Transportation: Page 477

Bayer Agrees to Acquire Monsanto For $66 Billion, Creating Mega Ag Company

The proposed merger will likely face an intense and lengthy regulatory process in the United States, Canada, Brazil, the European Union and elsewhere.

Werner Baumann (left), CEO of Bayer AG, and Hugh Grant (right), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Monsanto.

Uber Tests Self-Driving Cars in Pittsburgh, Envisions Food Deliveries

The test represents Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick’s vision to have a fleet of autonomous vehicles replace the company’s roughly 1.5 million drivers and to ferry food, packages and commuters around urban centers.

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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.

Independent Drivers Association Asks Court to Stop ELD Rule

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

The ELDs will be required for most carriers by late 2017 under guidelines released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA says e-logs will reduce accidents.

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.

Watco Supply Chain Services Acquires BCM Logistics

BCM Logistics provides door to door intermodal, operating as an Intermodal Marketing Company (IMC), contracting direct with the Class I Railroads and the majority of the ocean carriers for repositioning of containers in domestic service.

Lynda Patterson, vice president of growth strategies at Watco Supply Chain Services says, “The cross-border intermodal niche the BCM Logistics team brings, further differentiates Watco Supply Chain Services in this sector.”

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.

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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.

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