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Latest COVID-19 Announcements

Please keep this page bookmarked for the latest updates from Food Shippers of America regarding COVID-19

06-03-2020
j.p. morgan - Counting the days: risks of a covid-19 second wave

Counting the days: risks of a COVID-19 second wave
Link to Article
 

​06-01-2020
Lear industries Playbook for restarting business

Lear Industries shares their playbook for restarting business.   More information is available at:

 

https://www.lear.com/safeworkplaybookfiles

 

​05-27-2020
AMERICAN LOGISTICS AID NETWORK COVID-19 Related resources

American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) identified several COVID 19 related resources this week including:

 

•US Chamber of Commerce Guide to Reopening:
https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/safely-reopening-businesses-tips

•FEMA COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2020 Hurricane Season:
https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/188203

•Exercise Starter Kit for Workshop on Reconstituting Operations
https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/188077


05-15-2020
american logistics aid network covid-19 conference call notes

Key points made by participants during the May 13th call included:

  • Items that participants “wish they would have known or had access to”:

◦Documented Business Continuity Plans for Pandemics

◦Defined protocols for alternative sourcing of PPE materials

◦Common industry and government agreed definition of “essential” business/worker  

◦Federal worker ID card system for essential workers

◦Federal plan for a pandemic impact response that provided uniformity across states

◦Federal template outlining the possible scenarios to facilitate planning

  • At the Federal level
  • At the state level
  • At the county level
  • At the company level

◦A better understanding of the magnitude of the pandemic’s likely impact (scenarios)

◦Plan to rapidly ramp up an eCommerce response based on a surge in market demand

◦Available support resources (like ALAN) to assist in dealing with the pandemic

 

05-15-2020
OSHA offers resources to assist companies restart their business

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers resources to assist companies restart their business.   For more information visit https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/.

 

05-12-2020
CDC Announces safety guidelines for long haul motor carriers

CDC Announces Safety Guidelines for Long Haul Motor Carriers:

 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/long-haul-trucking.html

 

05-12-2020
AMERICAN logistics aid network (ALAN) covid-19 update

American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) COVID-19 Update:
 
ALAN continues to host weekly conference calls with other trade associations and interest groups to discuss opportunities to collaborate and identify best practices regarding the COVID-19 response.   Highlights from the latest call include:

  • The American Trucking Association has arranged to distribute face masks and place hand sanitizer at 10 locations across the U.S. exclusively for drivers to replenish their personal supply.
  • An increasing number of companies are adopting formal on site protocols for work place operations including taking employee’s temperatures, providing face masks and requiring notification of any employee who feels ill.    Companies are reporting that they have implemented protocols to ensure compliance with CDC recommendations. 
  • PPE and cleaning supplies continue to be a challenge to source.  ALAN has requested input from call participants to share sources where they have been successful securing these items.  Several companies cautioned regarding the growing prevalence of fraudulent or substandard product offerings.   ALAN has shared the following potential sources:

 

05-08-2020
Cnn News Posts Reopening guidelines

LINK


05-06-2020
Truckstop.com webinar replay

Truckstop.com Webinar Replay on "Freight Transportation in a Post COVID-19 World" is available at the following link:
 
https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/2299310/0DD9337BF6EDF18F7CB3F9E1056FEDC6


04-25-2020
AMERICAN LOGISTICS AID NETWORK COaVID-19 UPDATE

American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) COVID-19 Update:

 

ALAN is continuing to host weekly COVID-19 update calls with other industry trade associations.  Highlights from the most recently released call notes include:

 

•Paycheck Protection Program:   To date several participants report that they are aware of companies successfully securing funds through this program.  Information also was shared that suggests that the earlier a company “got in line” the greater the likelihood that they have been approved and/or received funds. 

 

•Workforce Issues:   There have been numerous reports of companies (Kraft, ConAgra, Smithfield, Tyson, etc.) having to close their production facilities due to high levels of COVID-19 cases among the plant’s workforce.  Several participants report that companies are demonstrating a variety of facility policies and protocols including requiring anyone entering the premises to submit to having their temperature checked and/or to wear a face mask while on site.   Many facilities are making hand sanitizer readily available for use at entry points.   There were numerous comments that companies have implemented the CDC guidelines as a minimum course of action.  Several comments were made about litigious organizations approaching drivers at rest stops trying to solicit business to purse action against shippers, receivers and transportation companies.   The ATA/TIA government affairs groups, as well as Food Industry organizations, are looking at legislation that could be introduced to limit liability.   CDC and OSHA guidance is likely to change as more is learned and up to date information is available at the CDC COVID-19 website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html  and OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 website https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

 

•Policy Restrictions:   ALAN has made a map of county level policy restrictions available on their web site: http://alanaid.org/map

 

Additional information is available at ALAN’s COVID-19 website:  https://www.alanaid.org/2020/04/20/just-the-facts-maam-alans-no-frills-covid-19-operations-report/.   You can also sign up for regular updates from ALAN.


04-24-2020
FEMA AND CISA RELEASE COVID-19 RELATED INFORMATION GUIDES

FEMA and CISA Release COVID-19 Related Information Guides:

 

Addressing PPE Needs in Non-Healthcare Setting 
 

Critical Infrastructure Operations Centers and Control Rooms Guide for Pandemic Response 


04-24-2020
FTR UPDATES INFORMATION ON THE COVID-19 SITUATION 

FTR is providing complimentary access to this information at www.FTRintel.com/Coronavirus.com  which includes:

 

•COVID-19 Impact Heatmap — In addition to Truck Spot Rates, FTR has enhanced their COVID-19 Impact Heatmap to include Truck Load Volumes. The heatmap provides interactive state-level impacts for four trucking equipment types – dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and specialized – using Truckstop.com spot market data.

•Spot Market Update — This report is updated weekly to provide a quick detailed look at the spot markets.

•Freight Update — This flash update provides a detailed look at the FTR forecast for the freight markets. As more data enters into the Freight•cast™ model, the scale of economic damage from the COVID-19 pandemic becomes clearer.

•Rail Equipment Update — Specific to the Rail Equipment markets, this update provides the newest information and expectations for where things are headed.  

•Commercial Vehicle Update — This update provides an update to our previous outlook that is specific to the Commercial Vehicle markets.  

•Weekly Transportation Update — This report is being published weekly to provide an overview of changes in the freight markets to keep all transportation professionals well informed.

•Webinar Replays and MORE — As FTR provides new webinars and ongoing updates and reports, this page will continue to be updated to only contain relevant and useful information.  

 

04-23-2020
BROUGHTON CAPITAL AND TRANSPORT FUTURES COVIE-19 UPDATE REPORT

Broughton Capital and Transport Futures COVID 19 Update Report:
LINK


04-15-2020
AMERICAN LOGISTICS AID NETWORK PROVIDING CORONAVIRUS SITUATION INFO

American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) Providing Key Coronavirus Situation Information

ALAN continues to provide valuable information to assist companies respond to the Coronavirus situation.   ALAN has available the following web link for additional information:  

LINK

 

04-15-2020
PERISHABLE FOOD SUPPLY GROUP CALL

ATA Agricultural and Food Transporters Group Hosts Call on Perishable Food Supply:

The minimization or closure of restaurants, schools, etc. has caused a significant surplus in the perishable food supply.    In an effort to create more National attention on the food supply chain the ATA has invited a substantial list of companies, including growers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, carriers, warehousing, charitable and logistics organizations, to participate in a call for further discussion on how to best address key issues facing the food supply chain.  

Call information is:

Time:  April 16, 2020 - 10AM Eastern Time

Conference Access for Participants

Local Phone Number: 703 838 1700

Toll Free: 866 278 8785

Attendee Conference ID: 358914

For more information please contact Jon Samson, Executive Director, Agricultural & Food Transporters Conference of ATA at 703-838-7955.

 

04-15-2020
HanD SANITIZER PRODUCTION GUIDELINES

World Health Organization (WHO) Recommended Hand Sanitizer Production Guidelines
LINK


04-14-2020
Coronavirus Statistical Review

Coronavirus Statistical Review:   
Broughton Capital, LLC www.broughtoncapital.com is providing a series of statistical reviews of the emerging data on the Covid-19 virus.  Broughton’s intent is to place the U.S. contagion in the context of the patterns revealed by the more mature Covid-19 contagions in Asia and Western Europe.  Noel Perry and Donald Broughton are collaborating to provide this insight (see attached for the latest update).
Virus Report April 14


04-12-2020
J.P. MORGAN’S OUTLOOK ON GAUGING THE COVID-19 EXIT

J.P. Morgan’s Outlook on Gauging the COVID-19 Exit
LINK


04-07-2020
Recommendation REGARDING THE USE OF CLOTH FACE COVERINGS

CDC Publishes Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings:   
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html


04-05-2020
TRUCK DRIVER SAFETY PROPOSAL SUGGESTED

Truck Driver Safety Proposal Suggested: 
Steve Syfan, EVP at Syfan Logistics, serves on the Georgia’s Economic Development Board Directors, and is suggesting a trucking protocol change to safeguard drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce the spread of the virus.  The suggested change would allow the drivers to stay in their truck throughout delivery or pick up.  The attached letter outlines this proposal in more detail.   Food Shippers of America has shared this information with the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) for use in their overall pandemic response effort.
Steve Syfan health safety proposal for trucking industry April 2020


04-02-2020
AMERICAN LOGISTICS AID NETWORK DROPBOX FOLDER

The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) has created a DropBox folder to provide easy access to coronavirus related information.   There are detailed documents covering Essential Workforce Credentials, Facility Sanitation Best Practices and Labor Law Concerns.  

The folder is available to all and can be accessed at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9sdgpq0x9a2vtbd/AADPZ42K0q3ln7Aw_kb2gEILa?dl=0

In conjunction with the ALAN effort the American Trucking Association (ATA) has posted a large amount of relevant information on matters especially relating to the movement of freight during the coronavirus pandemic. 

More information is available at https://www.trucking.org/COVID19#states.


03-31-2020
FOOD INDUSTRY GROUPS FORM PARTNERSHIP

Food Industry Groups Form Partnership to Ensure Sufficient Food Supply Amid COVID 19 Crisis.
https://www.foodlogistics.com/transportation/press-release/21123237/international-foodservice-distributors-association-ifda-food-industry-groups-form-partnership-to-ensure-sufficient-food-supply-amid-covid19-crisis


03-30-2020
FTR INTEL SHARES COVID-19 RELATED MARKET ANALYSIS

FTR advised FSA that they are committed to making sure that everyone in the transportation industry is kept up to date with the latest information on how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting freight transportation markets. This week FTR has published several special reports with updates on their forecasts (Economic, Freight, Commercial Vehicle Equipment, Rail Equipment...) and will be reviewing these areas for updates in light of the recently announced Federal stimulus package.   

Please click on the following link for access to this information:  ftrintel.com/coronavirus
 

03-21-2020
CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE RESOURCE LIST

Coronavirus Response Resource List:
 
The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) has put together a list of useful resources that may provide relevant information during the current Coronavirus/COVID-19 situation:   
 
General Resources

 
Guidance on Workplaces   
Other Information Sources 


Mark your Calendars

Future FSA  Annual Conferences!

2021
​February 28th - March 2nd 
​J.W. Marriott Desert Springs
​Palm Desert, CA 

2022
February 20th- February 22th
JW Marriott Grande Lakes
Orlando, FL

2023
​March 5th- March 7th
​J.W. Marriott Desert Springs
​Palm Desert, CA