James J. Williams, a commodities trucking subsidiary of big Spokane-based Trans-System Inc., has found a lucrative niche in hauling hazardous materials throughout the Northwest and western Canada.


The operation, which now is headquartered in Kalama, Wash., about 40 miles north of Portland, runs a big terminal in Spokane Valley, as well as depots in Pasco and Tacoma. It transports such materials as chemicals, dry and liquid fertilizer, petroleum products, and liquid asphalt and non-hazardous commodities such as flour and baking soda.


Bulk Service Transport Inc., the companys corporate name, employs about 70 people, has a fleet of 60 trucks, and did about $8 million in revenue last year, says Duane Johnsen, the companys Kalama-based general operations manager.


Among its customers are Weyerhaeuser Co., Agrium Inc., Inland Empire Paper Co., and Inland Asphalt Co.


Johnsen says the materials haulers revenues have grown steadily, and today are more than double what they were five or six years ago. Year to date, theyre up about 9 percent over this time last year, he says.


Were doing pretty well, and weve seen some growth says Johnsen. Weve just added a new account to take paper (making) chemicals from Kalama to Canada.


James J. Williams moved its headquarters from Spokane to Kalama about two years ago, though its Spokane Valley terminal, a 10-acre property at 16702 E. Euclid, still is the base of about half the companys trucks and half of its employees, he says.


The majority of the growth is on the West Side. Spokane has been steady, but we have had such success in growing over here, Johnsen says, from Kalama.


The trucking concerns terminals run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he says. The company uses mostly tanker trailers and some standard trailers.


Certification helped


Johnsen says a big reason for the companys growth has been the non-governmental ISO 14001 certification it earned in 2001 for following strict safety and environmental guidelines when hauling hazardous cargo.


Its a sales tool, Johnsen says of the certification. It shows that were trying to do a better job, and making an effort to be responsible. In this business, you have to show an effort, or you wont be in business.


The company has never had a major accident or serious injury, he says. Weve had a few minor things, but it was the equivalent of spilling a cup of coffee.


James J. Williams carries a $5 million insurance policy for any accidents. Our insurance costs went up 40 percent in one year, says Darel Solverson, general manager of the Spokane Valley terminal. Its expensive to insure these trucks.


The trucks are routinely cleaned and inspected for damage, and new drivers receive three days of classroom instruction and two weeks of on-the-job training.


We prefer to hire drivers who have experience hauling the types of things we handle, says Solverson. But there is still a lot of training we do.


Being ISO certified means that the company adheres to all federal, state, and local regulations.


The trucking concern paid a lot of money to earn the certification and remain ISO 14001 certified, says Nia Carignan, a marketing supervisor with National Quality Assurance, of Acton, Mass. National Quality Assurance audits the company annually.


Basically, it means you have a quality system in place that complements with the standards, says Carignan. We look at how youre taking care of your waste, recycling information related to the site. We also look at the training and the control systems that are in place.


Its very rare for an individual trucker to have this specialized certification because of the cost involved. There a few companies here that handle hazardous materials, but not on the same scale as James J. Williams, says Solverson.


In a way, its parent companys origins date back to 1936 when James J. Joe Williams started hauling petroleum products to customers throughout the Inland Northwest, based in Spokane. That company, James J. Williams Trucking Co., was sold in 1961 after Williams son, Dennis Denny Williams died. The company went through other ownership changes after that, until Trans-System purchased it in 1996. Jim Williams, the grandson of James J. Joe Williams, founded Trans-System in 1972.