Insights - May/June 2018 - 35
Intermodal Service Is
Reliable,-Cost-Effective-
for-Callaway-Golf
Voice of the Shipper Series
Ron Brothers, senior director, global transportation and
logistics for the Callaway Golf Company since 2012, has a secret
weapon when he needs an especially long drive, like the 2,268
miles between Chicopee, Massachusetts and Monterrey, Mexico.
It's intermodal.
"We have typically used intermodal because it is reliable and
cost-effective," Brothers said, on routings between the company's
plants in those two cities and elsewhere, whenever transit times
allow. He particularly praised this cross-border intermodal
offering between Chicopee and Monterrey that has reduced
transit time and border clearance complexity, compared with
over-the-road options.
The top supply chain executive for this prominent
manufacturer of golf balls and clubs used this example to explain
how intermodal fits into the company's North American logistics
strategy.
Colorado-based Callaway Golf's intermodal plan is tied to
moves that link North American facilities and overseas locations.
The company, which also uses intermodal to reach locations
in Texas and Indiana from overseas, relies on the service to
move its products, such as 23,000 dozen golf balls. Brothers
emphasized the range of opportunities for intermodal. He said
Callaway Golf would welcome the ability to use intermodal in
situations, such as moves to sporting goods store chains, where
there is a higher volume of business than moves to a smaller
customer such as an individual golf course.
"When we are launching something or stores are preparing
for ball season, that is a full trailer load, which we would love to
put on rail," he said.
Additional Opportunities
While Callaway Golf sees additional intermodal opportunities,
Brothers pinpointed an issue that demands further attention
- congestion at marine port facilities. Delays of several days
can result when post-Panamax vessels drop off ever-larger
quantities of cargo. The ability to save several days during those
cargo transfers is important for the company, whose products
are closely tied to seasonal demand. "This [seasonal demand]
leads us to occasionally move the loads over the road when our
preference would be to leave it on the train," he said.
"We'd like to increase intermodal usage to alleviate the risks
that may present themselves due to driver shortages," he said, if
cargo transfers at ports can be accelerated and there is adequate
time to move product via intermodal.
GOVERNMENT NEWS
Washington Keeps
Infrastructure Focus, but
Future Action Is Uncertain
In the government sector, the annual
focus in Washington and in many states
around the country is Infrastructure
Week, which this year fell between May
14 and 21. As in other years, dozens of
events took place in the nation's capital
and around the country.
The week's events included
appearances by Secretary of
Transportation Elaine Chao, who
expressed hope that a bipartisan path to
advance infrastructure policy and fund
improvements could be found. A variety of
leaders connected to transportation and
infrastructure also made appearances at
events in Washington, on Capitol Hill and
at other locations.
Speakers from trucking, railroad,
maritime and construction interests
including contractors, potential investors,
and manufacturers of road and bridge
maintenance equipment participated in
the Infrastructure Week activities. Other
participants included groups such as
the Coalition for America's Gateways
and Trade Corridors, broader business
interests such as the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce and the Business Roundtable,
and members of Congress. However, the
lack of progress on infrastructure funding
was notable.
The week came and went without any
sign of a concerted legislative effort on
the subject either in the White House or
on Capitol Hill. That was in sharp contrast
to previous comments from President
Trump and other administration officials
about infusing a trillion dollar commitment to infrastructure, including roads,
bridges and other aspects such as the
power grid and water resources through
authorization legislation. The current
authorization from the FAST Act extends
through Sept. 30, 2020.
May/June 2018 | Intermodal Insights
35
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Insights - May/June 2018
IANA News
Operations & Maintenance Business Meeting 2018 Recap: Creating the Future of Intermodal
Intermodal Is on a Positive Path in 2018
Chassis Market’s Evolution Blends Promise, Challenges
Identifying the Missing Link in Chassis Maintenance
ELD Mandate Lessons: Opportunity, Compliance, Tech Issues
ELD Mandate Effect: Opportunity Beckons for Intermodal
Ocean Carrier Realignments Trigger Significant Change for Intermodal
Freight Report
Build Awareness of Intermodal to Attract Job Candidates
3PLs Adopt Technology to Enhance Customer Relationships
As Technology Changes Business Relationships, Personalization Still Matters
Voice of the Shipper
Government News
New Members
People News
Intermodal Calendar
Insights - May/June 2018 - Cover1
Insights - May/June 2018 - 2
Insights - May/June 2018 - 3
Insights - May/June 2018 - IANA News
Insights - May/June 2018 - Operations & Maintenance Business Meeting 2018 Recap: Creating the Future of Intermodal
Insights - May/June 2018 - 6
Insights - May/June 2018 - 7
Insights - May/June 2018 - 8
Insights - May/June 2018 - Intermodal Is on a Positive Path in 2018
Insights - May/June 2018 - 10
Insights - May/June 2018 - Chassis Market’s Evolution Blends Promise, Challenges
Insights - May/June 2018 - 12
Insights - May/June 2018 - 13
Insights - May/June 2018 - 14
Insights - May/June 2018 - Identifying the Missing Link in Chassis Maintenance
Insights - May/June 2018 - ELD Mandate Lessons: Opportunity, Compliance, Tech Issues
Insights - May/June 2018 - 17
Insights - May/June 2018 - ELD Mandate Effect: Opportunity Beckons for Intermodal
Insights - May/June 2018 - Ocean Carrier Realignments Trigger Significant Change for Intermodal
Insights - May/June 2018 - 20
Insights - May/June 2018 - 21
Insights - May/June 2018 - 22
Insights - May/June 2018 - Freight Report
Insights - May/June 2018 - Build Awareness of Intermodal to Attract Job Candidates
Insights - May/June 2018 - 25
Insights - May/June 2018 - 26
Insights - May/June 2018 - 27
Insights - May/June 2018 - 3PLs Adopt Technology to Enhance Customer Relationships
Insights - May/June 2018 - 29
Insights - May/June 2018 - 30
Insights - May/June 2018 - As Technology Changes Business Relationships, Personalization Still Matters
Insights - May/June 2018 - 32
Insights - May/June 2018 - 33
Insights - May/June 2018 - 34
Insights - May/June 2018 - Government News
Insights - May/June 2018 - 36
Insights - May/June 2018 - New Members
Insights - May/June 2018 - 38
Insights - May/June 2018 - 39
Insights - May/June 2018 - 40
Insights - May/June 2018 - 41
Insights - May/June 2018 - 42
Insights - May/June 2018 - Intermodal Calendar
Insights - May/June 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_2018expo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/ii_201311
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com