IWLA Unveils Expanded Political and Government Education/Advocacy Effort

IWLA is pleased to announce the launch of an expanded political education effort by establishing the IWLA Corporate Political Education Fund (CPEF). CPEF was created to help support IWLA's advocacy efforts. IWLA recently talked to Mark DeFabis of Integrated Distribution Services about the program and its importance to all IWLA members. Mark, with Doug Sibila of Peoples Services, co-chairs IWLA’s Government Affairs Steering Committee.

Click here to read more.

Georgia Adopts IWLA Proposal to Bring Warehouse Law Into the High Tech Era

August 2, 2010 (DES PLAINES, IL) – The International Warehouse Logistics Association made more progress in its campaign to get states to adopt changes to the Uniform Commercial Code when Georgia became the latest state to do so.

The Georgia state legislature passed legislation adopting the changes, which was signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue on May 27 and went onto effect on July 1.

The UCC was established in 1952 and is one of a number of uniform acts that have been created to harmonize the law of sales and other commercial transactions in all 50 states. Article 7 of the code pertains to warehouse receipts, bills of lading and other documents of title. In 2003, IWLA began an effort to get the states to adopt a revised Article 7 that allows for many of these documents to be in electronic form.

The new Georgia law also deletes obsolete references to tariffs, classifications and regulations that no longer track modern commercial practices. In addition, it deals with permissible contractual limitations of liability; negotiation and transfer; lien of the carrier or warehousemen on the goods and right to enforce lien in a commercially reasonable manner; altered, lost and stolen instruments; and the effects on holders resulting from insolvency of the warehouse customer.

Continue reading about the IWLA's campaign here.

IWLA Slates Two C-TPAT Programs For September in Dallas and Chicago

July 21, 2010 (DES PLAINES, IL) – The International Warehouse Logistics Association will hold two educational programs this September in Dallas and Chicago on how third-party logistics providers can implement the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).

Titled "C-TPAT Implementation for Third-Party Logistics Providers: A Primer," will provide attendees with the knowledge they need to land and manage business that requires expertise in handling international goods. The program will prepare third-party logistics providers for enrollment in C-TPAT, teach how to maintain best practices across their supply chains, and to prepare for U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) validation at both domestic and non-domestic facilities.

Attendees will receive an electronic handout detailing the CBP C-TPAT program and all supporting CBP documentation related to eligibility and program enrollment. In addition, a Best Practices Manual and a Risk Assessment Scoring Matrix that can be used to document security across the entire supply chain will be provided.

The program agenda includes a C-TPAT overview and background information, including review of the different enrollment categories; 3PL provider definition and eligibility requirements, including how to manage cargo in the international supply chain; the steps to take for enrollment into C-TPAT; validation procedures and how to prepare for validation; and how to make the most effective use of the Best Practices Handbook.

Program leaders are Curtis D. Spencer, President, and Steve Schellenberg, Vice President of Business Development, for IMS Worldwide, Houston. Mr. Spencer is a nationally-recognized expert on logistics and intermodal shipping trends, ports, inland ports and rail-served logistics centers; foreign-trade zones; and all aspects of CBP issues and compliance. He served for four years on the Advisory Committee on Customs Operations authorized by Congress.

With a 20-year career in supply chain management, Mr. Schellenberg’s experience includes managing all aspects of automotive supply chains, global distribution and third-party logistics. He has extensive experience in the North America Free Trade Agreement trading regions and has managed air cargo, freight forwarding, ocean and truck transportation, and air charter operations.

The first program will be held on September 8, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Westin Park Central Hotel in Dallas, immediately prior to the Texas Warehouse Association annual meeting. The cost is $275 for members of IWLA and TWA, and $375 for non-members.

The second program will be held September 23, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Hyatt Rosemont Hotel near Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The cost is $375 for IWLA members and $475 for non-members, and includes lunch.

For additional details about the course program hotel room rates and how to register, visit the IWLA website at: http://www.iwla.com/events/CalDetails.aspx?id=279

For more information, contact Cathy Heyderman, IWLA Education Coordinator, at 847-813-4699, ext. 230; or via email at cheyderman@iwla.com.

IWLA Sales & Marketing Workshop Shows How Your Entire Organization Can Be a Profit-Generating Dynamo

June 7, 2010 (DES PLAINES, IL) – The International Warehouse Logistics Association’s 2010 Sales & Marketing Workshop will teach you how to turn everyone in your organization into members of a team that helps differentiate your firm from competitors through development of excellence in sales and service.

As a commercial warehouse and third-party logistics provider – or as a supplier servicing to the logistics industry – the last thing you want is for your prospective customers to think of your service offerings as commodities. To avoid this fate, you need to differentiate your services in the market from your competitors, and that starts with strategic approach to sales.

Who actually generates more growth for your company – the CEO, the sales team, the operations team or the customer? The answer is that all of them do. The IWLA annual Sales & Marketing Workshop will focus on the fundamentals of developing the strategic planning and selling skills of all the key business leaders in your company.

Among the topics covered will be the key strategic questions every organization, division or business unit must answer and finishes with practical tactics to execute a successful business building strategy. You will learn how to teach employees throughout your operation the five crucial steps to successful selling – whether they are selling an idea, a service or themselves.

“Successful sellers inspire trust and confidence in the customers with whom they interact, and by extension, in their organization,” said IWLA President Joel Anderson. “People who continually create positive experiences for their customers are powerful generators of new business and barriers to attrition. Leaders and managers in sales, operations, and the executive suite will leave the workshop with a framework to create the organizational DNA for a customer-focused, growth-minded business.”

The workshop leaders are consultants Verinder Syal and Nancy Olive, principals with Chicago-based Syal Consult, who have actual experience running companies and delivering results in Blue Chip companies such as Procter & Gamble, Frito-Lay and Quaker Oats, as well as in start-ups, LBOs and turnarounds. This includes extensive experience in the third-party logistics market.

Among the guest speakers will be Susan Promane, Supply Chain Director of Whirlpool Canada, who offers the perspective of someone who has worked both sides of the fence as a 3PL sales and customer service International Warehouse Logistics Association 2800 River Road, Suite 260 • Des Plaines, IL 60018-6003 Phone 847.813.4699 • Fax 847.813.0115 www.iwla.com
executive and now as a significant buyer of 3PL services. He experience includes working in sales at CN Rail, Tibbett & Britten Group, Skulogix and Meridien IQ. Titled “Sales & Marketing Strategies for Operations & Sales Leaders,” the two-day workshop will be held July 14-15 at the Rosemont Hyatt in Rosemont (Chicago), IL. Certified Logistics Professional credit is available for attendees. Class size is limited, so make sure to register early.

For details on registration fees and the course program, visit http://www.iwla.com/Events/CalDetails.aspx?Page=Home&id=272 on the Web. For more information, contact Cathy Heyderman, IWLA Education Coordinator, at 847-813-4699, ext. 230; or via email at cheyderman@iwla.com.

{to view entire press release, please click here}

Global Logistics: IWLA Concerned About Teamsters

Source: Logistics Management

By: Patrick Burnson, Executive Editor
May 25, 2010

"OAKLAND—The International Warehouse Logistics Association is urging Congress to reject legislative language that would weaken federal preemption of state and local regulation of trucking in the nation’s ports because it is a backdoor attempt to drive independent owner-operator truckers out of business at those locations – including at the Port of Oakland.

In a recent letter to Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chairman, and John J. Duncan Jr. (R-TN), ranking minority member of the House on Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, IWLA President Joel D. Anderson said proposed amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act would undermine federal preemption by allowing local governments to regulate port trucking when it comes to address environmental and port security matters.

“The proposed amendments are not really about environmental and security concerns at the nation’s ports,” Anderson said in his letter. “They are an attempt to gain through legislation what the courts have found to be unlawful: local regulation of truck drayage services at the nation’s ports. Specifically, the proposed amendments are designed to allow the ports to ban independent owner-operators in favor of employee drivers.”

Current federal law preempts state and local regulation of trucking in interstate and foreign commerce except in regard to safety. The proposed amendments would undermine federal preemption by granting local governments the authority to regulate the port trucking industry to address environmental and port security matters.

Proponents of the amendment improperly characterize the need for change as necessary to improve air quality and port security. Several major U.S. ports, including the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Seattle, have already initiated very successful Clean Truck Programs, Anderson pointed out to the subcommittee leaders. He cited the example of the California Air Resources Board which, in conjunction with the South Coast Air Quality Management District, implemented a clean trucks program that led to an estimated 80 percent reduction in diesel emissions two years ahead of its target date.

“This occurred without changing federal law,” Anderson noted. “This and similar efforts underway at other major U.S. ports demonstrate that it is not necessary to rewrite longstanding federal trucking laws to accomplish significant environmental improvements in port areas.”

IWLA Appoints Camille Golden Marketing & Communications Coordinator

April 26, 2010 (Des Plaines, IL) – The International Warehouse Logistics Association appointed Camille Golden to the newly-created position of Marketing & Communications Coordinator.

In her new position, Ms. Golden is responsible for developing and implementing IWLA’s marketing and communications activities. Her duties include providing weekly updates to the IWLA website, producing and distributing the weekly electronic newsletter, This Week @ IWLA, and coordinating marketing materials.

“Camille Golden brings just the right skill set and experience to strengthen our communication capabilities,” said Joel D. Anderson, IWLA president and CEO. “In her new post she will be able to improve communications about the association’s advocacy initiatives and educational and other services to IWLA members and prospective members in the commercial warehouse and third-party logistics industry.”

Before joining IWLA, Ms. Golden worked for the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect as International Events and Communications Coordinator. Ms. Golden holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Theater Arts from Western Illinois University, Macomb.

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Since 1891, the International Warehouse Logistics Association has been defining the standards of excellence in warehousing and logistics outsourcing. IWLA promotes the growth and success of third-party logistics companies by providing its more than 500 member companies with resources, information, education and professional programs designed to advance their businesses and provide greater value to their customers. For more information, visit IWLA.

Kenco Logistic Services' CEO Gary L. Mayfield elected International Warehouse Logistics Association chair

Among Mayfield's top priorities as chair will be membership recruitment and retention, and improving communication of IWLA's government affairs activities at the federal and state levels.

Modern Materials Handling Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 4/9/2010

Kenco Logistic Services, one of the most respected names in the third-party logistics (3PL) industry, has announced the election of Gary L. Mayfield, CEO, to the post of chairman of the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA).

"I am honored and delighted to have been selected to lead this great organization for the next year," Mayfield said. He brings strong experience to IWLA. Since joining Kenco as CEO in 1999, the company has experienced double-digit growth and is now one of the largest family-owned and privately-held 3PL solutions provider in the United States. Kenco serves more than 200 clients in 31 states and Canada, with 100 facilities and 25 million square feet of warehouse space. The company's core capabilities are warehousing and distribution, transportation management, materials handling equipment, assembly, cartoning, labeling, reverse logistics, packaging, engineering services, metal cutting, fabricating and project management.

Mayfield's expertise in warehousing, transportation and value-added services is founded on more than 30 years of supply chain experience with 3PLs and manufacturing companies.

"The momentum for IWLA has been really building each year with Jere Van Puffelen and previous chairmen steadying the ship and getting it moving in the right direction," Mayfield said. His top priorities as IWLA chairman will be increasing membership recruitment and retention; getting members more involved in the association-including associate members; and improving communication of IWLA's government affairs activities at the federal and state levels, as well as its educational, product and service opportunities.

In addition to IWLA, Mayfield is an active member of the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) and Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP).

IWLA Opposes Placing Freight Transportation Under CARB Cap

Contact: Patty Senecal, IWLA California Government Affairs, (310) 678-7782; or Joel Anderson, IWLA President & CEO, (847) 813-4699

IWLA Opposes Placing Freight Transportation Under CARB Cap

January 13, 2010 (Des Plaines, IL) – The International Warehouse Logistics Association told the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that a draft cap-and-trade regulation that places freight transportation under the cap would devastate the state’s economy at a time when it can least afford it.

IWLA specifically opposes placing freight transportation fuels under a declining cap and adopting a state-only low carbon fuel standard as part of the state’s Scoping Plan regulations, which are intended to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The cumulative state plan places significant increases on fuel, electricity and vehicle prices and has no impact on global greenhouse gas emissions.

The proposed CARB rules would raise state diesel fuel prices 40 to 60 cents per gallon and regulate heavy-duty truck trailers for aerodynamic efficiencies, IWLA noted. The rules also would boost utility rates 30% to 45% including the assessment on utility providers, with up to an $82 million allowance liability due every three years. Each in-state refiner would be hit with an average $150 million allowance liability every three years and offsets would be limited to 4%, severely limiting the ability of utility and diesel fuel providers to reduce their compliance costs.

“The cumulative impact will be substantial job losses, the relocation of distribution centers from California to other states and an increase in miles traveled by heavy-duty trucks into California from bordering states,” said IWLA President and CEO Joel Anderson. “The irony is that the proposed rules will result in a negative environmental impact because the added transportation miles will create an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.”

IWLA urged CARB to instead focus on the most cost-effective carbon reduction strategies first, and push back the requirements that are not cost effective to 2020 and expand offsets from 4% to at least 25%.

Anderson also said IWLA supports the adoption of a low carbon fuel standard for California when the technology exists, is appropriately tested in in-use vehicles, is commercially viable, and when the regulation is adopted by all of the Western States. Click here to see the letter filed by the Western States Goods Movement Alliance.

IWLA chief unfazed by recession's challenges

A slumping economy didn't stop Joel Anderson from boosting the group's membership, finances in 2009. Now, he's looking to build on that success.

The conventional wisdom says that an economic slump is no time to try to build up a trade association's membership or launch a series of bold new initiatives. But apparently Joel D. Anderson either never got the word or chose to ignore it. Since taking the reins of the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) three years ago, Anderson has worked steadily to inject a new sense of purpose into the venerable organization. He has revitalized IWLA's government affairs program, expanded its education offerings, and—perhaps most impressive of all—implemented a membership recruitment and retention program that led to positive financial growth in 2009.

Anderson, who serves as the group's president and chief executive officer, has long experience in the association world. Prior to joining IWLA, he spent 28 years with the California Trucking Association (CTA), the last 13 as executive vice president and CEO. Before joining CTA, Anderson was an economist with the California Public Utilities Commission. He has a community college teaching credential in marketing and distribution, and has served on state and national panels on transportation, goods movement, and mobility.

Anderson spoke recently with DC Velocity Group Editorial Director Mitch Mac Donald about the challenges facing IWLA's members, the shifting regulatory winds, and what shippers might not know about 3PL services.

Q: Could you start by telling us a little bit about your background and how you came to be where you are today?
A: I graduated from UCLA in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in economics and then went to work as an economist for the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulated trucking in those days. I spent six or seven years with them, participating in rate-making and regulatory proceedings. At one of those proceedings, the head of the California Trucking Association's research department saw me in action. He offered me a job with the group, which I accepted.

I started out in the research department, and 15 years later, wound up running the whole organization. During my time there, I grew the finances and grew the membership in a trial-and-error way. I learned through the process how to run a pretty good government affairs shop and a pretty focused industry association.

I took a medical retirement in July 2005 when I had surgery for cancer. Afterwards, while I was sitting around trying to decide what to do next, I put my resume on the American Society of Association Executives' Web site, and it just so happened that IWLA was searching for a new president and CEO at that time. The search firm picked up my resume. I went through the process, got interviewed, and then received an offer to come here.

I started with IWLA in April 2006. In the first year, we grew a little bit, and in the second year, 2007, we grew substantially. 2008 was a retrenchment year—a time for realigning, refocusing, and restructuring the organization. In 2009, we began growing again, so I feel real good about the changes we made in 2008 to give us a better foundation to build on.

Q: Who are IWLA's members?
A: I would say that facility-based third-party logistics service providers are the core of our membership. They range from the company that operates a single 50,000-square-foot warehouse all the way up to industry heavyweights like UPS Supply Chain Solutions.

Over the years, our members have gotten more and more involved in value-added services, so that the warehouse is not just a static facility that is racking goods, but an operation that handles all kinds of subassembly, kitting, packing, and order fulfillment tasks. I just toured a warehouse in Indiana where I'd say at least 15 percent of the square footage was devoted to conveyor racks, assembly lines, and Internet order fulfillment—you know, something you would not have seen 15 years ago.

Q: What are the key challenges your members face today, and what is IWLA doing to help them in that regard?
A: There are several issues. One is a concern that probably wasn't on the radar screen with any frequency two years ago but in today's business climate, has become a growing problem for our members—the creditworthiness of their customers, the shippers or beneficial owners of the goods stored in the warehouse. We're seeing more problems with late payments and sometimes bankruptcies. So, we're getting more questions from members about the warehouse lien. Specifically, they want to know about the proper documentation and execution of the warehouse lien to protect their interests if, in fact, a customer goes into bankruptcy.

We're also getting more questions in these tough times on how to market: how to get your name out there, how to build your brand, how to take advantage of social media to market your services, and how to differentiate yourself in the marketplace.

We've done a number of things in response to those questions. For one thing, we developed the Logistics Services Locator (LSL), a free search engine that lets customers search for an IWLA member by location, company, keyword, and so on. We put a lot of effort into that and advertise it to the shipping community.

I also have developed a relationship with a consultant who specializes in 3PL marketing, Chip Scholes. He has made himself available to our members for help developing their marketing campaigns.

Basically, we're trying to help our members understand that in order to market their services successfully, they first have to sit down and analyze who they are and what they do better than anybody else. When times were good, people forgot that because freight came their way. But now, you'd better be able to deliver a clear message about who you are, what you bring, and why people should do business with you.

Q: What else do you offer in the way of member support?
A. We also offer training and education. Our education programs focus on ways to make your company more profitable. We have seven live classes every year plus webinars—all C-level oriented.

In addition, we have really ramped up our government affairs and advocacy work. We feel that the days of deregulation are over. If the government is going to look at more aggressively or intrusively regulating the supply chain, we want to be there to try to make sure those regulations working their way through Congress and regulatory agencies won't negatively affect trade and commerce.

Q: What does the future hold for your members—both in the near term and the long term?
A: It looks like people are starting to move inventories. You know, our industry totally relies on consumer behavior. The long and short of it is, if consumers buy, our people do well. If consumers don't buy, our people don't do well because it is velocity through the warehouse where our guys and gals make the money. I mean, storage is nice, but it's their move into value-added services that has significantly increased our members' role in the supply chain, and that is influenced by consumer behavior.

To a great extent, two items affect the long-term profitability of our members. One is regulations on international trade and commerce. In other words, how free is free trade? If international trade can flow freely, then we have an opportunity to be real creative in helping our manufacturers and shippers outsource, resource, insource—you know, whatever it takes to get the right amount of the right product to the right customer on time. Number two is encouraging our consumers to buy things. Almost everything else is secondary to that because if consumers are going to buy, then freight is going to move and we are going to have an opportunity to make money.

Q: What advice would you give a young person who's interested in pursuing a career in the logistics profession?
A: I'd tell them it's all about following up and following through. Do what you say you're going to do and then let people know you did it. Reliability is probably the number one thing in success because reliability builds trust.

Q: Recognizing that a lot of our readers are customers of your members, is there anything else you'd like to share with them?
A: I think the major point I'd like to make to your readers is how inventive and creative today's 3PL is, so that if they haven't looked at that—at letting that 3PL at least examine their supply chain for ways to reduce costs and boost order fulfillment performance—they should, because the entrepreneurs in our business are incredibly creative. That is what is so thrilling about being in this business. The people doing supply chain fulfillment now are just so incredibly, incredibly creative. The way they are using technology, the way they are managing their work force. It is just fun to watch. So if they haven't tried it, I would suggest your readers put a toe in the water and give it a try. I think they will be very impressed with the results.

Q & A with 2010 IWLA Annual Convention Panelists Ann Christopher and Eric Little

The 119th IWLA Annual Convention will be held March 7‐9, 2010 at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. One of the panels at the event, Key Elements of Your Insurance Program: Don’t Leave Yourself Exposed, will be presented by IWLA members Ann Christopher, CLP, VP & General Counsel, Kenco Logistic Services; and Eric Little, CPCU, VP, Corporate Risk Management. This session will address key elements of the risk management process and how 3PL insurance coverage responds to actual needs. Session attendees will gain a better understanding as to how operational practices can affect premium costs. They will also learn about costly assumptions and misconceptions regarding insurance as they pertain to the 3PL industry, including basic coverage exclusions and loopholes.

In her capacity at Kenco, Ann Christopher is responsible for managing Kenco’s legal affairs including: contract development, real estate lease negotiation, claims review, customer bankruptcy and employment law issues. Prior to coming to Kenco, Ann served as Vice President and General Counsel for the International Warehouse Logistics Association, where she provided legal support to 3PLs across the United States and Canada. She also has had government experience having served with the Environmental Protection Agency on a joint federal/state detail targeting environmental criminal enforcement and clerking for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Lands Division while in law school.

Eric Little is currently serving as Vice President of Corporate Risk Management, an insurance consulting firm located in Charlotte, NC. Established in 1978, Corporate Risk Management has been providing risk management consulting services to the warehousing, logistics and transportation industries throughout its 30‐year history. Eric joined Corporate Risk Management in 1999 and is currently one of the senior account executives responsible for managing half of the firm’s client list. Eric’s duties involve daily client interaction discussing their risk management issues, as well as, providing services that include renewal negotiations and program placement, renewal bid coordination, insurance policy audits, contract review, and claims evaluation and review.

IWLA recently asked Ann and Eric to provide insights into their panel:

Q ‐ Please share with IWLA members a little about the material you will be presenting at the Annual Convention.

A ‐ Our presentation will consist of a complete overview of risk management. We will explain what 3PLs need to look for when evaluating insurance policies, what to look for in policy exclusions, and what factors are taken into consideration by underwriters when calculating premiums. We will also discuss factors that cause premiums to take on additional pricing. ....

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IWLA is the unified voice of the value-added warehousing and logistics industry. With over 500 member companies, we are able to represent the best products and top-notch services. If you are searching for 3rd party logistics warehousing and logistics services, the IWLA Logistics Services Locator (LSL) is the your solution. Find the warehouse locator on our site.