[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 13, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S4103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING SAFE HANDLING, INC.

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I wish to celebrate the 
remarkable achievements of a small Maine company that is doing business 
in an incredibly forward-thinking way. Safe Handling, Inc., of Auburn, 
is a cutting-edge transporter of industrial products, and both the firm 
and its president, Ford Reiche, have earned significant recognition, 
culminating in Mr. Reiche being named the U.S. Small Business 
Administration's 2008 Maine Small Business Person of the Year.
  Founded in 1989, Safe Handling offers businesses the convenience of 
both bulk product transportation and logistics, as well as toll 
processing, to enable them to more efficiently move their goods. 
Significantly, Safe Handling is responsible for both sensitive and 
hazardous materials. To safely handle these products, the firm runs the 
largest rail-to-truck transloading facilities in both New England and 
western Pennsylvania, where it has an additional transload yard and 
warehouse. Safe Handling presently manages roughly a half million tons 
of products every year which translates to nearly 4,000 railcars and 
12,000 truckloads of raw materials annually. It also operates the only 
ethanol terminal in Maine.
  Transporting such perilous materials requires Safe Handling to be 
mindful of many concerns, and the company has risen to the top as a 
leader in environmental safety by exceeding Federal and State 
requirements on a regular basis. Most recently, the company became the 
first Maine-owned business to earn both the ISO14001 and Responsible 
Care certifications, which address a host of health, safety, 
environmental, and security concerns. Of all its initiatives, Safe 
Handling has most visibly led the way in reducing transportation 
emissions. The company ships dry products that it transfers into 
liquids, uses tri-axle trucks, provides long-haul rail services, and 
utilizes biodiesel fuel, all of which reduce discharge. Not 
surprisingly, the firm placed first in the Governor's Carbon Challenge, 
by voluntarily reducing its carbon emissions by 75 percent. Safe 
Handling has additionally instituted an Employee Green Idea Reward 
Program that gives $100 to each employee who saves the company money 
through an environmentally friendly idea.
  Because of its innovative practices and proven track record, Safe 
Handling has garnered three prestigious awards this year alone. In 
March, Mainebiz magazine declared Ford Reiche its Executive of the Year 
in its large business category. Less than a month later, the Maine 
International Trade Center recognized Safe Handling as its Maine 
Innovative Company of the Year Award for the company's energy saving 
methods and customer savings. Additionally, the U.S. Small Business 
Administration presented Mr. Reiche with its prestigious 2008 Maine 
Small Business Person of the Year for his ``business expertise, 
commitment, creativity and community involvement.'' Mr. Reiche's 
dedication and knowledge inspire the nearly 100 employees of Safe 
Handling, and the company is a better place for his profound leadership 
skills.
  Safe Handling is truly a company of which all Mainers can be proud. 
Consistently seeking greater energy efficiency while never sacrificing 
its loyalty to its customers, Safe Handling promises to make the 
Lewiston-Auburn area--and Maine--a better place in every way. I am 
particularly impressed with the passion and enthusiasm of Mr. Reiche, 
who I was fortunate enough to meet with just a few weeks ago. His 
desire to create jobs and opportunities in Central Maine truly shined 
through during our time together. I congratulate Ford Reiche and 
everyone at Safe Handling for their amazing accolades and pioneering 
enterprises, and wish them more of the success that they have already 
demonstrated.

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