Q. What do you most want people to know about your company?
A. Lynden is a family of transportation and logistics companies built around a common goal: to develop mutually beneficial relationships with our client partners. We believe that complex transportation problems can be solved in the hands of the right people with the right tools and the right experience.
Q. Where is your company located?
A. While most of the Lynden companies call Alaska and the Pacific Northwest home, the reach of our services and offices extends around the globe. Headquarters is located in Anchorage.
Q. What year was the company founded and by whom?
A. Lynden Transfer was founded in 1906 by Ed Austin in Lynden, WA. Henry Jansen purchased the company in 1947 and is considered the founder of today’s Lynden. Lynden pioneered truck delivery to Alaska from the Lower 48 in the 1950s and is still considered the most knowledgeable and experienced in the Alaska market.
Q. What is the company’s primary business sector?
A. The Lynden family of companies offer multi-modal transportation over land, sea and air, freight forwarding, logistics and 3PL services. Lynden has built a reputation of superior service to diverse industries including oil and gas, mining, construction, retail and manufacturing.
Q. Where does your company do business?
Lynden provides transportation and logistics services throughout and to Alaska, the contiguous United States, offshore locations such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Russia, Canada, Mexico and Papua New Guinea as well as locations around the globe.
Q. Are there important projects the company is currently a part of or has done recently?
A. We are providing air transportation and logistics to develop a natural gas pipeline in Papua New Guinea as well as assisting in major oil and gas development projects in Alaska and Russia.
Q. How many employees does your company have?
A. We have 2,400 employees with an average length of service of approximately 10 years.
Q. Describe the equipment your company might use and are there any new purchases planned?
A. Lynden has a wide variety of equipment specialized to fit any transportation needs, including hovercraft, shallow-draft barges for landing in remote areas, barges, air charters, refrigerated trailers, tanker trailers for hauling chemicals, milk or other sensitive liquids and much more. All of our equipment is equipped to meet new emission standards and 90 percent is less than 5 years old. These newer more efficient tractors and ultra-efficient diesel engines have dramatically improved fuel economy and reduced air emissions.
Q. Is your company expanding any of its operations or locations?
A. The newest was created to serve customers in Papua New Guinea. Lynden just opened a new service center in Brussels, Belgium. We continually look for areas where we can expand Lynden’s operations to better serve our customers in their efforts.
Q. What is your company’s main strength or its edge over the competition?
A. With more than 15 companies, Lynden delivers a total freight transportation package. Over land, on the water, in the air — or in any combination.
Q. What are the biggest obstacles to completing work the company undertakes?
A. The harsh weather and remote locations of Alaska, Russia and Western Canada and other work sites pose challenges for both people and equipment. International documentation and restrictions are often obstacles to overcome depending on the nature of the project and the location. We pride ourselves on brainstorming innovative solutions to any problem and getting the job done on time and within budget.
Q. What is the company’s biggest challenge in the next five years?
A. The future will continue to be competitive but will present many opportunities for Lynden as well. Because we are in a very competitive freight market, we are challenged to work smarter, safer and more efficiently than our competitors. We will continue our focus on the things that we can control, operate safely and offer our customers an outstanding experience. By making every interaction with our customers memorable and positive we will secure our future today and five years from today.
Q. What online services do you offer?
A. Lynden prides itself on offering customers the latest innovations in online services with its EZ Commerce Center. EZ Commerce allows customers to request pickups, generate documents, trace shipments, view delivery receipts, download shipment activity reports and receive invoices electronically anytime without ever picking up the phone. The service is free to any Lynden customer and requires no minimum shipment or revenue commitment.
Q. What is your company’s safety record?
A. Lynden has a long history of operating safely and responsibly in the sensitive and challenging lands, air, and waters of Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and everywhere that we operate. At Lynden, we place a high value on safety and doing it right. We pride ourselves on our impeccable safety record and continue to strive for zero accidents.
Q. What steps does the company take to ensure a green work environment?
A. Lynden was founded on principles of integrity and quality. Our environmental commitment is based on a common-sense desire to be efficient and to do things right. Our culture of innovation and efficiency is completely in harmony with our commitment to protect the environment. Lynden’s people, equipment, processes and technology are focused on the efficient use of resources and sustainable operations. Procedures are in place to prevent and react to accidental spills and manage storm water pollution. Materials that are harmful to the environment are stored and handled properly. Spent engine oil, antifreeze, solvent cleaners, and batteries are recovered and recycled.
Q. Have you received any awards for your efforts?
A. We have been recognized for our proactive commitment to the environment by becoming the first Alaska-based transportation company to be recognized by the EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership and the first trucking company to earn the Green Star Award for Alaskan businesses. We have also been named to Inbound Logistics’ Green Supply Chain Partners list. Lynden is a repeat winner in the annual Quest for Quality customer service awards presented by Logistics Management magazine.
Q. Has your company been involved in any community projects or charity events?
A. Lynden gives back in the communities where it does business. In locations all over the world, Lynden employees volunteer for charities and the companies contribute financially and with in-kind services to a variety of worthy causes. In Alaska, Lynden sponsors the Jr. Iditarod each year as well as sponsoring mushers and their dog teams for the annual Iditarod sled dog race.
Q. Does your company have a website?
A. Yes, www.lynden.com.
