Review process yields custom solution

Location. Location. Location. The three most important aspects of real estate can also be vital to a manufacturer’s profitability. Getting particularly cumbersome products from one location to another can become needlessly difficult unless shipping processes are properly scrutinized. That’s why leading manufacturers view their carrier as a strategic partner, rather than merely a service provider.

Recently, a manufacturer of industrial climbing and fall protection equipment developed an innovative climbing system for use on transmission towers, silos, drilling rigs, and other extreme applications. Initially, shipping was an arduous task requiring a flatbed trailer and an overhead crane to load and unload the equipment. Not exactly what you would call cost-effective, much less expeditious.

Fortunately, their carrier of choice is ABF. Anytime a shipment requires special equipment or handling, ABF’s FreightValue® offers a wide variety of alternatives—air ride, drayage, heated, lowboy (RGN), step decks, double drops, extendables, removable goosenecks, flatbed, reefer, liquid tanker—whatever is needed. No shipment is too wide, too tall, or too heavy.

ABF always strives to provide shipping solutions that help customers to improve profitability and productivity. Rather than merely transporting this particular equipment via flatbed, ABF and the manufacturer formed a focus group to analyze the process. The group soon developed a new shipping and handling method that has eliminated the need for both the overhead crane and the flatbed. Instead, the climbing equipment is simply rolled onto a standard trailer. The result is faster delivery, reduced costs, improved productivity, and enhanced customer satisfaction. 

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Do you have a similar situation? Or perhaps you'd like to give us some feedback. We'd love to hear from you! E-mail us at marketing@abf.com.