Special Projects
We're proud of all of our accomplishments, but every now and then a project comes along that lets us think outside the box. Here are examples of this type of creative logistics.

Spray Tower

Books for the USO

Pirates of the Caribbean

Parsons Earth-Moon Sculpture

Navy Landing Craft

Bentley Autos

 

 

 

 

Leonia, NJ / Portsmouth, VA – Moving a giant disassembled “Spray Tower” from Minnesota to New Jersey is not your everyday occurrence.  Knowing the complexities and challenges that are involved, who would you trust and call for assistance?  The correct response...Cornerstone Systems!

After lengthy interviews, team discussions on project scope and communication requirements, Cornerstone was chosen for their overall expertise and experience.  Bill Casey, Leonia, NJ and the Portsmouth, VA Operations Team worked together and managed the entire process from beginning to end.  The tarped, “superloads” were over-height, over-weight, and over-width and moved on restrictive routes from New Ulm, Minnesota to Harrison, New Jersey.  They moved with escorts, and at times with police and a “bucket” truck that was used to move & prop up telephone lines and clear tree branches/limbs from its path.

These five, specialized flatbed units could move only during daylight hours requiring extensive communication and daily progress/transit reports.  Cornerstone coordinated the permitting process, necessary escorts, and also the rigging and rental of the crane (& operator) used at origin that lifted the units safely onto the flatbed trucks.   

So what exactly is a Spray Tower?  A Spray Tower is used in the manufacturing of chemicals in the flavor and fragrance industries.  Looks like both the Spray Tower and Cornerstone came out smelling like a rose on this one!    Contact Bill Casey


Memphis, TN – We are all in some way touched by the fact that we have troops serving overseas in harms way. We see it on the news, we read about it in the paper or we know someone who is representing our country and paying the price for our freedom. When an opportunity comes along to help those troops, be it small or large, we must all rise to the occasion.
When ex-Marine Angel Carrion, Director of Operations for the Barnes and Noble warehouse on 6000 Freeport Drive, Memphis discovered he had $3.5 million worth of excess books, gift items and toys in a warehouse that he was closing, he contacted the USO to see if they were interested in a donation from Barnes and Noble. The USO gladly accepted and contacted Penske Logistics who turned around and contacted Cornerstone Systems (on a Thursday). Jim Chaltas, Senior Vice President, and Matthew Bryan, Intermodal Team Leader sprung into action. Following Barnes and Noble’s lead, Cornerstone donated their time and resources to the endeavor and contacted others who would do the same. Comtrak and Express America donated drayage services and Xtra Lease donated trailers. 22 trailers full of books, gift items and toys were loaded at the Barnes and Noble facility (on Friday) and dropped off at the 164th Airlift Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard in Memphis (on Monday & Tuesday). The Tennessee Air National Guard will store the items until they can be shipped via ground or air to the Air Force base in Dover, DE. Deployment overseas is expected soon after. All parties involved donated their time, services and resources to the operation.

The city of Memphis rallied with local TV news coverage and articles in the local newspapers. Cornerstone rallied to coordinate 22 loads and found other interested logistics companies who were willing to help too. As stated before…when an opportunity comes along to help our troops, be it small or large, we must all rise to the occasion... Contact Jim Chaltas


Seattle, WA / Memphis, TN – Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner captured our hearts and imagination in Walt Disney’s 2003 “Pirates of the Caribbean, The Curse of the Black Pearl”, their 2006 sequel “Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man’s Chest”, and their 2007 sequel, “Pirates of the Caribbean, At Worlds End”.

So how did all those props, ships, costumes and massive amounts of construction materials get to the filming locations?

Chosen for their experience and responsiveness, Innovative Logistics (Cornerstone Systems agent) moved flatbed and intermodal shipments from Disney’s production studios in Burbank, CA and Sun Valley, CA to port destinations in Florida where they departed via vessel to the Caribbean. Specialized loads from Oregon and Washington also shipped to destinations such as Rhode Island and Alabama. Items ranged from 60-foot pirate ship masts, to swashbuckling swords and costumes, to construction materials that were used to build new pirate ships and set props, along with small landing boats that launched from various ships. Innovative Logistics coordinated freight shipments for Disney’s entire Pirates of the Caribbean series, Pirates I, II and III. So is Bob Cook on a first name basis with Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner? He’ll walk the plank before he’ll spill. Will he share the treasured secret of whether another Pirate sequel will be filmed? In the words of the notorious Captain Barbossa….”I’m afraid I’m disinclined to acquiesce to your request”.... Contact Bob Cook


Portsmouth, VA – Carole King wrote a song “I feel the earth move under my feet” but Cornerstone’s Portsmouth office actually experienced it when they were contacted to move the Mary Morton Parsons Earth-Moon Sculpture in January/2003. The “earth” is a single piece of black granite, quarried in South Africa, which weighs a whopping 29 tons and measures 8’8” in diameter. Its base is also of granite and has water jets that allow the “earth” to revolve. As with our own Earth, the granite “earth” revolves every 56 seconds and leans on an axis at 23.4 degrees. You can actually place your finger on the “earth”, stop its movement, turn it off axis, and move it around. When you let go, it immediately returns to its original speed and tilt. This piece is a one-of-a-kind and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest floating granite ball.

Imported from Germany and known as the Grand Kugel (the German translation meaning ball), the “earth” had to be moved from the Portsmouth Marine Terminals in Portsmouth, VA to the Science Museum of Virginia located in Richmond, VA. Cornerstone coordinated the move and also provided an escort due to its enormous size/weight. The crate measured 12’4” x 12’4” x 11’ and weighed 98,000 lbs. Precise and critical time frames for delivery were established and adhered to in order to coordinate efforts with special rigging crews and high profile museum officials, benefactors and local politicians involved in the grand welcoming ceremony. Cornerstone’s Portsmouth office delivered excellence when they delivered this extremely large and heavy piece of black granite. After all, their outstanding efforts actually moved “the earth”!
Contact Guy Wallace ... See more photos


Portsmouth, VA - Chosen for the complexity of the project, Cornerstone handled the movement of 13 LCM8 boats for the Naval Station in San Diego. Naval cranes loaded the boats on to trailers and Cornerstone supplied the trucking, traffic control and unloading process at the final destination. Due to the massive dimensions of the boats (78’ x 22’ x 18’ with an average weight of 136,000 lbs), custom welded I-beam frames were attached to special dollies to accommodate the oversized requirements.
350 vendors received the bid and Cornerstone was one of two that rose to the challenge of moving these massive loads. Needless to say, Cornerstone delivered on both the bid and the loads. All 13 boats arrived safely at the off-site boat yard in San Diego... Contact Guy Wallace

Portsmouth, VA - Cornerstone was contacted to handle the pickup and de-vanning of ten container loads of Bentleys - a total of 19 vintage autos crafted in 1928 and 1929.

Upon delivery, the cars headed off on a 3,500 mile road rally that winds its way to Memphis, and ends up in Charleston, SC
Contact Guy Wallace

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