It’s not too late to register for the 2007 Global Cold Chain Alliance Assembly of Committees. This can’t-miss event is the best opportunity of the year for IRTA members to meet with the other Alliance Core Partners (IARW, WFLO and IACSC). See who is already registered. Register Now.

Transportation Committee Speakers

Be sure to join us for this year’s exciting IRTA Transportation Committee, which will cover pressing issues affecting transportation of refrigerated commodities. We have some of the industry’s key players speaking at this year’s meeting:

· Jim O’Neal, President & CEO of O&S Trucking and Chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association, will be covering trucking industry capacity, trends, and issues.

· A representative from the Port of Wilmington will be addressing TWIC Implementation.

· John Williamson will be speaking on cargo insurance.

· Don Newton, Senior Manager of Rail Operations, with J.R. Simplot, will address end-user rail logistics.

· L. Patrick Hanemann will be speaking about the Dispute Resolution Center.

Be a Sponsor

Consider sponsorship at this year's Assembly of Committees. Attendance at last year's event reached 200, and we are on track to attract just as many cold chain industry decision-makers at this year's event. The cut-off date is July 18^th. Contact Megan Kalaski.

The cut-off date for The Four Seasons Hotel is July 6! To book accommodations, call the Four Seasons at +1 202 342 0444.

Registration Open for Australia Conference!

Registration is now open for the 2007 RWTA/Global Cold Chain Alliance Conference held in beautiful Queensland, Australia. The theme for this exciting event will be “Competitive Advantage in the Global Cold Chain,” reflecting the current positive outlook and our new global affiliation. Speakers will embrace a range of topics covering key industry issues and general subjects aimed to assist members to successfully manage growth. The Refrigerated Warehouse & Transport Association of Australia Ltd (RWTA) represents both the warehousing and transport sectors involved in the storage, distribution and transportation of temperature controlled products in what is known as the Australian Cold Chain. Attendees at the conference will include Australia’s top refrigerated transportation providers. Transportation topics at the conference include:

· Mr. Neil Chambers, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Transport Association who will talk on Chain of Responsibility in the transport sector;

· Mr. Greg Rowe, Road Safety Advisor to the Victorian Transport Association, who will address the Safe Truck Program, including driver fatigue issues, safety technology and key safety issues;

· Also invited is a speaker from Europe on current market conditions, a speaker from Indonesia/SE Asia on current cold chain challenges in the region and a panel to discuss the opportunities opening up in the China market.

For more information on programming and to register, visit the RWTA website.

Yangshan Port Holds Opportunity for Transportation/Logistics Investors

The Yangshan port, located in China’s Nanhui district, holds significant business potential for logistics and transportation officials eager to explore Asian ventures. Yangshan is the sole deep water port in Shanghai, boasts an annual turnover of 13 million containers, and is projected by many trade analysts to grow into the world’s top port sometime in the next three years. Yet at present this port contains only one cold storage facility and remains a prime market for aggressive logistics and transportation providers. The Port is courting business partners committed to maximizing the potential of this burgeoning trade hub. If you are interested in exploring these opportunities and partnering with the Yangshan Port, please contact our China Representative, Mabel Zhuang, at mzhuang@gcca.org.

Bobby Tucker Joins IRTA Headquarters Staff

We are excited to welcome Bobby Tucker as the new Director of Education and Training. Bobby comes to the associations from serving as the Assistant Director of Student Activities at Texas A&M University. He served as President of the National FFA Organization. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education, Masters of Science degree in Educational Administration and is working towards a Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture Education from Texas A&M University.

With his strong background in adult education, agriculture and non-profit management, Bobby has already proved to be a great addition to the IRTA team.

Quick Question: Multi-Temp Truck Use

Does your company utilize multi-temp trucks? Click here to respond. Results will be posted in next month’s Cool Moves.

Headline News

U.S. Roadways Opened To Mexican Trucks

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that the Bush administration can skip a lengthy environmental study and open U.S. roadways to Mexican trucks as soon as it wishes. See full story from CNN.

Versacold Acquired by Iceland’s Eimskip

Another Canadian-based cold-storage operator is embracing Icelandic owners as Versacold Income Fund approved a $525 million takeover by Eimskip, which previously acquired the Atlas Cold Storage Income Trust for $583 million. See full story from The Toronto Star.

South Korea Lifts Ban on U.S. Beef

South Korea lifted a suspension on imports of American beef from two U.S. meat companies Tuesday after the U.S. confirmed that three shipments meant for domestic consumption were exported by mistake, officials said. See full story from the San Diego Union Tribune.

New Packaging Technology for Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

ThermaFreeze Products Corporation (TPC) could be putting the freeze on old cold chain technologies with its new packaging innovation for the pharmaceutical supply chain. See full story from inPharmaTechnologist.com

Maersk Logistics to Integrate Damco Sea & Air

Damco Sea & Air and Maersk Logistics are pleased to announce that as of 1 July 2007, we will integrate the Dutch freight forwarding company Damco Sea & Air with Maersk Logistics’ forwarding activities. The combined business will trade under the name of ‘Damco’. See full story from freshplaza.com.

Air News

European Plan to Charge Airlines for Emissions Meeting Obstacles

Europe's plan to hold aviation accountable for its part in global warming has, as expected, come up against stiff opposition. See full story from Flight International.

Lufthansa and D.Post Plan Cargo Airline

Lufthansa and Deutsche Post plan to set up a joint freight airline. See full story from Reuters.com.

Maritime News

Fiscal 2007 War Supplemental Bill Includes $110 Mil for Port Security Grants

President Bush on Friday (May 25) signed into law H.R. 2206, a compromise Iraqi war appropriations supplemental bill that includes $110 million in additional fiscal 2007 funding for the federal Port Security Grant program, which the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) hailed today as "a giant leap forward" to help U.S. ports secure their facilities against terrorism. See release from the AAPA.

Rail News

Bipartisan Legislation Would Expand Rail Infrastructure and Provide Tax Credit

Members from the House of Representatives form both parties hosted a joint press conference to promote legislation that would encourage more freight to move on rail and less on overcrowded highways and would provide a 25 percent tax credit to any business that expanded its capacity to ship by rail. See full story from the Association of American Railroads.

Historic Agreement Made Between Labor and Railroads

Six of the seven rail unions who make up the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC) have ratified their contracts with the National Carrier's Conference Committee (NCCC). See full story from PRNewswire.com.

Pennsylvania DOT Awards USCS Grant

United States Cold Storage LLC will receive $233,000 for a construction project that will provide rail service to a new cold storage facility to be built in the Humboldt Industrial Park. See release from the State of Pennsylvania.

Trucking News

Large Truckload Company Turnover Rate up Six Percent

The driver turnover rate for large truckload and less-than-truckload carriers increased during the first quarter of 2007, marking their highest turnover rates since the end of 2005. See full story from the American Trucking Associations.

Fatal Crash Prompts Chinese Tire Recall

A death and injury lawsuit has prompted a U.S. tire importer and distributor to ask the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for help in recalling nearly half a million Chinese-made light truck tires. See full story from TruckingInfo.com. The Chinese manufacturer of the tires denies any defect. See full story from The New York Times.

Schneider Logistics Partners with Canadian Consulting Firm

Dan Goodwill and Associates, a Canadian-based transportation consulting firm, has formed a strategic alliance with Schneider Logistics to provide transportation advisory services to shippers throughout North America. See full story from trucknews.com.

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 Tori Miller at Cold Chain Headquarters.