FullScreen View It doesn’t half ERTS...


No new computer system, least of all one commissioned by the government, is ever installed without a hitch. And when the EU is involved, as it is with so many of the freight customs systems that have popped up over the last ten years or so, the likelihood of teething troubles, to put it politely, grows exponentially. No wonder HMRC’s proposed controls for goods moving to Enhanced Remote Transit Sheds (ERTS) has raised more than a few eyebrows. Agency Sector Management


has jumped in to try to find a way to facilitate the implementation of these new controls. It has asked ERTS operators for their


views


on developing ‘an auditable mechanism to establish when goods are entered and discharged from the transit system’. “The problem with ERTS is


that security is based on a ‘deed of understanding’,” explains Pete MacSwiney, chairman of ASM. “This means that forwarders pay if goods go missing during transit. The EU has said that this does not constitute sufficient security and


By Marcia Macleod


goods had to move under a transit guarantee, even though they are not in transit. Forwarders have to agree that the goods are in transit, whether they are or not, and a vehicle log kept. “We have identified a potential


way forward that involves establishing an unambiguous solution, but we have to ensure that any proposed solution does not add an unacceptable level of administrative burden or slow the movement of goods through the UK. “The survey is meant to


ascertain whether ERTS operators foresee any issues with our proposal. So far, feedback has been positive.” ASM also played a part in the New Community Transit System


(NCTS) testing. Whenever there are changes to this or any HMRC system, the soſtware needs to be tested. But earlier this year, there was no test available to forwarders for NCTS, despite the fact that Croatia and Turkey have been added to the Common Transit Convention which governs NCTS. Thanks to pressure from UK companies like ASM, forwarders can now check that messages are sent successfully.


Fargo Systems now offers an


interface from its TOPS forwarding system to the Compass port community system from CNS (Community Network Services). Compass links port users at Southampton, King’s


Tilbury, Lynn and some


Poole, other


ports with each other and HMRC. London Gateway will be added in due course. Although many of the forwarders’ systems already link to Compass, Fargo customers only recently asked for it to be added. TOPS already links to MCP’s Destin8 system, serving Felixstowe, Thamesport, Harwich, Liverpool, Immingham and Hull, among others.


No carbon copy for Menlo


Menlo Worldwide Logistics has become the latest 3PL to offer carbon emission calculation for its own and its customers’ freight movements. But rather than go for an off-the-shelf package, such as Carbon Footprint or Carbonica, Menlo has developed its own soſtware, which it calls CarbonNet. “We looked at the market and did


not see an existing application that would provide the breadth and depth of capability we needed,” said a Menlo spokesman. “We also designed CarbonNet to integrate with our lean principles and tools - which nothing on the market could do.”


CarbonNet gives Menlo the


ability to capture, calculate and manage emissions activity across


the entire supply chain. “First we can accurately benchmark and measure the carbon footprint of our operations today, before identifying and capturing reduction opportunities,” emphasises Anthony Oliverio, vice president, supply chain services. “As we map and measure our facilities and operations, we can use our knowledge to refine the programme.” All data and findings obtained


in measuring Menlo’s own natural resource consumption and associated carbon output will be immediately available to customers using Menlo’s warehousing and transport management services. Many of Menlo’s customers are already pursuing similar


sustainability initiatives and are seeking accurate, validated data to help them calculate their own carbon emissions. CarbonNet has been piloted


at 60 Menlo facilities in the US over the past year. The soſtware was developed in-house and is designed to be highly configurable and to accept data from a wide variety of inputs, including suppliers, vendors and other third parties. In addition to information about transport - airfreight, seafreight, LTL and truckload - the system can capture data on the energy impact of forkliſts and pallet jacks; heating and lighting at warehouses and offices; computer systems; water use; and recycling programmes.


Issue 6 2012


Shipshape at Schenker


DB Schenker Logistics continues to expand its IT offering in the warehousing/inventory arena. Aſter working with Siemens to reorganise warehousing, including better IT integration, it is now integrating clients’ procurement systems to its marine parts specialist airfreight service for delivery of parts to ships. When


the client sends a


purchase order to a vendor, the details are automatically uploaded


DB Schenker has also introduced advanced tracking


into MyMPS, DB Schenker’s online inventory management programme. Status update messages can then be returned to the customer. “This will give the client a much


faster and more precise overview, as well as saving time,” says Helge Jensen, product management EMEA for DB Schenkermarineparts.


25


for all air and ocean freight consignments. Shippers can customise


information service and


receive automatic notifications about the status of their cargo. DB Schenkersmartbox


can


track ocean freight containers on a map in real time, 34x7, using GPS. They can also retrieve a variety of information captured by sensors in the container, such as the temperature and humidity of the interior of the box.


Banish that empty feeling


An EU-funded CO2 project showed that in 2010, the average truck on Europe’s roads had a utilisation rate of just 55%. That means that they are running empty almost half of their service time. But hauliers now have


a chance to improve this utilisation rate, thanks to a


new mobile tool developed


by Freightex, the European transport service provider. Approved drivers working within the Freightex network can enter their location and destination


in the mobile


devices to search for available loads in the vicinity.


IT News


Dump the paperwork, urges industry group


The Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG) has called on World Customs Organisation (WCO) members to shiſt from paper


documents to a full


e-customs environment, in a new position paper to sent to secretary general, Mr Kunio Mikuriya, in mid-October. The Group called on countries


to “embrace and implement the principles of the Revised Kyoto Convention” and, at a minimum, introduce electronic export and import goods declarations to Customs provided by exporters, importers and/ or their forwarders or customs brokers; export, import and


transit cargo declarations sent to Customs by airlines; release of shipments into free circulation following completion of Customs formalities; and record keeping and archiving for all participating parties. Michael


Steen, chair of


GACAG, said this would benefit all involved in global trade - including manufacturers, farmers, transportation companies involved in all modes and consumers. In its recommendations, GACAG


added that Customs should require supporting paper documents only on an exceptional basis for examination purposes. At the same time, authorities should accept


Michael Steen


printouts of electronic records such as airwaybills and manifest transport documents as well as all key commercial documents such as commercial invoices, packing lists, hazardous materials documentation and certificates of origin.


Rational!


Since choosing the ForwardOffice software package, and Forward Computers as IT partners, we have not looked back. The whole system has been the bedrock of our Company since 1999 and the advances, past, present and future, help us to stay at the forefront of our specialised fi eld of NVOC services.


Bob Andrews, Managing Director, Globelink-Fallow


Speak to the freight software experts today call +44 (0)115 938 0280 or email sales@forwardcomputers.co.uk


www.forwardcomputers.co.uk K10110_fbj 70x133-aw.indd 1 25/04/2012 11:44 “One of the biggest challenges


hauliers face is how to reduce empty running and improve vehicle utilisation rates,” says Freightex ceo Tim Phillips. “Often planned return loads are not available and they need to find a replacement. Our new tool allows them to do that.”


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