Maersk's Bid to Run Va. Port Challenged As Two Unidentified Firms Show Interest

This story appears in the Aug. 27 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

Two more companies have ex­pressed interest in taking over operations at the Port of Virginia, creating alternatives to an earlier offer from Maersk, which operates the largest container shipping fleet.

The port, located in the Norfolk/Hampton Roads region of the state, has been operated for more than 30 years by Virginia International Terminals, which is a state-sponsored operator.

Ryan Pedraza, program manager in Virginia’s public-private programs office within the Department of Transportation, confirmed to Transport Topics on Aug. 20 that two alternative proposals had been received. He declined to disclose their identities.

Published reports have listed one of the bidders as investor Carlyle Group, and the other is a real estate affiliate of Deutsche Bank. Neither firm responded to TT’s requests for comment.

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Software Firms Partner to Cut Invoicing Time for Transportation Companies

Quadrant Software on Monday announced a partnership with document imaging company Real Vision Software to reduce invoicing time for transportation and distribution companies.

The companies have launched the Mobile Signature Capture System, which allows companies to send out invoices for products and services the instant those products are delivered and signed for, said Quadrant, which provides document output management software.

The system enables companies to create forms from IBM i-based applications, route them throughout an organization or to customers, archive those documents electronically and make them available for both remote and tethered digital signature capture on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, the company said.

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New Trailer Tools Save Fuel, Raise Productivity, Firms Say

By Rip Watson and Neil Abt, Senior Reporters

This story appears in the Oct. 31 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Enhancements to trailer productivity were spotlighted recently as suppliers offered several approaches to fleets for improving productivity by either lowering fuel costs or increasing payloads.

Aerofficient LLC presented hinged side fairings and announced an order of 5,000 units from U.S. Xpress Enterprises for the new equipment during American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition here.

ATDynamics Inc. launched a campaign to install 50,000 of its “trailer tails,” while Transtex Composite Inc. and Solus Solutions and Technologies LLC also displayed their series of aerodynamic products for truck trailers.

In addition, Alutrec Inc. said it was introducing an aluminum flatbed trailer that could increase payloads by as much as 5,000 pounds.

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Manitoba trucking firms raise thousands for United Way

WINNIPEG, Man. -- Six Manitoba-based trucking companies have raised $3,000 for the United Way after taking part in a friendly truck-pull competition Oct. 13.

The six companies each assembled teams of 10 that competed to pull a truck 150 ft in the shortest amount of time.

Taking first place was Dr. Hook, with Bison Transport coming in second "by milliseconds," according to event organizers. Rounding out the list in order were Sysco Foods, Beaver Truck Centre, Payne Transportation and Maxim Truck and Trailer.

"I would sincerely like to thank you and your teams for your participation and the donation of the trucks in the Local Industry Truck Pull competition," said Laura La Palme of Bison Transport. "Your involvement in the truck pull, answered our challenge to help show support for our community and raise money for the United Way."

This is the second year that Manitoba trucking companies have held a truck-pull competition to raise money for the charity.

"There are over 400 for-hire trucking companies headquartered right here in Manitoba so it is important for our industry to show continued community support and leadership which is why the MTA is a proud supporter of this event," said Terry Shaw, manager of the Manitoba Trucking Association.

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