freight forwarding

Cargobase reports 273% growth in automated spot freight procurement

In a press release on Oct. 13, Singapore-based logistics tech company Cargobase — a leading spot-buy freight platform — reported a year-over-year 273% increase in revenue in “Pandemic Procurement,” a facet of its platform which automates the manual procurement of freight. 

Overall transactions on the platform have also increased by 240%, marking these figures as the highest record of growth since the platform’s inception in 2013. Most of this growth occurred in the third quarter of 2020, and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/cargobase-reports-273-growth-in-automated-spot-freight-procurement

Commentary: How AI, machine learning are streamlining workflows in freight forwarding, customs brokerage

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates. 

In this installment of the AI in Supply Chain series (#AIinSupplyChain) we explore how AI is being used to help freight forwarders and customs brokers manage their workflows more efficiently.

To help us understand the issues at play, we will meet Vector.ai, a startup based in London. Regular readers of this column have previously encountered Vector.ai in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/commentary-how-ai-machine-learning-are-streamlining-workflows-in-freight-forwarding-customs-brokerage

How automation can transform the logistics of shipping perishable goods (with video)

Amit Hasak, Transship founder and CEO (right), talks with Brian Laung Aoaeh, co-founder of REFASHIOND Ventures during American Shipper’s Global Trade Tech summit. They discussed how automated freight forwarding can reshape how perishable goods get shipped.

Transship founder and CEO Amit Hasak’s vision for the future of transporting perishable goods across the world involves fewer phone calls and emails and a lot more automation. The result: potentially knowing that a malfunctioning reefer unit spoiled that shipment of frozen pork long before someone opens that container at a Chinese port. 

“We provide that information in real time,” Hasak said during a virtual fireside chat at American Shipper’s Global Trade Tech summit on Thursday. He spoke with...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-automation-can-transform-the-logistics-of-shipping-perishable-goods-with-video

Parnity creates global networking platform for freight forwarders

Parnity creates global networking platform for freight forwarders (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Parnity, a Brazilian freight forwarding startup, is creating a one-stop platform for forwarders to connect with fellow forwarders and manage their own network. Parnity’s platform accounts for over 7,000 freight forwarders, providing a public space where users can see forwarder profiles and custom search for partners based on their needs. 

“Freight forwarders will also have a private profile under the My Network tab, which acts as a customer relationship management [CRM] tool for partners....

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/parnity-creates-global-networking-platform-for-freight-forwarders

Career Tracks: Virgin Hyperloop hires CFO

Mass transportation innovator Virgin Hyperloop has hired Raja Narayanan as chief financial officer.

Narayanan most recently was a senior vice president for the Hyundai-Aptiv autonomous driving joint venture. Prior to that, he was with OneWeb, leading “the creation of a financially compelling offering for commercial aviation,” Virgin Hyperloop said. 

He also was a vice president at Panasonic and led the deployment of a strategic plan for the Internet of Things-based automation of the appliances...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/career-tracks:-virgin-hyperloop-hires-cfo

Shipwaves goes with TradeLens information flow

Digital freight forwarder Shipwaves has joined TradeLens, the blockchain-enabled shipping platform developed by A.P. Møller – Maersk and IBM.

Shipwaves, based in Mumbai, India, said the move is aimed at accelerating the digitization of ocean logistics, particularly in India and the Middle East. Having recently allowed shipping bills of lading to be filed over a blockchain platform, India has been “betting big on blockchain-enabled solutions to digitize its maritime supply chains,” Shipwaves said.

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/shipwaves-goes-with-tradelens-information-flow

Kuehne + Nagel uses ‘agile structure’ to weather 1H 2020

Kuehne + Nagel Group headquarters

Global freight forwarder Kuehne + Nagel Group (OTCMKTS: KHNGY) used its “agile structure, rigorous cost management and high-quality service offerings” to counter potentially devastating financial impacts from the coronavirus pandemic during the first half of the year, said CEO Detlef Trefzger in a statement on Tuesday.

The Swiss company recorded a first-half, pretax profit of CHF 419 million ($449 million), down 18% from the same period last year.

“We took the right measures early on and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/kuehne-nagel-uses-agile-structure-to-weather-1h-2020

ITG Transportation Services partners with Catapult to make multimodal quoting even easier

Red drayage truck loading container at port

For many freight forwarders, the international shipping market remains fragmented, so obtaining a quote can be an inefficient process. Without the consolidated pricing of a quote management system (QMS) platform, freight forwarders must reach out individually to customs brokers, drayage providers — not to mention multiple steamship lines — to procure a comprehensive quote. 

That’s precisely why Dan Kopp, CEO of ITG Transportation Services, and Virgil Ferreira, CEO of Catapult, decided to...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/itg-transportation-services-partners-with-catapult-to-make-multimodal-quoting-even-easier

Pilot Freight expands corporate umbrella

Pilot Freight Services, a 50-year-old logistics services provider with roots in airfreight, has placed five long-time, franchise-operated offices under its direct management.

The former franchises are located in Texas, Wisconsin and Mexico. Pilot said the acquisition of these offices was attractive due to their “strong historical growth and operational performance” for the overall company.

Financial terms of the acquisitions, effective today, July 1, were not disclosed by either Pilot or its...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/pilot-freight-expands-corporate-umbrella

Career Tracks: Fifth-generation dockworker appointed to harbor board

Fifth-generation dockworker and union leader Bobby Olvera Jr. participated in his first meeting last week as a member of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners.

Olvera, appointed to the board in May by Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, also serves as international vice president (mainland) of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). 

The Long Beach City Council unanimously confirmed Olvera to complete the term of Lou Anne Bynum that expires in June 2021. Bynum resigned from the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/career-tracks-fifth-generation-dockworker-appointed-to-harbor-board

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