Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/715089
Story continued on right side of page 7 Above: K2's operators laud Crowley's service and strong relationships in communities. Suzanne Rust, vice president, general manager and a co-owner of K2, said Crowley's service is responsive, timely and dependable. That's valuable because her business depends on quickly and safely cycling passengers on and off flights, which can sometimes total 50 or more per day during peak season. "The service is great," Rust said from her Talkeetna office. "Crowley's staff is prompt and they are on top of their game." Key to Crowley's service is a commitment to maintaining good relationships with clients. "The Crowley folks here are part of the community. We're on a first name basis. I think part of that relationship enhances the service," said Rust. Crowley Fuels Government Government agencies rely on Crowley- provided fuels to support national defense, public safety and other operations. This fuel keeps a variety of 6 AT A GLANCE: FUEL DELIVERY IN ALASKA For Phil Whitlatch, there's no place like Alaska to drive a tractor-trailer fuel delivery truck. From the incredible sunlit mountain vistas to the dancing Northern Lights – and the occasional moose – the scenery and adventure keep Crowley truck drivers like Whitlatch enthused about their jobs and alert on the roads as they deliver all-important fuel to Alaskans. Their dedication to safe and reliable service has helped to build Crowley Fuels' reputation as Alaska's premier quality fuel provider. "I get to haul an important product and work with a good group of drivers for an exceptional, safety-minded company," said Whitlatch, 37, who has driven for Crowley for just over two years. "It's challenging work, but also very fulfilling, because we are hauling fuel that is really important to our communities and the people who live here." The 80 Crowley drivers cross 2 million miles of road a year, encountering snow and ice, steep mountain grades and wildlife. They are integral to keeping Alaskan customers supplied with fuel in some 280 communities the state. Whitlatch's day typically begins at 3 a.m., when he readies his tank truck at the Palmer yard. After performing pre-trip inspections, he drives to the port in Anchorage, where that day's fuel product is loaded for delivery to customers. His day ends by 5 p.m., so he can get the necessary rest to begin again the next day. Crowley delivers more than 100 million gallons of petroleum products annually, including aviation fuels, home heating oil, ultra-low-sulphur diesel, gasoline and propane. The trucking division is well regarded for its safety record, having won multiple safety awards, including most recently the 2015 Alaska Trucking Association Safest Line Haul Truck Fleet Award. "Our cornerstones are safety and dependability," said Jasper Hall, director, highway petroleum distribution. "The people of Alaska know us. They know we make safety a priority, and that leads to dependable service that our customers can rely on, whatever their petroleum needs." Compared with much of the highway system connecting the contiguous U.S., driving the routes around Alaska is a different experience. There, a driver is likely to experience weather extremes like nowhere else and a variety of wildlife – bears, caribou, lynx and wolves – even a moose charging Crowley truck drivers' dedication to safe, reliable delivery has made it Alaska's top fuel provider.