Florida Window Company Eliminates Overtime And Cuts Fleet Size By 50% With A Unique Delivery System
- Spring 2001

John Cwik, President of Custom Window Systems in Ocala, FL, realized that with the growth his company was experiencing, the delivery operation was becoming more costly and inefficient. Typically, Custom Window maintained two delivery trucks for each driver allowing warehouse personnel to load product while the drivers were out making deliveries.

This seemed like a logical thing to do. Custom Window could have the next loads ready, and the drivers were not delayed that often in the morning. However, the cost of two trucks per driver along with insurance, registration and maintenance was cutting into company profits. Another solution considered was eliminating some trucks and loading windows on a second shift after the drivers had returned. The cost of keeping the building open, and the extra labor involved, proved to be impractical.

Cwik began researching a demountable truck body system being used by numerous window manufacturers around the country. The system allows the standard straight truck to utilize multiple bodies similar to a tractor-trailer fleet. While the truck is out making deliveries with one body, the second body is at the dock being loaded during normal business hours. Upon the drivers' return, a simple swap taking less than ten minutes was all that was required for the driver to be ready go the next morning.

Considering that Custom Window was already loading extra trucks, the system made a lot of sense. Deciding to implement the system proved to be an easy decision. Not only could Custom Window continue to load product during normal business hours, but the number of trucks operated has been cut in half. The savings in equipment and operating costs alone will prove to be significant. According to Cwik, "Operating fewer trucks with multiple bodies has given us lower equipment costs. We plan on a complete fleet conversion to demountables as we replace our remaining trucks". Cwik continues, "Our warehouse is more organized. By loading product directly into the bodies, instead of staging on the dock, we've reduced double handling and find it easier to keep the staging area clean."

Demountable Concepts, manufacturer of the demountable body system, helped Custom Window Systems from start to finish on the implementation process. Cwik adds, "The service and training provided by Demountable Concepts has been top notch. We would be happy to recommend the system to anyone interested."