avigating supply chain problems during the COVID-19 pandemic has been extremely challenging. But in true Alaska fashion, the transportation industry has worked together to keep freight moving—despite logistical and production issues occurring around the globe, and severe labor shortages of drivers, mariners, pilots, operators, and mechanics. “I’m proud to be part of the team that was able to keep the supply chain from Seattle/Tacoma to Alaska moving with little to no disruption” says Paul Friese, Vice President for Lynden Transport, part of the Lynden family of companies.
Major credit goes to Lynden’s drivers, mechanics, pilots, mariners, load masters, operations teams, customer service representatives, and many other employees who have continually stepped up and worked through challenges to ensure Alaskan communities get the supplies they need. “We want to extend a big thank you to all our employees; they keep Alaska open,” Friese says.
In response to the global challenges, Lynden is helping customers revamp their transportation and logistics plans up and down the supply chain. “With advanced inventory planning, some products or supplies may be able to be moved by a different mode or routing than they are currently using,” Friese explains. “We build logistics plans that utilize combinations of air, land, and sea options to best balance time and cost. As situations change, we can adjust the modes being utilized to ensure shipments get to their destination when they are needed.”
As an Alaska-owned business (#4 on the Alaska Business Top 49ers list) Lynden puts an emphasis on serving Alaska, and it is the only multi-modal transportation company covering the entire state, from Ketchikan to Kaktovik and everywhere in between. In addition to regular truck and barge service to and from the state, innovative solutions are used to reach the more remote areas of Alaska. This includes Hercules aircraft that can carry heavy and oversized loads and land on gravel or ice runways, hovercraft based in Bethel and the North Slope that move supplies across challenging and diverse terrain, and PistenBully snowcats, vehicles built for the snow and ice that can tow heavy sleighs over snow-covered tundra.
As Alaska’s innovation leader, Lynden offers the largest and most diverse fleet of tractors and trailers, containers, aircraft, and barges that carry the heaviest payloads in the industry. And the company is constantly working to enhance the safety, efficiency, flexibility, and value of its supply chain solutions.
But none of these endeavors can happen without the dedicated, hard-working Lynden professionals who are focused on serving customers reliably, efficiently, and safely. These “Everyday Heroes” make Lynden an outstanding company and a great place to work—as demonstrated by numerous top placings they have earned in Logistics Management’s annual Quest for Quality Awards. “”Lynden’s people make a difference every day on the job, demonstrate our core values, and add value to Alaskans’ lives,” Friese says, “we’ve been blessed to work with the best in the industry”.
