Preliminary trials for Liberty Lifter X-plane 
The USA’s defence advanced research projects agency (Darpa) programme aims to design, build, float, and fly an affordable X-plane that demonstrates revolutionary heavy-air-lift capability from the sea. It is now taking the next step. After changing the design for the Liberty... more
GXO: two leadership appointments
At GXO Logistics, a pure-play contract logistics provider, Richard Cawston, president of the company’s Europe division, has assumed the newly created role of chief revenue officer (CRO) in addition to his current duties. GXO has also hired Eric Spadafora as head of its sales... more
Two Californian short lines to upgrade network
Sierra Northern Railway (SNR) and Mendocino Railway (MRY) will receive a USD 31.4 million loan from the US transport department to expand and rehabilitate rail infrastructure in the Central Valley and Mendocino County in California. With the funding, which will finance... more
Changes at Chep
Chep has appointed Xavier Garijo to the newly created CEO Americas position, following the announcement that Chep North America’s president, Laura Nador, stepped down on 31 December 2023. Before joining Chep, Garijo was a member of the global executive board for contract... more
Truckport opened in Houston
Ryder System and Kodiak Robotics have set up their first truckport in Houston, TX (USA), enabling Kodiak to launch and land autonomous trucks as well as transfer freight to serve routes between Houston, Dallas, and Oklahoma City. Today, Kodiak trucks run on all routes with... more
US class I railway to upgrade its core network
BNSF has earmarked USD 3.92 billion for capital investments this year. The largest component, USD 2.88 billion, will be used to maintain and service BNSF’s core network and related assets. Maintenance projects involve nearly 21,000 km of track surfacing and/or undercutting... more
GOL enters Chapter 11 process
GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes and its subsidiaries have voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 in the US bankruptcy court for the southern district of New York. The Brazilian LCC, which also operates six B737-800 freighters, remembers that this process has been used successfully by... more
USD 157 million for Wabtec's brakes
Siemens India has placed an order for a new brake system for Indian Railways. Valued at around USD 157 million, the technology will be used to improve the performance, efficiency, and safety of Siemen’s new line of 1,200 electric locomotives. Under the contract, Wabtec will... more
Container highs at SC Ports
South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) experienced significant growth in intermodal cargo in 2023. Inland ports Greer and Dillon both recorded historic container numbers, with increases of 26% and 55% respectively. This surge brought the rail movement of containers back to pre-pandemic... more
2023: a solid year for AEI
Aeronautical Engineers (AEI) delivered twenty-eight freighter conversions to leasing and operator customers world-wide in 2023: eighteen B737-800SF freighters, followed by five B737-400SF freighters, two MD-80SF series freighters, and three CRJ200 SF freighters. As a major... more