Gulf Winds is committed to providing our clients with dynamic logistics solutions that will result in bottom line savings opportunities. Excellent customer service, superior information processes, custom client solutions and reliable service continue to be the standard by which we operate. As a logistics specialist, we understand the challenges associated with the movement of goods. Our goal is to ease this burden by providing our clients with the tools necessary to make informed business decisions.
Container Management
With Gulf Winds Import Container Management with gwiTrack® you get end-to-end monitored tracking from port of origin to final destination and with web-based access though our online system, you can view or report on your information from anywhere!
complete container and inventory management system that you get for FREE when you use Gulf Winds as your container drayage provider.
Import Management
Track and manage container and PO information from port of origin through final destination using our proprietary web-based tool, gwiTrack®. gwiTrack provides a tool to manage critical shipment information throughout the supply chain process.
ETA Tracking
Get up to date ETAs automaticallly. We track your containers through the steamship lines, port terminals and rail terminals to get the most up to date ETA’s keeping you informed of where you container is and when it is expected to arrive.
Arrival & LFD Tracking
Once your container arrives at the final terminal, we capture the last free day and continually monitor for hold. Once your container is available we will contact you to have your container scheduled for delivery.
Hold Monitoring
Receieve notifications of holds or delays at the terminal that impact pickup of the container and could cause demurrage charges.
Nationwide Management
We can do ALL of this nationwide! And did we mention that the service is FREE when you use Gulf Winds as your container drayage provider?
Export Management
Gulf Winds Booking Management Services with gwiTrack offers exception based booking management that automatically monitors your bookings and containers from order receipt to receival at terminal.
Booking Verification
Once we receive your booking information and enter it into gwiTrack the system verifies your booking information against the information set up at the port and automatically notifies us of any discrepancies.
Change Alerts
gwiTrack continues to monitor your booking throughout the entire process and automatically notifies us of any changes that occur such as vessel changes, cutoff changes, and more allowing us to quickly make changes to your loading and delivery schedules.
Peace of Mind
By catching potential issues on the front end, we reduce the chance of missed cutoffs and increased cost due to dry runs, per diem, and chassis usage.
Transloading
Gulf Winds' operates strategically located transload facilities at The Port of Houston's Barbours Cut and Bayport Container terminals as well as the BNSF intermodal railyard. Our locations allow us to handle up to maximum container capacity, eliminating risks expenses associated with moving overweight equipment.
Learn MoreWhat Is Transloading?
Transloading is the process of unloading cargo from one piece of equipment and re‑loading it into another piece of equipment for transport.
Why Transload?
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30%
Save up to 30% by cutting out return trips on inland transportation
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20%
Save up to 20% in ocean shipping cost by loading your containers heavy at point of origin.
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Protect your cargo and minimize damages by using air-ride trailers instead of intermodal containers.
Transload Calculator
Gulf Winds is strategically located across from Houston's Barbours Cut and Bayport container terminals, allowing us to legally haul overweight containers to and from our facilities. This allows our customers to load their containers to maximum capacity creating substantial savings on their ocean and transportation costs.
Use the calculator on the left to see how much money you could be saving per year.
Use the calculator below to see how much money you could be saving per year.
Trucking Brokerage Services
As with all of our logistical partnerships, Gulf Winds flatbed trucking network will help you ship your products nationwide, on time and intact.
Cargo Weight Guide
Check out our Cargo Weight Guide on Understanding Overweight in Texas. Here, you can find Texas weight laws and a visual guide for loading and hauling in Texas.
Container Drayage
As the largest container hauler out of the Port of Houston by volume, Gulf Winds' offers unmatched container and intermodal drayage capacity in Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth at both port and rail terminals.
Ask about our Nationwide Container Drayage Management Services. Through our large network of best-in-class port drayage partners we can provide you with one point of contact for all of your import container shipments. Plus with gwiTrack you can track your containers in real time through one convenient online portal.
In order to keep your cargo moving efficiently, Gulf Winds holds certifications and permits to handle just about anything you require.
- Capacity
- Safe And Secure
- Cost Management
- Drop Management
- National Drayage
Capacity
With over 300 drivers and a private fleet of equipment including over 800 chassis, tri-axle chassis, combo chassis, flatbeds, drop-decks, and vans, Gulf Winds has the flexibility to meet your transportation needs.
Permits and Certifications
- Smartway Transport Partner
- Hazmat Certified
- "Satisfactory" Motor Carrier Safety Rating
- Permitted by Harris County to Haul Overweight Containers (no weight restrictions) over Barbours Cut Blvd and Port Road
- TABC Permit # MC 320104-B
- FHWA # MC 320104-C / USDOT # 690147
- Each truck is State of Texas 1547 Super-Heavy Permitted and Bonded to Haul Containers 5% over legal gross and 10% over legal axle weight.
Safe And Secure
Strategic Yard Locations
In a time crunch and need a container picked up fast? When you think Gulf Winds, think Close Proximity! We have container yards within 1 mile of the BNSF rail ramp, Barbours Cut Port Terminal and the Bayport Port Terminal in Houston. We also have a yard strategically located between the UP DIT and KCS rail ramp in Dallas and a yard about 5 miles from the BNSF – Alliance rail ramp in the Fort Worth area.
Safety & Security
Relax, Gulf Winds secure yards are fully fenced and monitored 24/7 by on-site security through a top-rated security company. As a C-TPAT compliant company, cargo security is our top priority.
Cost Management
Per Diem Management
Once your container outgates, gwiTrack automatically calculates your free time based on UIIA standard tariff. Have a custom contract? We can update your account with that information to make sure we are monitoring your containers based on your specific free time contracts. Get automatic notifications as your containers near the end of their free time and daily updates of incurred cost when you choose to hold your container over the provided free time.
Chassis Management
We have automated reports to help you manage how many days your containers have been out allowing you to easily manage your chassis usage costs.
Learn More
Drop Management
Dropping containers on your yard? Container and yard management can quickly become a challenge but with Gulf Winds Drop Management Services your challenges can become opportunities to decrease cost and frustration.
Gain visibility to:
- When containers are dropped at your facility
- Dwell Times
- When your free time ends
- And whether they’re loaded or empty
You can even release the containers automatically for pickup through Gulf Winds gwiTrack online system. This provides you with real-time information on your containers load/empty statuses and immediately notifies Gulf Winds dispatch group that you are ready for the container to be picked up.
We have customers that have saved over $100,000 a year by reducing per diem and chassis usage costs associated with not having visibility to their yard inventory. Ask us about how we can help you reduce your cost today!
National Drayage
Gulf Winds has developed a strong network of port logistics providers nationwide to assist in the movement of international cargo from port to inland distribution points. Through gwiTrack our system provides real time tracking information
through all major ports and inland rail ramps taking the guess work out of import and export shipments nationwide. Gain powerful analytics from important data points throughout your supply chain in one centralized location. See
how many containers you have available at every port or rail terminal in the United States all on one screen pulled from real time data provided by the terminals and steamship lines or drill down and look at volumes delivering
to a single distribution center.
Your Supply Chain, Your Way.
As the leaders in international logistics Gulf Winds has the experience, expertise, and the system capabilities to customize a logistics program nationwide to meet your needs.
Warehousing
Gulf Winds operates over 2 million sq ft of warehouse space in the Houston area to handle your transload, storage and distribution needs. We have strategic locations set adjacent to the Port of Houston's Barbours Cut and Bayport container terminals as well as locations adjacent to the BNSF rail ramp and Greensport Terminal.
Gulf Winds can handle an array of different products. We have specialty equipment and project yard space to handle and store anything from palletized to out-of-gauge project or machinery cargo.
Close Proximity
Our strategic locations offer bottom line savings to our customers.
Gulf Wind’s facilities are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are fully permitted and certified.
Cargo Services
- General Cargo
- Pipe And Steel
- Energy Services
- Bulk Loading
General Cargo
Gulf Winds can handle many different products such as: Palletized Cargo, Handstacked or Loose Loaded Cargo, Ceramic Tile, Building Products, Machinery, Steel Coils, Valves, Paper, Cotton, Lumber, Food Products, Beverages, Alcohol, Oil Field Supplies, Resin, Gypsum, Green Coffee, Tea, and much more.
Pipe And Steel
Shipping over-sized pipes is an increasing need for many of our clients. Our strategic port positioning in Houston, TX has given us a strong geographical advantage when servicing the needs of a growing oil & gas industry while matching many destinations with return export shipments.
Contact us today to discuss your pipe hauling needs and ask about our Oil Field Logistics services.
Energy Services
Gulf Winds specializes in the logistics management of imported oil field products, ceramic proppants, and guar gum. From port to the field, we develop tailored supply chain solutions specific to our client’s needs, providing reduced transit times and maximizing opportunities to reduce costs.
Houston: The Gateway to the North American Shale Plays
The Port of Houston is ideally positioned geographically to support the emerging Eagle Ford, Brakken, Haynesville, and Permian shales.
Shale Plays
Gulf Winds offers transloading services to truck, boxcar, bulk pneumatic, and hopper car for distribution throughout North America. We are served by both the BNSF and UP railroads for added flexibility to our customers.
Learn More
Bulk Loading
Gulf Winds has invested in specialized equipment for the handling of aggregates including sands, guar gum and proppants. Using a custom high-capacity portable high-incline conveyor system, Gulf Winds is able to Transload product moving in supersacks into pneumatic trucks and/or hopper cars for distribution to well sites around the country. Integrated scales measure each bag as it is loaded into the pneumatic hopper to ensure accurate product distribution weight totals. Load out capabilities are 185k lbs. per hour.
By weighing the product in this way, we can notify you of weight variances which is a common issue for where manufactures aren’t shipping the full amount of the product, allowing you to go back to your shipper for discounts.
US - Mexico Service
Houston is the #1 US Port in foreign tonnage and has the capacity to fit your large volume needs.
As of one of the region’s largest truckload shippers, Gulf Winds provides single sourced logistics solutions of cross border Mexican shipments through its network of US and Mexican partners.
Partnering with Gulf Winds provides the benefit of working with an industry leader with years of experience in cargo handling.
US - Mexico Service Includes:
- Full Truckload (FTL)
- Container Drayage/Intermodal
- Warehousing
- Specialized Heavy Haul/ Over Dimensional
- Dry Van
- Flatbed
- Refrigerated
Domestic Transportation
As one of the largest out bound shippers in our region, Gulf Winds has the buying power to keep your transportation costs down while also ensuring capacity. In addition to our own fleet, Gulf Winds has partnered with over 1,000 best-in-class carriers and private fleets to provide our clients with turnkey supply chain solutions. Our continued success is based on reliable service, client specific solutions, and proactive communication.
Learn Morewith you all day,
all the way.
Reliable Service
The diverse network of carriers provides transportation services throughout the US to and from the South-Central region. Partner carriers are thoroughly vetted for safety, security, and professionalism.
Capacity Solutions
Gulf Winds provides flexible capacity, can accommodate seasonal fluctuations and high volume projects. Gulf Winds works with each client to ensure that their specific needs are met.
Systems Visiblity
Using the latest transportation software and on-line tools Gulf Winds provides real time visibility to all shipments through our website. No matter if you are moving containers in Kansas City or Truckloads in Tulsa, Gulf Winds has your shipments tracked.
Single Source Logistics
One call to Gulf Winds will ensure your transportation needs are met. Our team of logistics experts will work to deliver competitive rates and best in class service with one phone call.
More than the Move
Our Mission is to Glorify God by providing world class logistics services through continual investment in our people, clients, community, and the world we live in. In short, we believe in being MORE than the move.
Watch VideoLearn More
Find out more about what Gulf Winds can do for you. Give us a call. Our logistics specialists will talk with you about your specific needs in order to create a customized solution specifically designed to address your individual challenges.