BR Williams Challenges St. Nick on Christmas Eve Deliveries

Model Transfer Case Study | BR Williams & Automotive Tier 1 Supplier

BR Williams is a 60-year-old company specializing in Trucking, Warehousing, and Logistics Services. Founded in 1958, Bill and Ruth started their local, family-owned trucking company in Oxford, Alabama.

Built on three simple themes: Honesty, Integrity, and Service (H.I.S.), BR Williams trucking has become a leader in the transportation industry. The company that began as one man, one truck and one dream has grown to a fleet of 165 satellite-equipped tractors and 625 air-ride van trailers, servicing the 48 contiguous states and Canada.

Executive Summary

In the month of December, an automotive tier 1 supplier for a large OEM automotive facility in Alabama approached BR Williams about a project to transfer automotive production for a specific model of vehicle from the current production facility to facilities located in the Midwest.

The transition plan required multiple “waves” over the course of two years with the first wave establishing the degree of challenge and competencies required to successfully complete the remaining waves of transfers and project in total. 

To keep on the schedule, the first wave of transfers had to begin before the end of the current month.

Challenges

This was a high stakes, high visibility project that would require extensive coordination, collaboration, and reliance on proven policies and procedures.

Any issues not quickly resolved during the transfer process could create undesirable “line down” production losses for the client.

We have worked in teams to manage over-dimensional and over-width pieces and to coordinate triple tarped flatbeds, drop-decks, 53’ vans, sprinter vans, straight trucks, and Conestoga trailers.  Additional projects have required 24-hour monitoring, proactive round-the-clock tracking, or extremely high-value insurance riders.

For this challenge, we were being asked to combine all of our experiences and services from previous years into a single high profile project that must be executed in a short timeframe, across thousands of miles, in the Winter, and conclude with the first wave on Christmas Eve!

How BR Williams Helped

Compounding the challenge was the nature of cargo involved in the transfer. The cargo being transported ranged from a massive 48,000 lb. die cast tool (worth over 1 million dollars), to a small robotics repair kit the size of a lunchbox. 

The transfer would involve BR Williams designing and managing transportation solutions ranging from sprinter vans to a triple-tarped step-deck loaded with die cast tools and an experienced brokerage staff in house to handle complex requirements, expedites and tracking, allowed BR Williams to establish and maintain control over the entire supply chain required to deliver on the project milestones.

Results 

On Christmas Eve, the first wave of transfers delivered exactly as planned without a single defect in service. 

The subsequent four waves were completed by mid-year, enabling production to be transferred entirely to the Midwest with zero damage, production delays, late deliveries and with 100% shipment visibility throughout every single wave. 

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