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RSI Logistics, Inc. - News Releases |
Author : Amy Sands
RSI Creates Turnaround Success
In 2001, three business partners purchased Rails Services Inc., a transportation logistics firm specializing in transporting bulk materials, a company experiencing recession. With true entrepreneurial spirit, Robert Tuchek, Joe Irish and Kelley Minnehan staked their life savings and careers to create RSI Logistics, Inc. on the belief that they could turn this company toward success. It worked, earning them the Entrepreneur of the Year honor in the transportation category.
“We were able to ride through the recession,” explained President Robert Tuchek, “and in a sense really change the whole way in which we go about providing services. We introduced technology and reinvested in the company. We were able to steer through that time and now we're on a pretty significant growth track.”
Tuchek described his business as having several main competencies: One is where companies outsource their rail transportation and RSI manages it as a third party. They also provide domestic bulk intermodal service, and bulk transfer stations.
RSI runs and operates six multi-modal bulk transfer facilities. “What we do is go in and we take over a portion of a rail yard,” explained Tuchek. “Shippers will ship via rail to our facilities and from there we do the transferring, and then it is trucked locally. We have terminals in Virginia, Maryland, New York, Michigan and Wisconsin.”
RSI offers rail shippers services including rate negotiation, contract and quote management, fleet management, equipment management, and RSInet.
RSI is particularly proud of RSInet, a Web-based supply chain program. RSI created RSInet for its own internal need to manage various aspects of its clients' rail transportation and to track shipments. It has become one of the most user-friendly rail management applications in the industry. Using the Internet rather than a fax machine makes things happen much faster, greatly improving customer service.
RSInet has been a significant source of growth for the company. “By introducing technology, we're able to attract larger customers, clients like Safety- Kleen and Glidden,” said Tuchek, who continues to look for ways to grow the company. Plans for the future of RSI include extending its marketing of Web-based applications and possible acquisition of similar companies.
The best lesson Tuchek can pass along to emerging entrepreneurs is to surround oneself with the right people.
“I have two partners in the business, and what's great about it is I am focused on the sales and logistics side. Joe Irish is our CFO, and Kelley Minnehan handles our operations. So among the three of us we pretty much have it all covered. We work very well together. We have 53 employees. The bottom line is, have good people around you.”
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