Food Shippers of America is looking for member companies to profile in upcoming issues of the Bi-Annual Food Shippers of America magazine. This is a unique opportunity to share with our readers information about your company, its products and new logistics innovations you’re undertaking.  

If you would like your company to appear in one of these profile presentations please contact Food Shippers at media_advisor@foodshippersofamerica.org.

Our Winter 2019 issue of Food Shippers of America magazine is also available in digital format for your phone, tablet and computer viewing. Please click here for immediate access. 

Previous issues of Food Shippers of America magazine may be found in our association website archives, or by clicking here.  

Thank you to all our members for your support! 

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is making its monthly magazine, 3PL Perspectives, available to all FSA members and suppliers. Please click here for a view of TIA's December issue. 

For more information about any articles appearing in 3PL Perspectives, contact Chris Burroughs at burroughs@tianet.org.

Transport Futures
The report on the fatal accident involving an autonomous test vehicle and a pedestrian (March 2018 in Arizona) came out this week. It illustrates well-documented, but under-appreciated facts of automated safety technology. The report revealed two important facts:

Using sustainable supply chains helps #EPASmartWay shippers, carriers, and logistics partners contribute to cleaner air even during the spike in activity during the holiday season. #deliveringthegoods #sustainability #fuelsavings

Journal of Commerce
The implications of IMO 2020's low-sulfur mandate will be felt most acutely by cargo owners during the next 12-18 months as they will be the ones to absorb the initial costs associated with adding scrubbers to marine carrier vessels.

For a free trial offer, or to subscribe to the Journal of Commerce, please click here.
Reprinted with permission from the Journal of Commerce.

FreightWaves
With IMO 2020 set to go into effect January 1, members of the World Shipping Council expressed concerns at a Washington D.C. meeting on December 5, that the U.S. Coast Guard's inspection protocols are insufficient to detect cheating vessel operators, and that the fuel itself rather than the fuel documentation should now be examined.

Transport Futures
The hardest thing to predict about the appearance of new regulations is the FMCSA’s ability to keep to a published timeline. We see that again in the two-year delay just announced for the start of the new, formal training requirements for CDL applicants.

Supermarket News
Global food retailer Ahold Delhaize USA plans to invest $480 million in its U.S. food supply chain during the next three years acquiring warehouses in New York and Pennsylvania and building two new fully automated frozen facilities in the Northeast.

California Trucking Association
Long before the AB5 legislation was introduced in 2018, the California Trucking Association has been fighting to prevent the application of the "ABC Test" to the trucking industry.

Journal of Commerce
New Jersey legislators are advancing legislation that would redefine how state officials determine if thousands of Port of New York and New Jersey truckers are independent owner-operators or employees. Trucking companies, who aggressively oppose the bill say this legislation, would adversely affect port drayage and cargo movement.

For a free trial offer, or to subscribe to the Journal of Commerce, please click here. 
Reprinted with permission from the Journal of Commerce.

National Law Review
California lawmakers have expanded and further codified the so-called 'ABC Test.' AB 5 goes into effect January 1, and significantly narrows the scope of how businesses can classify workers as either independent contractors or employees in occupations ranging from architects and lawyers to truck drivers and manicurists.

Food Shippers of America is both surprised and excited by the overwhelming early registration response to our 2020 Annual Conference with close to 3 months before the event!

Food Shippers is committed to ensuring that the annual conference provides ample and effective networking opportunities. We have found that balancing attendance with proportioned representation from shippers/receivers and the various service provider types (motor carriers, third party providers, railroads and technology providers) affords participants an optimal mix of attendees in conjunction with our venue’s hosting capabilities.    

We have received a record number of registrations and have reached the facility’s recommended capacity limits. Unfortunately, this will mean that we will not be able to accommodate everyone who would like to attend. Consequently, we have closed registration for all attendee types and are unable to make any exceptions at this time. If you would like, we can add you to a waiting list and if space opens up we will let you know. We will need the name and email for anyone who would like to be placed on the waitlist.

We regret any inconvenience and thank everyone who has registered and helped contribute to the tremendous early turnout!

Thank you for your ongoing support of Food Shippers of America.

Food Shippers of America has arranged for discounted transportation from the Orlando airport to the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton at Grande Lakes hotels for the 2020 Annual FSA Conference. 

MEARS Transportation will provide a $4 off discount for a shared ride shuttle round-trip ticket. Attendees can click here to book directly online (the discount code is built in).

Click here for other ride options MEARS offers for the Orlando airport.

2020 Conference Co-chair's Mike Marquardt, Birchwood Foods and Kyle Kottke, Kottke Trucking along with the Food Shippers of America Officers, Board Members and Advisors are pleased to present the 65th Annual Food Shippers of America's Conference Agenda as of December 12, 2019 (Subject to updates and changes).

Thank you to our committed sponsors for their support of our 65th Annual Food Shippers of America Conference, Feb. 23-25, 2020 at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, FL.

Click here for a listing of our 2020 Conference Sponsors. 

DC Velocity
As the application of robotics in warehouse and distribution centers continues to increase, the question of safety restrictions and speed—which would dramatically impact throughput—shows that not all robotic technology is created equal.

Progressive Grocer
With the signing and imminent ratification of the USMCA trade agreement, proponents are encouraged that areas such as biotechnology and ecommerce as well as science-based food safety standards are being properly addressed for a 21st century food supply chain.

Food Engineering
Consistency is everything in the food and beverage industry, but reliability and variability in process steam and power can bedevil engineers. However, newer combined heat and power (CHP) cogeneration, with its flexible-fuel capabilities are proving to be a relatively low-maintenance investment.

FreightWaves
Circumventing the high cost of investing in full automation, the concept of robots-as-a-service is gaining ground in small- to mid-tier warehousing businesses. A monthly fee covers software, hardware, maintenance and support service with setup and deployment of the robots completed in less than two weeks.