Bennett Heavy & Specialized, a division of the Bennett Family of Companies, was founded in 2012. BHS provides safe and secure transportation services for HAZMAT materials and other sensitive and highly secured cargo shipments. In addition, BHS serves Aerospace, Government Freight and Commercial Explosives markets. The division is comprised of 144 team trucks and 11 local and solo drivers.

With a large fleet that hauls classified loads across America, it is even more critical to maintain a robust safety program.

“BHS has a unique approach to safety. Our safety department and operations department work together to accomplish the safety goals. By working together, we figure out how to communicate effectively and learn to push risk assessment ahead of risk response. We don’t want to respond just after the fact when something happens out on the road (yes, it is important to address), but we want to see those patterns beforehand. It is much more effective to proactively identify and mitigate risks before they occur,” said Alicia Echols, Director of Safety and Compliance with Bennett Heavy & Specialized.

She adds, “We all are trying to make sure our drivers get home safely and keep the motoring public safe. This is why I felt like it was important for other people to hear what we are doing since this is an objective that everyone in the trucking industry shares.”

Some of the communication techniques that BHS implements to stay on top of risk assessment include quarterly safety meetings, a monthly driver all call, transparency with performance metrics and recognition and incentives to reinforce positive safety behaviors.

It is imperative for BHS to make sure drivers are seeing important messaging while out on the road. When safety situations arise, messaging is shared with their drivers to be mindful of that could impact their driving route. All important messages that need to go out to the fleet are shared via a private Facebook group, an email distribution list, and via a phone call.

In addition, the fleet managers in the BHS division play an important role in the communication process. After recognizing that the fleet manager (or driver manager) knows the driver better than anyone else, BHS identified that communication around safety could become part of a normal conversation between a driver and their fleet manager.

There is now full transparency between the fleet managers and their driver’s safety. When there is this type of communication and collaboration, they are better equipped to identify gaps and communicate risks. Also, BHS makes a point to encourage open communication between drivers and their management team.

To learn more and hear the recording of the recent webinar, please visit here.

The post BHS SAFETY DIRECTOR SHARES COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES AROUND RISK ASSESSMENT appeared first on Bennett Heavy & Specialized.

MCDONOUGH, GA (October 31, 2022) – Bennett Heavy & Specialized (BHS) is pleased to announce that Alicia Echols, BHS Director of Safety & Compliance, graduated from American Trucking Associations LEAD ATA yearlong program at the Annual ATA Management Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, California, on October 24, 2022.

According to ATA, “LEADers” are educated about the regulatory and legislative processes, and ATA’s efforts to shape those processes, including advocacy, image and outreach, research, and leadership training.

“Finding and retaining the next generation of leadership is critical to our industry’s continued growth,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “The impressive men and women that make up the LEAD ATA program are setting our industry and association up for success.”

The 13 members of the 2022 Lead ATA Graduating Class include:

Lindsey Anderson	Ruan Transportation Management Systems
Lucas (Luke) Connell	TCW, Inc.
Alicia Echols	Bennett Heavy & Specialized
Lance Fausett	FedEx Freight
Christopher (Chris) Gulker	TrueNorth Companies
James (Jim) Herzog	Pressure Systems International, Inc.
Bruna Kramer	FedEx Ground
Robert Lester	USA Truck, Inc.
Stephen (Steve) Sanders	Cummins Inc.
Rachel Singleton	Ken Stabler Trucking, LLC
Joseph (Joe) Skomorucha	U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.
Tyler Tigges	Great West Casualty Company
Angela Tillery	FedEx Freight

“Alicia is the first representative selected from Bennett Heavy & Specialized to participate in the program and we are extremely proud of her accomplishments. We know that she will continue to excel both as an individual and as a future leader within the Bennett Family of Companies,” said Jim Utley, Vice President of Government Services with Bennett Heavy & Specialized.

Alicia Echols, BHS Director of Safety & Compliance, adds “LEAD ATA has really helped me to grow in my profession by really opening my eyes to what it takes behind the scenes to make something happen from legislation, new policies that are rolled out to even best practices. In addition, the ability to collaborate with other group members has been a phenomenal experience.”

For more information on the LEAD ATA program, please visit here.  Watch the video here featuring the 2021-2022 class to complete the program.

About Bennett Heavy & Specialized
Bennett Heavy and Specialized, LLC, (BHS) provides safe and secure transportation services for HAZMAT materials and other sensitive and highly secured cargo shipments. BHS serves Aerospace, Government Freight and Commercial Explosives markets offering a variety of transportation modes including van trailers, flatbed and step deck, dromedaries and more. BHS has become an industry leader through their ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality of service to its customers. Learn more about Bennett’s Heavy & Specialized division and its Ammunition and Explosives Secured Team division (AA&E) team at https://www.bennettheavyspecialized.com/.

About Bennett Family of Companies
McDonough-Ga.-based the Bennett Family of Companies are woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC)-certified, diversified transportation and logistics companies. Through its 12 affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. For more information, visit www.bennettig.com.

The post ALICIA ECHOLS WITH BENNETT HEAVY & SPECIALIZED GRADUATES FROM LEAD ATA PROGRAM appeared first on Bennett Heavy & Specialized.

In the oil and gas industry, when oil separator fabricators are delayed or oil refineries experience power outages, they often contract someone to help transport these materials by air to ensure a timely delivery. 

In this particular case, a client of Pentagon Freight Services; a global provider of freight forwarding and logistics services in the oil and gas industry, hired Bennett’s Houston Terminal to quickly and safely haul and load multiple pieces of oil separator skids onto an Antonov aircraft to be shipped overseas.

Assembling the Right Team: Pentagon Freight Services & Bennett

Jobs like these don’t come along often. In fact, they’re far from “normal.” Due to the long-standing relationship fostered by Bennett’s inside salesman, Keith Wunsche, Pentagon was already familiar with the quality of service needed for large, complicated transports such as this one. Each driver is TSA certified and possesses H-4 or SL rankings. Bennett’s highly qualified drivers were perfect for this job because they already possessed the qualifications required for the transport.

The first part of the job required us to load up five trucks containing several pieces of the oil separator skids over the course of two days. These pieces came in an array of sizes, with the largest being 30 ft. x 16 ft. x 12 ft. 6 in. The heaviest skid weighed in at 62,000 lbs. making this a pretty massive move. Once the pieces were successfully loaded on to the trucks, we made our way to the Pentagon yard for final preparations. After the pieces were finally prepared and secured, the same pieces were loaded up on to the same five trucks and delivered to a flight service company at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Humble, Texas the next day.

Loading the Antonov & Planning the Routes

We then loaded each piece onto the Antonov, a Ukranian cargo aircraft, to be shipped overseas. As stated above, these pieces would typically be transported via ocean services. However, this particular shipment was expedited due to the immediate needs of the customer. Had these pieces been delivered via ocean, they wouldn’t have arrived for 30-45 days. By transporting the pieces via the Antonov, the pieces were safely on the ground within the next couple of days.

Coordination was key to successfully complete this haul. From tight time constraints to even tighter logistical limitations, it was imperative for everyone to work together as a team to pull this project off. In addition to the high qualifications requirements, drivers were also held to strict time deadlines to arrive at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Additionally, both civilian and police escorts were used due to the width of the pieces. “It was a very tight squeeze getting these pieces onto the cargo plane,” said Chad Gerfers, General Manager of Operations at our Houston Terminal.

All routing and permitting was done by our Houston permit manager, Mike Clepper. Clepper worked to get the drivers some of the best routes available and ensured all permits were processed and returned as quickly as possible. Gerfers admits that the time constraints and requirements of the job were tough, but Bennett’s excellent project team was able to get it done. Overall, “it was a fun, well-coordinated job,” said Chad Gerfers, General Manager of Operations at Bennett’s Houston Terminal.

Michael Ruediger, Project Director with Pentagon Freight Services also commented on teaming up with Bennett for this job saying, “Thanks for the good service. We will do it again next month!”

 

Learn more about Bennett’s Heavy Haul services here. 

The post Bennett’s Houston Terminal Delivers On Safety & Efficiency For Pentagon Freight Services appeared first on Bennett Heavy & Specialized.

Every year, The American Trucking Association marks one week specifically as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week to recognize drivers throughout our country. The second week of September was deemed as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week this year. Bennett International Group, LLC kicked off with festivities during the week of September 8 as staff and leaders of the company acknowledged professional drivers, owner-operators and all those for their commitment to the trucking industry. This week is just one of many that Bennett appreciates its drivers throughout the year.

As part of Driver Appreciation Day activities, Bennett hosted the Second Annual Wreaths of Honor Ride on September 12. The escorted motorcycle procession started at the Atlanta Motor Speedway and went through Henry County, Georgia to raise awareness for Wreaths Across America. The convoy included 7 custom-wrapped tractor-trailers honoring armed forces, first responders, the Heritage Park Museum and Wreaths Across America. The one-hour ride, escorted by law enforcement ended at Bennett’s home office as over 100 employees waved American flags and cheered on the procession.

Bennett president and CEO, Marcia Taylor, Andersonville National Cemetery Administrator Charles Barr, Lee Gentry and keynote speaker, Debbie Sparks, Director of Transportation and Community Outreach at Wreaths Across America all addressed the crowd at the event. In addition, remarks were made by state and local officials as they joined in to support Bennett’s mission of supporting Wreaths Across America. Jim Utley, VP of Government Services at Bennett and a Retired Colonel in the US Army led a special recognition during the ceremony. Each branch of the armed forces was honored as the team drivers that participated in the convoy placed a wreath next to the designated armed forces flag to represent the fallen veterans at Andersonville National Cemetery. Bennett’s goal this year is to raise enough money to cover 15,000 of the 20,200 graves at Andersonville National Cemetery. The Wreaths Across America Traveling Education Exhibit was set up at Bennett’s home office during the event and on Driver Appreciation Day for the general public and guests to view.

Bennett events kicked off at 16 field office locations beginning on September 7 in Phoenix, Arizona and will conclude on October 24 in Pendleton, Oregon. Throughout the United States, drivers participated in events at various locations. Games, giveaways, and raffles took place at most events, and several locations included a health fair that offered blood pressure screenings, flu shots, and more. Breakfast and lunch were served at most locations, and some locations held safety meetings.

And it was a picture-perfect day in McDonough on September 13 for the annual Health Fair and Driver Appreciation Day. For those who attended the event, there were numerous vendors offering health, wellness, driver and contractor services. Bennett’s wellness committee held a plank and rock-climbing wall challenge. In addition, raffles were held to raise funds for Bennett’s Driver Relief Fund, a fund administered by Bennett’s Driver Advisory Board to help drivers in times of need.

Later during the presentation, Marcia Taylor, president and CEO, announced the 2019 Women Driver of Excellence award winners during a special ceremony to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Women in the Driver’s Seat program. Every year through the program, a woman driver chosen for her positive impact in the industry is nominated by certain Bennett division’s. Those honored included Vallerie Hayden, Bennett Motor Express; Darla McDowell, Bennett DriveAway; Lisa Little, Bennett’s DriveAway RV division; Heidi Crosby, Bennett’s Truck Transport division; Terry Davis, Bennett’s Heavy and Specialized division; Violet Helferich, Ace Doran and Kara Leppert, BOSS Transportation Services. The very first Woman Driver of Excellence Award winner, Guadalupe ‘Lupe’ Potter with Bennett Motor Express, attended the event and was recognized during the ceremony. Bennett women drivers and women employees in all company locations across the U.S. donned the signature “Women in the Driver’s Seat” blue shirts to mark the special milestone. Members of the President’s Million Mile Club were also recognized and a special tribute video for the late J.W. Jackson played as he was honored for being part of the select few in the President’s Three Million Mile Club. In addition, drivers were inducted into the President’s Million, Two Million and Three Million Club for not only their loyalty to Bennett but the number of safe miles driven during their careers.

Altogether more than 400 drivers attended the events held throughout the week. For those not able to make it, there was Facebook live streaming of the event in McDonough. To learn more about Wreaths Across America or to sponsor a wreath, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/GA0213.

The post Bennett Celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2019 appeared first on Bennett Heavy & Specialized.

Bennett’s Aerospace Transportation & Logistics Management team went all-in to help Boeing keep its commitment to the U.S. Navy by delivering the MQ-25 drone four months faster than expected.

Planning and permitting a complex move like this ordinarily takes 4-6 months. Because of the sensitive timeframe, Bennett made all the preparations in 4-1/2 weeks.

The 85-mile haul from Boeing’s facility in Missouri to MidAmerica Airport in Illinois where it would be tested took place overnight on back roads and closed highways at the average speed of 5 to 10 mph.

Planning and executing the run tested Bennett’s deep experience and know-how in hauling rocket and jet engines, aircraft and fuselages for large aerospace manufacturers.

Extra special care was used to haul the priceless MQ-25 prototype. Measuring 32-feet wide, 86-feet long, 17-1/2 feet tall and weighing 30,000 lbs., the bird was set by crane into a cradle that was secured to a stretch double-drop extendable trailer with removable gooseneck (RGN).

Before and during the run, Bennett had to coordinate with state authorities, local municipalities, the Department of Transportation(DOT) and utility companies.

The haul took place after hours, which made it easier without traffic, but also harder because the massive convoy that included company escorts, troopers, Boeing’s team and a DOT representative traveled in the dark. St. Louis KMOV4 local news was there to cover the story. Watch the coverage.

The line of cars and trucks was preceded by almost a dozen utility trucks charged with moving or removing signs and signals, wires and any branch wider than a pinky finger. The team couldn’t risk anything damaging the skin of the MQ-25 during the journey. G-force monitors were used to prevent jolts and a wind speed monitor was used to keep combined wind speed to 30 mph.

One highlight of the team’s success was navigating the 32-foot wide drone through a pair of concrete levees that were 34 feet wide.

After the weeks of planning and a nerve-wracking 10 hours crawling through Missouri and Illinois, there was intense relief as well as a sense of pride as the MQ-25 arrived at the airport. “We pulled into the gate, and everybody was happy and high-fiving everyone. That’s when we knew we did a great job. It was all a team effort,” Wengerd recalls.

Bennett brings proven experience and dedicated management to aerospace trucking and logistics services all over the U.S. For more information on Bennett’s services for aerospace shipments, visit www.bennettig.com/aerospace/.

The post Bennett’s Aerospace Transportation & Logistics Management team brings the right stuff in hauling one-of-a-kind MQ-25 drone appeared first on Bennett Heavy & Specialized.

With 1,938 illuminated panels spanning the length of three football fields, the recently completed south canopy of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a sight to behold. 

The brilliant spectacle, which soars 73 feet above the domestic terminal at its highest point, captivates 75,000 travelers who pass beneath it daily as well as astronauts who pass over it in space.

But the real story might be how little attention the massive canopy gained during construction, thanks largely to Bennett’s deft delivery of the 39 steel trusses—each in five pieces—without interrupting airport operations, which amazingly remained open throughout construction.

Threading traffic and travelers at the world’s busiest airport.

Satisfying the client’s main concerns was no easy task. Bennett had been hired by Beck Steel who had been hired by NSMS, the joint venture heading the project. NSMS was determined to avoid any project delays or interruptions to travelers. Toward that end, they used cutting-edge construction methods that were exacting. In an Engineering News-Record article, Dan Hobson, the project director for NSMS states, “The rigging and erection plan was all computer-generated. Each pick was mapped out, from location of the crane to the swing radius.”

All this meant Bennett had to be on its game on every run by meeting a narrow delivery window during off-peak airport hours and coordinating flawlessly with the construction team in charge of unloading and welding the pieces together.

In all, Bennett moved 1,750 tons of steel in an unusually complex operation. Hobson says,

“We joke that we don’t have a construction project with logistics, but a logistics project with construction.”

Coordination and communication were crucial for success.

Over the course of several months, the Bennett team hauled the steel loads to Atlanta from Beck Steel’s plant 1,150 miles away in Lubbock, Texas. Drivers would make the 4-5-day trek over secondary roads, and then have to nail the delivery to the airport during the specified non-busy time window. Lots of things could go wrong as drivers passed through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia (and often did) which makes Bennett’s coordination with NSMS all the more impressive.

Bennett did it by establishing a routine whereby the drivers were in constant communication with the NSMS superintendent throughout the haul. Once the driver reached the Georgia-Alabama border 50 miles from the airport, they would pause for the night. That way, the final leg could be timed precisely for the waiting construction crew.

Experience helped in hauling these wide loads.

Even for veteran haulers of so-called “super-loads,” the 19’x60’ long steel trusses required some problem-solving to load and secure. According to Adrian Mumphrey, one of the two lead drivers on the project, loading each truss took four forklifts lifting simultaneously to place the truss into the rack on the trailer. For the job, Bennett used special flatbed stretch trailers that can extend to 80 feet.

In handling and hauling the unwieldy truss sections, Bennett applied years of expertise transporting oversized loads regionally and nationally. Robbie Stephens, Client Services Director for the project says, “We move large loads like this on a pretty regular basis—especially across the Southeast and into Texas. Our air and space businesses have some large stuff, similar to this that comes out of Decatur, Alabama. We run a lot of it out West to California. So there is a certain degree of knowledge and prior experience, and you try to work off of that knowledge.”

Transporting the trusses posed unusual challenges.

Because of the extreme width, the loads were not allowed on the interstates. That meant drivers had to use secondary roads for the most part. In some areas, they were only allowed to drive at night. Civilian escorts were required throughout the entire journey, and local police escorts were required in every state except for Texas. It was a good thing, too. Their assistance proved invaluable. Unexpected roadwork, downed trees and broken-down vehicles were often waiting for Bennett drivers on these hauls. Even though the routes had been surveyed prior to the drives, the team found themselves in situations where they had to reroute on the fly. In these instances, the escorts would scout ahead for alternates and then the team would work together to find solutions.

Mumphrey relays one story that took place during a night haul in Alabama. The team was met by a driver coming from the opposite direction who warned of a bridge that was out up ahead. The escorts rushed off to find an alternate route and identified one with a very narrow bridge. After measuring its width, they determined there would be only 3 inches of room to spare on each side of the cargo. In an all-hands operation that lasted an hour, the team inched the truck, trailer and load over the bridge without a scratch or incident.

A team victory through and through.

Bennett relied on a duo of drivers, Bobby Liveoak and Adrian Mumphrey, for the bulk of the hauls. Both are qualified by Bennett’s grading system to haul “super loads” like this. Stephens says consistency worked in Bennett’s favor on the project. “I’m a believer in that you don’t want to slip different drivers in and out if you can keep the same guys on it because they’re going to know the nuances of routes and things like that,” he said.

The driver and escort teams remained intact on most hauls, which proved to be a benefit. Mumphrey says,

“The key to success was everyone pulling together and communicating…we all became like a family—the police officers, constables in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia—we all became very close on a personal level.”

The secret to always getting to the airport on time.

Prior to the project, the Bennett team sat down with the superintendent for the job and established a protocol that met the timetable and kept blood pressures low. Robbie describes the way it worked, “The superintendent interfaced with our drivers and was very in touch with communicating with them. He insisted that they run to him directly, and that seemed to work for him. He liked the idea of knowing where they were at from day to day and the fact that they would be at the Alabama-Georgia line to start the day of delivery.”

Achieving success on every level.

In the end, the final score of this enormous undertaking was 0 claims, 0 accidents, 0 injuries and 2 happy clients. Of major importance to Bennett was that Beck Steel was able to count on the drivers to take care of their client, NSMS. Stephens says, “I think he (the superintendent) was happy with them. We didn’t have any need to replace any of them at any time. Repetition builds that relationship—you’re not seeing or hearing from a different driver every week. You get to really know the guy and it builds confidence.”

Trust is the ultimate measure of success, and as a result of the safe and timely transport of the trusses for the south canopy, the Bennett team deepened its bond with Beck Steel. After partnering with Bennett on the Atlanta Airport project and prior Mercedes-Benz Stadium project, the steel fabricator is in communication with Bennett for third job in Southern California.

Bennett relishes the rewards of a wide load, well-hauled.

Bennett’s role as the go-to carrier in two of Atlanta’s latest architectural achievements has instilled pride throughout the organization. Bennett driver and Atlanta resident Adrian Mumphrey puts it perfectly, “I’m honored to have played a part in that. When my child saw the canopy for the first time, I’m like, ‘That’s what daddy did!’”

Bennett brings the right equipment and the best know-how in the business to the heaviest and largest transports in the U.S. For more information on Bennett’s heavy haul and flatbed trucking services for everything from farm equipment and armored vehicles to the Atlanta Falcons statue at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, visit https://www.bennettig.com/transportation-services/heavy-haul-trucking/

The post Bennett Heavy Haul Trucking Services Shine in Atlanta Airport Canopy Project appeared first on Bennett Heavy & Specialized.

If you want to know the History of Bennett, it is best to ask our CEO, and founder Marcia Garrison Taylor. Mrs. Taylor was featured on a recent podcast of Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb. In this deeply personal interview with Aubree Riggle, Marcia talks about her journey as a young mother from southern Illinois to Georgia, where she and her husband purchased a small trucking company that eventually became Bennett International Group. Dubbed an “American Dreamer’s Story”, this podcast discusses the beginnings just trying to make payroll, Marcia’s deep faith in God that guided the company through challenging times all the way to today as Bennett passed half a billion dollars in revenue for the first time. Listen to the complete interview Our American Stories Network.

The post Bennett CEO Marcia G. Taylor Featured on Our American Stories Podcast With Lee Habeeb appeared first on Bennett Heavy & Specialized.

Bennett gives a vintage bus a cross-country ride on the flatbed express.
Mike Kennon never knows what to expect on a job. He has to be ready for anything. It goes with the territory of being an agent for Bennett Motor Express and coordinating some of the largest, heaviest and most complex loads on America’s highways.

With these loads, the customers themselves often don’t know what to expect. They don’t have to. That’s Mike and the team at Bennett’s job. So customers don’t have to know about step deck trucking, the fine points of chain securement, the permit requirements of California, North Carolina and every state in between. Kennon’s team handles everything. His guiding belief is simple, “If it can be legally permitted or done, we can do it.”

Nevertheless, Kennon and driver, Benny Pharis of Ace Doran, a division of Bennett Motor Express, needed a couple extra of cups of joe to problem-solve a recent job that at first glance looked like a piece of coffee cake. The job was to move a 1952 Continental Trailways bus that High Brew coffee had converted into an amazing mobile coffee shop where consumers could chill out and sample their products. Check it out and how it was used in this video. The vehicle had recently completed a 16,000-mile sampling tour in 22 weeks. and it was Bennett’s job to haul the bus from California to North Carolina for its next assignment.

 

Caught between a bus and a hard spot

Pharis arrived at the San Diego storage facility expecting to drive the bus onto his step deck trailer, secure it and hit the road. But what he found was an in-op, or inoperable vehicle, that wasn’t driving anywhere on its own. After some investigating, Pharis discovered someone had stolen the battery and cables. A repair wasn’t practical under the circumstances, so he would need the reinforcement of not one, but two tow trucks.

Two wreckers and a load of expertise

The bus was originally parked in a tight spot with the expectation that eventually it would be driven out. That clearly wasn’t going to happen. Pharis arranged to have a regular tow truck go in and tow the bus out of the facility and down to the road. Then the bus was winched onto the second wrecker, a Landoll trailer with a tilting bed. The bus was then moved to another location where Pharis could get his step deck trailer and the Landoll back to back so it could be winched onto his trailer. The operation took place in San Diego traffic, which required careful attention to safety. Pharis’s many years of experience hauling heavy construction equipment helped him know what to do.

Bennett brings the right tools for the job

When it comes to unusual hauls like this, having the equipment for the job is essential. In this case, Pharis used a step deck trailer that enables vehicles to be rolled on and off. Regarding securement, he chained the bus down from the axels and applied spring hangers crisscross to hold it in place. Pharis’s 2018 Peterbilt tractor handled the cross-country haul in style. “It attracts a lot of attention. It has a big sleeper, kitchen, stove, fridge. Basically it’s like an RV. It has a shower and a bathroom, too,” he says.

Taking care and keeping it safe on the road

As a Bennett agent, Kennon’s commitment to safety stretches from the office to the off-ramp. “I want to protect everyone out there,” he says. “We will only do things legally and I absolutely won’t compromise on safety. If it will put someone else in jeopardy, we won’t do it.”

Once Kennon and Pharis had the antique bus was safely loaded, the challenges continued. The bus had to be carefully monitored throughout the 2,000-mile trek. “My biggest worry was parts falling off,” Pharis says. “It’s an old Trailways bus—the compartment latches had to be tied up with huge bungee cords because the 60 mph winds would loosen them.”

Standard procedure necessitated a precheck of the cargo 50-100 miles out and Pharis inspected the bus at every stop as well. It turns out he wasn’t the only one interested in the load. “When I’d stop at a rest area, a lot of people wanted to know the year and model and what it was used for,” Pharis says. “I had to explain it, so I looked it up online.”

The 3 C’s to success: Coordination, Communication, Coffee

Sometimes being early is just as bad as being late. The cross-country delivery had to be timed perfectly for after the Thanksgiving holiday when business reopened and a wrecker-assisted offload could be arranged. During the drive, Pharis worked in concert with his navigator-wife, Lora Ann, and Kennon to get estimates and book a towing partner for the delivery. When Pharis arrived, the planning paid off. “Unloading was simple. It only took us an hour versus the half-day it took us to load,” he recalls.

Pharis stayed in contact with the customer throughout. “She’d call to see how we’re doing, and if everything was going well.” Pharis explains. “When we pulled up she came out to meet us. She was glad to see it.”

If she only knew everything that went into getting it there safely…

Bennett brings the right equipment and the best know-how in the business to vehicle and machinery transports all over the U.S. For more information on Bennett’s flatbed trucking services for general freight and heavy machinery, visit www.bennettig.com/transportation-services/step-deck-trucking/

The post Bennett’s Step Deck Trucking Service Moves Vintage Bus appeared first on Bennett Heavy & Specialized.

Of all the vehicle transport jobs Bennett DriveAway does, few match the magnitude of the moves Bennett does for Liebherr.

Liebherr’s cranes are high demand, and the buyers tend to be very involved in the moves. The heavy responsibility of driving these vehicles is elevated by the unwieldly configuration of the machinery and their weights that can reach 200,000 lbs.

Dependability and accountability are key for Liebherr. Their cranes leave the factory calibrated to perform mission-critical feats like lifting sections of bridges and buildings. They require special care during transport to maintain the integrity of the machinery throughout journeys that can often stretch up to 1,200 miles. The fact that Bennett must take out a $2 million insurance policy to do the jobs says everything.

A heavy haul any way you weigh it.

Because of the extreme weight, Bennett driver Dan Shipman says he has to plan his stops cautiously. “The last thing I want to do is slam the brakes on and burn the brakes out,” he describes. “Within a mile I’m already starting to slow down.”

These moves are different than other types of trucking. “You’re wide. You’re heavy. You have to follow permits,” he says. “There’s a lot more involved than jumping in a truck and driving off.”

Shipman describes the job as a very slow, draining drive. His maximum speed is usually 53 mph and he has to remain aware at all times. “It’s always something on these drives,” Shipman says. He constantly checks to make sure the machine is secured; when things get loose, they get damaged.

Communication is key for success.

Bennett’s own, Amy Stookey, says the communication goes both ways in this relationship. The assignments aren’t always turnkey. Stookey describes how she works with Liebherr to anticipate issues before they become problems out on the road. “There have been times when I’ve had to go back to Liebherr and say, ‘We’re going to have to lose some weight or we’re going to have to add an axle. Because this state will not let us in and I cannot find a route around it.’’” She says.

Open communication with the customers receiving the cranes is equally important. Shipman keeps buyers well-informed throughout the drive by telling them when he departs, notifying them when he’s an hour from arrival and by responding quickly to inquiries. If anything goes wrong, Shipman alerts the buyers immediately. With an investment this big, he’s found that they want to know without delay so they can fix the problem.

Offering service that raises the bar.

Liebherr relies entirely on Bennett’s expertise for the tricky routing and permits the drives require. Behind the wheel, drivers like Shipman are often the buyer’s main—and often only—contact. As the face of Liebherr, Shipman knows his attentiveness to the equipment and communicativeness with the customer reflects on the manufacturer.

It all comes down to trust. Stookey sums it up this way, “They (Liebherr) know what they’re getting. They know it’ll be Dan. They know he’ll take care of the equipment. If there’s a problem, he will call.”

Keeping it safe from top to bottoms and start to finish.

Safety surrounds these moves. Stookey sets a tone that encourages drivers to take their time and do it right. “Just focus on what you’re doing. That’s my biggest key. I tell it to myself, too!” Slow down. Pay attention,” She says. “The other stuff doesn’t matter.”

It’s a philosophy that’s served Liebherr and Bennett well for over 5 years now. Shipman attributes their stellar track record to attitude. “It’s going to get there. As long as I do my part,” He says. “You just have to be aware. And you have to watch for both sides—the other drivers and you.”

Expertise and adaptability drive success.

Watching one of these 100-ton cranes raise massive machinery thousands of feet in the air is an amazing thing—but transporting them cross-country can be equally amazing. Over the course of roughly 40 moves, the team has a perfect track record. Not an easy feat considering these vehicles aren’t designed for long hauls. According to Shipman, tires blow and in one instance, the clutch fans went out causing the engine to overheat.

Experience helps, but Shipman admits, things happen out on the road that you can’t predict, and you just have to be aware and adapt. “I’ve been driving trucks for 17 years. I’ve been around long enough time to know you don’t know it all,” he says.

Turning buyers from anxious to amazed.

A lot is riding on these moves, and the entire Bennett team—from the dispatcher to the driver—is there to rise to the challenge on every one. Stookey says, “We take the job extremely seriously. They’re going to get hands-on from me, and I will walk it every step of the way.”

It all comes back to communication. According to Shipman, “The owners want to stay in the loop about where you are and if you’re having any problems with the crane.” He says they’re always happy when he arrives. They usually meeting him in person, often take pictures and always thank him over and over.

For Bennett’s DriveAway team, there’s no higher measure of success than that.

Bennett DriveAway transports everything from alternative fuel vehicles to city transit buses and Class A motor homes anywhere in the continental U.S. and Canada. For almost 40 years, our professional drivers have delivered vehicles on time and in perfect condition. Learn more about the range of rolling stock we move and way we do it at https://www.bennettig.com/transportation-services/driveaway/

The post Bennett DriveAway takes Heavy Duty Vehicle Transport to New Heights appeared first on Bennett Heavy & Specialized.

Every load is important to Bennett International Group, but Lenco’s hauls have added importance of being $500,000 armored vehicles used by first responders, police departments and government agencies worldwide.

Bennett comes to the rescue with extreme service.

These trucks make for a heavy cargo with weighty significance—and an unusual set of job requirements. As far as vehicle transport or step-deck trucking goes it’s one of the most specialized loads you’ll find. Lenco’s security requirements and need for white-ish glove service makes hauling them an unusual challenge.

Lenco’s unmet needs had them looking for a carrier ten years ago. Bennett Agent, Donna Nadeau, SMA saw the opportunities for improvement in the service they were receiving. She proposed a comprehensive approach that won the account for Bennett Motor Express and has kept the relationship alive and thriving over the course of hundreds of hauls.

Bennett’s bulletproof solution provided Lenco with one point of contact for accountability; clear communication procedures before, during and after the haul; and a policy of using repeat drivers who know the client’s unique requirements and have expertise in hauling step deck trailers.

Listening and communicating are the keys to success.

Nadeau says the Bear® and BearCat® vehicles being transported are handled with special care, according to strict instructions from Lenco. They’re so careful, she says, that the buyers are typically there to do an inspection while their vehicle is being loaded. Bennett Driver, Bob Parkman said he is usually in constant communication with the buyers during the entire trip.

Lenco depends on Bennett drivers like Parkman to know the ropes, or in this case, chains. “You gotta do everything by the book,” Parkman says. “You have to chain them down the proper way because on a wheeled vehicle, you have to have four binders on all four corners. And you have to stop every 350 miles to check and make sure all your chains are tight.”

A haul distinguished by unique challenges all the way.

To pull these beasts weighing 22,000 pounds each, Parkman drives a ’93 Kenworth and pulls a step deck trailer with heavy duty ramps. It’s the driver’s job to steer them onto the trailer—a white knuckle drive of only a few feet. One false move and the $500,000 truck could tip off the trailer. “It’s good to have someone guiding me, but I don’t always have that,” he says.

On the road, the load draws a lot of attention. “I just try not to talk to everyone going down the road because everyone is trying to take pictures of them and wants to know what they are. You just gotta mind your business,” he says. And paparazzi aren’t the only distraction. “From time to time I’ve had different police officers pull me over just to take a look at them.”

Going over and above sometimes means going to the movies.

A frequent destination for Bears and BearCats is tradeshows. The job requires a hands-on approach from drivers. Typically, Parkman is tasked with moving the armored vehicles, getting them washed and ready for the show and handling anything else that comes up. “I go above and beyond for these guys,” he says.

Another frequent assignment for Bennett is hauling these vehicles to and from movie sets. Parkman says they’ve been in a lot of films. He’s delivered Lenco trucks to a few of them, including one starring Tom Cruise. Nadeau says a Lenco vehicle had a cameo in a recent Terminator movie, too.

A relationship that’s been going strong for 10 years.

Parkman and other Bennett drivers go to great lengths to follow Lenco’s exacting instructions for hauling their trucks. Going the extra mile has resulted in Bennett being their go-to for hauls across the country, and recently internationally, during an extended haul of vehicles destined for Oman.

Bennett Motor Express’s Northeast Regional Manager, Rich Stoop, sees the team’s performance on Lenco’s hauls as a model for success, “Donna and her team provide unfailingly quality service. The expertise that is required to handle Lenco’s assignments, along with communication and honesty are why Bennett is the only over-the-road carrier they use and we’ve seen an increase in business every year.”

For more coverage of this life-saving cargo, view the article and video of one of the Lenco BearCat after delivery to a satisfied customer.

Bennett brings safety best practices and a service ethic to heavy machinery transports all over the U.S. For more information on Bennett’s flatbed trucking services for general freight and heavy machinery, visit www.bennettig.com/transportation-services/step-deck-trucking/

The post Bennett’s Step-Deck Trucking Services Transport the World’s Most Important Vehicles appeared first on Bennett Heavy & Specialized.