Videos and Communication

October 16, 2020 - a video message from Gary Meador

September 11, 2020 - a video message from John Ness

August 4, 2020 - a video message from Gary Meador

April 24, 2020 - a special video from our Dist-Trans Team

April 10, 2020 - Thank you ODW - a special video from our Executive Leadership Team

To:         All clients – ODW Logistics & Affiliated Companies

From:    John R. Ness, CEO

Re:         April 10, 2020: COVID-19 update from ODW Logistics 

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, ODW Logistics remains committed to taking appropriate actions to minimize disruption throughout our operations and address potential risks. All ODW distribution centers remain operational with our associates continuing to work safely by following local regulations and government ordinances. We frequently revisit our protocols and communication messaging. As a result, we have updated the language in our COVID-19 Tiered Protocol.

The health and well-being of our associates remains our top priority. Since March 9, 2020, we have implemented numerous measures to ensure we are providing a healthy and safe working environment. We continue to monitor our efforts and evolve our practices. Current measures implemented throughout all ODW operations include:

• DOUBLED SANITIZING FREQUENCY:  All breakrooms, common areas, bathrooms, material handling equipment, and shared individual equipment are sanitized at the beginning and end of every shift.
• 6FT SOCIAL DISTANCING: Associates are to maintain a 6ft distance from each other throughout the day. 
• STAGGERED BREAKS:  Employee breaks are staggered to minimize the amount of people on break at one time.
• SEPARATE ENTRANCE AND EXITS:  All locations have separate entrance and exits to minimize employee congestion. 
• VISUAL REMINDERS: Posters and visual floor markings to maintain 6ft distance. (Examples:  distance markers at time clocks, designated pre-shift areas for each associate, traffic flow patterns).  
• FACIAL COVERINGS: ODW is encouraging all associates to wear some form of facial covering during the workday (i.e. cloth mask, scarf, or surgical-type mask).  As a courtesy, ODW is providing facial covering to all associates.

ODW Logistics’ COVID-19 Task Force Team is our front line for maintaining business continuity, communication, and proactively responding to situations. You can follow ODW company updates and messages on our COVID-19 UPDATE webpage. I want to let our clients, vendors, and business partners know that we appreciate your flexibility, commitment, and partnership during these challenging times.

April 3, 2020 - Thank you ODW - a special video from our customers

March 28, 2020 - a video message from John Ness

March 25, 2020 video message from Ted Nikolai

March 22, 2020 video message from John Ness

A message from John Ness

To:  All clients – ODW Logistics & Affiliated Companies

From:  John R. Ness, CEO

Re:  March 17, 2020: COVID 19 update from ODW Logistics

ODW Logistics continues to closely follow developments with respect to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We have assembled an internal COVID 19 task force that meets daily to address our communication strategy and action plans with our operations. Attached is ODW Logistics COVID 19 Tiered Protocol.  This is a working document that outlines our approach to how our company will respond in the event of the following:

• An ODW associate tests positive for COVID 19
• Actions to be taken should ODW Logistics elect to shut down an operation
• Action to be taken should the US Government mandate a shutdown

We understand that information moves quickly and ODW reserves the right to update this document on an ongoing basis to ensure we are following the most prudent guidelines outlined by the CDC, WHO, and local governments. We are committed to providing our clients with weekly updates regarding COVID-19 and the actions ODW Logistics is taking to mitigate impact on our associates and client operations.

To:  All clients – ODW Logistics & Affiliated Companies

From:  John R. Ness, CEO

Re:  March 13, 2020: COVID 19 update from ODW Logistics

ODW Logistics continues to closely follow developments with respect to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  We are taking this issue very seriously as we consider the health and wellness of our associates and the important role we have in servicing our customers.  We are continuously monitoring the situation and will keep you updated regularly. The safety and well-being of our associates is our top priority and we are closely monitoring guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), Center for Disease Controal (CDC), and state and local governments.

Our distribution centers, offices and transportation operations are open for business.  We plan to keep our business open and running to support supply chain requirements for our customers.   We are monitoring the situation closely and following federal, state and local requirements—at this point there is no mandate or directive for businesses to close in any of our markets.  ODW is also collaborating with other 3PL’s, industry groups and our trade association to be ensure we follow best practices in the industry. 

1. Sanitation: We have implemented more frequent sanitation efforts in all our facilities.
2. Associates: We are prepared for a potential temporary increase in absenteeism in all of ODW facilities nationwide. As an example: The State of Ohio announced school closing on 3/12/2020.
3. Travel: ODW Logistics is placing a temporary hold on all associate travel and non-essential visitors to facilities. Please contact us if you require a visit to an ODW facility.

To the extent that we have associates working in client facilities, we ask that you share your workforce policies so that we can assure our associates are working in a safe environment. 

We believe it is prudent to revisit your supply chain preparedness in the event a signifiant distruption surfaces.  Please contact your primary ODW contact if you would like to discuss how this pandemic may affect your supply chain.

We are committed to providing our clients with weekly updates regarding COVID-19 and the actions ODW Logistics is taking to limit any impact on our associates and client operations and we are working diligently to ensure minimal disruption.