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Why Use Cornerstone?
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Testimonials
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Water Cooler Trivia
Completely useless but fun...
Movie and Film Trivia
Do you know what the top grossing films of all time are?
Both Worldwide and in U.S.
1. Avatar
2. Titanic
3. Marvel's The Avengers
Share your useless trivia
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Greetings!
Industry updates are important to all of us. If you would like to receive an update on a topic not listed in this issue or receive more information on Cornerstone Systems, please contact us at 800-278-7677 or visit our website at www.cornerstone-systems.com.
We are here to help.
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How A Simple Metal Box Transformed Global Trade
 Great Article From The Economist
Recently Tim Clay, Cornerstone President/COO, shared an article from "The Economist" with all Cornerstone employees. It was a fantastic read on the impact containerization has had on global trade. In fact, new research suggests that the container has been more of a driver of globalization than all trade agreements in the past 50 years combined.
Click Here For Full Article "The Humble Hero" from The Economist
We wanted to share it with others in the freight business, and hope you enjoy reading it.
  
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Building of New US-Mexico Border Crossing Stalls
Great Article From Associated Press
Occasionally we hear from a reader with a particular question. A reader has inquired into the status of the new US-Mexico Border crossing.
This article is the most recent update we found. We wanted to share it with others in the freight business, and hope you enjoy reading it.
Click Here For Full Article New US-Mexico Border Crossing Stalls
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Transportation Industry News
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Industry News |
3 day Intensive Truck Inspections Begin Today -
The three-day Roadcheck 2013 event kicked off Tuesday morning outside of Washington, where federal and state officials began intensive inspections of commercial trucks and buses. The annual event, sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, will have a special focus on cargo securement this year, said CVSA, which represents law enforcement personnel who conduct truck safety inspections in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Anne Ferro, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and representatives from the Maryland State Police and the trucking industry attended Roadcheck's opening ceremony at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. "This year's Roadcheck comes at a perfect time to get the word out on our new hours-of-service rule," Ferro said in a statement. "The rule, which state and federal officials will begin enforcing on July 1, draws the line on fatigued driving." "Roadcheck gives the Alliance and its members a powerful and high-visibility mechanism to spotlight the critical role of comprehensive commercial vehicle driver and vehicle safety inspections to prevent roadway tragedies," added CVSA President Mark Savage, who is also a major in the Colorado State Patrol. Last year, about 133 of the 500 trucks given Level I inspections ended up in the out of service lot during the first six hours of Roadcheck, said Capt. Norman "Bill" Dofflemyer, division commander of the Maryland State Police, adding that he expects this year's numbers to be similar.
Virginia Port Plans 4-Hour Shutdown June 12 for ILA Meeting -
The Port of Virginia plans to halt work for four hours June 12 for a meeting to allow employers to make their case for gradually reducing the size of some container-handling gangs in the local International Longshoremen's Association contract. Although the union's East and Gulf coast master contract is in effect, supplemental local agreements remain unsettled in Virginia, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Charleston and Mobile. ILA members in Virginia rejected their local contract April 25. The main obstacle in the Virginia talks involves the size of labor gangs hired by Virginia International Terminals, the operating company of the Virginia Port Authority. At the June 12 meeting, employers will explain their proposal to gradually reduce gang sizes, which now include three extra crane operators at Norfolk International Terminals under an agreement that followed the introduction of new equipment. "We feel it's important to educate them on what the contract really means," Roger Giesinger, president and chief negotiator of the Hampton Roads Shipping Association, told the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot.
The employers' association is sponsoring the event in conjunction with top local leaders of the International Longshoremen's Association.
There's no risk of a strike or a lockout at this point, Giesinger told the Virginian-Pilot. He added that the plan is to resume negotiations with local labor leaders about five days after the June 12 session. Union officials have requested federal mediation, he said.
Arizona Inland Port Inaugurates 1st International Container Shipments -
Local officials gathered on May 31 to mark the ceremonial arrival of the first international ocean container at the Port of Tucson, Ariz. The container traveled to Tucson from China in 20 days. The inland port, which has been handling domestic containers since 2004, is trying to grow trade and business relationships globally. Port leaders have been working with Union Pacific Railroad officials to offer international service for containers transported on trains running to and from California. The ability to ship and receive international containers "is going to be great for southern Arizona and Mexico," said Alan Levin, who founded the port, in a press release. The Tucson facility is efficient for freight management since companies no longer will have to unload intermodal cargo at the Port of Long Beach, Calif., and transport the containers to Tucson, local officials said. Instead, Nogales now can serve as the gateway to Mexico from Tucson, they said.
US Rail Imports from Mexico Grow -
Imports by rail into the U.S. from Mexico jumped 21.7 percent year-over-year in March 2013, according to data obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Rail exports as well as both directions of truck traffic experienced declines. Imports by rail reached $3.84 billion this March from $3.15 billion in March 2012. Rail import value from Mexico also climbed 23.5 percent from February. In the first quarter of 2013, the value of rail imports from Mexico into the U.S. rose 14.7 percent from the same period in 2012. Year-over-year traffic value in this lane has been increasing for 14 straight months. The value of U.S. imports by truck from Mexico in March 2013 declined 5.6 percent year-over-year, to $15.73 billion, from $16.66 billion in March 2012. However import value increased 10.5 percent from the level seen in February. Imports by truck in this lane were down 3.3 percent through March compared to the level seen in the same three months of 2012.
Exports by rail to Mexico fell 5.4 percent year-over-year to $2.24 billion, the fourth consecutive decrease. This puts the value of exports by rail down 5.4 percent in the first three months of 2013 when compared with the same period in 2012. However, month-to-month rail exports increased 6.7 percent from $2.1 billion in February. The value of exports by truck from the U.S. to Mexico dropped 4.3 percent year-over-year but increased more than 2 percent month-to-month to $11.67 billion in March. This was the first year-over-year decline in 2013 so far. The value of exports by truck is now only up by 1 percent in first three months of 2013 compared with the level seen in the same period in 2012.
Truck Market Share in US Cross-Border Trade Shrinks -
The share of U.S. traffic with North American Free Trade Agreement partners Mexico and Canada via truck was down in March 2013, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Truck traffic fell 1 percentage point from 79.4 percent in February to 78.4 percent of the $73.15 billion in trade via truck and rail in March. U.S. exports by truck fell 4 percent in terms of value to $29.62 billion, down from $30.83 billion in March 2012. This was the third year-over-year decline in the past four months. The value of exports by truck was up from the level seen in February by 8.7 percent. The combined value of truck exports through March 2013 was down 0.4 percent from the level seen during the same period in 2012. he value of imports by truck dropped 4.2 percent to $27.71 billion in March, down from nearly $29 billion the March before. However, March also saw a month-to-month increase of roughly 11 percent. The value of imports by truck fell 2.4 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2013. U.S. rail exports to the rest of NAFTA increased 2.4 percent year-over-year in March and jumped 14.5 percent month-to-month to $5.44 billion. Rail exports have experienced just one year-over-year decline in almost 40 months. In the first three months of 2013, rail export value edged up 0.6 percent from the same period in 2012. The value of U.S. imports by rail from its NAFTA partners in March climbed 11 percent year-over-year to $10.38 billion, the highest rail import value since the JOC began collecting this data in January 2009. March's value was also up 18.3 percent from $8.77 billion in February. Rail import value was up 6.8 percent through March from the level reported for the same three months in 2012.
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Cornerstone Systems Earns A+ Rating from BBB
Better Business Bureau Releases Annual Rating
The Better Business Bureau recently released it's rating on Cornerstone Systems, and we are proud to once again receive a rating of A+.
What are BBB ratings? BBB letter grades represent their opinion of the company/business. They assign a grade based on BBB file information about the company. The BBB assigns letter grades from A+ (highest) to F (lowest).
Cornerstone Systems has received an A+ rating every year since becoming a Better Business Bureau Member.
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Cornerstone Systems Honored By Youth Villages
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(left to right) Youth Villages CEO Pat Lawler, Cornerstone CEO/Chairman Rick Rodell and wife Karen Rodell, Youth Villages Chairman of the Board of Directors Mike Bruns |
Red Kite Society Charter Member
Cornerstone Systems recently received recognition as a charter member of Youth Villages Red Kite Society. The Society, comprised of 125 members, has contributed over $120M to Youth Villages in an effort to help children in need.
Youth Villages helps children, young people and families through a continuum of programs using their "Evidentiary Family Restoration" approach. Programs include intensive in-home services for infants to 18-year-olds, transitional living services for former foster children, residential treatment campuses and intensive residential treatment centers. Other programs provided include specialized crisis services, foster care, adoption and mentoring.
Click to read more from Cornerstone CEO/Chairman Rick Rodell
Rick's Corner
Click to read more about Youth Villages
Youth Villages
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Fuel Prices
The Energy Information Administration reports U.S. On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices (dollars per gallon) every week.
6/3/13 Date Released
3.869 Average Retail Price
-0.011 (Down) Change From Week Ago
-0.023 (Up) Change From Year Ago
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Newsletter Sources: Cornerstone Systems, Transport Topics, Journal of Commerce, Progressive Railroading, The Economist, Associated Press, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Youth Villages
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