b'30American Journal ofTransportation ajot.com(UNIQUEcontinued fromitor and adjust the routingasdriversandmechanicstodayNorthwest Seaport Alliance page 26) needed. We have to be agilehasbeentoughforalltrans-and truck, along with special- and flexible. portationcompaniesand izedtransportationmodes.To cement customer rela- employersingeneralsincerebound continuesThecompanyhasastrongtionships,Lyndeniscon- theCOVIDpandemic.ButThe NWSA continues to post solid numbers with new focusonAlaska,Hawaii,tinually looking for ways toLynden has a Dock to Driverinfrastructure projects contributing to the gateway.Canada, and the Pacific North- streamline the logistics strat- programwhichessentiallyis west, but provides services inegy even before the customeracrossdocktrainingpro- By AJOT StafflocationsthroughouttheUSasks. McKallor tells the storygram. Lynden helps fund the and around the world.of a customer, an auto partscost of truck driver school forTheNorthwestSeaportup96%year-over-yearin Lyndenstransportationmanufacturershippingtoprogram participants. Alliance(NWSA)portsofDecember 2023. expertisecutsacrossawideAlaskadealershipsbypureIn brief, Lyndens multi- TacomaandSeattle,likeOverthepastseveral spectrumofindustriesandair. Lynden studied buyer andmodelrazor-sharp,selectiveotherPacificCoastports,years, Terminal 46 has played specializedbusinesses.Forsalesbehaviorinatypicalfocusonlogisticalnichesposted a rebound in 2023 thatacriticalroleinproviding example, it frequently handlesweek and created a programintheglobaltransportationhascontinuedintothefirstavailablecapacityforvari-complexprojectcargodes- whereitwouldairfreightworldanditswillingnessquarter of this year. ouscargoneedsthroughout tined for the energy, mining,the auto parts to dealers andtotakeonthetoughestandTheNWSAended2023thegateway.Inresponseto and construction industries inrepair shops on certain days.least glamorous challenges with full international importspost-pandemiccontainerized Alaska. Shipments can moveThen,onFridays,itwouldforexampleithandlesdoorand exports both marking theircargosurges,Terminal46 in their 53-foot containers thatuseitsteam-drivergrounddeliveries in Alaskas remotefourthconsecutivemonthevolvedintoacrucialnear-handle60.000poundpay- servicecalledQuickTranstowns and villages far beyondofvolumegrowth.Exportsdock storage facility, facilitat-loads, says McKallor. Or thethatwoulddelivertheautothemainroadsystemforacontinuetoleadtheway,ingtheseamlessmovement oversized, heavy haul cargoesparts from Seattle to Alaskaleadingpackageshippingreachingtheirhighestlevelof containerized cargo.could move by barge and thenbyMondaymorningbeforecompanyhasengenderedsinceMarch2021.ImportBesides the Terminal 46 by truck for final delivery. thedealershipsandrepairloyaltyamongshippersandvolumes year to date were inboosttotheautobusiness, Thelogisticalchallenge,shops opened for business. staffers alike. line with the overall market,NWSA completed a number hesays,istoarriveatthatIt is a blended solution,DuringCOVID,ittookwhile exports continued theirofimportantinfrastructure efficientend-to-endsystemsays McKallor. The customeron the role of delivering life- recoverycomparedwithprojects and is closing in on withthemaximumoropti- getsthespeedofairandthesavingvaccinestoremote2022, ending the year in posi- completion of others.mumamountofcubeoreconomy of truck. It also giveslocations in Western Alaska,tive territory. Twoall-electricsuper weightthattranslatesintoathecustomerextrareliabilityas well as personal protectiveTherollcontinuedintopost-Panamaxcranesand savings for our customer, thebecause as an asset-based car- equipment to people adminis- January of 2024. Full inter- three hybrid RTG (rubber tire LyndenCOOtellsAmericanrier, we control the truck. Wetrating the shots.national imports and exportsgantry) cranes arrived at Ter-Journal of Transportation. do not have to go out and find aInnovationcontinuestoextendedthemonthslongminal 5 in the Seattle HarborThat takes more than justtruck. Lynden, he adds, ownsbeprizedatthecompany.growthstreakwithfullin December. The super post-physicallyloadingfreight,700 truck tractors. Inmaintainingthesafetyimportsincreasing1.7%Panamaxcranesjoinedthe OurgoalistodelivertheLynden seems to tailor itsandseaworthinessofitsandfullexportsincreas- four existing cranes currently best customer service and thattransport assets to its custom- 32AlaskaMarineLinesing19.6%overlastyear.inoperation.Standing316 takes an extensive amount ofersrequirements.BecauseoceanbargesthatoftenTotalInternationalvolumesfeet tall with a boom outreach energy,training,coachingofitsexpertiseinmovingrequire steel and mechanicalgrew0.4%comparedwithof240-feet,thecranesare and systems that monitor ouroversizedprojectcargosrepairs plus a fresh coat oflastyear.Januarycontaineramong the largest on the U.S. effectiveness,saysMcKal- andconstructionequipment,paint during a 27 day-longvolumesreached211,283WestCoastandwillallow lor.Sowhenacustomeroften into rugged and remoteinternalstructuralinspec- twenty-foot equivalent unitsTerminal5toservelarger calls up and says can you dolocations,itownsafleetoftionbytheCoastGuard,(TEUs),withtotalvolumevessels,supportingcontain-it for me? What is it going toLockheedHerculesL-382Lyndensportengineeringdecreasing 0.9% over Janu- erized cargo growth and jobs cost and when am I going toturboprop air freighters basedteam came up with a doubleary 2023. Domestic containerfor the region. Phase Two of get it,it may be complicatedinAnchorageforscheduleddry-dockingoftwobargesvolume decreased 4.9% Jan- theTerminal5Moderniza-operationallydependingonandcharterflights.McKal- at once which was deemeduary 2024 compared to Janu- tionProgramisexpectedto themove,butwegivethelorsaystheHercshaveaextremely time efficient.ary2023.Alaskavolumesbe completed in Q1 2024. At customer a precise answer to48,000 pound payload and 40 In the healthcare sector,decreased 6.5%, and Hawaiifull buildout, Terminal 5 will thatsimplequestion.Thatspallet positions. on-timeandintactdeliveryvolumes increased 5.8%.boast 185 acres with on-dock how we become their trustedLynden is not reluctant toof medical supplies and phar- Perhaps the biggest newsrail and an estimated 1.2 mil-logistical advisor. invest in transportation assetsmaceuticalsiscrucial.Thewas Terminal 46 handling thelion TEUs of container-han- But Lynden prides itselfin uncertain times. The com- LyndenInternationalLogis- February2ndarrivalofthedling capacity.on providing more than justpany just recently launched atics team introduced a closedGlovis vessel Silver Sky. TheTerminal 5 became our first oneultimateanswer,McK- new 438-foot long and 105- loopreusablepackagingRo/Ro ship was transportinginternational cargo terminal with allorcontends.Itwillgivefoot wide ocean going barge.systemfortemp-controlleda cargo of autos destined foroperationalshorepowerwhen thecustomeratruckingMcKallor says the companypharmaceuticalsinCanadaCanada. The more than 2,500the MSC Brunella plugged in option,anairfreightoptioniscontinuingtoaddtoitswithtwo-timesthecapac- plusvehicles,dischargedatlast year.andamarineoptiontofindtruck and container capacityityoftraditionalpackaging.Terminal 46 in the NorthwestThe NWSA was awarded what really works for them,companywide. ItdecreasedthenumberofSeaportAlliance(NWSA)$54 million in grant funding along with the one thing theWhile Lynden puts moneypackagesusedandtrans- gateway,willbeshippedfromthe2023PortInfra-customerwantsmostofallintoitshardassets,italsoported, which cutemissionsonward to Canadian KIA andstructureDevelopmentPro-todayreliability. invests into what can be calledinthevehiclesandintheHyundaidealerships.Thegram.Fundingwillsupport Physicallogisticsplan- soft assets people. We haverefrigeratedequipmenttoSilver Sky call represents thethe expansion of Husky Ter-ning can be challenging whengreatemployeerelationsandkeep the packages cool. firstautomobilecarriertominal in the Tacoma Harbor, thereareharshweatherandemployeeretentionprogramsBottom line? Lyndens logis- dock at the terminal in morefurtherincreasingthegate-remote locations as elementsand it has been critical to ourticalsolutionreducedmorethan20yearsandmoreways global competitiveness ofthemoveorconstructionsuccess,saystheexecutivethan three million pounds ofimportantlywillgiveabigand creating jobs. This builds is behind schedule,says thewho is entering his fortieth yearwastepackaginginasingleboosttotheNWSAsauto- (REBOUNDcontinued on Lynden executive. We mon- with the company.Recruitingyear, the company says.mobilebusinesswhichwaspage 38)SHIPPING TO ALASKA OR HAWAII?'