CloudGuard Opens Manchester Security Operations Centre to Boost SME Cybersecurity | Greater Manchester Business Board

CloudGuard, a top Microsoft security automation expert and Managed Security Services Provider, has established a new Security Operations Centre (SOC) in Manchester to support local businesses with cyber-security in the face of rising threats.

This strategic initiative is designed to address the increasing needs of customers, offering 24-hour year-round security expertise to businesses both in the UK and internationally. This expansion is particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that often lack the resources and skills to develop and manage their own SOC teams effectively.

Following the recent move of its Head Office to Manchester, CloudGuard continues to reinforce its presence in the city, leveraging Manchester’s rising status as a key cyber hub.

The expanded SOC will deliver exceptional security services to local businesses including operational and incident response, security product support, threat hunting, security automation, and advanced data science.

Matt Lovell, CEO of CloudGuard said: “As our customers and their requirements continue to change and evolve, so must we. We are delighted to now include greater round-the-clock UK-based security expertise at all levels from our Manchester home. Manchester is rapidly becoming a major cyber hub for talent and expertise, and our growing partnership with universities in the area to accelerate our data science and automation developments is really exciting.

“Our commitment to continually improving our customers’ cybersecurity posture through AI and automation remains at the core of CloudGuard. Our Guardians work closely with customers to understand their evolving business changes and threat landscapes, helping to continually improve cyber posture and reduce risks.”

Since launching its managed SOC service in 2022, CloudGuard has provided crucial cybersecurity solutions, addressing the increasingly frequent, targeted, and sophisticated attacks faced by SMEs. The SOC’s services now include comprehensive email and integrated application security monitoring, operational technology (OT), and incident response (IR) expertise. This ensures that solutions are fully tailored to meet each business’s unique security requirements.

CloudGuard’s automation-led approach, combined with human intervention for contextual understanding and product expertise, ensures a seamless and integrated incident resolution experience. The newly launched SOC will now offer round-the-clock detection, response, support, and resolution, giving customers peace of mind that their cybersecurity needs are comprehensively met.

CloudGuard has developed long-term strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as Microsoft, Recorded Future, Dragos, CrowdStrike, Google, Sophos, and Tenable. Recently, these partnerships have been extended to include Fortinet, CloudFlare, Abnormal, and Wiz. These collaborations enhance CloudGuard’s capabilities to provide closer integration and AI-driven cyber automated response to resolution for email, network, cloud services, and enhanced user behavioural analytics.

Big Tech’s voluntary approach to deepfakes isn’t enough, top U.S. cyberdefense official says

Commitments from Big Tech companies to identify and label fake artificial-intelligence-generated images on their platforms won’t be enough to keep the tech from being used by other countries to try to influence the U.S. election, said the head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

AI won’t completely change the long-running threat of weaponized propaganda, but it will “inflame” it, CISA Director Jen Easterly said at The Washington Post’s Futurist Summit on Thursday. Tech companies are doing some work to try to label and identify deepfakes on their platforms, but more needs to be done, she said.

“There is no real teeth to these voluntary agreements,” Easterly said. “There needs to be a set of rules in place, ultimately legislation.”

Deepfakes and AI-generated images have been around for several years, but as the technology improves and the tools to make them become widely available, they’ve become increasingly common on social media platforms. An AI-generated image of a sprawling refugee camp with the words “All Eyes on Rafah” went viral in late May as a way for people to show their support for Palestinians in Gaza. As major elections take place across the globe, some politicians have tried to use fake images to make their opponents look bad.

In February, tech companies, including Google, Meta, OpenAI and TikTok, said they would work to identify and label deepfakes on their social media platforms. But their agreement was voluntary and did not include an outright ban on deceptive political AI content. The agreement came months after the tech companies also signed a pledge organized by the White House that they would label AI images.

Congressional and state-level politicians are debating numerous bills to try to regulate AI in the United States, but so far the initiatives haven’t made it into law. The E.U. parliament passed an AI Act last year, but it won’t fully go into force for another two years.

The spread of false claims about the 2020 election are leading to threats of violence against election officials right now, Easterly said. Some poll workers have quit over the worsening environment, she said. “Those who remain often operate, frankly, in difficult conditions.”

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Easterly also said that Chinese hackers are busy hacking into critical infrastructure in the United States, such as water treatment facilities and pipeline control centers, in order to “preposition” themselves to strike if there was ever a conflict between the two countries.

“They are creating enormous risk to our critical infrastructure,” Easterly said. “That is happening right now.”

What CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week Means for Truckers

Ensuring Your Drivers and Staff Are Prepared

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver campaign is officially underway throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Motor carriers of all sizes must prepare for this event by educating themselves about what Operation Safe Driver Week means for their trucking operations.

The CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Program was created to improve the driving behaviors of all drivers and reduce the number of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles on roadways through educational and traffic enforcement strategies. This year’s focus is on reckless, careless, and dangerous driving.

Understanding Reckless, Careless, and Dangerous Driving

Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is a serious traffic offense characterized by a blatant disregard for the safety of persons or property. It involves driving with a willful or wanton disregard for the rules of the road and the safety of others. Examples of reckless driving include:

  • Excessive speeding well above the legal limit
  • Aggressive maneuvers, like weaving in and out of traffic
  • Racing other vehicles on public roads
  • Ignoring traffic signals and signs
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Careless Driving
Careless driving, also known as driving without due care and attention, refers to operating a vehicle in a manner that lacks proper attention to the road and surroundings, but without the deliberate intent to harm. This offense is generally less severe than reckless driving. Examples include:

  • Failing to signal when turning or changing lanes
  • Not maintaining a safe following distance
  • Distracted driving, such as using a mobile phone while driving
  • Minor speeding over the limit
  • Failing to yield the right-of-way

Dangerous Driving
Dangerous driving is a more severe form of careless driving where the actions of the driver significantly endanger the safety of other road users. It implies a higher level of risk and potential harm. Examples of dangerous driving include:

  • Driving significantly over the speed limit in heavy traffic
  • Running red lights or stop signs in a manner that endangers others
  • Aggressive tailgating
  • Drifting or performing stunts on public roads
  • Driving while extremely fatigued or impaired

In all cases, these driving behaviors pose serious risks not only to the driver but also to other motorists, pedestrians, and property. Law enforcement agencies actively monitor and enforce regulations against these types of driving to ensure road safety.

According to the CVSA’s website, there were 42,795 fatal traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2022, 1,768 motor vehicle fatalities in Canada in 2021, and 15,979 road deaths in Mexico in 2022.

Learn more about this year’s CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week by clicking here.

The information in this article is provided as a courtesy of Great West Casualty Company and is part of the Value-Driven® Company program. Value-Driven Company was created to help educate and inform insureds so they can make better decisions, build a culture that values safety, and manage risk more effectively. To see what additional resources Great West Casualty Company can provide for its insureds, please contact your safety representative, or click below to find an agent.

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This material is intended to be a broad overview of the subject matter and is provided for informational purposes only. Great West Casualty Company does not provide legal advice to its insureds, nor does it advise insureds on employment-related issues. Therefore, the subject matter is not intended to serve as legal or employment advice for any issue(s) that may arise in the operations of its insureds. Legal advice should always be sought from the insured’s legal counsel. Great West Casualty Company shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, action, or inaction alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the information contained herein.

How much of a threat is AI to the cybersecurity of tech firms?

A recent survey of 400 Chief Security Officers in the UK and US revealed that 72% believed that AI solutions could lead to security breaches. In contrast, 80% of respondents said they planned to implement AI tools in order to defend themselves against AI. This is a reminder of the promise and threat of AI. On the one hand, AI is a powerful tool that can be used for unprecedented security and to enable cybersecurity specialists to go on offense against hackers. AI will also lead to massive automated attacks with incredible levels of sophistication. The big question for tech companies caught up in this war is how worried they should be and what they can do to protect themselves.

Let’s first take a step back and examine the current situation. According to data compiled and analyzed by Cobalt Security, cybercrime will cost the global economy $9.4 trillion in 2024. 75% of security professionals reported an increase in cyberattacks during the past year. The costs of these hacks will likely rise by at least 15 % each year. IBM reported that in 2023, the average cost of a data breach will be $4.45 million. This is a 15% increase since 2020.

Due to this, the cost for cybersecurity insurance has increased by 50%. Businesses now spend $215 Billion on risk management services and products. Healthcare, finance and insurance companies and their partners are most at risk. The tech industry faces particular challenges due to the large volume of sensitive information that startups deal with. They also have limited resources in comparison to large multinationals, and a culture that is geared toward scaling quickly at the expense IT infrastructure.


Sebastian Gierlinger

Storyblok’s VP of Engineering.

The challenge of differentiating AI attack

CFO magazine reported that 85% attributed the increase in cyberattacks by 2024 to the use generative AI. If you look closer, there are no stats that clearly show which attacks were made and what impact they had. It is difficult to determine whether a cybersecurity event was caused by generative AI. It can automate phishing emails or social engineering attacks.

It can be difficult to distinguish between human-made content and generative AI, because it mimics human content and responses. We don’t know the extent of AI-driven attacks that are based on generative AI or their effectiveness. It is difficult to gauge the severity of the problem if we can’t quantify it.

This means that the best action for startups is to focus and mitigate threats in general. All evidence suggests that current cybersecurity measures and solutions, underpinned by best practices data governance procedures, are up to task with the existing AI threat.

The greater the cyber risk

Ironically, the greatest threat to organizations comes from their own employees who use AI carelessly or fail to follow security procedures. Employees who share sensitive business data while using ChatGPT run the risk of that data being retrieved later, which could lead to leaks and hacks. To reduce this threat, it is important to have proper data protection systems and educate users of generative AI on the risks involved.

Education also includes helping employees understand AI’s current capabilities, especially when it comes to countering phishing attacks and social engineering. Recently, a finance manager at a major corporation paid out $25,000,000 to fraudsters following a deep-fake conference call that mimicked the company’s CFO. So far, so frightening. If you dig deeper, it turns out that the incident was not very sophisticated from the AI perspective. It was just a small step up from a scam that was perpetrated a few year ago to trick the finance departments of scores of businesses – many of which were startup companies – into sending money to a fake client account by using the email address of the CEO. In both cases, if basic compliance and security checks had been performed, or if common sense had been used, the scams would have been quickly uncovered. It is just as important to teach your employees how AI can generate the voice or appearances of others and how to detect these hacks as it is to have a robust security system.

AI is a long-term cybersecurity threat, but until we see more sophisticated AI, current security measures will suffice if they are adhered to. Businesses must continue to follow cybersecurity best practices and review their processes as the threat evolves. Cybersecurity is no stranger to new threats or bad actor methods. But businesses cannot afford to rely on outdated security technology or procedures.

We list top cloud antivirus.

This article was created as part of TechRadarPro’s Expert Insights, where we feature some of the brightest minds working in the technology sector today. The views expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those TechRadarPro, Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

UNCAGED Innovations Raises $5.6 Million for Sustainable Leather Alternative Technology

Biomaterials company UNCAGED Innovations announced that it has raised $5.6 million in a Seed investment round, with proceeds aimed at supporting the company’s commercial launch of its grain-based sustainable leather and allow it to expand its team, including its manufacturing team.

Founded in New York in 2020 by CEO Stephanie Downs and CTO Dr. Xiaokun Wang, UNCAGED has a technology platform, BioFuze, that fuses structural proteins from grains into fibral networks that mimic the performance and texture of traditional leather. The company said its end product emits 95% less greenhouse gases (GHG), and consumes 93% less water, and 72% less energy than traditional animal leather. And unlike some artificial leather it is free of plastics.

UNCAGED endeavors to replace traditional cow leather from the livestock industry, which emits about 14.5% of global GHGs, although that is also for the production of meat and dairy. The cattle industry also consumes a considerable amount of water, with the production of one pound of beef requiring about 2,000 gallons.

Stephanie Downs, CEO and Co-Founder of UNCAGED Innovations, said:

“The tide has turned aggressively toward materials that are sustainable, and we plan to capture that momentum. This funding round brings UNCAGED another step closer to achieving our ultimate goal of disrupting every industry that relies on leather.”

The round was co-led by Green Circle Foodtech Ventures and Fall Line Capital, with participation from Ponderosa Ventures, Golden Seeds and existing investor InMotion Ventures, the investment arm of JLR (Jaguar Land Rover).

The funding follows a $2 million pre-seed round last year with investment from VegInvest and InMotion Ventures, among others.

Stu Strumwasser, Founder and Managing Director of Green Circle Capital, said:

 “What UNCAGED Innovations has achieved with its grain-based technology is a significant breakthrough in an industry that has long awaited a breakout innovation. The opportunity is enormous, and we believe that their ability to provide a high-quality material that is scaled and price competitive is a game changer.”

Eric O’Brien, Founder and Managing Director of Fall Line Capital, added:

 “While others have attempted to replicate leather using various inputs, we felt the use of structural proteins to mimic collagen was transformational. We understand the margin pressure farmers face growing commodity grains, and we are constantly on the lookout for ways to help them capture more value from their production. By diversifying and applying greater value to agricultural streams, we can strengthen our farm systems and provide consumers with more sustainable goods.”


Local power stations receive a bumper supply of coal as transport problems ease

India’s power plants are stocked with a bumper supply of coal, even though power demand in June reached a record high of 250 gigawatts. This is 25 percent more than last year, and 71 percent more than 2022, when there was a domestic shortage of coal. The average national coal stock for thermal power units is currently 16 days.

The real catalyst for change has been the easing of transportation bottlenecks. While the domestic coal production during the summer months has increased 8-10% over last year, the easing of the transportation bottlenecks was the real catalyst for change. Imported coal accounts for 9-10% of the total stock of coal in the country.

According to senior officials in the coal ministry, the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, which will be operationalised in October 2020, is one of the major drivers for improved coal supply. “The rake movements on the EDFC routes have become three times faster. EDFC has helped to reduce the congestion that started from Mughalsarai and continued until Delhi-Punjab.

The average coal stock at the 20 thermal plants along the EDFC route or in its vicinity is 25 days. According to railway data, some of them have stock of up to 36 days.

The 1,300 km EDFC, which had been operational in parts, was seamlessly connected between Ludhiana, Punjab, and Sonnagar, Bihar. The corridor, which does not directly connect to coal-rich regions, allows Indian Railways to ensure smooth passenger and freight movement by shifting coal traffic to EDFC tracks.

According to Indian Railways officials the completion of EDFC has allowed the Railways to deliver more coal to powerhouses in Uttar Pradesh. These powerhouses are typically among the largest consumers in the country.

The state currently leads with a demand for 28 Gw. This is more than the more industrialized states.

In May, the volume of coal transported by Indian Railways increased by 9 percent to 72 million tons. The Dhanbad Division of Indian Railways is one of the main players in the coal evacuation to powerhouses that fall under the EDFC. In 2023-24, the Dhanbad division loaded 188 million tonnes of coal. According to a senior executive, the division’s loading increased by 10% in May when heatwaves across the country caused a surge of demand. The division has so far loaded 44 million tons in 2023-24. This is almost 6 percent more than the previous year.

“DFCC runs 12 long-haul rakes on average every day.” The number can reach 15+ during peak times, said the executive. He added that 20 long-haul rakes passed through EDFC on 24th June. A long-haul can carry twice as much material as a regular rake.

Railways and Coal India Ltd. (CIL) have increased the rail lines in the coal-producing states of Odisha Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to decongest and provide seamless coal transport from the eastern region to the rest of the country. “There were two railway lines between Bilaspur Jharsuguda. There are now four. In Bilaspur two lines crossed each other: Howrah – Mumbai and Bilaspur – Katni. We have built a ‘rail-over-rail’ (RoR). This has reduced the delays at railway crossings,” said an official.

The operationalisation of 35 First-Mile Connectivity (FMC), which automate coal loading from mine to siding, is another way to decongest the coal supply chain. Officials claimed that the loading time for coal from mine to siding was reduced to 45 minutes, down from 3-4 hours.

According to the central administration, coastal shipping has also increased. The total thermal coal volume (coastal and imported) in non-major port has increased by 20 per cent between 2024-25, reaching 9.4 million tons.

First Published: Jun 26 2024 | 12:33 AM IST

J2 Ventures Secures $150M Funding for Innovations in Civilian and Military Tech

J2 Ventures, managed by US military veterans, secured $150 million for its second fund on Thursday. The Boston Company invests in companies with civilian and military goods.

This current fund is more than twice J2’s $67.5 million launch fund from 2021, a significant success at a time when many young venture capital companies struggle to raise second funds, per TechCrunch.

Pentagon Attacked by Airplane
The Pentagon building is seen in this undated aerial photo. headquarters of the Department of Defense, in Washington, DC in an undated photo.
(Photo : U.S. Air Force/Getty Images)

Despite venture funders’ rising interest in defense tech, J2 Ventures does not specialize in it. “Our portfolio is national-security-adjacent but not defense-focused,” said J2 managing partner Alexander Harstrick. The company steers clear of defense-related technologies like drones, robots, and surveillance.

J2 Ventures invests in firms that improve the health and well-being of approximately 3 million US military personnel. Harstrick asserts that the Department of Defense has embraced new technology before its widespread adoption, including telemedicine and electronic health records initially utilized by the VA.

J2 Ventures frequently co-invests with top generalist venture capital funds in over 25 startups. The business is the sole institutional investor in Aalyria, Micron Biomedical, and Lumia Health.

Company advisor and former Defense Health Agency Director Dr. Raquel Bono remarked that the company is “doing fantastic work in areas that urgently need innovation.”  Bono said that she joined to help address major issues using technology. “I have not been disappointed,” she said, according to the firm’s media release.

Dual-Use Technology

The firm’s healthcare, scientific, technological, and defense expertise makes them ideal leaders and investors in dual-use technology enterprises. Additionally, they assisted companies with over $3 billion in Department of Defense contracts.

Tasso, a needle-free blood draw tool, and Lumia Health, a cerebral blood flow tracker, are J2 healthcare investments. The company also invests in cybersecurity, infrastructure, and advanced computing firms, including Femtosense, which makes energy-efficient smart device AI chips.

J2 Ventures invests $1 million to $5 million seed funding for Series A startups. The New Mexico State Investment Council and JPMorgan are limited partners.

Harstrick, a former Army Reserve military intelligence officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, leads the business. Before creating J2, he invested in the Defense Innovation Unit.

Read Also: Nike Ends App Support for Adapt BB Self-Lacing Sneakers: What It Means for Owners

Technology Helps Address Conflicts

In a Bloomberg column, Harstrick underscored that people win conflicts, not technology, though it “certainly helps.” He explained how commercial capital investors close the innovation gap by expediting battlefield solution development before conflicts.

Foreign crises such as Ukraine demonstrate the importance of private backing for defense innovation, Harstrick said. He recommended that government procurement make simple changes to deepen this connection.

According to the US military veteran, small troops fighting fiercely in Ukraine have demanded equipment from conventional technological marketplaces, including online-purchased ISR drones. These troops utilize civilian ride-share systems for logistical and personnel mobility intelligence and social media for medical information.

Harstrick suggested that the United States study the effectiveness of commercial technology modified for military use. He noted that the US should optimize this encouraging private sector-driven innovation trend. He called this a fundamental change from top-down command and control to defense procurement. 

Related Article: Starlink Mini Dish: Portability, Performance is Good; But Cons are Its Data Cap, Limited Charging Options

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Google Ventures participates to Climate X’s first funding round

Climate risk data firm Climate X raised $18m (EUR16.8m), in an initial funding round, led by Alphabet Inc.’s venture capital arm. The money will be used to support the company’s global expansion and to develop tools that financial institutions can use to assess the impact climate change has on physical assets.

The climate risk intelligence firm said Google Ventures (GV), CommerzVentures A/O, Blue Wire Capital PT1, Unconventional Ventures, and Western Technology Investment were also part of the Series A round.

Climate X, a UK-based company, offers financial insights on the likely impact of climate risk on physical assets, including residential and commercial property, as well as road, rail, and power infrastructure.

Financial institutions and asset managers, including Legal & General CBRE Virgin Money and Federated Hermes, use the firm’s data analysis platform.

Climate X will use its new funding to accelerate expansion in Europe, North America, and APAC. The company will also “advance its products to meet evolving commercial and regulatory needs by incorporating additional sources of data into its platform”.

Climate X CEO Lukky Ahmed said: “In less than a year since Climate X entered the market, it has become one of world’s fastest-growing providers of physical climate data and analytics. This is driving value for global financial service clients with combined AUM of over $6.5trn.

“Assessing impact of physical climate risks on asset valuations, and business operations has become a necessity. It is no longer a nice to have.”

Kamil Kluza said that the climate adaptation market would be a key economic enabler for years to come. However, to date it has been dominated largely by expensive consultancies relying on manual human analysis, and black box solutions which reduce climate risk into a single rating.

Roni Hiranand said, “Climate X has changed the game. It accurately quantifies climate risk and addresses its impact.” We are impressed by Kamil Kluza’s and Lukky Ahmad’s expertise in corporate risk and believe that they have the right skills to create a new-generation climate risk intelligence.

“We are excited to support Climate X as they work toward a vision of becoming a backbone for all climate-related decision making within financial organisations.”

Paul Morgenthaler is the managing partner of CommerzVentures. He said: “With the increasing risk of flooding, heatwaves and wildfires as well as other climate impacts, property risks are increasing exponentially. The world’s largest asset, real estate, is being mispriced.

“Climate X is one of the few tools that can quantify them accurately, while enabling ROI based adaptation for individual properties.”

Pale Blue Dot general partner Heidi Lindvall said: “With climate change at the forefront of everyone’s agenda, it is more important than ever to have the most comprehensive technology solution.”

“Climate X is the best choice for the financial services industry. With their deep domain knowledge, they are the best positioned to serve this market.”

Click here to read the latest Real Assets magazine.

Are freight forwarders threatened by shipping lines’ road and air freight moves?

In recent years, the world’s largest shipowners have been consolidating the logistics market. Companies such as Denmark’s Maersk, France’s CMA CGM, and the Italian-Swiss MSC are increasingly expanding into various logistics segments.

This development comes after the pandemic years of 2020-2021, which saw a dramatic increase in container rates, skyrocketing from approximately $2,000 for a 20-foot container to over $12,000 on some routes, resulting in astronomical profits for shipowners.

As a result, the last three to four years have witnessed numerous acquisitions by the aforementioned companies in complementary business segments.

For instance, in August 2023, MSC purchased the cargo airline Alis Cargo Airlines, expanding its aviation activities (MSC Cargo Air was established in 2022). In the past few years, MSC also acquired major logistics operators such as Bollore Logistics and the French forwarder Clasquin.

In September 2023, the company bought 49% of the shares in the port of Hamburg’s managing entity. MSC also ventured into the railway segment, acquiring the Spanish cargo carrier Renfe Mercancias last year.

CMA CGM has been equally active. In 2022, the company signed an alliance with Air France-KLM, purchasing 9% of the airline’s shares.

A year ago, the French shipowner acquired terminals in the ports of Bayonne and New York and established a joint-venture company, European Container Network, with the Italian railway operator GTS Rail. Additionally, CMA CGM purchased Gefco, a leading logistics company in the automotive sector.

Maersk, on the other hand, made significant acquisitions in the American market by acquiring the e-commerce business of Ingram Micro. In Asia, the company took over LF Logistics, which operates in the electronic sales market.

In Europe, Maersk also acquired the B2C Europe courier company. Even without acquisitions, Maersk has been expanding into new logistics areas, such as aviation and railway connections between Europe and Asia.

Although their business models differ—Maersk integrated its forwarder Damco with the rest of the group, while CMA CGM maintains Ceva Logistics as a separate entity—the trend of expansion is evident.

Are they still shipping lines?

The expansion of these shipping lines has blurred the lines, making it difficult to categorise companies like Maersk, MSC, or CMA CGM as typical shipping companies, given the increasing share of onshore operations in their revenues. However, sea freight activities still dominate, just as sea freight dominates global supply chains.

By acquiring entities outside their core business, shipowners can offer services at all stages of the supply chain. This includes collecting goods from Asian factories, transporting them to ports, shipping them worldwide, storing them, and finally distributing them to the customer’s door.

Soon, a single entity could manage all means of transport and stages of cargo travel. Moreover, by becoming logistics operators, companies like Maersk also provide customs services and other added values.

Our customers can relax, focus on the development of their business, and leave the logistics problem to Maersk,” says Maersk spokesperson Rainer Horn.

Safe and fast

Horn also emphasises that owning logistics assets in the supply chain makes Maersk’s operations more resilient in disruptive times.

By controlling these assets, our customers’ supply chains become much more resilient,” adds Horn.

This ownership simplifies, speeds up, and enhances the efficiency of load tracking and adjustments during crises.

Monopoly threat

However, not everyone is enthusiastic about this concentration of power. Shipping companies, responsible for organizing transport and creating supply chains, may feel the most threatened.

When entities under one flag manage warehouses, ships, planes, trucks, trains, or barges, forwarders could be seriously affected. The consequences could extend beyond shippers.

Juliusz Skurewicz, secretary of the Polish Chamber of Forwarding and Logistics (PISiL), notes that this trend could lead to a situation where shippers are entirely dependent on a single service provider, potentially monopolizing global supply chains.

This is dangerous not only for exporters and importers but for the entire economy,” warns Skurewicz. No monopoly has ever benefited anyone, including the monopolists themselves.”

The end of forwarding?

The question arises: could the consolidation of various logistics activities in the hands of a few entities mean the end of the forwarding industry?

The ongoing digitization of supply chain and logistics processes exacerbates this concern. Customers might bypass forwarders, arranging transport directly with carriers online.

“Small forwarding companies, which make up the vast majority, may find it difficult to compete with large shipowners,” says Skurewicz. “Especially those specializing in container forwarding with little else to offer.”

Other forwarders will need to fight hard for survival. Skurewicz believes that representing the client’s interests to the carrier is key.

This includes selecting the right carrier, negotiating transport rates and conditions, and defending the client’s interests in disputes.

Skurewicz concludes, “It’s hard to imagine a carrier representing the client’s interest in a dispute with itself. This is the forwarder’s power—knowing how to use it properly.”


First year-over-year growth in truck tonnage for 15 months


Trucking News and Briefs for Wednesday, June 19th 2024:

The truck tonnage recovered in May

ATA Truck Tonnage Index May 2024 In May, the ATA’s Truck Tonnage Index experienced its first year-over-year increase in 15 month with a 1.5% rise over May 2023. ATA

According to the American Trucking Associations, the amount of freight hauled in trucks in May increased after declining in April.

The ATA’s advanced seasonal adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index grew 3.6% in May, after declining 1% in April. In May, the index was 115.9 (2015=100), compared to 111.9 in April.

Bob Costello, ATA’s Chief Economist, said that May was the first time since February 2023 when tonnage both increased sequentially and compared to a year ago. “While there was a clear increase in freight prior to the Memorial Day holiday it is too early to tell if this is the beginning of the long-awaited truck freight market recovery.”

The index increased 1.5% compared to May 2023. This is the first gain year-over-year in 15 months. In April, the index fell 1.3% compared to a year ago.

The index that is not adjusted for season, which represents tonnage hauled by fleets prior to any seasonal adjustment, was 120.4 in may, 7.1% higher than April. The For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index of the ATA is dominated more by contract freight than spot market freight.

Alaska renews waiver for entry-level Training Relief

The state of Alaska has requested the extension of a waiver which allows the state to waive certain portions of the CDL skill test for drivers who live in 14 geographical areas defined that lack the infrastructure to complete the full skills tests. The state has an exemption that lasts until Dec. 30, 2024.

Alaska originally requested an exemption from the part of the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT), which requires applicants to demonstrate proficiency with proper techniques for initiating a vehicle movement, executing right and left turns, changing lanes at speed, navigating curves while driving at high speeds, entering and exiting on the interstate highway or controlled-access highway and stopping the car in a controlled way. The state claimed that complying with this requirement would have “devastating impacts on rural Alaskans’ movement of people, prescriptions, and other goods.”

Drivers who are granted a restricted CDL in accordance with the exemption under the exemption may not operate beyond the 14 geographical areas defined.

FMCSA is seeking comments on the renewal request. Comments can be submitted here until July 18.

FMCSA renews the under-21 exemption for U.S. Custom Harvesters

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration renewed an exemption allowing U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc., (USCHI), is exempt from the intrastate restriction on drivers under 21.

The FMCSA regulations currently allow drivers of commercial motor vehicle engaged in custom harvesting in interstate commerce to be exempt from the minimum age requirement. Under the CDL regulations of the agency, states may impose a restriction (or “K”) that only applies to drivers who are driving within their state.

On Oct. 11,2023, FMCSA announced that it would provisionally renew USCHI’s exemption for a period of two years. This decision was made pending the review of any comments submitted in response to this notice. After reviewing the four comments that were submitted to the docket FMCSA stated that it believes drivers who qualify for this exemption will achieve a safety level that is equal to, or even greater than the safety level that would be achieved if they adhered to the “K” restriction.

The exemption was granted originally in October 2018. FMCSA noted that “no special action or processing is required” by the states, who will continue to place the restriction “K” when requested. However, enforcement officers will disregard it if drivers can demonstrate eligibility for a custom harvester exemption.

USCHI stated that it employs many drivers under 21 years of age who have CDLs with a “K” restriction. It also said that despite the exemption they are “frequently cited at roadside inspections due to the presence of the “K’ restriction on the license.” USCHI claims that this issue negatively affects the safety records of both drivers and employers.

The waiver will remain in effect until Oct. 3, 2025. Custom harvester drivers who are under 21 years old can display the exemption notice to “help explain that they may operate outside of the state issuing their CDL, even though the CDL has an ‘K’ restriction (intrastate-only).

To verify that drivers are operating legally as custom harvesters, they must provide three of the methods for verification found here.