Fall 2019
UNDER At the THE Heart of RADAR
Trucking
The Official Publication of the Florida Trucking Association, Inc.
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TABLE of CONTENTS
4 | Under the Radar FTA Board Chair Terry Borglund is a trucking executive who keeps our world moving — with something that often goes unnoticed. Aggregates, chemicals, pallets and more. They’re on our roads, under the radar.
FALL 2019
8
DEPARTMENTS President’s Message
3
2019 Florida Truck Driving Championships FTA Annual Conference
12
8 10
Fall Round-up: Legends Look Back
12
Moves and News
18
Florida Teacher Tour
28
FEATURES Under the Radar
4
Where Does Paper Come From? 16 Dunnage Bag Design and Damage Rates 22 The Cold Chain 23
INDUSTRY INSIDER
14 10
HOS Changes and the Impact on Detention Times
14
FTA 2.0 Leadership Class 20 Q + A with Jonathan Carryl 32
FLORIDA TRUCK NEWS
FALL 2019 | 1
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KENNETH S. ARMSTRONG, PH.D. PRESIDENT AND CEO, FLORIDA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION
VOLUME 78, NUMBER 3 • Q3 2019 STAFF: President and CEO, Kenneth S. Armstrong ken@FLTrucking.org Vice President, Alix Miller alix@FLTrucking.org Director of Operations, Brian Nerland brian@FLTrucking.org Executive Assistant, Dot Butler dot@FLTrucking.org
President’s Message HMMMM We all have those “hmmm moments” when things come into focus. The theme of this issue is “Under the Radar.” Alix has brilliantly chosen to focus on the sectors of our industry that aren’t flashy or obvious. You are going to enjoy the read.
PUBLISHED BY:
My recent hmmm came, as is often the case, while I was driving down the highway. When you stop to think about the way everything operates, isn’t it simply amazing that our trucks get EVERYTHING where commerce (we) needs it to be, when we need it to be, almost without fail?!
350 E. College Ave.
Here are a zillion different types of shippers and trucks and drivers and products and stores and homes, and somehow, magically, we get everything where it is supposed to be. Think about any store or activity or product…how often is what is supposed to be there not there? Almost never. And we don’t think about the virtual perfection of this non-system system…except when someone at FTA points it out. The whole Rubik’s Cube of trucking operates under the radar.
Tallahassee, FL 32301 www.FLTrucking.org EDITORIAL Editor: Alix Miller ADVERTISING Sales: Brian Nerland
Makes you go: HMMMMM. Keep those wheels turning,
DESIGN & LAYOUT Art Director: Jeremy Ashmore © 2019 Florida Trucking Association. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of FTA. For subscription information, please contact FTA at 850-222-9900. Postmaster: Address changes to Dot Butler, 350 E. College Avenue, Tallahassee FL 32301 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the authors of the articles contained in Florida Truck News magazine are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Florida Trucking Association or its member companies. Printed in Florida. Please recycle where facilities exist.
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TECHNOLOGY
Under the
Radar
By Alix Miller
Pallets? Pallets. An unsung hero in the trucking industry. To be honest, I’ve never thought about them. Back in the day, I took pallets for granted. I stood in the loading dock of Caesars Palace Forum Shops, watching the truck back in and unload five pallets from Vosges Haut Chocolat HQ in Chicago. Don’t let the heels and dresses fool you. I worked the jack and pushed thousands of pounds of chocolate to the depths of the basement levels, with each store separated by chain link fencing, to supply the demand every week. (Side note: pay no attention to any loss prevention during that time—it was quality control, I promise…) Every day, two BILLION pallets are used to transport our goods.
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When we tout the trucking industry for providing everything we touch on a daily basis, we take for granted the products, raw materials and services that carriers provide. We immediately think: food, toys, clothes, water, fuel. The finished commodities that we eat, wear and enjoy. But there is so much more. In Florida, there is a visceral reaction to trucks, particularly when we are in desperate need—before, during and after a hurricane. Those consumable commodities become the difference between life and death. Everyone relies on them and everyone is grateful. Water doesn’t just come from a truck, though. It’s bottled, shrinkwrapped and placed on a…you guessed it...pallet to most efficiently and safely move from point A to point B. This magazine issue focuses on our member companies and the services
they provide which too often go unnoticed. Spill a drink and grab a paper towel to clean it up? Chemicals are needed to break down the pulp and produce that roll. Enjoying a nice game of golf? Someone needs to provide the fertilizer to get the grass green and even. Are you reading this from your computer or phone? Copper is needed to provide the cables on the ocean bed for you to connect. Pallets move the world. I’m not easily impressed. But visiting the plant of PalletOne, just a few miles away from corporate headquarters in Bartow, was an eye-opening experience. My photographer, Norma Molina, who normally spends her time traveling around the country capturing supermodels for fashion magazine covers and editorials, couldn’t help but pull out her iPhone to take a few pics, and offered to photograph the plant. Even she was
ROAD < COVER STORY: THE FUTUREON OF THE TRUCKING
inspired by the stunning architecture of acres upon acres of pallets, stacked as far and as high as the eye can see. PalletOne is the largest new wood pallet manufacturer in the United States, processing more than 200 million board feet annually. The corporation owns and operates pallet manufacturing facilities and sawmills throughout the eastern United States, with 23 locations in nine states from Texas to Maine. Organized in 2001, PalletOne provides pallet repair programs, recycles used pallets and produces a variety of other wood products. The operation includes Industrial Recycling Services, SunOne Logistics and Sunbelt Forest Products Corporation, one of the largest producers of pressure-treated lumber and residential fencing in the Southeast. SunOne Logistics, headquartered in Hazlehurst, Georgia, is a flatbed and van truckload carrier that operates throughout the southeastern United States. Hauling primarily lumber products and building materials, SunOne Logistics serves high-volume, time-sensitive shippers that demand time-definite delivery. Founded in 1982 by a team who saw the need for a high-production pressure treating facility in central Florida, Sunbelt Forest Products has grown to become one of the largest and most diverse wood preserving operations in the Southeast. In 2015, operations were expanded with the acquisition of three treating facilities in northern and central Alabama and north Florida. At peak production, SFP is capable of treating in excess of 600 million board feet annually. The company was built from the ground up and began operations as a custom treating service for largevolume users of pressure treated lumber. They currently sell their lumber to mass merchandisers and large independent lumberyards throughout Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, and the Caribbean basin. The company is also a major importer of
pine fencing from South America, which they use to provide pressure treated fencing to customers all over the southeastern United States. Industrial Recycling Services (IRS), a PalletOne company, formed in 2011 to assist manufacturers in achieving their sustainability goals. Led by an experienced team of waste stream specialists, IRS offers “zeroto-landfill” programs and services for businesses seeking the removal, recycling, and repurposing of postindustrial material. PalletOne exceeds $500 million in revenue annually and employs more than 1,500 people. One of whom is Florida Trucking Association’s new Board Chair, Terry Borglund.
in love with “theI fell family culture at PalletOne. They put employees first. It’s all about the people.
”
Borglund has served as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for PalletOne since 2016. He grew up in Wood Dale, Illinois, and moved to Florida to attend Florida Southern College, where he earned a degree in accounting. After gaining experience as a controller with several companies, he became the Chief Financial Officer for McGee Tires Stores in 2001. Borglund became an owner in 2013, and before selling the company in 2016, the firm had grown to 30 locations and was listed as the largest Goodyear dealer in the southeastern U.S. Too young to retire, Borglund joined PalletOne and partner company SunBelt Forest Products. “I fell in love with the family culture at PalletOne. They put employees first. It’s all about the people.”
Married for 22 years, with two daughters, age 11 and eight, Borglund has served on the Board of Florida Trucking Association since 2010, serving as treasurer for eight of those years. His role with FTA focused on helping to strengthen the financial operations and improve the Association’s cash flow. Borglund worked with the FTA staff to redesign its accounting system and financial goals and was key in assisting in the most recent FTA Chief Executive Officer search process. “If anyone has ‘paid his dues’ on behalf of FTA, Terry Borglund is that person,” said Ken Armstrong. “He’s a little bit disarming because of his low-key approach and his usual desire to be out of the spotlight, but he has a mind like a steel trap. I like the way he uses questions to enhance conversations—always focusing in on key issues by saying ‘how could we’ or ‘have we thought about’. FTA is definitely in high-quality hands during Terry’s year as Board chair.”
Aggregates From its origin as a local contractor in 1958, Anderson Columbia Co., Inc. (ACCI) has successfully grown to become one of the largest construction firms in the Southeast and is one of the largest heavy civil contractors in the United States having completed road and bridge building projects up to $500M. They are also the largest road builder in Florida, and one of the largest and fastest growing road builders in Texas. ACCI operates throughout the southeast United States, undertaking major projects in North and South Carolina as well. This success is a direct result of a corporate philosophy of combining highly qualified personnel with state-of-the-art technology committed to providing professional services on schedule and within budget. ACCI is also a diversified materials producer with aggregate, crushed stone, and sand and gravel operations in Florida, Georgia, and Texas and
FLORIDA TRUCK NEWS
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COVER STORY: UNDER THE RADAR <
been an industry leader, remaining committed to organic growth and the development of new partnerships through innovation and technology. New Line Transport has invested millions of dollars the last few years into new equipment to increase our ability to enter new markets and better serve our customers. The company is directly involved with CEMEX by delivering thousands of tons of raw materials for projects such as Virgin Trains, USA in South Florida, The Estates of Acqualina in Sunny Isles and Brevard County Beach Restoration while meeting tight deadlines. New Line Transport delivers more than 400,000 loads of aggregate and 50,000 cement loads throughout Florida, and is excited about new opportunities and partnerships to Deliver a Better Future in their communities.
Tee times and kickoffs
asphalt operations in Florida and Texas. The company is a vertically integrated contractor with the ability to supply their own aggregates in most of the areas that they work, which gives them a market advantage—the materials division supplies a quality aggregate, leading to the construction of quality jobs for the client. One challenge of the industry? The construction market is struggling to find experienced and qualified workers in all craft types, and company leadership doesn’t see this ending soon. “Most people know that we are still a family owned business and we have the third generation coming on-line now to continue the tradition
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FLORIDA TRUCK NEWS
of quality work throughout the southeast and in Texas,” said Brian P. Schreiber, CFO for ACCI. “It has been hard for family businesses to remain competitive in the market with as many foreign companies that have recently been attracted to the U.S. over the last couple of decades.” New Line Transport, LLC is a subsidiary of CEMEX and a multifaceted transportation solution provider servicing the southeastern U.S. They are strategically positioned to serve the building materials industry, guided by safety and a commitment to customer service. Their vast network of terminals, comprised of pneumatic tanks, aggregate dumps and flatbeds, are supported by our centralized customer care dispatch centers and brokerage services. For more than 29 years, New Line Transport has
Located in Central Florida, just south of the I-4 corridor and 10 miles east of Interstate 75, employeeowned Harrell’s, LLC manufactures professional grade fertilizer and distributes liquid and granular plant nutritionals and crop protection products to the golf, turf, ornamental and specialty agriculture markets. Distribution is managed out of their 23 warehouse facilities nationwide using strategic transportation partners and 70 Harrell’s-branded trucks. Established in 1941 as a garden center by Ormond and Lucile Harrell, Harrell’s is now led by thirdgeneration CEO Jack Harrell, Jr., and the company became employeeowned in 2016, the same year as their 75th anniversary celebration. Their corporate office in Lakeland operates a manufacturing plant that specializes in custom blending the very best raw materials, many of which are sourced locally. In addition, their 40,000 square foot warehouse runs close to ten flatbed
COVER STORY: UNDER THE RADAR <
loads serving 50-60 customers with daily routes delivering up to 180 tons throughout the state of Florida and into southern Georgia. Harrell’s is focused on delivering agronomic solutions to Florida’s robust agricultural community, including recreational venues such as golf courses and sports fields while supporting ornamental nursery growers and university research around the state. “Availability of drivers is our biggest challenge,” said Scott MacDonald, Director of Corporate Compliance. “Like most motor carriers around the country, Harrell’s feels the pressure of the shortage of qualified drivers. That, coupled with the current group of hauling professionals who will be retiring in the next five to ten years, makes this a challenge that we cannot ignore. We have fantastic compliance, human resource, and operations teams who regularly work to recruit and place the best drivers in the industry. We leverage relationships across the country with job placement companies, truck driving schools, and organizations like Florida Trucking Association to make certain that we have access to the best of the best. We support efforts to lower the age for interstate drivers from 21 to 18 so that we are not losing that segment of the workforce to other industries. We also support amending the current hours-of-service regulations to give both drivers and motor carriers more flexibility within the regulations while remaining focused on compliance and safety. We have the best drivers in the industry and want to make certain that we give them the tools to get home safely to their families each and every day.” Ormond and Lucile founded the company on three solid core valuesServe, Honor and Glorify God; Take Care of People; and Run a Sound Financial Company. Today more than 400 employee-owners uphold those values through four pillars – Humility, Gratitude, Intentionality and Accountability. With these principles, Harrell’s customer base has grown to 10,000 customers, many of whom have
been doing business with Harrell’s for decades and employee-owners who Harrell’s considers friends.
Can you hear me now? Most people think your internet and international phone calls are transmitted via satellite. Wrong. Nearly all of that data travels on submarine cables, which are laid along the ocean floor. Hundreds of thousands of miles of bundled wires sheathed in steel, plastic and copper are required. Much of that copper is brought in, hauled away to be prepped, and brought back to Port Panama City to build the cables by Shelton Trucking. (Imagine a cable twelve inches thick that, if looking at a cross section, looks like a giant sushi roll.) Shelton hauls an astounding 350 million pounds of copper per year and has put Calhoun County on the map. Shelton Trucking started operations in 1969 with one truck and one driver: Randy Shelton. His father Elbert handled all the office operations. The corporate headquarters is in Altha and is one of the largest employers in the county. Terminals are also located in Blountstown, Jacksonville and Saraland, AL. Leadership at Shelton Trucking takes great pride in not only their work, but their role in the community.
After Hurricane Michael hit, Shelton hosted Truck and Treat for 500 people; the office employees cooked hot dogs and chili, in an effort to bring back some normalcy for the entire area. Shelton isn’t just a job for the employees—it’s a lifestyle and culture. Now with 50 years under their belt, it’s not uncommon to see secondgeneration employees and family members working together, with a common goal in sight. They have held fast to their mission to safely provide professional transportation services while developing well trained employees, state of the art technology and a modern well-maintained fleet. The driver shortage hits companies like Altha hard, though. Located in a rural area, it’s more challenging to recruit drivers and technicians. So CEO Rendy Taylor is looking at innovative solutions—reaching out to the local high school and working with Chipola College to establish internships and help guide students’ career paths. Always one of our favorite stops on the Teacher Tour, every year Rendy and his team welcome the participants and invites them to stay and enjoy lunch with the staff. (Shelton orders lunch every day for their employees.) As the area continues to rebuild after the hurricane, Shelton Trucking stands in the center of it all—a beacon of hope for the community.
FLORIDA TRUCK NEWS
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2019 Truck Driving
Championships
“What’s the count today?” The mood at the FTA office was tense the week before the 2019 Truck Driving Championships (TDC). Not because staff was unprepared—in fact, the entire event was locked down and ready to go. Equipment was identified, volunteers longestablished and well-versed in the complex choreography of the statewide event. The 2019 TDC was going to be the biggest competition in the Association’s history. Not a bad problem to have. Except, tension rose as the number of guests for the Awards Banquet and dinner began to steadily increase. 1000 quickly became 1100.
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1100 grew to 1165, and then the headcount slowly started to creep, just days before kickoff, to 1200. And while the volunteers and staff may have had calm demeanors, everyone was well aware that, if 1200 was surpassed, the Hilton Daytona Beach would be unable to seat (let alone feed) the crowd. The final count was 1171—the largest dinner at Florida TDC (and incidentally, the largest banquet ever served at the hotel). Just minutes before the cocktail reception began, hotel staff were wheeling in stacks of boxes and were simultaneously furiously unwrapping new silverware while others were bringing in the salad and bread, taking great pains not to collide with one another in a
feat of controlled chaos. More family, company sponsors and managers were on site to support the 289 drivers competing (another Florida record). The event garnered national attention in Transport Topics, featuring the event weeks prior and highlighting the One Team Florida mantra and photo. (We’ve even heard of a few copycats since.) The 2019 Florida Truck Driving Championships was full of superlatives and broken records—the biggest, the best…and a first: Becky Nelson of FedEx Express became the first woman to win the competition. What’s to come in 2020? We’ll have to wait and see, but we’re going to definitely need more silverware.
List of winners of TDC: Class Winners: Grand Champion: Rebecca Nelson, FedEx Express 3-Axle: Jeffrey Slaten, YRC Freight 4-Axle: Jottyn Santos, FedEx Express 5-Axle: Tanner Widdows, UPS (Rookie) Flatbed: Henry Mahler, YRC Freight Sleeper: Howard Blount, Old Dominion Freight Line Straight: Rebecca Nelson, FedEx Express Tanker: Edward Pennington, FedEx Freight Twins: Terry Bennett, ABF Freight Step Van: Brian Cobb, FedEx Ground Auto Transport: Matthew Cole, Proficient Auto Transport Rookie: Tanner Widdows, UPS Written: Alfredo Lemus, UPS Freight Small Team: Florida Rock & Tank Lines Grand Champion Becky Nelson
Large Team: UPS Freight
FLORIDA TRUCK NEWS
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Ahead of the Curve: Annual Conference 2019
Every four years, Florida Trucking Association heads to The Breakers. The opulence by which our members are surrounded is certainly not for the faint of heart. And this year proved no exception. Perhaps the only thing to distract people from the mammothsized floral arrangements in the lobby was the man walking past them to the ballroom: Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis flew down to Palm Beach first thing in the morning to give the keynote address during the breakfast general session. In it, he spoke of the vital services our member companies provide—in time of prosperity and ever-changing markets—and in struggle, as our drivers are often the last, and the first to be on the roads in a storm. (His full speech can be found on his Facebook page.)
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Filling out the day were speakers who need little to no introduction: Ken Armstrong began the morning with his ever-popular “fireside” chat with the CEO of Werner Enterprises, Derek Leathers, who both entertained and inspired the audience with stories and life-lessons. FDOT Secretary Kevin Thibault, FHP Colonel Gene Spaulding, FHP Chief Derek Barrs, American Trucking Associations’ Executive Vice President of Advocacy Bill Sullivan, and Co-Founder of Strategic Digital Services Matt Farrar rounded out the day with updates and expertise. Day two culminated in a lively panel and audience discussion about tort reform. Panelists included Associated Industries of Florida’s Tom Feeney; Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Carolyn Johnson, Florida Justice
Reform Institute’s William Large; Carroll Fulmer Logistics Corporations’ Philip Fulmer; and Ryder System’s Josh Grodin led by The Southern Group’s Chris Dudley. Both panelists and audience members alike voiced deep concern and the need for tort reform in the state. With a little time in between general sessions and the grand banquet, members headed to one of the four glittering pools or the beach. As the hundreds of attendees gathered for the final evening, Board Chair Jeff Marple presented awards in appreciation for supporting FTA to Keith Walpole, Jimmy Davis and Chris Dudley. The final moments of Annual Conference were replete with gourmet desserts and champagne. Talk about a cherry on top.
Governor Ron DeSantis
Jeff Marple presenting awards of appreciation
Philip Fulmer, Terry Dicks, Rendy Taylor, and Chris Dudley
Ken Armstrong and Derek Leathers
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The Orlando Marriott-Lake Mary was the location for the 2019 Fall Round-Up in October, and the educational sessions were chockfull of informative and intriguing information. With a ballroom standing room only, James Greer, Chair of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association and John Burgos, Vice President of Accredited Drug Testing provided invaluable and timely information as the deadline for the Clearinghouse looms. The management track boasted experts across the fields of tolling technology; processes of road planning and building; and an interactive discussion with two marketing gurus from NASCAR.
2.0 Leadership Class at Fall Round Up
Technology/maintenance and safety aficionados learned about controlling tire expense from Steven Bobovnik of Conlan Tire; FSMA Compliance Concerns by Ralph Cartwright from Southern States Safety; roadside inspections and FMSCA updates by Cpt. Amos Santiago from Florida Highway Patrol and Diana Morales from the Florida Division of FMCSA; and truck tire monitoring technology by Tom Smego from Pressure Systems International.
discussion led by Beth Tattershall from SmartDrive—with members being able to ask one another—and themselves about financial, safety and training improvements with the use of cameras in trucks.
The afternoon of breakout sessions was capped off by a panel
For those members who left at the end of the breakout sessions, they
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During lunch, the inaugural 2.0 Leadership Class was introduced and inducted to begin their year-long professional development across the state. The keynote by Ken Armstrong kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
sure missed out. Terry Dicks, Bud Coleman, Keith Walpole, Jimmy Davis and Phares Acuff, men who made FTA, and trucking in Florida, what it is today, took the audience down memory lane. The good, the bad, let’s face it, the we’ll-never-talkabout-this-again. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the evening was the unbreakable bond these gentlemen have, and have shared for over 40 years—proving that hard work, loyalty and strong relationships bind the industry and people together to make it a force to be reckoned with.
Fall Round-Up Legends Look Back. Terry Dicks, Jimmy Davis Bud Coleman, Keith Walpole and Phares Acuff
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HOS Changes and the Impact on Detention Times 14 | FALL 2019
FLORIDA TRUCK NEWS
When FMCSA announced proposed rulemaking to update hours of service (HOS) rules to increase safety and provide additional flexibility for commercial drivers, industry insiders across the country applauded. Some of the proposed changes—extending the maximum driving window by two hours in adverse weather conditions, increasing flexibility of the 30-minute break and the ability to pause a driver’s 14-hour driving window for up to three hours—were a direct result of listening to drivers’ concerns, former FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez stated. The proposed rule is estimated to provide $274 million in savings for the U.S. economy and consumers, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Chao said it would “enhance safety by giving America’s commercial drivers more flexibility while maintaining the safety limits on driving time.” In the 45-day public comment period, FMCSA received more than 2600 responses on the proposal. One of the most common concerns raised by drivers themselves? Detention times. Hundreds of drivers expressed that with increased flexibility, shippers and receivers would not feel the same sense of urgency to load and unload trucks, delaying the drivers and ultimately, extending their work days. Detention time is a significant issue for the industry already—it can turn a profitable haul into a financial loss and have a cascading effect on subsequent pick-ups and deliveries. The aggravation, for drivers and companies alike, is palpable. And there are signs that detention times are getting worse. In September, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released the study, Driver Detention Impacts on Safety and
Productivity. ATRI directly correlates current hours of service issues with driver delay or detention at customer facilities and sought to understand how the implementation of the ELD mandate was impacting drivers related to detention times in 2018, compared to a similar study conducted in 2014.
and throw a fit because I’m not empty yet…A lot of my male driving friends become aggravated more quickly.” Another dataset that could skew the gender differential: the 2018 study had a large percentage of women with just 1-5 years’ experience, which could help explain longer detention times.
There were several notable differences between the four years. Drivers reported an increase in the percent of delays greater than two hours, with a 27.4 percent increase in delays of six or more hours between 2014 and 2018. Refrigerated freight suffered the longest detention times, with more than a 20 percent increase in the percent of loads experiencing detention of four or more hours in 2018 compared to 2014.
In the survey ATRI asked drivers whether or not they had “run out of available on-duty hours while at a shipping or receiving facility as a result of being detained at a customer?” In both 2014 and 2018, the majority of drivers (82.8 percent in 2014 and 79% in 2018) reported that they had run out of hours due to detention and that detention had a significant impact on their ability to comply with HOS rules.
Detention times are also affected by gender—the 2018 data shows that women were 83.3 percent more likely than men to be delayed six or more hours. Men were detained more frequently than women, but after two hours women were detained longer in every category of the study. There does seem to be some disagreement with this conclusion, however. Women reported approximately 55 percent of their appointments being delayed, compared to 47 percent for men. And women themselves do not believe the difference is the result of dock workers showing preference for male drivers: “When we back into a dock, the guys working don’t know what gender is driving the truck, nor do they care. We are drivers first, not male or female drivers, just drivers to them.”
Increased flexibility in hours of service rules could help mitigate drivers running out the clock without completing the days’ duties, and drivers could take their thirtyminute break while waiting on a customer. They could also stop the clock, but that would lengthen their day. Shippers and receivers could use the flexibility to their advantage, and essentially “force” breaks or stop the clock on their terms, leaving the driver with less personal flexibility during the work day. And worst of all, drivers commented, less-thanscrupulous carrier companies could pressure their drivers to be on-duty for an additional three hours without reporting.
The difference in detention times was also attributed to behavior—male drivers being more persistent by checking in more frequently: “I think male drivers have a shorter fuse than women do when it comes to waiting. I’m less likely to go in a start drama
It’s unclear what the final rule on hours of service will be—or the effect it will have on detention times, safety and cost. The implementation of ELD’s has shed light on unintended consequences of HOS regulations— it’s too soon to tell if increased flexibility, if it becomes rule, will help or hinder detention times.
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Where Does Paper Come From?
Your paper doesn’t simply come from trees.
The forest products industry is ranked in the top five manufacturing sector employers for both number of jobs and employee compensation. The industry is also Florida’s leading manufacturer in sustainability and providing green jobs, employing over 30,000 in the state of Florida. The pulp industry relies on the transportation industry both in the movement of raw materials for the manufacturing process and the finished goods. Day-in, day-out we handle paper products, without giving much (or any) thought as to how they came to be. Before they are stacked on a shelf for purchase; before your loose-leaf paper, post-it notes, paper towels, and toilet paper are loaded on to a truck for transport; and even before the wood pulp is processed, FTA member Groendyke Transport is there. Groendyke Transport was founded on July 12, 1932, when founder Harold Groendyke hauled his first load of kerosene from Borger, Texas, to Beaver, Oklahoma. He drove a two-axle Ford truck equipped with a 3,000-gallon tank mounted on a homemade chassis. That drive took an entire day. In 1935, Groendyke moved to Enid, Oklahoma, to be closer to supply sources Champlin Refinery and Eason Oil. Headquartered in a service station, Groendyke had nine tanktrucks and one cattle trailer.
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FLORIDA TRUCK NEWS
Today, with 42 terminals in 15 states, Groendyke is the fourth-largest tank-truck carrier in the United States. Last year’s gross revenue was more than $245 million, hauling 454,895 loads. They have approximately 1,200 tractors and 2,000 trailers, all for liquid bulk. With 38 maintenance shops, the company performs in-house work on all trucks and tractors. They specialize in hauling mostly hazardous materials, including chemicals, acids, fuels (diesel, unleaded, ethanol, biodiesel, aviation fuel, etc.), lubricants and asphalt.
And of course, the chemicals to make paper…paper. In chemical pulping, wood chips are cooked using a chemical process in a pressure cooker, where the wood fiber is separated into cellulose fibers. The pulp is then washed clean and separated from other substances. The final product is a slurry that is washed and bleached. In addition to the chemicals necessary to turn a paper product white, there is a trio of chemicals used in the processing of wood pulp for paper products: white, black and green liquor. White liquor is a strong alkaline solution mainly of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. It is used in the first stage of the Kraft process (kraft meaning strong in German and also known as sulfate) in which lignin and hemicellulose are separated from cellulose fiber for the production of pulp. The white opaque chemical is used to extract the lignin and break down the cellulose composition of wood chips into usable
pulp. The white (cooking) liquor becomes black liquor and is sent to the recovery process. Black liquor, the by-product of the Kraft process, is toxic and before the invention of recovery boilers in the early 20th century, was released into waterways. Now, recovery boilers recover and reuse inorganic materials and extract energy from the residue by generating steam. One third of all pulping mills in the United States produce approximately six million pounds a day each of black liquor. Recovery boilers helped paper mills reduce problems with water emissions, reduce their use of chemicals by recovery and reuse, and become nearly energy self-sufficient by producing, on average, 66 percent of their own electricity needs on-site. Green liquor is the dissolved smelt of sodium carbonate, sodium sulfide and other compounds from the recovery boiler. The green liquor is usually reacted with lime in the causticizing stage to regenerate white liquor. At this stage, the pulp has a brownish color. In order to turn a paper product white, the pulp must be bleached. The chemicals used to bleach pulp have been a source of environmental concern, and recently the pulp industry has been using alternatives to chlorine, such as chlorine dioxide, oxygen, ozone and hydrogen peroxide. So where does your paper come from? Trucks, obviously. (Thank you, Groendyke.)
AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS’
2020 DRIVER COMPENSATION SURVEY ATA Invites Fleets to Participate All for-hire and private motor carriers are invited to take part in ATA’s 2020 Driver Compensation Study, which aims to provide carriers with more accurate information on one of the trucking industry’s largest expenses—driver pay. For more information and to participate, please contact ATA’s Research Analyst, Alan Karickhoff:
akarickhoff@trucking.org
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.trucking.org/article/compensation-study STUDY PRICING: Non-participants: ............................$1,000 Survey Participants: ................ $100
Please note that all data collected will be held in the strictest confidentiality. Only aggregated data is reported. If requested, a confidentiality agreement can be arranged.
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Florida’s Multi-Use Corridor Infrastructure Plans Will Revolutionize How We Connect By Brad Swanson Florida’s $1 trillion economy continues to compete in the global arena. Our state’s Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance Program, or M-CORES, provides the opportunity for high-speed internet to continue to be deployed and keep Florida competitive for the future. Highspeed connectivity is crucial for our metro, suburban, and rural marketplaces. Florida is already 96 percent connected with highspeed broadband. M-CORES includes provisions whereby Florida’s internet and television industry can expand the connectivity footprint to benefit smaller communities. Florida is seeing almost 1,000 new people relocating to our state daily. We have all witnessed how the Suncoast Parkway and Florida Turnpike have sparked economic growth throughout our state. Our economy is growing jobs, communities, and businesses at the nexus of Florida’s newest corridors. Each of the corridors will further connect Floridians to the world. With rural communities growing to meet
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the needs of our state, M-CORES gives Floridians an advantage to plug into the global economy as well as have access to near-future resources like telehealth and smart-home technologies. Connected corridors will further enhance the connected cities’ technologies that are driving
“ The internet and
television industry not only connects and entertains our customers but brings Florida’s businesses to the world. ” efficiencies at the local government level. Driving greater connectivity closer to Florida’s rural areas increases opportunities to access faster broadband. The internet and television industry not only connects and entertains our customers but brings Florida’s businesses to the world. We are grateful for the vision of our elected
leaders, specifically Governor DeSantis, Senate President Galvano, House Speaker Oliva, the Florida Legislature, and the Florida Department of Transportation for including new digital superhighways while paving the way for Florida to remain competitive as the sixteenth largest economy in the world. Florida Internet & Television, the industry representing 149,000 Florida jobs, is a strong supporter of the Connecting Florida Coalition and its goals to inform Floridians of the various benefits that go beyond simple lane infrastructure. From the banking hubs in Miami and agricultural heartland in southwest Florida to our tourist destinations, beaches and theme parks, Connecting Florida’s digital roadways will drive Florida and our 20 million residents to the future. Brad Swanson is President and CEO of Florida Internet &Television
FLORIDA TRUCK NEWS
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FTA 2.0
The 2.0 Class with Speaker Dean Cannon
As 2.0 Chair Stephanie Slivanik presented during the Annual Conference State of the Association address, the 2.0 committee would be reimagined in the Fall. Shortly thereafter, FTA requested applications and nominations for a leadership classâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;emerging leaders (new or veteran to FTA) who wanted to further develop their professional skill sets and contribute to the Association and industry in a meaningful way. Class members selected spend a year focusing on public policy; industry and regulatory issues; public relations and media training; and networking with established leaders across sectors.
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The inaugural class has seven members, led by Slivanik, Ryan Walpole and Alix Miller. The group gathered for dinner during the Fall Round-Up. Their second meeting, just weeks ago, was held at the Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP).
International in the used truck division, where he has worked for seven years. Carroll works with the International dealers as well as independent dealers throughout Florida to distribute their off-lease trade packages as they are received.
The class has an exciting year ahead of them. Interesting in applying for next year? Applications for the 2020-2021 class will be available this summer.
Lori Ann Chaussinand is an Account Manager for Pilot Flying J Travel Centers, overseeing Florida and Georgia. She has more than 26 years in the oil and gas industry with an emphasis on industrial lubricants, additives and diesel fuel. She was the recipient of Pilot Flying Jâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prestigious Founders Club Award.
Class I (2019-2020) Gene Carroll is the Florida Wholesale Manager for Navistar
Elijah Cope is the Fleet Safety Manager for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Cope is responsible for implementing short- and longterm strategies for maintaining a healthy safety culture. He also oversees the driver onboarding and training processes from start to finish. Matthew Edwards is a Customer Service/Logistics Leader for Dillon, Inc. at the Florida terminals. He is responsible for load planning and operations, working with customers to ensure service and efficiency. Edwards coordinates with the operations team to reduce cost, increase asset utilization and keep deliveries on schedule. He is also responsible for developing operational KPI’s and reporting. Paula McCartha is a Transportation Insurance Specialist for HUB International Transportation, a division of HUB International Limited. She has more than 20 years in the transportation industry with expertise in operations, contracts and safety. Phil Signore is Manager of Capacity Management at C.H. Robinson, where he oversees the contractual and transactional alignment to carriers and oversees the capacity team members in C.H. Robinson’s Tampa, Miami and Orlando offices. Over the last 11 years he has held other positions in the company, including carrier representative, supervisor and account manager. Michael Wojcik is the Director of Risk Management for Indian River Transport, where he oversees safety, claims and recruiting. He maintains the safety program to
improve the fleet’s safe driving, performance and efficiency. Additionally, he works with human resources to promote driver wellness; handles auto and workman’s compensation claims; evaluates candidates during recruiting; works with health benefits for employees; and serves as the head of the safety committee.
2.0 Advocacy and Public Policy Day By Chris Dudley The FTA 2.0 Leadership class spent a day in Orlando on October 15th to focus on advocacy and public policy. Led by 2.0 Chair Stephanie Slivanik and Vice Chair Ryan Walpole, the 2.0 Leadership class heard from some distinguished leaders in Central Florida about the importance of engagement in the political process and the power of advocacy to advance the mission of FTA. Dr. Dale Brill, Senior Vice President for the Orlando Economic Partnership, kicked off the day with a captivating overview and discussion about emerging economic, employment and demographic trends across the state. He was followed by former Speaker of the House and current President and CEO of the GrayRobinson law firm, Dean Cannon. Speaker Cannon, whose firm represents several member companies of FTA, shared his passion for originally wanting to get involved in politics and his experience in becoming the Speaker of the House for the Florida House of Representatives in 2010. Kelly Cohen, one of the original partners of The Southern Group and the founding partner of
the firm’s Orlando Office, shared her two decades long experience in building relationships in the community. Perennially ranked as one of the “Most Powerful” members of the community by Orlando Magazine, Kelly shared her experiences in how her engagement in the community led to her involvement in dozens of the largest economic development projects in Central Florida. The day wrapped up with Michelle Maikisch, the Chief of Staff and Public Affairs Officer for the Central Florida Expressway Authority. Responsible for a $2.5 billion work program that covers 815 miles of toll roads in Central Florida, Michelle shared with the 2.0 Leadership class her process for managing and communicating with the elected officials in the CFX five-county region. In addition, Michelle also manages the communications and public outreach to the entire community, including stakeholders for the business community, the environment, and the citizens. Michelle stressed the importance of being continually present in the community and sharing the message of the organization to ensure success. It was a successful and productive day for the 2.0 Leadership class and some great lessons were learned by all on the role and importance of advocacy and public policy. A sincere “thank you” to presenters and the whole team at the Orlando Economic Partnership who hosted the class for the day. Chris Dudley is a Partner at The Southern Group
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Innovations in Inflatable Dunnage Bag Design Dramatically Reduce Damage Rates of Freight Shipments
By Mitch Tschantz North American supply chains for manufactured goods depend heavily on trucking. In fact, 72% of all shipments in the United States travel on truck trailers. And according to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation, trucking was the #1 mode of transport for shipments of freight between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico in 2017 valued at over $721 billion. Protecting freight from damage during transit is critical to the vitality of these supply chains. Each year, money and merchandise are lost because of failures in preventing shifting, colliding and breaking up of freight during transit. The cause is often the â&#x20AC;&#x153;start and stop;â&#x20AC;? bouncing and turning of trucks during transit. When doublestacked in truck trailers, palletized goods can have a relatively high center of gravity. Even low-density products, like empty aluminum cans, can be affected by horizontal movement that can create enough energy to damage the product if not stabilized.
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When this occurs, both the product and the packaging can become damaged. Damaged freight impacts all layers of the supply chain. The costs of damaged product or packaging impact the manufacturer, the distributor and ultimately the end consumer. To address these concerns, the industry has typically turned to a variety of dunnage materials and methods including plywood, matting, strapping and load bars to stabilize and secure truck loads during transportation. However, some of these options can be problematic for shippers, and billions of dollars are still lost annually due to products damaged as a result of inadequate dunnage.
Inflatable dunnage air bags Estimated at a $420 million market in 2017 and projected to reach $740 million by 2026, dunnage air bags are one of the most popular solutions today for freight stabilization and protection. Historically inflatable air bags have either used woven polypropylene, Kraft paper, vinyl or other combinations of materials to cover an air bladder.
With the exception of Kraft paper, most are manufactured overseas. Designed for single trip use, air bags offer the advantage of being configurable and effective freight stabilizers for voids of up to 24 inches between pallets. However, air bag design has continued to advance with improvements that lower overall costs and improve performance for freight loaders and haulers. Inflatable Packaging (IPI), for example, has developed a transparent air bag solution for their Air-Lockâ&#x201E;˘ truck dunnage bags that is made of a fully recyclable polyethylene material. Unlike woven, paper or vinyl materials, the dunnage bags are made of a transparent film, which gives the bags lower weight and handling advantages. The film is extensible, meaning it can stretch and expand (unlike inflatable air bladders with covers), which is a valuable feature at varying altitudes. Because the material is clear and not opaque like other dunnage solutions, inspections are expedited. This is ideal for international shipments from OEMs with manufacturing centers in Mexico or suppliers from Canada. With a bright
light, inspectors can see through the material all the way to the bulkhead of the trailer to ensure there is no smuggled contraband or illegal border crossers. The polyethylene bags can be prepositioned in the warehouse prior to loading, or in the trailer, using doublesided adhesive labels. The inflation valve can be either at pallet top or bottom for easiest inflation process. For forklift operators, pre-attaching bags to pallets in the warehouse can expedite the loading process by 25-30%. The valve design affects the speed of inflation and allows for pressure adjustments as needed. In addition, the valve is manufactured with the same material as the bag so it can also be recycled without any required separation.
fill most truck dunnage bags in less than 30 seconds to the pressure that matches the load density required for stable product shipment. The ability to precisely control air pressure in the bags was a benefit to an OEM based in Mexico that was shipping flat-panel televisions throughout North America. The company had a high damage rate due to bag expansion at high elevations. The manufacturer was incurring a damage rate as high as 14% when they would ship product from their sea-level facility to Mexico City at an elevation of over 7,000 feet or through the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado where the elevation rises to more than 11,000 feet. The expansion of the bags was crushing some of the boxes. The recommendation was to use the inflation gun to adjust the pressure to precise settings to accommodate the expected elevation changes on the route.
WEL
For this, the company developed and patented a self-sealing “flat” valve system that allows for inflation and deflation. The inflater gun can
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The damage rates for the OEM dropped from 14% to less than 1%, which dramatically reduced the amount of goods that had to be marked down at retail. Those markdowns were often up to 40% off of the original price when the boxes were damaged, even if the television inside was completely fine. Truck dunnage has advanced well beyond simply filling voids inside boxes and between pallets. It now is about solving unique challenges that come with the size, shape and temperature requirements of their goods—even the shipping routes that they take. Smart design and customized solutions are improving efficiencies, better protecting goods, and reducing costs in supply chains. Mitch Tschantz is the owner of Inflatable Packaging Incorporated (IPI), a Connecticut-based inflatable packaging and dunnage solutions provider founded in 1993. www.inflatablepackaging.com
GREEN STREET HR ASSOCIATES TREAD TECHNOLOGIES UNITED STATES OF FREIGHT WEBASTO THERMO & COMFORT NORTH AMERICA HAULYNX STAR LEASING COMPANY
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FTA FLASHLIGHT:THE COLD CHAIN <
FTA FLASHLIGHT:
The Cold Chain By Morris Valenzuela What is cold chain? Cold chain is the complete process that takes place during the transportation of a product that requires temperature control, such as strawberries or pharmaceuticals, from the supplier to the end user. The more we learn about the cold chain process, the more we find that it’s connected to each and every one of us and that many people are involved in the process to successfully and safely bring the farm to the fork. It all starts with the farmers. For example, the moment a strawberry is harvested in Plant City, the clock starts ticking. The mission to provide the freshest product to the consumer because the products are used everywhere — in exquisitely cooked steak dinners or local fast food restaurants down the street. A big part of the farm to fork cold chain process is temperature. The more we can keep the product at an adequate temperature, the
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longer it will last in its best and safest eating condition. This is known in the industry as shelf life and it’s something we constantly strive to extend. The cold chain process begins when the shipper stores, preps, and packages the product before it is loaded into the transport trailer. The shipper plays an important role in maintaining the temperature until the transport company picks the product up to be delivered. One of the most important parts of this process is to make sure an adequate temperature is maintained during transportation. The refrigeration units in the transport trailer maintain optimal temperature inside the truck, minimizing spoilage and maximizing the product’s shelf life. It is the recipient’s responsibility to store the product or display at its optimal temperature to ensure extended shelf life and reduce food waste. This is where you come in and can make a difference. Ensuring that
the meat, vegetables, or even ice cream you buy go directly from your vehicle to the refrigerator at home to ensure that your food is at peak freshness when it’s time to eat. This is the final step in the cold chain process, ensuring you’ll have a safe meal whether it’s Thanksgiving dinner or a night out. The future of the cold chain technology impacts every sector of business, including refrigeration. Telematics communications can ensure that shippers and transporters can track temperatures, therefore, adding another layer of food safety protection to the cold chain process. The cold chain process guarantees the safest and best quality food reaches you and your family and reduces food waste. Morris Valenzuela is the Service Manager of the Southeast, USA for Thermo King Corporation.
JANUARY
JULY
3: Fauss Scholarship application online
20-24: Florida Teacher Tour
10: Safety Management Awards online
22-24: FTA Annual Conference (Tampa Marriott Water Street)
22: Board Meeting; Legislative Reception; Share the Road Blitz (Tallahassee) 23: Trucking Day at the Capitol
MARCH
AUGUST 19-22: National Truck Driving Championships (Indianapolis)
18-19: Florida SuperTech competition (Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa)
SEPTEMBER
APRIL
13-17: National TMC Meeting/SuperTech (Raleigh)
15: Voluntary Vehicle Inspection 16: FTA Summit
13-19: National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
MAY
OCTOBER
8: TDC registration deadline 18: TDC late registration deadline
14: Voluntary Vehicle Inspection (Flagler) 14-15: Fall Round-Up (Lake Mary Marriott)
JUNE 3: Herman Fauss Scholarship Golf Tournament (LPGA) 4-6: Florida Truck Diving Championships (Daytona Beach)
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Florida Teacher Tour
Now in its fourth year, the Florida Teacher Tours were a little different. In prior Tours, educators were selected from K-12 schools, from various academic disciplines, in order to have more diversity and voices in the immersive program. In 2019, however, career planners and guidance counselors were targeted for the Tallahassee and Palm Beach Tours. Instead of writing two lesson plans that were aligned with the Florida Standards of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Education, participants were allowed more creativity, and created portfolios, powerpoints and videos showcasing the many rewarding career opportunities in the trucking industry. The high school and adult education teachers selected have direct access to more students per year and have often been working with those students for years in college and career planningâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; one participant of the Tour works with all 2600 students in a high school in Hillsborough County.
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FDOT’s Holly Cohen talks about truck parking to the group Our Tallahassee Tour was a repeat of favorite stops last year: Shelton Trucking; Performance Peterbilt, the Madison FDOT weigh station and FHP ride-alongs; Groendyke Transport; FedEx Ground; and briefings with FTA Vice President Alix Miller; Chris Dudley from The Southern Group; Holly Munroe Cohen from FDOT’s Freight and Rail Office and Douglas Wheeler, CEO of Florida Ports Council. The Palm Beach Teacher Tour turned out to be an extra-special surprise for the educators—being informed about being lodged at The Breakers for the experience just weeks before. These teachers had the added benefit of participating in parts of the Annual Conference, which gave them the experience of listening to leaders in the industry and nation (including Governor DeSantis). The Palm Beach Tour also visited an FDOT weigh station; Palm Peterbilt, Breakthru Beverage, Armellini Express Lines; Sysco Southeast Florida; and Florida Power & Light. Many thanks to the generosity of time and energy of our member companies who welcomed our Teacher Tour groups and helped us show all of the amazing facets of the trucking industry.
“ The Florida Trucking Association teacher tour was
an eye opening experience to the industry and its demands in the Florida panhandle. I would advise any young person to consider a career in transportation, distribution, and logistics. The opportunities are endless, and upward mobility within this field is a huge selling point. The leaders in these companies are the most down-to-earth professionals I’ve ever met with—they care about their employees and want to see everyone around them succeed.
”
– Jay McClellan, Calhoun County Schools
“ I hope this program will continue to be offered to
Florida teachers, and maybe even elementary teachers. On our last day when we visited Groendyke, a video was shared and the truck driver speaking said he wanted to be a truck driver ever since he was a young boy. He did have family members in the trucking industry, however, if we expose younger students to the career we may educate them earlier to the opportunities of the career.
”
– Debbie Gerber, Wewahitchka High School
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MOVES AND NEWS
Update on people and places in the FTA membership
The Florida Road Team participated in an astounding 50+ events over the past few months. In addition to Share the Road presentations at schools, our ambassador drivers spent their Saturdays at County Sheriff ’s Teen Driver Challenges, driver’s education classes, Touch-a-Truck events and presentations to students (both young and old) about the profession. Fifteen C.H. Robinson women joined 1,100+ Business Professional and Professional Driver attendees at the Women in Trucking Accelerate!
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FLORIDA TRUCK NEWS
Conference & Expo to learn about the latest transportation issues and trends and to receive the award for Top Companies for Women to Work For in Transportation.
In September, Indian River Transport celebrated their 45th anniversary, which coincided with recognizing their drivers during Driver Appreciation Week.
President and CEO of WIT, Ellen Voie, presented the award, noting that the award was for “corporate cultures that foster gender diversity, competitive compensation and benefits, flexible hours and work requirements, and professional development and career advancement opportunities.”
Bestpass was recently approved to be a member of the 6C Toll Operators Coalition (6CTOC). 6CTOC is a collaboration between nearly 30 toll facility operators and owners using the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 18000-63 transponder for automatic vehicle identification for the purpose of toll
transportation industry for over 20 years with the last 11 years directly involving aggregate hauling in North Central Florida. Cole has an extensive background in the aggregate industry and has worked as a CDL driver, dispatcher, field safety assistant and scale operator in the past. Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. announced a partnership with American Trucking Association’s (ATA) Heroes Truck workforce development program. As the program’s exclusive trailer sponsor, Utility donated a 2020 4000D-X Composite® TBR dry van trailer with graphics that promote veterans’ recruitment in the trucking workforce. The Heroes trailer debuted at this year’s ATA MCE Conference in San Diego and will tour the country throughout the year.
Cole Shain
revenue collection. ISO 18000-63 technology is commonly referred to as 6C. “Bestpass is thrilled to join all the agencies and authorities participating in 6CTOC to standardize 6C technology for toll lane vendors, system integrators, back-office vendors, and other entities in the RFID and tolling industries,” said John Andrews, president and CEO of Bestpass. “We are already deploying 6C transponders, and we are eager to leverage the technology to enhance our payment and tolling solution for customers and partners.” Pilot Flying J continues to expand their travel center network of more than 750 locations to deliver convenience, quality, great service
and added value to the nation’s professional drivers. They recently introduced their newest locations in Midland and Andrews, Texas. These two new locations bring our Texas network total to over 70 locations and adds more than 77 truck parking spaces to Pilot Flying J’s more than 73,000 parking spaces for the trucking industry. Sun State Truck & Trailer Parts recently opened a new facility in Brooksville and celebrated with a grand opening celebration in November. Liberty Trucking recently announced Cole Shain as their new safety director. Cole has been in the
Verizon Connect ranked #1 in six categories on G2 Crowd’s Fall 2019 report. This marks the third consecutive quarter G2 Crowd users have named Verizon Connect as the leader in fleet management, but the first time Verizon Wireless has received top honors in six categories. G2 Crowd is a peer-topeer software review platform for decision makers in the business technology and SaaS world. Verizon Connect led in six categories: Transportation Management, Fleet Management, Route Planning, Implementation Index for Route Planning, Relationship Index for Route Planning and Usability Index for Route Planning. Carroll Fulmer Logistics Corporation honored the following one million miles-safe drivers: Antonio Blake; Errol Carridice; Stephen Correll; Stewart English; Stephen Evans; Larry Johnson; Christopher Nolan; Manuel Santos; Dennis Siler; and Arnel Zamora. Ryder System announced the nationwide rollout of Ryder Assist Now (RAN), an innovative singlesource customer support center.
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MOVES AND NEWS Scott Brewster, who has been in the truck and trailer leasing business for more than 30 years, recently started Star Leasing in Tampa. The company has two mobile service trucks and offers 24-hour emergency service. East Manufacturing has promoted Douglas Kenney to director of national fleet sales, where he’ll be responsible for fleet sales in North America. In his new role, Kenney will work on strengthening the fleet sales department’s national presence and improving East’s position in the industry. He has 28 years of experience in the trailer industry, beginning his career at Fruehauf Trailer in 1981. That career spans both the manufacturing and dealer side of the business, with extensive trailer sales experience. Prior to joining East, he spent six years with Great Dane. PalletOne, Inc., America’s largest new pallet manufacturer, has purchased Bay Wood Products Inc., a pallet and crate manufacturing business located in Baldwin County on the Alabama Gulf Coast.
Ken Armstrong at the Human Trafficking Prevention Coalition
Following a successful year-long pilot program in regions across North America, RAN now offers a centralized point of contact to all Fleet Management Solutions customers and those with questions about RyderGyde. With RAN, customers now have the option to simply call, email, or chat with RAN’s intelligent routing system and dedicated support representatives to resolve issues and ensure fleet safety and success. In September, Ryder System announced its expansion of COOP into Orlando, following successful expansions in South Florida and Georgia. This peer-to-peer digital platform, the first of its
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FLORIDA TRUCK NEWS
kind for commercial vehicles, is a revolutionary new way for businesses and fleet owners to generate additional revenue and recoup costs from idle vehicles. Madison Bulman, an associate with Mathis Law Group, moderated a panel discussion on biometrics and their unique implications in the transportation industry at the Transportation Lawyers Association’s 52nd Annual TLI Conference in Minneapolis. The panel included Suzanne Alton de Eraso, an associate with Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP, and Allison Meiners, the Director of Safety Programs for Ruan Transportation.
In August, Suddath announced the appointment of Heather McBrideMorse as its new chief people officer. McBride-Morse succeeds Elizabeth Spradley, who is retiring after 31 years on the Suddath team. Mathis Law Group is pleased to announce that Melissa Mazzitelli has joined its team of attorneys. As an experienced litigator who has tried several jury trials to verdict, and a former small claims arbitrator, Ms. Mazzitelli brings a wealth of experience in trial practice. Ms. Mazzitelli’s skills will also add another dimension to the firm’s active transactional practice, which includes corporate restructuring, employment law, contract disputes, Department of Transportation regulatory matters and other business law matters.
MOVES AND NEWS
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Human trafficking incidents are on the rise, with more than 49,000 cases being reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline over the past 10 years. (Source: Polaris Project, 2017) Truck drivers are in a unique position to help because they frequent common trafficking places due to their job, such as truck stops, rest areas, and gas stations.
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FALL 2019 | 31
Q + A with
Jonathan Carryl
Carryl is the National Account Manager for Reliance Supply. Carryl is a familiar face at all FTA events, but he also volunteers at dozens of SuperTech competitions around the country. just the industry but the Association as well. If you were any product at Reliance Supply, what would it be, and why? If I was a product, it would have to be our Xtreme Cryogenic Drill Bits, because they are UNSTOPPABLE!!! You travel all over the country for work—where is your favorite place to visit? Home! I love to visit home, but If I had to pick, I enjoy the mountains and music of Tennessee. What do you do in your spare time? I love working with my hands. I recently restored an old Bronco with my dad and love that kind of thing, but I really enjoy spending time with my fiancee Amanda and our dog River. When we go out to eat we look for dogfriendly places with outdoor seating so he can tag along with us. You are getting married soon—what are you most looking forward to? We are traveling to St. Lucia after we are married, and I am very excited about that trip. My fiancee is a Nurse Midwife, and our schedules could not be more opposite. So this will really be our first vacation together. I think I speak for both of us when I say that we both look forward to starting life together. We both feel like this is the start of many things in life, and we are ready to get to it! How did you get into the trucking industry? Reliance was already very involved in the trucking industry before my joining of the team. Once I was on board, my Commander in Chief Rob Carryl made it a priority that I stay involved in not
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What was your first job? Working at the greatest fast food restaurant in the world: Chick-Fil-A. What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you? This is a tough one! Probably that I play piano. What’s the most important characteristic to have to be successful in sales? Success can mean many different things for different people. For me success in sales is not just about the numbers, but the positive impact I have on the customer. Authenticity would be the word I would use. Be good to people. People buy from people, and when you take care of people just as you would take care of yourself, it’s my belief that most people recognize that, and will want to do business with someone who has that characteristic. How would you survive a zombie apocalypse? Like the King of Country George Strait says in his song Ready for the End of the World, “I’d buy a case of Jack and a Boxed Set of Merle.”
A RELATIONSHIP BUILT FOR THE LONG HAUL. Over 25 years ago, our business and a staunch commitment to customer service began right here in the Sunshine State. Today, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re 16 dealerships strong across the Southeast. And still extremely dedicated to moving you forward.
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