The Gulf Coast Rock Division at Terral RiverService, Inc. broke their division record this week after shipping out their one millionth ton of aggregates.
According to COO Johnny Martin, the company has seen a steady increase in their numbers in this area over the past three years – but it wasn’t until they brought on Wholesale Aggregates Manager Chuck Stogner in 2012 that this area of their business even existed.
“We had a vision that this was a type of business we wanted to be in,” Martin said. “In order to accomplish this, we needed the right person to help us, and Chuck was that person.”
Since joining the team, Stogner’s efforts have significantly impacted business.
“In 3 years, he’s gone from zero to one million tons sold,” Martin said. “To start from zero and grow to this size of tonnage move is incredible.”
Martin said that the growth they’ve experienced in this area of the company has allowed them to to expand several other areas of their business – specifically their marine division.
“Through his efforts, we were able to purchase a 4,600 horsepower boat, build several barges and charter in 5,000 horsepower boats to meet the workload,” Martin said. “We are in the process of building a 2,000 horsepower, retractable wheelhouse boat to meet these needs as well.”
According to Stogner, their team starts each year by setting goals – then they determine what equipment will be necessary to support those goals. This is based on several factors, like a steady book of base customers, as well as the ups and downs of the river, like the possibility of lock closings or low waters.
“It’s all about logistics,” he said. “It’s about being able to get the product down the river to the customer whenever they need it.”
After seeing what Stogner was able to accomplish, Martin said they made the decision to hire Teddy Twigg to head their industrial sales, another sector they had yet to step in to.
Teddy has a background in construction and concrete aggregates, and he sits on the board for the Concrete and Aggregates Association of Louisiana. Alongside Chuck, the two make up Terral’s Gulf Coast Rock Division.
“Both of these men are the top of the field,” Martin said.
According to Stogner, the company anticipates to close out the year with a total of 1.3 million tons shipped.