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What’s the True Cost of Pallet Logistics? CHEP Issues Letter to Recyclers Changing ARP Rates and Policies - May 31, 2019
At a time when most costs are rising for labor, warehouse space, trailers, trucks and even fuel in some regions, it is interesting that CHEP is reducing its ARP. CHEP did not state the reason for its move in its letter to recyclers.; While Minimum Wage Debate Goes on in Washington, 21 States Plus D.C. Go Ahead and Raise Their Base Wages: The legislation, if passed, would gradually raise the federal minimum hourly wage from $7.25 to $15 through 2024, but many states aren’t waiting around to see what happens. more...
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What’s the True Cost of Pallet Logistics? CHEP Issues Letter to Recyclers Changing ARP Rates and Policies - May 24, 2019
CHEP’s recent ARP letter further clarifies that its pallets cannot be bought, sold, exchanged, modified or destroyed. CHEP did not state the reason for its move in its letter to recyclers.; USA Reaches Deal with Canada and Mexico to Lift Retaliatory Tariffs: The tariff repeal is good news for Mid-Continent Steel and Wire, the nation’s largest nail manufacturer. Mid-Continent sources its raw wire rod from its parent-company, Deacero, headquartered in Mexico.; March Housing Information: In the majority of categories, housing continues to be substantially less than its historical averages. The single family housing construction sector is where the majority of value-added forest products are utilized.; News Briefs: A five-alarm fire burned a pallet yard at Central Pallets in Stockton, California. Two separate reports confirm a softening in the trucking market. more...
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EPD Deadline Approaches – Your Industry Needs Your Help - May 17, 2019
The comprehensive Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) survey being conducted by The Pallet Foundation in conjunction with researchers from the U.S. Forest Service this is not just another survey; it is a critical tool to help the wooden pallet sector support key environmental claims with hard data.; China Announces Retaliatory Tariff Increases: One piece of good news is that China’s State Council recently announced a process in which certain U.S. products impacted by retaliatory tariffs, including U.S. hardwoods, can be considered for exclusion from the tariffs by the Chinese government. more...
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U.S. China Trade Dispute Heats Up - May 10, 2019
The Trump administration has confirmed that existing tariffs will jump from 10% to 25%. China indicated later this week that it will respond with tariff increases of its own. These are expected to impact U.S. hardwood exports, which could further depress demand and cause economic hardships for the U.S. hardwood sector.; Forest Product Association Seeks New Truck Weight Limits: AFPA contends that its proposal is safer than what is currently on interstates while taking into account growing truck traffic and industry needs.; Keep Employees Safe When They Must Work in Hot Conditions: Thousands of workers in the U.S. die or become ill from working in extreme heat or humid conditions each year.; News Briefs: The U.S. Forest Service is proceeding with its plans to sell 225 million board feet of old growth timber in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. The American Forest & Paper Association (AFPA) issued a press release on Earth Day. more...
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Progress in the Works for China Trade Issue, Fate of USMCA Uncertain - May 3, 2019
The Hardwood Federation has confirmed that hardwood and wood products continue to be included in the agriculture discussions, although details remain fluid.; U.S. Forests Are Healthy But at Risk to Wildfires, Harvesting Takes Place on Only 2% of Available Land: According a the report, the industry accounts for approximately 4% of the nation’s total manufacturing GDP, producing over $200 billion in products every year.; News Briefs: Pending sales of previously owned U.S. homes jumped by 3.8% in March. More than 80 commercial exhibitors are expected to participate in the Forest Product Equipment and Technology Exposition on June 7 and 8. more...
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Brambles Touts Sustainability Track Record, Recognized as Corporate Leader - Apr 30, 2019
The good news is that pallet recycling and reuse is a good story to tell. Brambles, the parent company behind CHEP, has taken this initiative to a whole new level. The company was recently named the second most sustainable company in the world by Barrons magazine.; Recycle Bits: A recent six-alarm fire at a pallet and lumber business in Stockton, California is under investigation. The demand for trucking services, softened the first quarter of 2019. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is currently working on a rulemaking that may define biomass as carbon neutral. more...
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Canada to Appeal WTO Softwood Ruling - Apr 26, 2019
The WTO has ruled more than 20 times that zeroing, a method of calculating and applying artificially high and unfair duty rates, is inconsistent with WTO rules.; Self-Driving Trucks: Fact vs. Fiction: self-driving trucks are here to stay. But what kind of impact will they have on the trucking industry in the near future?; News Briefs: In the first quarter of 2019, softwood grade lumber prices in North America have continued to drop at a much faster rate than log prices. A recent six-alarm fire at a pallet and lumber business in Stockton, California is under investigation. The demand for trucking services, which was historically high in 2018, softened the first quarter of 2019. more...
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Brambles Releases Third Quarter Update, CHEP Americas Revenues Increase - Apr 19, 2019
CHEP has been successful pushing through price increases to offset higher production and lumber costs. In Europe, sales revenue grew by 8% led by net new business wins and price increases across the region.: New Alcohol and Drug Database May Worsen Truck Driver Shortage: The shortage is expected to worsen in the beginning in January 2020, but further down the road, some other changes are in the works that could potentially ease the shortage.; News Briefs: Georgia-Pacific has announced that it will close its Coos Bay lumber mill in Oregon and lay off all 111 workers. more...
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WTO Panel Issues Decision in Softwood Lumber Dispute Methodology - Apr 12, 2019
The WTO dispute settlement panel issued a split decision, but the biggest win went to the United States, as the panel upheld the use of a controversial anti-dumping calculation method called “zeroing."; Debate Continues in Washington as Some States and D.C. Raise Their Base Wages: The legislation, if passed, would gradually raise the federal minimum hourly wage from $7.25 to $15 through 2024, and the bill would also do away with special “sub-minimum” pay.; News Briefs: A Guinness World Record for pallet dominoes was set last week in Yakima, Washington. British Columbia’s Forests Minister Doug Donaldson has announced an investment of $7.9 million by B.C. and the federal government in Canada. East Texas is now being called the nation’s “wood basket,” because of the abundance of tall southern yellow pine planted on private land. more...
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State of the Pallet Industry – Part 3: U.S. Economy Slowing, But Still Pretty Good - Apr 5, 2019
Forecasts from leading economic experts are a big hit at industry events. One of the top voices on the U.S. manufacturing sector spoke at the recent National Wooden Pallet & Container Association annual meeting. He delivered a mixed bag of both good news and some warning signs to monitor.; Seeking A Better Market for Residuals: Researchers are working on finding ways to put wood in everything from computer chips to concrete to diapers. The problem is that many of these potential markets are years from the full commercialization stage.; Quarterly Graph Update: Profile regional lumber trends track hardwood cants over the past year. more...
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