News & Insights

We would like to take this time to extend our gratitude to those that have served our country to maintain our freedoms. This Veteran’s Day, we honor the brave men and women that have dedicated their lives to protecting ours. With profound gratitude we thank you, Veterans and your families, for your selfless service and sacrifice. To honor our Veterans, Roanoke has made a donation to the Fisher House Foundation.

November 11, 2015

Roanoke Trade will be attending the Northern Border Customs Brokers Association (NBCBA) 2016 Annual Meeting taking place on February 8-10, 2016 in Cape Coral, Florida. The main objectives of the NBCBA are to promote the common business interests of the brokerage community doing business along the northern U.S. Border, to encourage and maintain professionalism within our industry and to promote the ethical conduct and standards of performance for the brokerage community.  Janet Ciesko, Terry Cummings and Bill Sterrett of Roanoke will be in attendance.

November 09, 2015

Roanoke Trade has published a number of articles and white papers and held webinars on the importance of freight forwarders and property brokers obtaining certificates of insurance from their carriers. A recent Court of Appeals case in North Carolina reinforces this topic in a case holding the property broker liable for a workers’ compensation claim made by an employee of the carrier. In the case of Atiapo v. Goree Logistics, Inc. et al., a truck driver was injured in a vehicle accident while transporting goods on behalf of the motor carrier, as per an agreement between the carrier and the […]

November 06, 2015

As of September 1, 2015, the new officers of the International Trade Surety Association (ITSA) have been voted in and we are pleased to advise Roanoke’s Colleen Clarke has been elected as the new President of the association. While ITSA’s membership is small, it is a powerful voice for the customs surety industry with its members producing over 70% of all bonds on file with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In addition to Roanoke, other ITSA members are Avalon Risk Management, International Bond & Marine and Navigators Insurance/Integro Insurance Brokers. Colleen has been a long time active participant in the […]

October 23, 2015

Most freight forwarders have an insurance policy to facilitate cargo coverage for their clients. However, not all of them effec­tively utilize it to maximize the benefit to both their company and their clients. Many shippers do not understand the intricacies of cargo insurance and/or the risk associated with uninsured cargo. This lack of awareness provides the forwarder an opportunity to distinguish themselves from their competitors by providing much-needed expertise. A professional transportation specialist can explain the need for cargo insurance and secure coverage for their clients. Providing this value-added service helps to strengthen client relationships and provides opportunities for growth. […]

October 23, 2015

Cargo theft is a multibillion-dollar problem across the nation, including in big food-producing states such as California. According to the FBI, highly sophisticated thieves – who often act with some privileged knowledge – have stolen up to $30 billion worth of cargo each year, including highly valued nuts, fruits and vegetables, meat, soda pop, cookies, electronics and cigarettes. Yet despite the extent of the food’s industry problem with cargo theft, lax security persists. According to FreightWatch International, which tracks cargo theft incidents, the vast majority (90%) of cargo thefts occur when trucks are left unattended at unsecured truck stops and […]

October 21, 2015