What are the top 3 risks to worker safety in a PRW?
GCCA
The IARW Safety Committee held their inaugural meeting on July 31, 2011 as part of the GCCA Assembly of Committees. The 11 committee members representing small and large public refrigerated warehouse, or PRW, companies will help guide and direct implementation of the IARW Safety Initiative that was launched in May. One of the first tasks of the committee was to identify the top 3 risks to worker safety in a PRW. To see the top 3 risks identified by the committee and to add your own opinion, join the discussion on the GCCA LinkedIn Group page. Then, see how the committee's list compares to the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration's list by downloading OSHA's Pocket Guide on worker safety in warehousing. Worker safety is also a primary focus of the 2011 North American Chapter Meetings. Find your chapter and register today.More

NLRB requires new workplace poster
National Labor Relations Board
On Aug. 25, the National Labor Relations Board, or NLRB, issued an advanced copy of a final rule that will require employers to post a notice in the workplace about the right to organize a union under the National Labor Relations Act. The posting requirement begins on Nov. 14, 2011 and the NLRB will provide free copies of the poster to employers beginning on or before Nov. 1, 2011. In addition to the physical posting, the rule requires employers to post the notice on an internet or intranet site if personnel rules and policies are customarily posted there. The new rule will apply to almost every private employer in the United States, including members of the cold chain and it does not matter whether you have a union at your workplace. Failure to post the notice may be treated as an unfair labor practice under the National Labor Relations Act. According to the NLRB, the Board investigates allegations of unfair labor practices made by employees, unions, employers, or other persons, but does not initiate enforcement action on its own. The NLRB has developed a Fact Sheet regarding the new rule and the full federal register notice can be found here, which includes a copy of the required text of the poster. IARW will continue to work with the Coalition for a Democratic Workforce to fight against these and other labor policy changes being considered that could have negative effects on our industry.More

Hurricane preparedness and recovery
Bloomberg Businessweek
Hurricane Irene killed at least 40 people and left an estimated $2.6 billion in damage and cut power to almost 8 million homes and businesses after sweeping up up the East Coast of the United States this past weekend. Lockton Companies, the official IARW Insurance Partner, provides a list of resources online to help members prepare and recover from hurricanes. Members are also encouraged to review the section on hurricane preparedness in the IARW Crisis Management Manual. If you would like to assist those impacted by the hurricane, please visit the American Logistics Aid Network website to see a list of relief needs. Contact your IARW Insurance Team by contacting Connie Phipps at cphipps@lockton.com or +1 816 960 9946.More

GCCA to host cold chain operations short course in Mexico
GCCA
The Global Cold Chain Alliance will host the first international course on Cold Chain Operations in Mexico City Oct. 26-28 at the Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel & Towers. The course will feature local and international experts who will share their knowledge and experience in different fundamental operations on the cold chain. Register now.More

Interstate Warehousing achieves 90 percent lighting energy savings with Groom Energy installation of Digital Lumens Intelligent LED lighting systems
Groom Energy
Groom Energy and Digital Lumens recently announced the installation of the Digital Lumens Intelligent Lighting System in three newly expanded Interstate Warehousing facilities located in Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee.More

ARTIO and RWTA Sign service agreement
SupplyChain Review
The Australian Road Transport Industrial Organization, or ARTIO, NSW Branch and Refrigerated Warehouse and Transport Association, or RWTA, NSW have entered into a service agreement whereby the ARTIO NSW Branch will provide workplace relations advice to RWTA NSW members. More

Primus Builders breaks ground at Port of New Orleans
GCCA
Steel erection has begun at a Primus/McDonnel Group, riverfront warehouse, joint venture project in New Orleans. The warehouse will feature a 35 million pound cold storage capacity and a 1.2 million pound per day blast freezing capacity. Other highlights include direct vessel cargo loading, Kalman shrink compensating floor slabs, NH3 refrigeration system and LED warehouse lighting. The Port of New Orleans project is scheduled for a Summer 2012 completion.More

Research and markets: US Refrigerated Road Transportation Market 2010-2014
Business Wire
Research and Markets has announced the addition of the U.S. Refrigerated Road Transportation Market 2010-2014 report to their offering. Technavio's analysts forecast the Refrigerated Road Transportation market in the U.S. to grow at a CAGR of 4.6 percent over the period 2010-2014.More

Refrigerated van rates climb in mid-August, index shows
TransCore via Refrigerated Transporter
Refrigerated van rates rose 3.3 percent on the spot market nationwide in the seven days ending Aug. 17, according to TransCore's Truckload Rate Index. The week over week increase in reefer rates followed an increase in reefer load volume on the company's DAT Network of load boards. More

500 jobs created at Brakes Group's new warehouse
Reading Post
Five hundred new jobs are to be created in Reading, Bersshire, England, with the opening of a huge new storage and distribution center. Food supplier Brakes Group has confirmed it will be moving into a new 207,000-square-foot warehouse in Suttons Business Park, East Reading.More

Using TKO dock doors helps Papa John's top off quality
Refrigerated Transporter
This nation loves two things: business success stories and pizza. Papa John's combines them and TKO dock doors at its Quality Center in Grand Prairie, Texas, have contributed in part toward this success.More

Cold chain technology: A technique for better competitive market advantage
Philippine Information Agency
"It pays to be cool." For the Cold Chain System, a program developed by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, or PhilMec, to help the farmers sell products for a better competitive market advantage, coolness means freshness. Nowadays, with country based modern technology, fruits, vegetables and other food products will be stored through proper and adequate facilities retaining crisp, fresh qualities. Refrigeration is a relative term but the machines involved were locally assembled and fabricated to adopt to tropical conditions.More

New EPA, DOT truck fuel economy rules undervalue nat gas
Bulk Transporter
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation are drawing criticism for not doing more to reduce foreign oil imports with the newly proposed regulations covering emissions and fuel economy for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. NGVAmerica is one of the groups saying it believes that the rules could have been even more effective in reducing emissions and reducing the use of imported petroleum. More

Carbon tax sends shivers through cold storage
Beef Central
A typical cold storage facility would face a $100,000 a year rise in electricity charges under the Australian federal government's proposed carbon tax, shadow minister for agriculture John Cobb claimed recently. With the carbon tax effectively a tax on electricity, food sector support businesses like cold storage facilities would have their profitability slashed, Cobb said in a statement.More

ATA remains supportive of EOBR mandate struck down in federal court
Bulk Transporter
The American Trucking Associations remained supportive of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's mandate of electronic on-board recorders, or EOBRs, for certain problem carriers. That mandate recently was struck down in federal court. More