development, and personnel staffing.

Weber specializes in providing its clients with unique innovative logistics solutions primarily to these vertical markets:

 Retailers/Importers

 Food & Beverage/CPG

 Industrial Products

 Confectionary

Weber serves many well-known and respected companies such as Walmart, Safeway, General Mills, Hershey, Nestlé, Spectrum Brands, California Innovations, Scholastic Books, and PPG Industries. As a result of its on-going innovation, experience and dedication, Weber has been the recipient of numerous industry awards, including:

 100 Great Supply Chain Partners

 Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 3PLs

 Logistics Management’s Top 50 3PLs

 The Los Angeles Business Journal’s Top 100 Privately-Held Companies

 Food Logistics Magazine’s Top 70 3PLs

 Food Logistics Magazine’s FL100 listing of the top technology solution and service providers to the food industry.

Al Miller has joined Hercules Manufacturing in the Northeast Sales Division covering Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Miller’s experience includes over 25 years experience representing OEMs in the truck equipment industry as Owner of Equipment Sales Group, LLC, Regional VP of Sales Mac Gray, National Sales Manager Johnson Truck Bodies, Northeast Director of Sales and Director of Distributor Development Morgan Corp.

Al earned his BA from St. John Fisher College and has completed numerous seminars and advanced training in the trucking industry.



About Hercules Manufacturing:

Founded in 1902, Hercules Manufacturing, Inc.’s Custom Built Truck Bodies and Trailers have been setting standards for over 100 years. Developing a custom solution to meet specific needs is not only their primary goal, it is their proven area of expertise. Hercules’ focus has been, and continues to be, on custom truck body building for dry and refrigerated freight. Hercules has grown tremendously in the last ten years and is closing in on the #1 position as top cold plate body builder in the USA.

Weber Logistics, a leading third party logistics and supply chain management provider, announced today that it has hired Jim Bodack as its San Diego facility operations manager, effective immediately.

Bodack comes to Weber with 17 years of experience in the shipping and logistics industry. As operations manager for Weber, he oversees day-to-day operations of the warehouse.

Bodack joins Weber from Kintetsu World Express, a global freight forwarder, where he worked as operations manger overseeing logistics planning, training, cost containment and regulatory compliance for customer shipments worldwide.

Prior to that, Bodack worked for DHL Express for more than 15 years and most recently held the position of DHL Express’ service center manager responsible for group delivery centers and overseeing all regulatory shipping compliance requirements. Prior to that, he was service center supervisor where he established departmental budgets, business plans and assisted with sales campaigns. During this time, Bodack oversaw the development and opening of a new service facility in San Diego.

He also worked as an import/export specialist and shipping agent for DHL Express responsible for manifesting time sensitive materials and working with US Customs officials to ensure clearance delays were minimized.

“Jim is a tremendous asset to our San Diego operations. He is an intelligent operator and an excellent motivator and he is a perfect fit to the Weber family,” said Kevin Anderson, general manager of Weber’s San Diego facility.

Last year Weber’s San Diego facility celebrated its 30th anniversary which is based in a very popular location, just miles from downtown, the Port of San Diego, and the Tijuana, Mexico border crossing. The facility provides the region with a variety of outsourcing options, including warehousing and distribution, fulfillment, light assembly and pick pack services. The 100,000+ square foot stand-alone facility offers bulk and racked storage, 16 dock high doors and 14 rail transload positions. It is also a food-grade facility with an “Excellent” rating from the American Sanitation Institute (ASI).

Bodack holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from San Francisco State University.

About Weber Logistics

With 86 years of experience, Weber Logistics has evolved into a nationwide provider of logistics solutions. Weber’s expertise includes non-asset based freight management, temperature sensitive asset-based LTL and TL services, dedicated and shared warehousing, distribution, cross-docking/pool distribution, transloading, network optimization modeling and analysis, retail compliance, order fulfillment, material handling, supply chain management, real estate development, and personnel staffing.

Weber specializes in providing its clients with unique innovative logistics solutions primarily to these vertical markets:

 Retailers/Importers

 Food & Beverage/CPG

 Industrial Products

 Confectionary

Weber serves many well-known and respected companies such as Walmart, Safeway, General Mills, Hershey, Nestlé, Spectrum Brands, California Innovations, Scholastic Books, and PPG Industries. As a result of its on-going innovation, experience and dedication, Weber has been the recipient of numerous industry awards, including:

 100 Great Supply Chain Partners

 Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 3PLs

 Logistics Management’s Top 50 3PLs

 The Los Angeles Business Journal’s Top 100 Privately-Held Companies

 Food Logistics Magazine’s Top 70 3PLs

 Food Logistics Magazine’s FL100 listing of the top technology solution and service providers to the food industry.

ChemLogix Global LLC (www.chemlogix.com) recently added 50 new ISO tank containers to its BulkTainer operation, an expansion beyond the 20 tanks added by the company last year to support the growing business.  Since acquiring the BulkTainer operation from Union Pacific Railroad in April 2008, ChemLogix Global has continued optimizing customer logistics operations with state-of-the-art ISO tanks and equipment in addition to enhancing customer service. The newer, lightweight tanks replace some older tanks and add new capacity to meet customer growing demands. Intermodal ISO tanks are used to transport bulk liquids long distances by integrating truck, rail and ocean modes of transport.  A single intermodal train takes up to 280 trucks off our highways, reducing both traffic congestion and pollution.   According to a recent corporate blog post by Stephen Hamilton, Managing Director, ChemLogix Global, “Intermodal transportation is a hot topic these days as chemical shippers look for ways to reduce costs, carbon footprint and freight safety concerns. When considering the merits of intermodal transportation, chemical shippers should also consider the benefits offered by ISO tank containers associated with this mode of transportation. While Over The Road (OTR) tank trucks still dominate the roadways in transporting liquid chemical freight, ISO tank containers are becoming more widely used as shippers convert to intermodal to transport freight through a combination of truck, rail and sea.” ChemLogix Global anticipates future business growth as more chemical shippers understand the economic and operational benefits associated with intermodal transportation.  In addition to offering state-of-the-art ISO tanks and equipment, ChemLogix Global’s transportation management team offers over 75 years of combined experience, to provide best-in-class customer service and very competitive rates. For more information on ChemLogix BulkTainer Intermodal Services, refer to our web site at: http://www.chemlogix.com/solutions/intermodal-transportation  or contact Stephen Hamilton at hamilton@chemlogix.com.

Weber Logistics, a leading third party logistics and supply chain management provider, announced today that it has signed a new contract with e-Business International Inc. (e-BI), a leading supply chain management company, for nationwide distribution of its brand, REVÉNA.

Under the new contract, Weber drays containers of REVÉNA iPad accessories, HDTV wall mounts, and AV component wall shelving from the Port of Long Beach to its 302,622 square Fontana, California facility. e-BI’s product line is manufactured in China and includes 26 SKUs which are distributed to small, medium and Fortune 500 customers such as Ingram Micro, Staples Canada, Amazon, BUY.com, and Fry’s Electronics, to name a few.

Weber’s facility provides a wide range of services to e-BI, including warehousing, outbound and inbound transportation, distribution, and label generation, as well as value-added services such as re-work with ticketing and sub-styling. e-BI offers customized outsourcing solutions for companies looking to expand international product development with a diverse range of industries and customers such as Western Digital, Boeing, and Verizon.

According to Jeff Giron, e-BI’s product marketing program manager, Weber supplies better and more accurate information than its previous 3PL including over 100 real-time reports. “Weber sends instant email notification as orders are processed, an End of Day (EOD) report that summarizes each day’s activities and many customized reports,” he said.

Weber manages compliance for all major retailers’ specific routing, shipping and labeling requirements, as well as e-BI’s high volume parcel shipments. At the heart of the compliance program is a custom-designed internal web site that allows all of Weber’s warehouses to quickly reference every major retailers’ most recent routing and shipping requirements, without having to individually review and interpret routing and vendor guides.

“Through Weber, we have immediate access to tracking information and they have great inventory control processes with all of our products grouped together, something our last 3PL could not do. This allows us to provide our customers with more accurate information than we could previously and their technology has reduced the risk of charge backs due to an inability to send an Advance Shipping Notice (ASN). Overall, working with Weber has increased our customer satisfaction,” said Giron.

“e-BI is a great example of how technology can lead to increased customer satisfaction through real time and accurate information,” said Marc Levin, Weber’s senior vice president, client solutions. “They use our retail compliance and technological capabilities to its full potential and we very excited about the feedback they are receiving from their customers. We are honored to have such a sophisticated customer as e-BI.”

About e-BI

e-BI, based in Portland, OR, provides international sourcing solutions for global companies of all sizes. e-BI adapts its product development, design and engineering, contract manufacturing, quality assurance, shipping, warehousing and distribution services to implement seamless outsourcing solutions for its wide range of small, medium and Fortune 1,000 customers. e-BI’s reliable supply chain management focuses on flexibility, dramatic reduction of manufacturing costs, while maintaining product quality and on-time delivery. e-BI applies stringent qualification criteria in pre-qualifying every factory in its established network of world-class manufacturers located throughout China and Taiwan. For more information on e-BI, please visit www.e-bi.net.

About Weber Logistics

With 86 years of experience, Weber Logistics has evolved into a nationwide provider of logistics solutions. Weber’s expertise includes non-asset based freight management, temperature sensitive asset-based LTL and TL services, dedicated and shared warehousing, distribution, cross-docking/pool distribution, transloading, network optimization modeling and analysis, retail compliance, order fulfillment, material handling, supply chain management, real estate development, and personnel staffing.

Weber specializes in providing its clients with unique innovative logistics solutions primarily to these vertical markets:

 Retailers/Importers

 Food & Beverage/CPG

 Industrial Products

 Confectionary

Weber serves many well-known and respected companies such as Walmart, Safeway, General Mills, Hershey, Nestlé, Spectrum Brands, California Innovations, Scholastic Books, and PPG Industries. As a result of its on-going innovation, experience and dedication, Weber has been the recipient of numerous industry awards, including:

 100 Great Supply Chain Partners

 Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 3PLs

 Logistics Management’s Top 50 3PLs

 The Los Angeles Business Journal’s Top 100 Privately-Held Companies

 Food Logistics Magazine’s Top 70 3PLs

 Food Logistics Magazine’s FL100 listing of the top technology solution and service providers to the food industry.

Media Contact:

Melissa Bradley

Bradley Communications

bradleycomm@earthlink.net

928-208-9300

Contact:  joe@greenwaldcomm.com

News – for immediate release Jeff Tucker named a “Top 100 CEO”by SmartCEO magazine Cherry Hill, NJ (February 3, 2011) – Jeff Tucker, CEO of Tucker Company Worldwide, Cherry Hill, N.J., has been named a Philadelphia Top CEO for 2011 by SmartCEO magazine, and the announcement will appear in the March issue of the magazine. Each year, the magazine recognizes CEOs based on their leadership, strategic vision and character in running a business. With award programs in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, the Smart100 represent an elite group of CEOs from among the many successful industries throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.  SmartCEO magazine has a readership of more than 50,000 business owners. Each monthly issue includes features, interviews, case studies, columns and other departments designed to help CEOs face the daily challenge of running a business. Jeff Tucker has been CEO of Tucker Company Worldwide since 2004. Today, the firm provides a complete range of logistics services for commercial shippers throughout North America and the world, including freight transportation management for truckload and less-than-truckload freight, intermodal and ocean forwarding.  The company was founded in 1961 as a licensed freight broker by Jacob Tucker. When Jacob died suddenly in 1971, his son William left a career in computer programming to take over the company. Today, Jeff and James Tucker, (President/COO) represent the third generation of ownership of the company. In 2008, Jeff and his brother Jim founded a new business, offering innovative services named QualifiedCarriers.com, which is a government/regulatory compliance monitoring system and a safety score reporting risk management tool for companies hiring motor carriers. Jeff Tucker, who worked part time at Tucker Company many years while still in school, joined the firm full time in 1991 upon graduation from college. He has served in leadership positions with numerous industry associations including – Truckload Carriers Association Board of Directors; National Industrial Transportation League Board of Directors; Transportation Intermediaries Association Board of Directors, and Chair of its Government Affairs Committee and its Carrier Qualification Committee; and the National Defense Transportation Association Sub-Committee for Surface Transportation. Jeff Tucker has also been a guest instructor on the topic of Third Party Logistics (3PL) at Villanova University, Penn State University and Temple University; has authored numerous articles for national logistics publications; and has been a featured speaker at logistics industry seminars. He earned a B.A. degree from University of Delaware, and an M.B.A. in Physical Distribution from Temple University. In 1992 he became a Transportation Intermediaries Association Certified Transportation Broker (CTB). “I am grateful to the publishers of SmartCEO magazine for this recognition. I am privileged to share this honor with my brother Jim, and our outstanding people at both Tucker Company Worldwide and QualifiedCarriers.com,” said Tucker.  - 30 - 

Woodcliff Lake, NJ, January 31, 2011—I.D. Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDSY), a leading provider of wireless asset management solutions, today announced that it has received a series of purchase orders from Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) for the newest generation of I.D. Systems’ PowerFleet™ wireless Vehicle Management System (VMS) and for the integration of PowerFleet into Walgreens corporate information systems.

The new PowerFleet VMS will be deployed on fleets of material handling vehicles at Walgreens distribution centers in Illinois and Wisconsin. The two sites originally implemented wireless solutions from I.D. Systems in 2005, and are the first of 12 Walgreens facilities currently using I.D. Systems’ technology to upgrade to the current generation of PowerFleet.

Walgreens also contracted I.D. Systems to create a database interface between the PowerFleet system and Walgreens web-based, enterprise-wide maintenance management system. The integration is expected to automate and streamline processes for vehicle maintenance scheduling and safety compliance.

Walgreen Co. is the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2010 sales of $67.4 billion. The company operates more than 7,600 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. For more information on Walgreens, visit www.walgreens.com.

The PowerFleet VMS helps improve workplace safety and security by restricting vehicle access to trained, authorized operators, providing electronic vehicle inspection checklists, and intelligently managing vehicle impacts. The system also helps reduce fleet maintenance costs by automatically uploading vehicle data, reporting vehicle problems electronically, scheduling maintenance according to actual vehicle usage rather than by calendar or manual data entry, and helping determine the optimal economic time to replace equipment. In addition, PowerFleet helps improve material handling productivity by establishing equipment accountability, ensuring vehicles are in the proper place at the right time, and providing unique metrics on fleet utilization.

“Walgreens is a longtime customer that has established our wireless VMS technology as a best practice,” said Ken Ehrman, I.D. Systems’ president. “We are very pleased to expand our relationship and eager to provide Walgreens with even more benefits for their distribution center material handling operations—in terms of safety controls, cost reductions, and productivity optimization. The latest generation of our VMS technology incorporates many new, patented capabilities for vehicle operator access control, safety checklist automation, and intelligent impact management, which clearly make PowerFleet, in our view, the state-of-the-art in wireless vehicle management.”

About I.D. Systems:

Based in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, with subsidiaries in Germany and the United Kingdom, I.D. Systems is a leading provider of solutions for securing, controlling, tracking, and managing high-value enterprise assets, including vehicles, powered equipment, trailers, containers, baggage, and cargo. The Company’s patented technologies address the needs of organizations to monitor and analyze their assets to improve safety, security, efficiency, and productivity. For more information, visit www.id-systems.com.

Ocean World Lines (OWL), a global, single source NVOCC (non-vessel operating common carrier), announced today that it has opened a new office in Szczecin, Poland to offer more coverage and service options in the expanding Eastern Europe region.

Through the Szczecin office, OWL will offer air, ocean, cargo management, and customs clearance services with specific expertise in this geographic area. Poland remains a strong European economy and a major investment is currently underway to upgrade the country’s rail and road infrastructures.

Szczecin is the seventh largest city in Poland, situated in the northwest, where the river Odra meets the Baltic Sea. “With offices in the large port city of Gdynia, and now the smaller port of Szczecin, we are able to cover all territories in Poland and provide our customers a variety of service options in this expanding region,” said Cord Bruegge, OWL’s managing director for Europe. “While most carriers and forwarders tend to concentrate their offices in the larger markets, our strategy is to open local offices for more personalized service.”

This office is part of OWL’s continued expansion in Eastern Europe. “We are seeing more and more manufacturing in this region which has led to a shift in sourcing from Asia to Eastern European factories,” said Bruegge.

“By opening offices in Gdynia and Szczecin, we are increasing the geographic locations our customers have to select from in one of the hottest economies in Europe,” said Bruegge. “When you look at how fast Poland is developing, we will continue to expand our coverage and go into locations that best serve our customers’ shipping needs and offer the most flexibility.”

About Ocean World Lines

Ocean World Lines, known in the industry by its iconic owl logo, is one of the largest fully bonded NVOCC’s in the world. OWL maintains more than 45 service contracts with the top ocean carriers and handles today’s most complex global supply chain requirements.

Founded in 1979, OWL works with importers, exporters and freight forwarders to move all types of cargo and provides global ocean and air door-to-door service. OWL offers a single source experience for its customers coupled with leading-edge technology for a truly value-based solution.

With over 200 employees worldwide, OWL has offices located in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Qingdao, Singapore, Tokyo, Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Long Beach, Louisville, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, San Francisco, Seattle, Gdynia, Szczecin, Ipswich, Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg, as well as a network of agents worldwide.

OWL is a subsidiary of Pacer International, a leading North American freight transportation and logistics service provider that offers a broad array of services to facilitate the movement of freight from origin to destination.

# # # #

By Steve Hamilton, ChemLogix

www.chemlogix.com

information@chemlogix.com

Intermodal transportation is a hot topic these days as chemical shippers look for ways to reduce costs, carbon footprint and freight safety concerns. When considering the merits of intermodal transportation, chemical shippers should also consider the benefits offered by ISO tank containers associated with this mode of transportation. While Over The Road (OTR) tank trucks still dominate the roadways in transporting liquid chemical freight, ISO tank containers are becoming more widely used as shippers convert to intermodal to transport freight through a combination of truck, rail and sea.

The following are major benefits that ISO tank containers offer over OTR tank trucks in the transport of freight:

1. 1. Greener. The International Tank Container Organisation reported that intermodal tank containers leave a carbon footprint that is almost 50 per cent less than that of an equivalent drummed shipment on certain long-haul routes.  Using intermodal transportation also saves fuel and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 70%, especially on hauls over 950 miles.  This may be a major factor to consider as chemical shippers must find ways to reduce carbon footprint to meet future government mandates.


2. 2. Safer. On long hauls, OTR tank trucks often must travel through bad weather, causing unsafe driving conditions that lead to accidents and delays.  Vehicles often park at unsecured rest stops and have the potential for mechanical breakdowns. Shipping freight via intermodal using ISO tank containers eliminates these issues.   As containers are marked with a unique BIC code, they can be easily ID’d and tracked.  And even heavy ISO tank containers are unlikely to cause mechanical failure on trains and ships and are safer when in transit.  


3. 3. Cheaper. Using ISO tank containers via intermodal as a mode of transportation instead of OTR can also help save 20 – 30% in transportation costs, depending on distance and volume of freight.  


4. 4. Easy Storage. While ISO tank containers can easily be stored at the consignee, OTR tank trucks often must be returned to their point of origin, which for long hauls may be thousands of miles away. Delivering an ISO tank via intermodal to a consignee is generally a local delivery. No driver layovers!   


5. 5. Greater Flexibility. If the customer decides at the last minute that they want to delay a freight delivery for a couple of days, tanks can be left at a local storage yard. If the load came via OTR truck, the customer would have to take delivery on the scheduled date. Also, as previously noted, one container can transport the same freight by ship, truck and train as part of a single journey without unloading.