Leaving the job of a lifetime

Longevity is not unusual in the material handling industry, where people often stay at a company for decades and tend to think of co-workers as family. But Barbara “Susie” Hafer’s long career at the distribution and supply chain services firm Fortna may be unique even by that measure.

Hafer began working for the company in 1950, when Harry Truman was president and she was a 17-year- old high school student. Now, after 62 years with Fortna, she is retiring.

Hafer (shown in the
accompanying photos in
1965 and today) has seen a
lot of change over her
career. “When I started
working, we had manual
typewriters. It was a big
change when we started to use electric ones. And
even more so when the computers came in,” she
said in a company announcement. “And when I
first started working, you had to wear a dress. But
later we talked the boss into letting us wear
pantsuits.”
The 62-year veteran has also seen a lot of change
at Fortna. The company has grown from a one-
room operation selling forklifts to a multinational
consulting firm and systems integrator with a
focus on supply chain and DC operations and
technology.

Hafer cited Fortna’s family-friendly environment and managers who always treated her well as two of the reasons why she spent more than six decades at the company. Executives there say she sets a great example for them, too.

“It’s rare to see this kind of commitment by an employee or a company these days,” said President John A. White III.

“Susie is my hero,” said Peter Counihan, chairman of Fortna. “She stayed with me through the tough times, always encouraging me with her great smile and her kindness. She will be sorely missed.”;

inbound

U.S. 3PL market saw solid
growth in 2011

Looking for signs that the U.S. economy is picking up steam? You’ll find several in U.S. Gains Carry 3PLs—2011 3PL Market Analysis and 2012 Predictions, the latest publication from the research and consulting firm Armstrong & Associates. According to the report, growth in the third-party logistics (3PL) market in 2011 was three times that of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP).

Year-on-year growth for the North American 3PL market as a whole was 5. 2 percent for gross revenue and 5. 9 percent for net revenue. Meanwhile, “grim” European and “cooling” Asian economic conditions resulted in flat international performance, Armstrong & Associates said.

Domestic North American transportation and value-added warehousing were the bright spots in 2011. The domestic transportation management segment led the market, with gross and net revenues both increasing 12. 2 percent from 2010 levels. Net income was 17. 4 percent of net revenue. Value-added warehousing and distribution saw increases of 8. 2 to 8. 4 percent. Net income margins in this mature segment improved to 3 percent.

Dedicated contract carriage continued its resurgence in 2011, achieving net income growth of 12. 5 percent. Trucking companies, including dedicated contract carriers, continue to keep equipment supplies lean, thus preventing an oversupply of assets and keeping prices stable, researchers noted.

Armstrong’s annual report, which examines 3PL industry revenues, growth trends, and more, can be found at www.3plogistics.com/shopsite/index.html. ;

Update: They tried, but they
couldn’t do it

In the May 2012 issue, we wrote about American Feeder Lines (AFL), whose COO, Rudy Mack, had been putting heart and soul into trying to maintain a viable coastal container shipping service in the Northeast (“Coastal shipping gets the old college try … again,” p. 4). After that issue went to press, we learned that Mack and his colleagues had failed to reach their goal and had been forced to suspend service, and subsequently shut down the company. ;