launchingtransport

Ivan Richardson is well on his way to launching a successful heavy machinery transport business, thanks to practical training he is receiving as a student in San Jacinto College’s International Business and Logistics (IBUS) program.

Richardson grew up in the Galena Park area, and graduated from Furr High School. Living near the Port of Houston, he watched the Ship Channel grow and develop, and because of that he acquired a keen interest in the shipping and international trade industry.

Richardson said his experiences at the trade conference, regarded as the premiere breakbulk conference in the nation, supplemented what he has been learning in class at San Jacinto College.

He will soon earn an IBUS associate degree at San Jacinto College, and then transfer to the University of Houston to earn a bachelor’s degree in international logistics. “Fortunately, San Jacinto College maintains an IBUS articulation agreement with UH, which means my transfer to the university will be seamless,” Richardson commented.

Through an extracurricular class activity at San Jacinto College, Richardson solidified his plans for a career goal.

“I recently attended the Breakbulk Americas conference in downtown Houston as part the IBUS program at San Jac, and that experience became sort of a defining moment for me in regards to a career choice,” he remarked. “At the conference, I learned about the tremendous potential there is in the breakbulk area of international logistics, and connected with industry representatives. Because of that, I plan to start my own heavy machinery transport business. The business will handle domestic and international transportation of the really large loads, the kind that require police escorts, traffic diversions, etc.”

Richardson currently works for YRC Freight and is familiar with some aspects of the trucking industry. His job led him to be interested in the detailed logistics involved in transporting large loads. At the Breakbulk Americas conference, he gleaned helpful information that could prove useful as he starts a transportation business.

“I learned that Houston is such an important and critical region for domestic and international trade,” he said. “I also learned that the breakbulk area of international trade is in good shape and the Port of Houston is the number one breakbulk port in the nation.”

Breakbulk deals with heavy-lift and vehicle cargo, as opposed to containerized cargo. Because of the expected increased activity around the Port of Houston due to the local petrochemical plants, this could mean good things for Richardson’s future business. Many of these plants are aging and are due to be retrofitted or expanded, and a breakbulk transportation business will be necessary.

Richardson said his experiences at the trade conference, regarded as the premiere breakbulk conference in the nation, supplemented what he has been learning in class at San Jacinto College.

“In class we learn about how the international trade industry operates in theory – things like handling different monetary systems, customs regulations, insurance requirements, and ensuring materials are secured safely for shipping,” he commented. “At the conference I had the opportunity to see how those processes are carried out in the real world. I was also able to network with ship owners and owners of crane companies, connections that are important for someone like me who wants to start my own business.”

San Jacinto College offers IBUS classes and degree plans at the North Campus. The program also features maritime and logistics specialty courses. The IBUS program trains students for careers in the international trade community. For more information, visit www.sanjac.edu or call 281-998-6150.

Approximate annual wages for Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers in Texas

  • Entry-level workers $54,540 ($26.22 per hour)
  • Experienced worker $111,554 ($53.63 per hour)
  • Median wage $82,807 ($39.81 per hour)

Rob Vanya