This Illinois property is home to a 300,000-square-foot food production facility situated along the I-55 corridor in southwestern Chicago’s Bolingbrook suburb. The food distribution complex is a vital Midwest hub for the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States. The family-owned business was started nearly a hundred years ago in 1936, and now offers over 2,500 food products from the Caribbean, Mexico, Spain, and Central and South America. This property benefits from convenient access to major interstate highways and the railway system connecting the region to national markets. This company has strong ties to the community and consistently delivers impressive results through partnerships with various charitable organizations.
Challenges
A unique snow and ice management challenge on this property is the large number of semi-trailers coming in and out of the facility daily. There’s 24/7 traffic and tight maneuvers necessary for the large trucks, which increases the odds for accidents. If driving lanes aren’t kept free of ice, there can be injuries, serious truck damage, and loss of product loads.
Scheduling snow removal is another hurdle since the flow of 18-wheelers is constant. Snow plows require sufficient space to safely operate and clear snow from pavement areas. Snow and ice management staff must also be extra cautious when working around ramps and steps leading up to loading docks. Visibility is an issue for snow crews as facility truck drivers might not see them during heavy snowfall.
“25% of all industrial accidents occur at the loading dock.” ~ISHN
Add refreezing to the list of challenges because dock plates and thresholds typically refreeze quickly from meltwater and heat loss at overhead doors. Additionally, Bolingbrook’s climate is characterized by fluctuating winter temperatures, which exacerbates the refreezing issues that lead to black ice on truck lanes and pedestrian paths.
Results
Yellowstone snow and ice teams are tackling these winter storm challenges with a mix of mindful planning and real-time adjustments, as highlighted below.
- A pre-winter walk-through maps the loading docks, truck routes, entrances, fire lanes, and snow storage areas.
- The walk-through helps create our snow and ice plan with the flexibility to react to real-time weather changes.
- Our company is constantly adding new tech tools to stay ahead of snowstorms, such as GPS tracking to send the nearest crew to a property about to get hit by heavy snow.
- Close communication between Yellowstone’s local manager and facility supervisors ensures everyone is clear on the safest timing and paths for clean-ups.
- Yellowstone staff are equipped with visibility vests and headlamps so truck drivers can see them.
- Our annual Safety Rodeos, combined with daily safety talks, help keep employees safe on this busy property.
- Advanced weather monitoring technology enables us to adjust de-icing measures to rising and falling temperatures that cause refreezing.
- Snow and ice teams, along with plowing equipment, are often pre-staged on the site in preparation for an oncoming winter storm.
- Experienced snow removal team members are well-versed in keeping crucial points free of ice so the semi-trucks can maneuver safely.
Shipping Hub Reviews
“Always a good experience here for pick-ups.”
“I wish all shippers treated truckers this well.”
“Plenty of space to maneuver to the dock.”
Reliable Food Chain
As you can imagine, a food production facility cannot afford delays. The company is providing essential products to a large part of the country. If their trucks didn’t make it to grocery stores, that would mean the supply chain has let down local grocery stores and the families they serve.
At Yellowstone Landscape, we recognize the importance of this client to hundreds of communities. Our job as the snow and ice management vendor is to empower the company, during winter storms, to fulfill its promise to those depending on it. Our staff’s extensive experience handling extreme snowstorms makes this possible.
Not to be forgotten are the recent innovations that assist our dedicated snow teams. With the technology Yellowstone has invested in, communication is more efficient than ever. Plant managers are aware of which areas have been cleared, which are in progress, and where caution is necessary. They also receive detailed logs of service times, conditions, and materials used to support liability defense in case of any accidents. Snow and ice experience, combined with modern technology, keeps this client’s critical business flowing for the people counting on local shelves to stay well-stocked with quality food.
Contact Yellowstone Landscape for a consultation if you have complex property challenges related to snow and ice management.
