Features Production Research
NAPTWG releases best practices guidelines

January
19, 2012 – The North American Produce Transportation Working Group (NAPTWG) has
announced the availability of the new North American Produce Transportation
Guidelines.

January
19, 2012 – The North American Produce Transportation Working Group (NAPTWG) has
announced the availability of the new North American Produce Transportation
Guidelines.

The
document integrates multiple existing transportation guidelines into one best
practices document which can be used throughout North America to ensure the
ongoing vitality of the carrier sector. These best practice guidelines were
agreed to by various stakeholders in the produce supply chain and were reviewed
and endorsed by the Blue Book and the Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC) to
ensure compliance with industry trading guidelines for North America.

The
NAPTWG, which represents produce transportation stakeholders from associations
and industry groups across North America, aims to provide necessary guidance
for seamless product movement and to ensure that the produce industry continues
to have sufficient access to carriers to meet the needs of the produce industry
in North America.

“The
new guidelines represent an incredible volume of work by industry associations
and produce organizations involved in the transport of fresh produce,” noted
David Dever, president and CEO of Sun World International and NAPTWG chairman.
“We all know how crucial ensuring the vitality of our carrier industry is to
the long term viability of the North American produce industry and this is one
tool to support that.”

Best
practices are generally accepted, informally standardized techniques, methods
or processes that have proven themselves over time to accomplish given tasks.
By following proper processes, checks and testing, a desired outcome can be
delivered more effectively with fewer problems and unforeseen complications. In
addition, a best practice can evolve to become better as improvements are
discovered. The NAPTWG compilation of best practice guidelines is intended to
be an evolving document to guide efficiency in produce transportation.

“Transportation
carriers are facing increasing costs and complexities today,” said David Owen,
president of National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC). “If we
don’t all play our part in assisting carriers and making produce a desirable
industry to do business in, we could face shortages of carriers in the future.
The guidelines should be used by all to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

The
document is available free of charge to the produce industry and carriers at www.naptwg.org.