Esper Headed Toward SecDef Confirmation, Iran Seizes Oil Tanker, and more
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Government & Military News
Mark Esper Headed for Quick Confirmation After Acing Largely Bipartisan Senate Hearing
(Washington Examiner) Mark Esper, President Trump’s nominee to head the Defense Department, did everything he needed to do yesterday to win quick and easy confirmation. With one exception, he cruised through his hearing before the Armed Services Committee, telling the senators just what they wanted to hear, reassuring them he would work on their concerns, and generally showing a deep understanding of the issues facing the US military. READ MORE
Iran Seizes Foreign Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz, State TV Reports
(NBC News) Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces have seized a foreign oil tanker accusing 12 crew members of smuggling oil, state TV reported. The seizure comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran after President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal—triggering Iran to start rolling back its commitments to the deal, a move Tehran says is reversible if sanctions are removed. READ MORE
Proposed Law Calls on Pentagon to Consider More Troops, Surveillance in Baltic Region
(Stars and Stripes) A defense bill passed by US lawmakers calls on the Pentagon to take steps to counter Russia in the Baltic region, including by potentially reinforcing air defenses and stepping up troop rotations. READ MORE
GAO: Army Futures Command Should Step Up Small Business Engagement
(Defense News) In US Army Futures Command’s race to field next-generation equipment, it needs to better engage small businesses vital to the defense-industrial base, according to a new report by the US Government Accountability Office. READ MORE
House and Senate Head for Showdown on Must-Pass Defense Bill
(The Hill) The House and Senate are headed for a fight over the annual defense policy bill after the House loaded its version with progressive priorities to get it through the chamber on Friday. Senate Republicans say the House amendments are non-starters for them in bicameral negotiations over the final product. READ MORE
Industry News
China Says Will Freeze Out US Companies That Sell Taiwan Arms
(Reuters) China’s government and Chinese companies will cut business ties with US firms selling arms to Taiwan, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday, declining to give details of the sanctions in a move likely to worsen already poor ties with Washington. READ MORE
Freight-On-Demand Apps Challenge Traditional Brokers—But Can They Solve Trucking Capacity?
(Supply Chain Dive) Startups say capacity issues lie in a lack of innovation, while traditional brokers argue digital freight apps simply match to the same pool of drivers. READ MORE
By Air, Land and Sea, Travel is Electrifying
(The New York Times) As regulators and businesses around the world try to reduce carbon emission, airplanes, automobiles and ships are going electric. It’s good for the environment, but it also means travel itself may be changing. READ MORE
The ‘Biggest Change in Oil Market History’ is Less Than Six Months Away
(CNBC) On January 1, 2020, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will enforce new emissions standards designed to significantly curb pollution produced by the world’s ships. According to one senior energy analyst “is the biggest change in oil market history.” READ MORE
Defense Contractors Face Tight Deadlines for New 2020 Certification Standards
(Defense Systems) Defense contractors will face big changes and tight timelines over the next year as the Department of Defense rolls out its new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification framework, experts say. READ MORE
Member Highlights
Bennett’s Aerospace Transportation & Logistics Management Team Brings the Right Stuff in Hauling One-of-a-Kind MQ-25 Drone.
(Bennett International Group) Bennett’s Aerospace Transportation & Logistics Management team went all-in to help Boeing keep its commitment to the US Navy by delivering the MQ-25 drone four months faster than expected. READ MORE
SLNC Awarded Multi-Modal Contract
(Schuyler Line Navigation Company [SLNC]) SLNC was recently awarded a multi-modal contract to serve the United States Department of Defense. As a Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement participant (VISA), Schuyler Line will be using our fleet of US flag vessels to provide door-to-door service for cargo destined to consignee’s locations around the world. READ MORE
South Shore Freight Reaches Safety Milestone
(Anacostia Rail Holdings) With safety of paramount importance in the railroad industry, employees of Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad’s Transportation Department, an affiliate of Anacostia Rail Holdings, reached an important milestone, achieving five straight years of injury-free performance. It’s the first time for such an achievement in South Shore Freight’s history, reflecting an emphasis on safety fostered across the entire company. READ MORE
Maersk Grows Its Cargo Management Solutions for US Importers Ahead of Peak Season
(Maersk) Born out of a request from the world’s largest retailers, Maersk is now rapidly expanding its Destination Cargo Management offering in the United States. READ MORE
Biofuels and Carbon Offsets Power Delta’s First Carbon-Neutral Flights
(Delta Air Lines) The Newest A321 in Delta’s fleet has made its initial flight, completely carbon-nuetral, a first for the airline as it continues to make strategic moves toward its ongoing sustainability commitments. READ MORE
NDTA News & Events
NDTA 75th Anniversary
We are excited to celebrate NDTA’s 75th Anniversary which will culminate with our Fall Meeting in St. Louis, 7-10 October 2019. The NDTA staff and key volunteers are working to put together a significant amount of celebratory opportunities. We’ve commissioned a piece of art which “tells the story” of NDTA’s history. It will be available at all major events. The first soft “unveiling” was held at the GovTravels Symposium and the Fall Meeting will host our official unveiling. We have also committed to publishing a 75th Anniversary Yearbook which will republish much of the editions from the 50th and 65th yearbooks—and years 66 through 75. The yearbook will be a limited publication to be primarily handed out to Fall Meeting registrants. We have thought extensively regarding the appropriate way to go about fundraising for the celebration—and have decided to ask for modest contributions. To find more information on these fundraising efforts and to make a donation, please visit: www.ndtahq.com/ndta-75th-anniversary-funds-campaign/. As we look back, we are also looking ahead to the future—continuing to educate and add value through dialog and relationship building. Thank you for all of your support!
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