The Perkins Team was put to the test when hauling permits had been approved, one transporter had arrived to load, while another was en route for 5 big modules. Upon arrival it was discovered that the modules were taller and heavier than expected - in fact as much as 1' - 0" taller and 20% heavier than anticipated.
In what amounted to a 'no huddle offense', the Perkins team attacked the situation with a number of key moves from our 'playbook'. Despite the fact that routes had been surveyed and permits approved for the original weights and dimensions, the team understood a key obstacle lay in our path. The lead time for new permits in the states on the original, most direct route was much too long. Revising the permits for the existing route would push the delivery out past the point at which the customer would suffer significant liquidated damages.
The solution? Drive around the obstacle... or more accurately, drive around those states whose permit cycle time would push the deliveries out past the customer's schedule delivery date. Using a heavy-high-wide route that Perkins has used to move super largo cargo from Houston to the Tar Sands Projects in Alberta, Canada, the team was quickly able to develop new permit applications through alternate states. Within two weeks, Perkins was moving the first module.
Another significant obstacle was the additional height. Rather than chance that the taller pieces could be hauled at nearly 17' - 0" high on a deck trailer, Perkins opted to use its suspension system transporter to positively ensure that the 14' - 0" tall modules could be delivered on time. With the module able to ride only 8" off the pavement, the number of available haul route segments were greatly increased. Perkins engineers quickly went to work and the fabricator's engineering department developed a series of hauling lugs at the top of the module to support it during transit. These lugs also doubled as lifting lugs.
In just a few short weeks, Perkins had entirely revised the engineering, planning, and permits. They were required to perform new route surveys and obtain hauling permits for all 5 big modules. And two days before the customers promised delivery date, Perkins delivered as promised with the last two modules - just in time to allow our customer to avoid significant liquidated damages.
