Author Archive
By Bill Martin
Whether it’s hauling produce, or sound equipment for country music stars, Robert Lawson loves the challenge.
Which is more challenging for Robert Lawson, hauling fresh produce or hauling sound gear for country music stars George Jones and John Anderson?
This Meansville, GA boy from the Deep South was attired in his finest New York outfit being a Giants fan and all psyched for Eli Manning and teammates to kick some New England Patriots butt in the Super Bowl only three days away (NY won 21-17). But we got Robert to shift his attention from the big game to tell why he likes to haul produce — and eventually share some interesting tidbits about Jones and Anderson.
Robert has been driving a truck since the late 1980s and currently works for Kennesaw Transportation Inc. of Atlanta. Over the years he’s hauled almost everything one can think of, but really enjoys the challenges associated with hauling fresh fruits and vegetables. In fact, he had just delivered a load of Washington state apples to the Atlanta Farmers Market.
In no particular order, Robert cited several frustrations and challenges if you haul produce, although some are faced by most types of truckers.
*Language barriers. “There used to be signs on the walls that were printed in English and Spanish. Now those signs are in Spanish followed by English.”
*As a produce trucker, Robert said it is frustrating to arrive at a dock to pick up berries and other items and the pallets have already been sealed in modified atmosphere bags. The process is designed to perserve quality and extend the life of the product. The veteran driver prefers not only to be able to do a carton or tray count of the product being loaded, but also to check its quality.
“I can’t see the (bagged) produce when it is being loaded and it (the sealed bag) is not broke open until it arrives at destination,” he surmises.
But overall, Robert wouldn’t trade hauling produce for anything else. “When I haul produce it isn’t like hauling steel. You deliver it (produce) in good shape and you feel like you have done something.”
A primary concern is making sure the produce is stacked correctly on pallets and secured properly to the trailer. Otherwise shifting of the load may occur, resulting in damage to the product, and a possible claim at destination.
One of the biggest problems he faces is making sure you are not “shorted” on a load. “If I arrive at a produce house and I am supposed to pick up 880 cases of lettuce, then I find this guy (warehouseman) and I ask him how much product he’s loading, and I’m told 660 cases. I have got to get that amount changed on the bill of lading. Once you sign a bill of lading, you have got to deliver it from point A to Point B. I’ve actually seen a couple of guys arrested for delivering produce to somewhere besides what is stated on the bill.”
Robert, who drives a 2011 International conventional with a 10-speed tranny and 283-inch wheelbase, pulls a 53-foot long Utility trailer chilled by an Ingersoll Rand reefer unit.
Besides making sure there is a correct count for the load, Robert stresses the importance of maintaining proper temperature in the trailer. Particularily in the south where it is warmer, he says if you leave the rig unattended for a while, make sure the reefer unit doesn’t run out of fuel.
“It’s all on the driver; the proper count; the quality of the produce being loaded; the way it is secured and the way it is delivered,” he says. “You have to pay attention to all of these things.”
Now this is for those curious about his dealings with George Jones and John Anderson. Robert hauled sound equipment for both, but also acted as a body guard for Jones.
Robert described working for Jones as “an experience. I did it because it was challenging. I am not star struck.”
He recalls one time Jones had three concerts at Daytona Beach, FL occurring at the same time as a planned shuttle launch at nearby Cape Canaveral. Two of the shows were for dignitaries attending the launch, and the other performance was for fans. During the intermission of one of the shows, attendees went outside to watch the shuttle launch.
When Robert worked for John Anderson, he said the country star swas very personable. “John would say, ‘when I’m on that stage, I’m a star. But when I walk off that stage, I’m just one of the guys. I’m your friend. If you want to go fishing, we’ll go fishing.'”
Robert comes off as the consummate professional driver in a similar manner of his description of Anderson. “When I go to a produce house, I get to know the people there. It helps to avoid problems,” he concludes.
Looking to try something new to help fight the winter doldrums? Come mid-
February the Kanzi apple variety will be introduced to the United States. It is being grown in Washington state, but is established in Europe. In fact the Kanzi is the second largest produced apple across the big pond, after the Pink Lady variety.
It is a cross between the gala and braeburn varieties and has a sweet/tart taste.
If you haul produce during the winter months you know it can sometimes be a dicey proposition when it comes to weather adversely affecting perishable items. California reports freeze after freeze this winter, but so far has dodged the proverbial bullet for the most part.
There have been some losses of citrus, but you shouldn’t see that much difference in loading opportunties. Strawberries also have been sparred for the most part. With nearly 70 percent of the citrus remaining to be harvested, there will be ample loading opportunities in the months ahead. A mid January freeze is expected to cut navel orange shipments by about 10 percent, and the much smaller mandrins crop by about 20 percent.
As for strawberries, there will be fewer shipments out of Santa Maria for the next couple of weeks. Strawberries from the Oxnard district and further south in Orange County escapted freeze damage.
Southern California – citrus, strawberries grossing about $6000 to New York City.
PS – Yesterday (Feb. 2) I visited with a company driver in Atlanta who had just delivered a load of Washington state apples to the farmers market for $6250 going to the truck.
I’ve had plenty of disappointments buying fruit in the wintertime, but these fagile 
items just have a lot more obstacles to overcome, especially with a finicky Mother Nature. But I”ve got to say I’ve been pretty pleased with the winter strawberries and kiwifruit I’ve been purchasing.
Living here in Oklahoma I haven’t had any strawberries from California in a while, probably because of limited volume. However, I’ve been eating plenty of strawberries from Mexico. Latest brand is Fresh Kampo. I’ll give the brand a grade of B-plus. The Mexican berries have good color, quality, taste, and average size, plus have not had any break down for three days after purchase.
California is providing an excellent crop of kiwifruit now. Continues to be one of the best buys in the produce department, at least where I live — 3 kiwis for a buck. Happy shopping!
Loadings of potatoes from shipping points on Prince Edward Island in Eastern 
Canada are about 30 percent ahead of normal this season. Few spuds are shipped year around out of here, with most product finished by June. However, due to brisker than usual loadings, shipments will probably end weeks early than normal. This is primarily due to fewer potatoes and loadings originating from New Brunswick, as well from Aroostrock County, ME. Thus, buyers are ordering more potatoes from PEI.
Thirty years ago you could only get certain produce items at particular times 
of the year. This has gradually changed over time as countries around the world have started growing fruits and vegetables, improving varieties, increasing volumes and exporting to countries such as the United States.
In 2011 the leading suppliers of veggies to America were Mexico, which accounted for 58 percent of imports, Canada 27 percent and Peru three percent. The top countries providing us with fruit was Mexico 34 percent, Chile 20 percent and Costa Rica 11 percent.
In most cases if these countries were not providing us these perishables, these items would not be available at all, or least in much less limited supplies, which would greatly increase the costs we pay for them. Their growing seasons differ from ours.
There are some exceptions, with perhaps the most drastic being the tomatoes available to us from Florida in the winter, which compete against tomatoes coming out of Mexico. Over the years the Florida tomato industry has complained out Mexico undercutting them on price and flooding the market with excess supplies.
There is some truth in these claims. At the same time, you’ll find Florida providing your supermarket with mature green tomatoes, while the Mexicans are supplying us with vine ripe grown tomatoes and in more recent years have greatly increased their greenhouse grown tomato supplies.
Outside of the folks who grow mature green tomatoes in Florida, I find it difficult to find people who like the taste of these tomatoes, especially when compared to vine ripe and greenhouse grown products.
Various citrus items are now being shipped from California, Arizona, Texas 
and Florida. No major freeze damage or quality problems have been reported from the major shipping areas, so this should reduce your chances of claims at destination.
In California and Arizona, loadings of items ranging from oranges to lemons are pretty normal…In the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas overall loadings of grapefruit, which accounts for about 75 percent of the citrus volume, are expected to be off about 20 percent from a year ago….Florida continues shipping product ranging from oranges to grapefruit and tangerines.
Note: It’s okay mixing citrus together in reefer units ranging from oranges to tangerines, mandrians an clementines. But mixing these items with products such as lettuce, broccoli and other veggies available in the same region can result in loss of quality and claims, especially on longer hauls.
California citrus — grossing about $4800 to Atlanta.
Texas citrus – about $2300 to Chicago.
Florida citrus – about $2400 to New York.
I haven’t had the opportunity to try it, but I’ve read some consumer rave reviews on the Junami apple, a new variety out of Washington state. There’s apparently enough volume with the new fruit that some retailers will be promoting it.
The Junami is described as fruity, tangy, crispy and incredibly juicy. Retailers should be pricing the Junami around $1.99 per pound.
There’s another apple variety, the Lady Alice, which was introduced to consumers about five years ago. It is described as having a subtle sweet-tart flavor. A plus for the Lady Alice, it is slow to brown, making it a neat apple for salads, cheese platters and for use by slicers.
Both the Lady Alice and the Junami are said to be great storage apples and build favor while in storage before they are shipped to your favorite supermarket.
By Rand McNally
The award-winning IntelliRoute® TND™ series was built from the ground up for the professional truck driver. And with a refurbished device from Rand McNally, you’ll get all the benefits of a new GPS at a significant savings.
The refurbished IntelliRoute® TND™ 500 is available for $129.99. The refurbished IntelliRoute® TND™ 510 for $239.99 and the TND™ 710 for $319.99 at Rand McNally’s online store.
The devices come with a complimentary upgrade to the most recent map data available from Rand McNally. Read more about Rand McNally’s refurbished devices.
Now available for $39.95. The #1 selling trucker’s road atlas in North America, spiral-bound with laminated pages for additional durability.
Even when the recent deadline for a Teamsters strike at the Hunts Point Terminal Wholesale passed and the local’s workers kept right on working, I wasn’t a bit surprised. Not only has there not been a work stoppage over the past 25 years, I’m familiar enough with the wholesalers, and particularly their leaders, to know if it’s at all possible, a strike would be avoided. It was. A new contract was reached.
Nothing is more critical to the tenants on Hunts Point than to keep those 53-foot reefer units rolling into the terminal.
No trucks, means the wholesalers lose customers (retail supermarkets, foodservice, etc.) who decades ago decided to buy directly from produce shippers whenever they could. These customers, as is the case with terminal markets across the United States, often buy 70, 80, 90 percent of their fresh fruits and vegetables direct – primarily because they see cutting out the middlemen as saving money. Of course, wholesalers make good arguments such as a produce market offers wide selections of product, ranges in quality, color, taste, size and even price advantages.
My first visit to Hunts Point was about 25 years ago and I estimate I’ve been back there 50 times since. During this period I always made it a point to visit with as many truckers as possible who were delivering fresh produce on the South Bronx market. I also got to know many of the Hunts Point wholesalers on a first name basis.
Through the years Hunts Point developed a horrible reputation in the trucking industry. Complaints ranged form kicked loads, phoney claims to get reductions in freight rates, to delays in unloading, many times as an excuse for wholesalers to take advantage of free refrigerated warehousing at the expense of the driver. Then there were issues ranging from lack of restroom facilities to restaurant accomodations.
Over the years in my talks with drivers and wholesalers, many of these issues have been addressed. Now when talking with truckers about Hunts Points, there stil complaints, but I also hear a lot more good things than I used to. Driver shortages, refusals to return to deliver to wholesalers who “dump” on you, tend to change things. If these issues do not improve, then trucker is at fault for returning to take another “beating.”
When you get down to it, Hunts Point in some ways is no different than other wholesale terminal markets. Some companies are simply better than others whether talking about their dealings with transportation, or dealing with their suppliers and customers.
One consistency I’ve noticed over the years, is the people who are leaders on Hunts Point such as Matthew D’Arrigo (D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of New York) and Myra Gordon, both of the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Market, are first class individuals. I could also say the same about a number of other people at Hunts Point.
When you have people of intergrity in leadership positions, I knew if there was any way a union conflict could be resolved, it would be accomplished. It’s also another reason why some truckers have fewers complaints about Hunts Point.
By Bill Martin
Whether it’s hauling produce, or sound equipment for country music stars, Robert Lawson loves the challenge.
Which is more challenging for Robert Lawson, hauling fresh produce or hauling sound gear for country music stars George Jones and John Anderson?
This Meansville, GA boy from the Deep South was attired in his finest New York outfit being a Giants fan and all psyched for Eli Manning and teammates to kick some New England Patriots butt in the Super Bowl only three days away (NY won 21-17). But we got Robert to shift his attention from the big game to tell why he likes to haul produce — and eventually share some interesting tidbits about Jones and Anderson.
Robert has been driving a truck since the late 1980s and currently works for Kennesaw Transportation Inc. of Atlanta. Over the years he’s hauled almost everything one can think of, but really enjoys the challenges associated with hauling fresh fruits and vegetables. In fact, he had just delivered a load of Washington state apples to the Atlanta Farmers Market.
In no particular order, Robert cited several frustrations and challenges if you haul produce, although some are faced by most types of truckers.
*Language barriers. “There used to be signs on the walls that were printed in English and Spanish. Now those signs are in Spanish followed by English.”
*As a produce trucker, Robert said it is frustrating to arrive at a dock to pick up berries and other items and the pallets have already been sealed in modified atmosphere bags. The process is designed to perserve quality and extend the life of the product. The veteran driver prefers not only to be able to do a carton or tray count of the product being loaded, but also to check its quality.
“I can’t see the (bagged) produce when it is being loaded and it (the sealed bag) is not broke open until it arrives at destination,” he surmises.
But overall, Robert wouldn’t trade hauling produce for anything else. “When I haul produce it isn’t like hauling steel. You deliver it (produce) in good shape and you feel like you have done something.”
A primary concern is making sure the produce is stacked correctly on pallets and secured properly to the trailer. Otherwise shifting of the load may occur, resulting in damage to the product, and a possible claim at destination.
One of the biggest problems he faces is making sure you are not “shorted” on a load. “If I arrive at a produce house and I am supposed to pick up 880 cases of lettuce, then I find this guy (warehouseman) and I ask him how much product he’s loading, and I’m told 660 cases. I have got to get that amount changed on the bill of lading. Once you sign a bill of lading, you have got to deliver it from point A to Point B. I’ve actually seen a couple of guys arrested for delivering produce to somewhere besides what is stated on the bill.”
Robert, who drives a 2011 International conventional with a 10-speed tranny and 283-inch wheelbase, pulls a 53-foot long Utility trailer chilled by an Ingersoll Rand reefer unit.
Besides making sure there is a correct count for the load, Robert stresses the importance of maintaining proper temperature in the trailer. Particularily in the south where it is warmer, he says if you leave the rig unattended for a while, make sure the reefer unit doesn’t run out of fuel.
“It’s all on the driver; the proper count; the quality of the produce being loaded; the way it is secured and the way it is delivered,” he says. “You have to pay attention to all of these things.”
Now this is for those curious about his dealings with George Jones and John Anderson. Robert hauled sound equipment for both, but also acted as a body guard for Jones.
Robert described working for Jones as “an experience. I did it because it was challenging. I am not star struck.”
He recalls one time Jones had three concerts at Daytona Beach, FL occurring at the same time as a planned shuttle launch at nearby Cape Canaveral. Two of the shows were for dignitaries attending the launch, and the other performance was for fans. During the intermission of one of the shows, attendees went outside to watch the shuttle launch.
When Robert worked for John Anderson, he said the country star swas very personable. “John would say, ‘when I’m on that stage, I’m a star. But when I walk off that stage, I’m just one of the guys. I’m your friend. If you want to go fishing, we’ll go fishing.'”
Robert comes off as the consummate professional driver in a similar manner of his description of Anderson. “When I go to a produce house, I get to know the people there. It helps to avoid problems,” he concludes.
Looking to try something new to help fight the winter doldrums? Come mid-February the Kanzi apple variety will be introduced to the United States. It is being grown in Washington state, but is established in Europe. In fact the Kanzi is the second largest produced apple across the big pond, after the Pink Lady variety.
It is a cross between the gala and braeburn varieties and has a sweet/tart taste.
If you haul produce during the winter months you know it can sometimes be a dicey proposition when it comes to weather adversely affecting perishable items. California reports freeze after freeze this winter, but so far has dodged the proverbial bullet for the most part.
There have been some losses of citrus, but you shouldn’t see that much difference in loading opportunties. Strawberries also have been sparred for the most part. With nearly 70 percent of the citrus remaining to be harvested, there will be ample loading opportunities in the months ahead. A mid January freeze is expected to cut navel orange shipments by about 10 percent, and the much smaller mandrins crop by about 20 percent.
As for strawberries, there will be fewer shipments out of Santa Maria for the next couple of weeks. Strawberries from the Oxnard district and further south in Orange County escapted freeze damage.
Southern California – citrus, strawberries grossing about $6000 to New York City.
PS – Yesterday (Feb. 2) I visited with a company driver in Atlanta who had just delivered a load of Washington state apples to the farmers market for $6250 going to the truck.
I’ve had plenty of disappointments buying fruit in the wintertime, but these fagile items just have a lot more obstacles to overcome, especially with a finicky Mother Nature. But I”ve got to say I’ve been pretty pleased with the winter strawberries and kiwifruit I’ve been purchasing.
Living here in Oklahoma I haven’t had any strawberries from California in a while, probably because of limited volume. However, I’ve been eating plenty of strawberries from Mexico. Latest brand is Fresh Kampo. I’ll give the brand a grade of B-plus. The Mexican berries have good color, quality, taste, and average size, plus have not had any break down for three days after purchase.
California is providing an excellent crop of kiwifruit now. Continues to be one of the best buys in the produce department, at least where I live — 3 kiwis for a buck. Happy shopping!
Loadings of potatoes from shipping points on Prince Edward Island in Eastern Canada are about 30 percent ahead of normal this season. Few spuds are shipped year around out of here, with most product finished by June. However, due to brisker than usual loadings, shipments will probably end weeks early than normal. This is primarily due to fewer potatoes and loadings originating from New Brunswick, as well from Aroostrock County, ME. Thus, buyers are ordering more potatoes from PEI.
Thirty years ago you could only get certain produce items at particular times of the year. This has gradually changed over time as countries around the world have started growing fruits and vegetables, improving varieties, increasing volumes and exporting to countries such as the United States.
In 2011 the leading suppliers of veggies to America were Mexico, which accounted for 58 percent of imports, Canada 27 percent and Peru three percent. The top countries providing us with fruit was Mexico 34 percent, Chile 20 percent and Costa Rica 11 percent.
In most cases if these countries were not providing us these perishables, these items would not be available at all, or least in much less limited supplies, which would greatly increase the costs we pay for them. Their growing seasons differ from ours.
There are some exceptions, with perhaps the most drastic being the tomatoes available to us from Florida in the winter, which compete against tomatoes coming out of Mexico. Over the years the Florida tomato industry has complained out Mexico undercutting them on price and flooding the market with excess supplies.
There is some truth in these claims. At the same time, you’ll find Florida providing your supermarket with mature green tomatoes, while the Mexicans are supplying us with vine ripe grown tomatoes and in more recent years have greatly increased their greenhouse grown tomato supplies.
Outside of the folks who grow mature green tomatoes in Florida, I find it difficult to find people who like the taste of these tomatoes, especially when compared to vine ripe and greenhouse grown products.
Various citrus items are now being shipped from California, Arizona, Texas and Florida. No major freeze damage or quality problems have been reported from the major shipping areas, so this should reduce your chances of claims at destination.
In California and Arizona, loadings of items ranging from oranges to lemons are pretty normal…In the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas overall loadings of grapefruit, which accounts for about 75 percent of the citrus volume, are expected to be off about 20 percent from a year ago….Florida continues shipping product ranging from oranges to grapefruit and tangerines.
Note: It’s okay mixing citrus together in reefer units ranging from oranges to tangerines, mandrians an clementines. But mixing these items with products such as lettuce, broccoli and other veggies available in the same region can result in loss of quality and claims, especially on longer hauls.
California citrus — grossing about $4800 to Atlanta.
Texas citrus – about $2300 to Chicago.
Florida citrus – about $2400 to New York.
I haven’t had the opportunity to try it, but I’ve read some consumer rave reviews on the Junami apple, a new variety out of Washington state. There’s apparently enough volume with the new fruit that some retailers will be promoting it.
The Junami is described as fruity, tangy, crispy and incredibly juicy. Retailers should be pricing the Junami around $1.99 per pound.
There’s another apple variety, the Lady Alice, which was introduced to consumers about five years ago. It is described as having a subtle sweet-tart flavor. A plus for the Lady Alice, it is slow to brown, making it a neat apple for salads, cheese platters and for use by slicers.
Both the Lady Alice and the Junami are said to be great storage apples and build favor while in storage before they are shipped to your favorite supermarket.
By Rand McNally
The award-winning IntelliRoute® TND™ series was built from the ground up for the professional truck driver. And with a refurbished device from Rand McNally, you’ll get all the benefits of a new GPS at a significant savings.
The refurbished IntelliRoute® TND™ 500 is available for $129.99. The refurbished IntelliRoute® TND™ 510 for $239.99 and the TND™ 710 for $319.99 at Rand McNally’s online store.
The devices come with a complimentary upgrade to the most recent map data available from Rand McNally. Read more about Rand McNally’s refurbished devices.
Now available for $39.95. The #1 selling trucker’s road atlas in North America, spiral-bound with laminated pages for additional durability.
Even when the recent deadline for a Teamsters strike at the Hunts Point Terminal Wholesale passed and the local’s workers kept right on working, I wasn’t a bit surprised. Not only has there not been a work stoppage over the past 25 years, I’m familiar enough with the wholesalers, and particularly their leaders, to know if it’s at all possible, a strike would be avoided. It was. A new contract was reached.
Nothing is more critical to the tenants on Hunts Point than to keep those 53-foot reefer units rolling into the terminal.
No trucks, means the wholesalers lose customers (retail supermarkets, foodservice, etc.) who decades ago decided to buy directly from produce shippers whenever they could. These customers, as is the case with terminal markets across the United States, often buy 70, 80, 90 percent of their fresh fruits and vegetables direct – primarily because they see cutting out the middlemen as saving money. Of course, wholesalers make good arguments such as a produce market offers wide selections of product, ranges in quality, color, taste, size and even price advantages.
My first visit to Hunts Point was about 25 years ago and I estimate I’ve been back there 50 times since. During this period I always made it a point to visit with as many truckers as possible who were delivering fresh produce on the South Bronx market. I also got to know many of the Hunts Point wholesalers on a first name basis.
Through the years Hunts Point developed a horrible reputation in the trucking industry. Complaints ranged form kicked loads, phoney claims to get reductions in freight rates, to delays in unloading, many times as an excuse for wholesalers to take advantage of free refrigerated warehousing at the expense of the driver. Then there were issues ranging from lack of restroom facilities to restaurant accomodations.
Over the years in my talks with drivers and wholesalers, many of these issues have been addressed. Now when talking with truckers about Hunts Points, there stil complaints, but I also hear a lot more good things than I used to. Driver shortages, refusals to return to deliver to wholesalers who “dump” on you, tend to change things. If these issues do not improve, then trucker is at fault for returning to take another “beating.”
When you get down to it, Hunts Point in some ways is no different than other wholesale terminal markets. Some companies are simply better than others whether talking about their dealings with transportation, or dealing with their suppliers and customers.
One consistency I’ve noticed over the years, is the people who are leaders on Hunts Point such as Matthew D’Arrigo (D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of New York) and Myra Gordon, both of the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Market, are first class individuals. I could also say the same about a number of other people at Hunts Point.
When you have people of intergrity in leadership positions, I knew if there was any way a union conflict could be resolved, it would be accomplished. It’s also another reason why some truckers have fewers complaints about Hunts Point.