IN BRIEF: New Services and Solutions
One Air expanded its fleet with a third Boeing 747-400F entering service at the end of August 2024. The British cargo airline provides regular weekly full charter capacity linking Asia and Europe as well as ad hoc global charter services. It aims to double its freighter fleet by the end of 2025.
Transportation
• Lufthansa Cargo now flies to two more Asian stations—Zhengzhou and Shenzhen—with its B777F long-haul fleet from its home hub in Frankfurt. The carrier added Shenzhen Boa’an International Airport to its freighter network and serves it twice a week; it also recently started operating freighters to Zhengzhou three days a week.
• Roadrunner expanded its less-than-truckload (LTL) service to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and the surrounding areas of Canada. The move follows the launch of LTL shipping into Toronto and Montreal earlier this year. The new LTL service into Western Canada is available for all its origin locations that ship freight to Seattle, Washington.
Technology
↑ The Nokia Autonomous Inventory Monitoring Service (AIMS) added inventory counting functionality, enabling warehouse operators to utilize autonomous drones to individually count items in racked inventory locations. The new capability complements current system features such as finding misplaced and lost inventory, as well as detecting empty bins. Nokia AIMS is delivered as a service, including drones, software, and a cloud-based user interface.
• PSA BDP, a supply chain solutions provider, launched a carbon dashboard data service to help shippers measure their freight carbon emissions. The new digital tool provides detailed data on emissions across transportation modes.
• B&H Worldwide, a provider of aerospace and aviation logistics solutions, introduced FirstTRAC Mobile, the mobile version of its proprietary inventory management platform. Customers can now monitor orders and manage inventory activities directly from a smartphone.
• Montway Auto Transport now offers real-time vehicle shipment tracking from pickup through delivery. In partnership with technology provider Ship.Cars, the new program gives customers 24/7 real-time visibility of their shipment status and access to inspection and delivery documents.
• Wiliot, an ambient Internet of Things (IoT) provider, unveiled WiliBot, a generative AI chatbot that enables natural-language conversations with ambient IoT-connected products. Wiliot is piloting WiliBot with enterprise customers, with a broader rollout scheduled for late 2024 and into 2025.
Products
← The new Appleton Areamaster Connect LED Floodlight from Emerson provides illumination in industrial environments. Equipped with a WirelessHART network sensor module, an integrated photocontrol, and automated controls, the floodlights let facility managers use light only when needed.
• The HIAB eX.HIPRO crane crane crane offers load-sensing hydraulics and load-handling advancements for improved energy efficiency and productivity. Hiab, part of Cargotec, developed the crane to be energy efficient and electric vehicle-compatible.
• Power Knock is a last-mile delivery solution for communicating a driver’s message through closed doors. The technology enables quick driver messages such as “knock knock – XYZ Logistics – package delivery” to penetrate through any type of door so consumers can retrieve their packages at the moment of delivery.
• The ModTek hard case and docking system from ProClip can now securely hold the Lenovo K11 tablet for logistics applications. ProClip’s custom-fit, rugged mounts and systems securely hold communication devices, GPS units, vehicle diagnostics, and more for use in warehouses, docks, and ports.
→ AMMEGA, a provider of belting solutions, released two solutions to increase equipment durability in warehousing, distribution, and manufacturing operations: the Ropanol EX synthetic belt for higher-speed conveying applications and the ultra-strong Titanium belt (below).
• Ergodyne’s new 8951 (vented) and 8952 (non-vented) hard shell bump caps provide lightweight protection from bumps, cuts, and scrapes for workers in industries like manufacturing, warehousing, and transportation, where crews often maneuver in tight spaces without head protection. Available in five colors, the caps are less cumbersome than hard hats.
Services
• Saia, a less-than-truckload carrier, opened six new terminals in August 2024: in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Casper, Wyoming; Billings, Montana; Rapid City, South Dakota; Watertown, South Dakota; and Butte, Montana.
• Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad—which provides rail freight service between Chicago and Indiana—accepted delivery of 100 new rail cars purpose-built for steel coil shipments. The 48-foot, 115-ton capacity, transverse-style cars can each hold up to five steel coils with no need for dunnage or blocking.
• DHL Express launched a Small Business PartnerSHIP Program to provide small and medium-sized enterprises in the United States with resources and support to tap into global markets. The program provides access to shipping promo codes and discounts, simplified shipping solutions, global trade services for guidance on international shipping regulations, and the GoGreen Plus program to reduce carbon emissions.
• Seaboard Marine ordered 1,000 Star Cool reefers from Maersk Container Industry (MCI), including a portion of units equipped with Star Cool CA (Controlled Atmosphere). The order includes MCI’s Sekstant reefer monitoring, which provides real-time monitoring and control of the reefer containers.