After over a year of pandemic-related restrictions across the globe, the coronavirus vaccine is top of mind for just about everyone. This is especially true for the people working tirelessly to transport vaccine doses safely from the manufacturers to the end consumers.
“The vaccine distribution is going to go down as one of the greatest logistics operations ever seen. It is potentially the largest operation since World War II,” said Jim Monkmeyer, president, Transportation, DHL Supply Chain...
Here’s what’s cookin’ today in Transmission:
Stellantis becomes first automaker in US to administer vaccinations
I hope I don’t jinx myself when I say this: It looks like the worst of COVID-19 is behind us. There’s no need to describe the impact COVID had on the automotive industry because by now we’re all informed. At this point, the...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/transmission-vaccinations-are-finally-underway-at-auto-plants
Canadian health care logistics provider Andlauer Healthcare Group (AHG) has agreed to acquire most of a small pharmaceutical trucking company, Skelton Truck Lines, for nearly CA$115 million ($91 million) in a deal that reflects the high premiums associated with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada and the United States.
AHG (TSX: AND) is buying 100% of the 100-truck Skelton Canada and a 49% stake in the 70-truck Skelton USA from the family-owned Skelton Companies, with an option to buy...
https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/vaccine-rollout-drives-$90m-price-tag-for-pharma-carrier-skelton
This fireside chat recap is from Day 1 of FreightWaves’ Global Supply Chain Week. Day 1 focuses on the military, aerospace and manufacturing.
FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: Gateway to Latin America
DETAILS: Miami International Airport is the cargo hub for the Americas. Flowers, fresh fruit, seafood, machinery and other products transfer there between U.S. destinations and Latin America and Europe. MIA had a record year for cargo in 2020 despite the COVID pandemic. Pineda discusses why Miami continues to...
Good Afternoon. Medically Necessary is a newsletter about the health care supply chain, how we get drugs, devices and medical supplies to health care providers and patients.
Convoluted IT systems slowing vaccine rollout
The problem: The process for sharing data about COVID-19 vaccine distribution is a convoluted Rube Goldberg machine and it’s slowing down the vaccine campaign.
The background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists six different software systems
Ten international airlines have signed up for UNICEF’s Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative and agreed to prioritize delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, essential medicines and other supplies to more than 100 lower-income countries.
The initiative supports the COVAX Facility, a coalition of the World Health Organization, the vaccine alliance Gavi and other groups, that is pooling purchases of COVID vaccines to ensure equitable access to nations around the world. Based on the COVAX Facility’s initial...
https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/unicef-secures-airline-commitments-for-covid-vaccine-transport
Health is something Chad Brueck, president of expedited solutions at CRST, knows is a valuable asset. He is a marathon runner, fitness enthusiast and a newly minted group fitness instructor and that discipline translates into good business practices.
Brueck handles truckload hauling of pharmaceutical products with CRST and has seen the industry shift during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brueck said CRST is focused on working with each of its clients to deliver products in the safest, most controlled...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/control-is-crucial-what-the-truck
Find all of the sessions from the FreightWaves Health & Pharma Supply Chain Summit below.
Following the XPO playbook key lesson in vaccine distribution
After months of delivering everything from personal protective equipment (PPE) to baby formula and military meals ready to eat (MRE) to frontline health care workers, XPO Logistics experts needed only to follow the company playbook when COVID-19 vaccine distribution began.
“We didn’t actually have to make any specific changes to our network,”...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/live-updates-health-pharma-supply-chain-summit
Kenya Airways is preparing to operate the first Boeing 787 passenger plane with seats removed to increase space for cargo.
Montreal-based Avianor in January delivered the first modified 787 Dreamliner to Kenya Airways and is currently pulling seats from the second aircraft, the companies announced this week. Avianor, an affiliate of DRAKKAR Aerospace & Ground Transportation, is the same aviation maintenance and repair company that repurposed four Boeing 777s and three Airbus A330 aircraft for...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/kenya-airways-ditches-dreamliner-seats-to-fit-cargo
Airports should use their influence as regional economic engines to organize logistics companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and regulators into close-knit cargo communities that collectively plan COVID-19 vaccine transport to prevent delays or product damage, according to a new report.
With so many handoffs — factory, freight forwarder, shuttle trucker, airline warehouse, aircraft, customs clearance — and extra security precautions, the opportunity for breakdowns is high without a team...
