INTERVIEW
25
DECEMBER 2013
ACT
of capital goods/machinery, pick up
at the port, uncrate, deliver to a plant
site and perform the crane and rigging
installation. Again we have job import to
the United States, door to door.
From that specific export or import
niche we are contacted to handle
domestic moves as well as plant rigging,
installations and maintenance.
THERE’S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE CRANE
AND RIGGING INDUSTRY FACING A LABOR
SHORTAGE IN THE NEXT DECADE OR SO.
HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED CHALLENGES WITH
FINDING GOOD LABOR? HOW CAN INDUSTRY
BETTER SELL ITSELF TO THE YOUNGER
GENERATIONS?
KMX is a very small business and yes,
we compete with larger businesses for
employees. We have been blessed. Many
of our employees have been with KMX
for 15, 20, 25 and over 35 years.
It’s about recognition, compensation
and effective communication – and not
necessarily in that order. Don’t get locked
behind closed doors.
WHAT SEEMS TO BE DRIVING YOUR HEAVY
HAUL AND RIGGING BUSINESS CURRENTLY?
WHAT TYPE OF WORK IS PREVALENT IN YOUR
REGION?
Our export boxing and packaging
is going strong. We have a one-year
plant expansion project that has some
delays and will continue into 2014.
We are quoting more and more super
move import cargo. We see more plant
expansions here in the United States as
compared to the past four years.
We have a Baltimore, MD operation to
support the Port of Baltimore activities.
Our 80,000-square-foot Baltimore
facility is operated independent of KMX
International. Our Hamburg, PA facility
geographically serves the Port of New
York, Port Elizabeth, Ports of Camden
and Philadelphia, PA while Baltimore
serves the Port of Baltimore and
Norfolk, VA.
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING JOB YOUR
COMPANY HAS PERFORMED RECENTLY?
The most recent project was a new steel
mill expansion in western Pennsylvania
and involved moving 25,000 metric tons
of equipment imported into the United
States. The job involved over 1,250 loads
off the East Coast and over 1,550 loads
from the local warehouse to the jobsite.
There were more than 100 loads in the
‘Permit Super Move Category.’
Daily, the job required a nine-man
warehouse crew and one to two cranes
with crews. It was a one year contract
and subcontractors included SC&RA
members Fagioli, Houston, TX: Ohlco,
Pittsburg, PA; Keen Transport, Carlisle,
PA; Selinsky Force, North Canton, OH;
and Barnhart Transportation, Erie, PA.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN
RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS TODAY?
It’s over regulation, both personal
and professional. There are increasing
liabilities in every job performed. More
insurances to be added, including
healthcare.
The political climate of uncertainty
and our ‘do nothing’ Washington D.C.
provides many challenges.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO
WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING?
Certainly, that starts with family.
Children and grandchildren.
Then if there is any time off, its fly
fishing and riding my motorcycle. Also
time along the Jersey Shore and in
Montana, I enjoy that.
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