Registration is now open for the 66th Annual Food Shippers of America Conference to be held February 28 - March 2, 2021 at the JW Marriott in Palm Desert, California

A staggered voucher invitation release schedule, starting with Shippers/Receivers, will be used to facilitate a metered flow of registrations for the Food Shippers team to process.

Please note that attendance will initially be limited (anticipating 800-900 attendees) due to State of California COVID-19 related requirements, and each category of attendee will be proportionally capped. As we get closer to the actual conference date, and if the State relaxes its COVID-19 restrictions, we will add additional registration openings for each attendee type.

Please contact Paul Newbourne, Executive Director, if you have any questions at ExecutiveDirector@FoodShippersofAmerica.org or 847-302-1496.

Food Shippers of America has implemented the following change to its membership dues structure effective July 1, 2020.

Membership in the Food Shippers of America trade association is limited to individuals engaged in the business of shipping or receiving food and related productions in the Food and Beverage industry where an individual is someone who conducts business on behalf of a company who has, or maintains, physical ownership of these products within the supply chain.

Check out our LinkedIn page for up-to-date conference schedules and event updates, the latest in food and beverage industry news, and a host of other great information! Click below for immediate access to our page.

Thank you to all our members for your continued support!

Our Summer 2020 issue of Food Shippers of America magazine is also available in digital format, with a host of articles featuring industry thought leaders on topics ranging from TMS implementation and cost saving to innovative transformations and strategic planning within the supply chain. In addition, Transport Futures Noël Perry looks at the U.S. economic forecast in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click here for immediate access. 

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

Food Shippers of America is looking for FSA Member Companies to profile in upcoming issues of the bi-annual Food Shippers of America magazine.

Tell us what your New Normal looks like. Perhaps how your company jump-started its own recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, or the best practices your team has developed to ensure continued resilience and adaptability moving forward. We offer a unique opportunity for FSA Member Companies to share with our readers their company's goals and successes, visions and innovations. 

If you would like your FSA Member Company profile to appear in our print and digital publications, please contact Food Shippers at media_advisor@foodshippersofamerica.org.

Who Is Eligible for FSA Membership?

Collaboration is key! Working together with SmartWay Affiliates to support the #EPASmartWay mission can help accomplish goals that are harder for organizations to achieve alone. Find Affiliates in your area: 

FreightWaves
Walmart has set the payment bar even higher with a new directive aimed at food and consumable goods on P.O.s for both brick-and-mortar as well as e-commerce sales. As of September 22, suppliers who ship "pre-paid" to Walmart distribution centers must now fill orders exactly as Walmart dictates and hit the "arrive by date" 98% of the time, or face a fine of 3% of the costs of the goods.

Transport Topics
A mere four months following the second lowest order number on record, U.S. trailer orders topped 27,000 for August 2020, rising 150% YoY, according to ACT Research. Available freight, tight capacity, and rising rates contributed to the surge, said Frank Maly, director of commercial vehicle analysis and research at ACT.

DC Velocity
While the trend toward online shopping has been growing for some time, the global pandemic accelerated e-tailing to the mainstream. Increasing volumes and rising last-mile demand, especially in the e-grocery sector, is driving warehouse automation needs to keep a step ahead of the competition.

FreightWaves
A new commercial driver subcommittee made up of 20-25 truck drivers will provide direct feedback to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to better inform the agency of driver viewpoints and experiences. The panel will include drivers of straight trucks, Ag haulers and hazardous materials.

Transport Topics
With a September 30 expiration date looming, a 12-month extension of the federal surface transporation FAST Act  has the support of policy authorizers Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), as numerous stakeholders call publicly for the extension despite Republicans and Democrats appearing to be far from agreement on the wording of any replacement legislation.

2021 Conference Co-chair's Peter Andrews, Schreiber Food, and Ricky Stover, C.R. England, along with the Food Shippers of America Officers, Board Members and Advisors are pleased to present the 66th Annual Food Shippers of America's Conference Agenda as of September 21, 2020.*

*Subject to updates and changes.

Food Dive
With no shortage to emotional downers: global pandemic, hurricanes, or presidential election, consumers can always turn to their favorite comfort food. Flavors like chocolate, vanilla, macaroni and cheese and chicken soup are thought to be universally comforting, and food manufacturers are increasingly tapping into them to comfort consurmers, said Marie Wright, president of creation, design and development and chief global flavorist for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company.

American Shipper
As e-commerce sales continue to rise, investment firms such as Blackstone, Sam Zell and Goldman Sachs are increasingly hawkish for industrial real estate used for logistics, transportation and railroad operations.

Food Logistics
In order to meet the Food and Drug Administrations' Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food mandates, food shippers are working with original equipment manufacturers to customize fleets with advanced engine and diagnostic technology to ensure food safety.

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 September issue. 

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