Liquid
and dry bulk customers looking for bulk capacity on a regular basis or when
volumes spike have a new option thanks to a joint venture between two
established bulk shipping providers.
Bulkmatic and Bulk FR8 have launched Dry Bulk FR8, a one-stop solution for shippers looking to move dry and liquid
bulk products, the companies said. Dry Bulk FR8 is a subsidiary of Bulkmatic, a dry bulk transporter, and will be based out of Bulkmatic’s
corporate headquarters in Griffith, Indiana.
“We’ve
provided dry bulk trucking and rail transload services for more than 50 years.
We are happy to announce that we can now offer brokerage services by working
with one of the best liquid bulk brokerages in the business and become a
one-stop transportation solution for our customers,” Chris Kravas, president of
Bulkmatic, said.
Bulkmatic,
founded in 1965, offers trucking and rail logistics services for food
companies, plastic manufacturers and shippers of other bulk commodities. The
family-owned company has approximately 800 employees and operates a fleet of
over 500 tractors and 1,400 pneumatic dry bulk trailers.
“The new Dry Bulk FR8 brokerage and
logistics subsidiary will allow Bulkmatic to offer transportation solutions to
shippers that would otherwise not have been possible due to the capacity limits
of its physical driver and equipment operations,” Chris Kravas, president of
Bulkmatic, told FreightWaves. “When dry bulk customers are faced with an
unexpected increase in trucking volume or a move that is outside of their
normal carrier network, Dry Bulk FR8 will be able to provide alternative
capacity from a base of hundreds of pre-qualified dry bulk carriers.”
The joint venture will offer
asset-based and brokerage solutions.
Bulk FR8 founder and President
Wayne Levinson said his company’s brokerage expertise is an excellent fit for
the new venture.
“This is an exciting alliance
because we share a similar customer service philosophy and company culture,” he
said in a statement. “By combining our strong management team, advanced
brokerage technology and safety-focused processes with Bulkmatic’s expertise
and capacity in dry bulk trucking, we will offer the dry bulk transportation
market unparalleled service and rates.”
Bulk FR8 is a liquid bulk logistics
and freight management company based in Seattle. Its transportation network
base includes over 500 tank truck carriers and intermodal partners operating
more than 50,000 tank trucks and containers.
Both Bulk FR8 and Bulkmatic will
continue to operate as independent businesses. Bulk FR8’s employees have
relocated from Seattle to the new company’s location.
