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See how this wholesale provider of inner tubes, flaps, and specialty tires has stayed ahead of the curve in an industry heavily affected by the Great Recession.
The 2008 recession affected all businesses in the United States, and the tube industry was no different. Companies exited the markets in droves, either closing doors for good, or were bought out by the competition.
Even today, price fluctuation is causing many of the companies in the industry to change strategy yet again for the current downturn. And yet, Trans American Rubber has stayed ahead of the curve, leveraging its strategic partnerships to remain strong.
- Diane Christensen, Vice President of Trans American Rubber
- Diane Christensen, Vice President of Trans American Rubber
The company is a wholesale provider of inner tubes, flaps and specialty tires to Canada, the U.S., and to Mexico. All of its inner tubes are made of 100 percent butyl rubber and ISO certified, meaning they can withstand heat better and have more elasticity than those with clay filler, and exceed industry standards. These quality products and Trans American Rubber’s global vendor relationships have been key parts to the company’s strategy towards leaner operations.
“When it comes down to it, it’s our reputation on the line if we deliver something sub-par to our customers. That’s why we only partner with vendors that meet our high standard—high-quality, ISO-type companies,” shared Diane Christensen, Vice President of Trans American Rubber.
Making sure its supply chain is running at its highest efficiency at all times is crucial to meeting customer expectations, so Trans American Rubber has gone above and beyond to help guarantee its products get to their customers on time and at affordable prices.
To protect its supply chain, the company became Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certified in 2008, and has maintained the certification to present day. This voluntary supply chain security program led by U.S. Customs and Border Protection is focused on improving the security of private companies’ supply chains.
With the C-TPAT certification in place, Trans American Rubber has a better chance at keeping its inner tube shipments on track, instead of constantly being stopped for inspections.
“Every two to three years we have to recertify, but it protects our entire supply chain,” said Christensen. “We do have products that come from overseas, and this allows both us and Customs to know we have the right processes in place and that it’s managed properly.”
Leaner internal strategies and initiatives have driven Trans American Rubber through the Great Recession, and continue to drive the company’s success. While the company had to adapt because of the marketplace, Trans American Rubber knew that its customers were stuck in the same economic downturn they were, and instituted these lean measures largely to cut costs for their customer base.
“We employ outside contractors and consultants so that we have a variable cost for some labor instead of a fixed cost,” shared Christensen. “This gives the company the option to flex up or down month to month depending on workload. There’s no drop in quality with our products, and our services continue to be provided by people who share our same core values.
“It’s rarely about us—it’s about always providing for the customer. It’s no surprise that people choose to do business with people they like and trust.”
Christensen attributes the Trans American Rubber’s work ethic and its clients’ trust in it in part to it being a family-owned and operated company.
“I like the fact that the founders and leaders have built a strong culture where everyone is in tune with each other. We really care about each other, and in a small company where you can’t hide, we help each other succeed.”
By following a mantra to “stand behind everything we say, sell, and do,” Trans American Rubber hires people not just based on their skill, but how well their values align with the company’s value structure. As a small, family-run company with high integrity standards and employees dedicated to the cause, Trans American Rubber has the ability to make decisions quickly and confidently in the face of other bigger, more bureaucratically run companies.
So what does the future hold for this industry leader? The inner tube market looks like it will still be on a tumultuous path for the coming months, so the company will be sticking with its lean strategies and continuing to bolster its strong partner relationships.
One trend the Trans American Rubber will be following is the slow move of the market into South America, assisted by the movement of older equipment to the region as companies in North America upgrade technology.
The company has one other strategy in the bag to stay ahead of the curve.
“Diversification has been and will continue to be key in staying strong in the market. The sky is truly the limit for us.”
About
We are a prime provider for wholesale inner tubes, flaps, and specialty tires. Whether you purchase for your service center or if you have a multiple locations, we can work with you to best suit your needs.
For over 25 years, Trans American Rubber has established global vendor relationships with inner tube and tire manufacturers and therefore we distribute high-quality inner tubes, specialty tires, flaps and re-treading envelopes for the agricultural, construction, mining and recreational industries.
Today, we are one of the largest independent private-label suppliers in the country. Our success comes from the outstanding quality of our products—and our strong commitment to customer service.
Trans American Rubber Headquarters
Address
5231 S. Santa Fe Drive, Ste. 205
Littleton, CO 80120
Website transamericanrubber.com