FOOD ON THE MOVE
LOGISTICS TRENDS IN OUR INDUSTRY
THE PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL PORT AUTHORITY IS REBRANDING AS PHILAPORT The Port of Philadelphia is establishing a new brand identity that will bolster its national and international marketing efforts and position the port as one of the most important trade gateways on the Atlantic seaboard. People in the region and shippers across the globe will now know that gateway as PhilaPort. “The name is short, clean and memorable, and it reflects very simply who we are and what we do,” says Jerry Sweeney, PhilaPort chairman. “The name ‘PhilaPort’ helps distinguish us from the many other regional authorities and commissions as we seek to capitalize on the opportunities that will result from our expansion.” Sweeney says the port is positioned for
considerable growth, thanks to public and private investment approaching $1 billion, which demonstrates the sustained commitment at the Port of Philadelphia to accommodate larger ships and improve efficiencies. There are 41 million people within 150 miles of PhilaPort, and the northeast United States is one of the wealthiest consumer markets in the world. PhilaPort enjoys several competitive advantages over other East Coast ports. They include 19 labor start times per day. They include more flexible working rules to competing ports and truck turn times of less than one hour and the ability to move more containers per hour than many other ports.
WERNER ENTERPRISES INTRODUCES FINAL MILE DELIVERY
Werner Enterprises is launching a new logistics solution, Werner Final Mile, which will primarily deliver large or heavy items using two uniformed associates operating a lift gate straight truck. Werner Final Mile provides nationwide delivery and related services to residential and business locations using the logistics provider’s extensive network of delivery teams operating from nearly 200 locations. Werner Enterprises’ software platform, which was developed over the last year, allows for fully automated, high volume e-commerce delivery of non-conveyable products from white-glove home and business deliveries, including returns and exchanges. “With our customers’ rapid growth in the e-commerce market, we continue to adapt our services and technology to meet and exceed their expectations,” says COO Marty Nordlund.
UTILITY TRAILER NEARS PRODUCTION OF 500,000TH REFRIGERATED VAN
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company, the industry’s largest manufacturer of refrigerated trailers and a leading manufacturer of dry freight vans, flatbeds and Tautliner curtain sided trailers, is on target to manufacture its 500,000th refrigerated van in 2017. “When our Clearfield, Utah plant manufactured its 250,000th reefer, we decided to add up the total number of reefers manufactured in our history. The number turned out to be more than 490,000 refrigerated vans. With what we have in the pipeline, we will hit half a million reefers sometime this year,” says Craig Bennett, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Utility. Since 1994, Utility has been the No. 1 manufacturer of refrigerated vans in the Americas.
DAT SOLUTIONS’ MONTHLY FREIGHT REPORT
Reefer Demand Heats Up Mark Montague is an industry rate analyst for DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards and RateView rate-analysis tool. For more information, visit www.dat.com.
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While it’s always interesting to look at national averages for spot refrigerated freight volume and rates, May is a time of regional ups and downs. Produce in some parts of the country starts to wane while others come on strong. Look at California, where spring produce is running about a month ahead of last year when the state was in a drought. Spot reefer rates from Fresno and Los Angeles are well above the national average of almost $2 a mile. The load-to-truck ratio, a measure of demand, was at 6.1 in mid-May, more than double compared to last year (a load-to-truck ratio of 12 is considered favorable to carriers). If you have a reefer trailer, you probably
FOOD LOGISTICS | JUNE 2017
FLOG0617_8-9_FOM AW RG.indd 10
By Mark Montague have places like California, Wisconsin and but processed and canned tomatoes in Central Florida in your logbook. paste and sauces also are a boon for vans. If you have a van trailer, consider it, too Who knows where California tomato On the spot market, where freight is not production will settle in 2017 (from June under contract, van carriers can compete to October last year, California shipped for loads that 500,000 loads of would ordinari- Jan-May Reefer Load/Truck Ratios processed tomato ly be hauled products). But in many 10.0 by a reefer cases those cans and specialist. For jars can move by van 7.5 example, spot just as easily as they rates out of Calcan in a reefer. It’s an5.0 ifornia are up other reason to expand thanks to tomayour options if you’re 2.5 to production. looking for capacity— Jan Feb Mar Apr May That’s good for or have it to offer— 2017 2016 2015 reefer freight, on the spot market. © 2017 DAT Solutions
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