Cape Cod Lumber of Abington, MA has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years and, as a result, the building supply company saw its labor and warehousing costs increase significantly. As their business grew, drivers would not get back to the warehouse until after hours. The warehouse personnel, with product for the next day already pulled and staged, would have to wait on overtime until the trucks returned. Once the driver returned to the warehouse, loading could begin. The loading would often have to continue the next morning, resulting in the drivers getting a late start on that day’s deliveries.

The conventional straight box truck is the vehicle of choice for most millwork suppliers. It is typically a non-CDL truck that can be driven by personnel without a commercial driver’s license. It also allows maneuverability around job sites and tight yards that a tractor-trailer would have trouble navigating. The straight truck, however, offers little flexibility when it comes to increasing efficiency in the millwork delivery operation.

Faced with growing business and spiraling labor costs, Cape Cod Lumber decided to implement a unique delivery system. Using the Demountable Truck Body System by Demountable Concepts, Cape Cod Lumber now operates their straight trucks with much more efficiency. The system allows each truck to use multiple, interchangeable truck bodies. With two bodies for each truck, warehouse personnel now load the next day’s runs during normal business hours. They are no longer required to wait for the truck to return to begin loading. When the driver returns, he swaps his empty body for a loaded body and is ready to roll the next morning.

The company’s operation manager, Mike Naujalis has stated that the system has helped increase productivity in its millwork operation, allowing Cape Cod to deliver more product without extra trucks or increased labor costs. The system is easy to use and requires very little maintenance. Overall, the idea to implement the demountable system has proved to be an intelligent one.

Other dealers using the demountable truck body system include National Lumber Company, Mansfield MA; Curtis Lumber, Ballston Spa NY, and GV Moore Lumber, Ayer, MA.