Not sure what to make out of this but I'm sure someone will tell me I might as well jump off the bridge because the end is coming...



11/6/2008 8:52:00 PM
DHL to disclose ‘further steps’ Monday
WILMINGTON
By GARY HUFFENBERGER
[email protected]

As a Monday press conference in Bonn, Germany, draws near, there appear to be warning signs DHL’s business in the United States continues a downhill slide.

Unishippers, a franchise business that consolidates shipments for small businesses, has announced it has switched to United Parcel Service (UPS), according to a Wednesday report on Traffic World Online.

Traffic World Online called Unishippers “the highest-profile shipper yet to abandon DHL in the United States.”

According to the DHL Press Office, Monday’s press conference is being held “to discuss DPWN business results in the first nine months of the year, and inform you about the progress and further steps in the restructuring of our DHL U.S. Express business.” DPWN stands for Deutsche Post World Net, which is the parent corporation of DHL Global, including the U.S. arm of DHL’s global freight network.

Taking part in the Bonn press conference will be DPWN CEO Frank Appel, DPWN Chief Financial Officer John Allan, and DHL Express CEO John Mullen.

The Traffic World Online report said DHL officials did not comment “on growing suggestions” DHL was unable to reach an agreement with UPS on a planned air freight contract involving DHL’s shipments within North America.

Meanwhile, an online Monday report in e-Cargonews Asia said some observers surmise DHL has ended its plan to be a viable alternative to FedEx and UPS in the U.S. parcel market. These observers predict DHL will return to its earlier focus on international shipments to and from the United States.

The online trade publication adds if DHL does limit its U.S. operations to international shipping, “there would be no point for DHL to pursue the planned agreement with UPS.” That’s because the announced proposal between the two megacarriers would involve DHL’s air freight within North America, which of course includes DHL air freight that has a U.S. starting point and a U.S. end-point.

The News Journal will post a bulletin Monday morning on its Web site at http:// www. wnewsj.com shortly after the press conference, scheduled to begin 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.