Phone call to MTMC triggers record effort
Although he did not know it at the time, the call to Strausbaugh, chief of the Joint Traffic Management Office's Intermodal Equipment Division would set a record.
Within a week, MTMC would break previous time and distance barriers and deliver a record number of shipping containers to the Hawthorne Army Depot, Hawthorne, Nev.
Strausbaugh's call came from the Operation Support Command, of Rock Island, Ill., a part of the Army Materiel Command.
The mission: As a mobility test, could MTMC arrange the delivery 600 ammunition-grade containers to the depot near Carson City within seven days?
"It was a rather robust test," said Strausbaugh. "We had to deliver 200 20-foot shipping containers to Hawthorne at the rate of 200 per day for three days."
On two previous occasions in recent years, MTMC could not meet the deadline of similar tests, said Strausbaugh.
This time would be different.
Strausbaugh hastily created a working group of Karen Chin, Chris Brothers, Gary Good and Burnita Bell. They immediately sought the assistance of contracting representatives Frank Giordano, Greg Dawson and Charles Winslow.
From the beginning, Strausbaugh knew the biggest problem for potential contractors was not finding the containers - it was locating enough trucks to carry the containers in the short-time frame.
In the transportation industry, long-haul trucks are dispatched Friday for moves on Monday and Tuesday. In addition, it would be tough for any company to find 100 undedicated trucks for immediate use.
While available, the containers presented their own challenge.
"The containers are for ammunition," said Strausbaugh. "They want a pristine - almost new - box.
"If they have a nail hole in the floor from blocking and bracing - they will disqualify it."
From the industry perspective, the process of segregating and inspecting containers to meet the ammunition grade quality level would be time consuming.
And, time was short.
Additional challenges began at once.
Bids came in that both failed to meet the requirement and were beyond the budget of the Operation Support Command.
As a result, precious time began slipping away. No containers were contracted for - or much less moving in the dusty heat toward the depot.
Then -- good news! The container proposal was rebid.
Winslow led the complex negotiations - now going at a fever pitch.
Then, a new success: Transporters found they could stay within Operation Support Command's budget. They could do this by limiting the test to 200 containers and by combining the test requirement with near-term container needs at Hawthorne already funded. In addition, free storage was negotiated for the containers.
And, a new bidder responded to the bid solicitation.
Global Intermodal Systems, of San Ramon, Calif., presented a bid proposal that would meet all aspects of the revised test requirement.
"They own and operate 12 terminals," said Strausbaugh. "They have the ability to supply from all the depots -- they have a lot of connections."
The bid was awarded Aug. 14. Global Intermodal Systems would deliver 200 containers by midnight, Aug. 15 for $266,500.
Chin and Brothers flew to Nevada to observe the deliver and container quality.
For both relatively new employees, it was their first temporary duty mission.
Global went right to work. The firm mobilized a fleet of containers and trucks using Los Angeles and San Francisco as origin hubs.
"We received the award at 10:30 a.m. the day before," said Wendy Jardine, director, equipment sales and leasing.
"We realized we had just over 30 hours to get all 200 container units positioned, inspected, repaired and loaded on trucks for the 400-mile trip to Hawthorne.
The firm mobilized a fleet of containers and trucks using their Los Angeles and Oakland depots as origin hubs.
By 2:30 p.m., Global had the first 10 trucks loaded and on the road to Hawthorne. Throughout Aug. 14, an additional 19 trucks were loaded and dispatched.
During the night of Aug. 14 and early morning of Aug. 15, Global had trucks moving down dark California and Nevada highways to Hawthorne.
When security guards opened the front gate of Hawthorne at 7 a.m. the next morning, 29 trucks - each carrying two containers - were parked at the front gate.
"We used a total of 14 different carriers and 15 of our own trucks," said Jardine.
"Many trucks made double runs to meet the deadline - it was definitely a push."
By 7 a.m., Aug. 15, Global had 120 containers ready and 80 dispatched. By the end of the day, this figure would reach all 200 containers dispatched!
More and more trucks arrived throughout the day.
In the 98 F. heat, Chin and Brothers observed the quality assurance checks being made on the installation.
"The quality was very good," said Chin. "It really was exciting to be on an operational team."
It was no empty test. Many containers were immediately loaded with pallets of U.S. Marine Corps 155mm-artillery ammunition, said Chin. Eventually, all 200 of the containers would be filled for actual Hawthorne ammunition shipment missions.
"It really was a big success," said Chin. "We got quality control and speed. It was an excellent operation."
Brothers agreed.
"It was a great operation for my individual development," said Brothers.
Global delivered containers throughout the day. Trucks were still arriving when security guards closed the installation's gate at 7 p.m.
Truckers stopped at the gate quickly spread the word to other drivers still enroute. using their Citizen's Band radios. These truckers would return the next day when the depot's gates opened.
"We live and breathe the intermodal business," said Jardine. "The project wasn't easy but it is what we do.
"When we make a commitment - we do everything in our power to keep that commitment."
"Success," said Strausbaugh. "It's sweet. A lot of long hours go into this.
A lot of late days.
"Success with impossible requirements is its own compensation." (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
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