Commodities hauled by KTMB

Good morning everyone, it is a rainy Monday :) how are you today? Lets on the mood to read the blog :) Enjoy it :)

What is KTMB? Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) or Malayan Railways Limited is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. It has two types of commodities hauled by them.

1. CONTAINERIZE CARGO SERVICES

KTMB Berhad has made large investment in the acquisition for wagons, at the present, KTMB have the capacity to carry a total of 3500 TEUs of cargo at a time. KTM Berhad carries only ISO standard containers, but the arrangements can be made to carry high cube containers as well.

KTMB Berhad has also established connections with other container terminals by having rail links to their de pots. The terminals include:

                 a) Prai ( Multimodal freight)

                 b) Ipoh ( Ipoh Container Terminal/ Dry Port )

                 c) Setia Jaya (Sungai Way) (Container National Inland Container Depot)

                 d) Segamat ( Segamat Inland Port)

                 e) Pasir Gudang Container Yard

                  f) Singa pore  ( to PSA through independent Road Haulier )

2. KTM CARGO RAIL MOVEMENT ON CEMENT

KTM Cargo currently moves almost 6,000 metrics tonnes of cement  per day for the 4 major cement companies in Perlis and Perak to cater for the Klang Valley market needs. Cement is normally transported using Cement Bulk Carriers to Cima Kuang Siding, TCB Sg Buluh Siding and Lafarge Pdg. Jawa Siding.

KTM Cargo provide excellent heavy long haulage of cement cargo that are safe and reliable with a rail network connection to respective customers. It is a cost effective way to move large or bulk cement by rail and it supports the green environment.

KTMB Cargo has initiated the operations of ISO Container Tanks. They hope can provide an efficient Intermodal Rail - Road door to door services for the customer.

Below is the image of some wagon example :

Boxcar

Covered hopper

Flatcar

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ROAD TRANSPORTATION : MINIMIZING THE RISK OF DAMAGE, LOSS AND CLAIMS

Hello, mate. Welcome back on part 3 of road transportation discussion. Do you guys still remember our previous discussion about the risk in road transportation? Well, we were discussing about the road accident and the reason why it happen. When an accident occur, the product will be damage. Unfortunately,  in some cases, the product was not damage but somehow we loss it. So, for this part we will be discussed about how we or any parties involved in logistics activity want to minimize the risk of damage, loss and claims.

As we know, the damages and loss will increase the overall transportation cost. So first of all, we need to check the packaging. Shipments should be in a container that is suitable for its contents. Never exceed the container's maximum gross weight, which is identified in the Box Maker's Certificate printed on the bottom flap of the box.

Containers or boxes should be large enough to allow room for adequate cushioning material on all sides of the contents. They should be in good, rigid condition with no punctures, tears, rips, or corner damage. All flaps should be intact.

Each item within the container should be wrapped separately. Fragile articles need both proper separation from each other and clearance from the corners and sides of the box. Glass items must not touch other glass items. Proper cushioning material, combined with a strong outer container, will protect the shipment.

Proper closure and banding of the container is as important as adequate cushioning. Boxes should be closed securely with strong tape—such as pressure-sensitive plastic, water-activated paper tape or water-activated reinforced tape—two inches or more in width. Never use masking tape, cellophane tape, string or paper over wrap.

 Second is, we must check the shipment labelling. To ensure an appropriate delivery , the freights or goods need to be labelled according to the goods own information means it must have to do appropriately. So how to do the labelling process appropriately? Let's follow these guidelines.

Last but not least is on the inbound or receiving side. Change of custody is a critical moment in the logistics process, and is perhaps the single most important consideration when your freight arrives. It is imperative that you have qualified and trained employees to thoroughly inspect the freight.

Each shipment must be compared to the air bill or truck bill. Is the correct number of boxes accounted for? Are the boxes damaged? If the bands are broken or if boxes are open, are all the contents accounted for? Most importantly, are these inspections being done thoroughly prior to signing for the shipment?

The next critical element is making sure that all the freight is moved and stored properly. If unpacked, adhere to the special cargo handling labels, as well as to proper stacking and palletizing procedures.

The best way to ensure that you are taking all measures to prevent loss and damage on your end is to select qualified individuals to manage the process. You also need to provide clear direction through training manuals and reference guides.

Actually, there are many ways to reduce the loss and damage, but what just I wrote now  is only for the sharing process. Maybe you can give and provide any other ways and ideas. Ok, let's end this road transportation discussion and stay tuned for more from us, mate.

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4 factors for considering air freight vs. ocean freight

In life and business, there are always choices to make. When it comes to international shipping, there are many choices. Of all these choices, the most basic is the decision of what kind of transport to use: air freight or ocean freight. Whether you’re a business that will be shipping overseas all the time or an individual moving to a new country, deciding whether to go with ocean freight or air freight is an important choice. There are four key factors you should consider when making this decision.

   1. Cost

You probably don’t have to be told to consider the costs before an undertaking. As a business person, you consider the bottom line and as an individual, you have a budget. Naturally, you’re going to want to know which will cost you less, air freight or ocean freight. Typically, you will hear that shipping by ocean is cheaper than shipping by air. And typically, this is true; however, this is not necessarily Cargo Jet Plane the case.

To make the best decision, it helps to be educated about how carriers charge for international shipping. Airlines bill you by what is called a chargeable weight. Chargeable weight is calculated from a combination of the weight and size of a shipment. Sea carriers charge per container rates for shipping in standard containers (20’ and 40’ being the most common sizes). While weight can factor into the price from sea carriers, their charge tends to be based more on the size of a shipment. If you are shipping less than a container load, your price is often determined by cubic meter. With larger and heavier shipments, it is often much cheaper to ship by sea. As a shipment gets smaller, the margin between the prices gets smaller and sometimes air will even end up less expensive.Shippers should note that there are destination charges to consider. Whether shipping by air or by sea, there will be customs and destination fees. While the actual shipment cost of sea freight is usually cheaper than the shipment cost of air freight, the warehousing fees at seaports are many times more expensive than those at airports.

   2. Speed

When it comes to speed, there is no question that air freight is usually much Cargo Shipfaster. Since time is money, this factor could more than make up for a higher cost of flying cargo. Many sea shipments can take around a month to arrive while an air shipment takes a day or two. For most business shipping, faster is better. When it comes to the individual moving a household, it is often good to have the extra time to prepare for the arrival of household goods in a new country. It should be noted that technology keeps moving forward in the international shipping world. Ships are getting faster. Canals have created shorter shipping routes. There are many ocean freight shipments crossing the oceans and being delivered in as few as 8 days.

   3. Reliability

Reliability is something we all look for in people, businesses, products, and services. How does ocean freight and air freight stack up against each other in this category? Air freight shipping has a much, much shorter history than ocean freight shipping, yet air freight tends to win the battle of reliability. Flights get delayed by weather and other factors, but airlines tend to be very on top of their schedules. Ocean carriers are notorious for being bad about this. It is not uncommon for ships to be off schedule. For many, a day or two here or there doesn’t hurt; however, for many businesses, a day or two could have serious cost effects. With airlines, there are usually daily flights back and forth between major cities around the world. Because of this, missing a flight doesn’t cause much of a delay for a cargo shipment. Ocean lines tend to have weekly schedules. Missing the cutoff at a seaport means a longer delay.

   4. Environmental Impact

Not everything is about the bottom line and convenience. While the social awareness of environmental issues can change the way the public looks at a company and affect its bottom line, we all have a responsibility of taking care of the planet on which we live. It would seem that ocean freight wins this category. CO2 emissions are much higher in air freight transport than ocean freight transport. This causes cargo shipping by air to have a much larger carbon fingerprint than cargo shipping by sea. However, considering oil spills and the water ecosystems affected by ocean freight, gives pause. Perhaps the jury is still out on this final factor.

Considering these four factors should help you make the best decision for your cargo shipment.

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RAILS TRANSPORTATION

Thailand to open bids for high-speed rail project in 2013

The Thai government is planning to open international bidding in early 2013 for the first phase of a high-speed train project planned to be built at an investment of THB400bn ($12.69bn).

The Thai Transport Ministry is expected to propose the master plan for cabinet approval later in 2012.

According to the government, the project is part of its THB2.2 trillion ($69.83bn) infrastructure investment programme to be implemented over the coming years.

Under the plan, four routes will be opened for bidding with companies from China, South Korea, Japan and France reportedly interested in the project.

The proposed high-speed train routes will span 250km, connecting Bangkok-Pattaya, Bangkok-Pitsanulok, Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangkok-Hua Hin.

Construction work on the four routes is expected to be completed in 2018.

In the second stage, which is scheduled to be completed by 2022, new high-speed lines will be added, including routes from Bangkok-Rayong, Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Nong Khai and Bangkok-Hat Yai.

Construction of the high-speed rail lines, which will be used for freight and passenger services, will be carried out alongside existing railway routes.

The Thai government expects that after completion of the projects, the country's goods shipment transportation total usage will eventually increase to 80%, compared to only 2% now.

Ireland approves Dublin tram link project

The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) of Ireland has granted permission for the E370m Luas Broombridge project to link two Luas tram lines in Dublin city centre.

Under the project, a new Luas line will be built from the Green Line terminus at St. Stephen's Green through the city centre, Phibsborough and Cabra to Broombridge.

The new six-kilometre Luas light rail line is expected to commence operation by 2017, covering the entire journey in 24 minutes, serving 13 stations.

RPA director of light rail Michael Sheedy said: "It will form the foundation of a high-quality integrated network, which will significantly reduce the current high reliance on the private car."

The line will connect trams that are to be transferred between the Red and Green lines with the Maynooth Line at Broombridge.

The new line will serve a recently-approved Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) campus at Grangegorman, which is expected to accommodate more than 20,000 students.

Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said when complete, Dublin will have an integrated rail and light rail network, which has become the norm in other modern cities.

"For the first time, it will be possible to get a train in Maynooth or Leixlip and get out in Dundrum or Sandyford with just one change," Varadkar said. "Similarly, you will be able to get on the Luas at Tallaght and with just one change, get out at the new DIT campus or at Trinity College."

In 2011, the Luas network carried about 29 million passengers; the new line is expected to transport an additional eight million passengers per year, representing an increase of around 25%.

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RAIL TRANSPORT ABROAD

New South Wales to invest in rail maintenance facilities

The New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia has announced a plan to invest $60m to set up eight maintenance 'centres of excellence' for the state's rail network.

The investment is part of a programme to modernise NSW rail authority RailCorp's outdated maintenance practices.

According to the NSW government, the investment comes as it prepares for two new rail operators to join the network, Sydney Trains and NSW Trains, on 1 July 2013.

Construction on the first centre of excellence at Blacktown has already started, while others will be built at Sydenham, Hornsby, Strathfield, Glenfield, the Sydney CBD, Gosford and Wollongong.

A further four smaller satellite centres will also be set up at Sutherland, Hamilton, Lawson and Granville to rectify problems on the rail network. The state's three-year programme to improve maintenance and build centres of excellence to consolidate 130 disparate depots has been fast tracked to two years.

NSW Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian said that maintenance staff and inventory have been spread across 130 locations and there has been a fragmented and duplicated response to maintenance issues when compared to the Melbourne Metro, which has just eight main depots.

"Major track work is scheduled almost every weekend and it is also not unusual for staff to work on the track for only three hours of an eight hour shift. This all needs to change and there needs to be better coordination," Berejiklian said.

According to the government, the new centres of excellence will bring together the three major maintenance regulations, electrics, civil and signals.

"Maintenance of the rail network currently costs $1.1 billion a year; we need to be smarter about the way we do things and we need to eliminate the duplication, waste and lack of coordination that exists," Berejiklian added.

California High-Speed Rail Authority to upgrade rail corridor

California High-Speed Rail Authority board member Jim Hartnett said that the MoU will help to combine high-speed rail with regional and state-wide rail system.High-speed rail is designed to bring the regions of California together while providing all important benefits at the local level.Work under the project will involve upgrading the tracks, adding safety features and preparing the route to run future high-speed rail services.

The partnership between Caltrain and high-speed rail will improve rail traffic for one of the most important economic and innovative regions in our country.CHSRA CEO Jeff Morales said: "The blended system will allow existing rail systems to benefit from and eventually merge with the high-speed rail programme, while also benefitting Bay Area commuters and all Californians in the near future."

Caltrain provides rail service from San Francisco to San Jose and further passenger services to Gilroy, transporting over 50,000 riders per week.The total cost of electrifying and modernising the entire Caltrain system is $1.45bn, with the project expected to be completed by 2019.

An investment of $705m has been allocated to the project from Proposition 1A funds, which is being matched by a combination of federal, regional and local funding sources.The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) in the US has approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) to improve the rail corridor between San Francisco and San Jose in California, US.

Work under the project will involve upgrading the tracks, adding safety features and preparing the route to run future high-speed rail services.

The MoU also outlines a $ 750m modernisation plan to upgrade Caltrain's existing rail lines, electrify the rail corridor, install the advanced signalling system and acquire new electrified rail vehicles.

The modernisation programme is expected to cut Caltrain's operating costs by half and reduce the rail system's greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90%.

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RISK OF ROAD TRANSPORTATION

Welcome to the part 2 of the road transportation discussion. As I promise from the last time, today I will be discussed about the critical issue on the road transportation. The issue might as well like a "cliché" but believe me, usually, the very critical issue in any kind of mode of transportation is the sudden accident, that made all the superiors "scratching their head".

On 4th April 2012, 7.45 in the morning, at north south highway, Negeri Sembilan, there has been an accident involving 3 types of heavy vehicles, trailer, a big lorry and a tanker. A trailer carrying a load of sand, at first was damaged and stop for a while at the left  road shoulder, right at the exit onto Nilai. Then, a lorry full with the soy sauce "Kipas Udang" brand, was believed fail to avoid the trailer and crashed at the back of the trailer. The strong momentum of crash had cause the lorry driver died from serious injuries and trapped in his seat. And at the back of the lorry was a tanker that followed closely and also fail to avoid the sudden stop, crashed the back of the lorry. The tanker driver and the trailer driver are not injured but, the accident cause the traffic jam for 10 kilometer long. CREDIT this news to ondscene.my.

The accident between 3 heavy vehicles.

Actually there are many cases same like what I have mention at the second  paragraph happened. And from my own experience, I am the witness of the accident involving the Sky Net lorry with the other big lorry, maybe 4 or 3 days ago. The reason why this thing happen is because of the sleepy driver and  unfinished maintenance service of the vehicle. These thing could  be avoided if the company or firm provide 2 driver in one transit in delivering the goods, also the firm need to ensure the high level of security in term of the security of the driver also the security of the vehicles.

Just now I mention about the unfinished maintenance service, such as the break system problem and the tires problem. The other cause of the road transportation accident is the weather problem. In Malaysia, rainy weather often results in wet and slippery road. In such conditions, many road accidents occur especially on the highway because the driver could not brake well when the vehicle in front of them slows the vehicle suddenly. That's why the government has set the exact distance between the vehicles in front and behind, 4 to 12 meter. It is up to the driver whether he wants to follow the rules. If he won't, then the accident will occur again next time for sure.

And as a future "logistician worker", we might as well faced this kind of risk. So what we should do?

Let's keep this question to the next discussion on part 3 of road transportation. Stay tuned, fellows.

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issue in price competiton between MAS airlines and air asia

Malaysia Airlines denied the accusation by AirAsia that it was using international
subsidies to finance its “Everyday Low Fares” campaig, as it launched its zero-fare campaign for local as well as for Southeast Asia destinations in May 2008. There are accusations made against Malaysia Airlines that it is practicing predatory pricing.

The debates on the predatory pricing test have shown that finding a cost measurement technique that can be used in the test is problematic. Tune Air Sdn Bhd acquired the equity in AirAsia became Malaysia‟s second national airline. AirAsia became the first low fare, ticket less airline in Asia. It offers a simple “no frills” service at fares that are on average significantly lower than those offered by normal full-service airlines. Since AirAsia introduced its low fare and no frills concept, the airline now flies to various destinations in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. Also, AirAsia formed two successful joint ventures in Thailand (Thai AirAsia), and in Indonesia (Indonesia AirAsia). The fundamental concept of running a low fare carrier is the ability to manage a very low cost of operation. First, AirAsia operates on a non-ticket service that saved the airline about US$1 for each ticket. Second, it offers no meal or other services. Instead the airline sells meals and snacks to the passengers. Third, AirAsia works through supply chain management to get its supply-part inventory.

In 1973, Malaysia introduced Malaysian Airline Limited, which subsequently was renamed Malaysian Airline System, or simply known as Malaysia Airlines. Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia has a big different in term of price. It focused on profitable growth in the face of big challenges in the airline industry including overcapacity, intense competition with yields and profit margins eroding, and rising fuel costs. Under the new business turnaround plan, Malaysia Airlines‟ vision is to become the World‟s Five Star Value Carrier with a mission to be consistently profitable. In order to achieve this mission, it has adopted five business strategies (5-star products and services, lower costs, competitive fares, get more customers and more revenue, and, grow network and build capacity).

I think, the aim of competition is to direct resources to the uses that will give the best benefits to consumers in the short run as well as in the long run. The consumers are benefiting because they pay low fares. Everybody can fly now without really burning their pockets. In conclusion, the price competition between Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia has benefited the consumers.

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