SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 26, 2014 — The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) is energizing its activities in Finished Vehicle Logistics (FVL) with the announcement of two new partnerships, a special import-export event in Baltimore this August, and three new publications.

Partnerships

AIAG has reached separate memorandums of understanding with the American Trucking Associations and the American Association of Port Authorities, which define a new level of cooperation and collaboration between AIAG and these organizations.

AIAG will engage with ATA in cooperative efforts for the betterment of the FVL industry, including holding regular joint discussions and sharing ideas for the development of FVL standards. Similarly, AIAG and AAPA will provide each other with mutual support for automotive-related port and logistics initiatives that are beneficial to both organizations.

“We’re partnering with organizations that can help us expand AIAG’s reach and offerings in the finished-vehicle arena,” says Bill Kerrigan, AIAG’s program manager for finished vehicle logistics. “AIAG, ATA, and AAPA are all involved in the development of standards and initiatives that benefit finished vehicle logistics, so upping the level of collaboration between us makes great sense for our members and theirs."

New Event

AIAG and Automotive Logistics magazine are joining forces on an FVL-related conference at the Port of Baltimore on August 13, 2014.

Called Import/Export North America, the event is a response to the growing number of vehicles flowing into and out of the region. Port of Baltimore moves more vehicles than any other port in North America.

Driven by U.S. sales growth, Mexican production output, and common global platforms, movement across the NAFTA region as well as the inter-continental arena is growing and changing. As a result, global automakers are making port adjustments in the U.S. and looking for strategic responses to new pressures placed on their import-export networks.

“There is a terrific opportunity now to capture new flows of vehicles into and out of North America,” says Kerrigan. “And it’s not just cars. Commodity prices and construction patterns worldwide are impacting the heavy truck and equipment sector too.“

The whole supply chain, from ocean and short-sea carriers through the port and terminal services to the road and rail links, all need to connect if we are to seize this opportunity,” he says.

Full details of the event are at http://bit.ly/aiagIENA14.

New Publications

AIAG is debuting three new resources for FVL, including the Electronic Proof of Delivery Guideline Version 2, which establishes a process to allow real-time access and visibility of delivery data to all parties; the Finished Vehicle Transportation Damage Standards and Guide, which provides the latest industry guidelines to help automotive companies expedite the claims handling process; and the new Finished Vehicle Logistics Quality Handling Manual (developed in partnership with ECG Association of European Vehicle Logistics), which improves operations by reducing duplicated activities and standardizing practices, leading to a reduction in damage rates and the more rapid and effective transporting of vehicles.

“With these three new publications, AIAG’s leadership in producing FVL-focused industry guidelines and standards grows even stronger,” says Kerrigan. “Our focus is always on identifying new ways to save the industry time and money.” The guidelines are available for download at www.aiag.org.

Kerrigan says one thing that makes AIAG’s FVL activities so effective and beneficial is the high level of participation from industry volunteers in the FVL Work Group, which includes companies like Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Chrysler Group, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Volkswagen, Honda of America Mfg., Nissan North America, Union Pacific Railroad, Norfolk Southern, Burlington Northern Sante Fe, Canadian National Railroad, WWL Vehicle Services Americas, and CSX Corporation, among others. “When it comes to identifying new ways to address FVL-related pain points, these are the companies that you want in the room,” Kerrigan says.

About AIAG

The Automotive Industry Action Group is a unique not-for-profit organization where OEMs, suppliers, service providers, government entities, and individuals in academia have worked collaboratively for more than 30 years to drive down costs and complexity from the supply chain. AIAG membership includes preeminent manufacturers and many of their parts suppliers and service providers.