b'24American Journal of Transportation ajot.com(GRAPPLINGcontinuedjob managing to customers from page 22) expectations. Im optimistic that has disrupted operationsthatthefourthquarterwill of automakers, also known asbe better than expected.original equipment manufac- Atro/roterminalopera-turers, or OEMs. tor Ceres, a pair of executives Buben said the result hascoincidentallynamedDoug beenadelicatebalanceofsees similar challenges.managing labor to the estimatedCurrently,thesinglebig-volumes and trimming costs togestchallengeweallface protect the bottom line. OEMs,carriers,port authorities,terminalopera-torsandprocessorsis demandforecasting,said DougHansen,chiefcom-mercialofficerofCeres, who has 23 years of industry experience under his belt.Understandingwhatis comingisfundamentalfor budgeting the business needs, hiring managers and working Incoming drivers are signaled ahead at Ceres Terminals Inc.s stevedoring operation at the Port of Baltimores Dundalk Marine Terminal. Ben Buben, chief operating officerwiththeILA[Internationalchallenges.Supplyup/supplycargowereimplementedin of AMPORTS Inc., is remainingLongshoremensAssociation]down, storage needed/transportearly days of the pandemic.optimistic amid challenges. and ILWU [International Long- needed, faster flow/slower flowRemember, Wolfesaid, Over the past two months,shore and Warehouse Union]whateverthecaseopensomefolkswereandstill wehaveseenproductiontoensuretherearesuffi- communicationsatthisstagearenervousaboutworking number cuts between 40 andcienttrainedlongshoremen,are how we are keeping closearoundoneanother.Inan 50percentatplantsaroundHansen continued. to our customers. efforttokeepouremploy-theworldduetotheshort- Ceresisattentivelycol- Hansenparticularlynotedeessafe,Ceresmandated, age,buttheestimatedvol- laboratingwithallpartners,theroleofportauthorities,sourced and supplied masks, umesforthefourthquarterincludingviainventory-visi- includingthatofMaryland,glovesandhandsanitizer. remain elevated in the hopebility platforms, to ensure safe,inassistinginsourcingandWedisinfectedshuttlevans the shortage will come to anconsistent and reliable service,supply of safety gear. andassignedteamstospe-end, he said. It is a balanc- Hansensaid,commenting,IDoug Wolfe,vicepresi- cificshuttlevans,reducing ingact,andouroperationsDoug Hansen, chief commercialthinkinformation-sharinganddent of Ceres Terminal Bal- thenumbersofpeopleper teamsatAMPORTShaveofficer of Ceres Terminals Inc.,communication is also key intimore, said rapid changes in(GRAPPLINGcontinued sofardoneanoutstandingbelieves communication is critical. workingthroughourcurrenthandling procedures for ro/roon page 26)'