Trism Targets New Markets

Trism Inc. is trying to grow its trucking business by targeting new markets and joining with other companies to provide transportation services.

An example of the Kennesaw, Ga.-based company’s new direction is the creation of Trism Intermodal Support Services Group.

Begun Oct. 1, the new group will provide a variety of intermodal support services, including yard management, maintenance and repair administration, chassis pool management and asset disposal to railroads, logistics providers, motor carriers and related industries.

"In effect, we act as a quality control service at the ramp," said Ron Sorrow, executive vice president of Trism.

Trism personnel will conduct inspections, for instance, using digital cameras to document equipment problems and monitor repair work.

The intermodal group is headed by Morris Godwin, a 25-year industry veteran with experience at Norfolk Southern, American President Lines and Unicon International. He will be assisted by Marvin Johnson, a former vice president of Xtra Corp., who will serve as director of sales.

Another new venture is a joint operating agreement with Viacom Holdings, a specialized flatbed carrier based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Under the agreement, Trism Specialized Carriers will provide tractors and specialized trailers to Viacom to serve customers shipping oversize and overweight loads between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The deal helps Trism gain a foothold in Canada and Mexico while giving Viacom capacity to handle more business.

Both firms share in profits generated by the agreement.

Viacom owner Hendrik Hermkens said he is hopeful that the agreement with Trism will expand his 50-truck fleet to 200 or more.

"The business is there," he said. "Now I can play with the big boys."

Paul Newbourne, vice president of corporate marketing for Trism, said the company hopes to benefit from rising trade under the North America Free Trade Agreement. Currently, Trism gets only about 2%-3% of its business from Canada and Mexico.

"We’d like to increase that significantly," he said.

Another new group is Trism’s dedicated fleet operations. Mr. Newbourne said the group will focus on taking over fleets that mirror the company’s specialized trucking operations, including hazardous waste, solid waste, radioactive materials hauling and flatbed truckload.

The Trism group of companies includes Trism Super Heavy Haul, Trism Specialized Carriers, Tri-State Motor Transit, Trism Environmental Services, Diablo Transportation, C.I. Whitten Transfer Co. and Trism Logistics.