A. Duie Pyle, a leader in asset and non-asset-based transportation and supply chain solutions in the Northeast, announced in late January the opening of its newest

transportation service center in Bronx, New York. The facility aims to enhance Pyle’s pickup capabilities in New York metro and Long Island, according to officials with the family owned company that was established in 1924.

Strategically located on the East River in Hunts Point, an industrial neighborhood in the southwest Bronx, Pyle’s service center includes an Express Solutions fleet of eco-friendly electric hybrid straight trucks to facilitate business-to-business and business-to-consumer deliveries in areas with restricted or limited access. This will ultimately increase freight velocity and flexibility for the company’s many New York metro clients, according to Pyle. The new service center provides easy access to the Bruckner Expressway (I-278), which connects to I-95 and all major Northeast metropolitan areas.

“For many years, Pyle has been recognized for providing comprehensive and direct service in metro New York,” notes Randy Swart, chief operating officer for A. Duie Pyle. “The Bronx is an ideal location for us to build on this commitment to our customers. The new service center allows us to provide our current and future customers with unique transportation options in New York, expand Pyle’s expedited service capabilities in the area and develop quality capacity throughout the busiest and most dense region in the U.S.”

Apple, Honda and Microsoft Among Honorees Tackling Emissions in the Supply Chain

Leading environmental disclosure platform CDP in late January named 58 companies as “Supplier Engagement” leaders, including Apple, Bank of America, Honda, Microsoft, Nestlé, Société Générale, Tokyo Gas Co. and Unilever. That doubles the number of leaders named last year (29).

The leaders were announced as more companies than ever before are looking at water security in their supply chains, according to CDP, which cites a 15 percent rise in suppliers disclosing water data to their customers through the nonprofit in 2017.

“Delivering on the ambitions of the Paris Agreement will require businesses to play a key role to reduce emissions, manage water resources and limit deforestation within their operations and their supply chains,” commented Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, who has written the foreword in the CDC report. “I am pleased to see that an ever-increasing number of companies reporting to CDP are integrating sustainability-thinking into their business models and applaud the members of the CDP supply chain program for being pioneers in this regard. I encourage businesses to work with suppliers to raise ambition across their supply chain.”

Bahri Welcomes Kassab, the Global Logistics and Transportation Company’s First New VLCC of ’18 

Riyadh, Saudi-Arabia-based Bahri began 2018 by accepting delivery of its first Very Large Crude-oil Carrier (VLCC) of the year. It is intended that Kassab will enhance the global logistics and transportation leader’s maritime offering and increase its market share in crude oil transportation.

The 300,000-DWT carrier, built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, the world’s largest shipbuilding company based in South Korea, lifts Bahri’s total number of multipurpose fleet to 89 and VLCCs to 42, further solidifying its position as the largest VLCC owner and operator worldwide. Kassab is the first of five vessels on order for Bahri this year.

“The addition of Kassab to Bahri’s already strong fleet is a significant boost to our unmatched maritime capabilities,” said Abdullah Aldubaikhi, the company’s CEO, at a Jan. 22 ceremony at Hyundai’s Mokpo shipyard in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. “The new vessel is a testament to the rigor and robustness of our continued expansion, which is a critical component of our well-thought-out business model and long-term growth strategy. After delivering a solid performance in 2017, we are gearing up for another year of outstanding growth with our enhanced offering, leveraging our renewed approach to revolutionize the global maritime sector.”

͟Redwood Logistics Tabbed as Newest Member of BiTA

Redwood Logistics, a top-100 3PL provider and one of the fastest growing logistics companies in North America, announced in late January it was selected as the newest member of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance. The BiTA was formed by experienced technology and transportation executives to create a forum for the development of blockchain standards and education for the freight industry.

BiTA believes blockchain is one of the most significant developments for the industry since the creation of the Internet. By providing more clarity and standards around blockchain through education and promotion of the technology, BiTA intends to be the leading blockchain voice for the industry, with plans to create and publish its first blockchain market standards in 2018 that would serve as a blockchain implementation roadmap for the entire freight industry.

“Blockchain technology’s impact on our industry is going to be significant: it can provide increased transparency for customers and can help supply chain services providers identify fraud quickly, due to the technology’s ability to maintain a source of truth,” says Eric Rempel, chief innovation officer with Chicago-based Redwood. “Redwood is thrilled to have a seat at the table to collaborate with other industry leaders on developing practical, real-world standards that are poised to influence the industry for years to come.”