Are you looking to buy or rent a reefer or refrigerated shipping container? ITS ConGlobal sells and leases portable, electric, and energy-efficient cold storage units that can keep your stuff cool.

Our nationwide network stocks a full line of new and reconditioned containers in a variety of sizes and configurations. Whatever your need our boxes are durable and reliable for cold storage. We work hard to give you the best quality at the lowest price, and our team can provide a local quote in little as 24 hours. Request a quote now.

The terms “reefer container” and “reefer” are short for “refrigerated container.” These containers maintain a stable temperature while controlling humidity and promoting adequate airflow. Climate control functionality keeps products inside from spoiling, resulting from too much heat, excessive moisture, and insufficient airflow or temperatures that drop too low.

Temperature-sensitive materials, such as food and pharmaceuticals, require temperature control to maintain freshness during transport, and reefers containers ensure goods arrive in pristine condition. All standard reefers maintain a temperature between +30° C and -30° C for chilled and frozen cargo. A percentage of the global reefer fleet can maintain temperatures down to -35° C or even lower. Special containers or super freezers can maintain a temperature of -70° C.

Supply chain and chilled cargo

The cold chain industry saw rapid growth in 2020 due to the pandemic, and the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine made cold chains one of the critical supply chain topics throughout 2021.

Photo credit: Phantom Auto

Cold chains are supply chains that specialize in the planning, storing, loading, and movement of temperature-sensitive products. Moving freight that requires temperature control involves many moving parts to work seamlessly.

When planning a cold shipment, the shipper and carrier must work together to select the correct equipment to transport the goods to their final destination. International shipping has significant hurdles to cross because products may require movement to different containers to comply with food safety standards, reducing the growth of bacteria, spoilage, and timely delivery.

Most LTL or less-than-truckload carriers maintain cold-storage staging depots that permit them to keep products outside their ‘danger zone’ temperature tolerance. When the shipment is ready for movement, freight carriers quickly load cargo in temperature-controlled containers.

Cold supply chains and customer demand

When consumers saw empty freezer cases in grocery stores, it was apparent that cold supply chains must move efficiently to keep up with consumer demand and the trend of stockpiling frozen food. Modern equipment and design ensure shipping containers are resilient, but freight damage risk exists because of shipping delays.

Refrigerated reefers provide short-term storage solutions to offer relief to pandemic stockpiling.

Consumer behavior dramatically changed after the pandemic, and as confidence grew in online grocery shopping, the need for more cold storage has surged. As the industry adjusts to the unprecedented demand for cold storage warehouses closer to the consumer, refrigerated reefers provide short-term storage solutions to offer relief.

The many uses of climate-controlled containers

Reefers have decades of use transporting perishable and delicate materials like meat, fish, dairy, vegetables, flowers and plants, blood plasma, film, and reagents for testing that would go bad during a long ocean crossing. While refrigerated shipping containers’ primary use is for moving cold cargo, there are many other uses.

Whether you want to rent a reefer or refrigerated container, ITSC has the solution to meet our customers’ unique needs. We offer temporary and long-term storage options for the domestic market. And we are always amazed to see the creative ways our customers use these cold storage units.

An instant cold room

Our customers create instant cold rooms once their refrigerated container is delivered and plugged in. This option is particularly popular with festival and event organizers, restaurants, and grocery stores during peak seasons like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Mobile labs or testing centers

A reefer container makes an excellent mobile lab because it is secure, weatherproof, durable, and temperature controlled. The design and manufacturing of shipping container labs happen off-site, and the controlled environment is delivered ready for use.

Emergency response due to disasters

When disaster strikes, a reefer shipping container can quickly move vast quantities of medicine, food, and other life-saving goods to bring relief to areas that have suffered a disaster.

Expanded options for food banks

Refrigerated containers allow food banks to accept larger volumes of food. Storing goods in a temperature-controlled environment extends the shelf-life allowing the distribution of donated food goods to the community before spoilage.

House goods during a facility upgrade or remodel

Customers transfer cold goods to refrigerated units during facility upgrades or store and quickly restock merchandise due to the supply chain disruption.

Store ice for construction sites

Southern states use refrigerated containers to store ice for concrete pours. Ice is far more effective at controlling concrete temperature than cold water. Using ice helps slow down the cement hydration process allowing the mixture to process and achieve optimal strength.

The types of reefer or refrigerated containers our customers buy or rent

Like standard one-trip containers, one-trip reefers have made only one trip across the ocean and will arrive in excellent condition with all components working reliably.

New, one-trip containers

ITS ConGlobal offers brand new 10′, 20′, and 40′ reefers equipped with new Carrier refrigeration units. These units have stainless steel exteriors and interiors, and double rear doors. They can maintain -30° F to 80° F. Each new reefer we sell includes a 5-Year factory warranty.

Used and refurbished units

ITS ConGlobal also offers used seagoing refrigerated containers in two standard sizes, 20′ x 8′ and 40′ x 8′. Every used reefer container undergoes rigorous testing by our trained and certified onsite technicians, confirming that every unit can hold precise and consistent temperatures and we replace any questionable components.

You can trust the quality of our work, ITS ConGlobal is a certified dealer and service provider for the leading refrigeration companies Carrier, Thermoking, Daikin, and Starcool.

10-foot custom reefers are perfect when space is limited. The box ‘shell’ is all-new and is made to specification. These units feature stainless steel interior and exterior walls, and they are 10′ x 8′ wide by 8’6″ tall, with double doors at the rear. Add flexibility to off-shore rigs, transport boats, or barge applications by adding a sized-to-fit new or refurbished refrigeration machine. We have equipment rated for 460V and 40A services, and we also carry 15KVA and 230V options. We offer new Magnum units for customers who need a freezer or chiller temps from -35° C to 30° C.

Multi-purpose units with segmented sections

Multi-temperature (dual temp) reefers are great when storing frozen and chilled products in the same container. We modify one of our standard storage containers by installing a partition, making two compartments controlled separately. Want to add a section? No problem, slide the bulkhead accordingly.

As an industry leader, we can help you buy or rent a reefer or refrigerated container for your exact needs at a great price. Request a quote today.

The basic components of a reefer 

Before we dive into the refrigeration components, it is vital to call out how the flooring system impacts the function and reliability of the reefer. There are two common types of floor for refrigerated trailers—flat flooring for pallets or refer duct also known as corrugated, T floors.

Walk-in storage or storage with shelving units works best with flat floors, and we see these floors used in restaurants or grocery stores. They are also suitable for using moveable diver walls called bulkheads to create multiple temperature zones because bulkheads can seal tightly on the floor surface. Flat floors are not prone to collecting debris or snag pallets and are easier to clean.

Reefer duct floors, also known as corrugated T floors, can serve a variety of loads. This aluminum flooring usually consists of extruded “T” planks running the entire container length. These slightly raised planks allow the air to circulate across the bottom of the container to the double doors and push air back to the refrigeration unit, maximizing airflow and even temperature distribution. T floors are rated for forklift traffic.

The basic components of a reefer refrigeration system 

Refrigeration units consist of a compressor, controller, evaporator fans, fresh air vents, the unit evaporator, and condenser sections that operate together to maintain the temperature inside the container. All reefer containers also can heat their insulated interior using hot gas heat or electrical heating elements.

• Evaporator fans are located inside the reefer to circulate air and promote adequate temperature control and stability.
• The controller is a computer that manages setpoints for specific interior temperature, alarm conditions, and ventilation and humidity levels.
• The fresh air vent pulls air from the outside and allows gases inside the container, such as a riping agent ethylene gas, to leave the container.
• Excess moisture in a reefer can damage products, quicken food spoilage, and break down packaging. The evaporator section can either heat or cool the air circulating past the fan. In some instances, the reefer controls will switch between heat and cooling modes to maintain the desired internal temperature. The evaporator section pulls air from the top of the container and discharges it under the cargo, pushing air towards the back doors. The air rises and flows back over the load to the air inlet. Freight must be appropriately loaded and covered inside the container to allow airflow below the cargo preventing the ‘chimney’ effect or short cycling.
• Condensers are cooled by air or water. The most common type is air-cooled, and cooling happens in the external coil and fan of the unit.
• Reefer containers operate on 480V, 3 Phase electricity. If the supply voltage at a particular site is different, use a step-up Voltage transformer to provide proper voltage to the reefer. The most common step-up transformers are 230V to 480V and 208V to 480V. It is imperative to know the site voltage to supply the proper transformer. Supplying improper voltage can damage the reefer and reduce service life.

When refrigerated containers are transported on land by rail or truck, they don’t have access to power on a vessel, within the port, or at a container yard/depot. Instead, they rely on a generator set or Genset for powering their refrigeration components. There are two types of Gensets—a clip-on unit attached to the front or side of the refrigerated container and underslung Gensets, which mount beneath the frame on the chassis.

Maintaining your investment

Regular inspections and proper use, maintenance, and servicing are essential to keeping reefer containers in good shape and sound working order.

Pre-trip inspections are required to ensure customers receive safe and clean containers with efficiently functioning temperature-regulating machinery. ITS ConGlobal pre-trip inspections include high-pressure cleaning to remove dirt and odor, internal review to ensure the environment meets specifications like food grade, and machinery checks to ensure the proper functioning and industry standards.

Only use qualified technicians

ITS ConGlobal has on-site trained technicians

Only qualified technicians should repair and maintain refrigerated containers to prevent temperature fluctuations and failures of a fully-loaded container. To maintain peak performance, here are a few tips:

• Periodic cleaning of reefer condenser coils using a water washout or compressed air.
• Clean floor drains of debris to ensure any water can drain from the interior.
• Monitor temperature readouts and monitor for displayed alarm codes.
• If your unit displays an alarm code, seek out service.
• Monitor the digital controllers that feed (air temp) and control signals.
• Minimize opening the door during use. If the door must remain open, turn off the unit at the main switch to minimize drawing in hot, moist air into the unit.
• Properly load your reefer taking care not to block airflow. Follow the indicated maximum stack height on the interior walls.

ITS ConGlobal offers full-service maintenance and repair for refrigerated containers, and our trained and certified technicians perform the work onsite. Our fully-stocked mobile service fleet allows our teams to perform in-service and emergency repairs at our location or yours. Learn more about our maintenance and repair options.

How to pack a reefer to guarantee goods arrive in pristine condition

When shipping refrigerated goods for a long journey, it’s critical to pack that cargo container to maximize its cooling abilities and avoid hot or cold spots. Following the simple principles below will help you avoid costly spoilage mistakes.

Pre-cool your cargo to shipping temperature. Each reefer shipping container comes with a refrigeration unit that helps keep the goods cold in transport from point a to point b. It doesn’t make sense to stuff room temperature or warmer cargo into a cooling unit. It will cause your reefer to work overtime and may affect the quality of the goods during travel.

Prep the container. Set the container to the desired temperature and vent setting. Keep the vents closed with frozen loads, and if you wish, open the vents with refrigerated loads. Opening the vents allows gases to escape that could otherwise affect your cargo’s freshness. Before packing your container, switch off the machinery to reduce condensation.

Begin packing or stuffing your cargo. To clarify, stuffing in this context refers to the skill or art of packing a refrigerated container to a maximum optimal capacity, not shoving, ramming, cramming, or forcefully filling something in. The type of goods and packaging will influence how the stuffing occurs so that air circulates appropriately through the packages.

Generally, there are two reefer cargo patterns to consider. Grouping goods together based on their specific destination is called block stowage. This method is often chosen for non-palletized goods and aims to speed up off-loading and minimize other goods’ disturbance in the same container. Palletized stowage refers to goods that are stowed securely onto a pallet. Box edges must align with the corners of the pallet, and it is imperative to position box air holes to support unrestricted airflow within the products.

Helpful tips for packing

Regardless of the goods, you are loading, here are some helpful tips to ensure the air within your refrigerated container is circulating correctly.

Do’s

• Pack cargo tightly and make sure it is stable to prevent shifting
• Set the unit at the correct temperature for the cargo
• Check the dehumidification controls
• Pre-cool the cargo if required
• Set correct ventilation settings

Don’ts

• Stow the cargo above the load line
• Stow cargo past the end of the T-floor
• Allow any restrictions to block the flow of air
• Pre-cool the container unless it’s in cold storage in an airlocked cold tunnel
• Allow gaps between the pallets and the door

Experts forecast the demand for dry and refrigerated to remain high in 2022 and beyond. As the leader in the container industry since 1968, ITS ConGlobal has the expertise and network footprint needed to source the equipment you need, where you need it for a competitive price.

Contact our expert cold storage team today for more information or to buy or lease a reefer or refrigerated container. We’re also happy to share our knowledge of temperature-controlled solutions.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Refrigerated or Reefer Shipping Containers appeared first on ITS Conglobal.

The mighty shipping container. Designed for rough crossings and handling. Their job is simple: protecting goods from theft and damage during storage or shipping. Because containers are used and reused, they will experience some wear and tear. Some wear won’t impact the security of goods, but damage can cause frustration if they leak or if they are rejected by shipping lines for unfitness. Don’t get caught with a sub-par container. Be a savvy consumer and protect your investment and cargo by learning how to inspect a shipping container like a pro.

Don’t feel ready to go it alone? ITS ConGlobal is your go-to expert in container sales. Connect with our top-notch sales team who will assist you every step of the way.

A brief history of shipping containers

Most of us don’t give the humble shipping container much thought. But this simple invention revolutionized shipping and global trade.

Before shipping containers were invented, goods were loaded into sacks, barrels, wooden crates, or simply wrapped in sheets. This method is known as break-bulk shipping. The work was labor-intensive, expensive, and slow. It could take up to 3 weeks to unload and load each ship.

In 1952 American road-hauler and entrepreneur Malcolm McLean saw an opportunity to cut costs and speed up the movement of goods. He imagined lifting his trailers onto ships without touching the contents. McLean sold his trucking company in 1956 and purchased the Pan Atlantic Tanker Company soon after.

Fueled by perseverance, McLean quickly started converting a World War II oil tanker into a ship capable of carrying containers. Ideal X made her maiden voyage on April 26, 1956, sailing from New Jersey to Texas carrying 58 metal containers and 15,000 tons of petroleum.

McLean’s ‘big box’ idea was a success. In 1968 the International Standards Organization standardized his invention. Each standardized box measures 20 feet long, 8 feet high, and 8 feet wide.

The anatomy of a container

Before you can inspect a container like a pro, you must understand the basic anatomy of a shipping container.

Modern shipping containers are almost indestructible because of their Corten steel structure. Alloys distinguish Corten steel from other types of steel. It is unique because it is weldable and developed to resist harsh weather and corrosion, making containers nearly indestructible.

The main structural components of a shipping container are:

• The roof—is made of Corten steel sheets with corrugated profiles to give the roof strength and rigidity
• Side walls—are corrugated to provide added strength
• Flooring—consists of 28mm laminated Marine plywood
• Cross members—structural components that make up the floor along with forklift pockets
• Top/bottom rails—the rails form the frame of the container. Top rails can be either box section profiles or 10mm flat bar profiles.
• Corner posts—made of 10mm high-tensile steel
• Doors, fittings, CSC plate—doors open 180 degrees, and fittings like hinge pins, lock rods, locking cams and keepers, door handles, door brackets and lockboxes keep cargo secure. Each unit has a Container Safety Convention or CSC plate on the left-hand door.

China produces more than 90 percent of the sea containers globally. The units are built to last decades when properly stored and maintained. The average service life is 10-12 years in harsh environments like the sea, and afterward, they can be refurbished and repurposed for many other purposes.

Looking for more information? Check out our guide to shipping containers.

The main reasons for container damage

Freightwaves states, “One out of four containers that pass through US ports gets damaged at some interchange points.” Damage usually falls into three major categories human error, weather, natural disasters, or incorrect handling or accidents.

Once you understand the most common types of damage, you will boost your ability to catch sneaky issues like a pro.

How to avoid human error

Avoiding damage starts with selecting the correct container for your intended purpose. People buy steel shipping containers for shipping goods overseas, building and DIY projects, and agricultural and residential storage. Each situation calls for different container capabilities, and how and where you plan to use the container dictates which is the best choice.

Not sure what the best choice is? No problem, our Customer Engagement Center is staffed with expert help—tap to talk now at 800-255-4835. Or, check out our 5-Step Guide to Buying a Shipping container.

Bad stowing is another human error to avoid and can damage our shipping container and ruin your cargo. Overloading the container, unevenly distributing the weight, loosely tying up cargo, or insufficient use of dunnage can cause cargo to sway during transport. Bad stowing damages freight by creating excess moisture, contamination, infestation, or reefer-related damage.

Understanding how the weather impacts shipping containers

When cargo is transported through international supply routes, shipping containers experience extreme temperature shifts that can lead to damaged goods.

Weather is unpredictable and can cause internal and external damage to shipping containers. The moisture-filled ocean air can get trapped in the container, settling in the colder areas. When the container moves to a hotter region, the moisture condenses into water and climbs on the walls and ceiling. Then the water drips down, causing container rain or container sweat. This condition results in rusting and corrosion of the container walls.

Because of their rugged steel structure, shipping containers can withstand extreme weather conditions like snow and freezing temperatures, wildfires, heavy rains, and even tornados. While the steel is corrosion-resistant, it is not rustproof.

How containers are damaged through handling or accidents

Container damages happen while the unit is loaded or unloaded. Inexperienced operators can cause punctures or dents, stack them unevenly, or drop containers. Depending on the damage severity and proactive repairs, the container may continue in-service.

Over the years, we’ve seen many types of damage, but the most common are:

• Broken container doors—can happen to bad handling, careless security of the doors, road accidents, or being pried open by thieves.
• Dents, scratches, or holes—repeated handling can cause blemishes on boxes, but more extensive damage can happen because of poor handling, scraping against other containers, or road accidents.
• Dropped container—overloaded containers behave unexpectedly, and handling can be complex.
• Road accidents or train derailments—are unexpected events that exceed speed limits, bad weather, road or rail conditions, and driver fatigue.
• Heat damage—condensation is known as container rain, or sweat can ruin cargo and degrade the container itself. But incorrectly storing or segregating goods can also cause fire hazards.

How to inspect a container like a pro

Now that you understand the history, anatomy, and how containers end up damaged, let’s talk about how to inspect a shipping container like a pro.

Take a look at the outside of the container:

1. Check the corners and seams. You can expect to see some wear or minor damage. But the damage to the welded connections is not ok. Pro tip: watch for warping, rust, corrosion, and cracks. This signals structural integrity issues.
2. Read the CSC plate. The external plate will spell the manufacturer’s name and origin date. Many shipping containers include their maintenance history. Before use, you will want to remove any previously added placards or markings.
3. Check out the doors and locks. Swing the doors open and shut. Make sure the door closes tightly, and the locks are undamaged.
4. Inspect the roof. Look for damage, cracks, deep dents, and corrosion. These can weaken the integrity of the unit.
5. Pay special attention to any blemishes on the surface. Expect to see minimal surface scratches and dents. Pro tip: pay extra attention to areas that have structural rust.

Look inside the container:

1. Look for cracks and leaks. Pro tip: step inside the container and close the door. Look for light peeking through the cracks. If you see it, the container is not watertight.
2. Make sure it’s dry, clean, and odorless. Pro tip: Confirm that no chemicals, stains, or corrosives are left inside.
3. Inspect for protrusions. If you plan to ship or store goods in your shipping container, look for nails or screws that could puncture your cargo.
4. If relevant, inspect the temperature controls. Turn on the refrigeration and heating units and confirm they are working. Then, set the correct temperature for your purpose and verify the unit can deliver and hold that set point.
5. Look for wear and tear. Worn paint, floors, and used fittings are standard. However, look for warping. Anything that is greater than 50mm should raise a flag.

Here are some other tips:

If you are an online shopper, ask retailers for photos of the exact unit you plan to purchase. This will allow you to decide if the shipping container is in an acceptable condition for the intended use.

Bring a camera with you if you visit a container yard or port. Take photos to document the condition and take notes so you can remember the details. Snapping a photo of the CSC plate and unit markings is a good idea. This will allow you to recall the unit and confirm that the CSC is up-to-date.

Inspect the shipping container with your eyes and your nose. Used containers have a wide variety of smells—tires, chemicals, hay, cow hides, etc. A foul smell often happens because the shipping container has been closed for too long. Leaving the doors open for a few days may solve the problem. Weird smells could be a sign of contamination.

Rust is a cosmetic concern, but cancerous rust is a rare but severe problem. Unlike usual exterior rust, cancerous rust eats deep into the steel and bubbles under the paint. Extensive wart-like lumps under the paint are the most obvious sign. We don’t recommend buying containers with cancerous rust.

If you are in the market for a refrigerated container, plug them in and power them up. Make sure they can achieve your specified temperature and hold it for a defined amount of time.

ITS ConGlobal knows what matters.

Meeting the needs of our customers is built into everything we do. We believe in providing up-front and transparent pricing and an honest representation of the condition of every piece of equipment. Every shipping and storage container is personally inspected and photographed, so you can make the best buying decision—in person or online. This attention to detail eliminates any surprises at delivery.

Our sales team stands ready to provide you with the most up-to-date local pricing. 5-Step Guide to Buying a Shipping container to get your quote started.

The post How to Inspect a Container Like a Pro appeared first on ITS Conglobal.

FORT WORTH, Texas, October 12, 2022—ITS ConGlobal (“ITSC”) is proud to introduce VeriSpot, the industry’s first AI-powered, automated inventory management system built for facilities that need to track and manage inventory continuously.

ITS ConGlobal has redefined inventory management with VeriSpot a next-generation mobile inventory system that mounts on existing facility or yard equipment so customers can see their terminal with low-cost, precisely accurate, real-time equipment positioning, open parking/capacity, trackside equipment, and the status at dock doors.

As site staff works their daily missions, VeriSpot’s high-resolution cameras and AI data-inferencing identify, classify, and locate equipment on both sides of a row in a matter of moments. Never-stale data is transmitted from the truck to the cloud or receiving Terminal Operating System (TOS) without adding site infrastructure.

ITS ConGlobal’s Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Technology, Seana Fairchild, said, “After operating terminals across North America for more than six decades, we are intimately familiar with the challenges and day-to-day problems operators need to solve.”

Fairchild continued, “Our ability to commercialize technology and then scale its use is largely due to embedding the tech within our own daily operations. Manual yard checks often become a slowdown for busy manufacturing facilities, warehouses, intermodal terminals, ports, or distribution centers. Assets are always moving, so the inventory is outdated as soon as a check is complete. VeriSpot changes that reality. What once took four hours or more can now be automated and refreshed in as little as twenty minutes, putting valuable data into the operator’s hands.”

Empowering teams to efficiently operate their facilities has always been core to ITS ConGlobal’s mission of taking care of each other, our customers, and our business.

From terminal operators to inventory managers, freight coordinators, production planners, or customer service representatives, VeriSpot provides the entire team (and even outside entities) with information so every role can make decisions faster with greater accuracy and confidence.

Key features:

The post The Industry’s First AI-Powered Automated Inventory System VeriSpot, Developed by ITS ConGlobal appeared first on ITS Conglobal.

FORT WORTH, Texas, October 18, 2022—ITS ConGlobal (“ITSC”) is pleased to announce that it has been named a Transport Sector Leader by GRESB for its sustainability leadership in 2022. The GRESB Section Leaders are the best performers by sector from across the GRESB Assessments.

ITS ConGlobal also received a 5-star rating based on the GRESB Score and the quintile position an entity occupies relative to all entities participating in the assessment. Each year, 20% of entities receive a GRESB 5-Star Rating.

Each year, GRESB assesses and benchmarks the ESG performance of assets worldwide, providing clarity and insights to financial markets on complex sustainability topics.

The GRESB Assessments are guided by what investors and the industry consider to be material issues in sustainability performance and alignment of investments with international reporting frameworks, goals, and emerging regulations. The GRESB ESG Benchmark grew this year to cover more than USD 8.6 trillion of assets under management, up from USD 6.4 trillion the year before.

ITS ConGlobal’s CEO Brant Ring said, “Our company mission is to take care of each other, our customers, and our business. This mission includes taking care of the communities—and the planet—we call home. Facing our shared climate challenge requires ambition, action, accountability, and care. That is our daily mission, and we are set for the task.”

Sebastien Roussotte, CEO of GRESB, punctuated Ring’s sentiment by saying, “ESG reporting is now more important than ever before. In order to achieve the Paris Agreement goals and move closer to a net-zero future, transparency and accountability are key. Through GRESB participation, organizations are making a significant contribution to creating a more sustainable future for all.”

Learn more about the transformation, collaboration, and expanding impact we experienced in 2021 in our annual sustainability report.

About ITS ConGlobal

ITS ConGlobal (ITSC) is North America’s leading operator of intermodal, finished vehicle, and depot service terminals. With operations across the US, Mexico, and Costa Rica and over 50 years of industrial experience, ITSC serves as the industry’s go-to terminal operations expert. ITSC’s service and product offerings anchor on complementing specialized industrial equipment operations with advanced, technology-enabled systems and processes.

The post Transport Section Leader, 5-Star GRESB Rating appeared first on ITS Conglobal.

MILLERSBURG—On December 15th, Governor Brown, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Linn County Economic Development Group (LEDG), and ITS ConGlobal celebrated the grand opening of a new intermodal center that that will alleviate transportation challenges in the Willamette Valley and Central / Southern Oregon.

The Mid-Willamette Valley Intermodal Center (MVIC) is a truck/rail intermodal facility. The MVIC supports transitioning truck volume to environmentally friendly rail, and provides shippers competitive options for receiving imports and exporting their products to international markets.

At the ceremony, Governor Kate Brown spoke about the impact on Oregon “it will take our trucks, although we love our trucks, off highways in congested areas including Portland, Seattle, and Tacoma regions helping to reduce bottlenecks and greenhouse gases in the Pacific Northwest.”

ITS ConGlobal is the operator of the 64-acre property owned by the Albany-Millersburg Economic Development Corp and is located in the town of Millersburg, just north of Albany. The terminal features three train tracks, a gantry cranes and other material handling equipment to transfer containers between trucks and railcars. The center expects to handle 40,000 containers a year.

CEO Brant Ring noted, “this has been a great example of the private and public sectors working collaboratively for the stakeholders they serve. Our terminal experts have enjoyed working with the extended project team, and we appreciate the support from the Union Pacific and the Northwest Seaport Alliance.”

“This is a first-of-its-kind project for us at ODOT and for the legislatively directed Connect Oregon program,” shared ODOT Director Kris Strickler. “We have never developed a major freight intermodal transfer hub. Connect Oregon has never taken a site used for something else and turned it into a non-highway funded transportation facility.”

Linn County Commissioner Roger Nyquist shared with the nearly 200 attendees, “Our region has a long history of producing products that are beneficial to people around the world, from two-by-fours to the food people put on their dinner plates,” Nyquist said. “This intermodal facility increases the likelihood that producers of these products will have ample transportation access to those markets which use them long into the future.”

Potential shippers using the facility include Karla Chambers and her family’s company Stahlbush Island Farms. Karla spoke at the ceremony and emphasized, “with diesel costs going up, labor costs going up, we need to help our customers get their prices down. This will make all of us in the Willamette Valley more competitive.”

The post Mid-Willamette Valley Intermodal Center Opens appeared first on ITS Conglobal.

2020 was the year that brought sweeping changes to the way we live, work, and run businesses. The circumstances created by the pandemic drove home the importance of digitization and automation for smooth operations. Many logistics companies, like ConGlobal, took this cue and began scaling technologies like AI, remote operations, and automation to increase throughput, responsiveness, and asset utilization.

Our partnership with Phantom Auto

Before closing out 2020, we announced our strategic partnership with Phantom Auto. Phantom is the leading remote operation software provider that enables humans to operate all industrial and logistics equipment remotely. Shortly after that announcement, we took delivery of our first drive-by-wire truck. Then we began using our North American depot network as a sandbox environment to deploy remote operations and distanced driver training.

“From the very beginning, we’ve been very intentional about how we would scale our remote operations,” shared Brett Rogers, ConGlobal’s VP of Advanced Solutions. “Yard trucks operate in unstructured environments, and the current autonomous technologies cannot account for every possible scenario the vehicle might encounter. An infinite number of edge cases could arise and render the autonomous solution inoperable.”

Instead, ConGlobal has adopted a remote-first approach.

In our remote-first approach, a human operator controls and executes all aspects of the yard truck’s workflow. The remote operator can be at the same site as the truck or fully remote because the video feeds from the cameras mounted on the vehicle provide situational awareness to the driver’s console.

Unlike autonomous systems, which often only address portions of the workflow, our approach provides immediate value by managing the entire workflow, including edge cases. Adopting a remote-first approach allows us to match the maturity of evolving technology to the specific needs of the operation, and honor site and corporate priorities.

A faster path to ROI

In addition to providing a shorter path to ROI, our remote-first approach creates the potential to realize additional efficiencies when automation is eventually deemed appropriate.

Focusing on human-centric remote operation first and then adding incremental, opportunistic automation propels our program forward. We can effortlessly scale remote operations to new sites and handle scenarios and edge cases with standardized processes and repeatable results. As we take delivery of new equipment, we can quickly commission the truck with minimal planning, and because our workflows are virtually identical to manually operated trucks, onsite or remote employees onboard in a snap.

If you’re interested in learning more about our remote operations, please reach out to Brett Rogers or Matt Kozar on LinkedIn.

The post Scaling Remote Operations, our Roadmap for Success appeared first on ITS Conglobal.

Global accelerator joins with industry heavyweights
to unleash supply-chain and logistics innovation at scale

Jan. 31, 2023 // ZEBOX, the international accelerator and innovation hub for the supply chain, logistics, and Industry 4.0 spaces, today announced new strategic partnerships with Blume Global, the multimodal supply-chain orchestration leader, and ConGlobal, the integrated intermodal services giant. The two industry leaders will work with ZEBOX America’s growing roster of disruptive supply-chain and logistics startups to drive sustainable innovation at a global scale.

“ZEBOX is committed to supporting transformative innovation by brokering connections between the logistics industry’s most experienced incumbents and brightest newcomers,” said Charley Dehoney, Vice President of ZEBOX AMERICA. “With the addition of Blume Global and ConGlobal, we’re bolstering our corporate partner portfolio with two of the most powerful supply chain businesses around, and providing our startups with access to unparalleled expertise and growth opportunities.”

Launched in 2018 by Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions, ZEBOX has helped over 100 startups raise tens of millions of dollars in venture funding, hire top talent, accelerate product development, and chart a path to growth. ZEBOX America’s expanding portfolio of corporate partners — which includes BNSF Railway, Cargomatic, CEVA Logistics, EDRAY, Ingram Industries, project44, the Port of Virginia, and TRAC Intermodal — supports that mission while benefiting from exclusive early access to revolutionary new technologies and investment opportunities.

Joining these industry leaders today are two supply chain stalwarts:

The addition of Blume Global and ConGlobal represents further progress in ZEBOX’s bold U.S. expansion plan, fueled by a dynamic group of corporate partners that are already supporting the innovation success for ZEBOX America’s portfolio of startups working to reimagine and revitalize the supply chain, logistics, mobility and Industry 4.0 sectors.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming Blume Global and ConGlobal to our rapidly expanding network of ZEBOX partners and startups around the world,” said Gwen Salley, CEO of ZEBOX. “The single largest problem facing established logistics players is how to leverage new technologies and processes at scale. By pairing these corporate leaders with exciting, early-stage startups fizzing with game-changing ideas, we’re helping shape the future of supply chains in the U.S., and beyond.”

“Blume Global and ZEBOX share a passion for innovation and establishing themselves as contributors in creating tomorrow’s supply chain today,” said Pervinder Johar, CEO of Blume Global. “Collaboration is a key driver of change, and through the power of strategic partnerships like these, as well as creating an environment that fosters innovation, the possibilities for breakthrough technologies are endless.”

“We have a track record of partnering with start-up organizations to develop ready-now, transformative solutions. These partnerships are bringing technology for operators, by operators, to the market. ZEBOX enables us to work even more closely with global supply chain leaders and start-ups to accelerate this solution development & deployment, for the good of the transportation & logistics sector,” Brant Ring, CEO ConGlobal.

About ZEBOX

ZEBOX propels innovation through its incubator and accelerator for early-stage startups from around the world. Founded in 2018 by Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, a global leader in sea, land, air and logistics solutions and now supported by 15 industry leaders, ZEBOX is especially focused on supply chain innovation in the transportation/logistics/mobility and Industry 4.0 realms. ZEBOX innovation hubs prioritize meaningful connections between entrepreneurs and established corporations, maximizing the potential of new technologies from AI to robotics in order to hasten digitalization, automation, and sustainability.

Headquartered in Marseille, France, ZEBOX  launched its third hub in America in February 2021 under the leadership of Charley Dehoney, an established tech entrepreneur known for his transportation, supply chain, and logistics technology expertise. To learn more about ZEBOX and its programs, visit www.ze-box.io/en/.

The post ZEBOX Partners With ConGlobal to Drive Sector-Wide Innovation appeared first on ITS Conglobal.

2020 was the year that brought sweeping changes to the way we live, work, and run businesses. The circumstances created by the pandemic drove home the importance of digitization and automation for smooth operations. Many logistics companies, like ConGlobal, took this cue and began scaling technologies like AI, remote operations, and automation to increase throughput, responsiveness, and asset utilization.

Our partnership with Phantom Auto

Before closing out 2020, we announced our strategic partnership with Phantom Auto. Phantom is the leading remote operation software provider that enables humans to operate all industrial and logistics equipment remotely. Shortly after that announcement, we took delivery of our first drive-by-wire truck. Then we began using our North American depot network as a sandbox environment to deploy remote operations and distanced driver training.

“From the very beginning, we’ve been very intentional about how we would scale our remote operations,” shared Brett Rogers, ConGlobal’s VP of Advanced Solutions. “Yard trucks operate in dynamic, complex environments, and the current autonomous technologies cannot account for every possible scenario the vehicle might encounter. An infinite number of edge cases could arise and render the autonomous solution inoperable.”

Instead, ConGlobal has adopted a remote-first approach.

In our remote-first approach, a human operator controls and executes all aspects of the yard truck’s workflow. The remote operator can be at the same site as the truck or fully remote because the video feeds from the cameras mounted on the vehicle provide situational awareness to the driver’s console.

Unlike autonomous systems, which often only address portions of the workflow, our approach provides immediate value by managing the entire workflow, including edge cases. Adopting a remote-first approach allows us to match the maturity of evolving technology to the specific needs of the operation, and honor site and corporate priorities.

A faster path to ROI

In addition to providing a shorter path to ROI, our remote-first approach creates the potential to realize additional efficiencies when automation is eventually deemed appropriate.

Focusing on human-centric remote operation first and then adding incremental, opportunistic automation propels our program forward. We can effortlessly scale remote operations to new sites and handle scenarios and edge cases with standardized processes and repeatable results. As we take delivery of new equipment, we can quickly commission the truck with minimal planning, and because our workflows are virtually identical to manually operated trucks, onsite or remote employees onboard in a snap.

If you’re interested in learning more about our remote operations, please reach out to Brett Rogers or Matt Kozar on LinkedIn.

The post Scaling Remote Operations, our Roadmap for Success appeared first on ConGlobal.

Global accelerator joins with industry heavyweights to unleash supply-chain and logistics innovation at scale

Jan. 31, 2023 // ZEBOX, the international accelerator and innovation hub for the supply chain, logistics, and Industry 4.0 spaces, today announced new strategic partnerships with Blume Global, the multimodal supply-chain orchestration leader, and ConGlobal, the integrated intermodal services giant. The two industry leaders will work with ZEBOX America’s growing roster of disruptive supply-chain and logistics startups to drive sustainable innovation at a global scale.

“ZEBOX is committed to supporting transformative innovation by brokering connections between the logistics industry’s most experienced incumbents and brightest newcomers,” said Charley Dehoney, Vice President of ZEBOX AMERICA. “With the addition of Blume Global and ConGlobal, we’re bolstering our corporate partner portfolio with two of the most powerful supply chain businesses around, and providing our startups with access to unparalleled expertise and growth opportunities.”

Launched in 2018 by Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions, ZEBOX has helped over 100 startups raise tens of millions of dollars in venture funding, hire top talent, accelerate product development, and chart a path to growth. ZEBOX America’s expanding portfolio of corporate partners — which includes BNSF Railway, Cargomatic, CEVA Logistics, EDRAY, Ingram Industries, project44, the Port of Virginia, and TRAC Intermodal — supports that mission while benefiting from exclusive early access to revolutionary new technologies and investment opportunities.

Joining these industry leaders today are two supply chain stalwarts:

• Blume Global, a multimodal supply chain orchestration platform that unites end-to-end visibility, supplier management, and logistics execution. As the single source of truth for logistics data, Blume Global provides visibility throughout the value chain, from sourcing to delivery, enabling customers to navigate disruptions, react before minor issues become major problems, and remain agile during times of uncertainty. Blume Global is also an industry leader when it comes to sustainability, streamlining logistics to reduce emissions and remove $1 trillion of waste from the global supply chain.
• ITS ConGlobal (ConGlobal), ConGlobal is North America’s leading operator of intermodal, finished vehicle, and depot service terminals. With operations across the U.S., Mexico, and Costa Rica and over 50 years of industrial experience, ConGlobal serves as the industry’s go-to terminal operations expert. ConGlobal’s service and product offerings anchor on complementing specialized industrial equipment operations with advanced, technology-enabled systems and processes.

The addition of Blume Global and ConGlobal represents further progress in ZEBOX’s bold U.S. expansion plan, fueled by a dynamic group of corporate partners that are already supporting the innovation success for ZEBOX America’s portfolio of startups working to reimagine and revitalize the supply chain, logistics, mobility and Industry 4.0 sectors.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming Blume Global and ConGlobal to our rapidly expanding network of ZEBOX partners and startups around the world,” said Gwen Salley, CEO of ZEBOX. “The single largest problem facing established logistics players is how to leverage new technologies and processes at scale. By pairing these corporate leaders with exciting, early-stage startups fizzing with game-changing ideas, we’re helping shape the future of supply chains in the U.S., and beyond.”

“Blume Global and ZEBOX share a passion for innovation and establishing themselves as contributors in creating tomorrow’s supply chain today,” said Pervinder Johar, CEO of Blume Global. “Collaboration is a key driver of change, and through the power of strategic partnerships like these, as well as creating an environment that fosters innovation, the possibilities for breakthrough technologies are endless.”

“We have a track record of partnering with start-up organizations to develop ready-now, transformative solutions. These partnerships are bringing technology for operators, by operators, to the market. ZEBOX enables us to work even more closely with global supply chain leaders and start-ups to accelerate this solution development & deployment, for the good of the transportation & logistics sector,” Brant Ring, CEO ConGlobal.

About ZEBOX

ZEBOX propels innovation through its incubator and accelerator for early-stage startups from around the world. Founded in 2018 by Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, a global leader in sea, land, air and logistics solutions and now supported by 15 industry leaders, ZEBOX is especially focused on supply chain innovation in the transportation/logistics/mobility and Industry 4.0 realms. ZEBOX innovation hubs prioritize meaningful connections between entrepreneurs and established corporations, maximizing the potential of new technologies from AI to robotics in order to hasten digitalization, automation, and sustainability.

Headquartered in Marseille, France, ZEBOX  launched its third hub in America in February 2021 under the leadership of Charley Dehoney, an established tech entrepreneur known for his transportation, supply chain, and logistics technology expertise. To learn more about ZEBOX and its programs, visit www.ze-box.io/en/.

The post ZEBOX Partners With ConGlobal to Drive Sector-Wide Innovation appeared first on ConGlobal.

Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our company’s history. We are excited to announce that we have changed our name from ITS ConGlobal to ‘ConGlobal.’

It’s not every day you get to relaunch a 50+ year-old supply chain giant. However, now is the time to acknowledge that we aren’t the same company we were five decades ago. We’ve evolved tremendously over the years, continually changing alongside the needs of our customers. Refreshing our name acknowledges the full suite of terminal services we provide today and how they come together to create unprecedented solutions for our customers.

What Does the Name Change Signify?

Over the course of our 50+ years in the transportation/supply chain industry, we’ve continually added service capabilities, sometimes by acquiring companies with specialized expertise. As the industry has evolved, we’ve seen the power of pairing services from all corners of our business to serve our customers better.

Although changing our company name is a matter of just three letters, ‘ConGlobal’ places focus on how we work together to be the world’s go-to experts in terminal operations:

We work together (“Con” =  Latin for “together”)
+
To be the world’s go-to experts in terminal operations (“Global”)
=
ConGlobal

Our name change signifies how all areas of our business work together to help our customers perform better. Our full suite of terminal services and technology unite to solve any customer challenge, improving operational throughput and producing impressive results.
We share in our commitment to unlocking value, increasing operational efficiency, and driving down costs for our customers.

Why Did ConGlobal Change Its Name?

We decided to change our name to ConGlobal and refresh our brand because doing so better aligns with our customer’s needs and our company’s priorities.

We were founded in 1968 as part of the shift to standardize containerization and intermodal transport. We’ve always been at the forefront of innovation and adaptation to the rapidly changing economy. COVID forever changed the supply chain, and those changes brought out our strengths: experts in terminal operations, broad track record, responsiveness, openness to human ingenuity and technology, and resourcefulness.

Our forward-leaning vision has kept us at the forefront of transportation services and positioned us to add complementary technology. With our intensifying focus, we’ve seen great success and even more untapped potential on the horizon. We needed a company name and brand architecture beyond our intermodal roots to reflect our near-term priorities and long-term opportunities.

ConGlobal’s experience spans more than five decades. Over the years, we’ve kept our finger on the pulse of our customers and the industry, allowing us to pivot and provide solutions to unmet needs, broadening our scope through technology and the types of customers we serve.

Our new name allows us to shine the light on our new technology offerings and the services that, though valuable, may have operated in the shadows in the past. This fresh chapter speaks to the breadth of solutions we offer across multiple categories.

Why Does Working Together Matter?

The shock of COVID-19 sparked a new spirit of collaboration among our business units, challenged centralized functions, and set the tone for our path forward. Looking back, our teams shared a handful of remarkable behaviors that helped us weather the headwinds and out-collaborate the crisis. 

• Together, we redefined our shared mission and vision and worked on the plan together. Our efforts set the stage for success regardless of the changing and never-normal conditions.
• Together, we empowered our experts to cooperate and collaborate across the organization. New and sometimes unusual partnerships brought us diverse ideas, new perspectives, and forward-thinking human ingenuity.
• Together, we prioritized actions stimulating cross-function collaboration and generating value for the broader organization. We’re operators at heart and know our customers’ long-standing challenges. This expertise positions us to expand our business and offer technology created by operators for operators to shape the future of supply chains in the US and beyond.
• Together, we found that collaboration brings out the best in our employees. Our teams were energized, productive, and adaptive as we navigated the pandemic and the associated global challenges because they felt part of something bigger than themselves.

The result? Despite the ever-changing environment, together, we delivered customers easier touchpoints, customized services, and a technology ecosystem that transforms decision-making processes using AI, analytics, and intelligent automation. We’ve hardwired this collaborative spirit throughout our interconnected workstreams to harness our intuitiveness and allow us to solve increasingly complex customer challenges.

Continuing to Take Care

Our name change does not mean our services or the people who provide them are changing. The people you work with now will continue to be your partners.

Our approach to business isn’t changing either. We are operators at heart, and we continue to live by our mission to take care of each other, our customers, and our business.

“What I love about the name is its simplicity without losing connection with our rich heritage,” shares Seana Fairchild, SVP of Sales, Marketing & Technology. “What’s distinguishing about ConGlobal is we can operate your terminal, recommend playbooks for efficiencies and safety, and stand behind our technology offerings because, after all, operators know the most complex problems to solve and the ones that will bring the biggest value.”

The post Our Journey to ConGlobal (the meta-story) appeared first on ConGlobal.

LONDON, U.K. / SILICON VALLEY, CA – April 27, 2023/PRNewswire/ —  InfraBridge, a leading infrastructure investment manager dedicated to investing in mid-market businesses in transportation and logistics, digital infrastructure, and energy transition, today announced it has invested in Phantom Auto, the leading provider of human-centered remote operation software, via its portfolio company ConGlobal. As part of the investment agreement, Brant Ring, ConGlobal CEO, will join the Phantom Auto Board of Directors.

“As ConGlobal continues on its transformation journey, we are focused on supporting enterprise performance through advanced solutions and innovation,” said Damian Stanley, managing partner of InfraBridge and chair of the investment committee. “Phantom Auto strategically aligns with our thesis of digitizing logistics to drive performance and efficiencies and further create value within our portfolio companies.”

InfraBridge’s investment in Phantom Auto is being made through its operating company, ConGlobal, which is focused on delivering advanced solutions for terminal operators, by terminal operators, and making supply chain endpoints and first mile/last mile cargo movements safer and more effective, efficient, sustainable, and resilient for the employees, customers, communities, and shareholders it serves. 

“Becoming the world’s go-to experts in terminal operations requires using our expertise to build lasting solutions and capabilities for all of those in our care,” Ring said.  “This partnership and the human-centered capability that we are developing and deploying with Phantom Auto fits squarely within that requirement and our daily mission to take care of each other, our customers, and our business.”

“We are excited to partner with InfraBridge, who shares our vision for digitizing logistics; and with ConGlobal, who will help us continue to bring that vision to life with remotely operated yard trucks,” said Shai Magzimof, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Phantom Auto.  Added Elliot Katz, Co-founder and Chief Business Officer at Phantom Auto: “With remotely operated yard trucks, customers are investing in supply chain resilience that enables them to remotely tap into labor wherever it is available.  This provides them greater flexibility when demand fluctuates; while increasing safety and productivity for their most important resource: people.”

ABOUT INFRABRIDGE

InfraBridge is a leading infrastructure investment manager dedicated to investing in mid-market businesses in transportation and logistics, digital infrastructure, and energy transition, among other key sectors. The firm’s investment strategy applies private equity rigor with an active approach to asset management in order to maximize value and drive returns on behalf of investors. Formerly AMP Capital’s international infrastructure equity business, InfraBridge is now a division of DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (NYSE: DBRG), a leading global digital infrastructure firm managing a $65 billion portfolio of digital infrastructure assets on behalf of its investors. InfraBridge is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. For more information, visit: www.infrabridge.com.

Media Contact: Renae McGregor | renae.mcgregor@digitalbridge.com

ABOUT CONGLOBAL

ConGlobal is North America’s leading operator of intermodal, finished vehicle, and depot service terminals. With operations across the U.S., Mexico, and Costa Rica and over 50 years of industrial experience, ConGlobal serves as the industry’s go-to terminal operations expert. ConGlobal’s service and product offerings anchor on complementing specialized industrial equipment operations with advanced, technology-enabled systems and processes.

Media Contact: Wendy Hannon | whannon@conglobal.com

ABOUT PHANTOM AUTO

Phantom Auto’s human-centric technology enables people to remotely operate vehicles – including trucks, forklifts, and robots – from thousands of miles away; connecting people who want to work with jobs that need to be filled. By decoupling labor from location, Phantom’s technology increases labor access & retention, safety, productivity, and resilience across the supply chain. For more information, visit www.phantomauto.com.

Media Contact: Jared Fleitman | jared@phantomauto.com

The post InfraBridge Invests in Remote Operation Technology for Logistics Vehicles via ConGlobal appeared first on ConGlobal.

FORT WORTH, TX — May 9, 2023 ConGlobal North America’s leading operator of intermodal, finished vehicle, and depot service terminals has been named one of “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity” in 2023 by Newsweek. The inaugural ranking honors the top organizations in the U.S. that have successfully cultivated an inclusive workplace for team members, with ConGlobal earning 5 out of 5 stars.

“As a company, we have made it a priority to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout our business, so we are honored to be recognized by Newsweek alongside other companies who share our same commitment,” said Jon Stevens, ConGlobal’s CFO and chief of staff. “This recognition builds on our mission to take care of each other, our customers, and our business by supporting our core value of embracing differences, celebrating authenticity, and partnering with each other and those we serve.”

To determine “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity,” Newsweek created a three-part evaluation with market data firm Plant-A Insights Group. The study began by polling HR professionals to determine the drivers that impact employee satisfaction. Considering these drivers, they developed an anonymous online survey targeting all ages and demographics using U.S. Census Data. The defining question was either a direct recommendation for their company or an indirect endorsement for companies they’ve known as an employer.

Plant-A Insights Group and Newsweek tempered the survey data with additional research and validation, including reviewing more than 350,000 collected company reviews, diversity initiatives, and overall sentiment. 

“With the word “diversity” attracting so much attention from companies, however, it can be tough for job applicants, customers, and potential business partners to tell who is serious about supporting a diverse workforce,” said Nancy Cooper, Global Editor in Chief for Newsweek.

ABOUT CONGLOBAL, ConGlobal is North America’s leading operator of intermodal, finished vehicle, and depot service terminals. With operations across the U.S., Mexico, and Costa Rica and over 50 years of industrial experience, ConGlobal is the industry’s go-to terminal operations expert. ConGlobal’s service and product offerings anchor on complementing specialized industrial equipment operations with advanced, technology-enabled systems and processes.

The post ConGlobal Named One of ‘America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity’ appeared first on ConGlobal.

FORT WORTH, MAY 24, 2023—ConGlobal, the leading terminal expert and operator of container depots, warehouses, and distribution yards,intermodal, and finished vehicle terminals, is thrilled to announce its new podcast, The Future-Focused Terminal.

The Future-Focused Terminal features interviews with terminal experts and solution-makers who join us to combine human ingenuity, experience, and innovative tech and deliver unprecedented solutions that lead the way.

Listen and subscribe to the Future-Focused Terminal on your favorite podcasting app.

Our host is ConGlobal’s SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Technology, Seana Fairchild.

In a fast-paced world, adapting to sudden changes in market conditions or customer needs is more important than ever. Regardless of what the source of the disruption is, the ability to respond and rework your organization to suit the new environment is a valuable asset for any modern business, Seana shared. Agility is a mindset, and it's critical to instill specific attitudes and beliefs into your teams so that you can focus on improvement, pivot in real-time, and get to customer value sooner.

Seana Fairchild

In our first episode, Seana and guest Brant Ring discuss the reasoning behind the ConGlobal rebrand, the idea of service stacking, and how our tech ecosystem yields terminal and yard efficiencies and sustainable results.

Key takeaways:

• If the endpoints aren’t working well, then it’s unlikely the supply chain is working well.
• We’re unlocking value for our customers by offering them a single platform with a “get out of bed factor” that guides our team’s definition of success.
• The pandemic accelerated and magnified problems that already existed in the supply chain.
• The future of supply chains is digital and automated, but we will always need people to drive our business forward.
• Our technology, created by operators for operators, increases our flexibility and effectiveness.
• The future is a circular economy where we must redesign our take-make-waste system to deliver on our every day mission of taking care.

To contact The Future-Focused Terminal for an interview or other queries, email social@conglobal.com.

The post Announcing a New Podcast for Terminal Experts appeared first on ConGlobal.

FORT WORTH, TX, and ODESSA, FL, July 17, 2023, ConGlobal announced the completion of the acquisition of its technology partners Communication Concepts Integration (C2I) and Communication Concepts (CCI), recognized leaders in vision-based machine learning solutions and automation infrastructure within the transportation vertical.

ConGlobal and C2I are committed to providing industry-leading solutions that enhance safety,  service, and operational efficiency. ConGlobal customers and partners benefit from decades of experience operating complex industrial transportation terminals. C2I is known for its exceptional vision-based machine learning and intelligent automation. Under the ConGlobal brand, the teams will continue combining their operating expertise with next-generation technology.

“The completion of this acquisition will enable us to deliver advanced solutions at scale,” said Brant Ring, CEO of ConGlobal. “We believe this acquisition creates incredible value for our customers and the larger global supply chain. Together we’re helping to reinvent how we run terminals and how operations can use human ingenuity and technology to be more productive,  customer-centric, and resilient.”

“Last year, we launched our technology ecosystem, Aviro360, to automate gates, reconcile inventory in real-time, and optimize storage and retrieval,” said Seana Fairchild, SVP of Marketing, Sales, and Technology at ConGlobal. “In this fast-paced digital era, running a successful business is all about embracing ready-now technology to solve real problems. I’ve seen firsthand how our advanced solutions help operators identify risks, assess options, and inform decision-making. Our partnership with C2I has been instrumental to our success, and we believe that will continue in the future.”

“AI helps businesses adapt at speed, with a regular stream of insights to drive innovation and competitive advantage in a world of constant change,” said Mark Mills, President of C2I. “Combining C2I and ConGlobal is a win-win for both organizations and their customers. By adopting AI now, ConGlobal can scale and adapt as its customers’ needs evolve.”

The post ConGlobal + Communication Concepts Integration: Transforming Terminal Operations with AI appeared first on ConGlobal.

FORT WORTH, TX, October 19, 2023, ConGlobal the industry’s go-to terminal and yard operations expert, announced that it earned a 5-star rating and was recognized for the second consecutive year as a Sector Leader by GRESB for its sustainability leadership in 2023.

“Sustainability is tightly woven into the fabric of our company and rightly sits alongside our unwavering commitment to safety, service quality, integrity, and human ingenuity. Decarbonizing transportation is the challenge and opportunity of our lifetime, and it will take all sector stakeholders working together to realize it,” said Brant Ring, CEO of ConGlobal.

GRESB assesses and benchmarks the ESG performance of assets worldwide each year, providing clarity and insights to financial markets on complex sustainability topics. The GRESB Assessments are guided by what investors and the industry consider to be material issues in the sustainability performance of asset investments and are aligned with international reporting frameworks, goals, and emerging regulations.

“GRESB Sector Leaders embody the industry’s champions, leading the charge towards a net-zero future and propelling the sector forward. We wholeheartedly commend this year’s Sector Leaders for their dedication, leadership, and commitment to ESG principles and sustainability,” said Sebastien Roussotte, CEO of GRESB.

“Our approach is integrated throughout our business, and we strive to protect the environment, empower people, and get results the right way—today and tomorrow,” said Paige Bartine, Sr. Environmental Compliance Specialist. “Our Zero-Harm sustainability strategy is anchored by three components:

• How we operate—we’re committed to caring for and protecting what’s truly important: the well-being of our employees, customers, and our planet.

• What we create—we push the boundaries of what’s possible by creating solutions where none existed or by using our Aviro360 technology ecosystem to enable change.

• How we collaborate—we tackle important issues by creating new partnerships and joining established initiatives.”

To learn more about ConGlobal’s Zero-Harm Sustainability Commitment, visit www.conglobal.com/sustainability.

About ConGlobal

ConGlobal is North America’s leading operator of intermodal, finished vehicle, and depot service terminals. With operations across the U.S., Mexico, and Costa Rica and over 50 years of industrial experience, ConGlobal serves as the industry’s go-to terminal operations expert. ConGlobal’s service and product offerings anchor on complementing specialized industrial equipment operations with advanced, technology-enabled systems and processes. For more information, visit:  www.conglobal.com

About GRESB

GRESB is a mission-driven and industry-led organization providing standardized and validated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data to financial markets. Established in 2009, GRESB has become the leading ESG benchmark for real estate and infrastructure investments across the world, used by 150 institutional and financial investors to inform decision-making. For more information, visit GRESB.com.

The post Driving Sustainable Change—ConGlobal Awarded 5-Star Rating and Named Sector Leader by GRESB in 2023 appeared first on ConGlobal.

FORT WORTH, TX, December 14, 2023, ConGlobal the industry’s go-to expert in terminal operations, is expanding its container yard/depot network by opening a new 30+ acre U.S. Customs bonded facility within NorthPoint Development’s master-planned park surrounding BNSF’s state-of-the-art intermodal facility.

ConGlobal’s facility offers LPKC tenants and surrounding businesses a wide range of services like yard management solutions, including ground movements, site operation, yard visibility technology, storage for loaded and empty containers, container/chassis maintenance and repair, chassis start-stop, pre-trips for temperature-controlled units, refrigerated/genset rentals, and mobile fueling.

“This is our second depot embedded within a NorthPoint Development logistics park,” said Jason Simonson, ConGlobal’s Vice President, Depot Operations. “The facility is secure, fully paved, and can accommodate 5,500 TEU of empty containers, 340 wheeled parking slots, and we can pre-trip 120 refrigerated containers.”

“ConGlobal LPKCs proximity and longstanding rail relationships make us an all-in-one service partner for the surrounding warehouses and distribution centers,” explained Seana Fairchild, Chief Commercial Officer. “We can do it all: equipment, labor, operation, and maintenance and repair. And by adding our Aviro360 technology, sites can remove manual tasks like yard check, gate check-ins and tracking and tracing, saving time and money while boosting throughput.”

“We’re delighted to welcome ConGlobal to LPKC,” said Aaron Burks CEO of ColdPoint Logistics. “We’ve truly created an inland port, just southeast of Kansas City, anchored by the state-of-the-art intermodal facility operated by BNSF with access to major U.S. Ports and the heavyweight corridor.”

“ConGlobal was a strategic partner for us because of the full suite of services it offers,” said Dane Bear, Vice President of Sales at ColdPoint Logistics. “ConGlobal will spot containers and trailers at our facility and streamline shuttling cargo to the rail ramp. Our customers will benefit from the cost and time savings of transloading at our location.”

ConGlobal’s LPKC facility is operational and open for business. For booking or service, contact Seana Fairchild at (402) 671-0880 or email sfairchild@conglobal.com, Rene Etcharren retcharren@conglobal.com, or Jason Simonson, jsimonson@conglobal.com or by phone at (971) 998-2428.

About ConGlobal

ConGlobal is North America’s leading operator of intermodal, finished vehicle, and depot service terminals. With operations across the U.S., Mexico, and Costa Rica and over 50 years of industrial experience, ConGlobal serves as the industry’s go-to terminal operations expert. ConGlobal’s service and product offerings anchor on complementing specialized industrial equipment operations with advanced, technology-enabled systems and processes. For more information, visit:  www.conglobal.com

About NorthPoint

Established in 2012, NorthPoint Development is a privately held real estate operating company specializing in developing, leasing, and managing Class A industrial and multi-family properties. We invest alongside our partners through various fund and venture structures to develop industrial and multi-family assets. We differentiate ourselves with a data-driven approach to site acquisitions and a high level of technical expertise in engineering, architecture, and construction. Through our in-house suite of services, NorthPoint can provide end-to-end expertise, leading to expedited solutions. Today, the company is part of a network of eleven companies with a logistics focus and an emphasis on a factory-to-front-door approach. We’ve developed and managed over 169.4 million square feet of industrial space. It’s estimated that our developments have created more than 110,000 jobs and supported more than 557 industrial clients across the United States. We continue to operate with an entrepreneurial spirit guided by our Core Values, enabling us to deliver exceptional results for our team members, clients, and communities. Visit beyondthecontract.com or follow @NorthPointDev to learn more.

About ColdPoint Logistics

Their 632,000 square foot cold storage facility provides flexibility and cost-saving efficiencies by storing and boxing your product closer to the protein corridor while providing strategic direct access to major U.S. ports and the heavyweight corridor in Logistics Park Kansas City in Edgerton, KS. ColdPoint Logistics provides convenient solutions to help you feed the world – refrigerated storage, on-site USDA office, boxing service, blast freezing, shuttle service, secure drop yard, transload, and rail yard service. Visit coldpoint.us to learn more.

The post ConGlobal Opens a New Container Yard/Depot at Logistics Park Kansas City to Support Imports and Exports in America’s Heartland appeared first on ConGlobal.

FORT WORTH, TX, December 18, 2023, ConGlobal the industry’s go-to expert in terminal operations, is expanding its remotely operated hostler program, Dynamic Dispatch. Dynamic Dispatch represents ConGlobal’s ability to dynamically deploy digital drivers into complex yards and terminals for safer, more effective, efficient, sustainable, and resilient cargo movements. 

This fall, ConGlobal took delivery of several Terberg YT193 drive-by-wire trucks and plans to add to the fleet in 2024. Dynamic Dispatch will continue to expand throughout 2024 and 2025, with additional trucks already on order.

The newly designed Terberg trucks meet industry-accepted safety standards that specify the necessary performance and reliability thresholds for remote operation. This enables our engineers and other partners, like Phantom Auto, to integrate additional technologies onto the truck to provide a reliable and safe remote operation solution.

“In our operations, a human operator controls and executes all aspects of the yard truck’s workflow from a remote location. The remote operator, or digital driver, can be at the same site as the truck or fully remote.,” said Brett Rogers, ConGlobal’s VP, Advanced Solutions. 

Rogers continued, “Adopting a remote-first approach allows us to match the maturity of evolving technology to our operation’s specific needs. We’ve been collaborating with a Terberg for several years, and the advancements in this new delivery of trucks align with our safety roadmap and overall operational management approach.”

Rob van Hove, CEO of Terberg Special Vehicles, added, “We are delighted to see ConGlobal scale their Dynamic Dispatch program with Terberg Special Vehicles, using our new drive-by-wire system for the Terberg YT193, designed according to the highest safety standards for the market. Their human-in-the-loop approach targets the demands of busy terminals and yards while boosting efficiency and delivering safety. Together, we strive for safer, sustainable, and resilient horizontal transport. This represents one more successful collaboration in the ongoing ConGlobal-Terberg relationship.”

About ConGlobal

ConGlobal is North America’s leading operator of intermodal, finished vehicle, and depot service terminals. With operations across the U.S., Mexico, and Costa Rica and over 50 years of industrial experience, ConGlobal serves as the industry’s go-to terminal operations expert. ConGlobal’s service and product offerings anchor on complementing specialized industrial equipment operations with advanced, technology-enabled systems and processes. For more information, visit:  www.conglobal.com

About Terberg Special Vehicles

Terberg Special Vehicles is a Netherlands-based manufacturer of terminal tractors and other specialist industrial vehicles. As a manufacturer world-renowned for the quality and reliability of their vehicles, Terberg is focused on providing innovative next-generation vehicles to fleet operators globally. For more information, visit: www.terbergspecialvehicles.com.

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ConGlobal is among the 13 customers and suppliers are honored for energy efficiency, innovation, and environmental stewardship

Before the end of 2023, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) announced the recipients of its annual Thoroughbred Sustainability Partner Awards. The awards recognize Norfolk Southern partner companies who are leaders in Energy Efficiency, Innovation, and Environmental Stewardship.

The 13 Thoroughbred Sustainability Partner Award winners are:

Energy Efficiency Award—Honoring corporate programs that achieve significant energy efficiency savings—ConGlobal and Dell Technologies

Innovation Award—Recognizing innovations significantly contributing to a more sustainable future—Fastenal, Künz GmbH, Loram, Outokumpu, Phillips 66, The Greenbrier Companies, Schneider, and Sheetz, Inc.

Environmental Stewardship Award—Celebrating efforts that promote stewardship of the environment—COSCO SHIPPING Lines, Evergreen Line, and HCL Technologies

Railroads are an essential part of a low-carbon supply chain,” said Norfolk Southern Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins. “Each year, Norfolk Southern helps our customers avoid 15 million metric tons of emissions and reduce congestion and wear on public highways. In doing so, we are always inspired by our customers’ matched efforts to create a greener supply chain. Our Thoroughbred Sustainability Partner Awards recognize their incredible achievements and underscore our shared commitment to lowering our nation’s overall carbon footprint.”

A cross-department team from Norfolk Southern reviewed applications for their measurable progress during 2022. Winners were selected based on their program’s novelty, relevance, and impact. The award recipients collectively demonstrated outstanding achievements toward energy efficiency, innovation, and environmental stewardship.

“Taking strides to reduce our environmental impact goes beyond our own initiatives; it involves actively supporting our partners in reaching their sustainability targets as well,” said Norfolk Southern Chief Sustainability Officer Josh Raglin. “This year’s 13 honorees stand out as trailblazers in environmental leadership. Recognizing their accomplishments is pivotal as we collectively work towards building a better, more sustainable planet.”

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Fort Worth, TX, February 20—ConGlobal, the industry’s go-to expert in terminal operations, has taken important steps to strengthen its leadership team, reinforcing its commitment to excellence and growth across the global supply chain it serves.

Seana Fairchild has been elevated to Chief Commercial Officer with enterprise responsibility for all commercial functions across all lines of business. Her strategic vision and leadership across the enterprise will ensure that ConGlobal continues to build solutions for its expanding marketplace.

Yamini Vellore joins ConGlobal as Chief Technology Officer, reporting directly to Seana Fairchild. With an impressive track record in product development and scaling, Yamini will lead our customer-facing technology initiatives and ensure innovation, efficiency, and resiliency in our operations.

Holly Morgan has been named Chief People Officer. She brings a wealth of experience in human resources and organizational development across a variety of industrial services companies. As CPO, Holly will lead initiatives centered on the most essential part of our organization—our talented and diverse workforce. With a passion for creating inclusive and engaging work cultures, Holly will drive employee satisfaction, professional development, and overall organizational excellence. 

Rene Etcharren takes on the role of Group Vice President, Depot Operations, to include a concentrated effort to expand our depot operations nationally and internationally. This expansion effort underscores ConGlobal’s commitment to serving its global supply chain partners more effectively. 

Chad Bowman has been promoted to Group Vice President, Rail Operations, to include leadership and management oversight over all rail operations, encompassing intermodal, automotive, and switching operations. Chad’s expanded role aligns with our values of zero harm, service quality, and partnership with each other and those we serve.

“These appointments signal our commitment to safety, operational excellence, and service expansion on the global scale,” said ConGlobal’s CEO, Brant Ring.  “I’m confident that this team will help us complete the differentiating transformation of ConGlobal and propel us well into the exciting future ahead for ConGlobal employees, customers, and shareholders.”

About ConGlobal

ConGlobal is North America’s leading operator of intermodal, finished vehicle, and depot service terminals. With operations across the U.S., Mexico, and Costa Rica and over 50 years of industrial experience, ConGlobal is the industry’s go-to terminal operations expert. ConGlobal’s service and product offerings are anchored on complementing specialized industrial equipment operations with advanced, technology-enabled systems and processes. For more information, visit:  www.conglobal.com.

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Fort Worth, TX, February 25—ConGlobal, the industry’s go-to expert in terminal operations, announced the launch of a stack management tool called VeriStack. VeriStack solves the longstanding challenge of tracking and intelligently placing containers to minimize reshuffling and unproductive moves.

VeriStack is a cutting-edge system mounted on lift or crane equipment, enabling automatic tracking and the precise location of stacked containers within a yard or terminal. This product ensures that every container in the stack is visible, thus streamlining operations and enhancing overall efficiency.

Key Highlights of VeriStack:

Real-Time Positioning: VeriStack tech enables existing equipment, providing real-time, low-cost, and precisely accurate positioning even within stacks. This capability revolutionizes inventory management by eliminating guesswork and minimizing the risk of errors.

Never-Stale Data: With VeriStack, customers can say goodbye to stale data. The system continuously updates by sending location data to the cloud in real time, minimizing unproductive equipment moves and ensuring operators have the most up-to-date information.

AI-Powered Optimization: VeriStack’s artificial intelligence engines groom stacks based on current bookings and future appointments. Teams can now place containers in the optimal position, maximizing efficiency and avoiding costly delays.

Smart Scheduling: Dispatchers and drivers signal intent (drop off/pick up) from their TOS, YMS, or natively in VeriStack. AI engines update work orders on in-cab tablets to fulfill current bookings and optimize stacks for future appointments. 

How VeriStack Works:

VeriStack utilizes high-resolution imagery, data-inferencing capabilities, and AI to identify, classify, and locate stacked containers in real time. As equipment enters, leaves, or shifts within a facility, VeriStack sends updates to the cloud and any receiving system (such as TMS/YMS), providing accurate location information in the stack.

“ConGlobal is excited to introduce VeriStack to the market. VeriStack is a high-impact innovation that tackles one of the industry’s most complex and enduring challenges,” said Chief Technology Officer Yamini Vellore. “ConGlobal is the only technology provider backed with more than 50 years of operating experience. By combining our operator’s expertise with cutting-edge technology, we can help customers across the supply chain to streamline their operations and mitigate disruptions before they happen.”

Customers can access VeriStack through ConGlobal’s Aviro360 ecosystem. This unified view gives users a real-time snapshot of their facility—from entry to exit and every move in between.

For more information about VeriStack and how it can transform your inventory management processes, please visit ConGlobal.com or contact Matt Kozar at 708.329.2592.

About ConGlobal

ConGlobal is North America’s leading operator of intermodal, finished vehicle, and depot service terminals. With operations across the U.S., Mexico, and Costa Rica and over 50 years of industrial experience, ConGlobal is the industry’s go-to terminal operations expert. ConGlobal’s service and product offerings are anchored on complementing specialized industrial equipment operations with advanced, technology-enabled systems and processes. For more information, visit:  www.conglobal.com.

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