September/October 2019 - 23

SHIPPING & RECEIVING
carriers through increased wages and
incentives to lure new drivers. Data
reported by FreightWaves, which
monitors the freight industry, in
early September showed that 26,500
drivers had been added to the for-hire
trucking workforce during the previous
10 months.
FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller,
in a Sept. 2 editorial, cautioned of
overcorrection, however. He warned
not only of lower standards for new
drivers as being dangerous, but also
of any reduction in the amount of
freight, which can happen as a result of
an economic shift, leading to carriers
going bankrupt.
Transit Topics, another freightfocused
publication, recently reported
that more trucking firms shut down
the first six months of 2019 than did
during all of 2018.
Improving efficiency
Moving a perishable product comes
with an additional set of challenges,
which are only intensifying with
increasing food safety regulations
and public demand for transparency.
Fortunately, technological advancements
continue to evolve.
Cl imate - cont rol led shippi ng
containers are not new, but automated
temperature monitoring and transit
alerts have helped everyone - from
the packing shed to the retailer - be
more efficient.
" I think the biggest thing that's
probably unique to perishables is the
TempTale technology and getting live
alerts on the road, " Arling said. " We're
able to set the device to, if (the climate)
gets out of range, to correct mid-transit.
" Then, there is freight visibility.
Yes, it's nice to have the temperature
monitor on there, but it's nice to have
visibility on if that person is making
proper miles. If they're getting behind,
it gives you an opportunity to contact
your end shipper and let them know
what's going on. "
Zack Pace is a national account
manager at Integrity Express Logistics.
Pace, who primarily ships bulk
potatoes, said constant communication
between shippers, drivers and receivers
is paramount.
PRODUCE PROCESSING
21
" That's the No. 1 way that I service
my customers is making sure the
shipper knows exactly when the trucks
are going to be there, " Pace said. " If
they are going to be spread out, they
can utilize their manpower in other
ways and keep them working. ... We
don't want to be late and waste their
employees' time. "
It's the responsibility of shippers and
receivers to do the same, said Boyle,
who added in previous years situations
were not uncommon where a driver
could be an hour late in arriving to
LOGISTICS
pick up a load and then stand around
for three hours while the warehouse
crew finished up another job.
" One of my goals is to help our
shippers be preferred shippers, " Boyle
said. " If it's a nice facility, they treat
the drivers well and load them quickly,
then (the drivers are) going to want to
go there.
" Ultimately, we're going to get better
rates. "
Arling said a location's reputation
does spread within the trucking
industry.
September/October 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September/October 2019
