ALASKA LOGISTICS
Alaska’s signi cant volume, we can direct load into all our service centers, even the smaller locations,” Johnson says. “The dedicated, direct loading of containers from Tacoma to each service center in Alaska ensures minimal cargo rehandling, reduced transit times, and security seal integrity from origin to destination,” he adds. making strategic moves Span Alaska’s business continues to evolve and grow. Management has made strategic acquisitions of logistics companies that are similarly committed to Alaska and added chill/freeze capabilities. Span Alaska also offers KFF (keep from freezing) options, typically from late September through mid-April. Its new, 88-door Anchorage Service Center opened in 2019, and it is expanding its footprint in Fairbanks with a larger, state-of-the-art service center scheduled to open in summer 2023. Along with its 93-door consolidation center in Auburn, Washington, Span Alaska operates service centers in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, Kodiak, and Wasilla. Shipments from the lower 48 move via containership from Tacoma via twice-weekly, non-stop service to Anchorage, and then nal delivery via road and rail throughout Alaska. Vessels also call on Kodiak and Dutch Harbor each week.
Lynden has provided regular service between Alaska and the lower 48 states since 1954. The provider coordinates multimodal moves to ensure seamless door-to-door service. Lynden oers several routing options for both less-than-truckload and truckload freight.
expensive. An integrated technology platform offers door-to-door visibility in real time. Lynden’s customer base ranges from small businesses to some of the largest retail, energy, and other companies around. “It runs the gamut,” McKallor says. No matter the size or industry, Lynden uses its expertise and equipment to ensure shipments arrive on time and intact. In early 2023, Lynden coordinated a multimodal effort to move a critical engine part that was needed to support oil drilling operations near Prudhoe Bay. To start, a Lynden Hercules cargo plane ew the crated engine from Bethel, Alaska, to Anchorage, a trip of about 400 miles. A driver then “hotshot” the part by truck about 900 miles over the often-treacherous Dalton Highway to Point Oliktok, about 50 miles west of Prudhoe Bay. From there, a hovercraft delivered the part to its nal destination. “Our theme is doing tough things in tough places,” McKallor says. “It’s hard work and a lot of companies shy away from it. But we do it safely day in and day out.” Span Alaska Customers First Span Alaska ships more than 400 million pounds of freight annually to Alaska. With its customer- rst culture,
Span Alaska strives to be the best freight transportation solution for the often-challenging Alaskan terrain, says President Michael Johnson. It serves all points in the state, moving more LCL (less-than-containerload) freight than any other carrier in the state. “Our goal is to be a customer-focused and quality-driven provider that is an incredibly reliable part of the supply chain,” says Johnson. The company launched in 1978, and through the decades grew into one of the largest freight companies serving Alaska. In August 2016, Matson Logistics acquired Span Alaska. “Because of Span
While most Span Alaska shipments travel via a combination of road and ocean, the company also leverages air and rail. With its size, geographic coverage, and specialized equipment fleet, Span Alaska provides reliable year-round, door-to-door service.
42 Inbound Logistics • April 2023
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