Posts Tagged ‘cosmetics’

Cosmetic Supply Chain Security

Friday, March 8th, 2013

cosmetics

Last week, 30 pallets containing thousands of Revlon cosmetics and hygiene products worth $50,000 was reported stolen after a truck driver parked his trailer on Friday, February 22nd for the weekend, returning on Sunday to find it missing. 1 The products have not been recovered.

Cosmetic theft, along with other high risk products including food and pharmaceuticals, pose a large concern due to health affects they can have on consumers if contaminated.

According to studies, a typical woman uses an average of 12 cosmetic products daily. Now imagine putting on that dab of mascara only to find out that the application led to conjunctivitis or a staph infection due to the cosmetic being contaminated with yeast or bacteria.

Protecting the value of your cosmetics does not stop at the manufacturing facility however.  It is important that your high valued targets are transported by a secure and safe carrier who abides by proper protocol or you too can be faced with widespread recalls that can tamper with your brand name.

Here is how Road Scholar Transport is enforcing cosmetic safety during transport:

Technology

Road Scholar Transport has state of the art reefers, dry vans, and power units that won’t break down.  Our power units are equipped with GPS technology for redundant traceability, U.S. Customs recommended “Navalocks,” and constantly monitored electronic seals.  State of the art rollover and collision sensing technology is implemented to protect your freight by preventing what could potentially be a catastrophic accident if it were to involve dangerous chemicals.

Drivers

Road Scholar Transport hires only the most professional and experienced drivers who are subject to background checks and safety tests well beyond the industry standard.  We have hazmat certified drivers who participate in a training program to keep drivers “up to speed” on the latest techniques to prevent accidents and protect hazardous cargo.  Combine our driver’s experiences with our strict in transit security protocols and the result is a “Security Officer” behind the wheel escorting your freight.

Experts


Road Scholar Transport’s equipment and technology is effective because they have industry best “Order Fulfillment Experts” monitoring the status of every order, every piece of equipment, and any variables that may effect the shipment such as traffic or weather.  This 24 x 7 x 365 team’s motto is:  If you want to stay up all night that’s YOUR problem…If you don’t, it’s OURS.

PDM

pdm

Road Scholar Transport follows an operating methodology called the PDM or “Pentagon Distribution Model.”  These 5 points:  Technology, Protocols, Equipment, Visibility, and Compliance combine to create an oversight umbrella that allows for 99% on time delivery and not a single full cargo loss in the history of the company.

To learn more about PDM visit http://www.roadscholar.com/sales/pdm.html.

For a reliable transportation carrier equipped with the latest technology and transported by qualified drivers visit www.roadscholar.com.

Below is a list of the most common targets for cargo theft according to FreightWatch International’s 2012 US Cargo Theft Report.  Are there any items not on the list that you think are prime targets for theft?  Do you think this year’s most common targets are similar to last year’s?

  1. Food/Drinks  (19% of all thefts by product types)
  2. Metals  (15%)
  3. Electronics  (13%)
  4. Home/Garden & Miscellaneous  (Tied at 10%)
  5. Clothing/Shoes  (8%)
  6. Auto Parts  (8%)
  7. Building/Industrial & Alcohol  (Tied at 5%)
  8. Pharmaceuticals  (3%)
  9. Consumer Care & Cosmetics/Personal Care  (Tied at 2%)

1http://www.news-record.com/home/824398-63/thousands-in-revlon-cosmetics-stolen

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What You Need to Know About the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

cosmeticsIn late June, Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Ed Markey, and Tammy Baldwin introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 in an attempt to improve safety in the cosmetic industry.

Cosmetics are a $50 billion dollar industry, yet still operate under the “minimal requirements for labeling and testing,” triplepundit.com notes.  But that would soon change with the republicans’ proposal, urging for stricter regulations among manufacturers.

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 would update the current policy involving the specification of ingredients, which has not been revised since 1938, requiring that manufacturers list all ingredients within a product on its label.

To prevent the usage and distribution of products that pose as a health hazard to consumers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will list specific contaminates, such as Ethyl acetate, Butyl acetate, and Toluene, that are commonly used in cosmetic products as well as state the level at which they must be listed on labels (http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/introduction-safe-cosmetics-act-means-beauty-industry-shape/).

Changes resulting from the new bill would also include “worker access to information about unsafe chemicals in personal care products, required data-sharing to avoid duplicative testing and encourage the development of alternatives to animal testing, and adequate funding to the FDA Office of Cosmetics and Colors so it has the resources it needs to provide effective oversight of the cosmetics industry” (http://safecosmetics.org/section.php?id=74).

Smaller businesses who use “green” products are embracing the bill, which they feel will allow them to compete with larger companies whose contaminated ingredients will now be listed for consumers to see.

Contaminated cosmetics pose as a large health risk since they are used so frequently.  According to studies, a typical woman uses an average of 12 cosmetic products daily.  Out of these, harmful toxins have been found in various hair products, perfumes, makeup, baby products, and much more.

And did you know that formaldehyde, which has been proven to lead to a greater risk of developing leukemia, has been found in many creams, hair products and other cosmetics?  But you may not have been aware of that if the ingredient was not listed on the label, which the bill is looking to stop.

Protecting the value of your cosmetics does not stop at the manufacturing facility however.  It is important that your high valued targets are transported by a secure and safe carrier who abides by proper protocol.

Did you know that your freight could become contaminated by a spill in the trailer previous to your cargo?  With Road Scholar Transport, you can be guaranteed that all of our trailers undergo regular sweeps to ensure that your freight is being transported in a clean, and therefore safe, environment.  We also maintain a record of what was inside the trailer before your freight, before that, within the last month, and so on, as well as what has been transported since the last time the trailer was cleaned.

As a backup, Road Scholar Transport carries the proper insurance in case anything should go wrong.  We hire only the most professional and experienced drivers who are subject to background checks and safety tests well beyond the industry standard.  Our hazmat certified drivers participate in a training program so that they are “up to speed” on the latest techniques to prevent accidents and protect your hazardous cargo.

You can view Road Scholar’s insurance certifications by going to http://www.roadscholar.com/certifications.php and be sure to visit www.roadscholar.com to get onboard a safe carrier today.

Are you in support or opposition of the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011?  List your comments below.

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Immobilization Device Can Lead to $10,000 Lower Deductable on Stolen Cargo as Chubb Enters Into Agreement with SteelSafe

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

ChubbChubb Group of Insurance Companies, dubbed one of America’s 100 Most Trustworthy Companies by Forbes in 2010, has recently entered into an agreement with SteelSafe Truck Immobilizer International in an effort to prevent and stop cargo theft.

Chubb has announced that “motor truck cargo liability customers who purchase a SteelSafe Truck Immobilizer can have their policy deductible waived up to $10,000 in the event a stolen load is not recovered after law enforcement is notified in a timely manner” (http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/19/3921885/chubb-seeks-to-stop-cargo-thieves.html).

Cargo theft is a growing concern nationwide with stolen loads resulting in thousands, even millions of dollars worth the lost products.  As FreightWatch notes, a stolen truckload of pharmaceuticals results in an average loss of $3.8 million.

Along with pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and electronics have all become high-valued targets among thieves, who then resell these products for a profit.

As was the case this week when Elizabeth Arden, a popular cosmetic company, had their truckload of beauty products stolen, uncovering the abandoned tractor within an hour but is still missing the loaded trailer.

And if you think that having your cargo stolen is just a one-time bad luck occurrence, think again.  This is the fifth instance within a year that Elizabeth Arden has had their cargo stolen, demonstrating that cargo theft is increasing and shippers need to look into more secure trucking companies, like Road Scholar Transport, who incorporates the latest technology on their fleet.

The SteelSafe Truck Immobilizer is one of these devices, working to both prevent theft and stop it if it should occur.

Picture this; you just received word that your cargo has been stolen.  You quickly pull out your mobile phone, press a button, and the truck, and with it your freight, that thieves had made away with has now come to a stop, leading you to its position for retrieval.

That’s the case with the SteelSafe system.  When a truck equipped with this device is stolen, the owner can track it with the device’s GPS system and using a mobile phone or computer, activate the system which will then release air from the brakes, slowing the truck down and stopping it within 5 minutes.  The gradual slowdown helps reduce an accident caused by an abrupt stop, allowing the driver to steer the truck but preventing the driver from moving it after it has been immobilized.

Road Scholar Transport offers the same security.  Using Qualcomm’s panic technology, Road Scholar drivers can quickly press a button on their keychain, which can also be activated by dispatch, immobilizing the vehicle.  That’s one reason why Road Scholar Transport has never suffered a full cargo loss in over 20 years in business!

The SteelSafe Truck Immobilizer also works to prevent a theft by automatically immobilizing the truck once it is parked; only unlocking it once again using a keyfob (http://www.steelsafe.com.au).

According to SteelSafe’s website, there are two types of immobilizes; one offering GPS on the truck and one on the trailer, just like Road Scholar Transport has independent tracking on its tractors and trailers, allowing us to uncover your freight even if thieves decide to abandon the tractor.

For more information on how SteelSafe works, click on the video below and put your freight onboard a safe carrier by going to www.roadscholar.com today.

What do you think of Road Scholar’s ability to immobilize our trucks in cases of theft?

steelsafe

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