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Bulkmatic Fuel Surcharge

Rail-to-Truck Transfer Is Changing

A big part of our business is rail-to-truck transloading. We have chosen to work with the RR’s rather than fight them. This business has grown steadily for over 30 years. Today, Bulkmatic transloads over 40,000 cars/year at 60 sites in North America. The past 30 years has seen a lot of changes in the transload business, and these changes will continue, probably at an exponential rate.

Years ago transloading consisted of pulling up to a team track, using a conveyor, finding a scale, and being on our way. Today there are many more concerns to deal with. For example:

·        Customer

>        Low costs

>        High quality

-        Physical RR car inspection

-        Paved sites

-        Sampling

-        Check seals

-        Physical inspection prior to release

-        Provide sample bags & seals

-        Supervision & training

-        Trailer inspection

-        Verify driver’s paperwork

-        Scaling in and out

-        Provide bills of lading

>        Security

-        Control access to the site

-        Fence the site

-        Lights

-        Check visitors

>        Information

-        Daily inventory control

-        Order RR cars in and out

-        Coordinate delivery times

·        RR’s concerns

>        TOC information

>        Grounds maintenance

-        Lawn care

-        Plowing

·        Government agencies: FRA, EPA, DOT, OSHA

>        Safe working practices

-        Fall protection?

-        Lights

-        Personal protective equipment (PPE)

-        Training

>        Pollution free

-        Air pollution and permits

-        Water pollution and permits

>        Hazmat regulations

Moreover, the paperwork for one truckload often entails 40 minutes of a person’s time. On top of these “basic” services, many of you require additional services ranging from SAP, heating, hazmats, sifting, nitrogen blankets, etc. We are happy to provide these services, but clearly the day of  “one price meets all” is over. Not all of you need the same level of service. As a result, we are introducing our “Rail Services Menu” which lists our basic transload service, plus an ala carte menu for our added services.

We have been slow to recognize this creep toward complexity. We believe our menu of prices and services will align our prices with our costs. Given our costs are primarily a function of time; anything you can do to simplify our process will help us both. It will give you a competitive advantage, which is our goal.

We welcome the challenge that the increasing complexity of transloading creates. It is a great opportunity for all of us, and we are dedicated to keeping our procedures, training, and performance ahead of the curve. We believe that this will enable us to give you the best value and let us grow together.

20 Years with Siemer Milling!

The best part about Bulkmatic’s business is the long-term relationships that we have built with our associates and customers. We just celebrated our 20^th anniversary of serving Siemer Milling. Their president, Rick Siemer, wrote the following: “Today, August 18, marks 20 years since we sold our tanker fleet to Bulkmatic Transport, getting out of the trucking business and turning over our shipping function to a truly professional organization. Although not without occasional problems and disagreements, our relationship with Bulkmatic – its drivers, mechanics and managers – has been one of the most satisfactory and successful experiences of my 31 years in this business. Like SMC, Bulkmatic is committed to doing things the “right way,” in all respects; like SMC, Bulkmatic really wants to satisfy its customers and will go to amazing lengths to do so.”

Bulkmatic Fuel Surcharge