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H.R. 842, known as the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021 (or the PRO Act for short) is coming up this week for a floor vote in the House of Representatives. This is the same “PRO Act” advanced in 2019 by the House. That bill died in the Senate in 2020, but we are in a new political landscape now and House Democrats are looking to advance the PRO Act again. The PRO Act would have many effects on the American economy (and these have been well documented by various news outlets). But there are several provisions of the PRO Act which we believe would be very harmful to CLDA member businesses. Read more.
As part of a reorientation in Department of Labor (DOL) policy, the Biden administration has removed from use a series of Trump administration opinion letters regarding the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Issuing these opinion letters was a practice widely used by the Trump DOL for quick deregulation without the need for a lengthy rulemaking and public comment period. However, the ease with which these letters are issued makes them a short-term fix, and they can be withdrawn just as quickly as they were issued. Read more.
CLDA, in partnership with NYMCSA and TIA, is proud to announce a virtual Transportation and Logistics Advocacy Day in Albany, New York, April 26-28. This is an important opportunity for you to learn about critical industry issues, develop and improve relationships with policymakers and their staffs, and educate and advocate on our industry’s top concerns in the very important state of New York. Learn more.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) collaboratively released a bill today called the Modern Worker Empowerment Act. This bill would “update the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to codify the common-law definition of ’employee,’ aligning the FLSA with other federal laws, as well as numerous state statutes and recent Supreme Court decisions.” Read more.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Feb. 22, 2021 — Last-mile company executives may be able to get their drivers the COVID-19 vaccine right now regardless of their age. One owner of a courier company created that opportunity, and now all of his drivers who wanted to be vaccinated have received it.
Ben Kaplan, the owner of Rightaway Delivery in Romulus, Michigan reached out to one of the bigger hospitals his company serves to make his case. “I called my contact at the hospital and said ‘We’re such a vital part of your operation and we represent you. It’s common sense for you to want our drivers to be protected.’”
Rightaway delivers medications from the hospital’s pharmacy, handles specimens from their labs and makes sure their COVID-19 tests get to the labs to for processing. In all, they work for 20 departments and 120 satellite offices around southeast Michigan for that one hospital.
When Kaplan first made his case to one of his contacts, she said he could only send in the drivers to be vaccinated who worked for her department. “What she didn’t realize was all the other departments in her hospital we take care of,” says Kaplan. “Once I explained that, she realized the smartest thing to do was to protect everyone in our company.”
As a result, Rightaway was able to offer the vaccine to anyone in the company who wanted it. “The lesson for other carriers is to make your case to all of the departments at every hospital you work for, including the clinics and labs,” says Kaplan.
Many Rightaway drivers and employees seized on the opportunity to get vaccinated. “They had a one-week window to fill out the paperwork, and everybody who wanted to got it,” says Kaplan. “It was a personal choice. We could not force people to get it. All I did was offer them the opportunity.” Kaplan, himself, jumped at the chance to get the vaccine.
Reactions from his drivers and employees has been overwhelmingly positive. “They told me they felt very lucky,” he says. “So many have thanked me. The people who wanted shots were pleased. They had been worried.”
He urges all last-mile company executives to do the same. “You should have a good enough relationship with your hospital customers to be comfortable making that request,” he says. “Tell them ‘We represent you. We come into your hospital. We are a part of your operation. Don’t you think we should be considered a priority alongside healthcare workers?’”
Medical work is a critical part of Rightway’s business. Since the pandemic hit, they have been transporting 1,000 COVID-19 tests per day for multiple customers, getting them to local labs or on planes to labs in Kansas City, Salt Lake City and Atlanta. They also pick up and deliver tests to 40 Walgreens on the weekends. It’s all an extension of their extensive work for hospitals, labs and clinics, which is a large part of their business.
Kaplan is on the board of the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA), the trade association for last-mile carriers and drivers in North America. Since last December, the association has been reaching out to legislators and government officials to request that their workforces be designed as essential workers and therefore eligible to receive the vaccine on a priority basis. In the initial stages of the pandemic, CLDA’s efforts meant that this industry was declared essential so workers could go to their jobs when stay-at-home orders were in place. However, that hasn’t helped get their workforces access to the vaccine yet.
CLDA reached out to state health departments to put their drivers into the Phase 1b vaccination category. “We asked them to put us in the Phase 1b category as frontline essential workers or to move them up because of the medical importance of their services,” says Michael Taylor, CLDA government affairs director. “The Director of the CDC adopted the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that our workforce fit in Phase 1, but ultimately the decision of whether we fit into Phase 1b for frontline essential workers or in Phase 1c for other essential workers is in the hands of each state’s health department. The dialogue has been different depending upon the state. Several states have accepted our position. We urge all members to reach out to their customers on a local level to make things even more likely to happen.”
Kaplan advises other carriers that work in the healthcare environment to do what he did to get his people vaccinated. “My advice is to go ahead and do this on your own. If you’re working with a hospital, why wouldn’t you call? What do you have to lose? And what have you got to gain for your people?”
About the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
The Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA) is a non-profit professional association that is the voice of the time-critical logistics and delivery industries. The association serves the needs of its 2,900 essential service members who are logistics professionals, carriers, shippers, drivers, air cargo logistics providers, 3PLs and vendors servicing today’s supply chain companies. Since 1987, CLDA has provided business opportunities, advocacy and education. For more information see www.clda.org.
Media Contact
Andrea Obston aobston@aomc.com
(860) 243-1447 – office
(860) 803-1155 – cell
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 19, 2021— Shippers and carriers will meet up for a virtual networking event on Wednesday, March 3. The first Virtual CLDA Shippers Exchange will match shippers looking for carriers and carriers looking for business during roundtable sessions. The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Eastern) on Zoom.
Attendees will participate in three shipper-carrier roundtable sessions and one vendor session in separate Zoom rooms. Shipper sessions will last 50 minutes with participants grouped by the vertical they are interested in. The vendor roundtables will last for 30 minutes.
“Shippers are still looking for ways to expand their capacities, and they are looking to our members to help them meet escalating demands,” says Randy Edmonds, conference chair. “It’s why we felt it was important to offer this platform for those in the industry to connect.”
Before the event, carriers will fill out questionnaires about their companies’ capabilities, coverage areas and the verticals they serve. Based on shipper’s questionnaires about their needs and requirements conference organizers will match them up with carriers.
“We’re expecting shippers from verticals such as ecommerce, medical, pharma, auto, freight brokers, and others to participate,” says Edmonds. “Fifteen shippers have already signed up and based on the initial enthusiastic response, we’re expecting more to join the event.”
The event is open to CLDA members and non-members. Registration is now open for both shippers and carriers, with shippers invited to attend at no cost.
For more information or to register, visit www.clda.org/shippers-exchange.
About the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
The Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA) is a non-profit professional association that is the voice of the time-critical logistics and delivery industries. The association serves the needs of its 3,500 essential service members who are logistics professionals, carriers, shippers, drivers, air cargo logistics providers, 3PLs and vendors servicing today’s supply chain companies. Since 1987, CLDA has provided business opportunities, advocacy and education. For more information see www.clda.org.
Media Contact
Andrea Obston aobston@aomc.com
(860) 243-1447 – office
(860) 803-1155 – cell
Yesterday the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced the withdrawal of an opinion letter which can impact CLDA members.
Given that FLSA2021-9 offered protections for motor carriers in their utilization of Independent Contractors, its withdrawal means that you no longer have those protections for any DOL actions or audits. As such, please seek legal counsel if you intend to still pursue the now removed protective opinion practices. Learn more.
As I enter my second year as president of the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association, I take great pride in knowing that CLDA has never been more relevant and important for those in the transportation and logistics industry across the nation and around the world. I’ve come to think of CLDA as a multi-national, best-in-class association representing all facets of the delivery industry and providing abundant opportunities to learn, teach, mentor, and share our strengths. Read more.
WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 4, 2020 –The recent news of the FDA’s approval of two vaccines to fight the coronavirus was met with cheers and sighs of relief. An end to the pandemic appeared to be in sight. But, with that good news came the realities – how would millions of doses of the vaccine get into the arms of Americans who were eagerly awaiting them?
That’s when the role of the supply chain took center stage. The carriers that keep the wheels of commerce (and ecommerce) rolling daily were suddenly thrust into the spotlight. With last-mile delivery companies providing the ultimate keys. These last-mile carriers will be responsible for transporting the vaccines at super-low temperatures; handling them properly and tracking their progress from the manufacturers to the places where they will inoculate consumers. Last mile carriers will also play a role in the critical supply chain that delivers the raw materials that drug companies need to manufacture the vaccines.
What are the challenges of handling these critical deliveries? How will the last-mile carriers meet them? What will they need to do to make the deliveries safely and efficiently? Jason Burns, First Vice President of the Customized Logistics & Delivery Association (CLDA), says the 3,500 companies that provide last-mile deliveries will be the key. Burns is also Director of Corporate development at Dropoff, a company well-experience in cold chain deliveries.
Members of the CLDA are mostly regional carriers who routinely transport pharmaceuticals. It is likely that they will play a key role, especially in the delivery of the Moderna vaccine, which will go through traditional pharmaceuticals’ distribution channels. The Pfizer vaccine, with its uniquely low temperature requirement (-94 degrees Fahrenheit) will go right from the manufacturer to sites uniquely qualified to store it through FedEx and UPS. Last mile carriers may be involved as subcontractors to these two transportation providers.
The Moderna vaccine is shipped at -4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is common for many pharmaceuticals. “The vaccine will be distributed by McKesson, which has a contract with the US government. Doses will be transported through their current supply chain,” says Burns. “Many CLDA members are already essential parts of that system. Their role will be to take the vaccines from local distribution sites to hospitals, clinics, and drug stores where they will be administered. Some of our members will handle the first leg of that journey from the manufacturers to regional hubs, while others will be responsible for transportation from regional distribution centers to local sites. That’s how we expect the Moderna vaccine to be transported since it will be pre-packaged in totes with dry ice and/or frozen cool packs to keep them at optimal temperature. Last-mile providers will transport the sealed totes, much as we handle regular pharmaceutical distribution.”
Delivery of the Moderna vaccine poses other demands. Capacity for one. “Managing capacity will be an on-going challenge,” says Burns. “Over the next few months, the drug has to be supplied to roughly one million people. However, initial distribution of the vaccine took place in the middle of the holiday rush. Under normal conditions, this is already a tough time of year to meet demand due to ecommerce shipments. The pandemic created even more volume during that period during a time when there is normally competition for resources, including drivers and vehicles. Companies had to get creative to find ways to add more capacity and personnel to be successful.”
There’s also the issue of security. “Having a secure chain of custody is critical with all pharmaceuticals, and this is especially important with the vaccine,” says Burns. “Everyone’s aware of the nature of these shipments, including those operating on the black market. Typically, with pharmaceutical operations, the focus is on securing your facility. Having good processes for scanning into the warehouse, loading vehicles and scanning again upon delivery. Some drivers also have cameras on the vehicles for added security measures.”
While the anticipation for this vaccine has put heightened attention on last mile providers, Burns expects this to be one step towards the increasing importance of the role of these carriers in healthcare logistics. “Healthcare will increasingly be delivered in peoples’ homes and the final mile industry will play a key role in making that happen,” says Burns. “I foresee a time in the not-so-distant future where vaccines like this one will be administered in peoples’ homes by medical technicians. Bolstered by the continued growth of telemedicine, in the near-future doctors will supervise healthcare workers through an app or a platform like Zoom while they administer a variety of life-sustaining medications. Or perform tests for COVID or other conditions. The need to develop these delivery systems may have been exposed by the current healthcare crisis. Ultimately, it may be one of the few positive things that comes out of the pandemic.”
About the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
The Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA) is a non-profit professional association that is the voice of the time-critical logistics, delivery and express air cargo logistics industries. The association serves the needs of its 3,500 essential service members who are logistics professionals, carriers, shippers, drivers, air cargo logistics providers, 3 PLs and vendors servicing today’s supply chain companies. Since 1987, CLDA has provided business opportunities, advocacy and education.
Media Contact
Andrea Obston aobston@aomc.com
(860) 243-1447 – office
(860) 803-1155 – cell
Dear CLDA Members,
I am very excited to be leading such an important professional association, one that I have been a proud member of since 1998. I look forward to collaborating with you to leverage new opportunities, increase membership value and champion growth for our industry.
I’ve been actively volunteering with the CLDA for 12 years in many different roles, including chairing the vendor committee, membership committee and conference committee and most recently serving as the first vice president. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to talk with many members, vendors, shippers and other stakeholders, and our conversations have increased my enthusiasm for the logistics profession and the value it brings to companies all over the world.
Between COVID-19, hurricanes and everything else 2020 has brought, I still feel like I’m getting settled in as president, but I want to share my thoughts about the future of the CLDA.
As a professional association, we often think primarily of members in the final mile space. However, there are so many more people, companies and groups that are important parts of the transportation community. The CLDA is comprised of companies that are in the first, middle and final mile that are all great members or prospective members of the CLDA. We have vendors and strategic partners who support our standards and best practices. We work with other professional associations on initiatives like government affairs, providing opportunities to share ideas, knowledge and initiatives to enrich all of our stakeholders. I want to continue strengthening these relationships and, through them, increase the value to our members.
As I see it, we have three main goals: (1) supporting the professional development of our members through education; (2) affecting our destiny through our involvement with government agencies; (3) building networks within the different facets of our industry to build a more global association.
Our Board of directors is really enthusiastic about some of our most recent initiatives, and I want to share a few of them with you.
As members of the CLDA, we have so many great people that make up our organization and so many opportunities. I want to engage you and want us to work collaboratively to grow the association and grow the awareness of the value of our work. I encourage you to email me at president@clda.org to share your thoughts on the future of the CLDA.
Members of our board of directors are driven professionals that want to ensure the value of your membership, but we need your participation. We need your assistance on our committees, and we want to hear from you and learn what you want from your membership in OUR association.
With the challenges facing our industry, our world and our nation right now, we need a strong association more than ever. Together we can work to ensure that the CLDA is one of the tools you need in your toolbox to drive your personal and business success.
I am so fortunate that you have allowed me to lead you through these times, and I look forward to our bright future!
Sincerely,
Steve Howard
President, Customized Logistics and Delivery Association
