Ulm, freight transport innovator, dead at 60

Ulm, freight transport innovator, dead at 60    Jerry Ulm, global carrier relations leader at Owens Corning, died March 1 at his home in Perrysburg, Ohio, after a long illness.
   He is credited with putting in place innovative policies to improve relations with core trucking providers to reduce the burden of doing business with Owens Corning.
   The company made it a policy to help truckers by reducing delays getting in and out of their loading docks so that drivers don't eat up their quota of work hours with non-driving duties. It set up a carrier Web portal through which it tenders freight and gives highway carriers access to account information, load and trailer pool status, and other tools to make their job easier.
   Carrier relations were also strengthened establishing a face-to-face review process through which both sides try to solve problems in the business relationship. The company also created carrier advisory councils that allow Owens Corning and carriers to present areas they need help on, such as dispatching or fuel reduction, to develop solutions for the entire group.
   The strong relationships gave Owens Corning an advantage when capacity was tight because carriers gave first priority to hauling Owens Corning construction materials.
   Ulm, 60, recently was part of a team that was awarded the Board of Directors Cup, the highest honor given at Owens Corning for a cross-functional team that uses company resources to deliver extraordinary results for customers, employees and shareholders.
   Prior to joining the giant shipper, Ulm was president of RHC Logistics, a subsidiary of industrial flooring products manufacturer Roppe Corp. He was a leader in the private fleet industry in hiring out corporate trucks on backhaul routes to reduce so-called deadhead miles and costs. That helped the company earn a profit compared to most shippers that are happy if they break even on their private fleet operations.
   The long-time freight transportation professional was a member of the National Industrial Transportation League and served on its board and Executive Committee as treasurer. The NIT League board in November approved a resolution honoring Ulm for his long service to the logistics profession and the league, and helping the association expand its membership base and influence by reaching out beyond the traditional shipper community to carriers and other groups.
   'His candor, good humor, outspokenness, and seriousness of purpose are all qualities that have served this organization well,' it said.
   'I had the privilege to know and work with Jerry for only a short period after I came to the league in 2008. Despite this, it became quite clear that Jerry's dedicated purpose, focus and passion for the industry and the League was unmistakable. He will be missed,' NIT League President Bruce Carlton said in a statement.
   Ulm was an avid golfer and member of St. Rose Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife Susan and brother Philip. ' Eric Kulisch