Supply Chain Journalist • Editor • Author • Industry Historian • Speaker

About Rick LeBlanc

Rick LeBlanc has spent more than three decades documenting one of the least visible but most essential components of modern supply chains: the pallet.

Through thousands of articles, two books, industry presentations, and ongoing historical research, he has chronicled how pallets, reusable packaging, and material handling have shaped manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution across North America. His work combines trade journalism with operational insight, helping readers understand not only how supply chains function today, but how they evolved.

Editorial Leadership

Rick is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News, an independent publication covering reusable transport packaging, pallet systems, automation, sustainability, and supply chain operations. He has served as editor of Western Pallet Magazine since 1998 and has been a regular contributor to Pallet Enterprise since 1995, writing extensively on pallet manufacturing, recycling, safety, technology, and logistics.

His writing has appeared in hundreds of magazine issues and online publications, making him one of the longest-serving journalists dedicated to the pallet and reusable packaging industries.

Books and Research

Rick is co-author, with Stewart Richardson, of Pallets: A North American Perspective, first published in 2003 and fully updated for its twentieth anniversary edition in 2023.

In 2025, he and Richardson published Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945, examining the formative years of palletized materials handling through contemporary trade publications and historical sources.

His current research continues that work. Rick is preparing Pallets & Progress, Volume 2, covering articles from The Palletizer published between 1944 and 1946, while additional volumes exploring the post-war evolution of palletized handling are also in development.

Consulting, Speaking and Industry Service

Beyond journalism, Rick has undertaken consulting assignments related to pallet systems management and asset loss prevention for companies and industry associations across North America. He also works with organizations on white papers, technical articles, and editorial projects that translate complex operational topics into clear, accurate, and engaging content. As AI-generated content becomes increasingly common, he also helps clients review technical and editorial content for clarity, technical credibility, and factual consistency.

Rick has been invited to speak on pallet systems, reusable packaging, and material handling at industry, educational, and workplace safety events, including a recent presentation for WorkSafeBC. Previous speaking engagements have included programs organized by the Michigan State University School of Packaging, the Canadian Pallet Council, the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association, and the Western Pallet Association.

He serves on the Advisory Board of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design and previously served as a director of the Canadian Material Handling & Distribution Society.

Looking Forward

Whether reporting on emerging technologies, documenting industry history, or examining operational best practices, Rick’s goal remains the same: to provide practical, well-researched information that helps readers better understand the systems that move products safely and efficiently through the supply chain.

His current work increasingly bridges journalism, historical research, and industry education, preserving the history of palletized handling while continuing to examine the technologies and practices shaping its future.

For editorial enquiries, speaking engagements, consulting opportunities, or collaborative projects, Rick can be contacted at leblanc.richard@gmail.com.