NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS TOP EXPORT MARKETS FOR U.S. RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

According to a report from the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA), Canada, China, Brazil, Chile and Mexico will be the top five markets for U.S. renewable energy exports during the next two years. The wind sector will also overtake the solar sector as the largest exporter of renewable energy products.

The Top Markets Report includes detailed market analysis of the renewable energy sectors of 10 different countries, as well as snapshots of six renewable energy sub-sectors. The report also notes that the use of local content requirements and other trade-restrictive practices in foreign markets continues to limit U.S. renewable energy exports and reduces access to cutting-edge technologies in these markets.

UNITED CARGO LAUNCHES CONTROL TOWER FOR TEMPCONTROL CUSTOMERS

United Cargo has announced the launch of a new Control Tower for the planning and management of temperature-sensitive cargo shipped via their TempControl service. This approach features a highly trained team of specialists who provide TempControl customers a single point of contact through all phases of the shipment lifecycle.

After standard operating procedures are established for a route or series of shipments, the Control Tower assumes end-to-end responsibility for each process step. This includes ordering, leasing and positioning of specialized containers, dynamic planning and routing, accessing and analyzing data from a number of human and technological sources, and outreach to stations that provide customers proactive status updates.

Other benefits include ensuring all shipment requirements are complete and correct prior to tender, leadership in immediate investigation and resolution of any shipment issues, and rigorous monitoring and post-shipment analysis to promote continuous improvement.

“The Control Tower brings responsibility for overseeing these processes and delivering this communication into one group. This greatly increases control, visibility and responsiveness,” says Peggy Guse, United Cargo’s director of Sales Strategy, Marketing and Customer Service.

TOTE INC. BEGINS CONSTRUCTION ON WORLD’S FIRST LNG-POWERED CONTAINERSHIP

Fireworks marked the first cut of steel in a ceremony marking the start of construction on TOTE Inc.’s new Marlin Class, the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered containership in the world, at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego on Feb. 25.

“These ships will be the most advanced, environmentally progressive vessels of their kind,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, at the ceremony, “but they also represent $350 million in U.S. investment, 600 American shipyard jobs and the bright future of the indispensable domestic maritime industry.”

Clean burning LNG offers unmatched environmental benefits, reducing emissions below even the world’s most stringent standards. The Marlins, which will home port in Jacksonville, Florida, will enter service in late 2015 and early 2016.

TROY CONTAINER LINE ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP

Troy Container Line announced a new partnership with Chicago-based Basic Warehousing & Distribution Inc. on Feb. 24. The new container freight station (CFS) is centrally located outside of Chicago and adjacent to O’Hare International Airport with access to several major highways, easily connecting the warehouse to a global supply chain. The 100,000-square-foot facility includes 13 door docks and full indoor-outdoor surveillance systems. This new partnership further expands Troy Container Line’s presence in Chicago and offers enhanced, convenient services to and from the Midwest market.

“Direct exporting from the Chicagoland area to hundreds of destinations around the world, including European, South American and Asian trade lanes, will be enhanced with this new partnership,” says Patricia L. Fitzgerald, COO of Exports at Troy.

PENSKE USED TRUCKS OPENS NEW COMMERCIAL TRUCK DEALERSHIP

Penske Used Trucks has announced the opening of a commercial truck dealership in Torrance, Calif., where it will sell used light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, trailers and related equipment. This opening signals a new sales channel for the company.

Penske is opening new used truck dealerships in response to strong demand from retail and dealership customers who want trucks that are on-site and ready to go. The first used truck dealership opened in Charlotte, N.C., in November 2013. Penske also plans to debut similar used-truck dealerships in Arizona and Georgia this year.

Penske says the commercial used truck dealerships are the next evolution in growing its business and expanding its service offerings.

NEW SEKO STORE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO HELP EXPANDING RETAIL BUSINESSES

Secans Global and SEKO Logistics have created a joint venture to deliver project- and process-management solutions to help expanding retail businesses open stores faster, with greater control and cost efficiency. This new SEKO Store Development Services (SDS) joint venture extends SEKO Logistics’ foothold in the retail sector and enables retailers to manage every aspect of a store build around the globe.

Bob van der Putten, managing director of SEKO Logistics, Benelux and Germany, adds: “SEKO SDS supports growing retailers in major markets in Europe, North America and Asia as well as in developing markets where we can use our expertise and knowledge to help them achieve their new store strategy. This includes markets where it is traditionally more difficult.”

The SEKO Store Development Services team works with each of the retail customer’s suppliers and uses its IT platform and experience to ensure all of the correct information is provided to avoid delays in transporting materials and equipment into the countries where new stores are preparing to open.

FEC BEGINS LAYING TRACKS FOR NEW PORT EVERGLADES RAIL YARD

Rail tracks and crane pads are being installed for the new Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF), slated to open this summer. The $73 million, 43-acre near-dock rail facility in the port’s Southport containerized cargo area will be used to transfer domestic and international shipping containers between ship and rail, and will replace FEC’s existing 12-acre intermodal yard.

The Port Everglades ICTF will allow FEC to build 9,000-foot unit trains within the facility without blocking any city streets and will allow cargo to move through Port Everglades to/from Atlanta and Charlotte in two days, and Nashville and Memphis in three days. FEC’s connections to CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads allows for rail service to 70 percent of the U.S. population within four days.