Transportation logistics management 351

Respond to all 3 student posts with 100 words minimum:

Original post: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/03/31/2016-07199/hazardous-materials-reverse-logistics-rrr

See the information on the Office of the Federal Register website that discusses reverse logistics of hazardous materials. Discuss the problem of reverse logistics and how it relates to hazardous materials packaging.

See Link above!

STUDENTS POSTS:

Andrew:

Good evening and Aloha, class. In reviewing the website to determine the issue regarding reverse logistics pertaining to hazardous materials, I noticed the definition of reverse logistics is not clear enough for certain entities of the supply chain. For instance, retailers and logistics companies that move hazardous materials via truck believe the definition of reverse logistics should include specific language to encapsulate and define the "end destination" and "movement" (Hazardous Materials: Reverse Logistics (RRR), 2016). 

As it relates directly to the hazardous materials involved in reverse logistics, there is growing interest in shipments that take place via rail and sea, as the PHMSA has focused on the highway transportation sector only. The use of citing specific hazardous classes for materials and quantity limits in shipments has posed a problem for companies such as FedEx who want more clarification on the rule making methods that determine how and how much they are able to ship (Hazardous Materials: Reverse Logistics (RRR), 2016).

It seems that the organizations that have input into the definition and language used in regards to reverse logistics of hazardous materials are seeking to use plain language to establish these proposed rules. For example, in regards to the packaging required, the PHMSA proposed that material being shipped should be the original manufacturers packaging materials or of equal standards, but the ATA proposed a change to specifically identify using the original packaging if possible, or using "...a packaging of strength and integrity commensurate to the manufacturer's original packaging" (Hazardous Materials: Reverse Logistics (RRR), 2016). 

Corey

The problem that companies dealing with reverse logistics is the clarification of the definition.  The current definition given for reverse logistics by NPRM defined it as “the process of moving goods from their final destination for the purpose of capturing value, recall, replacement, proper disposal, or similar reason” (Hazardous Materials: Reverse Logistics, 2016).  Unfortunately this definition leaves too much of a grey area to be misinterpreted and can cause companies dealing with reverse logistics problems.  One area of this is when dealing with hazardous material.  The term “final destination” limits companies and the transportation industry because companies do have to deal with hazardous material during the reverse logistics process.  Furthermore, there isn’t a clear definition of what reverse logistics is.  This causes a misunderstanding of what carriers are involved with the revers logistics processes that are capable of dealing with hazardous material.  In relationship to hazardous material packaging, there are several concerns regarding the safety of hazardous material packaging being labeled the proper way.  By labeling the packaging with common names, it doesn’t tell companies enough information regarding the hazardous material.  As a result, a box that is packaged with hazardous material, which is supposed to be highway transportation, may end up on an airplane.  If a package has a label stating that there is hazardous material inside, it is enough to keep people informed that there is hazardous material without having to explain what type of material is being hauled if packages only had common names on packaging.  When dealing with reverse logistics and hazardous materials, it is important for packaging to have a clear understanding of the rules of regulations, definitions, and procedures for shipping this classification of products.           

 Deandre

After reviewing the Office of Federal Register website on reverse logistics of hazardous materials. It seems like the problem with reverse logistics regarding hazardous materials packaging is the lack of knowledge and the lack of care for the movement of product back to their centers. On the website, they even stated that a majority of the hazmat sent back was undeclared. It is mainly the retailers that return the product without regards for anyone or anything throughout their process and who it may harm.  That is something of significant concern because if someone that doesn’t know what they are handling happens to drop the hazardous materials and the packaging isn’t labeled right it or labeled at all, it could result in someone’s death. That Is something that falls back on the companies and establishing a reserves logistics system that does not put people at risk due to more than evident negligence especially since they probably ship undeclared hazardous material shipments often. Also, according to the Office of Federal Register is “The lack of knowledge regarding the risks of transporting certain products.” It hugely concerns safety for people especially when it comes to the reverse logistics and packaging and labeling of hazardous materials because like the article discussed. It comes back to not being adequately educated or adequately informed about hazards and what they are handling. People are told that they must send something back to their distribution center or somewhere else and they don’t label the product correctly or package it right and if something happens, and it mixes with something else it could cause not only death to the driver or possibly anyone else near the area. Overall it seems like there is a missing link in the supply chain of reverse logistics, which is mainly due to lack of understanding in reverse logistics for hazardous shipping and packaging in possibly everyone’s supply chain.