The Freight Transport Association has told the European Commission that higher quality standards for road transport operators’ entry and conduct in the industry are not required. FTA says that any shortfall in operating standards is more likely to be the result of poor application and enforcement of regulations by some member states. The problem can only be resolved by member states themselves taking responsibility for introducing appropriate systems, not by adding further burdens on to the industry in those states which enforce the regulations in a manner that ensures a high compliance rate.

New research published by the Freight Transport Association in its July 2006 Quarterly Transport Activity Survey presents a picture of a freight transport industry blighted by high diesel prices which is struggling to meet ever more demanding business customers and consumers because of rampant congestion on the UK’s road trade routes. To mark ten years of the FTA survey, over 100 members were asked what had most adversely affected business performance in the past ten years. Rising world energy prices was cited as the most significant negative effect, followed by road congestion. Operators fear that the same factors will dominate the next decade, together with possible tax measures to curb carbon dioxide emissions.

Optimism for Scotland and Midlands
New data from the Freight Transport Association’s Quarterly Transport Activity Survey undertaken in July 2006 shows freight demand growing strongly despite record oil prices. Businesses are more positive about prospects for domestic road freight activity than they have been for two years. During 2005 domestic road freight demand had been in the doldrums, with demand for haulage services particularly hit as industry scaled back its use of third party carriers in response to weaker levels of business.

The 23-year history of the Boeing MD-80 in Finnair's blue and white colours came to a close on July 3, 2006. The MD-80 fleet, which numbered 25 at its peak, has flown almost a million hours and carried an estimated 60 million passengers on Finnair scheduled and leisure flights to different parts of Europe.

United Feeder Services (UFS) will launch a container service between the Benelux, Spain and Portugal on July 4. The company is a well-known feeder firm in southern Europe and wants to expand its sphere of activity to northern Europe. With a fleet of 27 container ships from 224 to 907 TEUs, UFS is already seen everywhere in the Mediterranean. Its website lists 32 scheduled services that link all important container ports in southern Europe as well as the Maghreb, the Levant and the Black Sea area.

As of January 1st, 2007, FedEx and Geodis will enter an operational agreement until 2010
FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, and Geodis, one of the leading companies of logistics services in Europe, signed an operational agreement for a 3 year period.

Perfectly on time, the first of Transport’s New PENDOLINO high-speed tilting trains left the Savigliano (Italy) workshop last week to begin testing on an international circuit in the Czech Republic.

Finnair's first Airbus A340 had its inaugural flight on Monday morning 19 June from Helsinki to Kuopio in central Finland. The wide-bodied, former Virgin Atlantic 295-seat aircraft joined the Finnair fleet last week and will begin operating in Finland. The aircraft will fly 30 domestic flights before it is transferred to its actual route between Helsinki and Shanghai.

FreightCar America, Inc. (Nasdaq:RAIL) announced  that Norfolk Southern Railway Company has committed to purchase 1,600 coal cars from the Chicago-based railcar manufacturer. The order is comprised of 400 AutoFlood III(TM) aluminum bottom discharge coal cars and 1,200 hybrid stainless steel/aluminum coal gondola cars. FreightCar America will begin delivery of the new order in the first quarter of 2007 from its Roanoke, VA railcar production facility, and will complete the order in calendar 2007.