Trade statistics released by the Shippers’ Voice, reveal a gloomy picture of future trade volumes and even suggest we could see more unfit adults and unhappy children; not to mention worried executives of international carriers and logistics service providers as volumes struggle to grow over the next two or three years.

Shippers should think twice before developing a dedicated software solution with their logistics provider, according to ‘Keeping your options open through a collaborative IT approach’, a new Shippers’ Voice co-authored paper with the collaborative and visibility IT provider 'Transwide'.

According to Infin Management's Kelvin Seddon, it seems that the tax payer is propping up the markets and presenting a rosier picture of economic fortune than is perhaps warranted: the transport and logistics sector could be a good barometer of the true state of affairs. Meanwhile, the US Dollar has weakened: the net effect is a strengthening oil price. have risen.

US legislation mandated 50% screening of cargo that is transported by a passenger carrier by February 2009 and 100% screening of cargo that is transported by a passenger carrier by August 2010. It may appear to shippers that the 50% mandate was met without significant challenges, but TSA warns that shippers should not be too complacent or believe that things will run as smoothly when 100%  screening is required.

Information collated by the European Commission's DG TAXUD regarding where and how EORI numbers are obtained and assigned across the Member States has been published. It aims at providing useful information related to the national implementation of EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification scheme).