By Air, Sea, Rail, or Land: The logistics of multi-modal transportation in Alaska.

• Author: Gould, Peg
• Position: TRANSPORTATION

Alaska's transportation industry excels at finding creative and innovative methods of moving vital cargo throughout the state. The many machinations transportation companies undertake on a daily basis just to perform their jobs involve planning for unexpected inclement weather, being able to maneuver to locations only accessible by sea or air, and possessing a deep knowledge of the state and all of its transportation quirks. Every method of transportation--rail, boat, truck, or air--plays an integral role in the art and science of transporting products that keep the state in business.

Quality of Life

Paul Friese, vice president of Alaska sales for Lynden Transport, has had a front-row seat to Alaska's transportation action for twenty-six years and plays a major role in overseeing growth and economic development for the company.

Friese's views on transportation processes are broad and creative. Access to multi-modal transportation options is key to supporting the businesses and communities Lynden serves in Alaska or other locations. Friese says Lynden is well-positioned to meet any of Alaska's unique transportation needs through its dedicated work force, including many employees who, like him, have been with the firm for twenty years or more.

"We don't just move freight," Friese says. "We move the things that keep Alaska going." Keeping Alaska going involves the efficient, expedient transport of food, clothing, fuel, building materials, seafood, oil and gas and mining resources, and recreational equipment; and those are all common for the state. There are other materials and items that present unique logistics challenges.

Economic Downturn

Low oil prices and the economic downturn in Alaska have led some companies to offer more transportation options in order to meet (or beat) transit and delivery goals. Lynden continues to offer a full range of multi-modal transportation options including truckload and less-than-truckload transportation, scheduled and charter barges, rail barges, intermodal bulk chemical hauls, scheduled and chartered air freighters, domestic and international air forwarding, international ocean forwarding, sanitary bulk commodities hauling, and, of course, multi-modal logistics.

Because of Alaska's limited road infrastructure, it may take multiple modes of movement to transport items from one location to another. Freight may start out in the air, be later loaded onto a barge, and then transported by rail or road to the...