Risk/Compliance: Page 151

CRST International Acquires Gardner Trucking Inc.

Gardner is considered the largest truckload carrier based in California and a leading provider of specialized regional truckload services, logistics, drayage and warehouse services for bulk and commodity end-to-end markets.

The Gardner acquisition is the single largest acquisition in CRST’s history. Adding the Gardner service portfolio to CRST greatly accelerates CRST’s goal of reaching $2 billion in annualized revenues by 2018.

Fast Food Restaurants Ramp Up Mobile Ordering

Among fast-food restaurants, the frequency of customer visits increases by six percent and average spending per visit rises by about 20 percent when technology is used to place an order, according to a Deloitte survey released this week.

Visits tend to increase because technology makes it easier to repeat an order automatically, while repeat orders of custom or upgraded drinks lead to increased sales.

Blue Harvest Fisheries Acquires Hygrade Ocean Products

With operations in Newport News, Virginia, and Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Blue Harvest owns a fleet of 15 scallop vessels and is an active participant in the bluefin tuna and swordfish fisheries.

Blue Harvest Fisheries, LLC has acquired Hygrade Ocean Products Inc., a New Bedford, Mass.-based processor and distributor of scallops, cod, and other premium fish products for an undisclosed sum.

World Air Freight Demand Posts Fastest Growth in 18 Months

International Air Transport Association (IATA)

The strongest growth occurred in Europe and the Middle East, with July demand up by 7.2 percent and 6.7 percent respectively, compared to the same period last year.

Measured in freight ton kilometers (FTKs), demand increased 5.0 percent in July 2016, compared to July 2015. This was the fastest pace in almost 18 months. Freight capacity measured in available freight ton kilometers (AFTKs) increased by 5.2 percent year-on-year, outstripping demand and keeping yields under pressure.

Peapod’s Growth Slows Over Logistics Issues

The grocery delivery platform has also spent much of the last year-and-a-half fending off customer service complaints related to its app.

While sales were still growing, they dropped into the single digits at around 9 percent, instead of the double-digit growth that has been the norm of late.

FDA Provides $21.8 Million to States for FSMA Produce Safety Rule

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Larger farms will need to comply with certain aspects of the produce safety rule requirements beginning in January 2018, with smaller produce operations having additional time to comply.

produce1

August Spot Truckload Rates, Volume Post Gains

The national average van rate gained six cents, the reefer rate added three cents, and the flatbed rate picked up a penny after a mostly lackluster month.

Load-to-truck ratios got a healthy boost, an indication that the higher rates may outlast end-of-month and pre-holiday pressure.

Speed Limiting Devices Proposed for Heavy-Duty Vehicles; How Technology Will Enable Compliance

Fleet Advantage, LLC

Sandy Rosenfeld, manager of safety operations for Fleet Advantage, offered her insights on what the proposal will mean for the transportation industry.

Sandy Rosenfeld, manager of safety operations for Fleet Advantage, offered her insights on what the proposal will mean for the transportation industry.

Drones to Deliver Chipotle Burritos to Virginia Tech

Project Wing will use self-guided hybrids that can fly like a plane or hover like a helicopter. They will make deliveries from a Chipotle food truck to assess the accuracy of navigation systems and how people respond.

The experimental service, to begin this month and last just a few weeks, is a test by Project Wing, a unit of Alphabet Inc. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and the Blacksburg, Va., university have agreed to participate.

Mars Inc. Commits to Removing Labor Abuse From its Supply Chain

The firm has come under pressure from Greenpeace, after the latter found out it sourced tuna from Thai Union Group for its cat food brands.

Mars Inc. has announced a plan to eliminate labor rights abuses from its supply chain, especially for tuna sourcing in Thailand, according to Undercurrent News.

Ocean Ports & Carriers

Hyundai Merchant Marine to Form Mini Carrier Alliance

HMM will join the new partnership, named Mini Alliance, with three other carriers Korea Marine Transport, Sinokor Merchant Marine and Heung-A Shipping.

The alliance plans to deploy 15 vessels on four Southeast Asian routes – covering Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand from South Korean port cities – starting from end-September in an effort to reduce damage caused by Hanjin’s halted operation.

Circle K Owner to Acquire CST Brands, Including Flash Foods, for $4.4 Billion

Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard said it would pay $48.53 per share for CST, which operates more than 2,000 stores in North America, sells various food and drink products, such as Icee frozen treats, and distributes transportation fuel.

CST's retail brands include Corner Stores, Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes and Flash Foods.

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