HAWAII LOGISTICS
Recently, SeaWide Express, which operates a consolidation center in La Habra, California, opened a second Hawaii gateway, in its consolidation center in Fife, Washington. Why Washington? SeaWide’s extensive analysis showed that for many shipments, inland transportation to the Paci c Northwest is less expensive than to southern California. “With our system, we can plug in the origin and destination ZIP codes, and immediately review rates and inland transit times to both gateways,” Hinkle says. “Customers can choose the option that’s best for them.” SeaWide’s information system provides shipment updates automatically. Customers can choose when to be noti ed—say, when a shipment is picked up, on the ocean, and/or delivered.
Hinkle and his colleagues started SeaWide Express from scratch. “We had no license, and no customers,” he recalls. Over the past eight years, they’ve built the company into one of the strongest service providers to Hawaii. SeaWide is committed to the Hawaii market, and is aggressively looking to expand and grow, Hinkle adds. Along with its employee base in Hawaii, SeaWide’s employees are located across the mainland United States. “A shipper on the East Coast can call us and they will get an answer, even if it’s the middle of the night in Hawaii,” Hinkle says. SeaWide Express takes pride in its low claims ratio, Hinkle says. This is the result of both educating customers on how best to package their shipments, and the care the SeaWide team takes in handling its clients’ products. “With each shipment we are given the opportunity to handle, we do our best to nd the most economical and ef cient way to transport it,” Hinkle says. He and his colleagues will consider over-the-road, rail, air and ocean—or some combination of these modes— to identify the solution that meets the customer’s goals of timeliness and cost.
storage, and microgrid battery energy storage systems. “KCT represents our commitment to continuously enhance customer satisfaction and experience by offering ef cient, expedited service, while at the same time, being good environmental stewards,” George Pasha, IV, says. “As a third-generation, family- owned company, our corporate culture encourages us to treat each other and our customers as an extension of our ‘Ohana’ or family,” he adds. SeaWide Expr s: SERVICE IN EVERY SHIPMENT Launched in 2016, with the opening of operations of ces in Commerce, California, and Fife, Washington, to support service to Hawaii/Guam and Alaska respectively, SeaWide Express is part of AJC Group, a $2.2-billion global food and logistics provider with more than 50 years of experience, including 30 in Hawaii. “We saw a need in the Hawaiian and Alaskan markets for great customer service,” says Phil Hinkle, general manager. SeaWide Express prides itself on consistently returning quotes within one hour, with a goal of whittling that down to 20 minutes.
A NEW DIMENSION Over the past year, SeaWide
invested in automated dimensioning equipment. The equipment completes a three-dimensional scan of packages for consolidation. It documents the size, dimensions, and weight of each package, while built-in cameras record information such as barcodes, package condition, and placement within containers. This data is saved and can be shared for review by customers, shippers, and carriers, helping to minimize claim issues. The equipment also “is a huge time saver,” Hinkle says. SeaWide, via AJC Cares, their global charitable organization, is involved with Feed the Children, a nonpro t that delivers food and household essentials, offers clean water programs, and assists in times of disaster, among other services. “We provide food, nancial assistance, and logistical help,” Hinkle says. Over the past eight years, Hinkle has often asked SeaWide’s clients what they like best about the company. “Their answer always is the customer service,” he says. “When clients call, someone answers; when they send an email, they get a response.” n
SeaWide Express is part of AJC Group, a $2.2-billion global food and logistics provider with more than 50 years of experience, including 30 in Hawaii.
76 Inbound Logistics • June 2023
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