The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
September 8, 2020
Military and Government personnel are registering for the 2020 NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting, representing nearly 70% of current registrants. Why? One reason is that their leadership sees the need for a virtual meeting as an example of a changing environment requiring flexibility and adaptability. Their numbers reflect the value they see in this annual exchange of ideas, solutions, and other shared information.
John Dietrich, Chairman of the NDTA Board of Directors:
“I’d like to speak plainly to my industry counterparts who support the Defense Industrial Base and the U.S. Government. I encourage all of you to register and attend the 2020 NDTA—USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting. I note that the numbers indicate the military is signing up for the meeting in a big way—even though the meeting will be virtual. We in industry have to find new and innovative ways to engage. Please join us! Register Now. I look forward to seeing you there.”
By Sharon Lo Managing Editor, Defense Transportation Journal and The Source
The 2020 NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting scheduled for October 5-8, 2020, is quickly approaching and provides an exciting prospect for the transportation and logistics community. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event has changed from in-person to virtual. With this change comes immense opportunity.
Unlike every other year, no need to check your calendar, clear your schedule, and arrange for travel. Guess what? You can make it! While many will want to attend as the sessions are live, that’s not necessary. Your registration fee includes access to all the speakers and classes until the first week of January. If you miss something or want to review what someone said, you can view it at your leisure.
Having access to this material for the rest of the year also eliminates one of the most significant downsides to the in-person experience. You no longer have to make decisions or trade-offs on which classes to attend—you can “attend” any course you want, regardless of scheduling conflicts. […READ MORE…]
By Stephanie Wade, USTRANSCOM
US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is on a quest to minimize the transmission of the Coronavirus on Patriot Express flights by testing how aerosol particles flow on commercial aircraft. The Patriot Express is a commercial charter flight contracted by the Department of Defense to transport passengers on official military duty and their families.
VADM Dee Mewbourne, Deputy Commander, USTRANSCOM, traveled to Dulles International Airport, Virginia, August 28, to observe an airflow particle test onboard a United Airlines 767 aircraft.
Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how cabin air is circulated and filtered. However, social distancing is difficult on crowded flights, and travelers may have to sit near other people, increasing the risk for exposure to COVID-19. [...READ MORE…]
Editor’s Picks
(Forbes) China has the largest navy in the world. And, according to a new DOD report, it’s not just big, but it’s getting better.
DOD-Dependent Movers Seeing Rebound in Revenue, But Uncertainty Lies Ahead
(Federal News Network) After a disastrous spring, moving companies are bouncing back and seeing revenues above average for August and September.
Pentagon, Defense Contractors Are Out of Step on Tech Innovation, GAO Finds
(Breaking Defense) The Pentagon wanted to fund ambitious research into future tech breakthroughs but contractors spend most of their money on safer bets, GAO has found.
DOT Plans Funding Boost, Regulatory Rollbacks in National Freight Strategy
(Supply Chain Dive) The Department of Transportation has released a National Freight Strategic Plan to help implement the National Multimodal Freight Policy. The plan outlines goals and strategies to guide multimodal freight policies, investments, and programs at the federal and state levels.
50 years of Hapag-Lloyd AG
(Hapag-Lloyd) In September, Hapag-Lloyd AG is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the merger of Hapag and North German Lloyd. Their joint entrance into the container shipping business was the decisive step on the path to this merger. In doing so, the two shipping companies put an end to a relationship marked by both competition and cooperation that stretched back more than a century.
Boeing Delivers SOCOM’s First Next-Gen Chinook Helicopter
(Boeing) Boeing is delivering new technologies and performance improvements to U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) with the Block II Chinook helicopter. Boeing’s Philadelphia team recently delivered the first MH-47G Block II Chinook to SOCOM on time.
New SAP Concur Duty of Care Partner Network
(SAP Concur) With the new realities of 2020 and beyond, SAP Concur has been investigating if there is a better way to empower its customers to deliver on their duty of care commitment to all their employees.
Echo Global Logistics Integrates with Blue Yonder’s Dynamic Price Discovery Solution
(Echo Global Logistics) Echo has partnered with Blue Yonder, a leading digital supply chain platform provider, to further automate rapid response price quoting and freight capacity for shippers using the Blue Yonder dynamic price discovery solution.
The Transportation Agency of the Future
(Deloitte) As the new mobility ecosystem evolves amid turbulence, it’s up to transportation agencies to keep everyone on track. Can they keep pace with change?
Operation Nighthawk Landing
(Landstar) The public noticed in 2019 when an F-117 Nighthawk was transported from its Tonopah Test Range location. What photographers and aviation experts didn’t know when they published the photos was why the Nighthawk was on the move or where it was going.
The Source is a free educational publication for NDTA members, conference attendees, and associates.