Medemblik: Feed transport is basically the last step/stage before the
customer gets the product, so, yes, there
is an important role to play here. All too
often, the transport portion is looked on
as a negative towards the feed company.
That it is, in a sense, a necessary evil,
when in fact it is the last portion of control
that they have. After all, the feed transport
driver is really the salesman for the feed
company. He is usually the one the farm
operator/manager will come out to and
discuss his issues, his likes and dislikes
he has with the company he is getting
the feed from.
So, first off, clean units, inside and out!
A clean unit driving up the customer’s
driveway gives the customer the first impression that what the salesman sold him
is in fact what he will be getting, quality
feed. Quality feed also means that the feed
manufacturer has done everything within
his control to ensure “safe feed.” It tells
the customer that they care about what
they are doing. A clean unit inside means
minimal chance of carry over or transfer,
that you don’t have to worry about what
was in the bin in the first place. A clean
unit inside means that the driver takes
time to “dry clean” the inside of his unit to
prepare for the next load. Cleaning the unit
inside and out will also help to cut down
on maintenance issues.
If the driver is going to this extent, he
will also notice any potential problems
with the unit before they become serious
issues, like worn hydraulic hoses or for
that matter, structural cracks that may
cause leaking from one compartment
to another. Well-maintained, up-to-date
equipment, though at first glance appear
to be costly, will in the long run prove to
be more cost effective than some care
to recognize. Equipment with tight tolerance augers, smooth transitions, efficient
hydraulics, heavy duty components and
ergonomically designed will always help
deliver “quality safe feed.”
FM: Are there energy alternatives that
will affect feed and ingredient transport?
Medemblik: Not to be pessimistic
about this issue, but, I don’t see too much
out there at this point. Manufacturers
(truck and trailer) are trying their level
best to produce lighter and lighter units
without incurring too much more cost to
the end user, and without jeopardizing
the structural integrity of the unit. The
government, however, has been, it seems,
doing their level best to hamper the ability
of the “hauler” to make steps forward, for
example, look at the new diesel emissions
issue, the cost incurred and the efficiency
lost, and this of course is all done under
the guise of global warming. Or for that
matter, limiting the amount of hours of
operation.
And then the inconsistency in how
much weight can be carried in one state
versus the next. If the state governments
could get together and allow more weight
per axle, larger units could be manufactured allowing more feed to be hauled per
load making the operation that much more
effi cient. [FM]
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