Quality Management

Quality Policy
Employees and owner operators will be provided with the environment, training, resources, and leadership, to not only meet, but to exceed the requirements of both internal and external customers.

Trimac is an industry leader in quality management initiatives.

Trimac's quality initiatives date back to the early and mid 1980's with the identification and implementation of best practices that would differentiate Trimac Transportation from its competitors and produce sustainable high financial performance.

A formalized Quality Assurance program was implemented at Trimac in 1985. It is focused on key areas to improve efficiency and reduce total cost.

Quality Assurance was formalized as part of the strategic planning process. As early as 1985, joint quality training in statistical process control occurred with some major customers. Measurement of performance in such key areas as on-time service and billing and invoicing accuracy, was instituted.

Formally documenting procedures has been implemented to reduce total cost and to achieve production efficiencies.

In order to consistently train employees and achieve a high level of process performance, Trimac has formal Operating Standards, Driver's Manual and product stewardship manuals for specific commodities (e.g., Dry Bulk, Chemical, Petroleum, Woodchips, Compressed Gases and Asphalt). Employees who actually do the work are involved in developing these detailed work procedures and in their subsequent revision.

Training for all employees.

Training in quality has now been integrated into the Field Operations X’cellence (FOX) program. It affords more specific application of the basic quality concepts and tools and provides more immediate application of skills training in effective meetings, leadership, cycle of improvement and communication.  Employees are offered the chance to participate in Performance Improvement Teams at the branch level that affords them the opportunity to use problem solving tools and techniques to make improvements in their workplace.

Quality programs are tailored to meet the needs of each customer.

Customer/Supplier partnerships have covered the full range from joint continuous improvement meetings, to exchange of data and joint decision-making, to measurable process improvements and gain sharing of bottom-line savings. Trimac has also worked closely on partnerships with select suppliers to reduce cost, reduce equipment weight, improve delivery cycle time and capture customer concerns.

Trimac branches have received ISO registration.

Trimac Transportation achieved ISO-9002 registration at a number of branches, the first transportation company in Canada to meet this standard. Trimac’s U.S. subsidiary, previously under the name DSI Transports, Inc., was the first bulk carrier to be ISO-9002 registered in North America. A Quality Policy Manual has been developed and approved for all ISO 9001 registered branches. Other branches will be registered to the same standard based on customer and internal needs.

Operations Development has focused on process simplification and performance enhancement.

Trimac has established an Operations Development group to facilitate process improvement and secure the benefits of major investments in information technology. Detailed trip standards have been a focal point and permit benchmarking best practices in all divisions and developing more process consistency.