Western Growers of Irvine, Calif., in conjunction with C.H. Robinson Worldwide, has launched a transportation solution designed to improve cost of transportation, service and equipment availability to Western Grower’s members.

Western Growers partnered with CHRW to develop a transportation solution in response to its members' concerns over spiraling costs, declining service and availability of refrigerated equipment. The solution is customized to individual shipper business requirements, including long-term contract arrangements; promotional, seasonal, and fixed weekly rates; and includes truck, intermodal, rail, air and ocean transportation services.
C.H. Robinson has dedicated a team of transportation specialists to exclusively focus on the supply chain needs of WG members and act as an outsourced transportation department for WG members. C.H. Robinson will be the sole logistics provider for the transportation solution; providing weekly lid pricing for North America, bi-weekly customized supply chain metrics reports, individualized sales training to WG members, customized sales literature for use by members and a WG dedicated toll-free line operating 24/7 throughout the year.
"The transportation solution was developed at the request of WG members, who felt that rate increases and equipment shortages during the past few years had reached a critical stage that was imperiling their businesses. We reached out to C.H. Robinson and together developed a successful solution. C.H. Robinson will provide our members with a complete, logistical service package for both domestic and international business," said Matt McInerney, WG executive vice president.
Jim Lemke, CHRW vice president produce, said, “The opportunity to develop a dedicated and unique solution that incorporates C.H. Robinson's transportation and logistics capabilities and WG member shipper volume has created a win-win relationship that will prove beneficial to Western Growers members and their customers."
The program was tested earlier this year with more than 2,500 shipper-arranged loads moved. During the testing period, growers experienced stabilized rates, elimination of equipment shortages, and significant service improvement.
"This program was exclusively developed to benefit the growers, but we also kept in mind the needs of the drivers as it takes collaboration in the supply chain to succeed. The teamwork between C.H. Robinson and Western Growers has created greater efficiency in the supply chain. We are hopeful this will lead to additional successful programs within the ever changing produce supply chain," added Lemke.
Western Growers, established in 1926, is an agriculture trade association whose members grow, pack and ship ninety percent of the fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in California and 75 percent of those commodities grown in Arizona. This totals about half of the nation's fresh produce.
Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide is one of the largest non-asset based third-party logistics companies in the world, with 2005 gross revenues of $5.7 billion. C.H. Robinson maintains one of the largest networks of motor carrier capacity in North America and works with approximately 40,000 carriers worldwide.