Manufacturing and Operations

Going the extra mile

Reggie Ricks knew the drive on I-80 from Sacramento to Donner Pass and up through northern Nevada would be slick and slow-going. An experienced driver for MedTrans—Medline’s 1,600-vehicle-strong transportation fleet—Ricks makes the 3½hour drive from the Medline distribution center in Tracy, CA, to Reno, NV, several times a week.

“I’m set with snow chains,” said Ricks. “Let’s hope Caltrans checkpoints can let me through,” referring to the California transportation agency responsible for enforcing which trucks and vehicles have the necessary equipment and experience to traverse the interstate in wintery conditions. Ricks has been through severe weather situations enough to know some Caltrans personnel on a first-name basis.

Getting essential medical supplies and equipment to healthcare providers in northern Nevada proved particularly challenging for MedTrans during this 20222023 season, with snowfall in areas along Ricks’ route hitting 60+ feet.

But despite the relentless weather, the MedTrans logistics team of dispatchers, drivers and emergency management personnel were unflappable—getting creative with delivery planning and execution and offering constant communication, optimum transparency and realistic delivery times.

Going above and beyond for customers MedTrans’ extra effort and can-do attitude during this season’s unprecedented snows were recently acknowledged by customers served by the Tracy distribution center.

“There is something truly incredible about having great partners. I wanted to take a moment to recognize the lengths our primary distribution partner Medline has gone to these past snowy weeks,” posted Mary Shipley, director of supply chain management at Renown Health, northern Nevada’s largest nonprofit integrated health network. “It takes a village. Grateful to have you in ours.”

Richard Arretche, senior manager of operations at MedTrans, always appreciates the customer shout-outs, while confessing that the company expects nothing less from the elite group of experienced drivers on the MedTrans Tracy team.

“Our drivers know the important role we play in health services delivery,” said Arretche. “We give that extra effort because we recognize that it could be our own family, or friends or community members waiting for the right medical supplies to get through a surgery, or a hospital stay…or just to help them feel better.”

Advantages of owning the last mile in supply chain

Launched in 2002 with a single truck in Chicagoland, MedTrans has grown to a dedicated network of 1,600 semi-trucks, box trucks and cargo vans and 400 drivers nationwide.

“MedTrans is a differentiator for us,” said Jeff Brennan, senior vice president of operations at Medline. “Within the healthcare supply chain, delivery is the last critical piece in getting much-needed products to our customers. MedTrans is one real, human touchpoint among the many emerging, high-tech supply chain solutions.”

When weather, mechanical and other unexpected circumstances require custom problem solving for inventory and delivery, the relationships built between MedTrans and our customers stand front and center.”

It’s another way Medline helps healthcare run better.

On March 30th, Medline celebrated the opening of a 650,000-square-foot LEEDcertified distribution center in Hammond, LA. State dignitaries—including Governor John Bel Edwards and Lt. Governor William H. Nungesser—joined leaders from Tangipahoa Parish and the city of Hammond, Medline team members and customers for a ribboncutting event at the distribution center. Major hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare providers in the region also took part in the event, which included remarks from officials and facility tours.

“We are grateful to Louisiana, Tangipahoa Parish and Hammond for welcoming us to this wonderful community,” said Steve Miller, Medline executive vice president of supply chain, “And we pledge to continue to be good neighbors, great corporate citizens and real advocates for improving healthcare delivery in this state and region.”

The site handles the distribution of thousands of individual products and devices shipped to healthcare providers across the continuum of care, including hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgery centers, hospices and physicians’ offices. The Hammond facility is expected to handle more than $200 million in annual orders.

“As a leading private provider of medical supplies, Medline is a fine example of how we continue to diversify the Louisiana economy with innovative industries,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “Healthcare continues to grow as a vital economic sector, and this region’s skilled workforce and logistical advantages should serve Medline well as it supplies hospitals and nursing homes across Louisiana and neighboring states. We are happy to welcome Medline to Tangipahoa Parish.”

The Hammond distribution center is a part of Medline’s $2+ billion Healthcare Resilience Initiative, a national, multi-year capital expenditure campaign that includes new distribution centers, manufacturing capabilities and information technology upgrades to further our commitment to delivering superior customer service and improving healthcare services delivery.

MedTrans fleet gets a new look

Limited launch unveils moving billboards on five semi-trailers

Next time you see a Medline truck on the road, you may notice something different: It has a whole new design. In addition to our logo and “We make healthcare run better™” tagline, five regional trucks have been selected for a makeover to help spread awareness of who Medline is. The illustrations featured on both sides of the 53-foot-long trailers convey how we make healthcare run better, focusing on our customers’ unique needs and the products and solutions we deliver every day, designed to help them provide their best care. We hope to add this new design to more of the MedTrans fleet in the future.