NOTED: Supply Chain Highlights

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Green Seeds

• SSA Marine implemented a new zero-emissions electric forklift at the Port of San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. The forklift is the first of a fleet of six pieces of cargo-handling equipment that SSA Marine will deploy over the next 12 to 18 months.

↑ Hitachi, Hitachi Energy, and Penske Truck Leasing launched a large-scale, high-capacity centralized electric truck charging solution to support Penske’s electric truck deployments for customers in the Stockton, California area.

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UP THE CHAIN

← J.J. Keller & Associates appointed Tony Wheel as executive vice president of manufacturing and supply chain, succeeding Tim Little, who will retire in July 2024.

→ Mary Ann B. Passi, CAE, was appointed executive director of the Customized Logistics & Delivery Association. She brings her more than 30 years of association management experience to this position.

• Echo Global Logistics expanded cross-border services in Mexico and named Troy Ryley as president of Echo Mexico.

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RECOGNITION

↑ In its inaugural Carrier of the Year award program, PECO Pallet recognized two trucking companies—Venture Logistics and JIT-EX—for exemplary performance.

• Phillips Industries’ EC47 “cross-compatible” connector, a tractor-trailer connector that works with new “smart” trailers as well as older trailers, won the 33rd annual Jim Winsor Technical Achievement Award. Winners were voted on by a panel of truck writers.

← Kraft Heinz recognized its largest dedicated carrier, Stevens Transport, for outstanding safety, on-time delivery, reliability, and professionalism in temperature-controlled transportation.

• The Women in Trucking Association selected Schneider’s Angela Fish, executive vice president of human resources and Andrea Sequin, director of regulatory services and driver training, as Top Women to Watch in Transportation in 2024.

↑ Foundry’s CO named PITT OHIO a 2024 CIO 100 award winner for its implementation of a new enterprise operations platform for dispatch, telematics, fleet management and driver workflow.

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M&A

↑ Professional services firm Accenture acquired supply chain logistics specialist Flo, strengthening its ability to help clients prepare for supply chain digital transformation.

• BlueGrace Logistics acquired Evos Smart Tools, a SaaS optimization platform that helps shippers maximize resources and reduce costs through advanced supply chain algorithms and real-time data analytics.

• Savage expanded its network into the Pacific Northwest by acquiring the transloading business of Cascade Warehouse Company, a full-service distribution company.

• IMC Logistics acquired California-based drayage company American Pacific Transportation, increasing its position and truck capacity in California and across the West Coast.

• PS Logistics subsidiary Diamond State Trucking & Logistics acquired Yordy Transport, a founder-owned trucking company that specializes in flatbed shipping.

↑ In the largest acquisition since its creation in 1978, the CMA CGM Group acquired Bolloré Logistics.

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SEALED DEALS

↑ UAE-based healthcare distributor Arabian Ethicals successfully deployed Ehrhardt Partner Group’s LFS warehouse management system across its territories.

• ARAUCO, a global manufacturer of forest products, entered a long-term contract with Opturion to build, commission, and support a supply chain optimization solution for its forestry and transport operations.

• Couche-Tard, a convenience and mobility provider, will implement RELEX’s unified supply chain and retail planning solutions across its North America operations to support Circle K and Couche-Tard locations in the United States and Canada.

↑ TractEasy, a supplier of autonomous towing solutions specifically for outdoor use, has been chosen to supply its “EZTow” autonomous tow-tractor to John Deere globally.

• Core Health & Fitness partnered with Redwood Logistics for end-to-end visibility via a fully integrated solution, enhancing its global manufacturing supply chain.

• Kitchen retailer Wren Kitchens implemented Descartes’ dynamic appointment scheduling, route planning, and optimization solution to improve surveyor productivity, complete more customer appointments, and reduce overall cost per appointment.

• Sauder Woodworking Company will relocate its Western eCommerce distribution center operations from Jurupa Valley, California to Kenco’s Ogden, Utah facility. Through the partnership, Sauder gains shipping flexibility and reduces operating costs.

↑ LØCI, the London-based footwear and apparel brand known for its vegan, cruelty-free, and unisex sneakers, has selected Bleckmann as its exclusive third-party logistics fulfillment partner in the UK and continental Europe.

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