Chassis Shoes and High Cubes

Theme for our next fundraising gala or the title of our first country song? Whichever you choose, Bikes for the World was collectively singing the blues this weekend and 'chassis shoes' and 'high cubes' were at the root of the problem. 

The past few years we have had our fair share of shipping related issues, mostly in the form of scheduling. There were issues during the pandemic of closed ports, less vessels sailing to less destinations, and of course container and chassis shortages. Then the Key Bridge collapsed and crippled the Port of Baltimore. A couple months ago a scheduled container just never showed up...they forgot. 

Then on Friday we got socked with a triple crown. When we took a look at the weather report early last week we saw a very narrow window. After feels like temperatures above 100, Friday would bring a reprieve before Mom Nature's menopausal hot flash returned over the weekend...and beyond. It was a no brainer....we were scheduling a shipment for Friday.

When we arrived Friday morning the container was already in place at 8am. Our warehouse was full of bikes and a great team of volunteers was on the way to help us load up for Ghana.Things were going great. We could make some space in the warehouse, get staff home early on a Friday afternoon for scheduled evening activities, and we could enjoy a nice weekend off before the sweltering hot temperatures returned next week. We were eager to get started. 

A little too eager. We won't name names (because it wasn't our fault in the first place) but a half dozen seasoned loaders began packing the container full of bikes, boxes, and spare parts. We even laid down the first board. But when tall Todd went to stand on top he finally realized something was off. Did Walter and Mark put five times as many tires and tubes under the board? Why does it feel like only two rows of bikes will fit in this container? Why am I bent over at the waist instead of simply ducking down my head?

Doh. The trucking company didn't deliver a High Cube. This container was the correct length, but much smaller in height. It would have to be corrected. Taylor hopped on the phone to track down the problem and better yet, to have another container delivered ASAP. Then we all realized we would finally be able to answer your number one asked question...what is it really like to unload a container?

Fortunately for us, it was just one layer of bikes and parts. It was a bit tedious with all those individual tangled parts, but not as challenging as you might think. Of course our partners don't usually have a dock,  a fan, or a freezer full of icee pops. Doubly fortunate for us, our understanding volunteers decided to wait around for the second container to be delivered. We were still hoping for the best. 

But at 2pm, the container was still not in place. Our volunteers gave us a productive day in the shop, but it was time to start heading home. Staff regrouped and decided we would be putting in a few hours this weekend. It was that or fight the heat wave expected Monday and Tuesday. 

By 3:30 the driver dropped the new empty high cube in the parking lot, hooked up the old one, moved it, dropped it, got the high cube and drove it over to the dock. Todd walked inside and raised up his hands, not in victory, but in conformation that we had the correct container. Then the driver dropped the container off his truck and onto the chassis legs where it will sit until they return to pick it up loaded with thousands of pounds of bikes. 

Taylor immediately noticed the container appeared crooked. After some back and forth and even moving the container it was discovered that the chassis was wearing the wrong shoes! It is absolutely a thing. Another driver from Baltimore would need to be dispatched with another truck to assist in changing the shoes on the chassis so that it would sit evenly (and safely) so we could load it. Taylor got home after 7pm Friday night...the container still sitting empty at BfW HQ.

First thing Saturday morning staff and some hero volunteers returned to tackle this nightmare of a shipment and get it on its way. The heat did give us a tiny break but the humidity was building fast. Just another day in this ever changing shipping world. 500 bikes out the door and we are ready to load another one again next week!