March 11, 2013
RWI Transportation LLC

The 2013 Food Shippers Annual Conference was held at the fabulous JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, AZ, February 24-26. The conference provided some new events while engaging attendees in traditional activities and providing a first-class line-up of speakers. New events this year included a Sunday networking luncheon, first-time attendee reception, a mixed-couples tennis tournament and a formal roundtable discussion added to the annual FSA business meeting. 




Sunday's activities included a morning and afternoon golf outing that saw many shots into the desert sky. The welcome reception and dinner included some light entertainment, including a mariachi band and a couple of beverage carrying donkeys.





Monday saw a filled day of inspirational and industry experts. Dean Karnazes, the Ultramarathon Man, led off the speaking sessions, challenging the audience of more than 900 attendees to not only go beyond, but to push beyond what seems possible to find out your limit. Dean certainly has just that with his accomplishments. 

Industry expert panelists talked about how to address our country's highway infrastructure and the future of natural gas in the transportation industry. We heard how Dan and Angie Bastian started a business and, through their entrepreneurial spirit, grew it to a national success. Other experts explained the changing world of intermodal chassis and how the grocery consumer is changing. Michael Sansolo wrapped up the day with some great lessons from the past that we can apply today.



Tuesday's speakers led off with Connie Podesta, who provided entertainment and hard-core information on how to sell to the people around us. The capacity crunch is coming at some point and we heard how three different organizations are approaching it now. Bob Costello gave us his forward look in to the economy to close out the conference.

FSA provided a first class dinner and entertainment Monday night. The crowd interacted with celebrity look-alikes and rocked to the 80s music of the Spazmatics.

Lastly, FSA continued its giving initiatives though an expanded scholarship program and contributions to Feeding America and its local affiliate, St. Mary's Food Bank.

 
ARLINGTON, Va. -- The American Trucking Associations has criticized the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for rejecting a request to delay implementation of its embattled Hours-of-Service rule. In a letter to the agency, ATA general counsel Prasad Sharma said that rather than deal in good faith with the substance of ATA’s request, "FMCSA hid behind an irrelevant, legalistic analysis."
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North American truck sales may have slowed in the latter stages of 2012, but orders for natural gas trucks are bucking the trend. Freightliner has 520 natural gas trucks on order already this year, while it sold 720 units last year and 2,000 natural gas-powered trucks over the last four years. Robert Carrick, sales manager, natural gas with Freightliner Trucks, told attendees at the Green Truck Summit today that: "as a company, Daimler sees natural gas growing, not only in North America, but globally."
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Tranzact Technologies
Transportation has become the latest flash point in the battle over sequestration, with Democrats and the White House warning travelers they could be in for long lines and flight delays as a result of the automatic cuts set to go into effect on Friday.
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In the current issue of Food Logistics magazine, reporter Maria Hoffman discusses revamping warehouses with robotics, sharing that next-generation robotics by Seegrid are driving safety and efficiency. Hoffman described that food and beverage facilities have historically operated under more stringent cleanliness and hygiene standards. And new rules and regulations in the U.S. and overseas are raising the bar even higher. The recently announced Preventive Controls rule and the Produce rule—both part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)—are one such example. However, while regulatory compliance is getting tougher, robotics can help meet the new demands.
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In the current regulatory, legislative and economic climate, the trucking industry must work hard as these issues threaten to derail recovery and weaken productivity, said Chris Burruss, president of the Truckload Carriers Association at the 75th TCA annual conference in Las Vegas.
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Weber Logistics
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Tuesday that it filed a lawsuit against Prestige Transportation Service for hiring discrimination. According to the suit, Prestige refused to hire black applicants for employment, discriminated against a black employee and retaliated against three employees for opposing race discrimination and/or filing a discrimination charge with the EEOC.
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AKRON, Ohio -- Goodyear has narrowed down the finalists for its 30th America Highway Hero Award to four. The award, to be announced during the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, KY, March 21, honours professional truck drivers who put themselves in harm’s way to help others
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Rebecca Brewster, president and chief operating officer of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), has won the third annual Influential Woman in Trucking award at this week's Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) annual meeting. The award, presented by Navistar and the Women in Trucking Association (WIT), recognizes women in the trucking industry who make or influence key decisions, have a proven record of responsibility and who mentor and serve as a role model to other women.
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United States Cold Storage, Inc.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- At its Annual Convention at the Wynn Las Vegas, the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) board of directors has approved several changes to the organization’s official policies on drug and alcohol testing, sleep disorders and on-board technology.
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The fourth quarter 2012 financial results for America’s leading truckload carriers tell a story of an industry going through transformation and change. The most dramatic poster boy of this change can be seen at the largest carrier in the group, JB Hunt. Basic point-to-point truckload carriage has fallen so far that it is almost irrelevant in its overall business results.
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If you ask Doug Martin, an owner of Hugoton-based Martin Trucking and Southwest Express, about the effect rising gas prices has had on his business, he has one word for you: bad.
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Food Shippers of America
1546 Shire Circle, Inverness IL 60067
303-319-5215 | media@foodshippersofamerica.org

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