3 Air cargo trends to watch in 2019

As 2018 winds down, shippers in the pharmaceuticals market should take note of three air cargo trends shaping the industry in the year ahead, according to Dominic Hyde, vice president of Credo on Demand, a service of temperature-controlled packaging solutions provider Pelican BioThermal.

Hyde offered the following insights in a year-end summary of key issues and trends to watch in 2019:

Blockchain technology

Identifying the source of product damage after a shipper has arrived at the end user's facility is a next to impossible task, according to Hyde. Not only can the source of the damage come from nearly any leg of the journey, he says, but the culprit is unlikely to volunteer themselves to pay for damages to a payload that, in the case of biologics, can be worth well over seven figures. Paper-based manifests, chain of custody and damage records can be fabricated and liability obfuscated, he adds.

Blockchain technology may be the answer to the problem. As Hyde explains, blockchain creates a permanent and incorruptible record that tracks physical movement of a shipment and can aid the investigation into who is to blame for damages incurred along the way. Through serialization, blockchain can identify when a major 3PL contracts with a local, third-party trucking company, for instance, and damage to a carton is incurred. While there are a number of blockchain variations, the Blockchain in Transport Alliance is pushing for a standardized implementation in the logistics industry. Large industry partners such as UPS, FedEx, DHL and Union Pacific have signed on to the BTA, making the future of blockchain in air freight a near certainty, he says.

"Within the decade, I expect that blockchain will expand beyond tracking between the shipper and receiver and encompass the entire pharmaceutical supply chain," Hyde says. "Blockchain technology allows for increased data and visibility—from the ingredient suppliers to end-user patients and [every] stage in between—using a permanent, decentralized and public digital record."

Artificial intelligence

Hyde says artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive software have "huge implications for the shipping industry." Algorithms that can account for weather forecasts, flight times, gulf streams and even expected wait times and holdovers at customs and border protection facilities, are all factors affecting arrival times for packages.

"Datasets from pharmaceutical distribution are large, making the application of AI ideal for the industry. Using this data, AI has the potential to identify new and ongoing issues, empowering positive interventions to preserve shipments," he says. "This level of data has the potential to allow third-party logistics providers to provide pharmaceutical manufacturers and other stakeholders a new level of customer service; early adoption of AI will be a key differentiator for shippers in the next three to five years."

Cost-effective alternatives for less critical return trips ?

Pilot shortages and an increase in commercial shipping have led to a 6 percent undersupply in available air freight over the last two years, Hyde says. The situation has created long lines for a dwindling resource and increased air freight prices to accommodate for supply and demand.?? He says 3PLs and others will seek cost-effective alternatives, such as sea freight, as they look to rebalance shipping containers in this new climate. Pelican BioThermal is using sea freight for the return of containers after payloads have reached their destination, he says, allowing the company to "sidestep the laws of supply and demand in air cargo and pass those savings on to our customers."  

"With a large portion of pharmaceuticals shipped via air freight, even the most innocuous trends in air cargo can have a significant impact on the pharmaceutical cold chain," Hyde adds. "As a result, staying ahead of the latest trends impacting air cargo is a business imperative for those looking to safely and efficiently ship these types of payloads."

Reference: https://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/20181226-3-air-cargo-trends-to-watch-in-2019/

Transportation Commission condemns Minnehaha property

Condemnation of a piece of land in Minnehaha County was voted on and approved by the South Dakota Transportation Commission, December 20, in Pierre.

The report was supplied by Mike Behm, director of planning and engineering South Dakota Department of Transportation to the Transportation Commission.

The report read, “To date, the Department of Transportation has been unable to acquire the real property interests through negotiations for the project.” The project in Brandon and Corson is curb ramp upgrades in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

The request to the Transportation Commission was for a “resolution determining that the taking and damaging of real property interests in and to the following property is necessary for a public purpose.”

The project is to install truncated dome plates at the sidewalk corner for aid to visually handicapped pedestrians. The property is the northeast corner sidewalk area at the intersection of 260th Street and South Dakota Highway 11 (Parcel 2, 0.03 acres, permanent easement, 1,095 square feet more or less). The bit of land is in Fauske's Addition in Corson. Corson, population of 70, is an unincorporated community in Brandon Township, Minnehaha County.

The condemnation is from “Troy Novak et.al.; (Cyril M & Olivia M Koob - deceased, and unnamed parties of interest).”

Under the South Dakota Department of Transportation, the South Dakota Transportation Commission consists of Rodney Fouber of Aberdeen representing Area 1, Donald Roby of Watertown - Area 1, Ralph Marquardt of Yankton - Area 2, Larry A. Nelson of Canton - Area 2, Mike Vehle of Mitchell - Area 2, Kim Vanneman of Ideal - Area 3, Kathleen Zander of Pierre - Area 3, Ronald Rosenboom of Sturgis - Area 4, and Kyle White of Rapid City - Area 4.

Reference: https://www.capjournal.com/news/transportation-commission-condemns-minnehaha-property/article_52ab8dfe-0738-11e9-a49b-b72170681b8d.html

Weconex Wins the Third Place in the ‘Internet Plus Transportation’ Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition

GUANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Weconex, a leading transportation system solution provider, is pleased to announce that it has won the third place in the national finals for the 4th Xiaoguwei ‘Internet Plus Transportation’ Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition, held on December 21st in Guangzhou.

The Xiaoguwei Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition was organized by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Transport, China Transport News, the People's government of Panyu District and Guangdong Provincial Transportation Group Co., Ltd. This year’s theme was ‘Innovation and Integration—Accelerating the Development of High-quality Transportation Services’, topics ranging from smart transportation, big data, artificial intelligence (AI) to Internet of Vehicles (IoV) and Internet of Things (IoT). Over the past three months, the 34 national finalists were selected from 1500 enterprises in China. By virtue of its revolutionary business idea and technological innovation, Weconex’s flagship product DeerTrip™ one-stop cross-border travel solution has been acknowledged by the panel and industry experts. The award has once again demonstrated Weconex's strength and determination to become an industry leader.

Following the award ceremony, Vice President of Weconex, Tseng Kuan-Chih said, “This competition has indeed provided a stage for emerging enterprises, encouraging us to explore the potential of technology, and to change the world for the better through innovations. Thank you to the panel and the whole industry, for your approval of Weconex's innovation and contribution on ‘new mobility +’ cross-border travel solution.”

‘New Mobility +’ Services Drive the future of Smart Transportation

DeerTrip™ cross-border travel services platform integrates transportation information platform, transport card/E-ticket platform and membership management platform. The service covers Guangdong and Jiangsu Provinces, targeting inter-provincial and cross-border independent travelers across the country. By interconnecting urban public transport systems, Weconex helps transport card companies enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of public transportation, providing citizens with more convenient and intelligent user experiences.

Weconex is actively extending its cooperation with global transport card companies, smartphone operators, and financial institutions from Hong Kong, Taipei, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. By embarking on the path of win-win cooperation, Weconex hopes to drive global ‘new mobility +’ trends and meet the need of worldwide travelers.

About Weconex Group

Weconex Group is a leading transportation system solution provider in China, headquartered in Guangzhou with branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Xi 'an, Zhengzhou, Changsha, Wuhan, Taipei, Hong Kong and so on. Grounded with its core value of green travel and public transport priority, the company provides efficient and fast access and low-cost integrated solution.

Currently, Weconex Group has covered 4 main provinces – Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanxi, and Henan and 50 cities in China. Besides DeerTrip™ App, Weconex also provides comprehensive products for public transportation industry, including Public transportation cards operating system, E-ticketing solution, AI customer service system, and diversity terminal POS and integrating payment system used in transport and finance payment.

For more information, please check: http://www.weconex.com/En/index.html.