“The first thing we always want to provide is a safe workplace for drivers,” says Tom Grater, director of safety. “The trucks we spec are at the forefront of safety with anti-collision and anti-rollover technologies. We locate unloading accessories such as pumps, blowers, toolboxes and deck plates to maximize driver safety and ease of operation. The automated dome lids we’re testing on dry bulk trailers will eliminate the need to traverse catwalks and safety cages and to secure dome lid latches. Anti-collision and stability control technologies also let drivers know we want them to return home safely.
“We also partner with our customers to ensure our equipment complements their safety systems and loading racks,” Grater continues. “Customers appreciate that their employees have ample and safe working space and the proper type of equipment for their application. We’ve traveled to many of our customers’ sites and with their help have been able to create a safer environment for their employees and our drivers.”
Supplier relationships are important at Venezia as well. “We always attempt to be good partners with our manufacturers and suppliers,” says Bob DeAngelo, director of maintenance. “From spec’ing equipment, investigating new technologies, placing vehicles in service and installations we perform in our shops to diagnostic and repair software, technician training and warranty returns and parts support, we partner with our vendors as much as possible.”
Maintenance for the Venezia fleet is handled at ten shops.
“We have multiple locations so we can support our fleet and our customers’ needs,” DeAngelo says. “Each location has a lead person who reports to our corporate tractor, trailer or food grade compliance manager, and is staffed by both tractor and trailer technicians, who are trained for the specific division they support.”
At its corporate location, Venezia’s shop is equipped to perform compete overhauls and rebuilding of equipment. Parts management and purchasing are handled centrally, and emergency orders can be arranged to be drop shipped from vendors directly to a shop location. Inventory levels, turns, seasonal stocking and obsolescence are all factors of the parts management process. All repair orders and inventory auto replenishment are handled in real time to make sure parts are available.
“We utilize asset maintenance software from TMW Systems in our shops to fully automate parts, labor and unit history, and to help manage all service and repair activity,” JP Venezia says. “The information is available to technicians on the shop floor, including specs and unit specific notes and details. Technicians are also able to use tablets or laptops to be mobile and to complete inspections and checklists.
“The data we have in the TMW system also lets us measure return on investment as we evaluate new technologies,” Venezia continues. “We want to have specific, quantifiable and measurable data related to things like fuel mileage gains with lighter components, capturing cost per mile, and cost and miles per 32nd for tires.”
Venezia has a fully integrated, 100% paperless operations and maintenance system from TMW Systems that is used for load planning, logistics, dispatch, driver management, billing and fleet maintenance, including managing roadside breakdowns.
“We are actively working with TMW through its product advisory committee to further expand and develop the software,” JP Venezia says. “Our continuing partnership enables us to work hand in hand to develop new applications that will serve us well.”
Serving its customers and employees well is at the core of Venezia Bulk Transport’s success. “After almost five decades of growth, we’re still a family business that does everything it can to ensure products are delivered on time and safely,” Andrew Venezia says, “and that our customers receive their products at the quantity and quality that is expected, so we are always delivering on our promises.”
