MTMC transporter adds new term to technical lexicon. (Transcom/DLA initiative).You probably never heard the transportation term "intermodal pallet" before. That is because MTMC MTMC Military Traffic Management Command (US DoD) MTMC Mount Marty College MTMC Micros-to-Mainframes, Inc. (stock symbol) MTMC Middle Tennessee Medical Center (Murfreesboro, TN) transporter Frank Galluzzo just coined the term. Coordinating a Strategic Distribution Management Initiative meeting of ocean carriers Aug. 14, Galluzzo discussed a creative partnership of Air Force planes and commercial trucks supporting U.S. Army troops in Bosnia. Afterward af·ter·ward also af·ter·wards adv. At a later time; subsequently. Adv. 1. afterward - happening at a time subsequent to a reference time; "he apologized subsequently"; "he's going to the store but he'll be back here , explaining the success of the supply chain process, Galluzzo blurted out, "It's an intermodal pallet." The name seems to fit. "I've never heard of it," said a Pentagon-based Department of Defense supply chain coordinator. "What is it?" The transportation success story that triggered the new name is worthy of repeating. Galluzzo told ocean carriers that the intermodal pallet was developed after an Air Force review of cargoes moving from Dover Air Force Base Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB (IATA: DOV, ICAO: KDOV, FAA LID: DOV) is a base of the United States Air Force in the state of Delaware. The base is located two miles south of the city of Dover — the capital of Delaware. , Del., to Rhine-Main Air Force Base in Germany. The freight consisted of high-priority resupply re·sup·ply tr.v. re·sup·plied, re·sup·ply·ing, re·sup·plies To provide with fresh supplies, as of weapons and ammunition. re items and spare parts Spare parts, also referred to as Service Parts is a term used to indicate extra parts available and in proximity to the mechanical item, such as a automobile, boat, engine, for which they might be used. Spare parts are also called “spares. bound for American peacekeeping peace·keep·ing adj. Of or relating to the preservation of peace, especially the supervision by international forces of a truce between hostile nations. peace troops in Bosnia. On aircraft pallets, the cargo was moved from Dover in C-5A C-5A Galaxy (USAF cargo aircraft) aircraft. At Rhine-Main, the cargo was transshipped to C-130 aircraft for the flight to Tuzla, Bosnia. However, if no C-130 aircraft was available, the cargo waited. Enter a Strategic Distribution Management Initiative measure: If C-130 aircraft is available, the cargo goes right to Bosnia. If aircraft is not available, the cargo is immediately transshipped by commercial truck--a two-day journey. The key is that we maintain the velocity," said Galluzzo. "We provide reliability to our customers." So where does the intermodal pallet come in? "The first truck," said Galluzzo. "It carried the pallets that were built to accommodate the aircraft height. "Once on the road to Bosnia, the driver couldn't get through a lot of the bridges because of the height of the pallets on the high truck frame," said Galluzzo. "That truck went all over Europe (getting to Bosnia)--but only the first truck." Now, said Galluzzo, the pallets are built shorter--as intermodal pallets. If the cargo has to be transshipped by truck, the intermodal pallet loads will fit under any bridge suspension system Noun 1. suspension system - a mechanical system of springs or shock absorbers connecting the wheels and axles to the chassis of a wheeled vehicle suspension . Now, said Galluzzo, the pallets are built shorter--as intermodal pallets. If the cargo has to be trans shipped by truck, the intermodal pallet loads will fit under any bridge suspension system. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion