The Trucker Newspaper - December 15-31, 2015

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10 • December 15-31, 2015 Nation thetrucker.com Last round of holiday imports hitting ports in time to feed increased sales The Trucker file photo The National Retail Federtion is forecasting a 3.7 percent increase in holiday sales this year over 2014. Cargo volume does not directly correlate with sales figures because each container counts the same regardless of the value of its content, but nonetheless provides a barometer of retailers’ expectations. TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES WASHINGTON —The nation’s major retail container ports are expected to see increased volume compared to last year as stores bring in the last round of merchandise for the holiday season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates. “The holiday season is well under way and merchants are doing the final balancing act of matching supply to demand,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said December 8. “Retailers went into the season with strong inventories that ensured consumers would have a good depth and breadth of selection, and that should hold true for the remainder of the season.” NRF is forecasting a 3.7 percent increase in holiday sales this year over 2014. Cargo volume does not directly correlate with sales figures because each container counts the same regardless of the value of its content, but nonetheless provides a barometer of retailers’ expectations, Gold said. Ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.56 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) in October, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was down 4.1 percent from September and down 0.1 percent from a year ago. One TEU is one 20-footlong cargo container or its equivalent. November was estimated at 1.5 million TEU, up 7.4 percent from 2014, and December is forecast at 1.44 million TEU, down 0.1 percent from last year. Those numbers would bring 2015 to a total of 18.3 million TEU, up 5.5 percent from last year. The first half of 2015 totaled 8.9 million TEU, up 6.5 percent over the same period last year. Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said retailers are still working off excess inventory built up after dock workers agreed to a new contract early this year, ending a months-long labor dispute. Warm weather that diminished the demand for winter clothing also contributed to the excess inventory. “U.S. retail sales increased in October by the most in three months and consumer sentiment rose as well, but the inventory-to-sales ratio remained stubbornly high at levels not seen since the Great Recession in 2009,” Hackett said. “Personal savings increased, but on the flip side so did the use of credit cards.” Global Port Tracker, produced for NRF by Hackett Associates, covers major U.S. ports on both coasts, along with Houston. NRF claims to be the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, according to the NRF, supporting one in four U.S. jobs, or 42 million working Americans. Hackett Associates provides consulting, research and advisory services to the international maritime industry, government agencies and international institutions. 8
Thetrucker.com SCDOT wants to sell ads on property for revenue THE ASSOCIATED PRESS COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Department of Transportation trucks could soon look like billboards as the agency seeks to raise money by selling advertising. DOT officials asked a House panel December 3 for permission to sell ads on the agency’s property, including its buildings, trucks and website. The agency has no estimates yet for the potential revenue. “We view it as a potential opportunity,” said DOT Secretary Christy Hall. For example, she said, the blue trucks that drive the interstates to assist broken-down motorists could advertise an insurance company. The agency would abide by local ordinances, said Allen Hutto, the agency’s legislative liaison. “This isn’t free rein to do anything,” he said. “We can’t in the middle of a downtown somewhere put up a big banner on the front of the building.” b Thief from page 4 b with an empty truck and load it up with goods stolen from trucks all along I-40. Police tracked the stolen speakers to a rental storage center in Lyon Township, Michigan, where a state trooper found two suspects, a tractor-trailer and two rental units filled with stolen electronics and other goods. At the nearby home Nation December 15-31, 2015 • 11 The House panel postponed voting on the idea to work on the wording for how ads would be sold. Hall said the normal competitive bidding process would apply. But House Oversight subcommittee members want the proposal to be specific. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-Rock Hill, said he wants to ensure there’s a fair process if “you have four people who want to be on the same space.” The cash-strapped agency is also looking to collect money from toll booth violators. While the state can send a bill to out-ofstate drivers, it can’t do anything if they don’t pay, Hall said. The state has two toll roads — the Southern Connector in Greenville County and the Cross Island Parkway on Hilton Head Island. Last year, $76,000 worth of out-of-state fines went unpaid, Hutto said. Currently, the agency can collect only by taking violators to magistrate’s court. That’s not a feasible option for out-of-state residents. Even for in-state violators, it’s not ideal, since it’s a time-consuming process for the agency that also ties up local courts, Hall said. 8 of one of the suspects, authorities found more than $1 million worth of merchandise and other items they believe were bought with proceeds from thefts, including a $500,000 Ferrari, The Detroit News reported. In 2013, the Travelers trailer was taken by members of a Miami-based group that was stealing cargo in eastern Pennsylvania and taking it to sell in New Jersey, Cornell said. Two people were arrested after driving the trailer into New Jersey. 8 We require Clean MVR Hard-working and professional 2 years verifiable OTR experience Passport and ability to enter Canada Ability to be on the road up to 4 months at a time Owner-Operators Tags and fuel surcharge program available Average 70-75% of line haul Must be CA compliant Teams welcome! Please call our recruiting department for more details and to apply 888.JANCO.NJ or 800.526.9085 Please visit our website at www.jancoltd.com or like us on facebook.com/JancoLTD
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The Trucker Newspaper - December 15-31, 2015

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