Port upgrades urged to keep pace with Panama Canal expansion

Port and city officials have called for expediting planned upgrades at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to stave off the threat of losing cargo traffic when the $5.25-billion Panama Canal expansion is completed next year.

At a hearing Friday at Los Angeles City Hall, state officials heard testimony from trade economists, shipping line representatives and labor groups on how the state can promote the ports so they keep their share of U.S. cargo traffic, which harbors on the East and Gulf coasts are eager to lure away.

The two seaports, the largest in the U.S., currently receive about 40% of the nation's cargo traffic.

But as construction nears completion on two new Panama Canal locks that will be able to accommodate massive cargo vessels, Southern California officials are increasingly worried about the effect on the state economy — namely the loss of logistics jobs. An estimated 640,000 people work in trade-related jobs in Southern California.

A coalition of labor, business and government estimates that the ports could lose up to 25% of their cargo traffic when the canal upgrade is completed. Trade economists, however, say it's too early to make any reliable estimates on the economic effect on the state.

Read the full story here.

Reed Transport in need of logistics intern!

Reed Transport is seeking a Carrier Relations Intern! The position is in a fast-paced, customer focused environment in the dynamic transportation services industry. We are looking for an intern that will help expand our current carrier data base, which includes direct contact with the carrier’s and inter-office personnel.

Experience is not required or expected! Part time hours available with possible opportunity for full time employment!

Qualifications:

    Data Management
    Computer Skills
    Relationship and people skills
    Familiarity with Microsoft office suite and related software
    Confidence and phone skills
    Sales focus
    Multi-tasking
    Knowledge of the transportation industry a plus, but not required

Working relationships: Candidate must be goal oriented, self-motivated and possess strong negotiation skills. Outgoing personality and competitive attitude is a must.

See their website at www.reedtms.com for more information.
Submit resumes to: careers.rts@reedtransport.net

States looks to privatize highway rest stops

Recent year financial constraints have forced state officials nationwide to slice budgets, causing some state legislatures to look for commercial support for rest stops.

Maryland House members will hold a Feb. 28 hearing on a bill to permit rest areas and welcome centers within state highway right-of-ways to privatize operation and maintenance services.

On Dec. 7, Maryland officials cut service hours to primarily daytime at several rest areas and closed one rest area to decrease operational costs.

In New Jersey, legislators are considering identical bills to allow private entities to sponsor some state highway rest stops in exchange for alleviating maintenance costs.

The measure would permit the state’s turnpike authority, transportation department and the South Jersey Transportation Authority to enter these agreements with the private sector. The Senate bill was introduced Feb. 4 and the Assembly legislation Nov. 29.

The Washington state Senate heard concerns over implementation cost at a Jan. 29 hearing on legislation to allow rest area demonstration projects where state rest stops currently do not exist. Private and non-profit groups would provide rest area service at no cost to WDOT and money the state receives from these projects would be deposited into the state motor vehicle account.

Read more here.

Finally - Retail Imports to Increase 8.5 Percent in February After Ports Contract Deal Reached

With a tentative contract deal reached with East Coast and Gulf Coast dockworkers – though a key West Coast agreement remains unsettled – import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 8.5 percent in February over the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“We were very happy to see a deal on a tentative contract for the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, but we are urging the parties to quickly work out any outstanding issues and ratify the agreement as soon as possible,” says Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy. “We need a long-term labor contract in place to give retailers and the other industries that depend on the ports confidence that cargo will continue flowing. We were disappointed that the LA/Long Beach clerical workers’ contract wasn’t ratified, but are encouraging the parties to work through their differences without a disruption.”

The International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance reached tentative agreement February 1 on a contract that avoided a strike that could have shut down East Coast and Gulf Coast ports from Maine to Texas. The agreement is subject to reaching supplemental local agreements and ratification by union members. Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s Local 63 Office Clerical Unit voted down a tentative agreement with the Harbor Employers Association that ended an eight-day strike at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in November and December 2012.

U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.32 million twenty-foot equivalent units in December, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was up 2.8 percent from November and up 8 percent from December 2011.

Read more here.

ReedTMS is hiring an accounting professional!

ReedTMS has recently posted an available position in the accounting department located in Brandon, Florida. This position includes all aspects of customer and vendor accounting, including billing and accounts receivable, accounts payable, banking, monthly closing processes, project opportunities, maximizing use of technology.

ReedTMS is an asset-based third-party logistics provider comprised of Reed Transport Services, Inc. and TMS Logistics, Inc. In 2010, Reed Transport and TMS Logistics formed a strategic partnership to provide expanded service offerings that address the logistics and transportation needs of shippers.

Office environments are informal, fast paced and spirited. There is a real energy on the floor! Employees are encouraged to promote a positive, enjoyable, family atmosphere and to have fun every day!

Interest applicants should check out the website to read more - Click here.

Mexican strawberries squeeze Hillsborough farmers

Mexico is exporting a record number of strawberries to the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Through Jan. 28, Mexico exported 20 percent more of the fruit than the same period a year before, which also was a record-setting year.

"Mexico is importing more and more each year over past four or five years," said Carl Grooms, owner of Fancy Farms in Plant City. "Anytime another country brings in an agricultural item and puts it on a shelf, it takes away opportunities of American farmers."

The problems that come with importing goods is a double-edge sword. Competition is good, and should always be seen as such. Competition is what keeps prices down and controls the market. If we only had one strawberry farmer, they would control the prices, making a huge profit and no one to say otherwise.

But when you’re losing American jobs because of it, then that becomes the problem. I think a lot of this can be changed with better marketing schemes. American consumers like to purchase American products. We feel like it’s our duty to support the local farmer, so I believe there could lie the solution. Along with Americans enjoying the idea of domestic made goods, they could expand on that idea and show how little time is spent between the farm and the store shelf. The product is fresher when grown locale versus produce that comes from across the border.

All in all, the farmers need to do something to try and squeeze the Mexican farmers out of the market here, because they certainly aren’t going away.

To read more on the topic, click here.

Overturned truck blocks traffic on Howard Frankland Bridge

TAMPA --
Traffic on Interstate 275 has been blocked this morning by an overturned gravel truck at the west end of the Howard Frankland Bridge.

The report on the truck came in just after 10 a.m., according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The truck overturned near the Fourth Street exit.

Gravel from the truck was covering all the southbound lanes and some of the northbound lanes.

Traffic is being backed up in both directions. Motorists are advised to find different routes.
No other information was available.

Stay with TBO.com for updates.