News

  • 14

    Oct

    Memphis’ top companies show their team spirit

    The rain didn’t dampen the spirits of some of the “best” Mid-South companies.

    Memphis Business Journal held its 2019 Best Places to Work and HR Impact Awards Oct. 11 at AutoZone Park to celebrate the companies that go way beyond the status quo for their employees.

    “The Gallup organization reminds us every couple of years that nearly 70 percent of employees are actively disengaged,” said Joanna Crangle market president and publisher of MBJ. “This stems from an array of challenges, generational differences, shifts in leadership, you name it. … Needless to say, this is scary stuff, except we can’t be scared because we’re sitting amongst those who get it.”

    (more…)

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  • 09

    Oct

  • 02

    Oct

    Savannah’s port volumes mean strong drayage demand

    Year-to-date inbound volumes into Savannah are up close to 10% through August, making it the fastest-growing import gateway into the U.S.

    Savannah is expanding along the water to handle larger vessels and is over the half-way mark on its $220 million intermodal rail project, the Mason Mega terminal. Along with those moves, Savannah is adding another eight lanes to its truck gates, bringing the total number of gates to 56.

    Jeff Banton, president of Atlantic Intermodal Service (AIS), said the gates are important for keeping up with truck volumes. He said Savannah saw a record-breaking 12,000 gate moves in one day in August. (more…)

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  • 23

    Sep

    No easy fix for chassis conundrum: speakers

    Issues involving chassis interoperability, shortages, and dislocation continue to hamper productivity at US ports and inland rail ramps, and there is no single solution on the horizon that will make those problems go away, speakers at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) conference in Long Beach said this week.

    In fact, with each stakeholder in the supply chain — ocean carrier, trucker, railroad, and intermodal equipment provider (IEP) — doing what best serves their own interests, the industry may eventually be forced into the unwanted condition where it has to choose between regulation and free markets before a solution is found, the speakers said.

    (more…)

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  • 23

    Sep

    Virginia Trucking Association elects officers

    Ward Best, Vice President of Atlantic Bulk Carriers of Providence Forge, has been re-elected Chairman of the Virginia Trucking Association (VTA), the statewide trade association of Virginia’s trucking industry.

    Best has worked for Atlantic Bulk Carrier since 1996. Best has served on the VTA Safety & Human Resources Council and was elected to the VTA Executive Committee last year. He has actively served on a number of other industry and safety-related organizations and associations.

    (more…)

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  • 13

    Sep

    IMC COMPANIES TO LAUNCH NEW WEST COAST COMPANY: PACIFIC DRAYAGE SERVICES

    IMC Companies, a Memphis-based leader in nationwide intermodal logistics, recently added another company to its family of brands. On August 19th, IMC Companies launched Pacific Drayage Services (PDS) to provide drayage and warehousing services to customers in the Seattle and Tacoma markets. The PDS fleet is made up entirely of company-owned trucks and employee drivers. IMC Companies has ordered 150 new company trucks to bolster their presence on the West Coast. The new fleet of Mack trucks was a $20 million capital expense.

    “We’re committed to expanding our presence on the West Coast,” said Mark H. George, Chairman of IMC Companies. “This strategic growth means that we are able to serve our valued customers via every major rail and port facility in the United States.” (more…)

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  • 09

    Sep

    FMC to gauge detention/demurrage fairness on flow merits

    The top United States maritime regulatory agency on Friday unanimously approved interpretive rulemaking recommendations aimed at helping it gauge whether levied demurrage and detention fees truly incentivize the retrieval of cargo and return of containers.

    The Federal Maritime Commission agreed to the recommendations stemming from a year-and-a-half effort led by commissioner Rebecca Dye to address complaints from cargo owners and drayage drivers over what they considered unfair fees for failing to pick up cargo and return equipment in a timely manner. (more…)

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  • 20

    Aug

    Port Report: Sourcing shifts for U.S. imports boosting Southeast Ports

    The trade war with China is forcing U.S. Shippers to look for new sources of low-cost consumer goods. Southeast seaports are benefitting from those switches as shippers opt for lower cost and more accessible gateways.

    The value of China’s exports to the U.S. are down 12.3 percent through the first half of 2019 to $219 billion. The drop stems from President Donald Trump’s escalation of tariffs against China with another 10 percent tariff slated to take effect this coming September 1 and December 15 on $300 billion worth of imports coming from China.

    (more…)

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  • 12

    Aug

    Chamber Partners with IMC Companies Host Japanese Delegation

    International marine drayage company, IMC Companies, recently hosted a delegation of logistics consulting and service providers from Japan. The event sponsored by the Greater Memphis Chamber, highlighted Memphis-area logistics companies for potential future business opportunities.

    The group, led by Japan’s Funai Soken Logistics, Inc., visited the IMC Companies corporate office and Memphis terminal and the FedEx distribution facility. “We were delighted to host this fine delegation of Japanese logistics providers at our headquarters and terminal,” said IMC Companies Executive Vice President Donna Lemm. “They were extremely knowledgeable about our industry, and we shared ideas to benefit both of our countries.” (more…)

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  • 05

    Aug