Safety & Security: Page 266

Manufacturing & Processing

B&G Foods Seeks to Acquire ACH Food Companies

Snack foods company B&G Foods is in talks to acquire ACH Food Companies Inc, the producer of Mazola cooking oil, from food supplier and retailer Associated British Foods Plc.

The deal would strengthen B&G's hold on shelf-stable products sold in the center of a grocery store, expanding a portfolio that already includes staples such as Mrs. Dash salt-free flavoring and Vermont Maid syrups.

Fleet Management

Independent Drivers Association Asks Court to Stop ELD Rule

Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA)

On Tuesday, the OOIDA said electronic logging devices would violate the privacy of drivers by allowing employers and the government to track their movements.

Construction workers in safety vests reviewing documents at a job site with vehicles in background

Rail & Intermodal

Private Railcar Food and Beverage Association Forms to Address Opportunities

In September of 2015, a group of 10 leading food and beverage companies got together for three days to discuss improvements to managing and utilizing their private railcar fleets. From this summit, the PRFBA organization was born.

The association meets with the four Class 1 North American railroads at least twice per year as a group and the BOD’s meet with the railroads as well throughout the year.

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.

Drive-through food service transaction with customer receiving paper bag and red box from worker at storefront window

Manufacturing & Processing

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.

Cargo aircraft flying over stacked shipping containers at a logistics port facility

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.

Software Solutions

Ensuring an ERP Deployment Reaches a Successful Conclusion

Overall, ERP projects will be more successful when they are treated as a “Business Transformation” project and the most successful projects enjoy management team support, driven from the highest level.

Red apple with digital wireframe overlay on circuit board, surrounded by oranges and technology elements symbolizing agricultural innovation

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.

Grocery store employee in black apron arranging fresh red peppers at produce stand with colorful vegetables displayed behind

August Spot Truckload Rates, Volume Post Gains

DAT Freight & Analytics

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.

Red semi-truck with refrigerated trailer parked at a receiving dock facility

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