Gombine rail with truck to combat high gas prices

about 5.4 lbs. of carbon dioxide per 100 ton-miles, compared with approx- imately 19.8 lbs. for trucks. Companies that integrate the two modes of transportation-for instance, by going from truck to train to truckleave a much smaller carbon footprint on the environment. "That's important for businesses in this era when everyone is thinking green," said Rich.

According to Rich, another advantage of rail transportation is reliability, capacity, and safety. Trains run on predetermined schedules. In contrast, the availability of trucks can vary considerably at different times of the year and in various parts of the country due to freight availability and regional fuel price volatility.

\)VttT ESCALATTNG gas prices, V Y stricter government highway safety regulations, and increased demands to protect the environment. manufacturers are aggressively seeking the most efficient means for transporting products to market. Intermodal freight transportation is becoming pivotal to the transportation industry as it offers streamlined costs and important efficiencies to benefit businesses and the general public.

Intermodal transportation is the process of integrating rail and truck services to move product to market efficiently. Intermodal utilizes the nation's rail network to transport cargo, such as lumber, that would have otherwise been moved via tractor trailer.

"We capitalize on the fact that one train pulled by two locomotives can haul the same amount of freight as 300 tractor trailers of products hauled by 300 drivers," said Robert Rich III, president of ROAR Logistics, a midsized intermodal marketing company and third-party logistics provider based in Buffalo, N.Y. "The door-todoor transit time may be extended by two to three extra days, but the cost savings can be substantial over traditional truckload shipping. Intermodal transportation is gaining significant momentum because of the savings, coupled with the environmental and highway safety benefits. It is clearly a mode of transportation that manufacturers in the lumber industry should strongly consider."

Rich added, "By integraring truck and train, intermodal allows companies to capitalize upon the transit efficiencies of trucks and the cost efficiencies of rail. Given the escalating conflicts in the Middle East, the price of oil could remain high for quite some time. This makes it imperative for companies to look at all transportation modes for cost savings."

Another reason intermodal transportation is becoming increasingly popular is the reduced impact it has on the environment. Trains emit only

In addition, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's new Compliance, Safety, Accountability regulations (CSA20l0), issued in December 2010, will further accelerate the trend toward rail and intermodal freight. Designed to enhance highway safety, CSA is an initiarive to improve large truck and bus safety, and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicles.

The new regulations stand to increase the operating costs of truck carriers by enforcing stricter safety ratings, as well as stringent restrictions on driver hours. These additional costs are ultimately passed on to consumers and, as a result, make intermodal transportation an even more attractive alternative to traditional highway transportation.

According to Rich, "Rail is becoming a 'new frontier' again. Shipping is very complex with myriad alternatives. Choosing the right mode for the type of shipment is crucial."

Sister firms Superior Building Genter and Fredericksburg Lumbel, Fredericksburg, la., suffered $1 million in darnages from a late-night fire June 2 that con' sumed lhree-quarters of their operations.

ProBuild is opening new stores in White oak and Altoona, Pa.,,a1! Morgantown, W.V.*areas traditionally dominated uy 84 Lumber.

Uncte Hilde's Lumber Outlet opened store #3, at a former Ace Hardware site in Seabrook, N.H.

Marvin's Building Materials shuftered its 36-yearold store in Anniston, Al., reducing the chain to 25 lcoations,

Kimal Lumber's yards in Nokimis and Englewood, Fl., have added hardware ahd been renarned Kimal Lumber & Hardware.

A.H. Harris & Sons has broken ground on a 28,500sq. ft. facility in Plainville, Ma., to replace its Medfield, Ma., operations by the end of the year.

Shore True Value Hardware, Somers Point, N.J,, has remodeled into the Destination True Value format.

Ace Hardwate is opening a 7,000-sq. ft. store Aug. 1 in Rocky Point, Va.

Allied Building Products added a new 7,000-sq. ft. Contractor Tool Center in East Rutherford, N.J., offering root ing, tools, hardware and solar products.

Richards Building Supply, Peoria, ll., is adding a 10;000-sq. ft. office in Kansas Oty, Mo.

Matt's Ace Hardware, culpeper, va., has closed after 14 years.

Williams Ace Hardwtre, Wichita, Ks., has been purchased by Tom and Nick Dondlinger, Dondlinger & Sons Gonstruction Co., and Nick's son, Raymond, who will manage the business.

Former owner Jim Williams Jr., Nick's brother-in-law, is retking, after working at the store since his father opened it in 1958.

True Value Hardware, Spring Valley, Mn., reopened days after a faulty light fixture sparked a June 4 fire in its basement.

Tho main retail area was spared significant damage, although in battling the blaze firefqhters were forced to break through the floor.

Cotton's Ace llardw€tlo opened store #6, an 11,000sq, ft. unit in St. Louis, Mo.

Menards proposed a 200,000-sq. fr. store in Evergreen Park,ll.

Habitat for Humanity relocated its ReStore in Maryville, Tn., to a larger, 2,000-sq. ft: building.

Encore for National Execs

Encore Flooring & Building Products, Springdale, Ar., has been launched by former National Home Center executives Brent Hanby and Joe Frame.

The 18000-sq. ft. store, promoted at www.encoregroupusa.com, provides pros with flooring, lighting, doors, windows, hardware and fireplaces, but hopes to add other products and locations.

Monica Frame is co-owner; Mike Wilson, general mgr.; Scott Preston, purchasing, and Cassie Booth, Kristy Long, ZackKent, Shanna Meyers, Rocio Larios-Ross, Chad Williams, and Jason Frame, sales.

Paint Distributor Merit Pulls Back, as House-Hasson Pushes Forward

The Merit Group, Spartanburg, S.C., has filed to reorganize under Chapter 1l bankruptcy protection, along with its subsidiaries: Five Star Group, Five Star Products, Merit Transportation, Merit Paint Sundries, Merit Supply Co., and Merit Pro Finishing Tools.

The paint sundries distributor has been buried in debt since acquiring Five Star last year.

Although neither party would confirm Merit was the seller, House-Hasson Hardware, Knoxville, Tn., acquired a lO-person sales team from a "financially ailing paint company."

House-Hasson already distributed paint to lumberyards, home centers, and hardware stores, but now will reach paint stores. The new salespeople also expand HouseHasson's geographic reach, with members located from Rochester. N.Y.. throueh the mid-Atlantic, and into Florida.

Swift Lumber's sawmill in Atmore, Al., suffered extensive damage from a May 22 blaze-the second fire to strike the facility in less than five months.

Georgia-Pacific curtailed production indefinitely at its OSB mill in Skippers, Va.

Ottawa Forest Products, lronwood, Mi., suffered extensive damage in a June 3 fire, which erupted during a maintenance closure.

Millennium Decking producer Wood Composite Technologi€s is shufting down its Alberta factory-and sellrlg three decking extrusion lines to Westech Building Products. Evansville. ln.

Thomasville Lumber Co., Thomasvitte, At., was cited by OSHA for 24 alleged safety and record keeping violations.

Interstate + Lakeland Lumber Gorp., Berhet, Ct., and Structural Technologies LLC, ooiweil, Va., are now producing and dishibuting ECOB Red Shield fire-, mold-, rot-, and termite-protected lumber products.

_ -Engineered Lumber Partners, Loxtey, Al., and Delted Homes, Asheville, N.C., are the newest licensed producers of FrameGuard mold-resistanl wood.

Wolf, York, Pa., now diskibutes Universal Forest Products' Deckorators CXT Railing.

Trex Go. is expanding its licensing deal with Poly. Wood Inc., Syracu'se, In.,io develop arid market additioial calegories of outdoor living furniture, including porch swings, rockers, benches, and retractable umbrellas.

Grand Forest Wood Floors, Bardstown, Ky., has taken over U.S. distribution of its own products.

Prior distributor Gilford Flooring, Jeffersonviile, In., had canied only about a dozen of Grand Forest's 65 products.

Versatex, Aliquippa, Pa., added a new high-speed extrusion line to produce upgraded mouldings, which are now packed in shrink-wrap bags for better protection.

Oldcastle Precast, Attanta, Ga.. bouoht setect assets of Duratek Precast Technologies, Bro-oksviile, Ft.

Carolina Industrial Trucks, Monroe and Statesvile, N.C., is now selling and servicing Nissan forklifts in the Charlotte area.

Relaunched websites: McShan Lumber, McShan, At., www.mcshanlumber.com Manufacturers Reserve Supply, lrvington, N.J., mrslumber.com Wholesale Wood Products, Dothan, Al., wholesalewoodonline.com ... Lumbermens Merchandising Gorp., wayne, N.J., www.lmc.net...

Anniversaries: GAF, Wayne, N.J., 125th R.P. Johnson & Son, Andover, N.H., 11Oth Handy Ace Hardw€te, Tucker, Ga., 75th _Brasseur's Building Supply, Newark, Oh., 40th ... Parksite, Batavia, tt.,?Otfr R.H. Tamlyn & Sons, Stafford, Tx.,40th.

Softwood Check-Off Program OK'ed

Domestic manufacturers and importers have approved a check-off program for softwood lumber.

The resolution was supported by 677o of voters, representing 807o of U.S. softwood lumber production.

"This vote demonstrates that softwood lumber manufacturers across North America are committed to working progressively together to build a better future for the industry," said Jack Jordan, chair of the 2l-member Blue Ribbon Commission for Check-off and executive v.p. of Jordan Lumber & Supply. Mount Gilead. N.C. "la is a gamechanging investment in the future growth of softwood lumber markets in North America."

A board of manufacturers will oversee the program, which will work to increase the use of softwood lumber in new markets and encourage the development of innovative technologies.

"This program represents a unified North American effort to significantly grow markets for softwood lumber and improve cross-border cooperation," said commission vice chair Duncan Davies, c.e.o. of Interfor, Vancouver, B.C. "To grow the pie, a program of this size and scope is exactly what we need to ensure a successful future for the softwood lumber industry."

Roseburg Buys Particleboard Mill

Roseburg Forest Products, Roseburg, Or., agreed to purchase Flakeboard's particleboard manufacturing and laminating facility in Simsboro, La.

"It's one of the newest facilities built in the United States, and it's the latest technology," said Grady Mulbery, vice president of composite manufacturing for Roseburg. "It's a completely different technology platform than we currently have."

Kearns Launches Panel Wholesaler

Shawn Kearns has launched Kearns & Co. Architectural Building Products, wholesaling industrial panel products and hardwood lumber from a 20,000-sq. ft. facility in Londonderry, N.H.

Ed Swider and Brett Seymour are handling outside sales, with Dawn Frampton, Kearns, and his father, Dick, covering inside sales. Sherry Innie is administrator.

The company will also offer FSC-certified products and work with LMC and ENAP.

The younger Kearns is patterning his business model after his father's company, Kearns Specialty Wholesale, which he joined in I 990.

75th Anniversary ls Ohio Yard's Last

Corlett Lumber Co., Warrensville Heights, Oh., has closed afterT5 years, due to big box competition.

The yard auctioned off its remaining inventory, equipment and trucks May 2l and has its 30,000-sq. ft. property up for sale.

Hughes Grows in Oklahoma

Seven-unit Hughes Lumber, Tulsa, Ok., has broken ground on a larger replacement lumberyard, showroom and warehouse in Fairland, Ok.

Hughes acquired its current Fairland location late in 2009 from Fairland Lumber Co. The more spacious new quarters, expected to be completed by the first of the year, will provide room for a greater assortment of products.

By fames Olsen