European Firm Contracts Local Firm as Third Party Logistics
SMITH TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS, INC AWARDED $300K EXPORT CONTRACT
May 26, 2005
Marietta/Gainesville, Ga. - Commerce,b.v. of The Netherlands has awarded a contract to Smith Transport & Logistics, Inc.to handle their shipments of used equipment from the US to northern Europe.
Effective immediately, the local company will be responsible for arranging all US inland trucking to east coast ports and arranging shipping space on ocean vessels. The initial shipment of 64 large surplus military trucks will be loaded on a chartered vessel on May 30 at the port in Savannah.
STL contracted with E.L Hester Trucking, Inc of Waynesboro and Robert Rogers Hauling in Augusta to handle the truck transportation. According to Smith, “we prefer dealing with the smaller trucking operations because of the personal touch. These two firms handled the largest part of the shipment but we had to supplement with other carriers due to the volume of shipments involved. Tony Miller Trucking in Augusta also assisted in the shipment.”
The firm through its logistics operation arranges truck transportation from all points in the US where Commerce,b.v. buys used equipment. The used equipment is taken to the east coast port most practical for export. Similar shipments have been exported from ports in Baltimore, Portsmouth, Charleston, Jacksonville and Savannah.
According to Billy P Smith, President of STL, “we prefer to ship out of Savannah because we have such a good working relationship with the Ports Authority.”
Commerce, b.d. is one of the largest used equipment dealers in northern Europe. The firm buys surplus military and civilian trucks in the US and ships it back to their facility in Nieuwediep, Holland in The Netherlands. They refurbish the trucks and resale the trucks throughout northern Europe.
STL, began operation in October of 2004. The brokerage operation initially was intended to cater to the frozen food segment of the industry. But as operations began the firm expanded to include more flatbed operations.
According to Smith, the third party logistics contract with Commerce is one the largest single contracts we have had. This project gives us additional expose in Europe with similar operations.
"Our success working with this international project gives us confidence that we can continue expanding internationally,” according to Smith.
The local firm started the 64-truck movement last week. The inland portion of the shipment will be completed by the end of this week. On May 30 the entire shipment will be loaded on board the LAURA DELMAS. The ship sails on May 31 for the port of Zeebrugge The ship arrives on June 13 at which point Commerce takes possession of the 64-truck shipment.
back » |
