The Art of Logistics at Armstrong Warehousing
Volume 2, Issue 18 September 30, 2014 view/print newsletter A wide array of customers have learned they can rely on Armstrong Warehousing to safely handle their most demanding third-party logistics needs. “We specialize in providing a positive experience for customers…
Canada & U.S. Cooperate On Regulatory Agreement
Volume 2, Issue 18 September 30, 2014 view/print newsletter An official Canada-United States joint planning group last month announced a plan to help the two countries harmonize their regulations dealing with trade and commerce. The governments of the two countries have…
OSHA Issues Temp Safety Best Practices Guidance
Volume 2, Issue 18 September 30, 2014 view/print newsletter OSHA and NIOSH teamed up to issue a guidance containing safety and health best practices for employers and their temporary staffing agencies. OSHA says temporary workers are at greater risk of…
EEOC Broadens Agreement With Mexican Government
Volume 2, Issue 18 September 30, 2014 view/print newsletter The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially agreed to join forces to create programs that will benefit Mexican nationals working in the United States. EEOC…
DOL Funding 19 States’ Contractor Status Attacks
Volume 2, Issue 18 September 30, 2014 view/print newsletter The Department of Labor is funding 19 states’ enforcement programs aimed at businesses unwittingly or intentionally failing to make unemployment contributions for individuals misclassified as independent contractors. The funds are intended…
Retailers Enjoy Healthy Back-to-School Sales
Volume 2, Issue 18 September 30, 2014 view/print newsletter The National Retail Federation reported August retail sales, (excluding automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants) increased 0.5% seasonally adjusted month-to-month and 2.7% unadjusted year-over-year. When combined with revisions to July, NRF said…
OSHA Severe Injury Rule Seen as Precursor
Volume 2, Issue 17 September 15, 2014 View/Print Entire Newsletter OSHA issued a final rule on Sept. 11 broadening the list of industries covered by its injury reporting requirements, and tightening the reporting period for fatalities and injuries requiring hospitalization. The…
Rail Service Failures Spur Reform Legislation
Volume 2, Issue 17 September 15, 2014 View/Print Entire Newsletter Persistent and widespread service failures by the nation’s railroads have created economic havoc on industries ranging from agriculture, chemicals and auto manufacturing, and degraded intermodal shipping timetables, spurring the President…
Strong Defender of Rail Shippers Leaving Senate
Volume 2, Issue 17 September 15, 2014 View/Print Entire Newsletter When Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) retires at the end of this year rail shippers will lose a strong defender. During the Sept. 10 Commerce Committee hearing probing rail service…
June Furniture Orders Show Steady Increase for Year
Volume 2, Issue 17 September 15, 2014 View/Print Entire Newsletter In June 2014, new furniture orders increased 5% over June 2013, according to Smith Leonard survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors published on Aug. 28. New orders fell 8%…
SCM Software Sales Seen Hitting $10 Bil in 2014
Volume 2, Issue 17 September 15, 2014 View/Print Entire Newsletter Gartner, Inc. says revenue from supply chain management software is on track to reach $10 billion in 2014, a 12.2% increase from 2013 and the highest annual growth rate since…
Time to Toughen Truck & Trailer Rules, NTSB Says
Volume 2, Issue 17 September 15, 2014 View/Print Entire Newsletter The National Transportation Safety Board has urged that tougher truck and trailer equipment safety standards be adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the result of a truck safety…
Contractor Status in Peril; Are You Prepared?
Volume 2, Issue 17 September 15, 2014 View/Print Entire Newsletter You may not face the same legal predicament as FedEx Ground regarding misclassification of independent contractors, but there is much you can learn from FedEx’s recent unhappy experiences. On Aug. 27…
OSHA & Cal OSH Expand Heat Illness Protections
Volume 2, Issue 17 September 15, 2014 View/Print Entire Newsletter OSHA and its California cousin have expanded what they expect employers to do in order to prevent heat illnesses among their employees. In a study of 20 cases involving serious…
How to Survive an FMLA Government Audit
Volume 2, Issue 16 August 30, 2014 View/Print Entire Newsletter The U.S, Department of Labor is stepping up its efforts to audit employers regarding their adherence to the Family Medical Leave Act. If you are not prepared for one of these…