Distribution's largest truck fleet

EVERY building products distri- Sbutor knows that flexible and speedy delivery is essential to profitable operations. But managing transportation can be a big job, particularly when you turn over $3 billion in building products sales every year. At Georgia-Pacific, that responsibility belongs to Roy M. Seim, Dstribution Division general manager - transportation.

"Service is the reason we are in business. And efficient delivery is central to that service," says Seim. "We guarantee delivery, usually in 72 hours or less, including mixed and less-than-truck loads. That requires a high degree of coordination among our 145 distribution centers, more than 100 plants and mills, and thousands of outside vendors. But as a result of that hard work, our customers are served by the industry's largest purchasing and physical distribution network."

Georgia-Pacific operates a fleet of more than 1,000 trucks, the industry's largest, dispatched directly from the company's own distribution centers.

Most of these centers have their own 10,000-gallon tanks so that they can buy diesel fuel in full-tank-load lots at minimum price. Each branch is also responsible for maintaining its own trucks, big over-the-road truck and flatbed trailers as well as specialized rigs, and managing its own drivers.

In Atlanta, John Manning, Distri-

Story at a Glance

Delivery usually guaranteed within 72 hours by a fleet ol 1000 trucks each main. tained by its branch state regulations complicate truck specs high priority for fuel efficiency.

bution Dvision physical assets manager, oversees a budget that allows for replaccment of up to l09o of the company's trucks annually.

Ralph Buckner of corporate purchasing develops truck specifications. This is made complex by varying statutes in the 49 states G-P delivers to. "California laws are toughest," Buckner says. "Every state has length and weight requirements, but California has tough statutes on safety, emissions and noise as well."

Fuel efficiency is another priority. G-P fleet fuel mileage has increased up to one-third as newer trucks have been placed into service. Records maintained by Pat Patterson, responsible for company licensing and fuel tax reporting, help identify the most cost-efficient trucks and provide a guide to future purchases. These records also help ensure that the company pays its fair share of state and federal levies, but no more.

Concludes Seim: "Tiansportation is a big job, but an essential one to reduce our customers' carrying costs and to enhance their service."