From "World's
Best" Summer/Fall 2002 Superior
Edge
SPEC'ING STRATEGY HELPS HALVOR MAXIMIZE PRODUCTIVITY
The bridge spanning a section of Lake Superior and
joining the twin cities of Duluth, Minn., and Superior,
Wis., offers a birds-eye view of the world below.
There is much to see, including luxurious pleasure boats
tucked into slips, sight-seeing ships heading to open
water and freighters heavy with ore.
And on the shore of Lake Superior you'll see Halvor
Lines Inc., with its clean tractors and trailers line in
neat rows. The view from the bridge puts in
perspective just how big this trucking operation is.
"We run about 260 Kenworth tractors, and have 540
trailers," says Jon Vinje, chairman and chief executive
officer of the Superior, Wis.-based company, "We have
many vehicles in the lot because we route our tractors
through our headquarters at least once per week."
That routing strategy was put in place by
Vinje's father, Bill, who started the firm with four
others in 1968. "It gave us an edge,: says Jon
Vinje, who works alongside his sister, Lori Vinje-Pint,
vice president of human resources, and his brother, Joe,
vice president of maintenance. "The routing means
that drivers are home at least once each week, which
boosts our retention efforts. It also allows
mechanics to strictly follow preventive maintenance
practices, which helps us maximize the life and value of
the vehicles."
As the trucking
industry has become more competitive, Halvor has looked
for new ways to gain an edge. "We think we've
found one in our spec'ing strategy," Vinje says.
 |
| Lori Vinje-Pint,
Joe Vinje and Jon Vinje lead the firm their father
founded. |
Precision Spec'ed
"We're a trucking business, but if you break things
down, we're really in several different businesses,"
Vinje says. That led the firm to spec for a
particular application.
"Before,
we more or less spec'ed all our trucks the same way, no
matter what they hauled or where they were going," Vinje
says. "The more we thought about it, the more it
made sense to spec trucks for the work they were going
ot handle." For example, Kenworth T800s are
favored for their maneuverability, W900s for driver
comfort, T600s for their light weight and fuel economy.
T2000s, meanwhile, are spec'ed with image in mind.
It's early, but Vinje believes the
strategy shows promise. "the trucks are even more
productive because they operate at an optimum level in a
precise application," he says.
The biggest business segment - the transporting of
construction materials - is built around Kenworth T800s.
The trucks are spec'ed with maneuverability in mind.
"Most customers want construction materials delivered
directly to the jobsite," Vinje says. "Every site
is a little different, but most are tight."
Halvor enhanced maneuverability by
spec'ing an exhaust forward of the sleeper. "The
forward exhaust allows the area behind the sleeper to be
shorter, thereby reducing the wheelbase - which in turns
makes for a tighter turning radius," Vinje says.
Moving up the fifth wheel means a shorter length of iron
between that wheel and the tractor - which also means
less weight.
Halvor also has
stopped spec'ing the roof fairing for the flatbeds.
"The fairing makes a bigger difference with the vans and
reefers," Vinje says. "With the flatbeds, we were
willing to give up that fairing for the weight savings."
Other sectors also benefit
The fairings remain on the Kenworth T600s and W900s that
pull vans and reefers filled with food and paper
products to the coasts. "With those vehicles, we
believe the weight of the fairing is worth it for the
fuel savings we gain," Vinje says.
Halvor specs the Kenworth AG380
lightweight air suspension on those trucks. "The
drivers have long hauls, so we want to boost mileage and
comfort," Vinje says. "We've had some positive
comments on the ride, and there have been weight
savings, too. But the comfort of the drivers is
most important."
The drivers are
mostly husband-wife teams; all told the company has
about 50 teams. Solo drivers also handle the
transport of food and paper products across the U.S.
They use the T600, W900 and T2000. "The trucks are
spec'ed with comfort and image in mind," Vinje says.
"Drivers want a truck they can spend a lot of time in
and be proud of." The VIT interior gives the
vehicles more of an owner-operator feel. "The
upholstery is a little more fancy, a little more
comfortable, and the drivers like it," Vinje says.
Rounding out the lineup are T800 daycabs,
which handle heavy hauls and transport wood chips to
nearby locations. "The daycabs are lighter, which we
obviously like, and the resale value will be a little
higher because it's a more unique vehicle at this
point," Vinje says.
Despite the
custom spec'ing, there are some common characteristics
across the fleet. "We always spec lightweight
options, including aluminum wheels, centrifuged drums
and aluminum air tanks," he says.
The precision specification strategy has
been in place for about two years, and so far the
results are encouraging. "We're please with our
ability to grow in a competitive industry and
challenging environment," Vinje says. "We're
confident our strategy is working."
