Operations

Your July 7 Pre-Trip: Transportation problems threaten CPG companies

July 7, 2015

Here are five things worth knowing today: 1. According to a survey by Boston Consulting Group and the Grocery Manufacturers Association, transportation issues are a top concern for consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, Food Production Daily reports. Driver shortages, congestion, and delays threaten delivery times, inventory management and service levels for many CPG companies, the report said. Food Production Daily has more. 2. BMW Group and Scherm Group have put a 40-ton electric truck into operation, according to VR World. VR World said that BMW and SCHERM will employ 100% electric trucks in their service, making BMW the “first automobile manufacturer in Europe to use a 40-ton electric truck for material transport on public roads.” The truck was launched at the BMW Group Plant in Munich, and has a 100% clean emission rate, according to the report. “When compared to a diesel-powered truck, the electric vehicle will save 11.8 tons of CO2 annually,” the report stated.3. Today, a Senate Commerce Committee subpanel is set to review the state of transportation technology along the nation’s supply chains, The Hill reports. According to the report, subcommittee chairman Deb Fischer noted the importance of the integration of technology with the country’s railroads, trucks, pipelines and ports when it comes to safety, efficiency and reliability. “This hearing is an important opportunity to highlight America’s leadership and review how the federal government can better keep up with technological developments,” she said, according to The Hill. 4. A Web commercial released by GM makes direct jabs at Ford’s aluminum F-150, according to USA Today. The commercial claims that after a low-speed accident, it costs an average of nearly $1,800 more and an additional 24 days to fix the F-150 over the Chevrolet Silverado, according to the report. USA Today has more about the rivalry between the two automakers.5. A new camp for Nebraska high school students hopes to inspire more women to work in the transportation industry, according to NTV ABC. Camp participants will learn about designing roads, handling water quality issues and flooding, building bridges, and syncing traffic lights, according to the report. Nebraska TV has more.

About the Author

Cristina Commendatore

Cristina Commendatore was previously the Editor-in-chief of FleetOwner magazine. She reported on the transportation industry since 2015, covering topics such as business operational challenges, driver and technician shortages, truck safety, and new vehicle technologies. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut.