| Willis Shaw Express Hosts Chinese Business Tour |
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IRTA Member Willis Shaw Express recently hosted several Chinese trucking and logistics executives on an eight-stop tour of the U.S. temperature-controlled supply chain. Attended by executives from KX Logistics of Tianjin, China and Asia Pacific representatives of Rich Products Corp., the purpose of the tour was to advance the developing Chinese refrigerated trucking industry. Currently, the Chinese transportation industry is struggling to keep up with rising demand, resulting in loss of product. See article from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
Willis Shaw Express President Chris Kozak is Treasurer of the IRTA Board of Directors. |
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Create "Power Partnerships" with Warehouses |
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 These days, if transportation companies can't offer or facilitate an end-to-end package of services, customers will often take their business elsewhere. At the 2008 IARW-WFLO-IRTA Convention & Expo, two of the industry's biggest names are teaming up to show trucking companies and warehouses how to forge partnerships that will meet this demand and bring profit to all parties. Christopher J. DiSilva, President of DiSilva Taunton Express, and Rick Kappmeier, Senior Vice President of Engineering/Transportation for Versacold, discuss how these carrier/warehouse relationships are best structured and managed, and how to increase EDI/KPI communication to keep your customers happy. Join us April 19-24, 2008 in Marco Island, Florida, USA. Register today! |
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U.S. Exports Climbing While U.S. Imports Fall |
Even while food prices skyrocket (see next article), the U.S. is reporting exemplary agricultural export rates. Last week at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Outlook Forum, the USDA Secretary Ed Schafer forecasted that U.S. agricultural exports will reach a record $101 billion for fiscal year 2008. The expected value is $19 billion above 2007. Schafer attributed the steep increase to higher prices, but noted that "export volumes are also generally higher." Schafer went onto say that, "with U.S. agricultural imports forecast at $76.5 billion, [the U.S. can] expect a $24.5 billion trade surplus."
However, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke reported to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday that the weakening dollar spells trouble for importers and has sparked inflation as the cost of foreign imports jumps.* For example, the U.S. is a primary market for Chinese importers, but as Bloomberg recently reported Chinese exporters expect decreased earnings as U.S. purchasing power falls.
*AFP. See full story. 27 Feb 2008. |
