January 27th, 2023
One year ago, Gurtler Industries launched Gurtler Logistics, a fully owned and operated division of the company, a division dedicated to providing product-delivery services to our customers. Over the last few years, our industry has experienced increased challenges with delivery services due to the availability of appropriate trucks and drivers. To meet these challenges, Gurtler invested in our own fleet of semi-tractor/trailers and bulk tankers and hired our own staff of fully qualified drivers. Greg Gurtler, President of Gurtler Industries, explained, “The formation of our Logistics unit allows us to better control our delivery services, keeping our promise of on-time delivery. Plus, our customers benefit from having a Gurtler employee on site for personalized delivery service.”
After one year of operation, Gurtler Logistics has been an unqualified success. Our new unit has enhanced customer service, improved on-time delivery, and provided more flexibility in scheduling. In addition, our team of Gurtler drivers are trained and certified in hazardous materials handling and safety, assuring that our bulk chemicals are safely off-loaded, and packaged goods are safely handled and delivered.
Gurtler now delivers 100% of our bulk chemical orders and most full-truckload orders for packaged goods. Also, Gurtler delivers less-than-truckload orders and combined customer orders wherever possible. Recently Gurtler Logistics made the first run to the West Coast from our Chicago-area headquarters. Gurtler’s fleet now consists of eight tractors, six 53’ trailers, one 53’ insulated/refrigerated trailer, three multi-compartment bulk liquid, 4000-gallon tankers and two single compartment tankers. Plus, there are plans to add to the fleet, as we continue to expand our service areas. Gurtler now employs eight company drivers and one contracted owner/operator, plus two logistics planners in the South Holland, IL headquarters facility.
In addition to delivering customer orders, our bulk liquid tankers also pick up bulk chemical raw materials from vendor terminals in the greater Chicago area. As an additional service to our customers our trucks pick up empty containers such as chemical 220- or 330-gallon totes and 55-gallon drums across most of the eastern US.
Greg Gurtler is encouraged by the successes of this initiative: “Our customers say they appreciate our continued commitment to being a value-added partner. Plus, they see this as another example of how Gurtler reacts to problems and implements solutions.” Brett Jasik, director of Gurtler Logistics says, “I am extremely pleased at how fast our operation has grown and met our early goals. Having our own drivers and trucks gives us better control over continually rising costs and ensures more efficient and safer delivery of our chemicals. And on-time delivery performance makes our customers’ operations run more smoothly.”