The Trade Association for Logistics Professionals (TALP) announced in a recent statement that all officers and committee members are resigning effective 11/18/2022, terminating the organization. (Spencer Patton previously resigned, effective 10/25/2022. Patton founded the association. He is founder and president of Route Consultant and Patton Logistics).

"Committee members nominated themselves to join TALP with one clear, shared objective: to better promote effective dialogue with FedEx Ground," reads the statement. "After considerable discussion and investigation, it is clear that this committee, as structured, is not the appropriate vehicle to accomplish this goal and that better options exist."

More from the statement:

FedEx Ground has recently held a series of meetings across the country to engage with Independent Service Providers (ISP’s). These meetings have included local, district, and national leadership. Success for FedEx Ground and contractors is dependent on engaging in good-faith dialogue to unleash the entrepreneurial potential inherent in the company's business model.

TALP denounces any calls for work stoppages that may have been associated with this organization or any individual member associated with this organization. The group states that any such action is unproductive, self-destructive to collective businesses, and contrary to agreed-upon contracts.

TALP was formed in August 2022 and announced at the Contractor's Expo held at Paris Las Vegas, created by Route Consultant. At the Expo, Patton flashed a #PurpleFriday message during one of his speeches; the implication was for contractors to "independently decide" to stop delivering packages on Black Friday to pressure FedEx Ground to the table over a series of issues that squeezed contractors' profits. 

Patton contends that the 6,000 ISPs operating FedEx Ground’s network have been affected by extreme inflation costs, vehicle costs, and driver wages that have been exacerbated by Ground's contract changes. Ground subsequently warned Patton and its ISPs that attempting to collectively negotiate financial terms would be a breach of contract. 

Two weeks after the event, Ground terminated Patton Logistics' contract and sued Route Consultant. The Black Friday work stoppage apparently fizzled; a check of Twitter shows the hashtag generated few posts.