We’re Big in Japan

CaroTrans Boosts Service to Japan with Direct, Weekly San Francisco LCL Export

CaroTrans, a leading global NVOCC (non vessel operating common carrier) and ocean freight consolidator, on Jan. 16 announced expansion of its global service network with the addition of a direct, weekly LCL (less than container load) export service from San Francisco to Japan. This service boasts the fastest overall transits from San Francisco to Tokyo (12 days), Yokohama (13 days) and Osaka, Nagoya and Kobe (17 days). There is no transshipment via Busan, South Korea or additional handling via Los Angeles.

CaroTrans delivers the highest level of customer-focused, reliable consolidation and de-consolidation services in U.S-Japan trade, in partnership with Seino Logix, an experienced, well-established Japanese NVO with representation in the U.S. CaroTrans has collaborated with Seino Logix over 14 years in this trade lane.

“Now global forwarders have a direct, expedited service to Japan from San Francisco,” says Mark Tanelli, CaroTrans, San Francisco branch manager. “With this new service we’re delivering a faster LCL export service option to customers in the region.”

In July 2012, CaroTrans introduced direct LCL export service from the Pacific Northwest to Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe and Osaka. CaroTrans plans to continue to grow its global service network by adding direct, expedited LCL/FCL import and export services to serve market demand.

Hark, Fair Joliet!

CN to build Joliet, Illinois, Intermodal Ramp For Access To Chicago Distribution Centers

CN announced on Jan. 17 a plan to construct an intermodal ramp at its freight yard in Joliet, Illinois, to offer import/export customers key access to numerous Chicagoland distribution centers.

Jean-Jacques Ruest, CN executive vice-president and chief marketing officer, says, “The Joliet-Will County area of Greater Chicago has one of the highest concentrations of distribution centers in the United States. With a new intermodal ramp for container traffic at our Joliet yard, CN will offer importers and exporters improved access to this vital trade hub with the fastest combined ocean and rail transit times from and to Asia via the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, B.C. “CN expects to offer daily West Coast service starting in June 2013, with transit times of approximately 100 hours between the West Coast and Joliet.”

The full-service intermodal ramp will efficiently accommodate the transfer of containers between rail and truck. A grain transloading facility will also operate at the site to support export opportunities. CN is the only railroad directly linking all three coasts to the Greater Chicago area distribution centers, including vessel calls originating in Europe, Asia and South America.

Say What?

Voxware and LogFire Collaborate to Integrate Warehouse Management and Voice Solutions in the Cloud

Voxware, a leading provider of voice solutions, and LogFire, a leading multi-tenant cloud-based supply-chain execution and warehouse management solution (WMS), on Jan. 22 announced a strategic partnership aimed at streamlining organizations’ operational efficiencies. Companies looking to rapidly deploy an integrated voice solution into a distribution center or in-store operation can leverage this new offering in a more accelerated, cost-effective manner.

“Our relationship with Voxware furthers our automation capabilities in the cloud and is consistent with our mission to help companies of all sizes realize the full potential of their supply-chain operations,” says Diego Pantoja-Navajas, LogFire founder and CEO.

“LogFire has exceptional WMS solutions and was looking for additional improvements to deliver to its customers in order to boost their operations,” says Keith Phillips, Voxware president and CEO. “The company turned to Voxware because we provide a high quality cloud-based voice solution that empowers customers to achieve their warehouse and supply-chain initiatives. This unique partnership enables us to provide more organizations with the cloud-based technology they need to improve operational efficiencies and enhance their brand reputation.”

The combination of LogFire’s WMS and Voxware’s voice software in the cloud are said to give organizations the opportunity to leverage the latest, most advanced technologies for enhancing warehouse and in-store operations. Smaller and mid-size users who traditionally could not afford to deploy such Tier 1 solutions can now realize the benefits of voice and omni-channel warehouse management capabilities. As a result, all companies, regardless of size, are able to realize robust capabilities at an incredibly cost-effective price point.

Bienvenido a América del Sur!

ABF Global Supply-Chain Services Adds South America to Coverage Area

Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay are now included in the expanding ocean transport portfolio of ABF Global Supply-Chain Services. ABF Global is providing a single contact for full-container-load (FCL) and expedited less-than-container-load (LCL) supply chain solutions. Ocean transport for these South American countries is in addition to ABF Global’s previously announced coverage in Europe and Asia.

“With an established presence in Europe, China, India and Southeast Asia countries, South America is a natural extension of our global coverage,” says Carlos Martinez-Tomatis, ABF Global division vice president. “ABF Global now covers nearly 90 percent of the total ocean international market to and from the United States. Our goal is to reach 96 percent of the total import/export market, which we anticipate achieving before the end of 2013.”

The provider’s FCL transport solutions offer convenient and economical ocean transport with end-to-end visibility. ABF controls dedicated space on ships providing frequent service from and to all major worldwide ports. As a result, the company offers single-contact, expedited LCL/LTL solutions for customers who have international manufacturing centers or suppliers.

“Long-term planning is enhanced by advanced scheduling for consolidation and departures. Features and benefits include in transit, virtual warehousing. Dynamic rerouting capabilities enable on-the-water inventory allocation and order fulfillment directly from the container to the end-user or multiple delivery locations,” says Martinez-Tomatis.

Driven to Help

NYK Provides Free Transport for Six Cars to Africa

NYK has provided free ocean transport for six automobiles to Mombasa, Kenya, and Durban, South Africa. The cars had been used in Japan in support of activities to recover from the Great East Japan Earthquake, which devastated much of northeast Japan in March 2011.

Immediately following the earthquake, the vehicles were donated by Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. to several international humanitarian assistance organizations affiliated with Japan Platform. The cars were overseas models initially built for the United Nations, so after temporary permission for the automobiles to run in Japan expired in June 2012, NYK transported the vehicles from Japan to Africa for these organizations so that the vehicles could be used in the humanitarian assistance activities being done there.

The cars were loaded on the NYK car carrier Sirius Leader, and after arriving in Mombasa and Durban the automobiles were sent to Nairobi, Kenya; Juba, South Sudan; and Harare, Zimbabwe. The final delivery was made in January. NYK vows to continue to use its logistics and transport services, facilities and networks across oceans, land and air to demonstrate the group’s commitment to social contribution activities.