Gilster Mary Lee (GML), a contract food manufacturer producing private-label mixes, cereals, soups, and more, once relied on their own fleet to haul products from Midwest plants to customers in Florida. But without local raw materials to backhaul, those empty return trips proved inefficient and costly. That’s when GML turned to Independent Dispatch (IDI).

IDI created an intermodal solution that transformed GML’s logistics network. By leveraging rail and coordinating every detail — from scheduling plant pickups to managing challenging food warehouse deliveries requiring off-hour appointments — IDI provided a reliable, cost-effective alternative to long-haul trucking.

Over time, IDI has become GML’s core intermodal provider, optimizing fleet use, reducing shipping costs, and simplifying complex logistics so GML could focus on production. “IDI manages the long-distance shipping for us,” says Wayne Stipe, Traffic Manager. “Their intermodal services make it easy to keep our operations moving efficiently.”

What began as a solution for one costly route has grown into a 25-year partnership built on trust, dependability, and shared commitment to excellence. For GML, IDI isn’t just a transportation provider — it’s a vital extension of their supply chain success.