Lynden team coordinates multi-modal move from Montana to Alaska

Vehicles ready to load onto the barge at Alaska Marine Lines in Seattle.

The Billings, MT National Guard had a short and hard deadline to move 12 oversized vehicles and two trailers from Billings, MT to Fairbanks for use in a training exercise at Ft. Wainwright. Training was scheduled to begin Feb. 13 with boots arriving on the ground the week before to receive the equipment and get things ready.

Alaska Marine Lines’ intermodal group took on the challenge and quickly arranged pickup of the vehicles and trailers from Billings and coordinated their delivery to the Seattle dock for a barge ride to Anchorage. "The Lynden team coordinated the move between Anchorage and Fairbanks via the Alaska Railroad," explains Alex Blasich, Alaska Marine Lines Intermodal Coordinator. With prolonged freezing conditions in Fairbanks this winter and temperatures averaging -25F, the Alaska Railroad was limited to half the normal train length and service days for much of the winter.

"Thanks to TJ Vires with the Alaska Marine Trucking team in Anchorage and good communication among the Lynden team, the Alaska West Express team delivered all the vehicles by Feb. 7, ahead of deadline. The National Guard unit was very grateful," Alex says.

Kevin Ward, Dispatcher at Alaska West Express in Fairbanks continued to provide excellent service and resources for the unit as they finished their training exercise. With travel schedules booked to return home, the unit had only one day between the end of training and their departure to assist in loading out the vehicles and trailers. The Alaska West Express team provided the drivers and equipment to make the pickups and keep the unit on track as they concluded their training. "The return trip to Billings was smooth sailing with the National Guard taking final deliveries of the last pieces of equipment in late March. The mission was a success thanks to Lynden teamwork," Alex says.