"Intermodal pallet:" MTMC Transporter adds new work term to lexicon, development from SDMI
That is because MTMC transporter Frank Galluzzo just coined the term.
Coordinating a Strategic Distribution Management Initiative meeting Aug. 14 of ocean carriers, Galluzzo discussed a creative partnership of Air Force planes and commercial trucks supporting U.S. Army troops in Bosnia.
Afterward, explaining the success of the supply chain process, Galluzzo blurted out, "It's an intermodal pallet."
The name seems to fit.
"I've never heard of it," said a Pentagon-based Department of Defense supply chain coordinator. "What is it?"
The transportation success story that triggered the new name is worthy of repeating.
It brings a new dimension to the transshipments of airfreight by truck.
Galluzzo told ocean carriers that the intermodal pallet was developed after an Air Force review of cargoes moving from Dover Air Force Base, Del., to Rhine-Main Air Force, in Germany.
The freight consisted of high-priority resupply items and spare parts bound for American peacekeeping troops in Bosnia. On aircraft pallets, the cargo was moved from Dover in C-5A aircraft. At Rhine-Main, the cargo was transshipped to C-130 aircraft for the flight to Tuzla, Bosnia.
However, if no C-130 aircraft was available, the cargo waited.
Enter a Strategic Distribution Management Initiative measure: If C-130 aircraft is available, the cargo will go right to Bosnia. If aircraft is not available, the cargo would be immediately transshipped by commercial truck - a two-day journey.
"The key is we maintain the velocity," said Galluzzo. "We provide reliability to our customers."
So, where does the intermodal pallet come in?
"The first truck," said Galluzzo. "It carried the pallets that were built to accommodate the aircraft height.
"Once on the road to Bosnia, the driver couldn't get through a lot of the bridges because of the height of the pallets on the high truck frame," said Galluzzo. "That truck went all over Europe (getting to Bosnia) - but only the first truck."
Now, said Galluzzo, the pallets are built shorter - as intermodal pallets. If the cargo has to be transshipped by truck, the intermodal pallet loads will fit under any bridge suspension system.
Transporters have long transshipped air pallets by trucks, said Col. Tom E. Thompson, MTMC chief of staff.
"The pallets used on aircraft have been diverted to truck for onward movement for many years," said Thompson. "How we manage the movement of palletized cargo is what has changed under the Strategic Distribution Management Initiative." (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
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