This week our friends from Quality Scales Unlimited are contributing to our blog. Quality Scales Unlimited is a company that “sells all types of scale equipment, from highly sensitive lab scales to heavy capacity truck scales.” (Learn more about them here). Given their knowledge of proper protocol on the factory floor, we were more than happy to accept their proposed blog post. So, with further ado, here is their guest blog on material handling.

It is common to see workers handling or moving materials in a factory. However, if it is not done right, it will result in accidents, pain or handling ailments like repetitive strain injury. The dangers of improper handling, storing or moving materials are plenty. Let’s learn how to avoid them.

Safety While Moving, Handling or Storing Materials

• If the workers are moving the materials manually, they should take help if:
  a) the load is too heavy,
  b) when they cannot see around or
  c) cannot handle the load safely.
• You must meet the weight regulations of trucks and forklifts to make sure they move the materials safely. Weighing scales like a floor weighing scale can help you avoid overloading the vehicles and ensure safe floor operations.
• To prevent the fingers from getting pinched, handles should be attached to the loads.
• Observe height limitations when you stack the materials.
• All the workers must wear personal protective equipment while moving, storing or handling the materials.
• The stacked loads must be piled and cross-tiered correctly.
• Keep the storage areas from materials that can cause tripping, explosions or can harbor pests like rats.
• Stack the bar stock, structured steel and all cylindrical materials to prevent spreading. The boxed materials must be held in place using cross-ties.
• Equip employees working on stored materials in hoppers, silos or tanks with safety belts and lifelines.
• Post the load limits approved by the building inspector in all storage areas.

Ergonomics of Material Handling

Ergonomics refers to the layout of the work space – its design, and how, where, why materials are kept. These include safety devices, controls, function of workstations, displays, lightning and tools to fit the employees’ physical requirements.

An ergonomic factory will minimize the risks to the employees’ health and ensures their well-being. It includes changing the workspace conditions or restructuring to make the workspace better and easier for the workers. The aim is to avoid repetitive motions that can cause injuries or traumas.

You may have to change the way workers can lift and move objects or reduce the materials’ size and weight. For instance, you can install lifting equipment or train the employees in the right lifting techniques.

Along with the material handling training, provide them basic safety training too. These include practices like always keeping the aisles clear while moving materials or fire safety precautions.

Provide Employee Hazard and Safety Training

If materials are not handled properly, there will be hazards. It is important that the employees learn how to recognize them. Organize training programs that teach the workers everything they need to know about materials handling, storing and safety.

Some things to include in the training:

• Workers must be aware of what they can handle comfortably without straining themselves.
• Workers should be able to identify different dangers associated with lifting materials without having the proper training.
• Recognize the physical factors that can contribute to an accident and being aware of risks of lifting improperly.
• Teach them how to use handling equipment and handling aids such as shoulder pads, platforms, stages and handles properly.
• Teach the workers about basic anatomy of the muscles, spine and where the body will feel pressure while lifting materials
• Show the employees how they can avoid unnecessary physical strain and stress.
• They must be aware of their body’s physical limitations and lifting capacity.
• Train them to use safe lifting postures for smooth lifting and how they can minimize load-moment effects.

Hold regular safety meetings so that the workers stay updated of the precautions. Encourage them to have an honest conversation if they face any problems or feel any pain while moving or lifting the materials.

Author Bio:

Kevin Hill heads the marketing efforts at Quality Scales Unlimited in Byron, CA. Besides his day job, he loves to write about the different types of scales and their importance in various industries. He also writes about how to care for and get optimized performance from different scales in different situations. He enjoys spending time with family and going on camping trips.

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In a special feature this month, Forbes revealed 4 Forces Transforming Logistics, Supply Chain And Transportation Today. Aside from political and economic shifts, and the recently discussed peak in consumer demand, ‘frontline technology’ also made this list. The industry is looking for ways to address efficiency, in a time where driver shortages continue to fall. Possible solutions include a shift toward autonomous vehicles, however, there is still a long way to go before complete transformation. In their article, truck platooning is referred to as the ‘next big step’. It has gained considerable attention in the industry as a solution to efficiency.

Autonomous Trucking

Although autonomous vehicle technology is far from fruition, statistics on market growth reflect the industries investment in full integration. Figures show that by 2025, ‘partially autonomous vehicles’ will value USD 36 billion, and ‘fully autonomous vehicles’ is expected to reach USD 6 billion. While consumers are favouring the integration of innovative ways to travel, the self-driving truck market is also progressing. According to Market Watch:

Global Autonomous Trucks Market is growing at 15.6% compound annual growth rate during forecast period of four years from 2018 to 2023.

On-road transportation is the most common mode for moving goods worldwide. Therefore, it makes sense that the industry is investing in ways to improve efficiency. When technology integration and transportation supply chains fused together, researchers created truck platooning.

The Rise of Truck Platooning

According to the European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association (ACEA), truck platooning uses ‘connectivity technology’ and ‘automated driving support systems’. The concept involves linking two or more trucks together as they travel in a convoy style manner from point A to B. The innovative technology still reflects reality based system where there is a leader that can direct and guide those following behind. Despite this significant advancement, these trucks still have drivers along for the ride. The industry is not at a stage to release fully-automated systems just yet. However, news coverage has reported that the use of semi self-driving vehicles are underway.

Semi-autonomous trucks are being tested in various parts of North America. CBC comments that Peleton Technologies is already testing synchronization of speed and braking being tested on two or more trucks. Their motivation to push-out this initiative is to improve ‘fuel efficiency by decreasing wind resistance’. This leads us to question the benefits of connective technologies, such as truck platooning.

Benefits of Self-Driving Convoys

In recent months, Morai Logistics has discussed the importance of transparency, efficiency and speed. Now more than ever, organizations in the supply chain and logistics industry must work harder to stay ahead of the competition. This means investing in research and development, and looking at options to optimize their shipment lifecycles.

There are a variety of benefits from the integration of autonomous vehicles in the transportation industry. In addition, the emergence of any technology provides opportunity for both the labour force and other sectors. The top benefits include:

• Efficiency – autonomous trucks helps meet efficiency and on-time delivery needs, while giving drivers the opportunity to complete administrative function.
• Improve Safety – drivers who drive for long periods of time are able to rely on advanced safety features such as immediate braking.
• Sustainability – research states that self-driving vehicles can significantly ‘lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Overall, truck platooning is an example of how technology is being used to address current barriers within the transportation and supply chain industry. The need to improve the shipment life cycle continues to fuel how we innovate our transportation methods.

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Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in North America. Last year alone, there were 206, 200 new cancer diagnoses in Canada. Furthermore, by the end of 2018 the number of estimated new cases in the United States will be ‘1,735,350‘. These figures reflect the urgent need for communities, industries and governments to support cancer research and development.

On Friday, June 8th, 2018, Morai Logistics participated in Relay for Life, an annual fundraising event founded by the Canadian Cancer Society. Alongside thousands of members of the community, our team marched together to help ‘fight back against cancer’. These initiatives are a constant pillar of strength to many. However, the urgency to implement processes that effectively facilitate the preventative treatment of cancer remains.

Forbes identifies patient personalization as a step toward providing optimal customer experience to patients in need of immediate and tailored medical treatment. This phenomena is growing in popularity on both the patient/customer and facility side. By 2022, it’s expected that the personal medicine market will reach USD 2.45 trillion. This will place an increase in pressure on the healthcare supply chain management industry.

This article investigates the importance of personalized medication in improving cancer treatment. It also touches on the role supply chains have in meeting the demands of this growing market.

Personalizing Cancer Treatment

The Canadian Cancer Society defines personalized medicine as the ‘use of information about a person to prevent, diagnose and treat disease’. The ability for medical professionals to determine appropriate and preventative treatment for each individual patient is a product of extensive R&D. It also helps to answer the following six benefits:

• How likely will an individual develop cancer?
• Who will benefit from ‘earlier screening’?
• Which treatment would be effective, while causing less side effects?
• What appropriate plans should be implemented to manage treatment?
• How do research develop new treatments?
• How do we educate patients on making the right ‘treatment decisions’?

This advanced method of understanding and identifying appropriate treatment protocol has shown a considerable advantage in preventing specific cancers. Therefore, it’s important to recognize the impact this growing market will have on healthcare supply chain management.

Challenges in Healthcare Supply Chain Management

Research predicts that the healthcare supply chain management market will reach USD 2.56 billion by 2025. As this treatment approach moves from ‘reaction to prevention’, this will enable medical professionals to offer effective treatment options’. However, research has identified the popularity of personalized medicine will place considerable pressure on manufacturers in supply chains.

Due to the complexities of this individualized approach, challenges in the supply chain manifest in an inability to match ‘scale, speed, reliability and traceability’. Supply Chain Diver indicates that this direct-to-customer approach will require:

• Increased delivery demand
• Specific packaging
• ‘Increased temperature monitoring’
• Custom clearance in transport
• Delay monitoring by GPS-based alerts

In addition, the transportation of medication is ‘time and temperature’ sensitive, which places a critical importance on ensuring ‘cold chain is virtually error-free’. When multiple medications are shipped together but require different temperatures, certain challenges may arise. The facilitation of personalized medication creates an intricate shipment lifecycle going from manufacturer to production facility to the patient. However, research also explains that the same third party logistics providers (3PL) run throughout the entire service. For logistics companies, this means recognizing their vital role in facilitating the personalized medication market.

Community of Change

Morai Logistics is passionately dedicated to supporting cancer research and development. As a North American leader in supply chain and logistics, we understand the important role 3PLs play as a partner and advocate for the safe and efficient transport of personalized medication. Our participation in community events, such as Relay for Life, is one of the many ways our company stands with those affected by cancer.  Together, our energetic and passionate team raised $22,420 this year in honour of an incredible cause!

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Previously, Morai Logistics identified four key leadership trends shaping economies across North America. The importance of empowering women in leadership positions, fostering ambition, exhibiting core values and embracing upcoming generations, were correlated with effective business leadership. However, these trends also place a significant emphasis on the responsibilities of C-suite Executives, especially those in supply chains and logistics.

The term “C-Suite” describes leaders who hold senior executive positions within a business or organization. According to Investopedia, these positions may include ‘chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), chief operating officer (COO), and chief information officer (CIO)’. Alternatively referred to as C-Level, the qualifications of an effective leader outlined above remain consistent with those who hold these positions. However, this year there is an increased emphasis on a commitment to corporate culture, people management, strategic thinking and active leadership.

This eBook uncovers current C-Suite trends, current challenges facing C-Level execs, and the core attributes required to be an effective executive leader.

What Does it Take to Reach the C-Suite in Logistics?

That’s it for us this week! If you liked this blog post, why not subscribe to our blog? Interested in what we do as a 3rd party logistics provider? Then don’t hesitate to check out our services (as expressed above, we are very pro finding you the lowest total cost!). We’re also in the twittersphere, so give us a follow to get the latest logistics and supply chain news.

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President of Morai Logistics graduates from QuantumShift, leveraging insight into effective leadership strategies that will transform supply chains.

On Friday, May 11th, 2018, President of Morai Logistics, Kelli Saunders, exited the doors of Ivey’s Spencer Leadership Centre in London, Ontario. Alongside 39 of Canada’s top entrepreneurs, Saunders graduated from QuantumShift, a five-day development program designed to propel industry leaders to grow their businesses.

Last December, Kelli Saunders received the 2017 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award. Her success in taking a logistics start-up to the multi-million and multi-national level, earned Saunders a nomination into this annual program. When asked to describe her key takeaway, she stated:

The importance of networking with likeminded people who set the bar high to give you that much needed push to continue to succeed.

Effective leadership in 2018 has been a topic of conversation across many industries. According to Forbes Coaches Council, a good leader must recognize ‘when its time to adjust’ and be able to ‘adapt to the ever-changing demands of the workforce’. Due to the expansion of global markets, good business leadership is critical now more than ever. Inspired by her experience at QuantumShift, Kelli Saunders speaks to four leadership trends shaping economies across North America.

1. Empowering Women Leadership

The movement toward gender equality in the workforce has shown through over the past year, especially in positions within C-Suite. The Forbes Coaches Counsel states that 2018 will see a major focus on placing women in leadership positions. Saunders urges female workers in any industry, to push themselves to network and develop and expand their skills and abilities.

Women need to step up to participate in these types of programs more often. The female attendance for this program was very low (4/40), and independent of gender this program was outstanding for anybody.

From a supply chain and logistics perspective, ‘71% of Global industry professionals believe that women have a different natural skillset’ than men. Therefore, it’s imperative that women are continuously  motivated to seek opportunities in leading roles.

2. Fostering Ambition

“Ambition makes your mind expand to dream of possibilities and how to achieve them. It feeds others.” says Saunders. The term “ambition” is an important trait that helps men and women succeed in  leadership positions. Forbes contributor, Ashira Prossack, also highlights the need for professionals to embrace and celebrate ambition at all stages of their careers. In her podcast with Let’s Talk Supply Chain, Sarah Barnes, Saunders shared that women will wait until they are 100% qualified before applying to an opportunity. However, their male counterparts will apply even if they are only 60% qualified for the role. Saunders adds,

I think as a female, and as I speak to other women in the industry or outside, we have to take that leap that we can do anything. We don’ have to have all the T’s crossed and I’s dotted.

3. Implementing Core Values

Kelli Saunders states that her experience participating in QuantumShift has motivated her to revisit her current action plan and provided the confidence and re-confirmation to scale upward. Start-ups and seasoned businesses that are eager to grow should nurture an environment built on core values. The Globe and Mail states that a company doesn’t have to sacrifice their identity in the process of scaling upward. There is substantial evidence that attributes employee satisfaction and motivation with a ‘healthy culture’ that fosters and demonstrates core values. Aside from ambition, Saunders outlines four additional traits that future leaders should have:

• Patience
• Philanthropy
• Leader-ship
• Autonomy to others to make decisions

“At Quantum, we talked about leaders being warriors or nurturers,’ stated Kelli. Forbes Coaches Counsel reinforces that C-suite leaders should develop ‘their ability to be ambassadors for the values of their companies’. Furthermore, this motivates employees to represent corporate culture as ‘brand ambassadors’.

4.Embracing Upcoming Generations

The contributions made by Gen Y and Gen Z must be considered as the global workforce continues to transform. In Let’s Talk Supply Chain, Sarah Barnes, Saunders explained that by 2020, 50-55% of the workforce is going to be the millennial generation. As a result, leaders must adapt to technology and the change that this workforce see in the future. Research confirms that this year ‘leadership empathy’ will play a major role in nurturing this talent pool. In addition, ‘listening, relating and coaching’ are leading characteristics that should replace traditional ‘command-and-control cultures’.

In conclusion, business leaders who want to scale upward should recognize the need to adjust and adapt to changing markets. Therefore, it is important to participate in programs that promote networking and economic growth. QuantumShift empowers entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to take their businesses to the next level. Their program inspires professionals to reinvent their leadership style and helps them apply their learnings to grow within their industry.

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Senior levels of management, including President of Morai Logistics, Kelli Saunders, recognize the contributions millennials give to the supply chain industry. During an intimate interview with host of Let’s Talk Supply Chain, Sarah Barnes, Saunders highlights the importance of women and millennials in supply chains. There are significant variances in communication styles that have developed over the last eight decades. In comparison to traditional methods of communication via telephone and email, this tech-savy generation is showing how technology can benefit a blended workforce. Despite unfavorable stereotypes, Morai Logistics believes that millennials is a generation that motivates organizations to ask how are we doing better for the world?

Statistics show that ‘millennials will comprise three-quarters of the global workforce’ by 2025. As a generation born into technology, the growing presence of this cohort will have a positive impact on the future of supply chains. This article reinforces the requisite for millennials in the workforce by outlining the current transformations they have made in communications and the workforce.

New Forms of Communication

In alignment with the unceasing technological advancements that continue to develop, there has been a considerable shift in how different generations communicate. Millennials prefer instant, efficient and snackable content that can be sent and received at any time. In comparison to 47% of the “call me” cohort, Gen X, 68% of millennials admit to texting “a lot”. Informal communication has also been found to be very important to this generation and many organizations are noticing this in their workplace.

Research confirms that millennials usually communicate with ‘friendlier, more familiar tones, and casual forms of exchange’. Many question whether this could make communication in work environments with blended generations challenging, however, Morai Logistics takes a positive perspective.

The reality is in 2020, 50-55% of the population is going to be the millennial generation in the workforce. We’re going to see some of this wonderful technology driving how we make decisions, how we buy, how we sell and who we sell too. So we have to adapt to the differences. –Kelli Saunders, President of Morai Logistics

In her presentation deck “Women & Millennials in the Supply Chain”, Saunders confirms that millennials use instant messaging and texting. There seems to be a strong correlation between methods of communication and technology. Furthermore, the skills that this cohort possess also qualify them as integral members of any organizational team.

Millennials in Supply Chains

As an industry leader, Saunders encourages organizations to embrace the differences in communications, work ethic and philosophy that millennials demonstrate. She reinforces that as the “first generation to truly grow-up on technology”, this cohort “will take risk”. They bring to the industry a unique drive to make the world a better place and consistently ask “how are we doing better for the world?”

When discussing the benefits of opening the supply chain workforce to millennials, Saunders points out that their contributions are ‘a wonderful blend’. On the opposite end of the chain, millennials are also showing significant interest in the industry. SupplyChain247 states that 87% of millennials feel that working in the supply chain industry will help their ‘personal growth and development’. In addition, 88% also believe that there are significant opportunities to advance in this industry.

However, in the same way that communication styles differ, the type of work environment millennials attract to most is also unique. In fact, diversity is reported to be the primary consideration for this generation, which explains their gravitation toward supply chains. Statistically, 85% of surveyed millennials believe that this industry ‘involves a diverse workforce and encompasses people of all types’.

There is no denying the positive impact millennials will make on the supply chain industry. Their unique skills and abilities, built on technology and innovation, will promote companies to ask important questions and achieve lucrative results.

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You may have experienced a package being stolen from your porch at some point in your life. It happens. It’s a relatively simple form of thievery for opportunistic miscreants as the risk of getting caught is low; people aren’t always home, etc. Front porch thievery, deemed “porch piracy” by some, was put into the attention of people all over social media as a video by Jaireme Barrow taking measures into his own hands became viral.

Consequently Barrow, an Acoma, Washington man rigged a fake package with fishing wire and a 12-gauge shotgun blank.  Deemed “The Blank Box,”  it was built to (safely) scare off would-be thieves.

Funny as the video is, it highlights a problem that’s been growing recently—package theft. According to a survey by Ring, a home security company, up to 1 in 5 U.S homeowners were victims of package theft in the last year.

More Deliveries Means More Opportunities for Thieves to Ruin Someone’s Holidays

The growing number of package deliveries correlates to the continued rise of online shopping. In fact, as of this year, roughly 80% of the U.S population have purchased something using the internet. Total US ecommerce sales is estimated to be $353.7 billion. That number is expected to rise to $485.3 billion by 2021. As for deliveries, the average American homeowner receives on average, nine packages between Black Friday to New Year’s Day.

Unfortunately, the number of delivery thefts has also grown. A NBC News article quoting a insuranceQuotes.com report puts the number of Americans impacted at 23 million. Most people are either working late or staying with friends & family during the holidays. This gives the ‘porch pirates’ more time to steal unattended packages.

Combating Porch Piracy

Thankfully, this problem hasn’t gone unrecognized. In particular, many in the private and public sectors are doing their part to stop would-be thieves.

For example, in Rancho Cordova, California, local police have set up a special sting operation. Undercover officers drove in an unmarked SUV and delivered fake packages to various homes. With the bait laid, they then sat and waited. Once a thief tried to make off with a package, the police then made an arrest. The program only started during the last holiday season, but both residents and law enforcement hope it will act as a deterrent in the future.

Ecommerce and shipping companies are doing their part to fix the problem as well. Amazon, UPS and FedEx have their own creative solutions. Other businesses have sprung up to sell security measure to customers, such as Luxer One.

Packages for Safekeeping

Luxar One is a Sacramento, California-based firm that is,

…Setting up locker systems in luxury apartment complexes, office buildings and retail operations, where packages can safely be kept (typically for a small fee), hopefully preventing so-called porch pirates or other delivery mishaps.

The company’s services are proving to be very popular. According to Thomas’ article:

• Luxer One reported an 83% increase in package delivery volume to its lockers during the week after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, compared with the week prior.
• Package delivery volume to its locker units jumped 44% in November this year compared with one year ago.
• The company currently works with more than 1,200 apartment communities across the U.S.

Porch pirates have been a huge problem for holidays shoppers in recent years. With this in mind, hopefully 2018 will see a decline in such activities. The holidays are already a stressful time for many due to all the planning involvement. People don’t need to added stress of missing gifts and packages.

If you liked this blog post, why not subscribe to our blog? If you’re interested in what we do as a 3rd party logistics provider, don’t hesitate to check out our services (as expressed above, we are very pro finding you the lowest total cost!). We’re also in the twittersphere, so give us a follow to get the latest logistics and supply chain news.

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The name Invictus was coined based on its Latin origins meaning: unconquered or undefeated. Prince Harry describes the games as a “a spotlight on the unconquerable character of servicemen and women and their families.” The motivation being a display of the very best of human spirit.

This year could not have been better timing for addressing issues of Canadian Veterans and their families with the events being hosted in Toronto. One of the main reasons we supported Team True Patriot Love earlier this summer is because we truly believe in the organization they chose to support: True Patriot Love Foundation (TPL).

True Patriot Love Foundation Leverages Invictus as a Platform to Bring Awareness to the Current Canadian Veteran Situation

TPL is an organization that works closely with the Canadian Armed Forces, Department of Veteran Affairs and local grassroots organizations to clearly identify the most urgent needs of Canadian military families on a national scale, while avoiding duplication of efforts between all organizations.

A multinational symposium prior to the Games was organized by TPL, which brought together competitors and their families from the 17 nations represented at the Invictus Games, international leaders and senior representatives from the charitable, research, and medical sectors to discuss the most pressing concerns within the military community.

The Morai Logistics team decided to feature this week’s post to outlining the difficulty Veterans face when transitioning into civilian life and how the average Canadian can help support those men and women returning from military service.

An Interview with Team True Patriot Love on What Canadians Can Do to Help Veterans in Need

Sitting with three members of Team True Patriot Love, the team that raced to bring awareness to TPL and to contribute their donated earnings to support their cause.

In June of this year, Team True Patriot Love successfully completed the Race Across America (RAAM) 2017, coming in second place with a time of 5 days, 17 hours and 55 minutes, setting a new Canadian record. The team also were successful in raising over $130,000 for Canadian Veterans in support of the True Patriot Love Foundation.

We go over the three biggest questions stemming from the call to bring Canadians up to speed on the current situation for Canadian Veterans returning from service, what their needs are, and what can be done as a Canadian citizen wanting to do more and support their servicemen and women.

Reid McGregor, from Team True Patriot Love, answers on behalf of him, Chris Slawson, and Bryan Murphy.

Shaun Francis, the executive chair of True Patriot Love Foundation, encourages ordinary Canadians to get to know Veterans and their families, hinting that civilian and governmental support for the current cohort of Canadian Veterans was a “generational commitment.” What are your thoughts on this?

The point about getting to know Veterans and helping build back their social network and supporting them in their civilian life is extremely important. Canada has done an incredible job of creating a melting pot of culture and diversity that is inclusive and celebrated from coast-to-coast, but we have failed to fully support those that voluntarily elect to join the military and serve our country. Furthermore, it is clear that we continue to fall short of providing a stable network for them to return to.

I have struggled to find an outlet or events where I would get to interact with more Veterans. My grandfather was a military Veteran, but no one in my circle of friends born in the early 80s chose the military as a career. In choosing TPL as the charity to support in our Race Across America, our cycling team wanted to change this. We needed to find a way to open our network not only to meet Veterans but theirs as well, and create a new environment where we could help support them, but also build new friendships. We were introduced to Glen Villa, a 31-year-old Veteran at the True Patriot Love Toronto Tribute Dinner in 2016.

Glen agreed to join our team in the race and as part of our crew shared valuable leadership, motivation, and technical skills that had a direct impact on our success in setting a new Canadian 8-man record. Glen shared many stories about how the close community of the military is so vastly different than what’s waiting after returning from service I was glad we had the honour to work with Glen and also build a friendship. Glen is not an anomaly and their needs to be more services to support people like Glen. More information, more ways to honour and more direct involvement needs to be addressed otherwise for those with less and less connections to the military, we risk losing the link between military and community.

How can the “Average Canadian” better support Veterans or get more informed on the issue?

Get involved. The difficulty is that when you are not part of a (figuratively speaking) “military family”, it’s hard to find ways to be a part of it. Whether it be through community programs or within corporate organizations, you have to put yourself out there. Once you do though, it opens up a different and unique part of society and one that should be an essential part of being Canadian.

As Canadians we need to understand that our Veterans deserve every opportunity as civilians and should be supported in returning to civilian life and create opportunities for them to succeed. As a Canadian, we owe it to them. I have no doubt that events like the Invictus Games will show society how tough these people really are and that although they may face physical and mental challenges in their life outside of the military, the skills that they exude vastly surpass any of these.

What sort of support structures do you feel the Canadian Government needs to put in place?

There needs to be a more accessible medium to interact with Veterans. It has been a personal gain for me to meet someone like Glen and I know the more focus we put on celebrating the men and women who serve our country the more the community will build. Events like the Invictus Games not only shine a spotlight on our military but also celebrates them through a different lens. It celebrates their abilities and their drive, and exposes regular Canadians to the struggles that these heroes face in daily life. Watching them put that aside to compete was inspirational.

Remembrance Day certainly brings the military into the spotlight but it is once a year and although incredibly important and patriotic, it does little to address the next wave of Veterans. These are not our grandparents anymore, but our colleagues, associates and our neighbours. Creating a unique environment where we can interact with our Veterans would be essential.

Sports is an easy avenue to start with. The US created the Warrior Games which brings together wounded service men and women from air force, navy and marines to compete. This could have profound national impact and increase community involvement. If we can also find ways to include military Veterans in our daily activities I would expect more support to build. Maybe we create a “Marathon of Sport” similar to Motionball where we can interact with Veterans in a more fun and social manner. Any event where civilians have an opportunity to interact with Veterans will build a foundation and support.

About Morai Logistics and Team True Patriot Love

Morai Logistics Inc. is a 3rd party logistics provider with an operating agency agreement representing Mode Transportation. They are a logistics team based in the Greater Toronto Area and do business throughout North America, specializing in cross-border logistics, especially Mexico.

They were the presenting sponsor to Team True Patriot Love, the only eight rider Canadian Cyclist Team that participated in the Race Across America (RAAM) for Canadian Veterans supporting True Patriot Love Foundation.

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Getting goods from A to B is a complex process, especially when the two locations don’t share a border. Globalization has made such journeys much more common. Whereas before countries and companies were limited to their immediate neighbours for trading partners, modern shipping allows them to take on a wider perspective.

The last 10 years has brought new technology to the world of shipping. It’s become much safer with improved safety standards and more efficient tools. However, while the current state of shipping is to be celebrated, new threats are on the horizon. If left unchecked, they may take a heavy toll on businesses and negatively impact entire supply chains.

A recent report was published by the Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS), an international insurer and asset manager. AGCS’s fifth annual Safety & Shipping Review 2017 highlighted several important trends concerning the state of global shipping.

• The last decade has seen a 50% reduction in large shipping losses.
• There were 85 total shipping losses reported in 2016. That’s 16% less than the previous year.
• The number of shipping casualties declined year-over-year around 4%.

Today we will be focusing our ebook on an analysis of this report and what it’s suggesting as today’s shipping standard based on the review on important trends in global shipping.

Today’s Shipping Landscape

That’s it for us this week! If you liked this blog post, why not subscribe to our blog? If you’re interested in what we do as a 3rd party logistics provider, don’t hesitate to check out our services (as expressed above, we are very pro finding you the lowest total cost!). We’re also in the twittersphere, so give us a follow to get the latest logistics and supply chain news.

The post eBook: New Report Shows How Shipping Standards Have Changed Over the Last Decade appeared first on Morai Logistics Inc..

Morai Logistics is proud to be the title sponsor of Team True Patriot Love (Team TPL), a team of eight Toronto cyclists that competed and successfully completed a race from coast-to-coast across the U.S. They competed in Race Across America, a grueling race that starts in Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland.

Team TPL competed in order to raise money for True Patriot Love Foundation, a charity for veterans, military and their families. Not only did these amazing racers come in second place, they beat the current Canadian record. Team TPL completed the race, cycling 3070 miles, in 5 days, 17 hours, and 56 minutes. The previous record was 6 days, 2 hours, and 21 minutes.

The Logistics of Cycling from Coast-to-Coast Across America

As a third-party logistics provider, we understand transportation. Getting from one side of the United States to the other is no easy task. The riders from Team True Patriot Love, as mentioned in our previous post, has to endure various extreme conditions. It’s not surprising that Outside Magazine labels the RAAM as the “the toughest test of endurance in the world.”

Despite being a relay, the race is a grueling 24hr non-stop journey over multiple days. Climbing more than 50,000+ vertical metres while taking on the mountain ranges of Sierra Nevada, The Rockies and The Appalachians. They also have to endure temperature swings from 55+ degrees Celsius across the desert to -5 atop mountain passes.

But the more interesting for us logistics industry professionals is the way that this all must be managed for the crew of the cyclists. This is on top of the way the race demands protocol and process in and of itself.

Managing Racers During Transitions is Its Own Supply Chain

The riders competed as two groups of four and had their own split of the total crew members. Eight racers were supported by a crew of 16 who handle the logistical aspects of supporting these riders across the entire journey, coupled with five support vehicles. This includes switching between riders, coordinating rest periods, and feeding both the riders and crew members over the ensuing week of non-stop racing.

We’ve collaborated with Team TPL to build a pre-race infographic to showcase some of the fun facts collected during training to achieve the impressive feat of beating the previous Canadian record. Check out their training facts below:

No Better Time to Support Canadian Veterans

In line with Canada’s 150th Anniversary, the money raised from this race goes to the True Patriot Love Foundation. Their mission: to inspire every Canadian to contribute to the resilience and well-being of our military, Veterans and their families. The foundation works closely with the Canadian Armed Forces, Department of Veteran Affairs and local grassroots organizations. They work together to clearly identify the most urgent needs of Canadian military families on a national scale, while avoiding duplication of efforts between all other supporting organizations.

The entire Morai Logistics team is extremely proud to have supported these riders for their journey! We couldn’t have chosen a better group of riders to support, and they have gone above and beyond with their performance!

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