Pella Windows Of Fall River, Ma Slashes Labor Costs With The Demountable Truck Body System - 2005

Not many window and door distributors need to use ferryboats or battle New England winters to deliver their product. These are a few of the challenges posed to Pella Windows of Fall River. This distributor has used the Demountable Truck Body System since 2001 to streamline their delivery operation in one of the nation’s most demanding areas.

Besides these unique operating conditions, efficiently handling windows and doors in a very competitive market drove the decision to implement the Demountable System. Prior to using the system, warehouse personnel would pull and stage tomorrow’s deliveries. If drivers returned late to the warehouse, overtime would be required to load the trucks. Often times, the loading would carryover until the next morning, resulting in drivers getting a late start.

With the Demountable System, warehouse personnel can load directly into freestanding bodies at the dock. This loading occurs while the drivers are making deliveries with alternate bodies. When drivers return, they simply take five minutes to swap their empty body for the loaded one.

Mike Lavoie, Warehouse Manager at Pella also points out an added benefit to using the system, “when a customer has to postpone a delivery due to poor weather, we can leave that customer’s merchandise on that box. Having two boxes saves on loading and unloading, which saves on damages cause by handling.” Lavoie has also seen a reduction in labor costs, “labor is reduced by not having to handle the product unnecessarily.”

Fall River joins over a dozen other Pella locations using the Demountable Truck Body System. Demountable Concepts manufactures the system and has product information including a free videotape as well as a demonstration unit in certain areas.