The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association

November 10, 2022

On this Veterans Day—and everyday—thank you for your service and sacrifice.

The National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) and the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) in association with the General Services Administration (GSA) are excited to host the 2023 GovTravels Symposium, February 27 – March 1, 2023, at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, VA. […READ MORE…]

By Scott M. Hopper, Director, Technology & Consulting, Crowley Solutions

Over the past few decades, Department of Defense (DOD) logistics planners have increased operational focus on frictionless movement and efficiency, prioritizing low inventory and delivery at minimum cost as an approach to address tight budgets and the highly dispersed deployment of troops. […READ MORE…]

The emergence over the past decade of intensified U.S. competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) and the Russian Federation (Russia)—often referred to as great power competition (GPC)—has profoundly changed the conversation about U.S. defense issues from what it was during… […READ MORE…]

24-25 January 2023, Ramstein Air Base, Germany

The NDTA Europe & Africa Region is excited to announce the NDTA Europe & Africa Workshop scheduled for 24-25 January 2023. […READ MORE…]

Editor’s Picks

Pentagon Plans New Initiatives to Tackle Long-Term Sustainment Costs
(Federal News Network)  Sustainment expenses make up about 70% of the average weapons system’s total lifecycle cost. DoD leaders have fretted over that imbalance forever, and have long understood that decisions made early in a system’s design have a lot to do with its total ownership price. But the Pentagon has a couple of new strategies it hopes will address the problem.

DISA’s Plea to Industry: Bring Us Battlefield-Ready Tech
(Defense One)  The Pentagon’s lead IT agency wants to do more buying and less making. The agency “is relying on industry as a critical partner to deliver solutions,” said Don Means, who leads the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Operations and Infrastructure Center. “We don’t want to have to develop them when the industry is already doing them” because that means capabilities can be delivered faster.

Analysis: Airlines Reboot as COVID Sparks a Revolution in One-Day Business Trips
(Reuters)  Airlines around the world are ripping up schedules and bringing in new flights to cope with a COVID-triggered trend in corporate travel for executives like Jerome Harris – the scrapping of one-day business trips in favor of longer stays.

Are US Supply Chain Problems Over?
(The Hill)  Snarled supply chains that helped fuel red-hot inflation are slowly disentangling, offering hope for relief for cash-strapped consumers. But the U.S. faces geopolitical tensions, a shortage of truck drivers and a potential railroad strike that all endanger recent progress.

More Than 100 C-130s Are Down, Likely Because Mechanics Scratched Their Propellers, Air Force Says
(Defense One)  A maintenance procedure used by Air Force mechanics to document inspections likely damaged hundreds of C-130 propeller blades over a decade, according to service officials. Maintenance technicians examined the propeller blades for cracks or other damage scratched permanent marks on each blade to document the inspection had taken place.

Small Shipyards Consolidate Amid Navy Program Delays
(Defense News)  Bollinger Shipyards this week said it will acquire shipyards VT Halter Marine and ST Engineering Halter Marine Offshore from parent company ST Engineering, a deal one expert said may have been spurred by the Navy’s slow pace in awarding the contracts expected to go to smaller shipyards.

WELCOME New NDTA Corporate Member
Please join NDTA in welcoming our newest Chairman’s Circle Plus member C5MI!

AAR Facilitates Donation of Aircraft to Rock Valley College Aviation Maintenance Program
(AAR CORP.) AAR CORP. recently celebrated the fruition of collaborative efforts to donate a functional aircraft to Rock Valley College’s Aviation Maintenance Program. AAR partnered with the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide funding, SkyWest Airlines to sell the aircraft and The Workforce Connection to manage the workforce development grant.

Echo Global Logistics Acquires Chicagoland-based Fastmore Logistics
(Echo Global Logistics, Inc.)  Echo has announced their acquisition of Fastmore Logistics (“Fastmore”), a leading Chicagoland transportation broker. Fastmore’s extensive knowledge and core competency in selling domestic non-asset-based transportation services to international freight forwarders is a strong addition to Echo’s business.

Landstar’s TMS Drives a More Efficient Freight Agency
(Landstar)  Landstar’s transportation management system (TMS) is helping independent Landstar freight agents save time and increase efficiencies for everyone involved in a shipment.

The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.