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IRTA Report Archives

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IRTA Headquarters

1500 King Street, Suite 201
Alexandria, VA 22314 USA

703 373 4300
703 373 4301 fax

email@irta.org

IRTA Launches Membership Initiative

IRTA has just begun a membership initiative in order to broaden our membership, which in the past year has jumped from 68 to 150 members. Headquarters has engaged Association Vision to also handle this aggressive membership recruitment program.

As a member of IRTA, you know the value of the many membership benefits the association offers. We thank you for being part of it! Now we want to ask a favor of you. You are in an ideal position to recommend potential members to IRTA. These include truck operators, LTL truckers, steamships, ports, air carriers, rail companies, warehouse logistics companies and others involved in cold chain transportation. We would appreciate any leads you can provide so IRTA can continue to grow and provide even more benefits and services in the future. Please forward any leads to Al Rickard or call him at 703-402-9713. Thank you!

Guatamala-based Logistics Expert to Present

An expert in international maritime logistics management, John Seckinger of AIMAR S.A. in Guatemala, will discuss perishable food logistics at the upcoming Latin American Cold Chain Summit October 16-18 in Cancun, Mexico.

With over twenty years in the business, John will share his knowledge of port operations, capacities, trends, movement, improvements and other issues related to product movement through the region. As a general manager with AIMAR S.A., John was a key decision maker for APL Limited’s entry into the Central American reefer market. Responsible for setting up and coordinating all APL in-country operations and sales for reefer cargo, he helped position the company to become a regional leader in the Central American reefer trade. AIMAR itself is the largest privately owned logistics company in Central America.

For more program information or to register, please visit www.lacc2006.org.

Government Affairs

Schwarzenegger Vetoes Container Fee

Siding with business and the shipping industry, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill Friday that would have provided $500 million a year to improve security, expand rail networks and reduce air pollution at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. See full story from the Los Angeles Times.

EU Ends Liner Antitrust Exemption

European Union governments agreed Monday to open up shipping routes to competition from October 2008, ending a 20-year antitrust immunity law for liner conferences — groups of shipping companies that strike special trade deals. See full story from International Herald Tribune.

Senate Passes Port Security Legislation

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006 on September 14. The bill is similar to one passed by the U.S. House in May, and the two versions must be reconciled before a final measure can be sent to the White House for the president's signature. See full story from News Blaze.

Groups Petition for Speed Restriction

In what is believed to be the first Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) petition jointly filed by a public safety interest group and a group of motor carriers, Road Safe America and Schneider National Inc. petitioned the FMCSA last week to require electronic speed governors be set at not more than 68 miles per hour. See full story from Food Logistics.

Food Science

Maintaining Correct Transit Temperatures

Treated properly, fresh produce maintains its quality and appearance from harvest to consumption. While transportation takes only a few days in produce shelf life that can be as long as a month or more, handling during transit plays a critical role in allowing optimum product life. See full story from Refrigerated Transporter.

Industry News

IRTA members are encouraged to submit company news or articles of interest for publication in Cool Moves and/or the IRTA Report. Please e-mail all items to Lorien Onderdonk at Cold Chain Headquarters.

Hanson Earns “Excellent” Mark for Yearly Audit

IRTA member Hanson Logistics recently completed its annual inspection by ASI Food Safety Consultants and is pleased to announce that all five Hanson Logistics refrigerated facilities achieved a score of Excellent for 2006. See full story.

DHL Study Measures Performance Against Competitors

Express and logistics services provider DHL is taking measured steps to gauge its performance in the United States in comparison to its two biggest competitors-UPS and FedEx. See full story from Logistics Management.

Fenway Acquires RoadLink USA

Fenway Partners, a leading middle market private equity firm, September 11 announced an agreement to partner with RoadLink's senior management team and acquire RoadLink USA, Inc., the leading national independent intermodal trucking service provider. See full release.

Schneider National Recognizes Top Carriers

Schneider National Inc., a premier provider of transportation, logistics and intermodal services, honored more than 26 carriers at the company’s fourth annual Carrier Recognition Conference on Sept. 12, 2006. See full release.

DP World to Boost Handling Capacity

DP World, the world's third largest port operator, is to boost container handling capacity at its terminals worldwide to 70 million units a year within a few years, from about 46.5 million at present, a company official said last week. See full story from Gulfnews.com.

Port of New York and New Jersey Sets Cargo Record

Fueled by a continuing increase in Asian trade, the Port of New York and New Jersey set a new cargo record during the first six months of 2006, surpassing 1.8 million loaded 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled during the period for the first time. See full release.

Lauritzen Cool Logistics Embarks on Egypt Venture

Lauritzen Cool Logistics is pleased to announce the opening of LCL Egypt, a joint venture between LCL Mediterranean and the Egyptian-French shipping agency company WORMS A.C.S., headquartered in Alexandria with offices throughout the country. See full story from Fresh Plaza.

Penske, ABX Form Alliance

September 18, Penske Logistics and ABX LOGISTICS announced the formation of a strategic alliance focused on providing integrated, global supply chain solutions for multinational corporations. See full release.

Rail Intermodal Traffic Breaks Third Record this Year

For the third time this year, the weekly record for rail intermodal traffic has been broken on U.S. railroads, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported today. See full story from the Association of American Railroads.