Providing extra heavy hauling transportation services requires specialized solutions. For Kevin Hawkins, president of H&P Transportation, a key part of his family company’s long success has been its relationships with suppliers.
It was 1947 when Hawkins’ father, Henry Hawkins, founded H&P Transportation. At the time, the Brownstown, Mich. operation was one of the first companies in the state to offer extra-heavy hauling services. Today, Hawkins, his sister and his son carry on the family tradition. Bart Frisbee also plays a key role as the company’s vice president of operations.
“At one time, when my father and two brothers were involved in the business, we had 75 company trucks and used about 45 owner-operators,” Hawkins says. “What we realized was that we could make a comfortable living with a smaller fleet of 15 tractors and a variety of trailers by eliminating non-revenue-producing positions and using technology to our advantage.”
Hauling payloads up to 50 tons on vehicles known as Michigan Specials that are equipped with 11 axles, gross vehicle weights on a set of double trailers for H&P’s loads can go as high as 164,000 lbs. “We usually load under the allowable gross weight to stay within legal limits and avoid fines,” Hawkins relates. “If we haul the maximum, it’s possible for the load to put us over on a particular set of axles.”
The company primarily hauls non-hazardous industrial waste and construction materials. The “gravel trains” as Hawkins calls them consist of aluminum dump trailers for deliveries of aggregate products and steel dump models for debris and demolition materials. A common payload is 46,000 tons in steel boxes and 48,000 tons in a set of aluminum trailers.
Cutting fatigue
“Even though the routes we travel are relatively short—most hauls are less than 40 miles—our trucks have to travel in and out of landfills and loading areas as many as eight times each day,” Hawkins says. “That requires highly maneuverable vehicles, and equipment that is spec’d to cut down as much as possible on driver fatigue. For that reason, every new truck we’ve ordered for the last three years has been equipped with an Eaton UltraShift PLUS MXP [Multipurpose Extreme Performance] 18-speed automated transmission.”
The UltraShift PLUS MXP, which has unlimited gross combination weight capabilities, uses an electronic clutch actuator and intelligent shift selection software that calculates shift points based on changes in grade, weight and throttle position. At idle, the transmission fully engages the clutch giving the driver control in situations such as those associated with hauling extra heavy loads.
“Our drivers say the UltraShift really cuts down on fatigue,” Hawkins states, “and I’m sure that also makes them and the vehicle safer. There are also unexpected benefits. These transmissions have actually helped lower our workers’ comp rate, and they make it virtually impossible to make a mistake and damage the drivetrain.
“On top of that the UltraShift is extending drive tire life,” Hawkins adds. “Normally, in our operation, we get about 50,000 miles on a new set of drive tires but with UltraShift PLUS equipped units we’re getting about 85,000 to 90,000 miles.”
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