JOHN S Connor, a full service Maryland-based logistics company, recently formed an alliance with Orient Star Group to offer weekly Less than Container Load (LCL) service from Shanghai to Baltimore - never before available on this route.

Orient Star Group is a NVOCC forwarder with 18 offices throughout Asia. "John S Connor and Orient Star Group have been co-operating on logistics ventures for over 15 years," said Hillary Ye, China business development manager at Connor. "It has been a very successful alliance for both companies as well as for our customers."

Connor's sales and marketing director, Richard Higgins, said the new service offers a number of major advantages. "Shippers can now avoid the congestion delays in other east coast ports," he stated. "Also, it means lower costs in inland deliveries and container freight station unloading charges."

Last June, John S. Connor opened an office in Shanghai in order to establish stronger trade between China and the east coast of the United States. "Our goal was to enhance the company's ability to service shipping customers in China with all logistics aspects including operations, internet tracking and tracing, and customs clearance," said company president Lee Connor.

John S Connor, established in 1917, is a licensed NVOCC, providing ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, domestic transportation and steamship agency services.