Operator friendly trucks handle busy port's containers
Port of Miami's investment in 11 container handling trucks pays off with an expected 350,000 moves per year.
By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 5/1/1998
Serving over 30 major shipping lines, the Port of Miami Terminal Operating Company (POMTOC) is located in one of the busiest ports in the United States. It's one of the largest importing/exporting ports servicing South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe.The company's fleet of container handling equipment is an integral part of every day operations. But changes have taken place and containers are bigger. Twenty foot containers, once limited to a pay load of 44,800 lb have been upgraded to 67,200 lb, now spanning as much as forty five and fifty feet in length.
POMTOC recognized its need for heavy-duty container equipment capable of manipulating larger, heavier containers while enduring the hot and humid south Florida climate. Maneuverability and speed are important in the overall performance for a container handler, as well as versatility to handle all types of containers, including those with unbalanced loads. "We've had containers that other handlers wouldn't pick up,'' says Frank Eason, operator. "There's a lot of things the other handlers won't do.''
More importantly, however, comfort for the operators was crucial. "If an operator doesn't like the truck...isn't comfortable, he'll find a way to get out of (operating) it,"says Frank Streeton, POMTOC general manager. "If the operators don't want to drive it, you're not going to sell me one."
Handling over-the-road semi-trucks in the terminal allows the container handling equipment operators to get semi-trucks in and out quickly. Only the container handler operator goes into the rows to lift or land a container. The operator takes containers to or from a waiting semi-truck parked at the intersection of the main aisle. This system eliminates congestion, keeping the operation running efficiently.
Streeton, with representatives from truck equipment suppliers and POMTOC, talked with container handling equipment operators to discover what they desired in a truck. Within a year, one company integrated many of the recommendations into a new container handler.
A change in operator comfort is a key advantage for the new handler. "The cab is probably the Rolls Royce of the industry,"says Streeton. "The controls are set perfectly, right where the operators can reach them. It has good visibility and good speed, lifting capacity, good brakes, and plenty of horsepower."
Pick up and delivery of containers to and from the ground is more efficient. "As far as lifting speed, this container handler is quicker than other machines," says Jerry Lane, container handling operator.
According to driver foreman Junior Marshall, a faster lifting speed in container handling trucks is extremely important. It allows operators to follow the fast pace of the gantry cranes when working in support of vessel operations.
The fast lifting speed of the new container handler increases productivity. "It's a 2-speed hoisting system," says Don Haggerty, operations manager. "It means any given driver and machine can handle more containers."
Pick up and delivery of containers to and from the ground are now more efficient. A recent survey revealed an average turnaround time at less than forty minutes. Some turnaround times as low as seventeen minutes have been recorded.
The tight turning radius and maneuverability of the new handler allows operators to turn quickly and easily within the narrow 50 ft container rows. "Some machines, have to be moving for it to turn properly," says operator Fred Rouland. "This machine turns well sitting still."
Officials expect to better meet the growing demands of the industry with their new container handling trucks. With the recent purchase of 11 trucks, POMTOC expects to be over 350,000 gate moves per year. Currently, gate moves are at 225,000 per year, a 12% increase from last year. "This is an innovative machine," says Don Haggerty, operations manager. "It's fast, maneuverable, and very operator friendly.''
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