FedEx Custom Critical is helping out the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in its efforts to transport hundreds of loggerhead sea turtle nests to Florida's Atlantic Coast, to protect the eggs from impacts of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.


A team of biologists unearthed the first nest and transferred the eggs into specially-designed Styrofoam containers, which were then moved to the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve. From there, this nest - and another extracted from the Tyndall Air Force Base - was loaded into a FedEx Custom Critical air-ride suspension, temperature-controlled vehicle for the relocation to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

The truck was driven by husband and wife driving team Ron and Margaret-Mary Shellito, who have more than 26 years of experience driving FedEx Custom Critical trucks for FedEx.

To ensure the eggs are transported safely, the trailer will be maintained at a temperature range of 80 to 90 degrees, with a set point of 85 degrees. FedEx Custom Critical worked closely with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to develop a customized packing solution inside the vehicle. A slotted aluminum floor will allow airflow for each pallet, and all pallets have been custom built to hold six containers of sea turtle eggs. They were fitted with additional cushions to dampen vibrations while in transit.

"Our support for the Gulf Coast turtle egg rescue extends our longstanding commitment to support our communities in times of need," said Virginia Albanese, president of FedEx Custom Critical. "FedEx has provided logistics expertise, in-kind shipping and funding for disaster preparedness, relief and recovery. We have worked with a number of fine organizations, and when the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation approached us to provide support for this momentous effort, we were proud to say yes."

FedEx logistics experts are working with the Unified Command and its partner organizations to implement this complex relocation, which will continue throughout the summer hatching season. The full effort is expected to result in the relocation of as many as 70,000 sea turtle eggs.