Triways, Inc., a privately-owned California corporation, started in 1979 as a local drayage carrier operating within the Los Angeles basin. Later, we expanded our services to include public warehouse operations, and our servicing area to include Arizona and Nevada regions. This expansion was perhaps the most significant turning point in Triways history, because it marked the beginning of a continuous period of growth that has culminated in our becoming a major player in the Southern California area in providing both transportation and warehousing services.
Our success story is not mere happenstance. We entered the marketplace at a time when competition was especially severe. We were the "new kid on the block," -- a typical "small company"; undercapitalized, short on revenue, and long on expenses. How did we evolve into a successful company that now has revenue in excess of five million dollars annually? The answer: we found our "market niche."
Triways focused on becoming a true, "full-service distribution provider" to our customers. We realized that many manufacturers need to partner with a warehouse and distribution company that offers something other than "just another truck carrier salesman spouting that same old, standard sales line." You know the one: "Here is our points list, and here are our rates, we would like you to use us in your distribution system."
We found that most warehousing companies have a standard "laundry list of charges" for the various services they offer to customers. The services they provide are as standard and as structured as the prices they charge. These warehouses are inflexible in their approach to working with customers, and they staunchly resist providing any services that are out of the norm. It is almost like saying to their customers, "it's our way or no way."
We decided to take a different approach. We realized that major national retail chains such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot want vendors to have their replenishment stock near to their points-of-sale. To meet the stringent needs and requirements of these retail chains in California, vendor manufacturers must do one of two things. Either set up their own West Coast distribution centers, or partner with a company that can provide the same flexible array of transportation and distribution services as they would receive had they set up their own distribution centers. To meet that need, we negotiate "full-service contracts" with our major national manufacturing customers that sell to national retail chains.
Under this full service agreement concept, we create individualized programs to meet the needs of each customer. We develop a contract that contains many pricing factor variables specifically tailored for that organization. For example, if your company needs pricing based on a rental factor plus labor, we can accommodate you. Perhaps you want charges to be based on a per order shipped basis, or per carton, or per hundredweight, or any other variable. No problem! As long as we can structure in a reasonable profit margin, we will do it for you.
Our contracts contain stringent service standards to meet the specific performance needs of our customers. We closely monitor communications, inventory controls, and shipping and receiving activities. We work closely with you on a continuing basis to make certain that your needs and expectations are always met. Your freight is delivered to your customers by a private truck fleet. Your order cycle time is reduced. These benefits result in your having the equivalent of an " in-house operation" on the West Coast. We can, and do, operate as an extension of your own business.
