Over the years, Rock-It Cargo has continued its involvement with the transportation logistics for government and defense cargo. A recent project for Aria International, a provider and operator of surveillance and communications systems, challenged Rock-It’s logistics team to once again “think outside the box.” John Gerten and Greg Galbreath were the Rock-It Agents responsible for transporting a 3-part shipment from Montebello, California to Thailand. The cargo included an Air Ship, “Grizzly” MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) armored vehicle and high-tech surveillance and camera equipment to be used in the fight against terrorism in the southern islands off the coast of Thailand.
The Rock-it team is accustomed to handling time-sensitive shipments that have multiple logistical challenges and the Aria project was no exception. Gerten and Galbreath began the process by securing licenses from the U.S. State Department and then developing a calculated plan for addressing the difficult physical requirements including weight and size constraints as well as products containing toxic and hazardous chemicals.
The physical logistics proved to be the most demanding part of the process. Some of the components were three times heavier (per square inch) than a typical 747 aircraft can handle. Rock-it Cargo called on engineers from Boeing, the airplane’s manufacturer, to confirm the weight distribution requirements and loaded the components accordingly inside the aircraft. To allow the Grizzly MRAP to fit through the aircraft doors, Rock-it Cargo altered the vehicle by removing the special military tires and replacing them with steel rims from a manufacturer in New Jersey.
The transport of the Air Ship, a blimp-like aircraft, along with some high-tech military surveillance equipment, was equally challenging. The Air Ship weighed approximately fifty thousand pounds and had to be packed into nine separate crates. The shipment also contained hazardous materials that require adherence to strict packing and shipping procedures. Once the shipment arrived in Bangkok, it was re-assembled in a Thai Airways hanger—the only hanger large enough to accommodate the size of the Air Ship.
In addition to its logistical expertise, Rock-it Cargo is known for its one-on-one personal attention to customers and projects. The Aria project is a clear example. The shipments were personally escorted to their final destination with Rock-It Cargo personnel on hand at all times. John Gerten escorted the Grizzly MRAP vehicle from California to its final destination, stopping along the way in Korea and India before arriving in Bangkok. All three components of the shipment were delivered on time and without incident despite the logistical challenges. Afterward, Gerten commented on the success of the project. “Where there is a will, there is a way to ship,” he quipped.
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