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PETROLEUM DIRECTORY: Move it with Carlile Teamwork and commitment make Carlile Transportation Services a prime force in Alaska’s transportation industry, providing best possible logistical services to, from, or within Alaska Susan Braund PNA Contributing Writer
At Carlile Transportation Systems, there’s always an owner on the job and they like nothing better than a new, roll-up-your-sleeves, Alaska kind of challenge.
“We’re sensitive to customer needs and don’t try to make them fit us,” says owner-president Harry McDonald. “Whatever comes up for a project, we adapt. We think in terms of systems, tailoring transportation services to each client.”
“Harry has a good ear for listening to customer’s needs, designing what works for them and finding the balance to make it work,” says co-owner and vice president of sales, Linda Leary, who is based at the company’s Federal Way facility in Washington state.
The Alaska-owned and operated, full service, multi-modal transportation and logistics company was the brainchild of Seward, Alaska’s McDonald brothers, Harry and John The two pooled their 10-plus years of handling experience and formed what was to become one of Alaska’s largest trucking firms. The company has grown from three to 400 employees, from two to more than 900 pieces of equipment and from one terminal to eight. Its five owners — the McDonalds, Leary, Jeff Allen and Karl Hoenack — bring varying areas of expertise to the enterprise and know how to meet the inherent challenges of distance, weather, limited road system and changing industry demands.
Today, Carlile’s terminals serve Alaska from Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, Prudhoe Bay/Deadhorse, Seward, Edmonton Alberta, Canada, Houston and Seattle. More than 100 company-owned trucks and 800 pieces of specialized trailing equipment to handle even the most unusual load comprise their fleet.
Carlile service As a full-service transportation and logistics company, Carlile nurtures essential partnerships with air, rail, road and water carriers throughout North America and beyond.
“Because transportation is our only business, and our priorities are service, safety and efficiency, our recognized leadership makes us a preferred operator for our multi-modal partners,” says McDonald.
Road — Primarily a motor carrier, Carlile trucks travel over virtually very road in Alaska, with either a pickup and delivery service or a terminal in most road-accessible markets. In addition to less than truckload dry freight, the company is well equipped to handle freeze and chill commodities, truckloads, hazardous materials, bulk products, liquid products, and specialized heavy haul equipment. The fleet has a 125-ton capacity and includes lowboys, tankers, refrigerated and standard trailers — and the largest lowboy in Alaska.
“If you need to move 100 tons to Prudhoe, we’re the ones to do it!” exclaims McDonald. “No one else can move the large loads.”
Water — Carlile has many connections with water carriers, from steamship and barges in the Lower 48 and within Alaska. Barge freight from the Lower 48 can be shipped or received through Anchorage, Valdez, or Seward. Inland Alaska barge freight is handled through the Fairbanks terminal and steamship freight is handled through the Anchorage terminal.
Rail — The company’s rail connections allow the transport of large and heavy loads suited to this handling mode, or are more cost effective to move by rail. Through the Alaska Railroad’s Alaska Rail Marine service railcars can be shipped efficiently without trans loading between Alaska and the Lower 48.
Air — Easy access to the major freight hub at the Ted Stevens International Airport, Carlile’s Anchorage Terminal is well positioned to ship air freight anywhere in the world. “As station agent for Northern Air Cargo in Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay,” explains McDonald, “ we have first hand experience in loading, unloading, and staging airfreight efficiently in demanding environmental conditions.”
Safety and hazardous materials Carlile’s professionally trained team is uniquely qualified to manage and transport all classes of hazardous materials including bulk, non-bulk and waste. Employees receive customized training in all nine hazard classes and the company maintains compliance with all federal, state and local regulations that apply to the handling and transport of hazardous materials.
Safety is priority at Carlile. The company’s safety and regulatory compliance staff and managers provide ongoing driver education and compliance training. According to Lear, Carlile can boast a consistently excellent safety record.
Tracking and timing Carlile knows where your shipment is, period. With real time tracking technology they follow freight mile by mile anywhere in the world. Customers receive customized tracking reports and shipments can be tracked online.
Carlile’s logistics division is adept at handling complex, unusual and multi-location transportation needs that require consolidation, distribution, packing, carting, scheduling, loading, freight forwarding, inspection, warehousing and storage.
Up North Carlile’s new Prudhoe Bay Logistics Center and the formation of Kuukpik Carlile, a joint venture with Native village of Nuiqsut, are stimulating new work in the far North.
“With our infrastructure of truck and passenger terminals, three hangars, helicopters, trucks, and passengers flights,” says McDonald, “we’re now positioned to be more competitive on the North Slope.”
Kuukpik Carlile is an important link in the transportation chain. The corporate headquarters office in Nuiqsut provides the support for oversight and quality control as well as some physical operations functions for Carlile in the North.
The formula Leary sees several reasons for Carlile’s enduring success: strong management, dedicated employees, modern equipment and an emphasis on best possible service at lowest possible cost. “And,” she says, “we’re innovative, always being proactive and thinking ahead to find a need, fill it and make things more cost efficient. We’re all about the efficient flow of goods and services — simple as that.”
McDonald recognizes other elements of enduring client relationships. For instance, the company contracted for three years with Spenard Builders Supply in the 1980s. “The renewal contract period came and went and we’ve been doing it ever since!” he says. “Performance and trust are integral to our success.”
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