Pallet Profile

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Be Ready for OSHA Visit - Aug 6, 2020
When an OSHA inspector arrives, ask about the purpose and reason for the visit. If there was an employee complaint that prompted the inspection, you have the right to review a copy of it. Find out what documents they want to review and what areas they plan to inspect.; NEWS IN BRIEF: Maine loggers worried about the industry’s ability to weather the pandemic have welcomed a federal relief bill introduced recently. more...
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ISPM-15 Compliance Raises Brexit Concerns for European Pallets Movements - Jul 31, 2020
If the European Union decides to enforce ISPM-15 certification requirements on shipments from the United Kingdom when the official break from the trade block happens in January 2021, there may not be enough ISPM-15 certified pallets to go around.; NEWS IN BRIEF: The Paul Bunyan Show is the latest trade event to be canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. OSHA has updated its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding workplace safety and addressing topics related to COVID-19. more...
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Relief Sought for Hardwood Sector - Jul 24, 2020
A letter to the House leadership from nine Congress members included a plea from Dana Cole, executive director of the Hardwood Federation. The hardwood industry has been severely affected by the double-impact of the U.S.-China trade dispute as well as the pandemic, she said.; Pallet Profile Launches New Reporting Categories: Last week the Pallet Profile has started our new pricing page structure. It now lists softwood prices by region for #3 and #4 SYP and SPF in 2x4 and 2x6 dimensions.; Forest Products Sector Concerned about H-2B Guest Worker Suspension: This limitation to augment domestic labor supply will have negative impacts on forest health and the overall forest economy according to the FRA.; NEWS IN BRIEF: If you’ve been closed because of the pandemic you and your employees may have questions about returning to work. A fire that started at a pallet company in Modesto, California, spread to vehicles at a bakery next door. The USDA-APHIS extended the comment period on the proposed implementation of revised Lacey Act provisions. President Trump signed legislation to extend the deadline for small businesses to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The American Trucking Associations issued its report on how the trucking industry fared in 2019. more...
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Northwest Pallet Rebrands as Prime360, Outlines New Data-Centric Philosophy - Jul 23, 2020
More than just a new logo and name, the new identity reflects the direction for the unified company and presents some interesting ideas for the future of pallet recycling and markets.; Pallet HR & Wage Survey Released: The full report has now been sent via e-mail to participants. If you sent in data and have not received your FREE report, please contact Chaille Brindley at chailleb@gmail.com or call our office at 804-550-0323.; Industry Events Canceled Due to Pandemic: The latest cancellations include several major trade shows: the Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo, the East Coast Sawmill and Logging Equipment Exposition, also known as the Richmond Expo, and the International Woodworking Fair.; Recycle Bits: If you’ve been closed at all because of the pandemic you and your employees may have questions about returning to work. A fire that started at a pallet company in Modesto, California, spread to vehicles at a bakery next door and caused $750,000 in damage. At the request of the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association, the USDA-APHIS extended the comment period on the proposed implementation of revised Lacey Act provisions. At the request of the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association, the USDA-APHIS extended the comment period on the proposed implementation of revised Lacey Act provisions. The American Trucking Associations issued its report on how the trucking industry fared in 2019. more...
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Northwest Pallet Rebrands as Prime360®, Outlines New Data-Centric Philosophy - Jul 17, 2020
More than just a new logo and name, the new identity reflects the direction for the unified company and presents some interesting ideas for the future of pallet recycling and markets.; Pallet Profile Launches New Reporting Categories: This is a new step forward for the Pallet Profile in meeting the growing requests of our subscribers, and our staff welcomes any feedback from our readers. Feel free to send your insights or suggestions to rick@palletprofile.com more...
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Industry Events Fall to Pandemic - Jul 10, 2020
The latest cancellations include several major trade shows: the Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo, the East Coast Sawmill and Logging Equipment Exposition, also known as the Richmond Expo, and the International Woodworking Fair.; Pallet HR & Wage Survey Released: The full report has now been sent via e-mail to participants. If you sent in data and have not received your FREE report, please contact Chaille Brindley at chailleb@gmail.com or call our office at 804-550-0323.; Trade Associations Announced PDS Licensing Agreement, Offers Preferred Pricing in Canada: With this agreement, NWPCA now has exclusive country marketing agreements with Canada, the UK, Sweden, and The Netherlands. There are PDS users in more than 30 countries.; OSHA Develops Business Re-Opening Guidelines: These suggestions are helpful for all employers to implement, even to essential businesses, such as pallet companies, that may not have undergone a work stoppage.; NEWS IN BRIEF: 48forty Solutions has been named a Green Supply Chain Partner for 2020. The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis has unveiled a plan that aims to serve as a roadmap to help the United States reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is going into effect. According to a Material Handling Institute report, the adoption rate for robotics and automation increased more than any other supply chain technology.; Quarterly Regional Lumber Trends: These graphs illustrate the average lumber prices published within each region over the past year. more...
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Survey for Proposed Pallet Profile Changes, Additions - Jun 26, 2020
We want to hear from you about the proposed changes to the report. We have included a survey in this issue that you can return via fax or mail.we are looking to add 2x4 SYP, 2x6 SYP, 2x4 SPF and 2x6 SPF for five major regions (Northeast, Midwest/Great Lakes, Eastern South, Central South and Western South.); Summer Break for Pallet Profile: The Pallet Profile staff will not be published the first week of July. We are taking off for a week to celebrate the independence day holiday, break out of self-isolation and hopefully have some fun in the sun. The next publication date will be the second week in July.; SBA Announces Easier Form for PPP Loan Forgiveness: Congress recently unveiled a new form for companies seeking forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The EZ application can be used by employers that meet specific criteria. more...
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Congress Passes PPP Reforms, Provide Flexibility for Small Businesses - Jun 23, 2020
To solve concerns that there are some areas of the small business relief program that negatively impacted companies struggling to rebound after COVID-19 shutdowns, key changes to the original PPP were made.; OSHA Develops Business Re-Opening Guidelines: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed guidelines to assist employers and workers in safely returning to work and reopening businesses. This information is intended to supplement White House and other federal agency guidance. It focuses on the need for employers to develop and implement strategies for basic hygiene, social distancing, workplace controls and and employee training.; Recycle Bits: New York Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney introduced the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020. According to National Fire Protection Association standards for combustible dust, facilities using wood-based products must have a dust hazard analysis completed by early September. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) stated that its latest Driver Compensation Study shows that driver pay has climbed as rising demand for freight transportation services has increased competition. The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for wood pallets is close to being released to the industry. iGPS Logistics, the leading plastic pallet pooler in the United States, has received awards from logistics publications. more...
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Housing Going Stronger Than Expected, Plenty of Room for Improvement - Jun 19, 2020
Home purchase applications are up 21% from this time a year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. After a two-month slowdown, price gains appear to be back to the pre-crisis trend. Buyer traffic to new homes surged in June. It was still below normal levels, but the rebound is likely to encourage builders to speed up construction. In fact, that may already be happening, given the recent uptick in building permits.; NEWS IN BRIEF: The China trade deal signed earlier this year offered a glimmer of hope to the hardwood industry, but the pandemic got in the way.Two new studies point to changes in forests because of climate change. The American Loggers Council and its affiliated state logging associations are asking Congress to support proposed economic relief for loggers and log trucking companies related to the COVID-19 pandemic. more...
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Six Pallet Trends Identified by Modern Materials Handling Magazine - Jun 12, 2020
A driver for these trends is pallet user concerns due to COVID-19 as well as sustainability and other changes in the supply chain. It isn’t clear how prevalent they are, especially for white-wood pallet customers. But these are certainly things that alternative pallet suppliers are discussing with end users.; PPP Reforms Pass, Provide Flexibility for Small Businesses: The Trump administration may push another round of business aid targeted to specific industries that are still being hampered by closure restrictions. The PPP still has more than $130 billion in loan funds that are available for any company that qualifies and has not applied.; News Brief: The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced two proposals that would expedite timber sales on federal land by reducing regulatory and environmental analysis. more...
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