Highlights:
- SAVED CUSTOMER SIGNIFICANT COSTS by using ground freight rather than air transport for this mission-critical shipment.
- Delivered OVERSIZED 12.5-foot generator across the border ahead of schedule, avoiding costly production line shutdown.
- Split oversized load into two trucks, eliminating the need for permits and enabling EXPEDITED transport.
At ICAT Logistics Detroit, we were recently faced with a challenging yet mission-critical situation from one of our major Tier 1 automotive suppliers. They reached out on Monday needing to transport a large generator measuring 12.5 feet tall from Highland Park, MI to San Luis Potosi, Mexico for installation on their production line by Saturday morning. Failure to deliver the generator by Saturday morning would result in a costly production line shutdown.
Challenge:
Our customer had specific requirements for this shipment, including prompt delivery to avoid production delays and open communication throughout the process. Frequent updates and seamless coordination were essential to ensure the success of this time-sensitive operation. The main challenge was the generators’ massive size, making transport coordination extremely difficult. We knew air freight was not a practical choice for this shipment based on size, time, permits, and cost.
Solution:
After discussions with the customer, Scott Gunaca, our VP of Sales, suggested splitting the generator by removing it from the fuel tank, creating two pieces with the tallest just under 12 feet. This innovative approach aligned with their needs and allowed us to:
- Expedite transport on two trucks, each with a team of drivers for continuous driving.
- Pre-clear customs procedures to ensure a smooth border crossing.
- Use curtain-side trucks (one lowboy and one flatbed), cutting the need for tarps and permits.
The execution was flawless. We avoided the need for permits and daylight-only travel restrictions, streamlined loading and customs processes without tarps, provided updates every 4 hours from pickup to delivery, and held daily team calls to ensure alignment and communication.
Big Picture:
For our customer, this shipment was crucial to their production line, which had been shut down. Our ability and problem-solving approach not only met but exceeded their expectations, delivering the generator well ahead of the critical deadline and saving them significant costs by using ground transport instead of air freight.
The trucks were loaded on Tuesday and arrived at the Loredo border on Wednesday evening. After crossing into Mexico that night, they delivered the generator to the client in San Luis Potosi on Thursday evening – a remarkable two days ahead of the Saturday morning deadline. “Amazing job done, Scott. Service level you provided was exceptional – Thank You!” – Senior Executive at leading Tier 1 Automotive Supplier.
This achievement further solidified our reputation and earned the ongoing trust of this customer, who turned to ICAT Logistics Detroit for this crucial job despite having multiple logistics partners available within their network.
ICAT Logistics Detroit takes pride in our ability to deliver innovative logistics solutions for challenging shipments, exceeding customer expectations through open communication, seamless execution, and value-added services. By using experienced drivers, pre-clearing customs, splitting the oversized load, and providing frequent updates, we successfully transported the generator across the border in record time, saving our customer from production delays and financial losses.
When the road looks impassable, trust ICAT Logistics Detroit’s innovative minds to charter a course and deliver your crucial shipments on time, every time – transforming complex logistics challenges into seamless success stories.