Tyson Foods, the world’s second-largest meat packer, and
produce companies in Florida and California are among those predicting that
trucking will force an increase in food prices.
The tight supply and rising prices were most severe in late
January, but even though they have come down by about 15 per cent this month for
produce haulers, they are still 20 per cent higher than a year ago.
One of the issues is the introduction of mandatory
electronic logging devices in the United States. So far the agriculture and
food industry has a temporary exemption.
But one report out of Florida says truckers are refusing pickups
at more than one location because it takes too much time to make pickups at
multiple locations.
It cited the example of one trucker using up 14 hours to
complete pickups at three locations.
