Author Archive
California rates to the East Coast topped $9000 this week, at least from the Salinas Valley, where vegetable volume is really cranking up, plus 
there is building volume with the nearby Watsonville district strawberries and other berries. Rates also have increased from other regions of California, ranging from the San Joaquin Valley, to Santa Maria and in the Southern part of the state. Truck supplies have definately tightened up, but so far, my sources are reporting you can get a truck, if you’re willing to pay for it.
In Arizona, rates remain strong as Mexican melons and table grapes are moving in good volume across the border into the USA.
If for some reason, you are stuck in New Mexico, the new crop of storage onions from the Southern part of the state are now being shipped. Rates are usually less on onions with a significant factor being you can haul them on flatbeds and other non-refrigerated equipment.
Texas remains active for produce loads, in large part thanks to Mexico. There are a variety of Mexican vegetables and tropical fruit crossing into South Texas. The Lower Rio Grande Valley is shipping watermelons, although weather troubles has reduced loading opportunities there. The Winter Garden District, just south of San Antonio is loading onions.
Salinas Valley vegetables, Watsonville berries – grossing about $9000 and more to Boston.
San Joaquin Valley stone fruit – about $4000 to Atlanta.
Nogales melons and grapes – about $5000 to Chicago.
New Mexico onions – $3000 to Chicago.
Texas produce – $3000 to Atlanta.
DeltaTRAK’s ThermoTrace Time Temperature Indicator (TTI) cold chain technology is a comprehensive solution that allows manufacturers, processers and receivers of temperature sensitive commodities to cost effectively track cumulative product temperature abuse experienced at the a pallet or carton level from origin to consumer. From supplier through warehousing and distribution all the way to the consumer, the ThermoTrace TTI system gives customers the exact data they need to assess product quality and shelf life. The system can also be used to monitor and verify temperature performance of equipment such as display cases, reach-in coolers or cold holding areas.
The DeltaTRAK ThermoTrace TTI Solution is a combination of the company’s ThermoTrace TTI Service and its ThermoTrace TTI Labels. The unique low-cost single-use barcode ThermoTrace TTI labels provide the user with immediate product quality information on industrial barcode readers (WiFi/GSM/CDMA) or consumer based Smartphone’s (iPhone and Android). ThermoTrace TTI Service provides the customer with immediate quality information and email and/or SMS text messages.
Enter to Win an Android Tablet by Scanning this Label
Scanning Instructions:
Download the “DeltaTRAK Scanner” app from the Apple app store on your iPhone or the “ThermoTrace Monitor” app from the Google Play store on your Android and scan the barcode on the TTI image to enter to win. Scan the label directly on your computer screen or print and scan it to enter to win an Android Tablet!
DeltaTRAK
Pleasanton, CA 94566
www.deltatrak.com
DeltaTRAK PO Box 398 Pleasanton, CA 94566 925-249-2250
by Maglio & Company
GLENDALE, WI – Maglio & Company announces today the expansion of their 
transportation fleet to include 13 new trucks that will be managed by a dedicated team of logistics experts at Blackhawk Transport.
“Being the best fresh produce solutions provider in our distribution area is our commitment, and partnering with the right companies is key to success,” said Sam Maglio, President of Maglio & Company. “Blackhawk reinforces our ability to provide full-service transportation services with prompt deliveries to customers throughout our distribution area. They are not only like-minded in our efforts to maintain the integrity of our perishable cold chain, but they are an established carrier with unbeatable logistic services that will enhance our operation.”
In partnership with Blackhawk, Maglio will ensure that the expanded fleet maintains products at the high standards directed by the Global Food Safety Initiative guidelines (GFSI) and demanded by customers. Each truck will be equipped with technology approved by the Department of Transportation that allows Maglio to obtain route updates and communicate with drivers. The partnership between Maglio and Blackhawk began in the spring of 2012 and trucks being managed by Blackhawk will be traveling in late June.
About Maglio & Company
Headquartered in Glendale, Wisconsin, Maglio & Company is a produce processor, repacker, distributor, and logistics provider. Since 1902, the company has been offering the freshest and best produce with old-fashioned, conscientious quality and service.
I arrived in Chicago yesterday (June 4) and the talk both with people in trucking and in the produce industry was the rates had shot up $1,000 on 
loads from California to Chicago. There sure was a lot of complaining from produce companies, but big smiles on the folks in transportation. It should come as no surprise to anyone. It happens around June 1st every year as produce spring shipments increase and refrigerated equipment comes into short supply, although trucks seemed to be available, if you were willing the pay the price.
The down side to the rising produce rates, is, as every year, the westbound dry freight rate are awful. Dry freight from Chicago and the Midwest is grossing only $2400 to $2500 to the West Coast — and some of it is even cheaper. That may pay for the number 2 diesel, but it’s not going to cover the cost of the driver, or the truck.
Another downside is be wary of companies with which you may not be familiar. Some receivers will look for any little thing to make a deduction from your load. I’m talking about things as petty, for example, as the product in your trailer being one degree off the recommended pulp temperture. That $1000 extra you thought you were making with the rising rates, isn’t going to look near as good when you are paid, if you face a deduction of $200, $300, $400 or more.
As of today, here’s what some loads are paying coming into Chicago.
From California to Chicago:
6 pick ups, five drops, grossing $7,000
5 pick ups, one drop, grossing $6400 (Think I’d take the next load instead, see the next one listed!)
Fresno, 1 pick up, 1 drop $6400
Nogales melons and grapes – $5000 to Chicago
West Texas (90 miles north of Laredo), potatoes – $2400 to $2500 to Chicago.
By Bill Martin
Special thanks to Eclipse Dist., Elburn, IL for the rate information.
Central Florida potatoes – $3000 to Chicago.
Two single-temperature trailer refrigeration units has been introduced by 
Carrier Transicold.
The 2500 APX and 2100 APX join the firm’ line of X2 refrigeration units, a company news release states.
Carrier Transicold’s new APX technology features modular electronics for enhanced reliability, serviceability and expandability; an easy-to-use driver interface with bright graphic display; and USB connectivity for fast, convenient data transfers.
The APX system displays five times the information of comparable units, with fewer strokes.
Carrier Transicold, based in Athens, GA, notes the 2500 and 2100 are the first of the company’s units to offer the IntelliSet control application as a standard feature.
Kevin Bowling has been trucking since 1986, but his truck is now sitting at his 
home in Tampa, FL and he is driving for a large fleet.
The 44-year-old former owner operator says he parked his truck because of poor economic conditions and excessive government regulations.
The driver for MK Express of East Butler, PA was fueling at a Petro Truck Stop at Vienna, GA. He hauls primarily produce out of the Southeast and dry freight on the return haul.
Bowling says a main complaint with hauling produce are the delays associated with getting loaded. Although this is not as serious a problem working with his current carrier, he notes too often product is still in the fields when arriving at the loading docks. Maintaining proper load temperatures also is cited as being very important.
While Bowling loves the independence associated with trucking, he says U.S. Department of Transportation regulations are excessive and challenging.
“The DOT is always wanting to put more regulations on you and it just makes it harder,” he states. More specifically, he cites most recent hours of service regulation changes. Bowling says the changes, involving the 14-hour rule may be better for some drivers, but worse for others.
He is referring to the 34-hour restart once a week with two sleep times from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., plus there is the 30-minute rest break following eight hours of driving.
“For some guys it would be too much time off, but for others it might help keep them from driving when they are tired,” he says.
Supplies of refrigerated trucking equipment continue to tighten as spring 
produce volume continues to increase, and is being reflected in rates, which are rising.
The pressure to increased rates on produce loads, as usual, is being led by California. More specifically, the San Joaquin and Salinas valleys continue to build in volume. In the San Joqauin Valley, even though an April hail storm knocked out about 15 percent of the stone fruit crop, there will still be around 40 million boxes of peaches, plums and nectarines for hauling this season. The valley also has a lot of vegetables, which doesn’t even include grape shipments that won’t begin until July.
In New Mexico, one normally doesn’t think of produce loads. But if you are in the area, onion shipments are in light volume the Hatch (Las Cruces) area.
Peach shipments from the Ft. Valley, GA area are moving in decent volume, although loadings for the overall season are forecast to be down about one-third. Shipments are expected to finish in late July, a couple of weeks earlier than normal…..South Carolina peach shipments have started and should continue into August.
Georgia peaches – grossing about $2600 to Baltimore.
$8000-plus loads from Salinas to New York City are becoming more common.
As more information becomes available on the prospects for the nation’s apple shipments, which 
get underway in August for the 2012-13 shipping season, it’s becoming apparent there should be record setting loading opportunities for apple haulers out of Washington state.
The reasons are two-fold. First, Washington is on course to pick, pack and ship 120 million boxes of apples in the upcoming season, which would be nearly 7 million more boxes than the season which will close in the coming weeks. Secondly, an April freeze clobbered upcoming crops in Michigan, parts of New York state and in Ontario. This means apple buyers who normally source the fruit from these areas will be relying on Washington state more than ever. In a normal year, Washington state accounts for about 60 percent of the USA’s apple shipments.
Apple volume is expected to remain more normal for the upcoming season from the Mid Atlantic states, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virgina, as well as from the New England states. This holds true as well for New York’s Hudson and Champlian valleys. However, central and western New York apple shippers were not near as lucky during the April freeze.
Washington state apples – grossing about $6200 to Orlando.
Produce shipments from New Jerseyhave been occuring in limited volume since 
March, with items ranging from lettuce, leafy greens, herbs, flat parsely, cilantro, spinach, leeks and radishes. As we enter the summer season volume will pick up significantly for other types of vegetables, especially from the southern area of the state.
Green beans are just starting. Other vegetable loadings will get underway in June and July with bell peppers, cucumbers and squash. Sweet corn loadings kick in around the second week of July. Cabbage shipments recently started.
The Garden state also is one of the larger shippers of peaches and blueberries. Blueberries become available the first week of June, while peaches will get underway around the 4th of July.
Most New Jersey produce items are either starting on time, or a week or so early.
Buying two of my favorite fruits with any good taste has been a real challenge t
his year — until this week.
Finally had some cantaloupe from Costa Rica that was out of sight! I know when my cantaloupe is tasting as it should when I don’t have to sprinkle salt on it.
My next pleasant surprise came with California strawberries. I had began to think I’d just grown tired of eating strawberries, until this week. What finally hit me was I’d just grown weary of fruit lacking in taste. You’d cut one open and it there was more white color than red. This quart of clamshell strawberries also wasn’t detriorating. Lately it seemed I have to eat the whole quart at once because the next day, the fruit was be going to “crap.” I’ve had these strawberries at the house three days and they remain firm, tasty, with a beautiful red color — and no decay.
Maybe, they finally realized they should have been shipping it protected by Tectrol, which slows the aging process.
Another one of my favorites are watermelons. I often find it difficult to buy great tasting melons until around the 4th of July. You get all the early season stuff out of the way, and warmer, more consistent weather helps produce better watermelons.
Expect watermelon retail prices to be pretty stiff, especially in the eastern half of the USA. For various reasons, melon crops have been hit pretty hard and supplies will be much tighter than normal. Out West, supplies are much better and you may not face as much stick shock.
California rates to the East Coast topped $9000 this week, at least from the Salinas Valley, where vegetable volume is really cranking up, plus there is building volume with the nearby Watsonville district strawberries and other berries. Rates also have increased from other regions of California, ranging from the San Joaquin Valley, to Santa Maria and in the Southern part of the state. Truck supplies have definately tightened up, but so far, my sources are reporting you can get a truck, if you’re willing to pay for it.
In Arizona, rates remain strong as Mexican melons and table grapes are moving in good volume across the border into the USA.
If for some reason, you are stuck in New Mexico, the new crop of storage onions from the Southern part of the state are now being shipped. Rates are usually less on onions with a significant factor being you can haul them on flatbeds and other non-refrigerated equipment.
Texas remains active for produce loads, in large part thanks to Mexico. There are a variety of Mexican vegetables and tropical fruit crossing into South Texas. The Lower Rio Grande Valley is shipping watermelons, although weather troubles has reduced loading opportunities there. The Winter Garden District, just south of San Antonio is loading onions.
Salinas Valley vegetables, Watsonville berries – grossing about $9000 and more to Boston.
San Joaquin Valley stone fruit – about $4000 to Atlanta.
Nogales melons and grapes – about $5000 to Chicago.
New Mexico onions – $3000 to Chicago.
Texas produce – $3000 to Atlanta.
DeltaTRAK’s ThermoTrace Time Temperature Indicator (TTI) cold chain technology is a comprehensive solution that allows manufacturers, processers and receivers of temperature sensitive commodities to cost effectively track cumulative product temperature abuse experienced at the a pallet or carton level from origin to consumer. From supplier through warehousing and distribution all the way to the consumer, the ThermoTrace TTI system gives customers the exact data they need to assess product quality and shelf life. The system can also be used to monitor and verify temperature performance of equipment such as display cases, reach-in coolers or cold holding areas.
The DeltaTRAK ThermoTrace TTI Solution is a combination of the company’s ThermoTrace TTI Service and its ThermoTrace TTI Labels. The unique low-cost single-use barcode ThermoTrace TTI labels provide the user with immediate product quality information on industrial barcode readers (WiFi/GSM/CDMA) or consumer based Smartphone’s (iPhone and Android). ThermoTrace TTI Service provides the customer with immediate quality information and email and/or SMS text messages.
Enter to Win an Android Tablet by Scanning this Label
Scanning Instructions:
Download the “DeltaTRAK Scanner” app from the Apple app store on your iPhone or the “ThermoTrace Monitor” app from the Google Play store on your Android and scan the barcode on the TTI image to enter to win. Scan the label directly on your computer screen or print and scan it to enter to win an Android Tablet!
DeltaTRAK
Pleasanton, CA 94566
www.deltatrak.com
DeltaTRAK PO Box 398 Pleasanton, CA 94566 925-249-2250
by Maglio & Company
GLENDALE, WI – Maglio & Company announces today the expansion of their transportation fleet to include 13 new trucks that will be managed by a dedicated team of logistics experts at Blackhawk Transport.
“Being the best fresh produce solutions provider in our distribution area is our commitment, and partnering with the right companies is key to success,” said Sam Maglio, President of Maglio & Company. “Blackhawk reinforces our ability to provide full-service transportation services with prompt deliveries to customers throughout our distribution area. They are not only like-minded in our efforts to maintain the integrity of our perishable cold chain, but they are an established carrier with unbeatable logistic services that will enhance our operation.”
In partnership with Blackhawk, Maglio will ensure that the expanded fleet maintains products at the high standards directed by the Global Food Safety Initiative guidelines (GFSI) and demanded by customers. Each truck will be equipped with technology approved by the Department of Transportation that allows Maglio to obtain route updates and communicate with drivers. The partnership between Maglio and Blackhawk began in the spring of 2012 and trucks being managed by Blackhawk will be traveling in late June.
About Maglio & Company
Headquartered in Glendale, Wisconsin, Maglio & Company is a produce processor, repacker, distributor, and logistics provider. Since 1902, the company has been offering the freshest and best produce with old-fashioned, conscientious quality and service.
I arrived in Chicago yesterday (June 4) and the talk both with people in trucking and in the produce industry was the rates had shot up $1,000 on loads from California to Chicago. There sure was a lot of complaining from produce companies, but big smiles on the folks in transportation. It should come as no surprise to anyone. It happens around June 1st every year as produce spring shipments increase and refrigerated equipment comes into short supply, although trucks seemed to be available, if you were willing the pay the price.
The down side to the rising produce rates, is, as every year, the westbound dry freight rate are awful. Dry freight from Chicago and the Midwest is grossing only $2400 to $2500 to the West Coast — and some of it is even cheaper. That may pay for the number 2 diesel, but it’s not going to cover the cost of the driver, or the truck.
Another downside is be wary of companies with which you may not be familiar. Some receivers will look for any little thing to make a deduction from your load. I’m talking about things as petty, for example, as the product in your trailer being one degree off the recommended pulp temperture. That $1000 extra you thought you were making with the rising rates, isn’t going to look near as good when you are paid, if you face a deduction of $200, $300, $400 or more.
As of today, here’s what some loads are paying coming into Chicago.
From California to Chicago:
6 pick ups, five drops, grossing $7,000
5 pick ups, one drop, grossing $6400 (Think I’d take the next load instead, see the next one listed!)
Fresno, 1 pick up, 1 drop $6400
Nogales melons and grapes – $5000 to Chicago
West Texas (90 miles north of Laredo), potatoes – $2400 to $2500 to Chicago.
By Bill Martin
Special thanks to Eclipse Dist., Elburn, IL for the rate information.
Central Florida potatoes – $3000 to Chicago.
Two single-temperature trailer refrigeration units has been introduced by Carrier Transicold.
The 2500 APX and 2100 APX join the firm’ line of X2 refrigeration units, a company news release states.
Carrier Transicold’s new APX technology features modular electronics for enhanced reliability, serviceability and expandability; an easy-to-use driver interface with bright graphic display; and USB connectivity for fast, convenient data transfers.
The APX system displays five times the information of comparable units, with fewer strokes.
Carrier Transicold, based in Athens, GA, notes the 2500 and 2100 are the first of the company’s units to offer the IntelliSet control application as a standard feature.
Kevin Bowling has been trucking since 1986, but his truck is now sitting at his home in Tampa, FL and he is driving for a large fleet.
The 44-year-old former owner operator says he parked his truck because of poor economic conditions and excessive government regulations.
The driver for MK Express of East Butler, PA was fueling at a Petro Truck Stop at Vienna, GA. He hauls primarily produce out of the Southeast and dry freight on the return haul.
Bowling says a main complaint with hauling produce are the delays associated with getting loaded. Although this is not as serious a problem working with his current carrier, he notes too often product is still in the fields when arriving at the loading docks. Maintaining proper load temperatures also is cited as being very important.
While Bowling loves the independence associated with trucking, he says U.S. Department of Transportation regulations are excessive and challenging.
“The DOT is always wanting to put more regulations on you and it just makes it harder,” he states. More specifically, he cites most recent hours of service regulation changes. Bowling says the changes, involving the 14-hour rule may be better for some drivers, but worse for others.
He is referring to the 34-hour restart once a week with two sleep times from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., plus there is the 30-minute rest break following eight hours of driving.
“For some guys it would be too much time off, but for others it might help keep them from driving when they are tired,” he says.
Supplies of refrigerated trucking equipment continue to tighten as spring produce volume continues to increase, and is being reflected in rates, which are rising.
The pressure to increased rates on produce loads, as usual, is being led by California. More specifically, the San Joaquin and Salinas valleys continue to build in volume. In the San Joqauin Valley, even though an April hail storm knocked out about 15 percent of the stone fruit crop, there will still be around 40 million boxes of peaches, plums and nectarines for hauling this season. The valley also has a lot of vegetables, which doesn’t even include grape shipments that won’t begin until July.
In New Mexico, one normally doesn’t think of produce loads. But if you are in the area, onion shipments are in light volume the Hatch (Las Cruces) area.
Peach shipments from the Ft. Valley, GA area are moving in decent volume, although loadings for the overall season are forecast to be down about one-third. Shipments are expected to finish in late July, a couple of weeks earlier than normal…..South Carolina peach shipments have started and should continue into August.
Georgia peaches – grossing about $2600 to Baltimore.
$8000-plus loads from Salinas to New York City are becoming more common.
As more information becomes available on the prospects for the nation’s apple shipments, which get underway in August for the 2012-13 shipping season, it’s becoming apparent there should be record setting loading opportunities for apple haulers out of Washington state.
The reasons are two-fold. First, Washington is on course to pick, pack and ship 120 million boxes of apples in the upcoming season, which would be nearly 7 million more boxes than the season which will close in the coming weeks. Secondly, an April freeze clobbered upcoming crops in Michigan, parts of New York state and in Ontario. This means apple buyers who normally source the fruit from these areas will be relying on Washington state more than ever. In a normal year, Washington state accounts for about 60 percent of the USA’s apple shipments.
Apple volume is expected to remain more normal for the upcoming season from the Mid Atlantic states, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virgina, as well as from the New England states. This holds true as well for New York’s Hudson and Champlian valleys. However, central and western New York apple shippers were not near as lucky during the April freeze.
Washington state apples – grossing about $6200 to Orlando.
Produce shipments from New Jerseyhave been occuring in limited volume since March, with items ranging from lettuce, leafy greens, herbs, flat parsely, cilantro, spinach, leeks and radishes. As we enter the summer season volume will pick up significantly for other types of vegetables, especially from the southern area of the state.
Green beans are just starting. Other vegetable loadings will get underway in June and July with bell peppers, cucumbers and squash. Sweet corn loadings kick in around the second week of July. Cabbage shipments recently started.
The Garden state also is one of the larger shippers of peaches and blueberries. Blueberries become available the first week of June, while peaches will get underway around the 4th of July.
Most New Jersey produce items are either starting on time, or a week or so early.
Buying two of my favorite fruits with any good taste has been a real challenge this year — until this week.
Finally had some cantaloupe from Costa Rica that was out of sight! I know when my cantaloupe is tasting as it should when I don’t have to sprinkle salt on it.
My next pleasant surprise came with California strawberries. I had began to think I’d just grown tired of eating strawberries, until this week. What finally hit me was I’d just grown weary of fruit lacking in taste. You’d cut one open and it there was more white color than red. This quart of clamshell strawberries also wasn’t detriorating. Lately it seemed I have to eat the whole quart at once because the next day, the fruit was be going to “crap.” I’ve had these strawberries at the house three days and they remain firm, tasty, with a beautiful red color — and no decay.
Maybe, they finally realized they should have been shipping it protected by Tectrol, which slows the aging process.
Another one of my favorites are watermelons. I often find it difficult to buy great tasting melons until around the 4th of July. You get all the early season stuff out of the way, and warmer, more consistent weather helps produce better watermelons.
Expect watermelon retail prices to be pretty stiff, especially in the eastern half of the USA. For various reasons, melon crops have been hit pretty hard and supplies will be much tighter than normal. Out West, supplies are much better and you may not face as much stick shock.