What is Responsible Care®?

According to their website, Responsible Care® is the chemical manufacturing industry’s environmental, health, safety and security performance initiative. It is an international improvement initiative of the chemical industry. Companies of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) carry out Responsible Care®. Choosing a 3PL that is part of the Responsible Care® program can be a benefit to your company, especially when shipping chemicals.

Why is it beneficial to choose a 3PL that is Responsible Care® certified?

Working with a Responsible Care® certified broker holds many advantages for your company. The 3PL will:

As of 2018, there are only 103 Responsible Care® Partner companies.

Only 24 of those are 3PLs.

How does Trinity Logistics use Responsible Care® when arranging chemical shipping?

Trinity Logistics has been Responsible Care® certified since 2009. Unlike most brokers, we carry Pollution Liability coverage. We chose to carry such insurance with Environmental, Health, Safety, and Security (EHS&S) in mind. Spills happen and need to be remedied immediately. Pollution Liability covers costs associated with pollution clean-up, and liability claims for pollution-related injuries, illnesses or death.

Our main goal as a company is continuous improvement. To do better today than we did yesterday. We do this by selecting approved carriers given the information our customers provide regarding their chemical shipment.

Trinity Team Members mitigate risk to our customers and carriers through carrier vetting and thorough communication.

Carrier vetting

Carrier vetting avoids the selection of carriers not approved for particular shipments. Doing so reduces the risk for the loss of containment.

Only trained Team Members can select approved carriers for hazardous shipments. Required training takes place each year for those Team Members involved. This annual training keeps those Team Members up to date with any regulations or process changes regarding hazmat certification. Operating procedures are in place for shipments that need specific certifications, such as hazmat or Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT).

We have an entire team dedicated to vetting motor carriers. Our Carrier Relations & Development Team must verify the motor carrier’s operating authority, insurance, certifications, etc. before the carrier may be added in our database as an “approved” carrier.

Operations training

Our onboarding for new Team Members is extensive. Ongoing training is required to maintain the knowledge needed by a Team Member.

Trinity has a complete program to manage its process with chemical transportation. This includes compliance with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements using system wide operating procedures.

Operations Team Members have a role in the sharing of this information. Team Members make sure information is correct and meets standards with our customers. They create shipping documents and communicate that information with the drivers. Communication is the most important part of process safety and is kept open with our customers, carriers, and our Compliance Team.

Outside of Arranging Chemical Shipping

Responsible Care® is much more than preventing and taking care of chemical spills. Responsible Care® is all about sustainability; how we take care of this earth now, so it is still here in the future.

Trinity has Responsible Care® rooted in its company culture. It is a green, environmentally friendly way of life that we have taken ahold of.

As stated by our point person for our Responsible Care® Management System,

“Trinity’s purpose is to “continually improve people’s lives by constantly striving to be our best”. Implementing the Responsible Care® Management System, RCMS, drove greater visibility and accountability. It became an integral part of our daily operations. Having this system in place allows us to reduce risk and strive towards a sustainable future.”

Examples of our Responsible Care® initiatives at our offices include:

We perform regular checks on our environmental, health, safety, and security performances. We then measure and define our improvement objectives.

Trinity Logistics upholds Responsible Care to keep all of our stakeholders safe. This includes our customers, carriers, Team Members, and our community.

Discover how our chemical customer, Albaugh, came to chose Trinity Logistics as their one source logistics provider in our case study.

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Read more about what goes into shipping chemicals safely in our blog post, Chemical Shipping and Storage: What You Need to Know.

If you’re ready to work with a transportation provider that is Responsible when shipping chemicals, click the link to get started. Request A Quote

Originally posted February 3, 2020. Updated July 14, 2020 by Christine Griffith

Your job as a motor carrier is already tough. So why do all your work alone? Working alongside a third-party logistics company (3PL) can offer many benefits to you as a motor carrier.

Quickpay Options

You don’t want to wait for your money for your work, nor do you want to pay an arm and a leg for it. We offer you Quickpay options at reasonable rates, so you can have your pay in your account quick and at little cost to you.

Stay Up-To-Date On Regulations

The transportation industry is always changing. Working with a 3PL gives you a benefit because you will be kept in the know of upcoming industry changes or trends. You can count on them to let you know if you need to update something to keep hauling with them, which can help keep you hauling a lot more loads.

Recognition And Awards

Working on your own has its own perks but giving a pat on your own back is not quite as satisfying as someone else recognizing your hard work and dedication. At Trinity Logistics, we want you to feel appreciated. Annual Top 100 Carrier Awards, Monthly New Carrier Relationship Awards, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week events, and Woman Truck Driver of the Quarter Awards are some of the things we do to say THANK YOU.

Gain Access To Their Technology

Technology drives efficiency, but it is also expensive. You can gain access to a 3PL’s technology on their shipments, driving efficiency in your own work without the extra cost. For example, when hauling a shipment with Trinity, you are given the option of using Trucker Tools or Four Kites for tracking and tracing on your shipments. How does this help you? Real-time updates and estimated time of arrival means you receive less check-in calls and emails. This gives your drivers less stress over the check-ins and more focus on the task at hand; driving to the destination safely.

Relationships

You want to be more than a number or another driver to whom you’re hauling for. Trinity Logistics’ tagline is “People-Centric Freight Solutions” because the company is built on people and its relationships. When signing up to be part of our carrier network, you are signing up for the opportunity to a new relationship. As you work with us, you will build a relationship with one of our Logistics Specialists. This means you’ll work alongside someone who will ask how your day is, how your family is doing, and be understanding when those tough times happen. We work with you to match your unique needs and get you where you need to go, especially if that haul is back to your home.

Open Up Doors

New business or certain lanes can be hard to find. Working with a 3PL can open up the doors to that new business or lane you are looking for. Since 3PLs have many customer relationships, they can help you find opportunities with a larger shippers’ freight or a specific lane you’ve been wanting to travel. You can have the work you are looking for ready and available to you.

One of the best upcoming events to learn more about your available benefits when working with a 3PL is the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky from March 26-28th. Three full days of networking, education, demonstrations, and technology geared towards motor carriers. You can connect with Trinity Logistics at booth #620296 at MATS to learn more about the benefits you can gain with us. We’ll also be exhibiting at the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel held by Women In Trucking during MATS. You can find us at booth #304 at the even from 4-6pm March 27th.

Our carrier network means a lot to us, because our carriers are our customers, too.

Join our carrier network

 

AUTHOR: Christine Griffith

Organic produce consumption is on the rise, which means so is organic produce shipping. According to a 2017 report done by the Organic Trade Association, organic food sales increased by 8.4 percent in 2016. Produce continues to be the largest organic food category, with a 5.3 percent growth in 2017. Fresh produce accounts for 90 percent of the organic produce sales. With more focus on healthy living, consumers want more foods that are free of toxic or synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors.

Organic produce may come with less unwanted elements, but the trade-off is that it comes with more rules and time sensitivity. Since organic produce is more perishable and has a shorter shelf life, transportation needs to be fast. Nor can there be any break in the cold chain link due to the perishability. Some of the extra steps that have to happen in the transportation process include:

The goal in the transportation process is to make sure the organic certification is not sabotaged from pick up to delivery. The USDA organic certification process is thorough so consumers can trust the product is truly organic. No one wants to pay the price for an organic item for it to be falsely advertised. Nor does the producer want to lose the organic certification on a product due to a disruption in the transportation process.

Shipping temperature-sensitive items? Check out our Temperature Shipping Guide.

Shipping organic food needs experts who use creative problem-solving skills, have great customer service, and stay up-to-date with regulations. Third-party logistics brokers are a great partner to consider when shipping organic produce. They are flexible and accustomed to solving problems quickly. They are experienced with logistic challenges for a range of customers and industries. Using a 3PL provides you access to their large carrier base, rather than having to search for one yourself. Often these carriers are thoroughly vetted and experienced in specific niches. By using a 3PL, shippers can also gain access to their cutting-edge technology, such as a Transportation Management System. This offers the visibility and monitoring required from pick up to delivery of organic produce. Working with a 3PL offers cold storage warehouse solutions to be available and arranged.

One of the best places to learn more about transparent partnerships when it comes to moving organic produce all over the world is at the Global Organic Produce Expo in Hollywood, Florida, January 28-30th, 2021.  Trinity Logistics, a Burris Logistics company, often exhibits at the expo.  Keep an eye out about our attendance at the expo this year, so we can talk with you in person about your possible freight solutions.

With shipping organic produce and all the regulations that come with it, you must have commitment and a passion for it. Consider choosing a partner who is just as committed to your business needs in shipping organic produce. Trinity Logistics has been in business for over 40 years and has the knowledge and passion for arranging freight of all sorts. Click below to request a quote with Trinity Logistics.

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AUTHOR: Christine Griffith

Years ago, national brands were the top dogs of the retail world. Buying private label, or store brand products, was looked upon as cheap quality and only bought during hard times. Today, consumer spending has changed, allowing for growth in the private label business. According to the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), 25 percent of products bought now are private label. This shows a growth of over four percent from 2018. In a 2019 survey ran by PLMA, two-thirds of the respondents said that store brand products bought are just as good, if not better, than the national brand of the same product. With private label products equal to national branded products, and at a cheaper price tag, they are saving the consumer money.

Save Money While Growing

Choosing private label products, on average, saves the consumer about 35 percent off their grocery bill. Additionally, private label products saves the store money as well. Private labels come with lower marketing costs since the retail store only has to promote their brand, instead of many national branded products. They keep the consumers coming back to that one retailer, since they are privately owned by them. With everything now available at the click of a button, private label products keep the consumers dedicated and in house.

As private labels become more popular, retailers are looking for more innovative and unique products to add to their brand. Currently, items on trend are:

The PLMA Trade Show in Rosemont, IL is the best place for retail companies to look for new items. More than 1,500 companies from over 55 countries were there to exhibit their products November 17-19. Ultimately, the companies exhibiting, and attending were all looking for one thing: growth in their business. With that comes a lot of stressors, and shipping hassles should not be one of those.

How We Can Help You

Trinity Logistics, a Burris Logistics company, has the resources to take that weight off your company’s shoulders when it comes to their shipping and logistics needs. We want to simplify your day to day shipping struggles by providing on time delivery, exceptional service, and relationships, built on a first name basis. We offer many modes of transportation services including, dry and temperature-controlled truckload, less-than-truckload, warehousing, expedited, and intermodal. See what one of our customers, Baumer Foods, has to say about doing business with us:

“Baumer Foods has been working with Trinity Logistics for over 15 years. Throughout the years we have developed a very strong relationship with Trinity.  Hurricane Katrina destroyed Baumer Foods manufacturing plant and offices, Trinity Logistics was a tremendous help in our logistics as we were rebuilding.  Trinity Logistics is a very reliable and trustworthy company.  They always have their customer’s best interest with on time and damage free deliveries.  If a problem arises, they give immediate attention.  Trinity’s customer service representatives give 150%, always going above and beyond.  I would recommend Trinity Logistics to anyone that needs a reliable company to handle their freight.”

-Nikki Cook, Baumer Foods

Trinity exhibited at the PLMA Private Label Trade Show and enjoyed talking with companies in the private label sector about how we can be a resource in their company’s growth. We look forward to exhibiting again next year! Don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn where you can be kept up-to-date about our presence at upcoming industry trade shows.

Contact us for more information about reducing your shipping struggles with Trinity Logistics.

Request A Quote

AUTHOR: Christine Griffith

The Produce Marketing Association is holding their annual PMA Fresh Summit Convention and Expo on October 17-19, 2019 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim California. At PMA Fresh Summit over 20,000 professionals will gather to network, showcase new products throughout the expo, and stay up to date on produce industry trends. Along with these opportunities, attendees have the opportunity to hear famous people such as Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec, and Queen Latifah speak on their success. Over 1200 global grower-shippers, suppliers and manufacturers of packaging, equipment, transportation, and technology services will be exhibiting. If you are looking for seamless end-to-end supply chain management solutions, Trinity’s Team will be there and ready to start the conversation.

PMA marks the first of many trade shows and conferences that Trinity and Burris Logistics will be exhibiting together. Both Burris and Trinity are united to maximize opportunities offering customers more end-to-end Supply Chain solutions. We offer dry and temperature-controlled truckload, intermodal, port drayage, and warehousing solutions for over 750 food manufacturing companies all over the country. Additionally, we offer a national network of carrier and agent relationships to ensure a seamless experience and Supply Chain solution.

We are looking forward to hearing from Thought Leaders in the produce industry and networking with customers to understand their needs and generate creative logistics solutions. Stop by Trinity’s booth #2061 and Burris Logistics’ booth #3010, to learn more about our many cold-chain solutions.