Trucking Industry Keeps the Bloom on Valentine’s Day Flower Deliveries
February 14, 2018
Bright, fragrant flowers, the universal symbol of love, will be in abundance today as consumers shower loved ones with bouquets on Valentine’s Day.
<p>Heart-shaped holidays, like Valentine’s Day, are busy times for the floral industry, which depends on trucking companies, including <a href="https://www.penskelogistics.com/" rel="noopener">Penske Logistics</a> and <a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/" rel="noopener">Penske Truck Rental</a>, to help ensure perishables like flowers and candy arrive in top condition.</p><p>“Most consumers want their flowers on Valentine’s Day, so it is vital that florists have their product on time and of the freshest quality,” said Jennifer Sparks, vice president of marketing for the <a href="https://safnow.org/" rel="noopener">Society of American Florists</a> (SAF), based in Virginia. “Trucking companies and their drivers play a big role in helping to make that happen.”</p><p><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="83cf0dc0ae94d85e8d455dcff349e2da" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="7d9ab" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTEyODQ4Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTcxNDg4NH0.dgKGJoobHPt19JA216aeNwE1NN7_qguI4Y9j6rouYZo/img.png?width=980"/></p><p>Consumers are expected to spend $19.6 billion on Valentine’s Day this year or an average of $143.56 in Valentine’s Day gift giving, according to a survey by <a href="https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/nrf-says-consumers-will-spend-near-record-196-billion-valentines-day" rel="noopener">the National Retail Federation</a> (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics.</p><p>“Americans are looking forward to pampering and indulging their loved ones with flowers, candy, dinner and all of the other Valentine’s Day stops,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “With the holidays behind them and the winter months dragging along, consumers are looking for something to celebrate this time of year.”</p><p>Flower sales alone were projected to reach $2 billion, according to the NRF. Which stands to reason since Valentine’s Day is the number one holiday for floral purchases, second only to Christmas and Chanukah in spending, according to the SAF.</p><p>In fact, this year, more than 250 million roses were produced to shower on loved ones on Valentine’s Day, and roses lead the way in flower purchases, followed by tulips, carnations and lilies, according to the SAF.</p><p>Why are flowers synonymous with love? Science may have the answer.</p><p>According to a <a href="https://aboutflowers.com/quick-links/health-benefits-research/emotional-impact-of-flowers-study/" rel="noopener">Rutgers University study</a>, “the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction and affects social behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is normally believed.”</p><p>The researchers studied participants’ behavioral and emotional responses to receiving flowers, with the results showing flowers are a “natural and healthful moderator of moods.”</p><p>The study also found that flowers have an immediate impact on happiness, impact moods long-term and make intimate connections.</p><p>The science connection extends to deliveries as well.</p><p>“Scientific research is overwhelmingly conclusive when it comes to cold chain and longevity of flowers,” said Chris Drummond, president of<a href="https://www.pflorist.com/" rel="noopener"> Plaza Flowers</a> in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and SAF's president-elect. “Temperature is the most important factor in the process of getting flowers from the farm to the consumer.”</p><p>Vase life decreases substantially when the temperature of the freight rises above 35 degrees Fahrenheit, Drummond said.</p><p>“Since airplanes are not refrigerated, trucks are the obvious choice for transporting fresh flowers,” he said. “Partnering with a reliable trucking company that properly maintains their refrigerated trailers is critical for floral wholesalers and large retailers. “</p><p>New technologies allow retailers to monitor the temperature of the freight, and professional drivers who understand the perishable nature of our products are invaluable, Drummond said.</p><p>“During the loading and unloading process, flowers can get too cold or too warm. A good driver understands how to monitor the temperature of the trailer and manage the loading and unloading procedure to minimize temperature fluctuations,” he said.</p><p><a href="https://www.citycommerceflowers.com/" rel="noopener">Commerce Flowers</a> is among the many florists who have experienced a spike in business leading up to Valentine’s Day.</p><p>“It’s been very busy,” said Duke Nomura, treasurer at Commerce Flowers, which has a fleet of its own trucks but rented additional Penske units to meet the need this Valentine’s Day. A long-time customer, Nomura said he rents with Penske because of the quality trucks and nice people.</p><p><em>Penske offers a wide variety of rental trucks from large commercial semi-tractors and trailers to small box trucks. Penske encourages retailers and businesses to make reservations by calling its hotline for business rentals, 1-800-PENSKE1. New business truck rental customers can enjoy an additional </em><a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/renting-from-penske/new-customer-discount/" rel="noopener"><em>20 percent off</em></a><em> your first truck or tractor rental.</em></p></div>
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Penske Logistics Lends Cupid a Helping Hand on Valentine’s Day
February 13, 2017
Saying “I Love You” with candy and flowers this Valentine’s Day has become a little easier thanks to Penske Logistics’ Transportation Management Services.
<p><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ed0671147c54bae2175c4ebee7befa80" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="dafc8" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTEyODE1NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDQ0MjU0NX0.t03OD_txdiFmtFRAjlVoJ8mFX2JjG9ORrem1sF2QMGE/img.jpg?width=980"/>U.S. consumers are expected to spend about $18.2 billion this Valentine’s Day, according to the <a href="https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/nrf-says-consumers-will-spend-182-billion-valentines-day">National Retail Federation</a> (NRF). That includes $2 billion on flowers and $1.7 billion on candy alone, according to estimates.</p><p>Making sure perishables like candy and flowers arrive from warehouse to marketplace in top condition is a key role of Penske Logistics as well as the company’s team of professional drivers.</p><p>“If there is any delay in transit, you will have a problem, or very poor flowers and chocolates,” said Bob Daymon, vice president of transportation management for Penske Logistics. “Products like flowers and chocolates need to be moved via temperature-controlled equipment, and that equipment can be a challenge to find because it’s not as common as dry van.”</p><p>Whether managing perishable supply chains or dry goods and materials, Penske Logistics recognizes timing is key for all customers. The company takes steps to identify the best freight modes, consolidate shipments, manage carriers, and optimize air, sea and ground routes.</p><p>Through these efforts, Penske Logistics can offer customers reduced costs, improved labor productivity, better asset utilization and superior customer service.</p><p>The company takes special care when it comes to perishables.</p><p>“We are connected with hundreds of temperature-controlled carriers. This allows us to meet the capacity demands for those customers who require temperature-based equipment. We also have the ability to monitor real-time location and temperature of the equipment,” Daymon said.</p><p>“This allows the end customer to know when their product arrives; plus monitor the temperature while the product is in-transit,” he added. “We assure the customer the product will arrive on-time and in perfect condition.”</p><p>Penske Logistics’ experience in temperature-sensitive deliveries has grown by four times over the last three years, mainly driven by the company’s growth as a leader in the <a href="https://blog.gopenske.com/logistics/penske-logistics-named-to-food-logistics-2016-top-3pl-cold-storage-providers-list/">food and beverage</a> space.</p><p>“The learnings, as skills from the food and beverage vertical, can be applied to moving flowers and chocolates,” Daymon said. “We pride ourselves on applying industry knowledge gained in one vertical and bringing best practices into other verticals to support our growing customer base.”</p><p>Here are some sweet Valentine’s Day <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/13/us/valentines-day-fast-facts/">facts</a>:</p><ul class="ee-ul"> <li><strong>496 A.D.</strong><strong>-</strong> Pope Gelasius I names February 14 as St. Valentine's Day.</li> <li><strong>1847 - </strong><a href="http://www.americanantiquarian.org/509027.htm">Esther Howland,</a>of Worchester, Massachusetts, becomes one of the first U.S. manufacturers of valentines.</li> <li><strong>1868 - </strong>The first "chocolate box" is introduced by <a href="http://www.cadbury.com.au/about-cadbury/the-story-of-cadbury.aspx">Richard Cadbury,</a>when he decorates a candy box with a painting of his young daughter holding a kitten in her arms. Cadbury also invented the first Valentine's Day candy box.</li></ul><p><em>Learn more about Penske Logistics and how it can offer custom-fit transportation solutions for your business </em><a href="https://www.penskelogistics.com/solutions/transportation-services/"><em>here.</em></a></p><p><em>By Bernie Mixon</em></p></div>
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Penske Truck Rental’s Sweethearts Move Ahead to New Life
February 14, 2011
Otherwise, it is highly unlikely she would have agreed to sit in a yellow Penske moving truck to make an 18-hour trip with someone she had just met in person. Good thing it turned out to be her future husband, Greg Luna.
<p>And so on this day of celebrating the meaning of true love, “<a href="http://blog.gopenske.com/">Move Ahead</a>” brings you the story of a couple brought together with the help of <a href="http://www.pensketruckrental.com/">Penske Truck Rental.</a></p><p>In fall 2005, Greg was driving from Florida to Long Island, N.Y., and finally to Syracuse, N.Y., to move his belongings, and that of some friends. He was excited to meet Debra in person after they had spent the previous few months getting to know each other online and via the phone (he was living outside Orlando, Fla. at the time, she was in Long Island).</p><p>They were finally both in the same place at the same time, so she agreed to accompany Greg to upstate New York. “Our conversation was effortless and took us to Syracuse without any awkward silences or discomfort,” Debra explained in a <a href="http://www.pensketruckrental.com/renting-from-penske/">Penske customer testimonial</a> of their first date, spent mainly in the truck.</p><p>“It’s a great story and a testament of how we were meant to be together,” Greg proudly noted.</p><p>Greg was ready to propose to Debra by the summer of 2008. He asked for her hand in marriage in the only way fitting for this couple.</p><p>“After a night out with a girlfriend, I came home to our apartment to find Greg standing outside in front of a Penske truck,” Debra recounted. “He took my hand as I stepped out of my car and walked me around to the back of the truck.” Contained inside were flowers, candles and a diamond ring. She said yes.</p><p><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4ac17e3ddefb7efbf9e51967e2a1f542" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="8524d" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTEyNjgzMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0ODEyOTczN30.UHuHcis3Vgavq7JEw8ZKcvGZKsnSpJIbVQYb5puVyhU/img.jpg?width=980"/>Debra and Greg were married in October 2010 in Bellport, N.Y. Guests were treated to what the Lunas refer to as “Penske Punch” -- a yellow and blue cocktail.</p><p>Today, they reside in the suburbs of Rochester, N.Y. and work for the same company, an international staffing agency. She is a recruiting manager, and he’s a human resources operations manager. They’re enjoying their new life together, exploring the local live music, sports, festival and culinary scene.</p><p>“I’m very happy and I could not imagine my life with anyone else,” stated Greg.</p><p>Starting a family is on their mind these days, and Debra and Greg will be soon house hunting.</p><p>Sounds like the perfect time for the <a href="http://www.pensketruckrental.com/">yellow Penske truck</a> to make another appearance.</p><p><em>By Alen Beljin </em></p><p><strong>Photo Credit: </strong>Shira Zimmerman of Shira Z Photography</p></div>
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