Aljex Software Inc., a vendor of software and systems for third-party logistics providers and carriers, is offering free accounts to carriers and brokers willing to serve as beta testers for software improvements.

The U.S. arm of Air Menzies International (AMI) has launched click2ship Imports, the import version of its online, door-to-door express wholesale service for air freight.

Zepol Corporation, a trade intelligence company, reports that U.S. import shipment volume for June, measured in TEUs, was down 3.7 percent from May, but is up 4.4 percent from June 2011. Similarly, Q2 of 2012 has topped last year at this time by 4.7 percent. Although there was a drop from last month, June had the second-highest TEU imports so far this year, outdoing January by a slight 1 percent. Last year saw a comparable trend in the summer months with a moderate dip in June, but spikes in July and August.

The GAC Group, a global logistics, shipping and marine services company, has launched a road freight groupage offering between Turkey and the U.K.

Pharmaceutical companies are hiring a little help, and joining with third-party logistics services companies, but are they abandoning too much control over their business, asks a new report by healthcare experts GBI Research.

Projects FPS, the new project-forwarding and third-party logistics arm of Famous Pacific Shipping Lanka, has created a dedicated logistics center at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

Tri-State Delivery Inc. has changed its name to TSD Logistics Inc. The third-party logistics provider offers a diversified portfolio of global shipping services, including bulk transportation of raw materials, dedicated freight shipments, expedited logistics and complete freight management.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global traffic results for May showing a general downward trend in line with deteriorating global economic conditions.

The economics of international trade demand that transportation planners and researchers continually seek methods by which to improve the productivity, efficiency and cost competitiveness of freight transport. These methods have included several developments in intermodal transportation technology and also in the design of intermodal terminals.

The trend in North American freight volumes continues to follow the path of general malaise that the economy is experiencing, according to Rosalyn Wilson, senior business analyst at Delcan Corporation. The number of freight shipments in June was up a scant 1.3 percent from the previous month, while at the same time total freight costs declined 0.1 percent. The economy has been flat for several months and is even beginning to trend downward in terms of new orders and manufacturing output. This slowdown on manufactured goods is putting downward pressure on freight.