Suburban OnSteel
Fall 2006
Going the Distance to Exceed Expectations
Suburban Steel Supply is one of only a few fabricators nationally that owns and maintains its own fleet.
Construction schedules of residential and commercial contractors allow little time for delays, therefore, delivery of the steel to job sites is as equally vital as the quality of the steel the company delivers. Suburban Steel’s fleet consists of 12 delivery trucks, 17 delivery trailers, nine forklifts, four erector service trucks, one 23-ton boom crane and eight company vehicles. In addition, Suburban Steel maintains all of its shop equipment (welders, shears, etc.).
Tom Lawrence is the maintenance lead at Suburban Steel. He has held this position for more than six years and is responsible for maintaining the company’s entire fleet, including its service department. He is also responsible for tracking the mileage on all of the vehicles, so that regularly scheduled maintenance can be performed, as well as keeping the inventory of parts fully stocked. Lawrence makes important judgment calls and juggles many logistical details daily, constantly balancing the safety of his co-workers with the pressure of going the extra mile to exceed customers’ expectations. Lawrence works in collaboration with Larry Phillips, also a seasoned mechanic.
It is not uncommon for all of Suburban Steel’s vehicles to be loaded with steel and scheduled to arrive at various customers’ construction sites early in the morning. Occasionally, when one of the vehicles isn’t running properly, it is Lawrence’s responsibility to get it repaired and on the road without jeopardizing the delivery time. Similarly, if a vehicle were to break down en route to a job site or at a job site, Lawrence is always on call, going at a moment’s notice to repair the vehicle on the side of the road, or making the decision to call a tow truck to bring the vehicle back to the shop for repair.
“Despite the challenges of dealing with the unexpected, the job is very rewarding,” said Lawrence. “I take great pride in making an old, scuffed up trailer look brand new again. It’s also a huge responsibility to have the safety of my co-workers in my hands.”
Suburban Steel has its own wash bay area for the fleet. Lawrence makes sure that the trucks are thoroughly cleaned weekly and that the forklifts are washed daily. Suburban Steel’s fleet reflects the same clean and professional image visible in all other aspects of the business.
“As a company, we are constantly investing in new equipment,” said Lawrence. We take great pride in caring for our equipment—it is a reflection of how we run our business,” said Lawrence.
Suburban Steel Supply is transforming steel supply into steel service. Contact Suburban Steel to discuss your commercial, residential, rebar and ornamental or miscellaneous steel delivery needs.
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