DENVER (USTCNS) --- Texas port involved in shipments of equipment to Iraq and Afghanistan is one of 10 firms and organizations receiving Surface Deployment and Distribution Command 2004 Quality Awards for transportation excellence.

The port of Beaumont was recognized for its support of SDDC in moving equipment overseas in the past year for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

"On numerous occasions," said Lt. Col. Brian Sundin, "the port of Beaumont has placed military needs and requirements ahead of its commercial customers … military requirements took precedence in providing sufficient staging area and vessel berthing space."

At its own expense, the port increased its rail and staging facilities in 2003 to support military shipments, said Sundin, commander, 842nd Transportation Battalion, Beaumont.

SDDC's military, port and commercial partnerships were praised by Maj. Gen. Ann Dunwoody, Commander.

"Our success in our global deployment and distribution operations has a direct correlation to the support of our partners," said Dunwoody.

The SDDC Quality Awards were presented March 24 at the 2004 SDDC Training Symposium in Denver.

Nine other award recipients included:

Alamo Travel Group, of San Antonio, Texas, was nominated by the 37th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, for its efficiency in issuing over 40,000 reservations and tickets for Department of Defense travelers in 2003. Through the use of low-cost airline fares, Alamo Travel Group saved over $53 million.

APL, of Oakland, Calif., was nominated by Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin, Stockton, Calif., for the timeliness of its ship movements in the Pacific Rim to Japan, Korea and Okinawa, from the West Coast. Additionally, APL provides direct surface shipments from Karachi, Pakistan, to U.S. bases in Afghanistan.

DHL Worldwide Express, of Plantation, Fla., was nominated by Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin, Stockton, Calif., for its expansion of delivery service to overseas locations. In March 2003, the firm was the first carrier to establish delivery to the cities of Bagram, Kabul and Kandahar, in Afghanistan.

Dispatch Services, Inc., of Antioch, Calif., was nominated by Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin, of Stockton, Calif., for its timely deliveries. The firm's 1,100 full truckloads and 5,200 less-than-truckload shipments for the military in 2003 within the continental United States had a 99 percent on-time delivery.

Interstate Van Lines, of Springfield, Va., was nominated by the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office, San Antonio, Texas, for its support to military customers. The firm implemented the innovative Traffic Advisory System, a Web-based program that provides in-transit visibility and e-mail updates for military personal property moves.

Landstar Ligon, Inc., of Jacksonville, Fla., was nominated by Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for the timely movement of large Navy ship propellers. The firm developed special equipment and rigging for the movement of propellers on trucks and military aircraft such as the C-17 and C-5.

National Air Cargo, of Orchard Park, N.Y., was nominated by U.S. Air Force Europe, Logistics, Ramstein Air Force Base Germany, for its rapid delivery of key weapons system components to military units deployed in South West Asia. Formerly taking 7-12 days, National Air Cargo cut transit time to 48 hours for door-to-door delivery.

Strong Vessel Operators, LLC, of Stamford, Conn., was nominated by Surface Deployment and Distribution Command's Azores Detachment, for the on-time delivery of the vessel Strong Patriot. The consistent ship schedule has allowed the U.S. Air Force to reduce its supply inventory at Lajes Field and to move more of its sustainment supplies by ship-allowing more airlift space for top-priority cargoes.

Trans Tech Leasing, Inc., of Middletown, Pa., was nominated by Defense Distribution Depot Susquehanna, of New Cumberland, Pa., for its efficient movement of 4,500 air pallets aboard 900 trucks in the first nine months of 2003 bound for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The company assigned dedicated drivers for its regular military distribution routes to assure synchronized and timely movements.