Posts in category: News

An insulated bulkhead is a thermal barrier in a trailer, truck body or van that separates fresh, frozen or dry goods.  This allows multiple temperatures in one vehicle, or the reduction of cooled space to reduce energy consumption. There exist many different insulated bulkheads to accommodate to your needs.

Any successful “multi-temp” trailer set-up system uses insulated barriers. These products are used to create multi-temp zones in your trailer.  Zones provide protection needed for temperature sensitive cargo.  Companies increase efficiency and profits by cutting down on spoilage and cross contamination.  The insulated barrier is the ideal solution for transporting frozen, refrigerated, and/or dry products.

Flexible-fit and disposable refrigerated bulkheads are changing the way multi freight and mixed load freight are managed for refrigeration transportation companies in the food, produce, floral, and pharmaceutical industries. They provide thermal insulation, flexibility, ease of installation, abuse protection, and reusability/disposability at a low cost.

Insulated bulkhead partitions allow you to separate temperature sensitive items creating a multi temp solution for frozen, cold, refrigerated and dry products. Insulated bulkheads allow separation when hauling a small load so you can maintain the temperature in the area of the product only and not cool the complete length of the trailer saving fuel.

Insulated partitions also prevent cold air loss when the doors are open. The insulated “curtains” block the opening of the doors, thereby assisting in the maintenance of temperature and thus saving fuel.

Even when there is only one temperature zone but a half-empty trailer — why cool the whole space when only half the load requires cooling?

Third-party logistics (3PL) is an organization’s use of third-party businesses to outsource elements of its distribution, warehousing, and fulfillment services.

Three Key Functions of 3PL

1. Freight
   When it comes to freight transport, 3PLs can engage carriers, consolidate less than truckload (LTL) freight, keep track of freight payment and insurance documents, and work with private fleets. Working with a 3PL can also help efficiently lower transportation costs.
   
2. Global
   Shipping globally can be complicated and stressful. A 3PL can take control of global shipping logistics. As a representative of a business, 3PLs work to require all trade compliance requirements are met, costs are managed, and plans are executed properly.
   
3. Technology
   A 3PL often uses modern technology such as electronic data interchange (EDI), application programming interface (API), and cloud-based systems to manage customer relationships, transportation, and warehouse operations. The goal is to provide visibility to supply chain processes as well as shipments in transit.

Finding a 3PL Company for You

When businesses grow into new markets, a 3PL aids the growth in these regions. 3PLs are always looking for ways to improve every aspect of the supply chain. They can utilize management software and analyze supply chain procedures to eliminate inefficiencies. Engaging a 3PL company’s services is a tried and true manner to ensure continuous improvement to your logistics process.

Get in touch with PFL Logistics today to get started!

Cargo theft is a year-round problem for the trucking, freight, and logistics industries. However, it becomes a much larger concern around the Independence Day holiday in the United States. It is estimated that over the past five years $5.9 million in cargo has been stolen.

The average heist is worth $128,415. Food and beverage items, household goods and building materials are some of the most stolen items.

There will be an increase in the targeting of cargo because thieves have a longer time to get away with it. They have an extended weekend, where they feel there are fewer eyes on it and an extra day before people will start looking for the missing cargo.

Highly populated states like Texas, California and Florida lead the list of July 4th cargo theft hot spots.

Cargo theft is most likely to occur in parking lots, unsecured yards and truck stops. There are two common types of theft: stealing the entire truck, often done by organized crime rings; or breaking into the back of the trailer when the driver is sleeping or away from his/her truck.

How could theft happen when the driver is literally inside the truck? Don’t forget, they are more than 50 feet away from the rear doors of the trailer. It’s much harder to hear that or feel any activity at this distance. They may not feel the trailer shifting or hear any unordinary noises.

In order to help mitigate cargo theft, CargoNet (The cargo theft prevention and recovery network) offers the following tips:

• Ask local police agencies to make routine checks of facilities during holiday downtime.
• Make sure that both security managers and drivers have an accurate license plate, VIN and descriptive information for tractors, trailers, containers and container chassis.
• Secure all trailers, loaded and unloaded.
• Secure all tractors with high-security locking devices, such as air-cuff and steering column locks. Remind drivers to arrive at the point of pickup well-rested, showered and fed and with a full tank of fuel.
• Avoid having loaded trailers sit unattended when employees are not present.
• Never treat any alarm signal as a false alarm. When targeting warehouse locations, cargo thieves tend to trip facility alarm systems multiple times before a break-in to give law enforcement and facility managers the impression that the alarm system is broken.
• Encourage documentation and reporting of all suspicious activity that occurs in and around a facility to security personnel and the CargoNet command center. This information can be critical to law enforcement in the event of a cargo theft incident.

The best tip we can offer? Work with PFL Logistics to ensure the safety and retention of your cargo, and your paycheck, this holiday weekend. We guarantee theft prevention. Contact us today to get started!

May 8, 2020: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today approved $1.2 billion in contracts to support American producers and communities in need through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

Each dairy box will contain items like french onion dip, sour cream, cream cheese, and a variety of milk options. Produce boxes will be filled with various vegetables and fruits. Evansville Cold Storage, PFL Logistics, Old National Events Plaza, and CRS One Source will supply cold storage spaces for these boxes.

“As part of the Evansville Mayor’s Reopen Evansville Task Force, we were called upon to help provide supply chain support in the form of warehousing. We are storing 3,000 boxes and helping distribute them every week for the next four weeks. This is something I have vowed to do at no cost. We have available resources, and I wanted to step up and help our community.”

-Dylan Rexing, President/Founder PFL Logistics & Evansville Cold Storage

Through this program, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is partnering with suppliers, whose communities have been significantly impacted by the closure of restaurants, hotels, and other food service businesses. The program will purchase $461 million in fresh fruits and vegetables, $317 million in a variety of dairy products, and $258 million in meat products. Suppliers will package these products into family-sized boxes and transport them to food banks, community and faith-based organizations, and other non-profits serving Americans in need.

“As we continue to reopen our community, we recognize some residents are still facing extreme hardships,” Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke said. “These food boxes will provide critical support to maintain our community’s food security.” 

– Lloyd Winnecke, Mayor of the City of Evansville

A great deal of credit and gratitude goes to all of the truck drivers representing PFL Logistics, Evansville Cold Storage, and sister company JR’s Expedited Freight. Because of the time and dedication of this motivated crew, the Farmers To Families program will prove to be of incredible value to residents of Evansville and surrounding communities.

“Feed Evansville is proud to be part of this wonderful program,” Feed Evansville organizer Lisa Vaughan said. “I’m appreciative of all participating community partners who are helping ensure Evansville residents have fresh and nutritious food.”

– Lisa Vaughan, Organizer of Feed Evansville

• Additional information on the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, including webinars and an FAQs, is available on the AMS website at www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box.ww.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box

• See the feature in the Evansville Courier & Press here: https://www.14news.com/2020/06/11/feed-evansville-task-force-distribute-thousands-food-boxes-june/