Resdoor Streamlines Millwork Deliveries With Use Of Demountable Truck Bodies - Summer 2001

ResDoor, the millwork and door division of R.E. Sweeney, of Ft. Worth, TX has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years and, as a result, the building supply company saw its labor and warehousing costs increase significantly. As their business grew, drivers would not get back to the warehouse until after hours. The warehouse personnel, with product for the next day already pulled and staged, would have to wait on overtime until the trucks returned. Once the driver returned to the warehouse, loading could begin. The loading would often have to continue the next morning, resulting in the drivers getting a late start on that day's deliveries.

The conventional straight box truck is the vehicle of choice for most millwork distributors. It is typically a non-CDL truck that can be driven by personnel without a commercial driver's license. It also allows maneuverability around job sites and tight yards that a tractor-trailer would have trouble navigating. The straight truck, however, offers little flexibility when it comes to increasing efficiency in the millwork delivery operation.

Faced with growing business and spiraling labor costs, ResDoor decided to implement a unique delivery system. Using the Demountable Truck Body System by Demountable Concepts, ResDoor now operates their straight trucks with much more efficiency. The system allows each truck to use multiple, interchangeable truck bodies. With two bodies for each truck, warehouse personnel now load the next day's runs during normal business hours. They are no longer required to wait for the truck to return to begin loading. When the driver returns, he swaps his empty body for a loaded body and is ready to roll the next morning. 

According to Pat Vader, Vice President at Resdoor, "ResDoor has felt the pressure to find and retain good truck drivers. We made it our top priority to keep our drivers on the road as much as possible. The demountable body system allows us the opportunity to have all the boxes loaded and ready for the drivers early each morning. Our turn around time is greatly reduced and our highest paid people (drivers) are on the road, not loading trucks."

The company plans on continuing to add demountable equipment as they replace aging trucks. In an age where finding and keeping drivers is a key priority, Vader reinforces the simplicity of the system; "We have been pleasantly surprised with the ease of operation and quick learning curve on procedures for maintenance of the system".