Transport Information Group

Here are the latest US Government Accountability Office (US GAO) reports about transportation, published in June 2008.

• Air Traffic Control: FAA Uses Earned Value Techniques to Help Manage Information Technology Acquisitions, but Needs to Clarify Policy and Strengthen Oversight. GAO-08-756, July 18, 2008 (45 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-756
• Airline Industry: Potential Mergers and Acquisitions Driven by Financial and Competitive Pressures. GAO-08-845, July 31, 2008 (51 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-845
• Aviation Security: Transportation Security Administration Has Strengthened Planning to Guide Investments in Key Aviation Security Programs, but More Work Remains. GAO-08-1024T, July 24, 2008 (13 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-1024T
• Commercial Drivers: Certification Process for Drivers with Serious Medical Conditions. GAO-08-1030T, July 24, 2008 (7 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-1030T
• Commercial Drivers: Certification Process for Drivers with Serious Medical Conditions. GAO-08-826, June 30, 2008 (25 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-826
• Examples of Job Hopping by Commercial Drivers After Failing Drug Tests. GAO-08-829R, June 30, 2008 (9 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-829R (more…)
   

Here are the latest US Government Accountability Office (US GAO) reports about transportation, published in June 2008.

• Coast Guard: Strategies for Mitigating the Loss of Patrol Boats Are Achieving Results in the Near Term, but They Come at a Cost and Longer Term Sustainability Is Unknown. GAO-08-660, June 23, 2008 (56 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-660
• Federal Aviation Administration: Efforts to Hire, Staff, and Train Air Traffic Controllers Are Generally on Track, but Challenges Remain. GAO-08-908T, June 11, 2008 (15 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-908T

What is Rouch Intermodal?

Rouch was created in 1945 by André Rouch. In order to meet a need of transport services from the south of France towards Paris, Rouch started to develop combined transport in 1963, and a partnership was signed with Novatrans (rail operator), in 1967.

Several agencies were settled in Paris, Avignon, and Lille and at the end of the 1980’s, Rouch was bought out by an British company. It allowed the company to develop its international business until July 2000, when Rouch joined SNCF Group. SNCF Participations, a SNCF Group subsidiary that covers all of SNCF-owned companies, now owns 98.96% of the shares (see below for SNCF Participations combined transport companies).

Rouch Intermodal will track its containers

Rouch Intermodal started to equip its containers with a satellite tracking system, and becomes this way the first company to implement such a technology in France. The technology used includes a electronic boxes fixed on the container and power by a lithium battery. (more…)

Here are the latest U.S. Government Accountability Office (U.S. GAO) reports about transportation, published in May 2008.

• Aviation and the Environment: NextGen and Research and Development Are Keys to Reducing Emissions and Their Impact on Health and Climate. GAO-08-706T, May 6, 2008 (37 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-706T
• Motor Carrier Safety: Improvements to Drug Testing Programs Could Better Identify Illegal Drug Users and Keep Them off the Road. GAO-08-600, May 15, 2008 (68 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-600
• Physical Infrastructure: Challenges and Investment Options for the Nation’s Infrastructure. GAO-08-763T, May 8, 2008 (30 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-763T
• Transportation Security: Transportation Security Administration Has Strengthened Planning to Guide Investments in Key Aviation and Surface Transportation Security Programs, but More Work Remains. GAO-08-487T, May 13, 2008 (41 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-487T

Here are the last U.S. Government Accountability Office (U.S. GAO) reports about transportation, published in April 2008.

• National Transportation Safety Board: Progress Made in Management Practices, Investigation Priorities, Training Center Use, and Information Security, But These Areas Continue to Need Improvement. GAO-08-652T, April 23, 2008 (37 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-652T
• Status of Implementation of GAO Recommendations on Evacuation of Transportation-Disadvantaged Populations and Patients and Residents of Health Care Facilities. GAO-08-544R, April 1, 2008 (26 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-544R 
• Traffic Safety: Improved Reporting and Performance Measures Would Enhance Evaluation of High-Visibility Campaigns. GAO-08-477, April 25, 2008 (42 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-477 
• Transportation Security: Efforts to Strengthen Aviation and Surface Transportation Security Continue to Progress, but More Work Remains. GAO-08-651T, April 15, 2008 (22 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-08-651T

Less than three weeks ago early April 2008, “Le Ponant”, a ship from French merchant marine company CMA CGM, was hijacked. The French luxury sailboat was assaulted by Somalian pirates and the crew was finally rescued by the French military, and the pirates killed or arrested.

It is now the turn of a Spanish tuna boat (”Playa de Bakio”) which was attacked off Somalia’s coast on Sunday, April 21, 2008. The 26 crew members were approached by pirates armed with grenade launchers, who apparently wish to receive a ransom. To prepare an eventual intervention, a Spanish military ship was deployed, and the Spanish Government sought the help of France and the United States.

According to the International Maritime Bureau, a Japanese tanker was also attacked on Monday, April 22 at about 2:30 AM GMT, in the Somalian waters, by pirates armed with rocket launchers and automatic weapons. The crew managed to escape from the. (more…)