Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico was 28 percent lower in July 2009 than in July 2008, dropping to $51.5 billion in the seventh consecutive month with a year-to-year decline of greater than 27 percent, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
FTR Trucking Conditions Index ticked up slightly in August, but at a reading of -20.18 still remains well below a neutral reading of 0. FTR says the index shows modest improvement from its low reading of -28.80 in March, but is expected to remain well below normal levels until freight growth takes off in the second half of 2010.
Schneider National will close two operating centers in Seville, Ohio, and Green Bay, Wis., on Nov. 17. In Seville, 10 office and 45 maintenance and driver services positions will be eliminated, and in Green Bay, 50 maintenance and driver services positions are being eliminated. The Green Bay-based company says no driving positions are affected.
Minneapolis-based third-party logistics provider C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. acquired two jointly owned Boca Raton, Fla.-based produce industry companies: Rosemont Farms Corp., a produce marketing company; and Quality Logistics, a nonasset-based logistics sister company that focuses on refrigerated and less-than-truckload produce transportation. Terms were not announced.
Quality Distribution sold substantially all of the operating assets of its Quala Systems Inc. tank wash subsidiary to QualaWash Holdings LLC for $13.0 million. In connection with the sale, QSI entered into various agreements with QWH, including long-term leases of real estate used in the tank wash business and various operating agreements.
